Guide to the Fallen World - Chapter 33

#33. Pet

***

The smooth surface of the egg slowly developed cracks, which gradually grew larger.

Finally, with a faint cracking sound, a piece of the shell broke off, announcing the birth of new life.

“Chirp!”

“So… so cute!”

[Cute, right? Stay there for about an hour. After that, it’ll recognize you as its owner.]

At Jay’s words, Yeowon quickly nodded.

To ensure the newborn monster imprinted on her, Jay and Dohyuk had temporarily stepped out. Now, only Yeowon and the freshly hatched creature remained in the room.

“Peep!”

“Kyaa! Oh my gosh! You’re just too adorable!”

It was truly a creature too cute to be called a monster. It was a ridiculous thought, but perhaps the gate-ification of Earth wasn’t entirely bad after all!

[Its scientific name is Hirgion. Among monsters, it’s almost the only unique species that manipulates gravity. It can fly and swim in both the sea and the sky. When it grows up, you might even be able to ride it.]

“Heeh. Even though it’s this small?”

[Don’t let its appearance fool you, it has a fierce temper. It might be docile to its owner, but there are frequent cases of adult Hirgions taking over entire shelters. Even low-rank espers find them difficult to deal with and avoid them.]

“Chirp!”

“No way. I don’t think that’s possible.”

To Yeowon, who was blinded by the cuteness of the newly born Hirgion, Jay simply attached evidence without saying a word.

[…I just sent you a video of an adult Hirgion destroying a shelter. Check it out later.]

Regardless, Yeowon was too busy stroking the head of the Hirgion, which had recognized her and snuggled into her arms.

The Hirgion’s large eyes sniffed at the scent from her chest. Its wriggling wings. The downy feathers covering its whole body and even its sturdy claws.

It was as cute as a silvereye bird she had once seen by chance at the window. It was like directly witnessing a dainty snowflake come to life.

She had seen quite a few monsters in videos, but the Hirgion was completely different from the threatening appearances of most monsters.

And just as Jay had said, as a gravity-type monster, it flapped its small wings and spun in midair before settling atop her head, as if claiming it as its nest.

“Chirp! Pipipiroong!”

The Hirgion’s chirping, making pleasant purring sounds, resembled the song of a warbler.

Yeo-won took out the Hirgion snacks Jay had prepared and offered them one by one above her head. Jay had researched and brought rowan berries, the only snack that Hirugions eat.

Then, as befitting a newborn chick, the Hirgion accepted the berries without suspicion and shook its body, using her crown as a nest, pecking and cheeping!

“It seems happy. It must be delicious.”

[Looks like it. Have you decided on a name for it?]

“Hmm… Since it looks like a snowflake, White, Snowy Mountain. Switzerland…. Yeah, I’ll name it Titlis. Nickname will be Tiri.”

[Titlis? What kind of name is that?]

Back when I lived, there were many snowy mountains in Switzerland. Matterhorn, Jungfrau, Zermatt.. and Titlis! They were all places I wanted to visit while I was alive. And look at this. It’s completely white! Doesn’t it look like a snow-covered mountain?”

Seeing Yeowon, excited and bouncing her shoulders, Jay just vaguely agreed. If she had argued back, and Yeowon had said she wanted to go to those Swiss snowy mountains or whatever right now, it would have been troublesome.

[Alright. Fine. Let’s go with Tiri.]

“Yeah! Thanks, Jay. It’s really the best gift!”

[If you’re really thankful, just fold away any thoughts of wanting to go outside the base. I’ll get you anything you ask for.]

“Okay! Deal! I don’t think I’ll be bored for the next year. Because I have to watch Tiri grow up!”

As if agreeing with those words, the young Hirgion chirped, “Chirp!”

***

Dohyuk felt dejected. Just yesterday, the Guide’s gaze was entirely his. But in just one day, that attention was monopolized by the baby Hirgion.

“Yap! Yap! Our Tiri! You’re so good!”

Yeowon’s face lit up as she watched the baby Hirgion catch every rowan berry she threw.

He was briefly pleased by her clapping and joyful expression, but Dohyuk, with a smiling face, directed his competitive spirit towards the baby Hirgion.

If the Esper group’s invasion of the Ark hadn’t happened, then as the Chief said, Yeowon’s affection would have been entirely monopolized by that baby monster. Everything would have gone according to the Chief’s plan, and Yeowon would have given her heart to that monster instead of me.

But all of that is just past speculation, the order is that I come first.

“Yeowon-ssi.”

He grabbed her shoulder and called out, and the Guide turned around, asking, “Yes?” He kissed her suddenly, and she flinched her shoulders but quietly raised her head.

And then, a faint moan mixed in with the wet sound of their kiss.

“Mmph, ungh!”

Breaths mingling between slightly parted lips.

“Ugh… haa.”

He wanted to hear more, but he restrained himself. If he heard more of those moans, he wouldn’t be able to stop.

Before, only his heart had been tightly constricted, but now, his lower body was aching.

“Please play with me too.”

“Ah… um. Ahem. Dohyuk, do you want to try tossing a rowan berry? Maybe if you try again, Tiri will catch it this time.”

“No. That monster doesn’t eat anything I give it.”

As he spoke, Dohyuk snatched the paper bag Yeowon was holding and placed it on the table. He also didn’t forget to pull Yeowon’s waist close with both arms.

Now Dohyuk knew how to use his face to his advantage.

“Please guide me.”

“Uh…”

“Even if it’s just for a moment. I’m happy just being like this… just a little bit.”

In the past, he had foolishly waited, hesitating, watching for cues. But not anymore. As long as he made his request clear, Yeowon always complied.

Never once had she refused him.

Just like now.

Dohyuk smiled and lowered his head at Yeowon’s slightly embarrassed yet tiptoeing posture. He devoured her lips and received the guiding.

Even with its master being devoured right in front of it, that damn Hirgion was too busy burying its head in the paper bag, gobbling down berries.

Not that he was any different.

Soft lips. Trembling fingertips grazing over his shoulders and down his back. Every touch gripped at his very soul.

With her lower abdomen pressed against mine between our tangled legs, I felt like I was losing my mind. Every muscle in my body grew taut, and my nerves were intensely heightened. My senses went beyond aching, turning sharp and almost painful.

Ah, I mustn’t get up.

Even as he sensed the danger of arousal, Dohyuk pulled Yeowon even closer.

***

The ark where the guide had once stayed.

Even knowing the high risk that his movements would be detected by the Director, Yi Gyeom revisited the ark.

Perhaps wary of Espers searching for the guide’s traces, traps and combat androids left by the Director were active throughout the ark. Yi Gyeom took his time and destroyed them all.

His identity remained disguised as an Esper from Samrangjin.

Therefore, he didn’t even use detection abilities, due to the risk of the combat being recorded by cameras. Acting like a purely physical-type Esper, Yi Gyeom destroyed the traps set within the ark and finally reached the targeted residential area.

A residential area emptied and abandoned, having lost its owner. Yi Gyeom silently surveyed its cluttered and desolate interior.

Dishes the guide had used. A chair bearing the marks of frequent sitting. Clothes and blankets left behind, things they couldn’t manage to pack, these came into view one by one.

What kind of fabrics did she prefer? What was her tastes? What filled her days?

Amidst such vague imaginings, Yi Gyeom pictured the guide’s face.

Trying to recall an unknown face as if he knew it, groping for the image, he searched the residential area thoroughly. He flung open every drawer, lifted and overturned each piece of furniture. He tore indiscriminately at the walls, ceiling, and floor.

He had to find any kind of significant trace. Only then could he understand what kind of person the guide had been.

But, perhaps because the Director had already cleaned the place out completely, no matter how thoroughly he searched, nothing emerged but dust.

‘It’s hopeless.’

He had expended so much effort breaking through the ark’s traps, yet it seemed there was nothing more to find, no matter how much longer he searched. Upon realizing this, a belated wave of fatigue washed over him.

The residential area, which had merely been cluttered before, was now thoroughly overturned and wrecked.

Standing in the midst of the chaos, filled with an intense sense of futility, Yi Gyeom returned to the room he presumed had been the guide’s bedroom. And then, he simply lay down on the bed and closed his eyes.

He had planned to take a short nap before moving again.

But then, something caught between the pillowcases.

Feeling the hard object against the nape of his neck, he momentarily thought, Is that a gun barrel? and instantly rolled aside. But contrary to his suspicion, no bullet burst through the pillow.

“….What is this?”

Yi Gyeom immediately ripped open the pillowcase to check its contents.

What rolled out from inside was a bright yellow stone.

It shone like a gem, its interior glowing with a translucent light. Yi Gyeom picked it up absentmindedly. It was an unfamiliar object, something he had never seen before, but the energy flickering within it felt oddly familiar.

Right. He had definitely heard of this before.

A Guide Stone.

Back when gates had first started appearing on Earth, there had been a fair number of guides. It was said that guides used to craft guide stones and gift them to espers who fought within the gates.

“Jeong Yeowon’s Guiding Stone…”

Perhaps it was a poisoned Guiding Stone. The moment it entered his mouth, it might melt his tongue and corrode his teeth. If this was one of the Director’s arrangements, his flesh would burn and his bones corrode the instant it touched his tongue.

Even knowing that, Yi Gyeom bit down on the guide stone without hesitation.

He was used to this. When guiding drugs had first been introduced in Yeouido, he had gone through hundreds of similar doubts. Whether it was poison or medicine, he would find out soon enough once it was in his mouth.

And the guide stone he placed in his mouth.

Was exquisite.