Only I Am A Reader

'A book… Huh?'

Hearing Ho's shaking words, I couldn't help but be fascinated by the concept that he described. Something like this could actually happen?

Not only was he my family and my everything but another version of him surprisingly lived in another world and read about me before becoming one with himself, and for what?

To save me! Ho… no, should I call him Leo? It was hard to pronounce but that didn't matter. What truly mattered was that Leo had traveled between words just for my sake!

Indeed, our natural place to be is by each other's side… Though that might not be possible for some time soon.

But…

"In case you don't want someone like me around you any longer, just say so and I will take my leave right this moment…"

"Ho… Leo… Just what are you saying?!"

Just what did he mean by these words?

"I know the truth isn't easy to hear, but it's how things are. My time here is limited, but if you want me to leave-"

"Stop!!!"

What isn't easy to hear? Right, everything he said was okay so far, but I just can't forgive his few last words!

I could tell, I could always tell and understand what he was thinking, so I was already aware that he had to leave very soon, but even then I tried to hold back my sorrow so I could remember every last moment we were going to spend together before he left. Yet…

For a moment, I could no longer understand nor tell what was going on in his mind, and at this single moment when our minds were disconnected, he said he would leave me of his own will!

"No! I can't hold it back anymore!"

With rough breathing and foggy eyes, Yeon pounced at Leo with all of her strength!

"Just don't say anything like that anymore! You leaving me… Just why would I want something horrible like that?"

`~~~`~~~`~~~`

'Eh?'

Just when Leo believed that the worst scenario possible where Yeon's love changed into hatred had occurred, her warmth enveloped his whole body.

He was just a second away from leaving this world so that he wouldn't be attacked by the person he loved, but it turned out that he had a very big misunderstanding…

His body would have already been crushed if he was a normal person, but they were equals when it came to physical strength. This wasn't hatred, but overflowing and heavy love!

"Why… hic, hic, Why do you want to leave me when there is so little time left to be together? Do you hate me now?"

Even then, Yeon's embrace couldn't help but soften as the tears that she held back since forever came running down her glistening cheeks.

'Look at what I have done, I made her cry in the end…'

The reality of Yeon's unquestionable feelings was always there for him to see. However, among other things, the anxiety and depression that accumulated through his absorptive reading had jumped on the chance to dominate his psyche.

In such a situation, he was really a useless person.

"Calm down, Yeon. I'm not leaving. Sorry, it was my fault for saying that. I should have added that I want to be by your side for the very last second I have here."

"Hic, Really? Hic, you really don't hate me?"

Once his rational thoughts were restored, Yeon was becoming greater and greater in Leo's eyes.

Yeon undeniably possessed the characteristics of a Yandere, yet despite knowing that he would be leaving, she didn't have any extreme reaction such as trying to kill him to keep his body with her.

Rather, suppressing her selfishness, all she desired was to spend what little time he had left with him. It was only when he foolishly threatened to take that time away that she started going crazy!

"How could I hate you?! I was the stupid one for doubting my own heart. Let's spend every following second together. No, please let me spend it with you!"

Since he was the one in the wrong, Leo naturally had to be the one to make it up.

"Also, please stop crying, my heart can't take it either."

Wiping away Yeon's precious tears, Leo pulled her into his embrace. What a great and experienced reader was he! In the end, he was just an insecure idiot who made his partner cry.

"Mm, I won't cry anymore, so don't make such a sad face either!"

As if her sadness was snatched away by the wind, all that was left on Yeon's face was worry as her hand rested on Leo's cheek.

Seeing something like this, Leo couldn't help planting a kiss on Yeon's forehead. She was truly his most precious person.

"Usually when people separate, they go traveling or sightseeing together, but…"

In reality, there was no need to lament the lack of teleportation magic in this world. After all…

"This precious time can't possibly be spent on such a lackluster pass-time activity. Instead, what do you say we take this chance to journey through your Domain?"

What better place could a stuck-together pair like them ask for than the Flat Plains?

Not only was their calm and silence but the far-stretching greenery set up a mood suitable for situations. Most importantly, there was no one that could possibly bother them during this journey!

"As long as we stay together… I don't mind where we go, but remember-"

Closing her lips into an insanely cute pout, Yeon lightly punched Leo's back.

"It's our Domain."

"Haha, sure, sure. It's settled then!"

For the first time since he had come to this world, Leo set out to explore the Flat Plains alongside Yeon. Of course, what he did truly didn't matter as long as Yeon was next to him, but doing something interesting was a bonus.

The concept of green beyond green might have seemed boring at first glance, but this wasn't the boring Earth.

Even in this vast field where cover was scarce, thanks to the Heavenly Strength Society's protectivity of their domain, there were many exotic creatures and plants that lived there hidden from the common eyes.

'To think that our 'homeland' was this interesting…'

With Yeon's smiles and laughs as his treats Leo wasn't particularly hungry for food. However, in order to make sure that these 8 days would be perfect, he caught some of the edible-looking animals and unleashed his cooking skills!

"Delicious! I should have been the one to cook though…"

Although the Personal Book held Leo's 'Cooking' in low regard, they were always met with high praise from the Murim people. After all, the modern dishes that he created were hard to replicate in this age and time.

'Thankfully I brought my trusty bag of spices.'

Of course, when it came to Yeon, it looked like she would say it was delicious even if he gave her coriander on broccoli…

At this moment when both of them were at their happiest, it felt like time could stop and they would be okay with it.

Unfortunately, however, great times only passed faster, and before they could know it, Leo was already down to his last day.

"...Do you really have to leave?"

As they surrendered themselves to the breezy wind, both Leo and Yeon fell down on the cool grass, watching the clouds in the sky clear up.

"Wouldn't I have already tried if there was a way? This is already my second time, so I'm fairly sure."

Rolling up to his side, Leo's gaze turned serious as he looked into Yeon's eyes.

"However, no matter how long it takes, whatever it takes, I will make sure to find a way for us to be together. Whether that be through me coming back or bringing you back to my world..."

"As long as you remember that I'm waiting for you… I don't care how you do it, but you have to make sure to take the ring with you."

Sitting up, Yeon tightly held into Leo's right hand as she made sure to touch the shining red ring attached to his pinky.

'I will make sure to treasure it.'

This red ring that looked like it was wholly made of rubies was originally a mineral rock that they picked up during their journey. However, after being nurtured by Yeon's Internal Energy, it naturally morphed into this state.

Even if it wasn't cheap, Leo planned to pay every point required to take it back with him!

'Right.'

Remembering Cheon Chang's words, Leo quickly took out the Silver Dragon as well as his old Inner Scale Armor.

Just like the Silver Dragon, the Wyvern Scale Armor was replaced by one made using actual Dragon Scales once he became the Heavenly Strength Society's fourth Pillar.

"It's not as beautiful as your gift, and it's not something that you could use, but I would like you to have these as something to remember me with."

"You are going with that again! I already said that anything you can give is already precious enough!"

Although Yeon had another pout on her face, she quickly snatched out Leo's gifts as if afraid he would take them back. She had carefully hidden it, but Leo could already tell that she was deeply elated by his souvenirs!

'Thank God.'

Since the gift exchange moment was done, Leo and Yeon went back to lying down, but this time, they faced each other instead of the sky, holding each other's hand.

'Would she recognize me if I came back?'

At this point, Leo's head was already full of the fantasy of his future self tearing open the dimensional wall and taking Yeon with him in a princess carry. He already couldn't wait!

Seeing his current reflection in her gem-like eyes, Leo couldn't help wondering if she would be able to discern who he truly was in his true body…

Frozen in their current state, time passed even faster that Leo was whisked out from Yeon's grasp before any of them knew it. As she closed her empty grip, Yeon's expression turned slightly darker.

'This is fate's tribulation, so I have no choice but to accept it. However…'

"I know I said I would, but there is no way I would sit here waiting for you, Leo."

'Since I have nothing other than time here, I should be able to perfect 'That' and…'

Restraining the fog that spread in her eyes, Yeon shut them off as she engraved her very last moment with Leo into her memories.

"Once the time comes, I will come to you whether you still remember me or not."

Tightly hugging the Inner Scale Armor that Leo left behind, Yeon made a vow to herself and the person she cared about the most.

Unbeknownst to the shaken Reader, the Yandere that he left behind was even more unwilling to let go than he was...

[[ The Second Book - Murim Supremacy - End ]]