THIFSGSTW CH 44

Episode 44: The Beginning of a New Year

Raen’s whispering voice brushed right past my face.

“Please take care of me this year too.”

At some point, Raen’s robe had been thickly draped over my shoulders. His bright yellow eyes, gazing at me, sparkled like stars that would still shine in the morning. A few strands of Raen’s hair had fallen loose, glowing a vivid red. As if melting into the rising sun.

“Yihan-ah.”

I turned my head toward the voice calling me. Park Yul was looking straight at me with unwavering eyes.

“Let’s go back together.”

Park Yul’s eyes softened as he smiled. His highly saturated golden hair fluttered in the wind.

Behind Park Yul, the sun was rising brilliantly. The red hue was gradually expanding. The darkness was being pushed far away. Amidst the pure white snowfall, Park Yul reached out to me. It was a firm hand. I lightly placed my own hand over it. Park Yul gently wrapped my hand in his. It was warm.

“Yes. Let’s go back.”

With my words, the scene instantly changed. The large gates of Redeo were now in front of me. A faint floral scent lingered in the air.

Creak.

I opened the gate and stepped inside. White snowflakes were piling up on the blooming flowers in the garden. Yet, each petal remained vivid and clear. A cold breeze brushed past my body.

A thought crossed my mind. This year’s beginning didn’t seem all that cold. The first snowfall I welcomed outside the temple was warmer than I had expected.

◇

Inside Redeo, the warm air enveloped my body.

I lifted my head and looked up at the ceiling. Snow was stacking up layer by layer on the transparent window that was open to the sky. Min Joo-hyuk unwrapped the scarf from around my neck. A cool breeze of scent passed by faintly.

As I moved further inside, I noticed five white velvet boxes placed on a table across the room. As I stared at the boxes positioned in front of the large window, Song Ha-gyeon spoke up.

“…Take one.”

“Huh?”

“It’s something Leader-hyung prepared. He always prepares gifts for the first day of the year.”

I stepped closer to take a look. Inside each box was a transparent, glittering hexagonal pillar-shaped piece, with a single golden flower embedded within.

“They look exactly like the piece I saw earlier.”

“That’s right. It’s the same. It disappears after a year.”

“So that’s why Yul-hyung gives them as gifts every year?”

Raen quietly nodded as he gazed at the piece. So that’s why the one from earlier had turned to dust and scattered.

“Why make them disappear after a year?”

Was that really necessary? Next to me, Min Joo-hyuk chuckled lightly as he replied.

“Because Park Yul-hyung values romance.”

“You’re always the same, Joo-hyuk.”

“I mean it. Even if it disappears, it’s born again with a new meaning.”

Though his tone was the same as usual, each word rang clearly in my ears.

“Even if it’s the same thing, it takes on a different meaning each time.”

I found myself nodding instinctively. Hearing Min Joo-hyuk’s words, I felt like the reasoning behind it was becoming clearer. Perhaps Park Yul was even more romantic than I had thought.

Amid these thoughts, Raen’s calm voice reached me. “To Leader-hyung, the beginning of the year is a meaningful day. That’s what I think.”

“Why is it a meaningful day?”

“Because Leader-hyung was chosen as the Hero on the first day of the year.”

Raen’s gaze was directed outside the window. He bit his lip lightly.

He stared silently at the endlessly swirling snowfall, then, as if gathering his thoughts, his expression relaxed. He then turned to me with a faint smile.

“Joo-hyuk and I talked about it every year, but we never came to a conclusion. What do you think, Yi-han?”

“Sun Yi-han. My argument makes more sense, doesn’t it?”

Min Joo-hyuk looked at me with expectant eyes that sparkled. I gave him a small smile before turning my head toward Song Ha-gyeon.

“What about you, Ha-gyeon hyung?”

“…Well. Park Yul-hyung said both are correct.”

I was asking for Song Ha-gyeon’s opinion, but before I could press further, he picked up one of the pieces. Song Ha-gyeon tapped it lightly with his fingertips. Inside, tiny shimmering specks of light were densely packed. He handed the piece over to Min Joo-hyuk.

“Thank you, Ha-gyeon hyung.”

Min Joo-hyuk accepted the piece and extended his arm to examine it closely, as if appraising it. His brows furrowed slightly in contemplation.

“Leader-hyung told us not to prepare any gifts for him.”

He turned to Raen. Song Ha-gyeon’s composed voice followed.

“…Because Park Yul-hyung is quite firm about that.”

“Yeah. Once he says something, he’s resolute about it.”

That was definitely true of Park Yul. Min Joo-hyuk added, “But at least he accepts these.”

Min Joo-hyuk kept his eyes fixed on the piece as he continued.

“When we told him we couldn’t just keep receiving, he started preparing an extra one from then on.”

“Right. Instead of preparing something separately, he just told us to add a bit more enchantment and return it.”

Ah. So that’s why there were five pieces. One was meant to be returned. I finally understood.

“I think he does it more so that we won’t feel burdened.”

“That just makes us even more grateful.”

“Which means, in the end, we’re still just receiving.”

…It makes me wonder if that really holds the meaning of a gift…

If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better not to receive anything at all from the start? While I was thinking that, Raen smiled slightly and continued.

“But we keep exchanging like this.”

Raen’s gaze briefly swept over me. Before I could dwell on it further, Min Joo-hyuk snapped his fingers.

The piece floated into the air. Snowflake-like patterns slowly etched themselves onto its surface. It looked as though snow was falling inside it, just like the scene outside.

“Do you carve something different every year?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“What was last year’s?”

“What do you think?”

When I ask a question, I’d prefer an answer. Not another question.

“I don’t know. A flower?”

“Park Yul-hyung does like flowers. So, that’s for the last one.”

“…Last?”

Min Joo-hyuk looked at my face, then widened his eyes. In the next moment, he stretched out my cheeks. 

“What are you thinking? Obviously, I meant the day the Hero’s term ends.”

I wasn’t thinking of anything. And I let my guard down again. Next time, I needed to stay constantly alert. 

Resolving myself, I asked Min Joo-hyuk, “But why isn’t Yul-hyung here? Do you know where he is?”

“He’s in the basement right now.”

Raen was the one who answered. He lightly squeezed the piece in his hand before releasing it. “He’ll probably come out tomorrow. He always does on New Year’s Day.”

“Why?”

Raen shook his head as if he didn’t know. Then, he placed a piece in my hand. It had a faint reddish hue and felt slightly warm.

“It feels warm.”

“That’s right. I just cast a magic on it. In summer, it’ll turn cool.”

So, will the piece turn blue in the summer? That was fascinating. If everything was possible with magic like this, then those who couldn’t use magic might be missing out on half of their lives. Perhaps the system appeared before me to make up for the half of my life I had lost. Of course, it hadn’t exactly been helpful to me.

“Yi-han, you deliver it to Leader Hyung.”

“Right. This is the most important role, Sun Yi-han.”

Song Ha-gyeon placed the piece into a velvet box, closed the lid, and handed it to me. Then, he placed another box in my arms.

“…This one’s for you.”

Even with two boxes in my hands, they weren’t as heavy as I expected. I nodded, and Song Ha-gyeon quietly watched me. Before I knew it, the weight in my arms disappeared. The boxes were now floating in midair.

“I’ll take them up for you.”

“It’s okay. I can carry them.”

“Mm. …Let’s go.”

What was that answer just now? His voice definitely sounded like he was agreeing with me.

I looked up at the two boxes, still floating and swaying slightly in the air. There was no helping it. The boxes wouldn’t come down until I stepped into my room. In the end, I climbed the stairs with empty hands and entered the room. Only then did Song Ha-gyeon lower the boxes onto the bedside table.

“…Sleep well.”

“Um, it’s morning.”

“You walked a lot.”

Song Ha-gyeon’s expression was serious. I hadn’t walked much, and I wasn’t tired. But I nodded anyway.

“If you’re not sleepy, just rest.”

Song Ha-gyeon placed a hand on my shoulder. Then, he gently pushed me. I plopped down onto the bed. “…If anything happens, come down to the lab.”

Song Ha-gyeon looked at me quietly, his eyes unreadable. He leaned toward me, his neatly arranged face drawing closer.

Then, he stopped abruptly, just inches away. Close enough that I could hear his breathing. Remaining in that position, he reached out and slowly brushed my bangs aside before resting his hand on my forehead.

“…You don’t have a fever. If you feel sick, tell me.”

“……Okay.”

I answered blankly. Song Ha-gyeon, having heard my response, withdrew smoothly.

“I’m going.”

With those words, he left the room in an instant. The door in front of me closed almost immediately. I didn’t think I had ever seen him move that fast before. He was someone who, when observed closely, was hard to tell if he was slow or fast.

I picked up one of the boxes from the table and walked to the window.

Swish.

I opened the curtains wide. The snow piled outside was white without any shadows. Snowflakes were still fluttering in the air like flower petals. It would continue falling like this for the rest of the day.

Leaning against the hard window frame, I sat myself on the ledge. The cold air seeping in through the window gradually spread inside my clothes.

Clack.

I opened the box and placed the transparent piece on my palm. The golden flower inside was small but had a vivid color. Thinking about how this piece would disappear next year left me with an odd feeling. Right now, it was here, so clear and solid.

‘What kind of feelings did he have?’

What feelings did Park Yul have when he gifted these disappearing items every year? And what did everyone else feel as they received gifts that would eventually disappear?

The piece sparkled under the sunlight. Each snowflake dancing in the sky contained sunlight. It felt as if light powder was pouring down to the ground. It was dazzling. The winter sun was warm enough to heat my body.

‘He said Park Yul would come out tomorrow.’

From the basement, where light didn’t reach, to a morning shining brighter than ever. The sun of today would soon set, and tomorrow would arrive before long.