Ending Maker

SIDE STORY 19

Terms used in this side story:

Town Musicians of Bremen – a popular German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. It’s a story about a cat, a dog, a rooster, and a donkey who decided to become musicians.

SIDE STORY – TO EARTH (12)

‘Alexei! Help me, Alexei!’

He had not called for Alexei in the past 6 years, but had increasingly called out to him for the past few days.

Why was that?

What was the reason for that?

‘Alexei!’

Anyway, what mattered now was that he desperately needed the teachings of Alexei in this extreme situation.

‘Extreme situation?’

What in the world?

The powerful reasoning ability supporting the mind of Kang Jin-ho questioned it, but only for a moment.

His intense emotions disturbed and crushed his reason.

“General! General! It’s an emergency! The enemy is rushing in from behind!”

Inside the tent.

Or in the mind of Kang Jin-ho.

At the urgent shout of Signal Officer Kang Jin-ho, General Kang Jin-ho swallowed hard and studied the battlefield map.

“As expected of Natasha…”

Her attacking skills were not to be taken lightly.

With just one move, Kang Jin-ho found himself in a dilemma.

“General! Offensive from the front!”

At the moment when Signal Officer Kang Jin-ho yelled.

“Oppa? What happened?”

He heard the voice of Hong Yoo Hee from beyond the door.

She was obviously standing in front of the door.

In other words, it was a situation where the door could be opened if she stretched out her hand.

“N-NO!”

General Kang Jin-ho cried out urgently.

They had to stop Hong Yoo Hee from opening the door and witnessing the current situation.

Most of the Kang Jin-hos had the same thought as General Kang Jin-ho.

But Chess Player Kang Jin-ho, whose reason was levelheaded, came up with a question in this situation.

‘Why should we?’

If the door opened, Hong Yoo Hee would see Kang Jin-ho and Natasha.

She would see the half-naked Natasha lying on the bed.

Why should they avoid it?

Why was Kang Jin-ho afraid of the various consequences this fact would bring?

“We have to buy time! We have to do something!”

When Gambler Kang Jin-ho shouted, General Kang Jin-ho gritted his teeth and looked at the battlefield map.

At that moment, the voice of Hong Yoo Hee was heard again, and Natasha had a beautiful and devilish smile.

“Act!”

They no longer had the time to drag it out.

The moment General Kang Jin-ho yelled, the Kang Jin-ho in reality began to move.

“This way!”

Kang Jin-ho whispered in a very low voice and lifted Natasha from the bed, pushing her into the closet.

“Stay inside. Stay hidden. Please?”

He had said it for now, but would she really listen?

Kang Jin-ho looked at Natasha with a desperate expression, and Natasha had a sly smile before nodding her head.

Anyone could tell that she would not stay calm.

Her mischievous smile was full of playfulness.

But he had no other way.

Kang Jin-ho once again conveyed his earnestness with a desperate expression and then closed the door of the closet. After trying to catch his breath, he opened the bedroom door.

“Oppa?”

Hong Yoo Hee looked at him with a little anxiety and confusion.

“Uh… What happened?”

He had suddenly shut the bedroom door.

Perhaps something happened in the bedroom.

Furthermore…

‘Why… is his face red?’

Now that she saw it, he was breathing hard and sweat was running down his forehead.

What in the world had happened?

When Hong Yoo Hee asked again, Kang Jin-ho gulped.

And in that instant, he fully used his brain to create an excuse.

“Cockroach.”

“Eh?”

“T-There was a cockroach.”

Hong Yoo Hee turned pale at his words, and Kang Jin-ho was convinced.

‘It worked!’

He could get through this situation!

Once a way out was revealed, the tongue of Kang Jin-ho began to work its magic.

“I mean, I closed the door because I was afraid that the cockroach would suddenly come out of my room and go outside.”

It made sense.

It was realistic.

It was convincing enough!

Moreover, his choice of words was effective.

As soon as Hong Yoo Hee heard that a cockroach appeared, she was flustered and could not continue to think logically.

“D-Did you kill it?”

“No, not yet.”

Kang Jin-ho reflexively replied and secretly clenched his fist. Because this answer was also a huge success.

“It’s still in my bedroom. So let’s close the door.”

“Uh… ah… yes.”

Hong Yoo Hee got out of the room and Kang Jin-ho quickly followed her before closing the door.

“Miss Yoo Hee. I’m sorry, but could you go back for today? Probably… Until I kill it…”

“I-I understand.”

Because cockroaches were a big problem.

Moreover, it was in the house next door.

So it had to be eradicated.

“Yes, thank you for your understanding.”

Kang Jin-ho said and sighed in relief, and the General Kang Jin-ho in his mind applauded him in admiration.

“Give him a medal! A medal!”

The one who came up with that idea was Recluse Kang Jin-ho who was born in the past 6 years.

As all the Kang Jin-hos applauded in delight, Recluse Kang Jin-ho shyly smiled and the Kang Jin-ho in reality also smiled without realizing it.

“I-I will go then. O-Oppa, fighting!”

“Yes, I’ll do my best.”

But at that moment.

“Meow.”

“Huh?”

The sound of a cat came from the bedroom.

“Meow.”

They did not hear it wrong.

They heard it again.

Its cry was so filled with sadness as though the cat was trapped somewhere inside and sending a rescue signal for help.

What was that?

Did oppa own a cat?

When Hong Yoo Hee appeared to be questioning him, Kang Jin-ho stopped breathing for a moment.

And he desperately thought.

In order to overcome the current crisis, he accelerated his thinking and once again succeeded in creating an answer.

“Y-YouTube.”

“Eh?”

“I mean, uh… I was watching cute cat videos on YouTube before you came.”

At the excuse of Kang Jin-ho, Hong Yoo Hee blinked before smiling a bit.

Because she had imagined Kang Jin-ho deliberately watching cute cat videos on YouTube.

‘Cute.’

So cute.

An unexpected side of Outbo, the oppa next door.

Kang Jin-ho was relieved again when he saw the smile that appeared on her face.

It seemed like he somehow succeeded in resolving the situation again this time.

“Anyway, Miss Yoo Hee.”

“Yes, oppa. I’ll be go-”

“Woof-woof! Woof-woof!”

“Oh, a dog came out? Did auto-play played the next video?”

Kang Jin-ho immediately made up an excuse at the barking dog sounds, and Hong Yoo Hee nodded again.

But it was then.

“Cock-a-doodle-doo~ Cock-a-doodle-doo~ ”

“Neigh~ Neigh~ ”

He could explain the cat and dog.

But a rooster? And a donkey in the end?

Kang Jin-ho felt a cold sweat flowing down behind his back, but tried to stay as calm as possible.

The embarrassing situations continued, but his problem could be solved with his first excuse.

He did not forget that point.

“I-Is it an animal farm? Or perhaps it’s the Town Musicians of Bremen?”

His excuse sounded ridiculous, but it somehow worked.

Hong Yoo Hee nodded again despite being confused.

“Then, Miss Yoo Hee.”

“Yes, oppa.”

It was very unfortunate, but a cockroach was an important problem.

Hong Yoo Hee went out of the front door, hiding her disappointment. Likewise, Kang Jin-ho saw her off with a disappointed face and then locked the front door.

And he sighed in relief again.

After wiping the sweat from his forehead, he went to the kitchen and drank a sip of water.

“Natasha!”

At the sound of him shouting, Natasha burst out laughing.

“Who was that just now? A kitty? No, a baby rabbit?”

The door was closed, but he could tell from her voice.

Kang Jin-ho did not know, but when he led Hong Yoo Hee to the front door, Natasha had opened the bedroom door and peeked.

“Isn’t she the kid next door?”

She was right.

But Kang Jin-ho decided to talk about something else first.

“W-What in the world was that? Those animal sounds.”

“What? You really like this, huh? Rabbit ears. No, bunny girls?”

Natasha was sitting on the bed with a bunny ears headband on her head, and that appearance shook the mind of Kang Jin-ho.

“Cute. You still have the same taste.”

“That’s not really my taste.”

She was actually right.

But he did not want to reveal that fact. Even if Natasha already knew!

“You haven’t changed.”

Natasha giggled and stood up as she spread out her arms. She smiled and said to Kang Jin-ho who was standing awkwardly.

“Come here. I haven’t seen you in a long time, so shouldn’t we hug first?”

A half-naked beauty with a bunny ears headband.

But what mattered the most was that the woman in front of him was Natasha.

Kang Jin-ho straightened his posture and unknowingly smiled. He said as he tightly hugged Natasha.

“I missed you.”

“Me too.”

Finally, after six years.

The hug between the two lasted for a long time.

***

Natasha Molotov.

Age unknown.

But she was presumed to be one to two years older than Kang Jin-ho.

Their age difference was almost negligible by adult standards, but not for young boys and girls.

The body growth of women was primarily a bit faster than men.

‘No, that’s not the only thing.’

Natasha was mature at an early age.

An adult.

Yes, a grown-up.

For the child Kang Jin-ho, Natasha was an adult he could trust and depend on.

“However.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

Natasha changed from her clothes that was close to half-naked to a relatively acceptable outfit – a short-sleeved T-shirt and shorts. But she was still wearing the bunny ears headband on her head, and that fact deeply shook the mind of Kang Jin-ho.

“Don’t you like bunny girls?”

“Ahem.”

Kang Jin-ho gave a reply that was neither affirmative nor negative, and spoke again.

“Anyway, Natasha. How have you been?”

Because six years had passed.

Moreover, Natasha was clearly still active, unlike Kang Jin-ho who had retired.

The two had exchanged playful words, but he could tell when he met her.

“I’m doing well, so I’m here now. You seem to be doing well too, right?”

The words of Natasha had a slightly different meaning.

Kang Jin-ho wryly smiled at her words.

The past six years.

He had spent hours just playing a game in the corner of the room, but he smiled for some strange reason.

Those six years were the time he spent with Hong Yoo Hee.

‘Wait… What did I just think?’

When Kang Jin-ho was startled by his own thoughts, Natasha looked at him and had a rather complicated expression.

Relief and regret. She felt both joy and disappointment.

But it was only for a short while.

Natasha quickly hid her expression and became the mischievous and lewd older sister as she asked in a whisper.

“Who is she? Is she the kid next door? Are you two dating? Huh?”

“Yes, she’s the kid next door. But we’re not dating yet.”

At the answer of Kang Jin-ho, the eyes of Natasha widened. She could not help it.

“Yet?”

“Huh?”

“You just said it. Yet.”

Yet.

In short, things might change in the future.

He had a will to change the situation.

Kang Jin-ho was taken aback at her point.

Not because he was lying.

Rather, he was surprised by his inner thoughts.

‘I want to date her? Me?’

With Norfolk, with the girl next door, with Hong Yoo Hee?

Come to think of it, it was really strange.

Why did I hide Natasha so desperately?

Why did I try to squeeze out excuses?

I had only known Hong Yoo Hee for a few days.

No, I had known her for more than 6 years, but my heart was this shaken because I found out that she was a woman?

“It’s possible. ‘Tis fated love.”

The Poet Kang Jin-ho spoke in his mind with a melancholic expression, and General Kang Jin-ho was stupefied before saying.

“G-Get him out.”

Because he did not want to understand.

Because it was so embarrassing.

“Fufufu, accept and refuse it not. A world of love and peace.”

General Kang Jin-ho was once again stupefied by the appearance of Poet Kang Jin-ho who was smiling while being dragged out, but it was only for a moment.

He came to his senses and stared at Natasha.

“Natasha, did something happen?”

It was very nice to meet Natasha.

After all, it had been six years.

But it was also strange.

Natasha had appeared after six years.

He wondered if something happened for her to appear now.

“Nothing.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing. I just wanted to see you. Don’t you want to see me?”

As Natasha lightly tilted her head, her soft platinum blonde hair naturally fell over her shoulders and chest.

Kang Jin-ho was flustered again when her eyes moistened.

“Your face is red?”

When Natasha lightly licked her lips and spoke, Kang Jin-ho quickly turned away and took a deep breath.

‘She’s Natasha. Natasha.’

She’s just joking around.

Don’t be seduced.

It’s just a joke.

She’s obviously doing that to tease me again.

“I wanted to see you. But six years is…”

“Yes, that’s too long. But that made me want to see you more.”

Natasha gently smiled and stretched out her hand to stroke the cheek of Kang Jin-ho.

She continued to speak with a playful smile.

“So… Gino. You’ll make me sleep tonight, right?”

“…Eh?”

“Bed, you’ll lend me your bed, right?”

Kang Jin-ho nervously swallowed at her question. But he replied with a grin.

“I’m used to it now.”

“Huh?”

“I was a bit flustered since it had been six years, but not anymore.”

You teasing me like that.

Kang Jin-ho smiled quite confidently and stood up as he said.

“Use the bedroom. I’ll use the guestroom. Do you want some coffee?”

At his shameless evasion maneuver, Natasha pouted before nodding her head.

“Make it thick.”

“I know. The black one, right?”

Kang Jin-ho shrugged and headed to the kitchen, and Natasha had a complicated smile as she watched his back.

***

The next afternoon.

Hong Yoo Hee had overslept like usual. She hummed as she showered, and then dressed up prettily.

She was not planning to meet the oppa next door today, but still, she was going out to have fun after a long time.

‘I’ll buy clothes for that too.’

Is this the life of a popular person?

Hong Yoo Hee giggled alone and with her few pretty clothes plus her already dead fashion sense, she left the house wearing the same clothes she wore in the offline meeting.

‘I also need to increase the variation of my clothing.’

She had more than a hundred dresses for Cordelia, but the own clothes of Hong Yoo Hee, which included the T-shirts and dolphin shorts she wore at home, was not even half of that.

Hong Yoo Hee clenched her fist and renewed her determination. She then headed to Hongdae by bus.

And half an hour later.

“I’m here.”

“Long time no see, unnie.”

Romantic Cat.

Hong Yoo Hee joined Kim Hye Eun with a wide smile, and Kim Hye Eun had a strange smile at her appearance.

“Why?”

“No, it’s just amazing.”

She could not believe that Norfolk asked her first to go buy clothes with her.

In addition, she could tell by looking at Hong Yoo Hee now.

Something dramatic had happened to Hong Yoo Hee.

“Yoo Hee.”

“Yes, unnie.”

“You have a crush on someone?”

“Urgh!”

Hong Yoo Hee was caught off guard at that instant and groaned, so Kim Hye Eun was convinced again from her actions.

“It’s true.”

I guess you really like someone.

I guess that Norfolk, that gamer girl Hong Yoo Hee has someone she likes.

A smile full of mischief spread across the face of Romantic Cat.

“Who is it? Is it the oppa next door you used to talk every day?”

Because he was the only human Hong Yoo Hee had been interested in.

When Kim Hye Eun pointed it out, Hong Yoo Hee twisted and turned for a while before nodding her head.

“Uh, yes.”

“Oh, what happened? Did you talk to him? No, my Norfolk could not have done that. Was he the one who spoke first?”

“Well… Uh… S-Something like that.”

“Something like that? He talked to you?”

“Uh… Yes.”

Hong Yoo Hee nodded with a red face, and Kim Hye Eun looked pleased as she smiled.

She found it good that Yoo Hee talked with the person she admired, but also felt strangely relieved that it was not Outbo, like what Cowabunga and AAA had said.

“What happened? Huh? Tell me.”

“T-That is…”

“That is?”

“Outbo…”

“Huh?”

Why are you talking about Outbo?

Kim Hye Eun did not understand why she suddenly brought him up. But Hong Yoo Hee continued to talk about Outbo.

“O-Outbo is…”

“Outbo is?”

“T-The oppa next door.”

“Huh?”

What?

“Outbo is… the oppa next door.”

“Huh?”

“He’s the oppa next door…”

“Who?”

“Outbo.”

“Who is Outbo?”

“Ah! Argh! Outbo is the oppa next door!”

The angry Hong Yoo Hee shouted with a red face, so the passersby looked at her, but Kim Hye Eun did not care about that.

Because it was such a shocking fact.

“W-Wait. Wait a minute. So Outbo is actually the oppa next door? The person Hong Yoo Hee admired was actually the boy you had been fighting and arguing with for six years?”

“Yes.”

“You found out about it during the offline meeting, and the offline meeting turned to a date, so you are now looking forward to date him?”

“W-We’re just getting to know each other…”

Hong Yoo Hee denied it with a barely audible voice, but one could tell by looking at her face.

Bullsh*t.

You’re completely thinking of dating him.

“Wow, this is driving me nuts. With that Outbo that you always fought?”

“I mean, well… Outbo and I did not really fight, right?”

“Excuse me, didn’t you used to swear at each other every day?”

“It’s not a curse… It’s an exclamation…”

As Hong Yoo Hee wiggled her fingers and muttered again, Kim Hye Eun burst out laughing.

She found it absurd, but seeing the reaction of Hong Yoo Hee, she could no longer deny it.

“Woah, seriously? For real? What will Cowabunga and AAA say if they find out?”

“Y-You can’t tell them! Got it? Huh?!”

“I know. I know what will happen if I tell them.”

But seriously.

“Woah.”

But that is that and this is this.

I can’t believe that such a thing that happens in manhwas can happen in real life.

“But it does fit.”

“What?”

“You and Outbo. Well, the two of you get along well and never get tired of fighting each other for the past 6 years.”

“We didn’t fight.”

“Sigh, look at you talking. You’ve completely fallen.”

No wonder it was so awkward during the ranking announcement.

It was so different from the usual.

“But Yoo Hee. How old is the oppa next door?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, I’m curious because Outbo is the oppa next door.”

“W-Well…”

How old was he?

She knew that he was older and an adult, but could not guess his exact age.

“I-I think he’s five years older?”

“You said that he was living alone six years ago. Isn’t that a bit too much? If he’s five years older than you, does that mean that you were 19 when he first began playing games with you… Wait, isn’t he a cradle robber?”

When Kim Hye Eun thought hard about it, she assumed that their age difference was six – no, seven years or more.

But Hong Yoo Hee took that same fact completely differently.

“7 years… As I thought, he’s a real adult.”

She seemed to have liked it given her sparkling eyes.

Or perhaps it was not that.

One could clearly see that she would like anything as long as it was about the oppa next door.

‘This is mind-boggling.’

If he was seven years older than Hong Yoo Hee, then he was older than Romantic Cat herself.

But to think that a real adult did something like that every time the ranking was announced…

‘Should I stop her?’

No, of course, Outbo is not a bad person, or is he?

At the time when Kim Hye Eun began to think about the future of Hong Yoo Hee whom she cherished like a younger sister.

“Oh, it’s the oppa next door.”

Kim Hye Eun came to her senses at the words of Hong Yoo Hee, and quickly raised her head.

Looking at the direction Hong Yoo Hee had turned, she saw a tall and handsome man standing out among the crowd.

He was definitely handsome.

Kim Hye Eun finally saw the oppa next door in question, so she could not help but admit that.

But the problem was the next person she saw.

The existence of a beautiful blonde girl who stuck to the side of the oppa next door, or Outbo.

A gorgeous beauty who seemed like she came out of a movie.

The two appeared to be closer than normal to anyone.

The surprised Kim Hye Eun looked back at Hong Yoo Hee and flinched.

“Y-Yoo Hee?”

The expression on the face of Hong Yoo Hee had disappeared.

Kim Hye Eun gulped without realizing it.