I Became a Raid Boss

After a small incident, time flew by like an arrow.

“Can you believe it? Baby Kana is already taking her first steps… As your big sis, I can die in peace now.”

“You wanna die for real?”

My body, once weak and aching like I’d been through a beating, had recovered significantly. Not only could I walk now, but I could also do intense exercises without any trouble.

“Aww. I liked carrying you around, though.”

Da-eun pouted, pushing her lips out in disappointment. I simply ignored her. The freedom of moving my own body again was too good to let anyone spoil. But those helpless days are over now.

At first, I thought, “I’ll probably grow old and die before I fully recover,” but eventually, I picked up momentum, and things improved rapidly.

Seeing my progress, Da-eun had something to say:

“It’s all thanks to my diligent nursing, isn’t it?”

Even though my injury was a bit different from typical wounds, it’s true that staying well-fed and rested was more beneficial than running around aimlessly.

Whenever I mentioned craving something, she’d get it immediately, and sometimes, without me saying a word, she’d bring new dishes she thought I’d like. Da-eun took good care of me.

…Now that I think about it, everything she did was related to food, but she helped in many other ways too.

For instance, she’d always help steady me so I wouldn’t fall. Given the size difference between us, it must’ve been tiring, but she never showed any sign of complaint.

Any decent person would feel grateful for such kindness, so I was prepared to acknowledge Da-eun’s efforts.

“So, as a thank you, how about a little kiss on the cheek?”

The moment she said that, with hopeful eyes, any gratitude I felt evaporated. A kiss on the cheek? I’d have to be under some kind of spell to agree to that.

“Da-eun, are you insane?”

“What’s wrong with a kiss on the cheek?!”

“I’m not a kid. Why would I kiss anyone?”

“Kisses aren’t just for kids! This level of affection is natural between close people.”

“Okay, whatever. You go ahead and kiss whoever you want.”

“Is that so? Then… Kana just agreed! Come here, let me kiss those soft, squishy cheeks!”

“Ugh, I didn’t mean on me!”

…Anyway.

After many ups and downs, I managed to regain most of my health, and I’m finally free from being confined.

Or so I thought.

“…Now, what am I supposed to do?”

I confidently declared my freedom, but I didn’t really have anything I wanted to do.

“What are you doing?” Da-eun asked.

“Breathing.”

“…?”

I was lying around in my room, just like when I was still recovering. But hey, wasn’t this the “different life” I wanted? Besides, I have someone who takes care of all my needs. When I was sick, this felt suffocating, but now… it doesn’t seem so bad. I guess it’s all in how you view things. �

“Kana, have you reached enlightenment or something?!”

Da-eun suddenly hugged me as I rolled around on the floor.

“Don’t leave me behind!”

“…Ack. What’s with the drama?”

“Aren’t you about to reach spiritual enlightenment?”

Enlightenment, my foot.

I twisted around to slip out of Da-eun’s arms. She tried to hold on with all her might, but she was no match for my renewed strength. I looked at Da-eun’s defeated expression with a teasing smile.

“Pathetic.”

“Oooh… You little brat!”

“Bleh.”

I stuck out my tongue, challenging her to come at me if she didn’t like it. Da-eun’s body shook with frustration.

“My sweet, innocent Kana is tainted…”

“I was never yours, and I was never innocent.”

“This is all because of the internet!”

She yelled, storming off to who knows where.

“…What was that.”

Watching Da-eun leave in a loud flurry, just as noisily as she came, I buried my head back into the pillow.

I mean, it wasn’t like Da-eun’s antics were new or anything. By now, her not doing this would feel more unusual.

Calm and composed Da-eun? That’s practically an urban legend.

“Sigh….”

As I lay there, staring blankly up at the ceiling, suddenly—

“….”

“Hi!”

Da-eun’s head popped out of nowhere. Her timing felt unusually quick today. Usually, after pestering me with nonsense and getting shut down, she’d stay quiet for a while, but here she was, back already.

“Why are you back so soon?”

“Hehe, I’m not the Da-eun you know. I’m future Da-eun, sneaking over here while present Da-eun is away!”

“….”

How was I supposed to respond to that?

With a playful grin, she plopped down beside me.

“Do you like the mountains or the sea better, Kana?”

“…? Why the sudden question—”

“Uh-uh, answer sincerely! This question is as legendary as ‘mom or dad,’ ‘black bean noodles or spicy seafood noodles,’ and ‘spicy cold noodles or plain cold noodles!’”

For the record, I like mom more.

Da-eun, having dropped a line that would surely hurt her dad’s feelings, pressed me for an answer. Pausing my lazy rolling around, I thought it over.

Mountains or the sea, huh.

Hmm….

“Neither, really.”

“…What?”

“But if I had to pick… I like the mountains better.”

Though I’ve had plenty of tough times in the mountains, I also have lots of memorable ones there. My father’s grave is in the mountains too.

“So, why are you asking this all of a sudden?”

“I told you! It’s a classic question. It’s the perfect way to break the ice with people you’re not that close with. It’s light, easy to answer, and can lead to other topics.”

“Other topics?”

“Yeah. For example, ‘Oh, you like black bean noodles? Have you tried the Chinese place run by that one chef? It’s amazing.’ You can connect it like that.”

“Ooh.”

Clap, clap.

The way she linked ideas so smoothly was impressive. I found myself clapping, almost entranced. Da-eun did an exaggerated bow in response.

“Of course, since Kana and I are super close, I don’t need to ask these kinds of questions!”

“No, I think you should still ask them.”

“…That’s so mean.”

Sniff, sniff.

Da-eun pretended to cry at my blunt words.

“Anyway, I’ve decided!”

But only for a moment.

Da-eun raised herself and proudly declared. I looked up at her blankly.

“Let’s go out! To the mountains!”

“…What?”

“It’s boring being home all the time. Isn’t it?”

…Boring?

I do get restless sometimes, but not to the point where I’m climbing the walls or anything.

“Come on, really!”

Noticing my lack of enthusiasm, Da-eun hooked her arms under mine and pulled me up. Even with that, my lack of interest didn’t change, so I just let myself droop.

“Oh, who would doubt you’re Kana if you didn’t act like such a cat…!”

“Ngh…”

She lifted me with a bit of force, and before I knew it, I was cradled in her arms as she sat down on the sofa. Da-eun gently patted my head.

“Except for that one shopping trip, you’ve been at home every day. I felt sorry seeing you cooped up here after coming to Earth.”

“I don’t think there’s any need to feel sorry. Thanks to you, I’ve been living comfortably.”

“Oh, r-really? Hehe… If that’s the case, I’m glad.”

As I spoke sincerely, the hand stroking my hair paused briefly. Then, it resumed, now feeling even softer than before.

“Hm…”

I closed my eyes halfway, savoring the feeling of her gentle hand on my head as I drifted into thought. Although I said otherwise, it wasn’t a bad suggestion.

As I’d mentioned, there were times when I felt a bit bored. Not that anything special would happen if I went to the mountains, but it would at least be a nice change of pace.

Should I go or not?

The decision didn’t take long.

“Don’t feel pressured; if you don’t want to, it’s okay to say no. What matters most is what Kana wants.”

“All right. Let’s go.”

“Okay, if you don’t want to, then—wait, what did you just say?”

Da-eun’s voice rose as if she hadn’t expected me to agree.

“Should we not go?”

“No! How about we leave right now?”

“…Without any preparation?”

“To journey with the sky as our friend, the clouds as our blanket—now that’s the essence of travel, right?”

I held her back, reining in her eagerness to head out immediately.

“Ugh!”

I used just a tiny bit of force in holding her back, but hey, all’s well that ends well.

***

Once I agreed to Da-eun’s idea of going on a trip, things moved along swiftly.

“I’ll handle all the preparations!”

True to her confident proclamation, Da-eun made the plans, gathered the items we’d need, and organized everything herself.

“Hah… Kana… could you, um, help me carry this?”

Ah, so not entirely alone.

With the trunk packed to the brim, Da-eun wiped the sweat beading on her forehead.

“All right, soldiers! Ready for takeoff?”

“You said to leave all the prep to you.”

“Obviously, I meant mental preparation! Or did you trust your mind to me too? That wouldn’t be so bad!”

“Not a chance.”

Leaving the overly excited Da-eun to chatter on, I climbed into the car first. With the trunk packed full, and the back seat also filled with luggage, my only option was to sit in the front. Even if it hadn’t been, I would’ve sat up front anyway.

“Kana, it’s polite to sit up front when someone else is driving.”

“Why?”

“The back seat is the seat of honor.”

“Hm, I see.”

Maybe there is such a rule; I had no reason to insist on sitting in the back anyway.

Once Da-eun settled in the driver’s seat and buckled up, she said,

“We’re heading to a campsite halfway up the mountain. I confirmed that no one else has made a reservation, so we can enjoy ourselves without worrying about anyone spotting us.”

“Okay.”

Having heard this before, I nodded without any objection.

Suddenly, Da-eun, holding the steering wheel, burst into laughter.

“Doing this reminds me of our first trip together. Back then, we were coming down from the mountain. Isn’t it fun that now we’re going up?”

Our first trip… Ah, yes. That time, when I decided to head toward Sedeth.

Da-eun was right; things were much different now—different timing, different means of travel, different purposes, and even a changed relationship between Da-eun and me.

“Yeah.”

But some things hadn’t changed from then until now.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

I smiled softly at Da-eun, liking that even with the passage of time and a world that had shifted, some things stayed the same.

I had a feeling this would be a wonderful trip.

—

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