Koko's eyes widened at the sudden question.
"Me? A princess?" she blinked.
"No, I'm not. Why do you ask?"
Jinhwan stretched his arms again lazily.
"Yeah... that's what I figured. If you were, this quest would've ended already. Forget it."
With that, he walked out of the cave, strolling slowly around the village, glancing at the peaceful life around him. Behind him, Koko and Coco followed closely.
He spoke again without looking back.
"Hey, since your names are kinda similar, are you two siblings?"
"Yeah, you're right," Koko said with a nod.
"We're twins."
She walked a little closer, then looked at him curiously.
"If you don't mind me asking.... which world did you come from?"
Jinhwan stopped near the river's edge, the water clear and still beneath the glowing purple stones.
"I come from a planet called Earth. Since you call your planet Earth too, I guess I don't really have a unique name for mine. And now I'm stuck here."
He turned his head toward her, eyes narrowing slightly.
"By the way, how did you heal me? Did you have some kind of potion or something? There's no way broken bones could heal that fast."
Koko stepped closer, her silver gaze locking onto his.
"We don't have any healing potions. I was the one who healed you. It's my ability, I can heal myself and others."
Jinhwan blinked once, surprised.
"So you're a healer.. That's good."
He knelt down by the riverbank and dipped his fingers into the water. It was cold. Clean. Still flowing.
This world's history isn't even that long... just a few years of ruin. Well, not my problem.
But how the hell am I supposed to find that princess?
There's nothing in this damn window about her.
I need to leave this place and finish that quest. It's already been three days since I got here, Miss Cha, Uncle Joon... they're probably losing their minds looking for me.
I've gotta get back before things get worse.
Jinhwan let out a quiet sigh as he stood up, brushing the dust from his pants. He turned toward Koko and Coco.
"I need to get fresh. Is there a place I can clean up, and somewhere to wash my clothes too?"
He ran a hand through his hair, still sticky from dried sweat and fruit juice.
Koko gave a small smile.
"Of course. Coco will take you. Give me your clothes, I'll wash them and dry them while you bathe."
Then she turned to Coco and signed something with smooth, practised movements. Coco nodded in response and gestured for Jinhwan to follow.
Coco glanced at Jinhwan, gave a small nod, then turned and began walking. Jinhwan followed without a word, his footsteps echoing softly against the stone floor.
The path they took wound quietly through the underground village. They passed a few monkeys tending to fruit trees, others gathering water in stone bowls. No one said a word, but their eyes followed Jinhwan as he walked past.
After a few minutes, they stopped in front of a cave, its entrance low and narrow, shaped almost like a doorway carved into the rock. Purple crystals lined the sides, pulsing faintly like a heartbeat in stone.
Coco ducked and stepped inside.
Jinhwan followed, his shoulders brushing slightly against the walls. The path inside was narrow, winding like a stone maze. The deeper they went, the cooler the air became. The walls glittered faintly with embedded crystal veins, casting soft purple hues that danced with every step.
Finally, the tight passage opened up into a large chamber. It was quiet.
The room was lit entirely by the glowing purple stones clustered around the ceiling and corners, casting a soft light over everything. In the centre was a natural bath, round, wide, and filled with gently steaming water. The surface rippled slightly, as if it were breathing.
Jinhwan exhaled slowly, letting his shoulders relax.
He walked toward the edge, then began unbuttoning his crimson-stained white shirt. Each button came undone with a soft click, the fabric peeling away from his tired body. He tossed the shirt to the floor, then unbuckled his belt and slid off his dark blue jeans, letting them drop in a quiet heap.
The cool air kissed his skin, and he flexed his sore arms with a small wince. Bending down, he gathered up his clothes into a bundle and handed them to Coco, who accepted them silently.
Coco gave a final glance, then turned and walked back through the narrow path, leaving Jinhwan alone with the still water and the quiet hum of glowing crystal light.
Jinhwan stepped forward slowly, the steam rising gently around his legs. The stone beneath his feet was smooth and warm, polished over time by water and footsteps.
He took another step, then another... and finally eased himself into the bath.
The water embraced him like a gentle breath, hot, but not scalding. Just enough heat to dig into the soreness wrapped around his body. The tension in his shoulders, the dull ache in his spine, the fatigue hidden deep in his muscles, all of it slowly began to unwind.
He let out a soft breath, eyes half-lidded, his limbs going slack as the warmth pulled the weight off him.
Jinhwan wasn't bulky, but lean, his frame sculpted from constant movement and survival. There were faint scars along his arms, the kind left behind by sharp edges and close calls. His chest rose and fell steadily, marked with old bruises and fresh scratches, now fading under the water's touch.
He leaned back, letting the water rise to his neck, then slid further down until his whole body was submerged.
As the water touched his skin, he noticed something strange.
The grime, the dried blood, the sweat, all vanished. Not dissolved, not floating in the water, just gone, as if it had never been there.
He slid down fully, dipping his face beneath the surface for a moment. The water wrapped around his head, warming his scalp, running through his hair.
Then he rose again, wet strands clinging to his face. He blinked and looked down. His skin was clean, completely clean. And the water? Still crystal clear. Not a single trace of dirt or blood remained.
Jinhwan's eyes narrowed slightly as he leaned forward, peering into the centre of the bath.
At the very bottom, embedded in the stone, was a glowing purple crystal, similar to the ones lining the village. But this one was brighter, pulsing faintly like it was alive.
A cleansing stone?
Whatever it was... it worked.
[Episode 33 End]