A soft purple light spilled out from within as the door slowly opened. Jinhwan took a cautious step inside. His glowing blue eyes scanned the interior.
It was clean, unnaturally clean.
Nothing filled the container except that dim, pulsing purple light and a small mattress tucked into the far corner. Something was lying on it. Small. Unclear. The light was too dim to make out the details.
He looked up. Near the ceiling, fixed in the corner of the container, was a purple stone, just like the one they had seen in the underground village. It pulsed gently.
Jinhwan turned his gaze back to the mattress, his curiosity sharpening. He stepped forward.
Then another step and another.
Sheesh!
The sharp squelch made him freeze. He looked down at his boot. Something squishy had been crushed beneath it. Carefully, he lifted his foot and stepped aside.
Lying there was a small, soft doll. Squishy and oddly shaped, like a child's toy, though its colours were faded, and one of its button eyes hung loose.
It looked out of place. Like it didn't belong in this quiet, glowing space.
"Hmm."
A sudden voice broke the silence.
Jinhwan's eyes snapped forward the moment he heard it. Someone was standing there, small, rubbing their eyes as if just waking from a deep sleep. Tiny hands moved from their face, and in the dim purple light, two crimson eyes blinked open.
A heartbeat passed.
Then, without a sound, the small figure began moving toward him.
Jinhwan instinctively tensed, muscles tightening. But before he could fully raise his guard, the figure was already at his chest, arms wrapping softly around his neck. Small. Warm.
There was no bloodlust. No malice. Only a quiet, comforting presence.
"Papa," the voice said, sweet and delicate, like honey melted in warm tea.
Jinhwan froze.
Now that she was closer, the light revealed her clearly: a little girl, no older than six. She wore a silky, white dress that shimmered gently in the purple glow. Her hair was soft and purple, just like Jinhwan's.
Jinhwan gently moved his arms around her small shoulders and lifted her away from his neck, holding her in front of him. Her face came into full view now, smiling softly, her purple hair messy but silky, falling just to her shoulders. Her crimson eyes stared up at him with innocent curiosity.
"Huh? It's a brat." Jinhwan muttered, narrowing his eyes in confusion. "And since when did I become your papa?"
"What are you talking about, Papa?" the girl replied, tilting her little head, just as confused as he was.
"Again, I'm not your papa," Jinhwan said flatly. "Now, little one, tell me, where's the so-called princess?"
"Hmm.." Her crimson eyes studied his face carefully, slowly drifting to meet his blue ones.
The moment their gazes locked.
Jinhwan's eyes widened in shock.
[Quest Complete.]
A glowing window appeared in midair. And then it's vanished, just like that.
Jinhwan blinked.
This brat is the princess?
And the whole 'saving' thing? I didn't even do anything...
"Papa, why did you change your eye colour?" the girl asked, her voice as sweet as sugar.
Jinhwan snapped out of his thoughts and looked at her, blinking.
"What do you mean? They've been the same since I was born."
"No," she said, shaking her head gently. "They were different. Just like mine. How did you change it? I wanna do it too."
"Like you..? Crimso..."
Jinhwan stopped mid-sentence, a flicker of something passing through his eyes. A memory.
He went quiet.
After a few long seconds, he blinked and looked at her again, studying her face.
"What's your name?"
"It's Hana. Did you forget Hana's name?" she replied, her tone turning slightly sad, eyes lowering.
A soft smile tugged at Jinhwan's lips.
"I remember. I was just messing with you."
He pulled her close, wrapping his arms gently around her.
"Did you miss me?"
Hana nodded quietly as he lifted her in his arms. His blue eyes slowly returned to normal, their glow fading.
With Hana held safely against his chest, Jinhwan turned and walked out of the container, the soft purple light behind them fading into shadow.
Koko was standing outside, waiting. Her silver eyes widened slightly when she saw Jinhwan step out of the container, carrying a little girl in his arms, and smiling.
She looked at him, confused.
Jinhwan stopped in front of her, calm and composed.
"Let's go. My quest is complete," he said. "I'll send you back to your village, then return to my world."
Koko blinked.
"Huh... she's the princess," she whispered in disbelief.
Jinhwan nodded.
Hana looked at Koko curiously. Her crimson gaze dropped to Koko's arms and legs, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Did it affect you?" she asked sweetly. "Should I make her good again, Papa?"
Jinhwan's eyes widened.
"What do you mean by affect? And... you can make her normal?"
Hana tilted her head. "Hmm... yeah. Hana can do that."
"How?" Jinhwan asked.
"Want me to do it?" Hana blinked up at him.
Jinhwan gave a firm nod.
Now that I focus.. she's speaking Korean,
He thought, narrowing his eyes.
Is she really your daughter?
Hana closed her eyes. A calm stillness settled over her. Then, she opened them again, now glowing faintly. She opened her mouth.
"Reverse."
As the word left her lips, a cloud of crimson dust swirled around Koko's body. It moved gently, wrapping her limbs like silk in the breeze.
Then that crimson dust vanished.
Jinhwan's eyes widened.
Koko looked down at herself. Her hands.. her legs, smooth and clean. The hair that had grown uncontrollably was gone.
She was completely back to normal.
Koko slowly raised her hand, her silver eyes brimming with tears, these are tears of joy.
A smile broke across her face as she wiped them away, glancing up at Jinhwan and Hana.
Then, she bowed her head deeply in gratitude.
"Thank you so much."
She raised her head again, her voice softer now.
"If you don't mind.. can you ask her if she can remove the curse from the others too?"
Jinhwan nodded and looked at Hana.
"Hana, can you do that for the other people too?"
Hana nodded cheerfully, her smile warm and bright.
"Mhmm. Hana can."
[Episode 44 End]