#174
Isn’t it strange that I have the same face as you, Yeonsoo-nim?
“Well… it is strange.”
I nodded quietly at Nine’s question. Did it take on this appearance because it was a program in my phone? But if that were the case, shouldn’t it have Lee Yeonsoo’s face rather than Lee Jaeha’s?
Feeling that it was certainly bizarre, I nodded, and Nine put its hand on its cheek and said:
Actually, I… am Lee Jaeha!
“What? You’re saying you’re Lee Jaeha?”
I stared at Nine with wide eyes, startled.
Come to think of it, in the beginning when I entered Lee Jaeha’s body, I often wondered what happened to the original Lee Jaeha. If I hadn’t entered the body of a vegetative patient, there must have been an original owner who used the body.
“I see… so that’s why.”
I could now understand Nine’s strange behavior that I had occasionally noticed. Like when it became dejected and silent when I asked about the original Lee Jaeha, or how it sometimes felt like a real living person rather than an AI, or how it actively tried to prevent ‘Lee Jaeha’ from dying.
I nodded, understanding the situation. If it hadn’t left my side in order to manage its body’s condition, it made perfect sense. I had thought it was just loyal to me because it was a game AI, but that wasn’t the case.
As I nodded quietly, Nine shouted “Wah!” and jumped up and down on my hand.
I can see what you’re thinking, but that’s not it!
“…Huh?”
I was purely by your side because I liked you, Yeonsoo-nim! I’ve never even lived as Lee Jaeha in the first place!
“What?”
I blinked and racked my brain. Nine is Lee Jaeha’s soul but has never lived as Lee Jaeha…
“Don’t tell me, because I took over your body?”
I thought something didn’t add up with the timeline! I clearly have memories from childhood, which means Nine must have shared the body with me!
That’s right! But I enjoyed watching you live. So I was always watching from beside you!
Nine exclaimed brightly. Then it explained in detail how interesting it found watching my every move, how much it always wanted to be with me, and how long it took to be able to communicate directly like this.
As I listened quietly to the overly detailed explanation, I pressed a hand to my temple and asked:
“Isn’t that just… stalking?”
That’s hurtful! We’re bound by fate, you know!
Nine’s face looked excessively shameless as it said that. It’s fortunate that it had been in the phone until now, otherwise it would have seen everything, including my contact guiding with the two.
I briefly wondered if Nine had seen me changing clothes, bathing, and at other times when I wouldn’t want anyone to see me. It was something I was curious about but didn’t want to know at all.
“Seeing as you’re out here without a phone now… does that mean you can move around like this from now on?”
According to Nine’s explanation, if it had entered the phone by itself, shouldn’t it be free to come out as well?
Thinking I might have to keep seeing Nine, who looks exactly like me, by my side, I asked, but Nine shook its head.
No, I don’t think that will be possible… When you go back, I’ll have to support the world again! For that, it’s better to be directly connected to the network for reference material.
I didn’t quite grasp what it meant, but it seemed to be saying that it would still be in the phone.
I nodded and carefully brought up something I had been wanting to ask.
“There’s something I’ve been curious about… If I disappear, do you die or… something like that? I was wondering why you’re trying so hard.”
My disappearance wouldn’t cause any problems with my survival, Yeonsoo-nim. Though I’m not sure if we can call this state ‘survival’.
Then why are you so enthusiastic? I tilted my head, unable to think of any reason. Noticing that I couldn’t even guess the reason, Nine raised the corners of its mouth with a “huh.” It was a confident expression that I would never make, and it felt very awkward seeing such an expression on a face identical to mine, albeit in miniature form.
It’s love.
As soon as those words came out, Hyun Dowoon and Shin Haejun’s faces slightly furrowed.
You’re the only one who has meaning to me, Yeonsoo-nim. So…
Nine’s face, which had been speaking as if making a love confession, suddenly contorted. As I opened my eyes wide in surprise, Nine grabbed its face with both hands and suddenly started crying loudly.
I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I was so scared at the thought of you disappearing… I ended up lying! I thought you’d naturally want to return to your original world…
I could understand why Nine thought that way. Certainly, if I had known how to return to the original world without meeting these two, I would have easily gone.
Glancing at the two, I could see their expressions had darkened slightly. They seemed half in doubt even though I had said I would stay by their side.
‘I still don’t know the reason… but I can see that Nine is extremely devoted to me.’
Well, you don’t always need a reason to like someone.
There didn’t seem to be any erotic love in Nine’s gaze towards me. However, it was clear that it considered me very important and serious.
“You know, I don’t particularly have any lingering attachment to the original world. I have nothing there that’s mine.”
…What?
“Life in the original world was always the worst. There was only one reason I wanted to go back. I wanted to die in the world where my parents passed away.”
At my words, tears welled up in Nine’s large eyes. I could feel Shin Haejun and Hyun Dowoon grasping my hands with their different body temperatures.
“But now I want to live.”
I looked around at the two briefly, then smiled at Nine.
If I was the only thing important to Nine, it must have felt it had no choice but to try to keep me, even with lies, after being so anxious. It’s not like I always make the right choices either, so I could understand.
Waaah… Huaaah! Yeonsoo-nim-!
I thought I had said something nice, but unexpectedly, Nine cried even louder. I was a bit taken aback because I didn’t understand why it was reacting this way, but I tried my best to comfort the crying Nine.
As I comforted it earnestly, feeling like I was breaking out in a cold sweat because I’m not good at consoling others, Nine mumbled between sobs:
I’m so glad. I’m so glad you don’t want to die anymore!
“Did… did you worry that much?”
Of course! I always wish for your well-being and happiness, Yeonsoo-nim!
Somehow, I felt a tickle inside. I lowered my head to hide my flushed cheeks.
It’s truly joyful when someone likes you. As if to make up for the days when I wasn’t loved, I received a lot of love since coming to this world.
“Thank you.”
I whispered sincerely to everyone. I was truly happy.
So… Yeonsoo-nim, are you going back? To your original body?
At Nine’s question, I immediately nodded. Even though there was no way they would let me go, I felt anxious, as if I had to answer right away.
Alright then…
Just as Nine was about to tell me something that seemed like a method, I suddenly felt like the top of my head was brightening, and I heard a voice in my mind.
…Ah! Are you okay?
It was the woman’s voice I had heard before. However, it sounded much fainter than last time. It felt like answering a phone call in an elevator.
Ah, it appeared again! Ugh, I wish I could cut it off completely…!
As I grabbed my ears and tilted my head, Nine flew up with an angry face.
This time, no matter how much you interfere, I won’t let go! Do you know how much trouble you’ve caused?
Yeonsoo-nim has just barely settled its heart! You’re the one interfering!
Where in my novel did something like this pop out from? This is really driving me crazy!
The woman vented in frustration. Unable to understand the situation, I blinked and focused on listening to the voices, when the two clung to me. I had to listen to Nine and the woman arguing while my body was tightly held.
Ah, no. I need to resolve this quickly before it interferes again.
Soon, as if she had regained her composure, the woman’s voice became calm. I noticed that although Nine was trembling, it was trying not to interfere with the woman like before.
‘Based on the feeling, it seems Nine had interfered every time this woman appeared before…’
I guess it’s holding back as an extension of sincerely apologizing to me earlier, even though it could interfere again.
I wanted to pat Nine’s head because it seemed admirable, but realizing I couldn’t touch its ghost form, a small sigh escaped me.
“Excuse me, but are you Ms. ????”
It was a bit awkward at the point where I said “question mark question mark question mark,” but I asked to confirm, and the woman’s voice cut off for a moment.
What? Didn’t I introduce myself at first? I’m Kim Hyun-ah. You’re Lee Yeonsoo… right? You saved me in that traffic accident.
…What? You’re that student?
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
