Became a Swordsman Genius in a Pretty Girl Game

371. The Possessed (3)

“S-Shin Sehee. What are you even saying right now…”

A feeling like my soul was freezing over gripped me in that instant.

It was so sudden I couldn’t even manage my expression.

“I… I want to know. About Jin Yuha-ssi’s original world.”

‘Ah…’

And in that moment, the situation from when I’d fallen into a trance unfolded in my head like a panorama.

What the hell was I even babbling about…?

– 1-star trash, lowest physical ability, E-rank swordsmanship specialty. If you pulled him in a gacha, you’d have to reset your account right away, a unique piece of garbage character. I think Jin Yuha is a trap character released to piss off the users. Otherwise, why would they release such a lame character in a game full of beautiful girls?

– Me, well… I’m not originally from this world, you know? I lived in a world that was peaceful, where there were no monsters, just pure peace. In a city glittering with neon signs, just living an ordinary life, playing games.

– How great would it have been if I had possessed someone with a bit more potential? Seriously, why did it have to be some worthless wretch who doesn’t have a single good quality…

– Or if they’d just given me at least one free gacha pull a month, I wouldn’t have had to go through all this dogshit.

Those words, echoing in my ears, felt like a curse.

‘Ah. No…’

Yes, Shin Sehee had heard them.

And she had figured it out.

What those words meant.

‘What do I do?’

‘Should I just play it off like it’s some crazy story?’

‘No, looking at her now, she’s sure. If she wasn’t, she wouldn’t have brought it up in the first place.’

Even after 10,000 hours, no, more than 10,000 hours, of playing Velvet Sla, having become one with the character…

In moments like these, I had absolutely no idea what to do.

My mind went blank, and my fingertips began to tremble.

The red liquid in the wine glass on the table rippled slightly.

“Possession, not a precognitive ability, I truly never imagined. I was completely shocked.”

Then, Shin Se-hee said with a languid smile.

“But, thinking about it that way, all the things I thought were strange suddenly made sense. How you knew the enemy’s patterns during battle, even the lines they were going to say. How you seemed to know each party member’s past and future, like you’d seen it all.”

Shin Se-hee pursed her lips, choosing her words as if sorting through her thoughts.

“Especially when I first met you, that way you acted like you’d known me for a long time. It all makes perfect sense if you’re someone who played a character in that game.”

I couldn’t say anything, just staring blankly at her lips.

“What kind of character was I in that ‘game’? It probably wasn’t good, was it?”

It felt like I had my neck on the guillotine.

“Heh, looking at that expression, I guess you remember everything. Hmm, I did think about hiding what I heard from Jin Yu-ha… but… I decided not to.”

I was afraid. Afraid of what words would come from her red lips.

“No, actually, it’s more like taking out insurance, to prevent what could happen later?”

She took a sip of wine and continued.

“…In my opinion, sooner or later, Jin Yu-ha will definitely remember unconsciously saying such things, you see? It could be in everyday life, or after it’s all over.”

Spin—

The way she turned her glass was elegant. As if this moment were just a scene from an ordinary dinner.

“Or, it could be during a life-or-death battle. If that happens, he’ll lose focus in that moment and put himself in danger. Or even if not, I think Jin Yu-ha will distance himself from me and the other party members because of that memory.”

Her every word pierced my heart like sharp arrows.

Shin Sehee narrowed her eyes, making a soft, “hmm—” sound.

“Still, since I think I know you as much as you know me, Jin Yuha-ssi, shall I try to guess what you’re thinking right now?”

Whether it was the setting sun or the power of insight, Shin Sehee’s pupils gleamed red.

“I’m not originally from this world. I’m a possessor.”

Her voice was low.

“And I, wearing another’s skin, have deceitfully betrayed those dear to me.”

My breath hitched. It was as if she was reading the very thoughts swirling in my mind.

“What if the party members feel betrayed when they find out? If they discover I was actually a pitiful person who had nothing. What am I supposed to do? Ah, I want to run away. Yes. Maybe I should ask Lina for a memory removal spell? Should I get it with the debt I owe? But that’s supposed to be used at a crucial moment… And if I erase their memories, I’ll never be able to look at my party members the same way again. I might never be able to go back. I, I······. I— what am I supposed to do······.”

I swallowed hard. Every single word she’d spoken was a perfect match for the thoughts filling my head at that moment.

But then, in the next instant,

Shin Sehee smiled brightly and opened her mouth.

“It doesn’t matter, Jin Yuha-ssi.”

My eyes widened at the words that came from her mouth.

Her voice was firm.

“No matter who you were in the past, what kind of past you hold, or how you lived in what world. All of that means nothing to me.”

Shin Sehee set down her wine glass and continued.

“Of course, I was a bit flustered at first. But when I’m honest with my feelings, the answer comes surprisingly quickly.”

Shin Sehee pointed a finger toward my face.

“The one who saved me was you. The one who made me have feelings and desires is you. The one I love is you. Not some past you, but the you right here in front of my eyes.”

I lifted my head at her words.

Her words gave me the courage, somehow, to part my lips.

“Uh… so. Shin Se-hee. What do you think of… me now?”

My voice trembled horribly.

“What do I think of you now?”

“Uh-huh…”

“The you from before, honestly, was unreal. Unbelievable, really. You commanded battles more flawlessly than anyone, stronger than any man, and even more than that, a leader everyone respected and admired. How could there be anyone so perfect in this world?”

Shin Se-hee frowned slightly.

“So, sometimes, you didn’t feel real. Like how someone could be so perfect. It was like you were a hero from a legend or a folktale? Back then you… This might sound a little off, but, well. It was like you were a little distant? So, I always felt like I was just chasing after your back.”

But.

Shin Se-hee paused for a moment.

“Now I understand. You’re not perfect. 1-star trash, the lowest of physical ability, E-rank swordsmanship specialization.”

Her gaze, as she repeated my own words, deepened.

“Ah, so that’s why you pushed yourself so hard.”

“…”

“Training and spitting up blood every day, burning yourself out for us…”

“…”

“You’ve really suffered. It must have been hard. Heavy. Behind that great hero’s back, there was a weak person struggling so desperately.”

A surge.

In that moment, emotion welled up from within.

I bit down hard, trying to stop the emotions from spilling over.

But Shin Se-hee, as if she had no intention of stopping, kept talking.

“You’re realizing it now, right? That your real self was like that. Not perfect, but because you knew you were lacking, you had no choice but to try harder, and that’s why you were even more beautiful.”

Her smile was even clearer in her wide eyes.

“So, I fell for you again, Jin Yu-ha?”

I was speechless.

A single tear, finally escaping, dripped down my chin.

A moment of silence.

A languid jazz tune drifted between us.

Shin Se-hee looked at me with warm eyes, as if saying, “You really worked hard.”

I didn’t know. I hadn’t imagined that this moment I’d dreaded so much,

could transform into something so warm in an instant.

*Swoosh-*

Suddenly, Shin Se-hee stood up from her seat.

“So, about that,”

She slowly walked towards me. The air in the restaurant, filled with jazz, felt sweet.

Shin Se-hee, looking me in the eyes from close range, smiled.

“Since I’ve revealed all my cards to you, Jin Yu-ha. I guess I’m allowed to receive a little gift too, right?”

“…A gift?”

“Um, actually, I also prepared an excuse that it was to not make Jin Yuha-ssi feel uneasy. But that’s a bit cowardly. It’s just because I wanted to do this.”

I couldn’t understand what she was trying to say, and my brow furrowed.

That was the moment.

*Chu*—

Shin Sehee brushed aside a strand of hair that had fallen slightly, leaned down, and lightly kissed my lips.

It was an instantaneous touch, but her lips were as sweet as wine.

I stared at Shin Sehee with blank eyes.