Emojis
ForTestingPurposeToday, I finished work early.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Ughhh!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe cold winter air rushes in, repeatedly hitting my cheeks as I stretch.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Ah, it’s cold.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeI should quickly grab some beer and head home.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe street is bustling with cars zipping by.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI pass by the brightly lit signs of restaurants, step into a convenience store, and pick out some beer and snacks.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Thank you~”
EmojisForTestingPurposeHearing the emotionless gratitude from the convenience store clerk, I step back outside, where the full moon always looms before my eyes.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“…How have you been?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeEven on the day my younger brother died three years ago, a bright full moon hung in the sky.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“You said you’d come find me.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeHe once said he wanted to become a bird, but it seems the gods didn’t grant that wish.
EmojisForTestingPurposePsshhh!
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Ahhh!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeLost in my emotions, I opened the beer, but the foam spilled over, soaking my hand.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“What a waste.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeI took a sip of the beer, shook my hand lightly to get rid of the foam, and resumed my walk home.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe moon shone brightly, lighting the path ahead as I walked.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“I’m home~”
EmojisForTestingPurposeAn empty house.
EmojisForTestingPurposeMy voice echoed through the lonely space.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe family photo hanging by the entrance, where my family is smiling brightly, is the only thing that greets me.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Why were you all in such a rush?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeI tried blaming my family for leaving me behind.
EmojisForTestingPurposeBut all it did was deepen the scars on my heart.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe cold reality wasn’t going to change, so I gave up quickly.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI’m now 34 years old.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Minho, you always told me to meet a good man and get married.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeThough it’s a bit late, I’ll be getting married next month.
EmojisForTestingPurposeTo the boyfriend who came to comfort me at the funeral three years ago.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Minho, can you see me? Your sister is doing well.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeOn lonely days, I often find myself muttering like this without realizing it.
EmojisForTestingPurposeEspecially when I’ve had some alcohol.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Your sister’s getting married, you know?”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Doesn’t that mean I’ll be like a white dove? Will you come to the wedding?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeOf course, no response ever comes from my departed brother.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“…I really hope you’ll come.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeBut if I don’t say such things, I’m not sure I could face reality.
EmojisForTestingPurposeDing!
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Oh, it’s Seungho. Hehe.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeA text arrived from my boyfriend.
EmojisForTestingPurposeInstead of replying, I called him right away.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Hello~”
EmojisForTestingPurpose[It’s your hubby~~~]
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Really?”
EmojisForTestingPurpose[Yep, really.]
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Hehe.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeAfter losing my entire family, I’m trying to build a new one again.
EmojisForTestingPurpose[Did you drink?]
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Yeah, I got off work early, and the full moon’s out today.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose[You always drink when there’s a full moon.]
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Well, it makes me think of my brother…”
EmojisForTestingPurpose[Wish I could’ve joined you.]
EmojisForTestingPurpose“No, you must be tired too.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose[Yeah, I’m definitely tired. My stamina’s not what it used to be—mid-30s and all.]
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Don’t say such sad things! We’re still young!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeAt that, laughter came through the phone.
EmojisForTestingPurpose[You’re right.]
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Yep~ Hehe.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose[Drink moderately and rest up, okay?]
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Okay, love you~”
EmojisForTestingPurpose[Love you too~~]
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe call ended.
EmojisForTestingPurposeOnce again, the house sank into a quiet stillness.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“…Should I sleep?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeI pushed the rest of the beer into the fridge.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThen, as if drawn by something, I walked to the balcony.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe long skirt of my nightgown fluttered in the wind.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe massive full moon.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe massive full moon smiled down at me.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“I’m glad you seem to be doing well over there.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“If we ever meet again.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“I’ll do better next time.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeI started muttering incomprehensible words to myself.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“In the next life, if there is such a thing…”
EmojisForTestingPurpose‘And if there is?’
EmojisForTestingPurpose“I want to be your sister again.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose‘…What are you saying?’
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Even if we’re not family, I’ll come find you, Minho.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose‘…Alright.’
EmojisForTestingPurposeHaving said that, I felt a sense of relief wash over me.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe full moon continued to shine brightly.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“What am I even saying?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeEven I couldn’t believe myself.
EmojisForTestingPurposeMaybe it’s because I’ve been so busy lately.
EmojisForTestingPurposeWith this brief bit of free time, I seemed to have become overly emotional.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Ah, I should just rest. Time to sleep, Yuri!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeAs I pushed myself away from the balcony railing,
EmojisForTestingPurposeThunk!
EmojisForTestingPurposeA loud noise echoed, and the screws came loose, causing the fence in front of me to collapse.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“What?!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeAt the same time, my drunken body lost balance, tumbling forward.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Ahhhhh!!!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeI was certain I was going to die, but then—
EmojisForTestingPurposeFwoosh!
EmojisForTestingPurpose“?!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeA mysterious magic circle appeared in front of me as I was falling.
EmojisForTestingPurposeWhen I regained consciousness—
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Hero!”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Oh, savior!”
EmojisForTestingPurpose
“Please save humanity!!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe scene before me looked like something out of a video game.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThree old men surrounded me, shouting incomprehensible things, but their words didn’t register.
EmojisForTestingPurpose[The king does not permit your death!!!]
EmojisForTestingPurposeI could only stare blankly at the mysterious message.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe hero was captured in a subspace, and the rest were eliminated.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“This way, humans won’t be able to track them, right?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeThey probably assumed the hero was dead and summoned another one.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThey’d likely study whether the title worked properly even if the predecessor was alive.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Chief Elder!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeA soldier came running in a hurry.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“What is it?”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“There’s a reaction to a hero summoning!”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Hah, so they managed to hide it so well last time, but now they’ve run out of magic power, huh?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeWhat’s so alarming about summoning a single human that they’re trembling like that?
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Stop fussing.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Yes!”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“What about the wounded?”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“They’ve all been laid down.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Lead the way.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Yes!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeI plugged my nose as I walked through the piles of blood-soaked corpses.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe corpse of a dragon, its chest blown apart by a magic cannon.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAnother body, unable to revert from its polymorphed state, with half its torso gone.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe sight of these corpses filled my vision.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Wait. Let’s at least pay our respects.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeAfter a brief moment of silence, I continued toward where the injured were gathered.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Let’s finish this quickly; I’m tired.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Y-Yes! Understood!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeNot long after the report came in, the elders sat around a round table, gazing into a crystal orb.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Report.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeWhen Lavender Elder spoke, a soldier visible beyond the crystal began reporting nervously.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“A-All current situations have been resolved.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Somehow, it seems the 10,854th hero was already summoned.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“However, Lady Anuket has already taken care of it.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeHearing this, the elders finally looked satisfied.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Well, she’s always thorough with these things.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“That’s a relief.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“As expected of the youngest.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“What’s the casualty report?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeMaintaining her composure amidst the joy, Elder Lavender asked about the damage.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Out of 105, 32 were injured, and 22 died.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeHearing this, Elder Lavender clicked her tongue and frowned.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“If the hatchlings stop being born and the casualties continue to pile up…”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Should we sprinkle…?”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“An aphrodisiac, maybe?”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“…Surtr.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeElder Baal glared at Elder Surtr with a look of pure contempt.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAt that, Grandpa Surt, who was already red, turned even redder.
EmojisForTestingPurposeSo, he does have a sense of shame—well, for a dragon anyway.
EmojisForTestingPurposeHmm, I kind of want to tease him a bit.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“What’s an aphrodisiac?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeI even purposely slurred my pronunciation.
EmojisForTestingPurposeCome on, get flustered.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Wh-What?!”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Surt!”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Nothing at all, Princess!!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeEveryone panicked, scrambling to come up with excuses.
EmojisForTestingPurposeHeh.
EmojisForTestingPurposeJust watching this makes me laugh.
EmojisForTestingPurposeBut I must hold back.
EmojisForTestingPurposeI cannot forget that I am a newborn child armed with innocence.
EmojisForTestingPurposeAs I worked hard to maintain my poker face, the one elder who had been silently pondering finally spoke.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Ah, so that’s what you’re curious about.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“A child’s curiosity is a wonderful thing.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe other elders immediately focused their gazes on him.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Thus, it would be foolish to stifle that curiosity.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeHuh? What is this elder even talking about right now?
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Sp-Sparkles, you’re not serious, right? No, right?!”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“…Seriously?”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“What’s gotten into everyone today…?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe elder pulled an empty bottle out of his pocket.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Well then, let me show you—from the crafting process to the effects.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Lavender, you might have to lend me a hand.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose…??? Grandpa, what?
EmojisForTestingPurpose“What kind of crazy talk is this?!”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“The child is curious, after all.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeHearing this, Grandma Lavender got genuinely angry and started emitting intense magical energy.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Stop this nonsense.”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Even if I die, I will satisfy my granddaughter’s curiosity!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeGrandpa… What in the world is driving you to this extent?
EmojisForTestingPurpose…
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Behold!! The ultimate potion recipe!!!”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“You’re insane!!!!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeGrandma conjured icicles from her hands while Grandpa started pulling out strange herbs (?) and combining them.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThis… this feels like it’s about to spiral out of control.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“A solution to low birth rates!!!!”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Get lost!!!!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe Elder’s Hall was on the verge of complete destruction.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Sis, Bro, are you crazy?!”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“These crazy grandparents!!! We’re all going to die!!!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeUnable to hold back anymore, Grandpa Surtr and Grandma Baal started shouting.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThis… This is dangerous.
EmojisForTestingPurposeThis isn’t what I wanted at all!
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe outcome I imagined:
EmojisForTestingPurpose‘Mom, Dad! Where do babies come from?’
EmojisForTestingPurpose‘Ah, haha~ Honey, you explain it.’
EmojisForTestingPurpose‘W-What?!’
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe actual outcome:
EmojisForTestingPurpose‘Mom, Dad! Where do babies come from?’
EmojisForTestingPurpose‘Honey, let’s get a divorce.’
EmojisForTestingPurpose‘That’s exactly what I wanted.’
EmojisForTestingPurposeClearly, something has gone very, very wrong.
EmojisForTestingPurposeWhat do I do now?
EmojisForTestingPurposeBefore my eyes, an international summit-level disaster akin to NATO or Sake was about to unfold.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“S-Stop it!!”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“I-I’m scared!!”
EmojisForTestingPurposeWithout realizing it, I shouted.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Oh dear~ Our princess!!”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Ahem.”
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe two elders stopped fighting almost instantly.
EmojisForTestingPurposeSniffle.
EmojisForTestingPurposeDrip.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“Huh?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeTears were streaming down my face.
EmojisForTestingPurpose“?!?”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“?!?”
EmojisForTestingPurpose“…?”
EmojisForTestingPurposeThe elders went into full panic mode, and that’s the story of how my tears managed to avert a crisis.