#Side Story 60. Because sinners cannot regret (5)
* * *
‘…This is the place.’
It was a shabby alley.
Most of the street lights, which were few, were broken, and because of the complex maze-like structure, even the full moon’s light could not reach them properly.
It was so dirty and squalid that it was as eerie as a graveyard.
She was waiting in a place that could not even be called a moon village.
Just a few days.
But a few days.
Although it was brief, it was an encounter that she had been waiting for more than ever in her life, and yet, in a way, she desperately wanted to avoid.
With a tension that seemed to tighten her heart like she had never felt in her entire life, she quietly recalled.
The beginning of everything.
What she has been doing ever since she returned to the past.
‘So much has changed.’
For the past few days.
There wasn’t much she did.
Partly because she lacked a starting point, but most importantly, there was so little she could do.
She even sold off her shares of Leviathan, and in return for maintaining the world peace plan, her influence was greatly reduced.
Nevertheless, Li Qingyu had to be really busy.
As she knew the future, there was so much to prepare for.
Something she had neglected until now.
In other words, collecting information on the liberation brigades, including the monarchs and teenage guilds who would become the founders and rulers of the Hunters in the future.
And a plan to incite other clans of the Seven Dragons to accelerate the conflict with the Teenage Guild.
…Above all, the reorganization of the world peace plan.
As she followed Limon’s final advice, she had to do it all alone or secretly, as she could not reveal the truth to anyone.
No matter how much I knew about the future… no, that was why I had no choice but to be even busier.
And yet already.
Li Qingyu missed those days.
This moment of just waiting quietly was more difficult for her than the days when she was concentrating on work with less sleep.
‘Can I really not blame him?’
A past where I resented him more than anyone else.
Mirae regretted that more than anyone else.
The older one of the two was clearly herself from the future, and after learning everything about the past, she meekly accepted her own future.
But even so, I wonder if there isn’t even one bit of resentment left against him.
I didn’t know the answer myself.
Because in the future she couldn’t even get a chance to atone to him and thus make up her own mind.
When Li Qingyu was anxious with complicated feelings.
A sound was heard.
『Yangjiang River and Qiujeonlang
Long River
Jeonnang Sajaesan Award
Previously in Hong Kong
Hulangpunggwangneunggisi
Later in the year
Jeonan Refund Ilyang
轉眼還不是1樣」
―Excited.
‘…!’
It’s too quiet to be a song.
Too deep to be just talking to oneself.
It’s so unfamiliar.
Hearing a familiar voice.
She realized.
Her heart, which began to pound just by hearing her voice, told her how useless her worries were.
That was why.
She opened her mouth without realizing it.
『The back wave of the Yangtze River pushes the front wave away.
The front wave falls into the shallows of the sandbank.
If you return to the sea without the waves in front of you fading,
It will not go out, but will revive and become a back wave again.』
“Who are you?”
“I’m sorry for being rude.”
Excited.
Only then did she seem to realize herself.
She greeted the white-haired man, who narrowed his eyes, with the utmost politeness.
As if I was seeing him for the first time.
It wasn’t easy.
It was hard to make my body tremble just by looking at him and calm my pounding heart just by talking to him.
But she did it.
Prepare for this meeting in advance.
And it wasn’t just because I practiced.
She is the Black Dragon Princess.
Because she was a liar who was better than anyone else at deceiving her true intentions.
“I came because I have a favor to ask you.”
“What on earth are you trying to ask me?”
She ignored her desire to avoid his gaze and covered up all her complicated feelings with a smile.
She thought calmly.
She wasn’t much different up to this point.
Because even in the past, she had her first meeting with him here.
But at that time, she made a proposal that was too hasty, dark, and full of malice on her part, which further ruined her relationship with him.
So, it starts here.
More carefully and sincerely.
One by one, never in a hurry.
We had to let go of the past filled with blood and resentment and build a relationship where we could truly trust each other.
First of all, starting with the very small things…
“Please marry me.”
…ah.
I looked at Limon, who had a dumbfounded expression on his face.
She hid her dumbfounded feelings with a familiar smile at the proposal, which was completely different from the plan she had unknowingly made.
Li Qingyu realized.
She realized that the reason her heart started racing from the moment she met him was not just because of tension.
like that….
From the time she tried to fix her messy marriage proposal with her improvisation.
Variations of fate.
It has begun.
* * *
It was a very small change.
But it was also a huge change.
When Limon clashed with the Republic of Goryeo and the Infinite Monarchs, including the Infinity Guild.
Instead of forcing the Seven Dragons into a corner, Li Qingyu did everything in his power to prevent outside intervention.
With that alone, Limon was able to protect Yuna-kyung’s younger siblings.
Since he did not bother to kill the president and destroy the Republic of Goryeo, he did not become a public figure to the world.
He avoided a future conflict with the Seven Dragons, and instead ended up accepting Li Qingyu’s marriage proposal on the contrary.
Just as the flapping of a butterfly’s wings becomes a typhoon.
Her small mistake grew bigger and bigger, creating unintended consequences for herself.
It was indeed a welcome thing.
But it was also unsettling.
It was a joy to change her future, but it also meant that she had no idea how her future could change with just her own small mistakes.
Not only in a good way, but also in a bad way.
What should we do to stop the invasion of the stars and prevent the fate of the end times?
She was worried.
She was also troubled.
She felt anxious.
That was why.
She went to the amusement park with Limon.
Partly because she had Ainsha’s advice, but also because she hoped to soothe her anxious mind a little by spending her time with him.
but….
Giiiing.
‘…ah.’
Like fate.
I happened to stop by at a magic museum.
To soothe crying children.
The moment Limon took a jet-black violin from an old man and started playing it.
Li Qingyu found out.
What was the destiny they originally had to find?
‘That’s what it was.’
―Eighth Dragon Psionics.
The only hope for the Seven Dragons to resurrect the dragon they had been searching for for hundreds of years and face the stars was in front of them from the beginning.
however.
It’s a possibility that has disappeared.
It was a hope that was lost forever the moment she joined forces with the other princesses and cut off one of his arms.
Even though it hasn’t happened yet and won’t happen in the future, it has definitely happened.
“Princess, why are you crying?”
“…Am I crying?”
“okay.”
That was why.
She shed tears.
What he lost
What the world has lost.
Even the sins he committed.
She knew that she was bigger, more numerous, and deeper than she could ever imagine.
Because she knew she had been wrong from the beginning.
‘There is no way for me to pay for this sin.’
But that’s why.
As much as I regret and feel frustrated.
She felt relieved.
Because I can be sure that as long as he is there, the world will not become worse than before.
… Although she couldn’t understand what luck Ain Shah was talking about, even after she found out that the blue bird she picked up at the amusement park was the reincarnation of Lord Yuna.
Anyway, that’s how I stay with him.
She realized.
No matter how hard you try.
That you cannot change your destiny.
If it had been him, he wouldn’t have had a chance to catch the ghost of the Liberation Brigade because he wouldn’t have gotten the violin.
She would not have known that through her friendship with Eugene, ‘Seven Arcs’ was the key to saving the world.
Limon wouldn’t have been able to find a way to absorb the star curse he received when cutting down the constellations.
Above all, in the last days, the infinite monarch, who was considered the worst monarch along with the return monarch and reincarnation monarch, would not have been brought to the same side.
It was thanks to that.
Advice from the future Limon.
It made her understand how heavy the simple statement was that whoever knew her future controlled it.
That was a truly unfortunate and daunting fact.
But she wasn’t frustrated.
Instead, she just decided.
Just believe, follow, and accept him and the new destiny he will create.
And Limon rewarded her faith.
All kinds of variables that arose as the Seven Dragons Association did not fight him, thereby hastening the conflict with the monarch and the Liberation Brigade.
Meanwhile, his performance in saving Rose and Maia, who were almost in danger, and dealing with the monarch and the ghosts one by one, is amazing.
Even if she spent a lot of resources over the years and laid out numerous schemes, she might not be able to do it.
Of course, Limon did it too simply.
He wasn’t particularly proud.
Something like this.
It seems like it’s everyday life.
‘…You really were the guardian deity of mankind.’
That’s why I yearn for it.
The dazzling appearance of a hero.
And she becomes greedy.
His warm seat next to you.
How dare you be so shameless.
Even though he knew that a dirty, cunning and sinful sinner like himself did not deserve it.
So much so that I really wanted to stay by his side and become his bride, even while hiding all the sins and the truth forever.
But eventually it is revealed that Limon has the eighth dragon psionics.
The seven clans split apart.
It wasn’t until Limon and the Seven Dragons collided again.
It was only then that she finally understood that it was her own excessive greed.
If you want to change your fate, you must not only protect all of ‘us’ but also save them. This is the true meaning of what she said.
And the meaning of the last word.
That’s why I’m resigned.
she asked.
She asked me to break off the engagement with her.
Please save other princesses even if you become an asshole again.
Because I finally knew that only that would change the future, save the world, and go forward for Limon.
But he didn’t let her go.
In the end, she saved ‘everyone’, even Li Qingyu.
The Seven Dragons Association, the world, humanity, the future, literally everything.
and….
…The time has finally arrived.
* * *
After Limon returns.
A festival held to commemorate that.
After revealing the whole truth on the top floor of Leviathan, far from where everyone welcomes it with joy.
Li Qingyu closed his eyes.
It’s such a heavy secret.
I couldn’t say it carelessly, but it was a confession I didn’t want to say even if I had to die, if possible.
But the salvation of the world is over.
Because I promised to tell you when I got back.
Because he wants it more than anything.
In the end, she revealed the whole truth, gently lowered her head and opened her mouth again.
“Are you disillusioned with me?”
“no.”
“…Are you saying this even though I ruined you and destroyed the world once?”
“If I scold and blame something that hasn’t happened yet and will never happen again, how different am I from the returning monarch?”
“….”
“More than anything, no matter what your past is, it doesn’t change the fact that you are my bride.”
“Do I really… deserve it?”
“Qualifications don’t matter.”
Like a sinner before the judge.
Limon slowly extended his hand to the black-haired girl who was bowing her head in her wheelchair.
Then, tickling her cheek, she gently pushed her hair back behind her and lifted her chin slightly to make him look her in the eye as she spoke.
“Because I already love you.”
“…!”
Li Qingyu stiffened.
This moment she had been dreading all along.
Those warm words that enveloped her.
Above all, his eyes do not waver at all.
Her heart, which was full of guilt and fear, tightened and her eyesight blurred.
and.
And again.
Tears flowing down.
Not sadness and regret.
With infinite joy and happiness.
After licking her lips several times, Li Qingyu finally opened her mouth.
“I love you too.”
Like sobbing.
In a trembling voice.
I wanted to keep saying it, but
I spit out the words I couldn’t contain because of guilt.
“-Gaga(哥哥).”
He smiled down at his smiling bride, shedding tears, and quietly kissed her on the lips….
A sinner who has lost even the right to regret.
Her enemies did not forgive her.
As lovers who are now a couple.
Love to each other.
I confessed.
