I Became the Youngest Summoner in the Strongest Guild

72. Choice

72. Choice

It's been a year since I've eaten mom's cooking.

As soon as I take a bite, tears start to flow.

"It's salty..."
"Oh my, did I put in too much salt?"
"But it's still delicious."

After finishing breakfast, I spend time cuddled in my parents' arms, being fed fruit.

"Our daughter is being extra affectionate today."
"We should have days like this too."

In the morning, I act cute in mom's arms, and in the afternoon, I play games with dad.

"Did our daughter play games before? You're good at it."
"Heh! I take after dad, that's why I'm good."
"I don't know whose daughter you are, but you even speak prettily."
"Whose daughter would I be but dad's!"

As I'm playing games with dad while smiling broadly, my older sister barges in.

"What's this!? Why are you two playing without me!? I want to play too!"
"This is a two-player game."
"That's not fair!"

As the three of us are playing games and chatting, a chilling voice is heard.

"How long has it been since I told you to eat? You're still playing games?"

The head of our household, mom, has appeared.

After all three of us get scolded, we eat dinner, finish bathing, and I lie down on my bed, but I can't sleep.

I take my pillow and enter my parents' room, and they look at me with surprised eyes.

"Oh my, why is our daughter like this today?"
"I just... want to sleep together."
"Come here."

As I lie down with my pillow between mom and dad, they embrace me from both sides.

"Sleep well, our daughter."
"Have sweet dreams."
"Good night."

*

*

*

When I wake up in the morning and open my eyes, my parents aren't on either side of me.

With a startled heart, I open the door and go out to find mom preparing breakfast and dad reading the newspaper.

"Our daughter is up?"
"Did you sleep well?"
"Yes!"

As I sit at the table, warm food is served.

After finishing the meal, dad goes to work, and as I follow mom around while she does housework, clinging to her, she smiles and strokes my head.

"Our daughter has become more affectionate."
"Hehehe."

As I'm acting cute in mom's arms, my older sister suddenly appears.

"Little sis! Let's go shopping with unni!"
"I want to stay home today."
"It's spring! Let's go buy clothes!"

Forced to go out.

It's my first time going out with my older sister in this life.

As she holds my hand and we head to the department store, I can feel people's gazes.

People glancing and staring.
Why are they doing that?

"People keep staring."
"Well, if you walk around with a snake around your neck, anyone would stare, right?"
"I see. It's because of Yong-yong."
"Kyuung!?"

As I comfort our Yong-yong, who's protesting with a bewildered face asking why it's his fault, I enter the department store with my older sister.

But how can we enter with a snake around my neck?

"There's no rule saying you can't enter with a snake around your neck, right?"
"I guess so."
"Well then, shall we start with that store!?"

With an excited face, she grabs my hand and enters the store, trying on various types of clothes on me. I feel like a dress-up doll.

Moreover, it's my first time wearing a dress in my life, and it's more comfortable than I thought.

It feels a bit empty with the bottom open, but it's comfortable.

"You're my little sister, but doesn't it suit you too well!?"

As I stop my older sister who keeps trying to take pictures, we spend the whole day shopping and then go to a dessert cafe where I take a bite of cake, and it's sweet.

A sweet bite of cake after hard labor.
How romantic.

After finishing one slice, I look at my older sister, and she checks her wallet and orders one more with trembling hands.

After eating strawberry cake and peach iced tea, we head home.

Walking along the path as the sunset fades, we chat about various things.

"Come to think of it, didn't you say you were in a club in high school? Was it the band club?"
"I wasn't in any club though?"
"Was that so."

The more we talk, the more I feel a sense of dissonance.

I know. This isn't reality.

It must be an illusion created by the Beginning. But still, it's nice.

Because this moment right now is so happy.

After returning home and finishing dinner with my parents, as I'm acting cute in mom's arms, she whispers.

"I love you, my daughter."
"I love you too, mom."
"We'll be together forever, right?"
"......"

I wish I could stay together.

I want to spend peaceful time with mom, dad, and older sister, but I can't.

As I leave mom's embrace, she asks what's wrong.

"I was happy, even if just for a moment."

She smiles at my words, but now it's time to part.

"Yong-yong. Let's go back."
"Kyuung."

With those words, the world starts to shatter.

And we return to where we originally were.

The Beginning, looking at me in mom's form.

"Have you decided?"
"This is my answer."

I raised one hand and shouted.

"Help me!"

A huge gate is created and numerous monsters, angels, and demons reveal themselves.

The ground shakes and a tower appears, and the Kraken appears, tearing through space.

Even amidst all this, the Beginning is smiling.

"I'll respect your choice. Meet your death in this other world."

Another gate appears.

Dragon King Ernia opens a gate and appears.

"I had hoped for my child to be happy, but I guess that won't be possible."
"Don't worry. It won't go as you think."

I need to break the brainwashing on Dragon King Ernia.

Even if by force.

"Yong-yong, please."
"Kyuung."

Yong-yong transforms into his enormous form.

Dragon King Ernia also returns to her original form and the battle begins.

Huge breaths collide, and the shockwave causes the ground to split and the sky to tear.

Thankfully, a protective barrier was put up to protect me. Otherwise, it would have been a disaster.

Numerous monsters appear, tearing through gates and charging towards the Beginning.

The Beginning waves one hand and countless monsters turn to dust and disappear.

I'm not one to just stand by and watch this.

"Divine Dragon's Revival!"

[Divine Dragon's Revival: Revives the life of summons.]

Everything that appeared here counts as a summon, so I can revive them even if they die.

The monsters that had turned to dust and disappeared reveal themselves again and charge at the Beginning.

"I guess this won't end unless I deal with Yuna."

The moment it looks at me, I feel a chill down my spine and squeeze my eyes shut, but nothing happens.

When I open my eyes and look ahead, Heavenly King Lucifer and Demon King Echidna are protecting me.

"If you want to touch our Yuna, you'll have to deal with us first."
"How dare you try to touch Yuna right in front of me. I won't let this slide."

Yong-yong charges at the Beginning.

A fierce battle ensues, and I'm helping by casting various buffs, but it doesn't end.

No, we're gradually being pushed back.

In this critical situation.

An anomaly occurs.

One, two huge gates reveal themselves in the sky. Could it be that the Beginning created them?

In this tense moment, beings reveal themselves.

Former Imperial Knight Commander and Guard Captain Charles, leading the knights of the Avalon Empire.

"A master should help when their disciple is struggling."

Behind him, Great Mage and Moonlight Inn owner Beliar, leading the Arcana mages.

"I've brought all the mages to help Yuna, our inn's regular customer!"

Information Guild Master Erica, leading numerous problem solvers.

"We should help when our pretty one is struggling."

One of the top 10 guilds and leader of the Frey Guild, Catlleya, has appeared leading all guild members including the entire top 10 guilds.

"Yuna! Your unni has brought everyone!!"

And numerous travelers appear.

Shouting that they're grateful for being protected all this time and that they'll repay the favor now, they charge at the Beginning.

Saying they'll protect our world themselves.

With numerous reinforcements joining, the tide of battle begins to turn in our favor.

Then I hear a sound that feels like it's tearing my eardrums.

"Why are you going this far? Yuna isn't even originally a resident of this world."

I answered those words.

"At first, I wanted to go back, but not anymore. Look at those beside me now. They're risking their lives to help me, how could I run away alone?"

With those words, Dragon King Ernia falls and Yong-yong charges at the Beginning.

At that moment. Numerous stars begin to appear in the sky and Yong-yong's body starts to glow.
The constellations that had been maintaining neutrality until now joined the war.

Because of this, the Beginning becomes furious.

"Why are those who have been watching until now stepping in at this point!?"

Then a voice is heard.

[When a human child who isn't even a resident of this world is trying so hard for our world, wouldn't it be shameful to just stand by?]