Saved a Heroine From the Brink of Death

[ Side story 4. if. bad ending – Confinement (1) ]

[ Side story 4. if. bad ending – Confinement (1) ]

This is an IF side story that branches off from the main story.

* * * * *

One day, while she was living an ordinary life, Cynthia felt an unknown emotion sprouting inside her.

The trigger might have been ‘a certain memory.’

The memory of that day when I was isolated at the gate with my uncle, that moment when I had a strange and wild dream.

It is a memory of the moment when a woman with the same face as me was having a relationship with an old man.

‘… Was that really a dream?’

A vivid feeling and memory.

It was too vivid to be a dream. The stimulating smells and sounds. I remembered it all as if it had just happened.

‘But, it’s too absurd to be real. There’s no way that an old man would be having a relationship with someone who looks exactly like me inside the gate.’

Cynthia shook her head and faced reality.

As she concluded, one thought crossed her mind. It was about a succubus named Illien who belonged to the ‘Libra Symbol’.

“Illien?”

-Huh? Why are you calling?

“That… I told you about the succubus last time, right?”

-Right? But why?

After the Libra was opened, Illien was attached to the pattern and became Cynthia’s friend, and they started talking about various things.

Illien couldn’t talk about ‘that thing’ because Libra had silenced her, but now she had no intention of talking about it even if Libra hadn’t.

Cynthia was his friend, and he realized that she liked Han Sung-jin. Even though he didn’t seem to realize it yet.

“You said that a succubus is a being that makes you dream? It feeds on your energy by making you have dirty dreams.”

-Yeah. But why is that?

Illien introduced Cynthia to the succubus. In fact, they were a more obscene species, but she distorted the information appropriately considering her age.

“So you took my spirit and that of the old man at the gate then?”

-That, that’s right…? I, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to cause any harm. I just took enough that it wouldn’t interfere with your daily life…!

“That’s a bad thing, but I’m not really trying to blame you for it right now. Anyway, since you’re reflecting on it, let’s move on.”

Cynthia asked what she had been curious about.

“So… Illien, you made me and the old man have dirty dreams? Right?”

-Uh, yeah?

“That… I had a dream that a girl who looked like me was having s*x with you inside the gate. You didn’t make me and you have that dream and take our energy, did you?”

-Ah, ah. Ah… Ma, ma, that’s right! Yeah. That’s right. Was that a bit provocative? Sorry.

Illien couldn’t bring himself to tell her the truth, so he answered that Cynthia’s thoughts were correct.

“Huh… I see. That’s what happened. I was a little surprised, but it was just a dream. You don’t have to feel sorry. Then, can I ask you one last thing?”

Cynthia’s eyes softened. Illien found that a little scary for some reason.

-…What is it?

“Does the dream reflect the tastes of the ‘uncle’? Or is it just my tastes?”

-That… Both.

Illien said, squeezing his eyes shut. It wasn’t a dream, but I thought it was okay to say that. Cynthia liked Han Sung-jin, and the way Illien had changed was Cynthia’s body reflecting ‘Han Sung-jin’s taste’.

It’s surprising how similar they are.

Illien had no idea how Cynthia would change later on because of ‘one word he said’. If he had known, he would never have given such an answer.

“Haha… I see. So you like me too, mister?”

***

As time passed, Cynthia and Han Sung-jin became closer, and Cynthia was able to use a more friendly term of address to Han Sung-jin.

“Where are you going, brother?”

“Huh? I just need to buy something.”

“Are you going to buy it? What is it?”

“Uh, just. This and that?”

“Can I come with you?”

Cynthia tried not to leave Han Sung-jin.

Whenever he was going somewhere, he would always ask me where I was going and what I was doing, and whenever he thought I was going to be late, he would call me.

Some might consider this an obsession, but Han Seong-jin didn’t think so.

‘You must have been hurt a lot growing up away from your family. I heard you were somewhat of an outsider even within the academy, so I should at least treat you well.’

You have no one to rely on but yourself.

If he were to act cold-hearted here, Cynthia’s personality would become uncontrollable. That’s what Han Sung-jin thought.

So whatever Cynthia did, he accepted it.

“Oppa. I did well on the test. I’ll give you anything as a reward, right?”

“As much as I can. So, is there anything you want?”

“No! Just pat my head. Hehe.”

“Huh? Is that okay?”

“Yes, that will do!”

When Han Sung-jin patted Cynthia’s head, Cynthia smiled brightly and was delighted. Since then, whenever something good happened during a big or small test or event, she has been asking for simple skinship.

‘Should I pay a little more attention to Sia? She seems to be showing signs of lack of affection… .’

As a result, Han Sung-jin devoted a little more time and attention to Cynthia.

But Cynthia’s demands for skinship only increased day by day, never decreasing.

“Brother. Hug me.”

“Huh? Suddenly?”

“In other countries, people greet each other with hugs. Come on.”

“okay.”

Han Sung-jin nodded and hugged Cynthia. He felt something strange, but since they had been having a lot of skinship recently, he just let it go and thought it was normal.

***

Han Seong-jin lived in Shingga with Cynthia.

He proposed to live in the family under the pretext of taking care of his benefactor, and Han Seong-jin, unable to resist Cynthia’s request, accepted the offer.

Although they didn’t wake up looking at the same ceiling, they ended up living in the same house, and instead of greeting each other every morning, they started to share light physical contact.

“Good morning, oppa.”

“Uh… Good morning, Sia.”

Note. Cynthia kissed Han Sungjin on the cheek.

Even though Han Seong-jin knew that he shouldn’t do this, he couldn’t stop Cynthia’s actions.

The two were already fake ‘lovers’ under the official name of Cheonmu Bong. Cynthia said that these basic things were important to appear as a couple and actively engaged in skinship.

‘Should we go a little further? Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to start with s*x instead of a good morning kiss… Should we just go all in on it under the pretext of creating a successor to the Shin family?’

Before she knew it, Cynthia was completely in love with Han Seong-jin.

She was trying to lure Han Sung-jin using every means at her disposal. But Han Sung-jin was not coming over.

No, rather, he was pushing himself away.

“Sia. Well… I’ve been thinking about it for the past few days. Isn’t this a bit much?”

And then, words that were like a bolt from the blue burst out of Han Seong-jin’s mouth.

“yes yes…?”

“It’s not that I hate you or anything, I’m just saying this because I think about your future.”

Cynthia was dazed by Han Sungjin’s words. She couldn’t hear what he was saying. All she heard was the indirect expression, ‘I don’t like skinship.’

‘You… hate me?’

Didn’t your brother like you?

Was it just that you were conscious of the eyes of those around you and were embarrassed, so you were awkward in expressing yourself?

Cynthia felt like her mind was breaking.

‘Why? Why why why why why why why why why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?’

Han Seong-jin’s voice was heard.

“Uh, uh? Sia, are you okay?”

“… … .”

Cynthia looked at Han Sung-jin. He was worried about her. She could feel the sincerity in his heart.

But upon closer inspection, it wasn’t born out of ‘love’. He… saw himself as a ‘little sister’, not a lover.

Cynthia realized.

He didn’t like himself.

It was all just my own illusion.

So then why did he fall into this delusion?

-… … .

Illian, who always cheered him on and comforted him, was quiet.

Cynthia forced a smile at Han Seong-jin.

“It’s okay, it’s okay… I, I don’t want other people… to misunderstand, right?”

“Oh, right? Yeah. I was just really worried about you. There really wasn’t any other meaning to it.”

“…yes.”

Cynthia felt like her head was spinning.

Since this incident, she and Han Sung-jin have been on an awkward relationship. Even when Han Sung-jin approached her first, Cynthia ran away.

Han Sung-jin decided to be a little more honest and tried to approach Cynthia, but Cynthia kept running away.

In the midst of all this, an incident occurred.

The academy is attacked, she gets caught in the gate, and ends up in another dimension called Langrut.

***

Cynthia spent many years in Langrut.

And there he became a transcendent being, and gained the power of an outsider, and returned to Earth.

She sorted out her complicated emotions.

He likes Han Sung-jin. That’s obvious. Then why doesn’t Han Sung-jin like him?

If what Illian said is true, shouldn’t he have accepted himself?

“Illian. You tried to fool me with such a shameless lie after having s*x with my brother?”

Cynthia found out the truth about him.

The reason was simple.

It all started with ‘Illien’s lie’.