Can You Please Keep the Original Setting?

“You, what the hell are you doing?”

I had goosebumps from head to toe. A primal fear spread from the moment I opened my mouth and began to encroach on me.

“I told you. You can’t leave yet. The protagonist needs you.”

“The protagonist? Are you talking about Mikael?”

“Yes.”

Celina nodded.

“Why are you suddenly talking about him?”

“Please be with Mikael. Please help him. Keep an eye on a wizard’s great journey. So that everything can find its right place.”

My body did not move at will. It was difficult to process the unrealistic words that were entering my head like a storm.

So, what she meant…

“It’s a mission you gave me, but I’m afraid it’s impossible. So, I’m asking you.”

She drank her tea leisurely.

“No.”

I muttered vainly.

“Complete your mission, and if you really want to then, only then, I will really send you off. Sadly.”

Celina expressed her reluctance.

“I’m going.”

My body began to tremble as if it were buried in the snow.

“It’s impossible right now. I’m really sorry. Don’t forget. You were the one who gave me access in the first place.”

“Are you in your right mind?!”

I jumped towards her and squeezed the woman’s neck. I was confused and scared. The teacup, which had fallen from her hand, shattered with a sharp sound.

Suddenly, our eyes met. My hands loosened.

I wanted to squeeze her throat, but I couldn’t apply any more strength. She was just a character I made, a fake human in a fake world, and yet, I hesitated like this.

“It’s your job to help Mikael. I created you for that.”

I was now close to tears. I couldn’t figure out what the hell was happening. I was scared.

“I’m really sorry. There was no other way for me.”

Celina touched her neck, which had turned red because of me, with her fingertips. She looked sad and seemed to be asking how on earth did she deserve that.

“Why was there no other way?”

Isn’t it said that people will laugh when they face a situation that is too ridiculous? A chuckle mixed with weeping leaked from my mouth.

“Mikael doesn’t listen to me. At this rate, a happy ending is impossible. The only thing left is destruction.”

“What the hell are you talking about? He followed you everywhere, calling you ‘Celina, Celina’.”

I said sharply.

“Ah. That…”

She hesitated.

“There was an exchange, so he just followed me on the surface. I can’t change his mind.”

“…”

“But you are different. You created everything. You can move Mikael.”

I moved my lips a few times to spit out a curse at that woman who was spouting nonsense. But it was impossible to rationally combine words that were used under social agreements and say them out loud.

“This is inside your consciousness. Your body is lying in bed right now.”

Celina said something I hadn’t even asked.

“Lying in bed?”

“Yes. You were badly injured in the Catacombs.”

“That’s not me.”

“Right now, it is the Writer’s body.”

There was a clear light in her blue-purple eyes.

“What an honor it is to have you inside such a miserable body. I finally feel like I’ve found the meaning of my life. I have no regrets even if I die right now.”

She smiled brightly.

“But I want to finish everything after completing my task.”

“… You’re not crazy, are you?”

At that moment, I felt frightened by her.

“This is not a dream.”

“I don’t believe you. I’m going to die as soon as I wake up in bed.”

I spat out unpleasantly.

“I can’t stop you, but I don’t really recommend it. You’ll see me again anyway.”

Celina smiled beautifully.

“Writer, don’t you want everyone to be happy?”

However, her eyes were somewhat cold.

“What?”

“They’re the characters you made one by one.”

The woman who knew nothing openly provoked me. Don’t I want everyone to be happy? Is she out of her mind?” My hands trembled with anger.

“How in the world could you do that? Why are you betraying us?”

“I want—!”

At that moment, I was furious and shouted harshly.

“Because I wanted all of you to be happy, I went through a lot of hardships to write it! You don’t know anything!”

Eventually, tears of fear and anger flowed from my eyes. I rubbed my cheeks roughly.

“… I apologize. I spoke rashly. I’ll be careful in the future.”

Celina looked at me with her big eyes.

“Maybe it will be better to talk properly after you calm down.”

Then, a huge wave of memories engulfed me.

It was overly one-sided and violent. I began to drift aimlessly. There was no room for rebellion. The world became distorted and turned upside down.

As I drifted farther and farther away, she held her skirt and bowed deeply. Suddenly, I wanted to smash her head to the ground. But I knew very well that I couldn’t.

Because I loved her.

They would never understand the feelings I had when I created them while inside that abyss.