It’s been a year since I last tasted my mother’s cooking.

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

"It’s… salty…"
"Oh dear, did I add too much salt?"
"It’s still delicious."

After breakfast, I spent time snuggled up with my parents, eating fruits that they fed me piece by piece.

"Our daughter’s especially affectionate today."
"There’s nothing wrong with having days like this."

In the morning, I stayed close to my mother, and in the afternoon, I played games with my father.

"I didn’t know my daughter could play games. You’re pretty good!"
"Ahem! I must have inherited it from you, Dad."
"Whoever’s daughter you are, you sure have a way with words."
"Whose daughter could I be? I’m your daughter, Dad!"

As I laughed and continued gaming with my father, my sister burst in.

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

While we were laughing and playing together, a cold voice interrupted us.

"How long are you planning to play? I told you dinner was ready ages ago."

The head of our household—Mom—had arrived.

After a brief scolding, the three of us joined her for dinner. Later, I took a bath and lay in my bed, but I couldn’t fall asleep.

I grabbed my pillow and went to my parents’ room. They looked at me, surprised.

"Oh my, what’s gotten into our daughter today?"
"I just… wanted to sleep together."
"Come here."

I placed my pillow between my parents and lay down, each of them hugging me from either side.

"Good night, sweetie."
"Sweet dreams."
"Goodnight, Mom, Dad."

---

When I woke up in the morning, my parents weren’t beside me.

Startled, I opened the door and saw my mom preparing breakfast, while Dad sat reading the newspaper.

"Our daughter’s awake?"
"Did you sleep well?"
"Yes!"

I sat at the table, where a warm breakfast was laid out.

After eating, Dad left for work, and I followed my mom around the house, clinging to her as she did chores. She smiled and patted my head.

"Our daughter’s become so affectionate."
"Hehehe."

While I was snuggled up with Mom, my older sister suddenly appeared.

"Sis! Let’s go shopping!"
"I’d rather stay home today."
"But it’s spring! Let’s go buy some clothes!"

And so I was dragged out of the house.

This was my first time going out with my sister.

She held my hand as we walked to the department store, and I felt people’s gazes on us.

They kept glancing our way.

"Why is everyone staring?"
"Well, if you walk around with a snake around your neck, people are bound to look."
"Oh, so it’s Yong-yong’s fault."
"Kyuung!?"

Yong-yong looked at me, incredulous, as if asking why it was his fault. I patted him reassuringly and followed my sister into the store.

Surprisingly, we were allowed in despite the snake around my neck.

"There’s no rule that says you can’t enter with a snake around your neck, right?"
"True."
"Anyway, let’s start with that store!"

With a cheerful face, she grabbed my hand and pulled me into the store. She dressed me in various outfits, and I felt like a doll she was playing dress-up with.

For the first time, I tried on a dress. It was surprisingly comfortable.

The open skirt felt a bit breezy, but it was freeing.

"You’re my sister, but you look way too good in that!"

As she kept trying to take pictures, I blocked her and followed her to a dessert café, where I took a bite of cake. It was sweet.

A piece of sweet cake after a day of exhausting work felt like a reward.

There’s something romantic about it.

After finishing a slice, I looked at her. She checked her wallet with a reluctant hand, but then ordered another piece for me.

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

As we walked along the road at sunset, we talked about all sorts of things.

"Now that I think about it, didn’t you say you joined a club in high school? Was it the band club?"
"I didn’t join any clubs."
"Really?"

The more we talked, the more I felt a sense of unease.

I knew this wasn’t reality.

It must be an illusion created by the Primordial One. But even so, I didn’t mind.

This moment… it was just so happy.

When we got home, I had dinner with my parents, and while I was snuggling with Mom, she whispered to me.

"I love you, my daughter."
"I love you too, Mom."
"We’ll be together forever, right?"
"…"

In my heart, I wanted to stay.

I wanted to spend peaceful times with Mom, Dad, and my sister, but I knew I couldn’t.

When I pulled away from Mom’s embrace, she asked why.

"I was happy, even if only for a short while."

She smiled at my words, and I knew it was time to say goodbye.

"Yong-yong, let’s go back."
"Kyuung."

As I spoke, the world began to shatter into pieces.

And I returned to where I’d been.

Standing before me, with my mother’s appearance, was the Primordial One.

"Have you made your decision?"
"This is my answer."

I raised my hand and shouted.

"Help me!"

A massive gate appeared, and countless monsters, angels, and demons emerged from it.

The ground shook as a tower rose, and a Kraken tore through the space to join us.

Through it all, the Primordial One just smiled.

"I respect your choice. May you meet your end in this world."

Another gate appeared.

Dragon King Ernia emerged from it, opening the way.

"I had hoped you’d find happiness, my child, but I see that’s not possible."
"Don’t worry. Things won’t go as you planned."

I had to break the spell on Dragon King Ernia.

Even if by force.

"Yong-yong, I’m counting on you."
"Kyuung."

Yong-yong transformed into his gigantic form.

Dragon King Ernia reverted to her true form, and the battle began.

Their immense breaths collided, sending shockwaves that split the earth and tore the sky.

Thankfully, I was shielded by a protective barrier; otherwise, I would have been in serious trouble.

Monsters poured through the gates, charging toward the Primordial One.

With a single sweep of her hand, countless monsters turned to dust.

But I wasn’t just going to stand by and watch.

"Revival of the Divine Dragon!"

[Revival of the Divine Dragon: Resurrects summoned beings.]

Since everything here counted as summons, they could all be revived.

The monsters that had been reduced to dust reappeared and charged at the Primordial One.

"If I don’t get rid of Yuna, this will never end."

As she looked at me, a chill ran down my spine, and I instinctively closed my eyes. But nothing happened.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Archangel Lucifer and Demon Lord Echidna standing before me, protecting me.

"If you want to touch Yuna, you’ll have to go through us first."
"How dare you try to harm Yuna in my presence. I won’t let it slide."

Yong-yong charged at the Primordial One.

The clash was intense, and I cast various buffs to help, but the fight wasn’t ending.

In fact, we were slowly being pushed back.

It was a desperate situation.

Then, something unexpected happened.

Massive gates appeared in the sky, one after another. Could it be the Primordial One’s doing?

As tension filled the air, the figures emerging from the gates came into view.

Leading the knights of the Avalon Empire was none other than former Imperial Knight Commander and Captain Charles.

"It’s a mentor’s duty to help his struggling disciple."

Behind him, leading the Arcana mages, was Grand Mage and Moonlight Inn owner, Sister Beliar.

"I brought all the mages to help our inn’s beloved regular, Yuna!"

Next was Information Guild Master Erica, leading a band of problem-solvers.

"Our precious Yuna needs help; of course I’m here."

Then, Catlea, leader of the Frey Guild—one of the Top 10 Guilds—arrived with all her guild members.

"Yunaaa! I brought everyone!!"

And then came countless travelers.

They shouted their thanks for all the times I’d protected them, vowing to repay the favor by charging at the Primordial One.

They declared that they would protect our world.

With the reinforcements, the battle began to shift in our favor.

Then, I heard a voice, sharp and piercing.

"Why are you going to such lengths? Yuna isn’t even a native of this world."

I replied to her words.

"At first, I wanted to return home, but not anymore. Look around me. All these people are risking their lives to fight by my side. How could I possibly run away alone?"

At that moment, Dragon King Ernia fell, and Yong-yong charged at the Primordial One.

Just then, countless stars began to appear in the sky, and Yong-yong’s body began to glow.

The Celestials, who had remained neutral until now, had joined the battle.

This enraged the Primordial One.

"Why are you intervening now, after all this time!?"

A voice responded.

[Even though she’s not a native, this child fights so

 tirelessly for our world. How could we stand by and watch in shame?]