Chapter 214 – Dear Friend #03

I had 1 friend.

No, there was one guy I believed to be my friend.

“What? Heemin. Why are you cleaning alone today? What about the other kids?”

When I understood the concept of a friend only in my head, there was a guy who approached me like a real friend and treated me kindly.

“What? You left all the cleaning up to me again? These pups are real Can I say something?”

He was the only friend who always approached me first when I was feeling lonely and suggested we go out, and he raised his voice to his to the other kids instead of me.

“…It’s nothing. It’s enough for me to do this alone!”
“What are you talking about! I’ll help you out, so let’s go to karaoke after it’s over. What do you think?”

I was happy.
I couldn’t open my heart to anyone at the orphanage or school, so I was very grateful to that guy who came to me first so that I could open up.

“Oh right. I didn’t bring my wallet today…Heemin, can you pay for it? I’ll give it to you later!”
“Ugh, yeah. Are you fine. Give it to me next time it’s convenient.”
“Also! Our Heemin is a guy with friendship!”

I was grateful for that guy, so I tried to do a lot for him.

I paid for him with pocket money from an orphanage that was smaller than a rat’s tail, bought a cultural gift certificate for his birthday his and gave it as a present, and handled everything on behalf of the troubled guy.

Thinking about it now, it seems silly, but at the time, even such a stupid volunteer was happy. Was it because I enjoyed the fact that I could repay the guy who first let me know that he was my friend his?

“Hey! A long time. How have you been doing? Me? I earn money smarter than labor. Do you know Toto? If you analyze this well, you can make a lot of money…”

Even after graduating from high school, I met Seunghu from time to time, but as time passed, bad rumors about Seunghu began to reach my ears. However, I did not listen to them.

Sometimes I tried to ignore him even though I saw a different side of him than before. No matter how little Seunghu has changed, it is still true that he is my only friend his.

“Listen, Heemin-ah, isn’t this an ordinary business idea? You know coins are very popular these days, right? If you only invest capital and list coins, you can earn 10 times as much!”

One day, when he asked me to invest in his business, all the wealth I had accumulated for six years after graduating from high school, I did not refuse.

Looking back, I might have turned down the offer even if I had considered him my only friend. But it didn’t.

Because I wanted to believe. That the person who said all sorts of sweet things right in front of my eyes was not just a cheater, but my only friend who still considers me a dear friend.

──It was two months later when Seunghu heard that he had fled overseas with all the wealth I had accumulated over the past six years.

I wasn’t angry. Maybe you thought it might be like this yourself.

But after that, I couldn’t truly trust anyone.

Even the parents who gave birth to me, the teachers at the orphanage who raised me, and even the friends who approached me first betrayed me. That fact has become a chain that strongly strangles my actions and thoughts to this day.

-“You shameless Holo bastard!!!”-
Seeing Shion abandoned by Rexton, whom she truly believed in and loved by her, I couldn’t contain my rage, beat Rexton down, and then reached out to her Shion.

-“You and I have the right to be happy in this fucking world.”-
Gaga opened her heart to Cayenne, who was repeating her good deeds that no one could repay, so that she would be her friend her for the first time.

Because I don’t want someone else to go through the sadness I’ve been through, because I want someone else to feel the happiness I felt. She thought she acted honestly in her heart.

By the way, Mephisto’s expression looking at me at this moment.

“Why, why is that…? Why are you silent? Because there aren’t many things Jim can give you… ?”

It was the expression I most wanted to see in the world.

*

– “Good night. Artin, if it’s a contract, I’ll do it, for Jim will do anything for his one and only friend his.” –
At first, I try to be proud of myself as much as I can. Because I want to believe that you and I are equal friends.

– “Yeah, that’s true. Wouldn’t it be hard to believe if Jim, the devil, talked about it? Let’s make a formal contract! Can you trust me then?”
After that ego is destroyed, the hidden aspects of the relationship between you and me are revealed. Who is up and who is down. Who is dependent in this relationship.

– “Ah, are you still lacking… ? That’s right. Are you worried because you don’t know when Jim will get tired of it and change his mind? Don’t worry! I will listen to everything you say!” –
And the moment he realizes the relationship himself… He becomes servile and pleads with the other person.

Even if the other person can abandon himself, he cannot abandon the other person.
No matter how sweet words you try to seduce yourself, you can’t refuse.
Want to believe you won’t fool me As much as you are, I will always believe by my side.
Even if you betray everyone else, you will always be kind to me.

‘It’s stupid.’

Even Mephisto would know. The fact that even if you gave me all of yourself, Mephisto’s things I could use would only be a handful.

Because I know that, this deal is infinitely unfair. Both me and Mephisto.

However, Mephisto didn’t say anything anymore and just stared earnestly. ‘Cause there’s nothing more I can give I’ve already given everything, what more can I give?

I did too. The money I wasn’t simply six years. It was my everything that I had gathered over the 25 years of my life. But that’s why I was willing to give it to him.

If you give this, can you show condescension to the other person? Want to show sincerity? Want to get the upper hand in this relationship?

‘Because I didn’t know how to do it like an idiot.’

Different. I didn’t want to have an advantage over the other person with something material.

I just want to repay what I’ve received. I just want to convey the gratitude and happiness I felt to the other person.

And I desperately wish for it. I want the other person who lacks nothing more than me to share this feeling and regard me as a precious person as he thinks. Shallow thinking.

You don’t know how Because I don’t know what to do with the person who filled my heart for the first time. I don’t know how to give my heart, so I try to match everything to the other person, and I give everything I can give materially.

‘Really… Like an asshole. Me.’

I was the first to approach Mephisto to be friends. She was the first to tell her many things about her. Looking at Mephisto reminded me of my past self, so I tried harder to teach him. She tried to be a friend.

Different. The relationship between Mephisto and I was no longer equal friends.

I thought it would be easy to convince him because I knew what gifts he liked, what actions he was happy with, and what words he was happy with.

So, to me, Mephisto was nothing more than a transcendental being that was easy to boil.

Even Mephisto would know. That’s why, that’s why he’s even more childish and friendly towards me. It’s about denying your own thoughts.

You are wrong It’s just that your over-imagining brings up bad doubts. Artine can’t do that to me. Because Artin is my precious friend——

──I ended up becoming the monster I didn’t want to become.

*

Despair fell in Mephisto’s eyes as he watched the spells disperse like smoke.

I wanted to say something, but I couldn’t open my mouth. The moment I opened my mouth to say something, I felt like I would burst into tears.

It shouldn’t be. If you suddenly cry, Artin will be in trouble, and having a good time with Artin will also be depressed. To be patient, to be patient…

“Huh… Turn it off…”

An unbearable cry leaked out of his mouth. I have to endure it, but I can’t cry, but Artin always had a troubled expression whenever he saw someone crying.

I shouldn’t miss it, but if I really cried here, I wouldn’t be able to repair my relationship with Artin anymore. You have to be patient, you have to be patient…

Mephisto gritted his teeth and reflected on his heart his, but when he realized the reality that he had been rejected by Artin, the sense of helplessness that began to cover his whole body his was weakening Mephisto’s will.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry, I pushed myself… I’m really, really sorry… But please don’t hate me… “

Hot tears were already flowing down her cheeks. Suddenly, he forgot the authoritative tone he used to hide his feelings of her and began to plead with Artin.

“Please, it’s fine without a contract. Once a month… No, once a year… It’s okay if you visit me only once per return…”

Don’t throw it away, I couldn’t even say the words. The moment I really said it, I thought that I might be abandoned by Artin.

He was too ugly to think of himself. It was only then that it was clear that Artin would lose his passion for himself.

“I’m sorry, did I bother you too much? I will try to prevent this from happening in the future. I won’t even show you a troublesome side…”

He slowly let go of Artin’s collar, which he was holding onto. Even the slightest act, he didn’t want to get on Artin’s nerves, because it was Mephisto himself who was desperate for this relationship.

Because he doesn’t deserve to be friends with himself.

“Don’t be silly!”
“..Ah, Artin?”

Artine strongly hugged Mephisto’s body his, which was slowly moving away. He was warm The warmth suddenly felt so unfamiliar that Mephisto looked up at Artin with bewildered eyes and put on a puzzled expression.

“It’s not that you, Mephisto, aren’t qualified. It’s me who he doesn’t deserve…!”

With his left arm his, Artin held Mephisto in a strong embrace as if he would never let go, then stretched out his right arm and swung his arm so that the smoke in the air completely dispersed.

“It is I who should apologize. It’s me who should be sorry. It’s me who has to beg…!”

In that empty space, Artin began to write down his new contract ceremony with his fingertips, pouring mana into it.

“Why are you apologizing when you haven’t done anything wrong! Don’t apologize!”

It was the first time. Although she sometimes threw her tantrums, she was usually Artin, who always showed a kind side to herself.

But now, Artin was really angry with himself. I didn’t know why he was so angry, but as if he didn’t like the whole situation, he got nervous and wrote the contract.

“I will give you my all. I’ll try not to feel lonely, and I’ll give you all the presents I’ve prepared. Things that are more fun than the things I’ve taught you so far! I’ll tell you happy things!”

The boldly written spells of the contract began to emit light as soon as they formed a single sentence.

“So! So…!”

I was crying. Artin, not himself, was crying. Seeing that, Mephisto also shed tears. I don’t know why, but tears came out. But it wasn’t sad.

“Become——!”

*

After Artin’s heartfelt cry, a quiet silence fell in his room.

It was embarrassing. It was too much to keep up with this situation and emotions. Because this was the first time Mephisto had experienced this.

He even suspected that it might be a dream. When he confirmed that it was not a dream, he began to suspect that Artin was playing a prank on him this time.

However, Artin was looking at himself seriously. He was looking through a crystal ball, he had the serious expression he used to say when conveying his sincerity to his lovers or friends.

“…”

When he first heard this question he could answer lightly.
However, this time it was too difficult to answer. It was hard to hold back the feeling of tickling emotions rising up in his chest.

It seemed like he was about to burst into laughter, but the sadness and despair that filled his heart just before began to brighten, but Mephisto held back his emotions.

If I didn’t suppress it, I’d be so happy that I wouldn’t be able to answer because I was bursting into tears.

“——Yes!”

With Mephisto’s answer, the spells of the contract gained strength. This is evidence that the contract has been concluded.

Now, no one can break this contract.
Even if Artin changes his mind, he cannot end the contract even if he thinks Mephisto wants to end it.
Because the two of them didn’t put a condition that would be a period in this contract.
So this contract will last forever.

─────────────────
The deal is done!
Terms of the contract: Anything ‘you’ can give.
Price of the contract: to be friends.
─────────────────

Thus, a contract of friendship that would last forever was concluded.
And the quarrel with Mephisto’s first friend ended with a trivial ending.
Just like all fights between friends.