"Brother, what's going on?!" Yura shouted, almost screaming, bewildered by her condition and the surreal surroundings, so different from the world she knew.
"Yura? Calm down! I'll explain everything," I tried to soothe her, grasping her shoulders gently.
"Uh... I'll try..." Despite being in a completely unfamiliar place, she seemed to regain some composure, feeling a bit of familiarity, although she still looked perplexed.
"Shh... Haah..." She steadied her breathing, trying her best to calm down.
Sway, sway -
Her nine tails, which had been reflecting her agitated state by standing upright, began to slowly descend, much like small stones sinking to the bottom of the sea. It seemed her tail's position changed with her mood. Earlier, they were up, representing her anxiety, but now they were settling down as she began to relax.
"Okay...! I still don't fully understand, but... I feel a bit better...!" Her tails completely relaxed, neither standing upright nor drooping too much, indicating she was calming down but still a bit confused.
"That's good... Are you feeling okay physically?" I asked, concerned about Yura's unusual transformation, but she responded with a faint smile.
"Yeah... Nothing hurts, just a strange sensation in my head and buttocks, but it's not too bothersome."
Relieved that there were no major issues, I then faced a challenging question.
"So, where are we? Why have I turned out like this?"
I had promised to explain everything, but now I found myself at a loss for words.
"This is... the other world I mentioned before, like those RPG games. You know, worlds with lower technology but diverse races and magic. That's where we are."
I had previously hinted at the existence of another world, and now that things had come to this point, explaining the nature of this world wasn't difficult. "So, a world like this really exists? I thought it was just... fantasy, something that only existed in imagination," Yura said, clearly disgruntled but trying to understand her current situation. But there was a really difficult issue to explain, one that I didn't have the answer to myself.
"But why have I turned out like this? You look normal, brother... I look like a gumiho [a nine-tailed fox from Korean mythology]..."
Indeed, why had Yura transformed into a creature resembling a mythical gumiho? I was at a loss.
"I'm not sure why... Lady Goddess, do you know why this has happened?" I asked, hoping for some insight. It was an unforgivable oversight on my part not to have considered her presence during the transition. But even granting that she could have been caught up in the transition, why had her very species changed? This was beyond my understanding.
"Sorry, Harold... This is beyond my knowledge too," Eleona replied, indicating that this situation was outside her realm of expertise.
"And you, Mir?" I turned to her.
"I don't know either... This is the first time I've traversed dimensions, so I'm not sure," Mir also shook her head in response to my question.
It was a truly perplexing situation.
"Then, can we at least send Yura back? If she goes back, she might return to her original state... She shouldn't be here..."
I hoped to at least send her back, but...
"Uh..." Eleona looked even more troubled than I did, suggesting that might not be possible either.
"Is it impossible?" I asked, feeling deflated as she nodded weakly.
"Yes... Dimensional travel is an extremely complex form of magic... When I cast it to meet you, I was fortunate to easily find the right ingredients, but it's usually very difficult..."
"We could attempt it without the ingredients, but it would take a very long time..."
So, it seemed there might be a solution, albeit a time-consuming one. "Does it mean it will take...?"
"Several months, I suppose..." The time frame was far too long for my liking. Should I be grateful that at least there's a solution, as long as there's time?
I let out a sigh involuntarily. The situation was giving me a headache.
The reality of my situation in the real world loomed large. I was already employed, and while I might have been forgotten in this world upon my arrival, Yura needed to return quickly. She was attending college and surely had friends she regularly contacted...
And if she disappeared too, our parents would soon realize that we were both gone...
The situation was urgent, but there was no immediate solution, and I couldn't help feeling a sense of despair.
"So, I have to live here for now?"
Strangely enough, the main person involved, Yura, seemed quite at ease. Though she was understandably anxious about surviving in this unfamiliar place, she appeared more composed than expected.
"Are you sure you'll be okay? Don't you have a life to return to?"
Her calmness surprised me. To my question, she gave a rather remarkable answer.
"It's true, but maybe it's not so bad... I've changed physically and ended up in this strange world, but if there's no immediate solution, what can I do? Worrying won't improve anything."
She was right, but her ability to adapt so quickly was almost baffling. At least Yura wasn't like me; her composure was astonishing.
"Yeah... For now, it looks like we'll have to stay here..."
But this world was new and alien to her; it wouldn't be easy to adapt.
"Okay... But I don't know anything about this place, so it's a bit nerve-wracking..."
She knew this, and her calm demeanor was slowly replaced by anxiety, her body gradually tensing up.
"Don't worry too much, Yura. You have your brother, right? I know enough about this world to take good care of you."
At least it was a relief that I was with Yura. Like when we were younger and I helped her through tough times, I could do the same now. "Brother..." Touched by my words, Yura looks at me with eyes full of hope and dependence.
"Brother, you're so reliable. You're kind and always caring for others... I've always liked that about you." She suddenly hugs me, uttering words that could easily be misunderstood by others.
"Harold... have you found another woman?"
"This is why I didn't want to come back..."
Not surprisingly, Eleona and Mir start muttering in a hostile tone, clearly annoyed.
Hold on... Yura is my sister. Even if you think poorly of me, please don't look at my sister with such suspicion...
"Yura is my sister, so there's no need to be so guarded..."
Trying to defend myself against their suspicions, I explain that Yura is just family to me.
"What does that matter? There's no rule that says family can't develop certain feelings. So, she's still a subject of caution."
"I agree with the goddess this time."
Despite having spent a considerable amount of time in this world, I suddenly realize something I had forgotten.
Thinking back, this world is based on the medieval era. I'm not sure if it's the same here, but according to my knowledge...
"I do not see my sister as a woman. She's family and someone I need to protect, nothing more, nothing less."
The concept of incest... In the medieval context, although rare, ethical standards weren't firmly established, and love was more encompassing, so it wasn't outright condemned as it is now.
"Even though I trust what my knight says, being careful with a sibling is still wise."
"I'll be watching..."
Their attitude wasn't entirely unreasonable under the circumstances.
"Yes... I am not someone who sees his sister in that way."
As I continued to assert the nature of our relationship, Yura suddenly grasped my shoulder tightly.
Yura looked at me with a mix of discomfort and bewilderment. "What's wrong? Did I say something incorrect?"
"Brother..."
Was she dissatisfied with something I said? Her lips were pursed together, and she seemed to be struggling to discuss a difficult topic, only able to look at me with a pitiful expression.
"Why, is something bothering you?"
I noticed her discomfort and asked if she wanted to talk, but...
"No, it's nothing..."
She refused to answer my question. However, her body language betrayed her words. Her ears, which had been perked up just moments ago, drooped down, and her tails sagged to the ground.
Is there something she wants to say? But why won't she speak up? It's strange, considering she's not one to hide her feelings.
"Don't worry, it's nothing serious... Anyway, what should we do now?"
Her attempt to change the subject seemed like a clear indication that she was reluctant to speak her mind. Should I just let it go, understanding that everyone has things they'd rather keep to themselves?
Accepting this, I began to ponder what we should do next.
"Come to think of it..."
The first thing to do in this world is to educate Yura about it. However, I realized there's something important to consider. The immediate task was to teach her about this world. Moreover, to do that effectively, it's better to travel the main roads and teach her various concepts and knowledge rather than just explaining here. So, what she needs right now is...
"We should probably change your name... 'Kim Yura' doesn't quite fit the naming conventions of this world."
A suitable alias was necessary. Living here would require a fitting name, just as I had been using one.
"Do I need to change my name too? So, you're not called Minjun here?"
"Yes, I've been using the name 'Harold.' It's more natural and fitting for this world, so it's easier to live with."
I rested my chin on my hand and began to think of a suitable name for Yura, a name that would fit her well.
"How about this name?"
After a short period of contemplation, I came up with a suitable name. "Yuriel... How does that sound? I derived it from your original name, Yura."
Yuriel Wicker... it was a pretty good name.
"Yuriel..."
She seems to like the name I suggested, repeating it under her breath and once again rushing into my arms. Yuriel, having transformed into a nine-tailed fox, appeared to have enhanced physical abilities, much stronger than the Yura I knew.
"I like it, brother..!"
Fortunately, she seemed happy. Her previously clouded expression cleared up, revealing a bright smile. I thought she was happy until...
"...?"
Her smile contradicted the slight trembling of her eyelashes, capturing my attention. Looking closer, her expression seemed forced, unlike her actual feelings. Her tails and ears drooped too...
"Yuriel...?"
"Hmm, brother?"
When I called her name, she responded normally, but the atmosphere felt somewhat off.
"Why did you call?"
Since coming to this world, I kept feeling that something about her was uncharacteristically different.
"It's nothing... For now, I'll show you around the city I've been living in. Follow me."
Ignoring the nagging feeling of unease, I led her on. And that's when I should have realized that Yura was hiding a secret...