Cursed Forge

"You look lonely? You have no one with you? Why don't I show you ar—"

"Huh?"

"Ne-nevermind, sorry for wasting your time."

The topless Adonis froze at the sight of my eyes; his expression turned sour and ran along like a dog that had its tail stepped on.

'Pussy.'

Summer can go fuck itself. There, I've said it, and I don't plan on taking this statement back.

Those people who go to the beach to freshen up, I say, disgusting. And I say that in the literal sense.

The Ocean in itself is filthy. It is contaminated with animal wastes, sewage spills, fecal matter, and worst of all, people who think they are the shit! When in truth, they are pieces of shit…

Yet as much as I bark, here I am, with my so-called demonic eyes, hoodie, and a lovely scowl deeper than the Mariana Trench.

'Dammit, why did I agree to join Julia to the beach? I should've gone to the Gym or went to a PC bang. I heard Koreans are good at games; they might at least prove a challenge. I really haven't touched a game for a month since I went to that German Site… I'm having withdrawals.'

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I am an Archeologist. Though I have not made any significant find and made lots of money, I at least made enough to travel the world.

I actually wanted to become a blacksmith in some forge because of Yootube's influence. Both "Forge and Blaze" and "GentleMan at Arms" clips made me want to craft some amazing weapons; sadly, my godmother didn't want me living covered with oil and dirt, so I went with my second choice and became an archeologist.... where I am covered with dusts and grime.

For full disclosure, when I decided to become an Archeology, I chose to become someone like "Indiana Jones" or find "Atlantis".

To be fair, being a blacksmith or discovering Atlantis was not the stupidest dream I had growing up. I even wanted to become a Hero at some point, hahaha....haaa~ — where had my purity gone.

Moving forward, let's get back to why I am so grouchy about summer and so-called hunks. – okay, get ready – my indoor loving ass is… in Korea… in Jeju Island.

If you're wondering if I spent a single cent to go here, then, no. It was my best friend Julia and her fiancé who bought the plane ticket, took care of the accommodation, and pretty much everything.

In short, I am but a peasant tagging along for free. I am thankful, yes, but I don't think being here is any better than staying inside an air-conditioned room.

"Lily, come on, join us! The water is nice!" by the water, Julia shouted with her two piece polka dot swimsuit.

Look at her. Enjoying her youth with the one she love... and as for me?

"I'm good, just enjoy your time with Woo-in! I also don't like being around you two; I might puke sugar!" I rejected Julia's offer to join the light side. I'll keep mulling over here. Where the sun does not reach.

"You sure!?"

"Yeah! Just enjoy yourselves!"

"…Okay, but you should really have fun with us."

"Yeah, sure."

Where was I? Oh yeah, I just told you how much of an ungrateful asshole I am.

I can tell you're judging me right now, thinking, "Then why come, your ungrateful bitch?" well, first of all, I was tricked into coming.

Julia said that we'll be watching a UFC event with my favorite fighter as the main event.

If you hadn't caught on, I am a woman who is interested in Indiana Jones, and because of my young, stupid mind, I trained myself to become a Tomb Raider of sorts.

A dream crushed by a sentence made on the first day of orientation.

-"If you think being in Archeology is fighting terrorists and facing cursed items, then get out of this room. Becoming an archeologist doesn't mean you can go pew-pew-pew and bang-bang-bang against any terrorist scum without turning to swiss cheese. It's about unearthing the history buried in time."-

The professor in charge announced.

I walked out with fifty people that day... and returned the next hour when I realized how much money I would be wasting if I did.

Though I later learned that .

I decided to make do, "I might shoot somebody someday." was what I thought, and I still wait for my chance to shoot at a hidden Nazi that wants the power of an ancient civilization.

But I kept training. Mostly for health reasons.

I even learned Krav Maga, Mixed Martial Arts, and some Judo for dessert. Though I am no professional fighter, I at least gained an excellent figure from doing all that.

Because of my hobby, I took an interest in UFC, became a massive fan, and got baited here to meet my idol.

Using the ticket to the main event, Julia had me join her here, on the beach, so I don't turn into a couch potato in the hotel playing games.

But jokes on her, hehe, this is not enough to convert me into a summer-loving person.

I am an archeologist, someone who spends time with the sun more than my friends. Many would think I have long rescinded my fate to spend the rest of my days with the sun, but no, my hatred towards it only grows with every day I spend under its tyranny.

I can bear the heat because it's work, and I'm interested in artifacts and on old booby traps, but that's where I draw the line.

The beach is the enemy, air-conditioning is salvation, and I am only playing along to get that ticket.

I dread the sun to the point I will find ways to block and avoid this old foe. But, only for today will I let myself be besieged, for I know I would be rewarded for my courage.

'I shall outlast the sun in hopes of getting what I want hehehe.'

Trembling as I failed to control the laughter held deep within, I transformed into a natural man repellant and was left alone for the whole day.

I became hades' guard dog under the beach umbrella as I loyally protected our bags and equipment. My head held down, the light from my phone reflected in my eyes as I went through the walls of text and shiny pictures.

I could not part with the words, that was until a shadow cast on me,

Staring at me with a raised brow while shaking her head was Julia judging me. She didn't even say anything to let me know what she's thinking.

So I responded with a shoulder shrug, "What can I say? I prefer land over water. I'm a human Julia, and we do not tread the territory of the fishies... where they shit."

"It's not that bad. Come on, you'll enjoy it. Give it a try."

Julia tugged and pulled my arm. And as much as I hate the sun... my appreciation for this marshmallow of a girl outweighs it.

"Fine~"

"Yay!"

I joined them to satisfy Julia's insistence.

A few hours later, the three of us then returned to the Hotel.

I stayed in a separate room. Of course.

Originally, Julia and I shared it while Woo-in stayed in another, but I changed with the poor lad.

'This is my way of repaying him. Go wild, you two.'

A tear almost escaped from the corner of my eyes.

July 17, 2024 — Night

"It's time."

Dressed up in my most fashionable t-shirt and pants, Julia and her fiancé joined me at what's about to become the best Summer Night of my life.

"You seem excited, Lily," Julia said as she and I waited for Woo-in to bring the car around.

"Of course, I am. I've wanted to go on a live fight so that I can enjoy the sound of flesh being beaten to mush! The sun may have kept me down earlier, but nothing's going to stop me now!"

...and it was here that I realized that I have gravely offended the Universe.

"Kyaaa~ someone, stop him!"

A screech from behind echoed. A thief was running to us, with a bag he stole from an elderly woman.

"Get out of the way!" the thief shouted at Julia while holding a knife.

Julia had stepped in the direction where the thief was heading.

Without me knowing Julia had gotten in the way of the thief.

I doubt Julia really knew what she was doing. Since we were young, Julia would always help those in need. Always standing up for others… just like how she did for me way back when.

Her body must have moved without her knowledge like some kind of hero.

"JULIA! Look out!"

Julia was shaking; she wouldn't move despite my calls. My cries must have alerted the thief; he swung the knife at Julia, and through sheer reflex, my body moved to protect my friend.

Stepping forward, I caught the thief's hand and threw him on the asphalt.

I could hear him groan, and many who saw my actions had their mouths open.

Are they amazed? Heh, they should. After all, that was a goddamn good throw.

But something's strange, the knife he was holding... was gone. I looked over at Julia and heaved a sigh of relief, seeing she was okay... so why is she bursting to tears?

Looking down, I finally understand that the thief actually stabbed me. Was it when I grabbed him? I don't know. But one thing's for sure, "That's not good."

I said as I collapsed.

"Lily! Ho-hold on, Woo-in will be here at any moment! We'll get you to a hospital!" Julia held me in her arms as she frantically applied pressure on the wound, tears streaming down her face.

"Idiot… I told you… you don't look good while crying. You're... ruining... your makeup."

What the hell am I saying?

"That sounded… so… stupid hahaha. Ack… it hurts to laugh."

My eyes grew heavier, and I saw Julia panicking as Woo-in arrived from the corner.

"What happened!?"

"Lily... she tried to protect me... this... this is my fault. I-"

"It's not... your fault... you idiot. Besides... I'm fine... it's a flesh wound." I say as the pool of blood gradually become larger around me.

"Lily!"

"We need to take her to the hospital."

Without wasting a second, he carried me then put Julia and me in the car's back seat. He drove without a care for the speed limit. He drove like a madman.

How sweet of him.

When he was trying to court Julia, I was the bane of his romance. Yet look at him now.

But... I knew it was too late. The hospital was too far away and I lost too much blood already.

"Woo-in… listen, I leave my Julia to… you… please, take care of her. Make her happy… or else I'll haunt you…"

"Lily, don't talk like that; you're going to be fine. We're going to see a Fight, right? Please, hold on, please, I beg of you, hold on — don't die. Please… Lily."

I held onto Julia's hands that had been dyed red in with my blood, "Yeah… sure."

I… don't want to die.

But as they say.

Shit happens.

Julia's tears could not be controlled; they landed on my face as her sobbing voice reached my ears, "I-I'm sorry, it's my fault that you're like this. Lily, please… I-it's my fault, I, if only I, if I only didn't get in the way, if only I didn't bring you here—I."

"You did nothing… wrong… remember… what I said… to you when we were young? I always… wanted to be a hero… you just fulfilled that dream… hehe... I should be thanking you..."

"What are you talking about? Acting like you're going to die. Stop it. "

"In fact... I owe you so much... thank you… Julia."

"Please... stop acting so weak.... where is your usual snark? Come on... say my makeup's ugly."

"Heh... you're right... so... can you please show me a smile please?"

"Li-like this?"

She forced a smile.

And I smiled back.

"There's... my girl... live long now... and clear... my browser history... okay?"

I don't want to die… but, I don't want Julia to feel guilt. She had done so much for me; the last I can do is assure her that even if I die... I am still the same.

"Lily!? LILY! WAKE Up…. Please!"

I can still hear her.

I want to hear her some more.

But soon my consciousness was dragged into darkness.

I died… smiling in her arms. Joking as I did. A good way to go, I might say.

But speaking of which, how come I can still think?

...who cares? I'm dead.

In this never-ending darkness, I floated. Unable to move on my own. Alone with my own thoughts.

'I wonder where I'll end up? Heaven or Hell?'

I asked a simple question, and a second later, in that darkness, I saw a simple figure directly hover above me.

From its muscles, it was a man. All six of his arms were chained and and half his face was covered by his dark hair.

It had a gentle smile and its figure glowed in a white ethereal radiance, 'God?'

I raised my hands, ready to embrace the light. It got closer and closer, and the closer it got, the clearer the hammer it held became.

'What's... that for? Is it here to judge me? Oh I get it now. It must be the arbiter... I wonder where it will send me?'

A question answered by the being swinging its hammer at me.

Seeing his aggression, how powerful he was moving, there was only one place I knew he'd be taking me, '…most likely Hell.'

And so, the hammer descended with thunderous might.