Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: If the Probability Isn't 0%
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“What? It's right nearby.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Ryu Da-bi was once again spying on other people's SNS using a burner account she'd made just for this purpose, rather than her main one.
That's when she spotted a photo of a cafe she recognized on Choi Yeon-bi's account.
'...She's not alone, huh.'
There were two cups of coffee in the photo, so it looked like company.
After a moment's hesitation, she set her electronic cigarette down on the table and stood up.
'If I don't go now, when will I get another chance?'
She shoved her phone into the pocket of her tracksuit.
Pulled a pitch-black cap low over her head,
and covered everything below her eyes with a mask.
Then she hurried out the door.
She hopped into her domestic mid-size sedan—still a long way from being paid off—and drove to the cafe in the photo.
'A bit late, maybe.'
Regrettably, she didn't spot anyone who looked like the account owner.
But she could guess where they'd gone from the next post.
'Composite mall... only one place within walking distance.'
Ryu Da-bi took off again in a hurry.
It wasn't long before she found someone nearby whose back view matched the SNS photos.
Having obsessively stalked the account, Ryu Da-bi knew it instantly.
Of the three standing side by side, that one was the owner.
And finally.
'That... person...?'
The mysterious woman with 10,000 followers who'd settled on the handle @Milea after changing it several times.
She finally saw her face.
'...'
From a distance, it was fist-sized.
Perfectly arranged features nestled neatly in that small face.
Her expression was so impassive it was hard to read, but that somehow made her look confident.
Sleek eyes and slightly upturned lips that suited her face perfectly created an air of mystery.
In a word, she was.
The most beautiful person Ryu Da-bi had ever seen.
'Holy shit...'
She was speechless.
It wasn't just the face—the body matched the SNS photos perfectly too.
No filters or edits. None.
If real life allowed for that kind of touch-up, Ryu Da-bi would've been a successful influencer by now.
She'd tried using real photos before.
But she had a feeling it'd just boost her target's followers instead.
Still, turning back now after investing so much time? No way.
So she decided.
'For now... let's tail her.'
She resolved to follow.
No matter how pretty or handsome, off-putting behavior could tarnish a reputation.
In this looks-obsessed world, sure, people defended murderers if they were hot enough.
But still.
Tailing like this might uncover some flaws, however small.
Several hours passed as Ryu Da-bi trailed her with that mindset.
Choi Yeon-bi had spent the time leisurely shopping for clothes and popping into accessory stores, enjoying the day at her own pace.
'Living it up, huh.'
The carefree shopping spree grated even more in contrast to Ryu Da-bi's own situation.
And her two friends both had killer proportions too.
The guy towering like a beanpole.
The woman next to him with the killer curves.
But Ryu Da-bi barely registered them.
Target: one only.
As she kept tailing with that focus, the beanpole guy suddenly turned around.
'...Whoa.'
Ryu Da-bi startled but sighed in relief—he didn't seem to have spotted her.
Still, she didn't let her guard down completely, widening the distance a bit as she continued.
“That's fine. It's my stuff anyway, so I should carry it.”
Spotting her target taking the bags from the guy.
'Chance.'
She snapped a photo right away.
Could pass as boyfriend evidence, or edit maliciously since his face was clear.
Especially useful: edit to make it look like she was dumping all the bags on him.
She inwardly cheered at the perfect shot.
But in her haste, she forgot to switch to silent camera mode.
The faint click from the main street was plenty loud enough for beanpole's ears.
The moment she snapped it, he whipped around and strode straight toward Ryu Da-bi.
Then swiftly grabbed her wrist—the one holding the phone.
“Delete the photo. I saw you take it.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'Photo?'
I turned to look closely at the woman whose wrist Min-hyeok had grabbed, surprised by his words.
'Don't know her...'
Never seen her before.
She was hiding her face anyway, so even acquaintances wouldn't recognize her like this.
Not Yeon-a, obviously.
I ran through other models, but the proportions didn't match.
A fan, then?
'I don't post anything too identifiable on SNS...'
Come to think of it, I did post back views often.
Someone might recognize the build, but that'd be tough.
“I said delete it. Check your phone.”
“Hey! I didn't take any pics of you! Let go!!”
“Then show me. Problem solved.”
While I hesitated, Min-hyeok and the nameless woman started bickering fiercely.
Couldn't just stand there, so Ji-su and I hurried over.
“Sorry, but what's going on here...?”
Min-hyeok didn't even turn, glaring at the woman as he enunciated clearly.
“She's been tailing us for a while. I let it slide, but then she takes a photo out of nowhere.”
Calm tone belying his expression.
Another side of him, different from the road rage I'd seen before.
'Guess anyone turns like that behind the wheel.'
Absurd, but I alternated glances between him and the woman.
“I wasn't tailing! What nonsense... I'll call the cops on you all...!”
“Go ahead. Cops check the phone logs at the station, we'll see who's right.”
“You... fucking jerk...!! Fine! I'll delete it!!”
With that, she unlocked her phone, went to the gallery,
and showed us deleting the photo.
But Min-hyeok wasn't satisfied.
“Check the backup folder.”
“I deleted it, quit bossing me around!!”
“Photos auto-backup when you take them. Check.”
“What ridiculous demand...'
“Whose fault is it we're even asking?”
“Fine! I don't even backup! See?”
No backup app installed at all.
Only then did Min-hyeok nod and release her wrist.
“If this photo pops up online, we'll know it's you. Got your face, and CCTV here's got it too. We'll report and track you down.”
“I won't post it!! I swear!! Fucking hell!!”
The stalker bolted, spewing curses.
“Jeez.”
Min-hyeok sighed shortly at the sight.
Ji-su gave him a thumbs-up with her usual blank face, as if to say good job.
“Anyway, let's eat. Kinda ruined the mood.”
He glanced awkwardly at me and Ji-su, tossing out the suggestion.
Glanced at my watch: late lunch hour.
Fewer people, could eat leisurely. I nodded.
“Yeon-bi. Western, Japanese, Korean nearby—what're you craving?”
“No input from me?”
“...Min-hyeok always hits that spicy ramen spot here.”
He shot Ji-su a look like she'd hit the nail on the head.
It was funny; I couldn't help a chuckle.
Definitely better with company: two beats one, three beats two.
With these two solid backups, I smiled faintly.
“Spicy ramen's iffy... any noodle places?”
“One nearby. Let's go there.”
Ji-su nodded, satisfied with my pick.
Me and Min-hyeok followed as she led the way to the noodle shop.
We arrived at the noodle place, breezed by cool autumn wind.
Noodles, but prices on the menu were brutal.
'Gold dust on top or what?'
Considering local costs, not inexplicable—but the capital region's different.
'I'd blow through it fast living here.'
Even so, 500 billion wouldn't vanish overnight.
Expensive is expensive, though.
“I'll have this.”
“Hm... no spicy options here...”
“Why do you love spicy so much?”
“Tastes good.”
Min-hyeok the spice fiend, Ji-su eyeing him like he was hopeless.
Not spice pride anymore—just dopamine junkie.
'Won't let that happen to me.'
I like spicy too.
Swore not to go that far, then rang the table bell.
Orders in, waiting for food—message from Yeon-a popped up.
💬 Chat with Yeon-a — Shopping for clothes okay?
> — Must be fun
> — (Rabbit doll resting chin on desk, glaring emoji)
— Yeah
> — Mostly men's outers for now
> — Something easy to throw on
> — Would be nice
— Mm-hmm
> — Men's outers are great for casual wear
> — Honestly, don't you have fashion talent, Yeon-bi?
> — Realizing it already
> — (Rabbit doll in awe emoji)
— You think?
> — Any tips for buying clothes?
> — At a restaurant now, next is vintage shop
— Basics first when clothes shopping
> — Told you how many times?
> — Buy stuff that coordinates with anything
> — Then add accent pieces one by one
> — Vintage shops... let the models pick
> — Too many duds for newbies
> — Sent those two for that reason
> — (Rabbit doll holding outfits to itself emoji)
> — Send me fitting pics too
> — Got it?
> — Promise?
I ignored Yeon-a's last message as best I could and closed the phone.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “Thanks for the meal.”
We said our farewells and left the shop.
Not fully satisfying for the price, but decently full—energy restored.
Ji-su and Min-hyeok stretched, faces lighter than before.
“Next... this way, right?”
“Yeah. I'll lead.”
About five minutes following our human navigator.
Walking along, I caught Ji-su's eyes flick sideways.
Her gaze stopped at a shop with character art.
'She into this stuff?'
Glancing between her and the shop, her face flushed slightly.
“Let's hurry.”
“Like this kinda thing, unnie?”
“No, not really...”
“Plenty of time—let's browse. Feels bad just taking your help.”
She started hesitating at my words.
Min-hyeok, who'd been leading, was heading back our way.
“Then... just a bit...”
With that, Ji-su slowly entered the shop.
We followed.
“Ji-su collects these characters. Something small and cute... what was it.”
His aside explanation.
“...Name's 'Small and Cute Whatever'?”
“Something like that. Ah, that one.”
He pointed at Ji-su's favorite character.
A scruffy hamster doll. Nearby: rabbit, cat, squirrel lookalikes.
“...Kinda cute.”
“You like this stuff too, Yeon-bi?”
“Not against it.”
He just nodded.
Meanwhile, Ji-su stood staring at an old-school gacha machine like from a corner store.
“Whoa, this is that corner store gacha.”
Min-hyeok nodded, then paused, eyeing me curiously.
“How old are you anyway?”
“These were around when I was a kid...”
“...Maybe the eight-year gap doesn't cross generations after all.”
I swallowed the 'that's a bit much' thought.
Anyway, Ji-su had her target.
Pulled once, but her face soured.
“Got it?”
“Yeah... but dud.”
She showed a character notepad with a wry smile.
Cute, but cheap-looking for the price.
7,000 won a pop.
'70 times old gacha prices.'
“Came to check new ones—just once. Let's go, still got clothes shopping.”
Hm.
Something felt off leaving like this.
Wanted to empty the machine for her, but her personality—she'd refuse.
Or feel burdened if she accepted.
“What'd you want originally?”
“Ah... A-prize doll. See? But those are hard to get right away.”
Hamster marked A-prize.
That's what Ji-su wanted.
“I see...”
“Alright, seen enough—let's move. Vintage shop's small, lines form easy...”
Min-hyeok wrapping up.
I pondered, then poked his shoulder.
“Gotta hit the bathroom...”
“Ah, we'll wait out front.”
He said, eyeing the crowded interior.
Perfect—both headed outside as planned.
Gacha was by the inner counter.
Couldn't see from outside.
Mobile gacha and offline share one truth.
Keep pulling.
And it'll come eventually.
“I'll take the whole round on this one.”