Rain in a Stranger's World

Modern society was an unfamiliar place to a martial artist from the murim world—a matter of common sense.

Rain fell over Seoul after my long absence.

Wi Seol-ah stood frozen in place for the first few seconds. She simply remained there, staring up at the rainy sky. Raindrops trickled down her silver hair, soaking into the choker marks on her neck.

I watched her from the side.

"Senior, the rain..."

I wasn't sure if I should say anything, so I swallowed my words and chose silence instead.

"......"

Wi Seol-ah extended her palm upward. Raindrops gathered in her small hand. She stared at them for a long while.

It was the freedom she felt after so long. The scenery of the mundane world, obtained at the cost of her pride and dignity as a martial artist. This rain might even be the first she'd ever felt in this world.

She's from another world.

She hadn't said it outright, but the atmosphere told me everything. Wi Seol-ah was from another realm. It was my first time seeing one in person, but I'd heard that ever since the gates opened, people occasionally slipped through dimensional rifts. Given her history with Cheonhwa Munju, maybe she was from the same place. Hard to say. I'd ask later.

Finally, Wi Seol-ah withdrew her hand and spoke to me.

"......Do you have a place to go?"

"Yeah, stay at my place for now."

I took off the hoodie I was wearing and draped it over her. It was baggy enough to cover her down to her lower body. I had another layer underneath, so I was fine.

Wi Seol-ah glanced back at me after putting it on.

"Let's get out of the rain first."

"Want to duck into that convenience store? You must be hungry."

"......Let's go."

Even while imprisoned, the Cheonhwa Guild folks had slipped her food, but the portions were meager. The rain had left me feeling a chill, too.

It was late at night, and no other shops were open nearby, so we headed into the convenience store.

Ding-a-ling—

"Welcome."

Luckily, the part-timer was a woman. Wi Seol-ah's outfit wouldn't raise eyebrows by local standards, but I still didn't want to show her off to just anyone.

"Sit here. If you're cold, grab some tissues over there and wipe off the rainwater."

"......This lady can handle it herself."

I seated Wi Seol-ah in the corner chair and picked out some food: cup ramen, triangle kimbap, even frozen chicken. It was just convenience store fare—nothing special—but anyone would want to treat someone to something tasty.

I grabbed a small pack of kimchi for good measure, paid, and returned to the table.

"It's hot, so be careful."

"Th-this lady knows that much...!"

"Wait a bit for the noodles to soften, then eat. This one's fresh from the warmer, so you can dig in right away."

While the ramen cooked, I checked my phone. No idea when I'd slipped it into my pocket, but my wallet and phone—taken during the kidnapping—were back with me.

I turned it on and saw a ton of missed calls.

- Little sis (16)

"Ugh......"

Come to think of it, I'd vanished without a word for four days. No wonder she was worried. I had been kidnapped, after all.

Unknown number too. Who's this?

I'll check later. First things first.

I sent Dayeon a quick text saying I'd be home late but I was okay, then made a call.

The line connected quickly.

- "......"

No voice on the other end. Signal issues were unlikely these days, so I spoke first.

"Sorry for the late contact. I'm alive, at least. Should've just done what you said."

- "......Are you bragging about that now?"

It was Meirin. She sounded like she'd held back whatever she wanted to say, and the call cut off.

Then a text.

- Where are you?

I pinned the convenience store's location and turned back to Wi Seol-ah. She wasn't showing it, but she was starving—huffing on the ramen and eating heartily.

"Taste okay?"

"Hm, it's edible."

"Have some kimbap too. Oh, you stopped peeling it. Here, let me."

I unwrapped it and handed it over. Curious, she took a big bite right away. Watching her enjoy it made me hungry too.

I stirred my softened noodles and shoveled them in. Hmm, maybe because ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it had been a while. Even my usual ramen tasted intense.

"......Ahmaya."

"You call me?"

I'd crammed a mouthful of ramen when Wi Seol-ah spoke up. Her gaze was fixed on the counter.

The part-timer was half-reclined in her chair, dozing off with a bob of her head.

"Yeah, she's like a server. You bring stuff, she rings it up."

"Do you take this lady for a fool? That's not it... I was going to ask if that kind of attire is normal here. How can a grown woman wear something so indecent without shame......"

The part-timer was naked except for a short apron with the store logo.

I'd gotten used to it, so it felt normal now.

"Oh, that's just......"

Wait a sec.

"Senior?"

"Why do you call?"

"Does that look weird to you?"

"Why ask the obvious...? In this lady's era, she'd be married by that age. How can she walk around so brazenly......"

Then she realized her own state and flushed red, bowing her head.

No, the real issue was—why did she have normal common sense?

......Because she's from another world?

It made sense. Wi Seol-ah was a special case even among otherworlders—she'd probably never set foot outside before. She didn't know the pre-alteration world.

That was the biggest difference.

"What are you talking about? Everyone dresses like that these days. You showed me your naked body without a care earlier."

"Th-that's different...! And why bring that up here?!"

Hmm. I'd tossed out bait casually, but her reaction wasn't what I hoped.

Wi Seol-ah wasn't immune like me via skill. She was just reacting purely because she didn't know better. Everything was new to her.

I'd hoped otherworlders might be immune to the common sense alteration too.

Apparently not. Disappointing.

I was finishing my chopsticks when the door chime rang.

About 15 minutes after my call with Meirin.

"......Why'd you take so long to call?"

Meirin, whom I hadn't seen in a while, was soaked—clothes, hair, everything.

No umbrella. She must've rushed over.

"I called as soon as I checked."

"Still...!"

Her reaction upon seeing me wasn't relief. I'd been kidnapped—by the cruelest person she knew. She'd spent four days imagining the worst, and it showed in her suppressed anger and sorrow.

"Do you have any idea how worried I was?"

"......Sorry."

"That's why I told you nothing good comes from going alone, but you're so damn stubborn...!"

I had nothing to say. I hadn't known the scale. If I'd realized, I wouldn't have gone from the start.

"You okay, Meirin?"

"......Don't ask."

She averted her eyes—looked like she'd been punished too. Her flushed ears gave me a rough idea, so I didn't pry.

Meirin's gaze shifted to Wi Seol-ah.

The two didn't speak. They knew each other vaguely. Meirin was tied to Cheonhwa Guild. No way she didn't know who Wi Seol-ah was.

Wi Seol-ah sized her up but avoided eye contact.

"......Manager's on the way, so we'll talk details in the car. I'll drop you home."

Despite the hour, the car arrived fast. Not Cheonhwa-affiliated—an ordinary-looking road manager got out and slid open the van door.

Meirin, in the passenger seat, broached carefully.

"Master just let you go?"

"Not just, but close enough."

"......What'd she say?"

"Wanted me to show her something fun. Said she has high hopes for me."

Meirin fell silent briefly. Choosing her words.

......This made me uneasy.

"When she takes an interest, that's the most dangerous part. Watch yourself from now on. Don't do anything too flashy."

"......Got it."

I knew. She kidnapped people in broad daylight—who ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠knew what she'd do next? Even if I was safe, Dayeon worried me. Wi Seol-ah would stay at our place for now; no guarantee it wouldn't happen again.

Time to move somewhere safer. Money was the issue, as always.

"Haa......"

Headache. Things were better off than before, but why couldn't they leave me alone? I just wanted a normal life, but that was the hard part.

"......"

"......"

Wi Seol-ah, silent the whole ride, gripped my hand tightly. Her face was expressionless, fixed ahead, but I knew it was her way of comforting me.

We arrived at the officetel before long.

As we got out, Meirin gave a curt farewell.

"Hope nothing happens. If it does, call me. I'll help as much as I can."

"Thanks for tonight."

"And you too."

Her gaze passed me to Wi Seol-ah.

"Hmph."

"......May you remain unscathed."

"No need for your concern."

Not cold—just a murim warrior's way. Meirin bowed briefly and raised the window.

Wi Seol-ah said nothing climbing the officetel stairs. She was like someone tossed into the mundane world. Following me might be overwhelming enough.

Beep, beep, beep—

Ring-ri-ring—

"Kim Dayeon?"

The light was on when I opened the door. I'd worried she'd stayed up late, but then I remembered my text and sobered up.

She'd been waiting for me.

"......Oppa."

Dayeon's eyes widened a bit. She'd waited alone for four days. Worried sick, reported me missing, got no answers. It showed on her face, so I just hugged her wordlessly.

"Where the hell were you?"

"......Sorry, something came up. Was with some people."

"Who's she?"

"Special circumstances. Just crashing one night."

Dayeon eyed Wi Seol-ah up and down.

Wi Seol-ah met her gaze head-on. No discomfort, like she was used to such scrutiny.

"Haa... seriously, what have you been up to?"

Thwack—

Dayeon lightly punched my chest. Plenty she disliked, but she seemed to let it slide for now.

More importantly, maybe my safe return mattered most to her.

"Go wash up. You stink weird."

"Uh, yeah......"

"You too. I'll lend you some clothes."

And so the day ended.

While Wi Seol-ah and I took turns showering, Dayeon whipped up a late snack. She glanced between us, like she wanted to complain, then just headed to bed.

Before sleep, I opened my status alone.

"Hmm."

Explanations had piled up before I knew it. I'd checked sporadically at Cheonhwa Guild and unlocked new traits, but nothing groundbreaking.

Felt kinda ridiculous. Checking skill levels had become routine.

"Ahmaya."

Wi Seol-ah, lying ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠behind me, spoke up.

"Do you wish to properly learn the heart technique?"

"Pardon?"

"Not just borrowing power from some skill—do you want to learn true martial arts?"

No need to think. I needed strength now.

"......Yes."

"It won't be easy. Your vessel is too small for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠inner energy, so you'll need double the effort of others. Unless you have talent, that is."

"I know."

Inner energy—mana, probably. I'd resolved to this when I became a hunter. I hadn't slacked off; I'd pushed myself hard.

No self-pity about the future. If I wanted to whine, I wouldn't have become a hunter.

"Bring it on."

"......Then one condition. Help this lady adapt to this world. In exchange, I'll teach you martial arts."

For such a paltry condition—not even an equal trade—I couldn't help but chuckle.

I'd dragged her out; might as well take responsibility.

"Deal."

"......?"

"Means I agree."

"I-is that so. This lady deals too."

I lay down beside Wi Seol-ah. Her pale shoulder shrank back, as if yielding space.

"Can I call you Master now?"

"Th-that... no."

"Then Senior, like before? We've been through life and death together; 'Senior' feels too stiff."

"The name you call me by hardly matters......"

Wi Seol-ah pulled the blanket over her head, as if my voice annoyed her. Brazenly natural, hard to believe she was from another world.

I buried my head in the pillow wordlessly.

Seoul's moonlight fell over Wi Seol-ah's silver hair.