Seol Garam (1): The Voracious Cool Beauty

Chomp chomp—!

She rested her chin on her hand, silently watching. The girl in front of her was devouring a triangle kimbap like there was no tomorrow. Holding one in each hand, cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk, she munched away with rice grains probably stuck to her lips, oblivious to it all. The speed was almost gluttonous enough to warrant the term.

That made it all the more fascinating.

'Normally, eating like a slob should make you look kinda gross...'

Maybe it was because the original was so stunning, but even the stray hairs dangling as she chewed looked like a painting. Not that the girl herself seemed to care one bit.

Chomp chomp—!

"Munch... munch..."

She might choke at this rate.

"...I won't steal it, so eat slower. You'll get indigestion."

"Mmph! Mmmphm!"

'What the hell did she just say?'

With a sigh, he wiped the rice from her mouth. Her eyes went wide. She nodded gratefully, then sneakily glanced at him.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Eat up. There's barley tea inside too—drink it with."

"Munch... th, thanks..."

The girl who replied pulled out a hot bar and shoved it into her mouth like she was hiding evidence from a ghost. '...She sure can pack it away.'

The girl had skin as clear blue as the sky—stubborn pottery vibes. Her snow-white skin was as pale as Yurika's, and the gray tint in her eyes carried a chill bordering on frost. She was the textbook definition of a "cool beauty," and he knew her very well.

'...Well, "very well" might ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be putting it wrong.'

Seol Garam. The last member of the Hero Party's core four, his comrade from his previous life. And among everyone he knew, the one worthy of the title "the greatest prodigy ever." Song Junho, protagonist material in looks, skill, and personality, got sidelined from the Hero Party because of her.

In his previous life, Seol Garam's raw combat power was the highest in the Hero Party's four. Later, Erina awakened with her holy sword and edged her out, but that was because the holy sword was a blatantly cheat item—not because Seol Garam was weak by any means.

'Her unique ability is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠just broken.'

Man'nyeon Seolhwa (Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Blossom). A fancy name, but simply put, it was ice manipulation. Except its scope was insane. Creating icebergs the size of mountains, freezing moisture in the air to rain icicles, and eventually even freezing the water in enemies' bodies for instant frost death.

And her own prowess backed it up. If he'd stepped into sword realms, she'd reached into spear domains. Spear arts focused on power and destruction to counter speed-based swordplay. Twenty years later, she was always in the top ten survivors.

'...Right now, she's just a total glutton, though...'

"Sorry for stepping on you. Didn't know you were lying there."

"Munch munch... It's fine."

An awkward silence settled in. The conversation stalled, leaving him feeling lame.

'...No small talk topics.'

Seol Garam was the sole exception among the Hero Party's women for him. No special favors or grudges. Comrades who'd entrusted each other their backs in battle, but they'd never once shared personal stories. She never initiated talk, and back then, he wasn't exactly stable himself.

'I'd just lost Song Junho, Ohana, and Jeon Eunbyeol—barely holding it together. No bandwidth to check on anyone else.'

So he didn't know her likes, her past—nothing. Just her fighting style and the realms she'd reach later. That was their relationship: strictly that.

"...Well, I'll get going then."

He stood right after. But Seol Garam grabbed him first.

"Munch... wait a bit... let's go in together. I'm A-Class too."

"Ah, A-Class... what?"

He blinked in shock. Not S-Class, but A? Her?

"Why aren't you S? Did you bomb the exam?"

"...Not that... but..."

Seol Garam fidgeted her fingers shyly.

"Got caught looting dropped weapons, tactical vests, and reinforced suits... so they downgraded me to A..."

He doubted his ears, but her expression said he'd heard right.

"By the way, what were you gonna use them for...?"

"Sell 'em... for living expenses..."

"...You know academy gear doesn't fetch prices? It's all state property with codes embedded..."

"...!?!"

Her eyes bulged like a rabbit's, screaming 'For real?' He pressed his temple with a wry smile.

"...Where were you this morning? Don't tell me you were foraging weeds for food."

"H-How'd you know...?"

"...Let's not talk."

As he pondered what to do with this girl,

"Friend."

"...Huh?"

"Bought me food... friend. Good guy. Probably kind...?"

Before he could process, she reached back into the bag. She picked up a tuna-mayo kimbap and eyed him.

"Can I... have one more?"

"......"

'How do you keep a straight face seeing this?'

His preconceived image from his past life shattered into pieces. This was her type?

'The Silver Princess of the Battlefield. Ruler of Cold Cruelty. Called the End of Frost—and this is her?'

What the hell happened?

"...N-no...?"

Seol Garam looked ready to cry. He winced internally and hesitated.

"Eat it all. No—take the whole bag. I bought it for you anyway."

"...!!"

Her face lit up. Beaming, she hugged the bag and flashed a bright smile.

"Thanks."

"......"

He spaced out watching her. Then a thought flashed.

'...Wait, isn't this an opportunity?'

The gimmick in the dungeon he needed to hit next. Required chill abilities as much as anything. And this glutton was the top ice-affinity awakener he knew. Puzzle pieces fit perfectly.

'Bonus: might get friendly too.'

Incredible in ability and power. If she became one of his, she'd be a rock-solid ally.

"Seol Garam. Wanna party up with—mmph?!"

He couldn't finish. Suddenly, grass shoved into his mouth startled him. Seol Garam munched kimbap with her right, stuffing weird rabbit grass with her left.

"Mmph... gulp. Cough! What the hell was that?!"

"...You looked down... grass cheers you up."

She used both index fingers to pull her mouth into a smile, awkward like "smile~." He was dumbfounded.

"Even so, you can't just—"

He cut off. His body heated up, breaths ragged. His heart sank.

Grass? Rabbit grass?!

'...Fuck?!'

He dropped to his knees. Panicked, Seol Garam approached.

"Y-you okay?"

"...Don't tell a soul. Got it?"

"...Huh?"

Seol Garam didn't get it. Then—

"...!"

White fur sprouted fluffy from Choi Siwoo's head. It bunched up—poof!—and two cute rabbit ears popped out.

"Hah!"

Seol Garam felt her heart pang. First thought: 'Cute.'

Second: 'So cute.'

Third: 'Anyway, cute.'

Choi Siwoo scowled genuinely, sighing. His adorable rabbit ears twitched in sync. Blush on his cheeks—he was barely holding back shame.

"...Cute."

"Damn it. Hid it so well... and this bullshit exposes me..."

"...Can I take a pic?"

"Like hell!!!"

He yelled, slamming hands over the ears. Who'd have thought it'd blow like this.

'Even investigated meals with Kay to hide it...'

'No way!!!'

In the end, he skipped afternoon class. How could he go like this? He messaged two people to cover for him vaguely, then glared at Seol Garam.

She tilted her head like "why?" then aha!—clapped her palms.

"It's fine. Missed class, but... forgive you? No need to feel sorry?"

"All your fault..."

"...Not that? Hm, ah, want more rabbit grass?"

"...Whatever. Anyway, listen up. Delete every sneaky pic you took of me. Got it?"

Seol Garam's face hardened. She whipped her head away, avoiding his gaze.

"......"

"Answer."

"D-don't know..."

"Tch...?"

"...Okay."

He explained in detail to the sulky Seol Garam, who nodded solemnly with a chocolate bar in her mouth.

"...So. Dungeon together...? Need my chill powers?"

"Yeah, straight up. You need mats anyway. Guarantee: better than ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠anything you'd farm solo. You skip a lot... credits at risk? Gotta grind big this time, right?"

She shuddered like struck by lightning. Her trembling arms showed her struggles.

"Yeah... risky. Total pinch."

"Yeah yeah. Pay—"

"—I'll do it."

"Hm... what?"

"I'll do it. But... buy meals while we team..."

"......"

Seol Garam pitched hard: fuel her belly, she'll follow orders perfectly. He was floored. Not cash—just food?

'Not clueless about money...'

"Hire me?"

"Don't worry. Meals plus generous pay. Byproducts get split anyway—I'll advance your share."

Her face brightened. That sparked curiosity.

"But why broke?"

"...Huh?"

"Your level, you could rake living cash easy. Overflowing options."

"......"

Seol Garam clammed up. Darkening expression hinted heavy, so he waved it off.

"Skip if it's heavy."

"No. Benefactor, friend... no secrets between."

"...We're not that kinda friends. More secrets than not..."

"Pulse Block."

"...What?"

Her gray eyes pierced him.

"I have Pulse Block Syndrome."

"......"

He unconsciously drummed the table. Quietly mulled her story.

'Pulse Block Syndrome (絶脈症)...'

Per her, exact type unknown. Hospitals, top docs—no solid guess. She explained: her variant granted innate chill talent but froze her internals, leading to death. Docs said she'd never see 30.

Impossible to believe. No way.

'Can't be. She survived to 37 in my past life. Died to No-Face's blade—not ice.'

'And drafted to Hero Party with this? They're not idiots—they'd know.'

'Something's off.'

He frowned at the inconsistency. Then—

"...Mad?"

"Huh?"

"Face dark..."

"No, just thinking. Anyway... meds eat most cash... right?"

"Yeah, like pouring into a leaky jar... but parents wanna save me somehow..."

"Gig/tanking cash mostly goes there too?"

"...Yeah. Pricey burden. Trying to cut costs..."

"......"

Complex thoughts furrowed his brow. He shrugged it off—unknowns stay unknown; no point agonizing now. Pulled wallet, handed holo-card.

Seol Garam eyed the sudden card curiously.

"...This?"

"Check amount."

She pressed. Beep—holo popped a fat sum. Jaw dropped, she stammered.

"Wh-what's this much..."

"Account? Sending advance now."

"B-but..."

"Said it: your share post-settle. Don't think pity—I'm strict on math. Plus... got someone to intro."

"...Intro?"

He just smiled at her question. They set weekend meet, wrapped quietly.

Time flew to the day. He stared openly contemptuous.

"...What the hell's with the look?"

"Ehehe, hehe? Uhehe... he. Th-this is the trend now...? S-suits me? Perfect for a super-genius frail beauty like... f-fash, fashion."

"......"

Silent once-over. Luxury tracksuit hanging loose from Gungjusa, slouchy white turtleneck. Cloru Hearts bag, Louis Vuiton? Wait, handbags? Devolusa watch. Every brand imaginable draped on.

Funny part: it looked ridiculous, not chic. Hell, that was polite.

'Monstrosity...'

And star-shaped sunglasses? Passersby stared.

'Sick person?' Whispers flushed his face.

'Always shocking in every way.'

Gloomy vibe. Deep blue long hair. Perpetual dark circles you'd swear were makeup. Maniac eyes unfocused. Jeon Eunbyeol. Second encounter.