Chapter 45
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Unexpected Encounter (2)
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"Why are they here right now...?"
Familiar.
Far too familiar faces.
Dominant Evil, the undisputed protagonist of this game I've possessed.
And beside him, always guarding his side, his stalwart main heroine.
It was Kim Do-yoon and Yoon Ha-rin!
No doubt about it.
That boyish face, still shedding its youthful innocence.
Shaggy black hair, worn adventurer's gear that didn't quite fit his frame. A perfect match for the illustrations.
And her, too.
Long, flowing red hair of a mage.
Straight-backed posture, chin slightly raised, sharp eyes betraying an unyielding pride.
Anyone who's played the game would instantly peg her as the protagonist's childhood friend, Yoon Ha-rin.
'Why here of all places? The 11-1 Rift has nothing to do with the main story...'
My mind tangled in an instant.
An unexpected encounter. No, I'd thought I wouldn't cross paths with them for a while.
But it wasn't entirely implausible.
After all, this was before the main story, before Academy enrollment.
Maybe the childhood friends were off on some "martial pilgrimage" or training trip...
'Damn, how should I handle this?'
In the heavy silence, Kim Do-yoon spoke first.
The moment he saw Rena floating there, his face lit up. He'd probably spotted her in the media or online.
“Um, excuse me... Are you Miyazaki Rena the Hunter, by any chance?”
His innocent face couldn't hide his fanboy excitement. He bowed nearly ninety degrees in polite greeting.
“Whoa... This is such an honor! I never dreamed I'd run into you here! Huge fan!”
“......”
Rena offered no reply, simply gazing down at him with a blank expression. Hovering motionless in the air, she exuded an intimidating pressure.
“Ah, sorry... We haven't introduced ourselves. We're pre-Academy enrollees training out here. Sorry to bother you, but do you have any spare potions or simple rations we could buy? We've run into more beasts than expected and our supplies are running low...”
Undeterred by her silence, Kim Do-yoon stated his business with a guileless smile. Yoon Ha-rin, beside him, cautiously poked his elbow.
“Hey, Kim Do-yoon. Enough.”
“Why? Did I do something wrong?”
“No... The vibe's off. That person's kinda...”
Yoon Ha-rin scanned Rena with sharp eyes. Emotionless gaze, unnaturally perfect posture, and zero reaction to their words. Her keen instincts had picked up on something wrong.
“Sorry for the intrusion, Rena Hunter.”
Yoon Ha-rin stepped forward in Kim Do-yoon's place, speaking politely.
“If we interrupted your rest, our apologies. We're fine, so we'll take our leave. Excuse us.”
She grabbed the oblivious Kim Do-yoon's arm and backed away. Quick thinking.
‘But is sending them off like this the right move?’
What if Yoon Ha-rin had already sensed that my clone wasn't the 'real' Miyazaki Rena? If she remembered this later when she met me and saw my abilities, she might find it suspicious.
No need to plant seeds of doubt.
I carefully stood up. Then I pulled out the worn but official Academy cloak from my backpack and draped it over my shoulders. At least this would show I wasn't some shady figure.
Exhaling deeply, I parted the tent flap from inside and called out first.
“Rena, it's fine. Stand down.”
Rena reacted instantly. She smoothly retracted the slime mucus spread around, lowering her floating body slightly. Kim Do-yoon and Yoon Ha-rin's eyes snapped to me.
My sudden appearance drew their gazes. Kim Do-yoon looked baffled; wariness flickered in Yoon Ha-rin's eyes.
I straightened my cloak and flashed the most natural, friendly smile I could muster.
“Juniors? Nice to meet you. I'm Kang Ihyeon, a warrior trainee at the Academy.”
“Ah! A senior!”
Seeing my cloak, relief and joy crossed Kim Do-yoon's face. His tension eased, brightening visibly.
“Hello! We're Kim Do-yoon and Yoon Ha-rin, incoming Academy students! Sorry for barging in!”
“Yeah, sure.”
Yoon Ha-rin hadn't fully dropped her guard but nodded politely once she confirmed my Academy affiliation.
I kept my tone relaxed and casual. No reason to hide.
“No worries. Make yourselves at home. Anyway, didn't you say you needed something earlier?”
“We do, but it's such an imposition...”
“Hold on. Mind if I ask something first?”
As Kim Do-yoon hesitated, Yoon Ha-rin asked calmly first. Her eyes remained sharp.
“If it's not too much, could you tell us your relationship with Miyazaki Rena Hunter?”
As expected. She'd noticed something.
But I had nothing to fear. It was already public knowledge to some extent.
“Oh, this?”
I grinned and casually slung an arm around Rena's shoulders. She didn't react.
“She's a doll I made.”
“Whaaat?”
Kim Do-yoon's eyes bulged as he yelped. Mouth agape, he alternated stares between me and Rena.
“A d-doll? Whoa... So all this is your ability, senior?”
“Pretty much. What do you think? Doesn't she look just like the real Miyazaki Rena Hunter?”
I shrugged.
Yoon Ha-rin's expression stiffened in surprise.
“Incredible... She's identical...”
Kim Do-yoon gushed in awe.
“Come closer for a better look. Up close, you can spot slight differences in skin texture and such.”
“Can I? Really?”
“Kim Do-yoon! Don't be rude...”
Yoon Ha-rin tried to stop him as he eagerly approached, but he was already circling Rena excitedly.
“Whoa... Amazing. Like you said, the skin feels a bit off up close. But the craftsmanship... I never knew abilities like this existed...”
Like a kid with a new toy, Kim Do-yoon orbited her, inspecting every detail. He even tentatively touched her slime-mucus hair.
“Hey, Kim Do-yoon, are you seriously gonna be that rude? Sorry, senior.”
“It's fine. I told him to look.”
Yoon Ha-rin scolded again, but it fell on deaf ears.
Watching him, Yoon Ha-rin's expression finally softened in relief. She exhaled deeply, a faint smile appearing. She seemed convinced it wasn't dangerous.
“Anyway, standing around chatting isn't ideal. Come inside. The tent's bigger than it looks—plenty of room.”
I flung the entrance wide.
“Supplies are low since it's just me, but I've got drinks. At least quench your thirst.”
“Oh, thank you so much!”
Kim Do-yoon dove in eagerly; Yoon Ha-rin hesitated but nodded after my insistence.
“Rena, prep some drinks inside? Something warm. Make it sweet.”
“Understood.”
Rena obeyed promptly, entering to set up a portable burner, kettle, and instant coffee mixes with practiced efficiency. Their eyes lingered on her mechanical precision.
“Then... excuse us, senior.”
“Come on in.”
Yoon Ha-rin entered cautiously first, Kim Do-yoon bounding after. As expected, the interior was spacious enough for four.
“So... What brings you juniors here?”
Seizing the relaxed mood, I cut to the chase.
“Running into others in the same rift sector isn't common. Farming? Training?”
They exchanged glances. Kim Do-yoon spoke first.
“Well... We planned to scout up to sector 5...”
“But we ran into an unexpected beast pack, fled, and got lost.”
Yoon Ha-rin continued smoothly.
“When we came to, we were here. Supplies were bottoming out too, so we were hunting for a spot to regroup. That's when we spotted your campfire.”
“Lost? But this is sector 8?”
“Y-yeah, somehow... Ahaha...”
How do you lose your way and climb three sectors?
Rena poured hot coffee into paper cups and handed them over; they thanked her and took them.
Kim Do-yoon sipped and immediately grimaced.
“Puha! Ugh, bitter! Why's it so bitter?”
He stuck out his tongue in distress but forced it down.
“Bitter?”
I was puzzled. I'd specifically asked Rena for sweet. Yoon Ha-rin's reaction was the opposite. She savored it cautiously, then frowned slightly.
“Not bitter to me... If anything, it's too sweet. Rich flavor too—delicious. Did you use syrup instead of sugar or something?”
“Syrup?”
I glanced at Rena. She continued her tasks, expressionless. What did she put in it?
Probably just kid tastebuds. I brushed it off and returned to the point.
“So, heading back now? You said you got lost.”
They hesitated again. Kim Do-yoon spoke.
“We want to, but... To exit a rift, you need the rift point, right? Never been to this sector, so no clue where it is.”
“Map? Pre-Academy students should have basic rift maps.”
“We do, but it's outdated—the terrain doesn't match in spots.”
Yoon Ha-rin added. Rifts did shift over time; old maps could be useless.
“Hmm... That's tricky.”
Then Kim Do-yoon lit up, beaming innocently.
“Senior! If it's okay... Could you take us with you when you head out? We won't be any trouble!”
“Kim Do-yoon! What kind of rude request is that?!”
Yoon Ha-rin scolded, but he gazed at me expectantly.
Honestly, no reason to refuse.
No—this was a chance to indebt the protagonist.
I smiled warmly.
“Sure, no big deal.”
“Whoa, really?!”
“One condition. After my schedule's done.”
“Yes! Of course!”