Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: An Uninvited Guest Has Arrived
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Galactic core.
In an uninhabited planet no one dared approach, a lone being gazed up at the night sky.
She sighed as she stared at the stars above.
To her, this universe was an unbearably lonely and desolate place.
There was no one who understood her, no one who could empathize with her life.
Orbiduna, the sole survivor of the Stardust clan, was always filled with melancholy.
'Staring at the sky like this is gonna give me depression. Better go gallery surfing quick.'
So, before her gloom could deepen, she fled to the Sage Time Gallery.
Facing the harsh reality of her isolation always brought her crashing back to earth, so she spied on the gallery to soothe her solitude beforehand.
The Sage Time Gallery was full of people who were acquaintances at best—strangers she could keep at arm's length.
It was just the right distance for her liking, a gathering of folks who felt perfectly detached.
They listened to her stories and shared their own.
And in their equal, fair relationships, they tore into each other and bickered endlessly.
That's why she loved the Sage Time Gallery.
The atmosphere rife with racial discrimination and school rivalries, everyone trash-talking one another.
It was the perfect community for the supreme being exiled to an uninhabited planet for being too powerful.
Above all, a fun newbie had shown up recently.
A resident of a planet destroyed by an ice age. Human, which she despised, but for some reason, she found him likable.
He was the first human to attempt a trade with her.
A small, frail human who sent her useless trinkets in exchange for food and necessities.
It was a trivial act, but to her, who found interactions with others awkward, it was an incredibly fun experience.
Plus, unlike the brutal, merciless humans of her world, this newbie was disarmingly kind in a deflating sort of way.
'I hate humans. But this one... not so much. Wonder why.'
She hated those who had banished her here.
Just smelling a human should make her furious by rights.
But the newbie didn't anger her at all.
He was always polite to her.
He minded his manners and tried to look appealing.
Seeing that effort made him tolerable, human or not.
Above all, he piqued her curiosity as a resident of a world advanced only in science.
That's why she'd asked him to send items from his world.
'Textbooks for children, huh. Their world must be gentler than I thought.'
Sharing knowledge meant revealing your hand to the enemy.
In the cutthroat world she'd known, it was unthinkable.
But the newbie's world seemed different.
They shared knowledge and passed it down to future generations.
Cosmic Dust felt consideration, love, benevolence, and inclusivity in that small gesture.
For some reason, she grew more interested in his world.
She was curious.
What were the humans like there?
How different were they from the rotten humans of her world?
So she asked.
About their script and its creators.
About the ruler who created writing to spread knowledge for the sake of the people.
She asked and listened, deeply moved.
For the arrogant Cosmic Dust to seek teachings from someone was extraordinarily rare.
Cosmic Dust is a genius!
Mastering Hangul in just one hour.
Now your Korean is better than mine!
What was this? Normally, Cosmic Dust would've coolly logged off, but today she kept clinging to me.
If it wasn't my imagination, she seemed to want to chat more.
Cosmic Dust must spend her time all alone.
That explained why she was always lurking in the gallery.
I'd rarely seen her chat with others.
Yet she popped up the instant someone called her, like she was constantly spying.
She seemed glued to the gallery even more than the Emperor of Magic, the top lurker.
A total gallery addict who just didn't post.
Cosmic Dust wanted anecdotes about King Sejong.
I spent an hour sharing history tales.
Why he created the script.
Was he truly for the people?
How he lived and how he died.
Cosmic Dust had tons of questions.
Especially touched by the part about a king who cherished his people.
'Is this person more sentimental than I thought?'
Her usual tone and reactions screamed cold-blooded.
But the more we talked, the clearer it became: she had a delicate, sensitive side.
Like someone who'd hardened her heart to avoid getting hurt.
Deep down, rich in emotions and easily moved.
Was this an after-party invite?
Her reaction was totally different from usual.
Normally, she'd just drop a "Yeah" and bounce.
Why suggest more talk today?
Did King Sejong's story hit that deep?
Literature, huh.
Maybe read from the books I grabbed at the Slayers' house.
Or stories from Buddhism or Christianity I know.
Philosophical tales could work too.
Whatever it was, I had a feeling Cosmic Dust would love it.
For now, with food arrived, time to fill my belly.
I'm starving to death.
"Whoa! Meat!"
Cosmic Dust sent mystery meat again.
Where the hell does this stuff come from?
Soon, Cosmic Dust posted.
"...Huh?"
The post vanished in seconds, flagged as gross terror.
What did I just see?
What the hell was that horrific cosmic goat?
Three eyes and legs like...
No. Stop thinking about it.
It's just beef.
Let's go with that.
"Mm. Beef sounds delicious."
Never pry into the truth so recklessly again.
Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Remember that.
"But what are these?"
As thanks for teaching her Hangul, Cosmic Dust sent bonus items.
Two in total: a necklace embedded with a bright red gem, and a brown tent made from some beast's hide.
Infuse mana into the red-gemmed necklace to raise body temperature.
The brown tent-like item maintained heat when spread out and entered.
Cosmic Dust helped me stay warmer.
I immediately unrolled the brown tent inside my hideout.
"Whoa. For real."
The temperature difference between inside and outside was huge.
Very satisfying.
Even better, channeling mana into the Heart of Fire Necklace warmed me up.
With this on inside the tent, I could sleep warmly for the first time in five ice age years.
Truth be told, nights were so cold I'd crave a campfire.
But fire drew wretches with its light and smoke, forcing me to shiver instead.
Now, no need for fire—just slip into the tent, activate the necklace, and cozy up.
A precious gift.
Tonight, I could finally sleep easy after ages.
Slept snug in the tent, blocking the wind, fatigue wiped clean.
First warm night in forever.
The Heart of Fire Necklace kept my temp steady—perfect.
Cosmic Dust nailed ice age survival gear. Super satisfied.
'Why so many notifications?'
Rubbed my eyes and checked the gallery.
Someone had been desperately calling me while I slept.
I could guess who.
Firepower Enthusiast had spam-bombed with obsession posts, terrified I might be dead.
No wonder the notifications piled up.
All from her, as expected.
Someone searching for me this desperately.
Being cared for by Firepower Enthusiast felt nice.
Sure, her clinginess was a bit scary at times...
But hey, it just meant she cherished her disciple.
Crunch.
The sound of footsteps crunching snow.
Very faint, but unmistakable—someone stepping on snow outside the hideout.
"......"
I closed the gallery immediately.
Just wanted some heartwarming time.
But an uninvited guest at morning's door.
They must've snuck in stealthily to avoid detection.
How'd they climb up here and find my hideout?
I drew up my mana.
Bloodshed at breakfast, it seemed.
Though it wouldn't be mine.