Chapter 78
Chapter 78
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Kang Ha-neul's Secret (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The day after my sparring match with Han Gyeowol. Sunday lunch.
I'd hoped to enjoy a rare weekend off, but unfortunately, I had plans today too.
As the appointed time approached, I got ready to head out and left the house. The weather in early April had fully transitioned past spring into something approaching summer, so I was just wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt with a thin jacket thrown over it.
My destination was in front of Sokcho Station.
I'd been there once before, when I'd made plans with Kang Ha-neul nearby. Coincidentally, I was heading there again today to meet her.
I boarded the bus toward the station and leaned against the window, thinking about what lay ahead.
'Kang Ha-neul's ability... No matter how many times I think about it, it's not something that appears in the original story.'
An ability that unlocked the target's latent potential. Not just Kang Ha-neul—no one in the original story had anything like it. The closest thing might be Yeo In-hyuk's Bone Alignment.
How on earth had Kang Ha-neul ended up with such a power?
When I thought about it, this was just another one of the changes wrought by the Pleasure Heavenly Demon.
'...What exactly is that bastard trying to do through Kang Ha-neul?'
Of all the original characters I'd met so far, Kang Ha-neul had undergone the most drastic changes. Ryu Tae-hyun, Han Gyeowol, and the other characters I'd crossed paths with—they were all largely the same as in the original. She was the only one who'd diverged so dramatically.
There had to be a reason for all the tweaks the Pleasure Heavenly Demon made when he shoved me into this world.
So why had Kang Ha-neul become this character, so far removed from the original?
I desperately hoped today's meeting would give me at least a clue to that mystery.
>
[This stop is Sokcho Station. Sokcho Station. The next stop is Sokcho Police Station.]
>
I got off at the stop and headed straight for the station building. In front of the massive station—rivaling Seoul Station thanks to Greenhouse Academy's influence—a familiar face stood by the large fountain.
>
"Ha-neul."
>
As I approached, waving, Kang Ha-neul spotted me and gave a soft smile. She was wearing a cropped top with a wide neckline layered over a white sleeveless tank. Her light-colored skinny jeans accentuated her slim waist—thanks to the crop top—and made her long legs stand out.
>
"You're early. We've still got fifteen minutes till the appointed time."
"You got here even earlier. How long have you been waiting?"
"Not long. Maybe thirty minutes?"
>
Kang Ha-neul shrugged dramatically as she answered, but she seemed somehow awkward.
>
"What's up?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"You've been avoiding eye contact since earlier."
"I haven't?"
>
She met my gaze as she said it, but she couldn't quite hide the awkwardness. Wondering what was going on with her, I suddenly remembered the purpose of our meeting and nodded to myself.
'She's nervous, huh.'
Her new ability was suspicious as hell just from a glance. There had to be circumstances tied to it that she couldn't just blurt out to anyone. It made sense that she'd be tense.
>
"...Wanna grab some food nearby first? You haven't eaten lunch yet, right?"
"Huh? Oh, sure."
>
Once she relaxed over a meal, we could talk. With that in mind, I headed into a nearby Japanese restaurant with Kang Ha-neul.
>
"Table for two? Pick any seat you like and ring the bell when you're ready to order."
>
Without much discussion, Kang Ha-neul and I headed to the most secluded corner table. The menu propped up on the table showed rice bowls as the main dishes, with ramen and fried items as sides.
>
"Order whatever you want. I'll cover it today."
"You don't have to..."
"You paid last time. I called you out today, so it's on me."
"But still..."
"It's not expensive anyway. Just let me treat you."
>
Kang Ha-neul fidgeted with her lips for a moment before finally nodding. I ordered the katsudon set with mini udon, and she got the gyudon single.
>
"Midterms are coming up soon, right?"
>
Once the server took our order, I spoke up right away to keep the mood from getting awkward.
>
"Yeah. Weeks after next for first- and second-years, the week after for third- and fourth-years."
"How's the studying going? Tough?"
"Don't even ask. Theory's one thing, practicals I can muscle through, but the theory stuff is insane. Especially this required class called Superhuman History—it's basically modern world history, and—"
>
She vented like a dam bursting, clearly stressed about exam prep. She looked just like any college student from my old world.
>
"...Anyway. It's brutal now, but they say it gets even worse in second and third year. I don't know if I can handle it. Ugh, maybe I should've just dropped out."
"My bad. You're not dropping out because I told you not to."
"Yep. All your fault, oppa."
>
Poking at her freshly arrived gyudon with her chopsticks, Kang Ha-neul pouted playfully. The awkward tension around her had vanished.
>
"Well, thanks to that, we're close like this now, so it's fine. Plus, if I dropped out, it'd make it easier for those kidnappers to grab me."
"True. No incidents since then? No shady people hanging around?"
"I'd have told you first if there were. No tailing or anything, thankfully."
>
Though maybe I'm just not noticing.
She added that casually while glancing around the restaurant. I did the same, scanning the other customers.
>
'Na Ju-yong or Yeo Il aside, Min Chae-ryeong's definitely got eyes on her.'
Not only was kidnapping a risk, but Kang Ha-neul was tied to Min Chae-ryeong's weakness. No way that thorough woman wouldn't have surveillance.
The Security Force hadn't assigned her special protection or watchers. But Min Chae-ryeong had plenty of personal subordinates.
'Maybe one of these diners is one of her underlings.'
A portly middle-aged businessman. A young woman who looked like an Academy student. Young moms with kids.
They all seemed utterly ordinary, but any could be Min Chae-ryeong's eyes and ears. The thought sent a chill down my spine.
>
"...Guess we should talk somewhere without people around?"
"That was my plan from the start. This isn't something to discuss with ears everywhere."
>
In other words, her "ability" came with some sticky circumstances. Just as I'd expected.
>
"Got a place in mind?"
"I do, but..."
>
Kang Ha-neul trailed off, twisting her fingers as she looked at me. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks.
>
"Where?"
"...Don't get the wrong idea, okay? I just picked it because we can be alone."
"What, planning a motel day room?"
"N-not a motel! In broad daylight, a guy and girl going into a motel would draw too much attention..."
"Yeah, well..."
>
In the dead of night with no buses running, maybe. But in the middle of the day? A guy and girl taking a motel day room screamed obvious intentions. Even if we were just talking, the staff and passersby would assume the usual.
'Do we really need to worry that much about prying eyes...?'
I didn't care, but it might be sensitive for her. I nodded understandingly and asked again.
>
"If not a motel, then where? You said somewhere we can be alone, but nothing comes to mind besides that."
"...A... DVD room."
"What?"
"A DVD room! People would just think we're there to watch a movie...!"
>
No way, I thought, barely swallowing the words.
'Motel or DVD room—same difference, no?'
I might be the naive one, but didn't most people hit up DVD rooms for "that" rather than wholesome movie nights? If a couple wanted to watch a film, they'd go to a theater. Why a DVD room?
Sure, some couples probably just watched movies and left, but most would shove the film to the background. The staff would think the same.
>
"..."
>
I considered questioning her but gave up when I saw her flushed ears and anxious upward gaze.
She probably knew DVD rooms had other uses. She must've picked it thinking it was better than a motel.
Pointing out the obvious would just embarrass her needlessly. No other ideas anyway.
>
"...Um, do you have a favorite movie genre?"
>
Asking timidly, as if we were really going to watch a movie, Kang Ha-neul looked so earnest that I chuckled.
'The movie'll be background noise anyway.'
Like other couples ignoring their rentals, we would too.
Though our reasons would differ a bit.
>
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
>
The bustling entertainment district full of bars and karaoke joints made finding a decent DVD room a breeze. We descended to the basement of a building packed with noraebang and pubs, greeted by a sign for "Craft DVD" that had a retro vibe.
The bored clerk at the counter sorted us out. We picked a mellow romance flick that seemed quiet enough and followed to Room 07.
'Come to think of it, this is my first time in a DVD room.'
I never imagined my first would be in this novel world. Curious about the setup, I opened the door and let out an awkward gasp.
>
"Ahem."
>
The DVD rooms I knew were tiny spots with a big screen and sofa-bed. But this? It was practically a motel. The "sofa" was basically a bed, with thin blankets and pillows in one corner. Even a bathroom by the entrance—complete with toilet and shower. Full-on lodging.
>
"Sh-should we... sit?"
>
Kang Ha-neul edged in hesitantly, pausing before the sofa... bed. She was thrown off by the interior too.
>
"..."
>
She climbed onto the bed and sat primly, looking up at me. Gauging her mood, I sat on the edge facing her.
>
"Let's start the movie."
>
I popped the DVD into the player, and it began. Some foreign film by an unknown director and actors. As serene lake scenes played, I turned to Kang Ha-neul.
>
"..."
>
She stared straight at me, ignoring the movie entirely. Same as me—the film was an afterthought.
We just needed a quiet spot to talk.
'If Min Chae-ryeong's watcher is around, what're they reporting right now?'
Something like, "Kang Ha-neul and Ahn Su-ho went into a DVD room arm in arm." I was a little curious what face she'd make, but first things first—talking to Kang Ha-neul.
>
"Ha-neul. I'll get straight to the point."
>
She looked at me tensely. The earlier embarrassment was gone.
>
"That ability you used on me in the double dungeon. What the hell was it?"
>
A mysterious power that let me—a guy barely scraping B-rank or lower—stand up to an over-rank dungeon boss.
I laid out the question that had lingered in my chest since we escaped the double dungeon.
>
"..."
>
Her response: silence.
I didn't push her, just waited patiently. There had to be reasons she couldn't easily explain.
In the heavy quiet, only faint dialogue in French or Italian—whatever—from the movie echoed.
How much time passed?
>
"That ability—"
>
Finally, Kang Ha-neul spoke.