Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: I Need Help
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1.
"Have you heard? That Silent Swordmaster is blowing up in the gaming scene lately?"
"Who cares? We're just Awakening Trainees."
"It's because she's playing in Reality Mode. No matter how you look at it, her real-life specs are on par with a full Awakener."
Jua Young was filling up on fast food with her fellow Awakening Trainee friends.
Even talk of a streamer hotter than any celebrity fell flat for her.
She had her own celebrity.
'I miss unnie...'
The Silent Swordmaster stories she was tuning out were actually about Hae Eung-eung.
But oblivious to the truth, she just fiddled with her screen phone.
'Should I send a text?'
A cheeky thought made her look up suddenly.
'I'm crazy. How could I dare text unnie first?'
Hae Eung-eung was a master emerging from secluded training.
She was gaming right now, sure.
But her life couldn't be 24/7 gaming, right?
What if she sent a text?
And it buzzed during an intense fight, creating an opening?
What if one text from her caused massive damage to unnie via some butterfly effect?
It was too vivid to dismiss as mere fantasy.
No way could she reach out first.
"Oh, there's Seong-cheol oppa."
"Oppa! Over here!"
Kim Seong-cheol.
Jua Young's expression turned subtle at the name.
"You guys eating here?"
"This is the cheapest spot around."
"Why? Gonna treat us, oppa?"
A bright-eyed smile and light brown curly hair.
Anorak over a white tee—a comfy church-oppa vibe.
Her friends loved that about Kim Seong-cheol, but not Jua Young.
'Always pressuring me to join group hangs. Something off about this senior.'
She knew he was into her.
But his way of closing the distance rubbed her wrong.
"My wallet's too thin for that. Can't be splashing out while working convenience store shifts like you guys."
"Tch. Lame."
"You don't even do night shifts and you're complaining."
"Haha. I make up for it with night classes at the academy."
If he'd just eat and leave, she could've pretended it was a coincidence.
"But is A-young okay? You've looked down and quiet since I got here."
"She's always like that."
"Seong-cheol oppa only has eyes for A-young."
Her friends' playful jabs.
The earnest truth packed into them was obvious.
"A-young's probably off to train anyway. Let's just hang without her."
"Yeah. Skipping one day won't kill you."
"Haha, maybe? Would be fun if A-young joined."
"I'm good."
"Tell me if you change your mind. I'd make time if you called."
"Ew, seriously."
"Just date already."
Shoulder punches laced with half-joking intent.
Jua Young dodged the semi-serious hands and shot up.
"Whoa."
"Careful."
She caught her stumbling friend.
But the friend, safe in her arms, crumpled with a sour face.
The size and feel against her chest and face.
Mid-diff management was tough on a woman's pride.
'You guys try hard too.'
Jua Young and her friends.
They never voiced their inner thoughts about each other.
Saying it out loud would end the friendship.
But did silence make this friendship?
Her routine: convenience store—Awakening Academy—fast food—practice room—home.
Today's steps to the practice room felt heavier.
It hadn't been like this at first.
Not until she learned they were all part-time clerks at the same store and academy mates.
Since Kim Seong-cheol wedged into her small circle, relationships soured.
'Should I quit?'
Unusually weary steps.
She stood frozen, staring up at the rundown building, unable to enter.
Her wrist buzzed softly.
[1 new message received.]
Hae Eung-eung: I need help.
An out-of-nowhere text from unnie.
Jua Young chuckled.
Jua Young: What's up?
Stuck on a game boss or something?
That cozy assumption shattered with the reply.
Hae Eung-eung: I got reported.
Reported? For what?
Some accident during Awakener work?
Miss and kill a civilian?
On the run from cops?
Or trouble from that Myeongho Guild grudge?
Jua Young: Where are you? On my way!
Five years of the same routine.
Endless wheel.
Jua Young broke free from her self-made prison of daily grind, heading to Hae Eung-eung's address.
'Can someone like me really help in a situation bad enough for unnie to ask?'
A level 0 Awakening Trainee, not even Awakened yet.
Probably not much help.
But if unnie wanted it, she'd do anything.
2.
"So, you got reported for playing instruments at home?"
Nod, nod.
Jua Young couldn't hide her deflation.
Not the stabbing or corpse-filled duffel bag she'd imagined.
Lifesaver it wasn't that serious.
But the gap between imagination and reality was huge.
"?"
Hae Eung-eung wasn't lying.
Jua Young had jumped to conclusions alone.
She sighed at unnie's puzzled gaze.
"Mind playing something? So I can hear and figure out what to do."
Not much from yesterday's new instruments, but still pricey buys.
'She really loves Chinese culture.'
Pipa and xun.
First she'd even heard of them.
Xun like a fancy wooden recorder.
Pipa like a wooden tennis racket.
Unique looks.
Unique tones too.
Clear, resonant xun.
Quick, popping pipa like fast tremolo.
'Whoa. Not beginner level.'
Secluded training for instruments, not sword?
That good.
Late hour aside, seemed fine to play anytime.
But mid-performance,
Jua Young got it.
Why complaints poured in despite the beauty.
Screeech!
Screeeeech!
"Ugh, unnie! My ears!"
Squeak, squeaksqueak.
"Stop! Stop!"
Squeee...
Dissonance faded weakly.
Her usual blank face.
Maybe a tad down, but not the point now.
"Why the screech mid-song?"
[That's how it's supposed to be.]
"Doesn't hurt your ears?"
Hae Eung-eung pulled earplugs from her ears.
She knew her playing was loud.
Jua Young had to ask.
"Unnie, are you a demon?"
3.
What's the world's worst gift?
Unneeded one?
Duplicate?
'Obviously give-and-take-back.'
Hae Eung-eung's playing exactly.
Open ears with beauty.
Then smash in harsh dissonance.
'Soundwave attack? What is unnie prepping for?'
Too bizarre to even wonder.
But at her place for once.
Should help.
"Measured the decibels—peaks over 130. Louder than jet takeoff. Fine notice incoming."
Hae Eung-eung nodded sullenly.
Cute kid side to unnie, thought Jua Young, offering solution.
"Your place is big enough for a soundproof booth. Around two million won?"
Unhappy look.
Pay to practice music at home?
In Murim, neighbor bombs or stabbings ignored.
Strong neighbors rule the weak.
But real world? Complaints turn to lawsuits.
Head knows.
Heart resists.
Reading that, Jua Young offered plan two.
"Or use a soundproof practice room."
"!"
"Tons of idol agencies near our Awakening Academy. Trainees keep fit naturally, so they poach the untalented ones as idol trainees."
[Price?]
"Not bad. Just checked."
About to name cheap, close one—but paused.
Unnie games non-stop.
Rarely cross paths.
But academy-near room?
"Popped by on the way" excuse to hang more.
'I get it now. Seong-cheol oppa's blatant plays.'
No room to judge him.
Self-loathing hit Jua Young.
Honor unnie's trust?
Seize chance for selfish gain?
Short debate.
Decision made.
"One room, 24/7 monthly rental for 200,000 won. Close to my academy too. How's this?"
Desire won.
Oblivious to her turmoil,
Seeing pure goodwill,
Hae Eung-eung decided on it.
Her mental calculator whirred.
Two million for booth.
vs.
200k for free play in room.
Math quick.
[I'll take it. 24/7 monthly.]
Thus began Hae Eung-eung's practice room commutes.
During week 3 of her concentration training period.