Chapter 021: A Small Omen
A pristine consultation room with white wallpaper and soft lighting. The afternoon sunlight filtering through the window gently caressed Ha Yu-mi's face. She leaned back deeply in her chair, staring at her tablet. On the screen, a man was devouring a slab of meat.
[Oh. This pork is delicious too.]
The man's name was Kang Geon. Two years ago, he had abruptly entered Ha Yu-mi's life through a mutual acquaintance's introduction.
When they first met, she had pegged him as a patient with mental issues. The type who spun tales of visiting another world and staunchly believed their own delusions. For Ha Yu-mi, a psychiatrist, such cases were familiar territory. She had counseled plenty of patients claiming to have returned from other realms. Most recovered with treatment and returned to normal life.
But Kang Geon never improved. And then he ghosted her, dodging all contact.
To reach him, she even asked his acquaintance for help... but
—He's always been spotty with replies. Has gone radio silent for years before.
—Once he dips, there's no way to contact him.
That was all she got.
And so, two years passed without a word from Kang Geon.
Then one day, a text arrived on Ha Yu-mi's phone. Her eyes widened at the sender. It was from Kang Geon, silent for two whole years.
She fired off a reply in haste. No response.
An hour later, another text. Still nothing.
Two hours, three, four. Even the next morning—radio silence.
Frustrated, Ha Yu-mi reread his message.
This must be a game invite, right? Maybe I can whisper him once I'm in.
After some hesitation, she clicked the link and belatedly tuned into Kang Geon's broadcast.
What she saw shocked her soon enough. Every story she'd dismissed as delusion was unfolding as vivid reality on the screen beyond.
The veil of doubt lifted. This was the moment Ha Yu-mi accepted the truth.
Ha Yu-mi posted one chat message and set her tablet down on the desk. She fell into thought for a moment.
'Come to think of it, Geon said he lost his entire family on the day he was discharged from the military...'
A snippet from their sessions resurfaced. It clicked why no missing person report had been filed during his time in that other world. No family to notice his absence and report it.
He'd mentioned having few close friends too. And even those rarely heard from him, so they probably chalked up his vanishing as business as usual.
'Ki-ho said Geon ignored all his messages, so he thought he'd been cut off.'
Ki-ho was the friend who'd introduced them.
'...Why didn't I probe that back then?'
Ha Yu-mi reflected on the past, then rubbed her forehead with a sigh. Her former self suddenly seemed pathetic.
She hadn't lacked professional zeal. Anyone would have doubted Kang Geon's tale.
What she regretted now was simple: failing to conduct a proper consultation.
In a normal scenario,
'Geon, why do you think no one filed a missing report while you were in that other world?'
She should have confronted him with reality like that. But alcohol had loosened her grip, botching the session.
That was her only shame.
'Well... he wasn't delusional anyway, so even a proper consult might not have mattered.'
Still, she owed it to her patient to reflect on her lack of seriousness.
With that in mind, Ha Yu-mi picked up her tablet again. Just as she meant to resume watching Kang Geon's stream, one video title on her monitor caught her eye.
Fantasy Monsters from Imagination Exist? Found a Slime in the Back Mountains! Not Fake!!!
'Huh? Slime?'
Curiosity piqued, Ha Yu-mi grabbed her mouse and hit play.
First-person view. The footage showed someone filming in the mountains. Her eyes widened at the creature captured on screen.
It was familiar. Eerily similar to one of the "kids" Kang Geon was raising.
'No way... a real slime? It can't be.'
Not identical, of course. This slime had a translucent green tint, with something round inside.
She guessed what the orb was.
'Is that the core he mentioned? But why is a slime on Earth?'
Flustered, Ha Yu-mi checked the comments. Low views meant sparse activity.
As Ha Yu-mi scrolled the comments, she thought,
Ah, fake video made with AI tech?
Makes sense—no monsters on Earth.
But that notion soon wavered.
'...Maybe there are?'
If Earthlings could cross to other worlds, why not the reverse? Meaning monsters could reach Earth.
'Better tell Geon first.'
Just in case, she'd consult an expert.
I polished off the entire pig. Not a scrap of food waste left. The monsters devoured the bones and guts.
"Feels good to eat my fill after so long."
I wiped my mouth, murmuring. The grilled pork scent still lingered.
Wonder if more of those are in Passage 8? If Pig Kings come in multiples, I'll hunt 'em regularly.
I sprang to my feet. While stretching to aid digestion,
Drifters Have Appeared!
5 mortals have crossed dimensions and set foot in the Ancient Labyrinth.
Drifter Count: 5
Text floated before my eyes. Same drifter arrival notice as before.
'Coming over more often than I thought.'
Drifters tumbling into this labyrinth must be commonplace. I paid it no mind.
I'd sell return tickets for a fee if I bumped into any during exploration, but no way was I hunting down unknowns.
Drifter Count: 3
Ten minutes into stretching, the count dropped to three. Looked like these drifters were doomed too.
Ha Yu-mi chatted as I finished stretching.
Out of left field. Why ask that?
No monsters on Earth. Per the dimensional mage, my world was shielded by a dimensional veil, barring otherworldly beings. Natives like me were exceptions, as were portal users like her creation.
Knowing no otherworlder could set foot here, I chose return—sealing my power for peace.
No thirst for conquest. Just everyday tranquility.
But I had insurance for worst cases: veil tears or otherworlder sightings on Earth—my seal auto-lifts.
Other unlock methods exist, unknown to me. So for now, only taming seal-breaking monsters works.
I replied to Ha Yu-mi,
"Far as I know, no. Why?"
"Pardon?"
I was pretty thrown. Slime on Earth? Impossible.
No way a pacifist dimensional mage would portal one over. No gain in it.
If real, only one reason: veil torn.
"Probably fake? No way a slime's on Earth."
News to me. Rank up added that perk, huh.
Ha Yu-mi shared the link. Naturally, useless to me—just text.
A bit later,
Pruru chimed in after viewing.
"Lemme see too. Upload the vid quick."
It actually worked. A rectangular video window floated in midair. A light tap with my finger started playback.
I watched closely, focusing on the slime that appeared.
"Hmm..."
"This... doesn't look fake at all?"
No matter how I scrutinized it, that was a real slime.