Chapter 182
Chapter 182
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: Part 2 Episode 45
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§ Busan Hysis Gate
They say humans are creatures of adaptation.
Before long, time had flown by, and it was the summer of her 19th year.
Having finally mustered the resolve to escape the shadow of being a hunter, Saebyeok had found a happiness all her own.
“Bunny bunny, bunny bunny!”
“Carrot carrot!”
“Puhahat! That jerk got fleeced again.”
“Ah.... This game makes my brain feel kinda weird somehow.”
After midterms, Saebyeok was hanging out with her friends, playing games. She snickered at the same old blunder from her friend who lost again.
Having so much fun, she reached for the potato chips spread out on the floor and crunched on a handful.
No need to worry about people around her dying meant she could live off her stomach, and matching her roommate's eating habits little by little had awakened her appetite.
Last time, they'd ordered food delivery. Truth be told, it wasn't so much that she craved a meal as she loved the happy vibe of waiting for it to arrive, but it was progress nonetheless.
Living in such a relaxed state had earned her compliments from those around her about how much more mature and grown-up she seemed. Hearing that made her feel like she was becoming a better person than before, which put her in a great mood.
There was so much fulfillment in all this that she figured she could keep up this lifestyle more easily than expected.
Ring ring ring!
Suddenly, Saebyeok's phone rang. It was a call from Yeouhui. Pausing the game with a quick apology, Saebyeok stepped out onto the balcony to answer.
-Honey~
“Hey, Yeou. What's up.”
-I was thinking of grabbing you a gift—what do you want?
“Stop buying stuff. This is my roommate's place, and my stuff's already piling up more than hers.”
Saebyeok turned her head to eye the stack of delivery boxes in the room. They were filled with unopened gifts.
Her friends had sent them one by one as rewards for her college entrance prep, and every time she forgot to open them, the pile grew.
They didn't meet often, so their bonds had naturally drifted a bit, but the random packages they kept sending were like survival check-ins.
And they really did send anything.
Scratching her back with the back-scratcher Woojin had gifted her, Saebyeok spoke up.
“By the way, that photoshoot of yours the other day turned out great.”
-Oh my, you saw my shoot? Wait, you were checking out my work? Which one?
“That one where you wore the black jacket.”
-You liked that? Hold on, I'll send you all the pics from that day.
“No, you don't have to...”
Ding ding ding ding!
Dozens of photos came flying in. Saebyeok chuckled as she scrolled through them.
“Looks good.”
-I didn't think you'd be keeping tabs on my activities. You're making my heart flutter. Acting all uninterested before.
“Why wouldn't I be interested.”
-W-what? Saebyeok~ You're touching me... What happened while we weren't talking? You've turned into such a sweet rice cake.
“What, sweet rice... What?”
Saebyeok giggled as she asked back. Yeouhui's laughter echoed through the speaker.
“Anyway, I ditched the group mid-game to take this. Gotta head back.”
-...Don't have too much fun without me. Have just a little less fun than when you're with me. Got it? If your other friends steal my spot, you're in trouble.
Yeouhui seemed anxious lately, probably from her grueling schedule.
She called once a day without fail to check on her friends' numbers and how she felt about them.
Saebyeok, in an unusually good mood today, felt like comforting her friend for the first time in a while.
“Why would they be my friends?”
-What? I'm not?
“Aren't you family?”
-....
“Uh, well. Ahem. Even if I make a ton of new friends, none can replace you guys. Don't worry.... Urk, hack. Sorry.”
The words made her cringe unbearably as she said them, but she pushed through, dropping her head and rubbing her nape.
Silence fell the moment she finished, then an explosion of cheers and jeers erupted from the receiver.
-Saebyeok!!! Me!!!! Am I too!! Family too????
-You said that while on the phone with me, so obviously you guys are excluded. Spit out that kimchi soup. That's mine.
-Someone's acting like they own Saebyeok's heart.
-Studying for exams didn't boost your grades but maxed out your flirting skills instead.
-...I'm touched.
The line was buzzing with energy.
Yeouhui must have had her on speaker. Everyone sounded bright and healthy from their voices.
Before, it had stung a little when her friends thrived without her, but now she could let go of that anxiety knowing they were doing well.
“Saebyeok! Wanna join Haligal Haligali??”
As the chatter went on, her friends called from behind, suggesting a new game.
“Hey, talk later. Let's meet if we can.”
-G...
As she signaled goodbye, Yeouhui trailed off wistfully.
-Alright then. I'll call again~
Click.
Yeouhui hung up hastily before Saebyeok could.
‘Everyone's still the same.’
They say you change a lot when apart, but the familiarity lingered, which was nice.
Confirming the call had ended, Saebyeok stared blankly at the setting sun.
* * *
“It's just so fascinating every time I see it.”
Click! Click!
Prim held Dun's phone, snapping selfies with him nonstop.
The tiny screen packed so many features—it was all so new and amazing to her.
“Hey, don't just get my nostrils. Let's take proper ones.”
“Yeah, good!”
Snapping friendly pics with Dun saved them right inside the device just like that.
Her world had similar gadgets, but nothing with everything crammed into one.
“No mana at all—how does it even work? Your world is full of wonders.”
“Yours is weirder.”
“You guys are weirder.”
Prim spent the break fiddling with Dun's phone.
Flipping through their selfies led to shots of various boys and girls.
Among them was a photo of 'Saebyeok' from before. She looked much taller and more mature than last time.
“Old friends?”
“Yeah. Saw Boy and snapped some on the way.”
Prim turned to look at Dun. His expression held a tinge of bitterness as he gazed at the photos.
“Ah.... Coming over here must've made you miss them a lot. They're like family from your previous life, right? Though now you have me, of course.”
Emphasizing the last part, Prim draped an arm over Dun's slumped shoulders.
“Actually, the moment I realized I'd never see them again, I gave up and let it slip my mind for a bit.”
He'd zoned out alone, banged his head, slept, repeated—begging his brain to forget everything. Astonishingly, it faded bit by bit.
Later, with new family figures, he focused on them, and memories dulled over time.
“Now they pop back fresh and vivid, making me miss them outta nowhere.”
Past memories and emotions, once hazy, felt like yesterday. Now, if he wanted, he could visit or check photos.
“But Prim, I'm heading to that other world for a while. Might take a bit.”
Summer of 19. The Hysis Gate was about to burst soon, he recalled. Better to head there early and wait.
“...Going again?”
Prim placed a hand on Dun's head as he packed, not hiding her disappointment.
Dun nodded curtly, and Prim pouted.
“You know I'll come back eventually—don't worry.”
Dun playfully flicked Prim's nose with his bent finger.
Prim didn't show it much, but after Louis, she'd grown deeply attached to those who'd stuck by her tough times.
Leaving for long again, he could tell she was grumbling inwardly, so he chose his words carefully.
Prim blinked wide-eyed at her tickled nose, then looked at Dun.
“You know? Compared to when I first met you, your vibe's way more relaxed now.”
The sharp, weary edge had softened. The prickliness he showed when approached had rounded out.
“Has it?”
Dun shrugged.
“Feels more mature. Grown up, maybe.”
“Dunno about growth, but lately I've been pretty chill.”
Whenever he thought he'd grown, life's twists reset him.
What he'd chalked up to growth from those changes looped back to square one.
Growth was an illusion.
The wise could turn foolish later, and the foolish wise again.
Realizing something new and acting differently didn't make you better or more grown.
You just kept shifting to find comfortable mindsets amid environments, settling briefly when it felt right.
He was definitely more at ease now than before. And he liked this state so far.
“Hearing you're at peace makes me happy too. Anyway, if you're going, don't forget souvenirs. Take care always.”
Prim yanked Dun close by the arm, leaning in with a mischievous grin.
“Eat well over there.”
She popped a leftover chocolate from Dun's snacks into her mouth—he hadn't touched it.
* * *
Packed up, Dun decided to check the Arctic first before waiting for the Hysis Gate.
Time had passed, but now he understood why that guy wanted to go there.
Seol Doyun had said every world had zones processing minor errors from nature's interactions.
In Prim's world, it was the revealed Montghell. In his, an unknown region with its entrance near the Arctic.
If true, both shared traits as 'error processing zones.'
He'd scoured everywhere for info, so new leads were precious.
Good thing Seol Doyun wanted that monster beast overlord.
Motive aside, same goal meant traveling together for intel.
Brainy guy didn't boast much if not provoked—explained new phenomena simply, perfect for dope info hits.
One more thing bugged him.
Before Hysis Gate blew, the guy was in the Arctic, then appeared there battered.
What happened in between?
Only Montghell's boss came to mind as something that could push him that far.
Dun closed his eyes, gathering mana. Location: Arctic. Near Seol Doyun if possible.
‘Please, just this once. Make it work.’
With a wish never granted before, Dun activated the skill.