Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Part-time Job (2)
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My words left them stunned for only a moment.
"Hey."
Yoo Harin spoke up with a look of utter bewilderment.
"Woo-chin, do you even know what a gate is?"
In response to her question, I shrugged nonchalantly.
"Of course I do."
"Then what is it?"
"A dungeon connected to the Tower."
"......"
"If conquering the Tower is like a siege for hunters, blocking monsters coming out of the gate is basically defending a castle."
"You do know your stuff."
"Structurally speaking, it's called defense, but hunters still go in first to attack the gate. Does anyone in this world not know that?"
Yoo Harin suddenly shouted at my calm explanation.
"You know all that and you're still going?! To a gate in Gyeonggi Province?! Do you think it's some convenience store or what?!"
In complete contrast to her, Cynthia asked in a gentle, composed tone.
"If you know what a gate is, then you know how dangerous they are, right? What exactly will we be doing there? And we learned it's a hassle for non-official hunters like us to even enter a gate......"
I nodded.
"The process is complicated."
Which meant I'd gone through all those procedures and fully understood the situation.
"Way more than going to a convenience store."
Finishing Cynthia's sentence, I answered Yoo Harin's question as well.
"To put it simply, we'll be entering an A-rank gate that the Lunar Guild is raiding. It'd be a lie to say there's no danger at all, but we'll mostly be handling rear support. So don't worry too much. Just worry the right amount."
Suddenly, Yoo Harin scowled fiercely.
"'Worry the right amount'? What country does that logic come from?!"
Cynthia nodded in agreement with her anxiety.
"Won't we just get in the way of professional hunters? Besides, Woojin, you......"
I shook my head, looking back and forth between them.
"You've both already completed the mandatory hunter training at the Management Bureau. You've also done practical exercises alongside theory at the academy. You're plenty capable of contributing."
I'd rated their abilities highly enough to officially request their cooperation through Lunar Guild leader An Ji-ho.
"Of course, I'm not forcing you. If you're scared, you can head back."
Personal provocation was a bonus.
"Who's scared? Ha! A-rank or whatever, we'll just go! You don't even know what I'm capable of, Woo-chin!"
Having scratched just the right spot, Yoo Harin reacted exactly as expected, showing an unprecedented eagerness.
"......Even if we turn back, you're still going in no matter what, right, Woojin?"
Cynthia was the same.
"In that case, I'll go with you, Woojin. If you or Harin get hurt, I can heal you."
They say one well-raised daughter is worth ten sons.
It suddenly hit me how rewarding it had been to care for their bodies and minds—and tame them properly.
"Thanks for helping out. Both of you."
I added with a grin.
"Anyway, I'll explain the details on the way."
Right then.
A large sedan pulled up smoothly in front of the three of us.
Smooth—.
Without a sound, the brake discs hushed perfectly, showcasing the luxury large car's smooth stopping power.
Whirr.
The sliding door rose automatically, highlighting the vehicle's convenience and premium feel.
"Are you customer Kang Woojin?"
A man in a suit who stepped out approached and asked me.
"Ah, yes. That's me."
"I'm a Bolt home service representative. Here's my business card. Contact me if any issues arise later. Would you like to review the contract first?"
"Sure."
I quickly skimmed the paper document, separate from the electronic contract sent to my email.
"Looks fine. Test drive's done, and I just transferred the payment, so please confirm."
"Vehicle price, delivery fee, registration, and all—total of 230 million won received."
"Delivery and other fees get refunded in mileage, right?"
"Yes, exactly. Visit one of our official Bolt service centers for free consumables replacement. With mileage, you can swap tires and parts too......"
As the company rep rattled off formal details endlessly, I cut the conversation short.
"Got it. Thanks for your hard work."
"Ah, yes. Registration's in the passenger seat—check it out."
Having bought the car, I turned to Yoo Harin and Cynthia.
"What are you waiting for? Get in."
With a curt word and a chin flick, I pointed at the car indifferently.
"......"
"......"
But the two women didn't budge.
Without a word, Yoo Harin and Cynthia exchanged stunned glances.
"......I don't even know where to start criticizing this."
"D-did you buy this car, Woojin......?"
Regaining their composure, they spoke one after another.
"Yeah. Get in for now."
Not fully resolving their questions, I loaded the luggage and sat in the driver's seat.
"......"
"......"
Cynthia and Yoo Harin fell silent again, then unexpectedly fought over the passenger seat with eye contact.
"I'll sit in the back. You take the front next to Woojin, Harin."
"No way. I'll sit in the back too. I've never seen Woo-chin drive, so it makes me uneasy."
Soon enough, they amicably headed to the back seat together.
How much driving experience did I have back in that other world?
It was frustrating that there was no good way to explain it.
"Drive safely, Woojin-ah."
"Crash and you're dead, you!"
I could only shrug again as I quietly drove off.
A strange silence filled the car.
They finally spoke up about 30 minutes in, after getting some faith in my driving skills.
"Nice and big car."
Yoo Harin casually shared her impression, then looked around curiously before continuing.
"Come to think of it, don't all modern cars have self-driving? Why are you driving manually, Woo-chin?"
"Our destination's in the mountains, so self-driving won't work all the way. Plus, I wanted to drive manually for old times' sake."
"Old times' sake?"
"Something like that."
"Jeez. You hide so much. I never knew you had this vain side. Did you know, Sia?"
Yoo Harin scolded me pointlessly and glanced at Cynthia.
I chuckled before Cynthia could reply.
"It's not vanity—it's a necessity. Relying on public transport is a pain, especially for part-time gigs like this. So I splurged."
"You drop 230 million on a car just for part-time jobs? Your belly's bigger than your boat—it's gonna burst."
"We can use it for commuting to school too."
"Everything's great, but it's too expensive."
"Safety first. Bolt has the sturdiest frame. Didn't you see the news? In that four-car pileup, only the Bolt was fine."
Of course, safety wasn't the only reason I chose it.
'Height like this is perfect for car sex. They don't get it, tsk tsk.'
I couldn't exactly say I'd considered sex usability, so I kept emphasizing safety.
"Anyway, tell us more about the gate, Woojin-ah."
Cynthia gripped her seatbelt tight between her ample chest and spoke.
"From what I hear, you've been in and out of gates a lot, right?"
She nailed the key point with a worried expression.
"Honestly? Yeah."
I answered via the rearview mirror, looking at the two.
"Since when?"
"Vacation."
"So that hospitalization last time too?"
"That as well. Good memory."
Cynthia took a simple deep breath at my casual tone.
"As expected. You've awakened your ability, haven't you, Woojin?"
Recalling the past, she voiced her long-held suspicion.
"You knew?"
"Not exactly. But I suspected."
Cynthia knew me as well as I knew her.
We'd been childhood friends watching each other for years.
I couldn't pinpoint when, but my changed behavior made it natural for her to sense it.
"What?! You actually awakened, Woo-chin?!"
Yoo Harin suddenly raised her voice.
"When?! How?!"
Bouncing in her seat with excitement, she thrust her face toward the front.
"What's your ability?!"
I lightly pushed her face back with my hand amid her barrage of questions.
"Calm down."
"How can I?! Why are you so chill about it?!"
"What's there to fuss about? I'm not the only awakened in the world."
"Even so! Awakening isn't common, and you're talking like you just came back from the bathroom!"
"Hmm, should I have announced it more dramatically then?"
Smirking, I alternated glances at the windshield and rearview mirror.
"Not what I meant. Ah, whatever. Just tell us how you awakened quick! You're curious too, right, Sia?"
"Yeah, I am."
Meeting their eager eyes in my retinas, I gave a rough account of my past.
I'd hidden it before, but now that I needed their help, it was bound to come out anyway.
No point hiding anymore.
"What? You awakened while mining mana crystals?"
I nodded at Yoo Harin's question.
I skipped key details like double gates.
Not distrust, just didn't want needless worry over past events.
"So that theory's right? Anyone going in gates or the Tower can awaken?"
"No, Harin-ah. I just got lucky. Like I said, my Luck stat's maxed."
"Hmmm!"
"But why do you look so excited, Harin?"
"Of course! Our nerd awakened! Did you report to the Bureau? Measured your mana and rank?"
"Not yet."
"What?! Why?!"
After sharing my situation, I slipped in one new lie.
"My ability's a bit special."
About my unique awakening power, literally.
"Oh yeah! What is it? Combat type? Support?"
Yoo Harin kept pressing.
"Don't tell me it's dangerous?"
Cynthia joined in asking about my power.
"The ability I have is 'Future Sight'."
I answered as if I'd been waiting.
"Huh?"
"Future Sight?"
Yoo Harin and Cynthia blinked.
"......"
"......"
And moments later.
"Eeeek?!"
"Future Sight?!"
Snapping out of their daze, they cried out in unison as if rehearsed.
I did know this world's big and small futures.
Including the A-rank gate we were heading to now.
So framing my ability as foresight wasn't a stretch—and it suited me perfectly.
'I can source all kinds of info from it.'
Especially great for glossing over my outcast-like status.
"As you know, foresight is special. Only a handful worldwide."
Knowing the future stood apart from any ability, often controlled at national levels.
Nation-state power.
No, national asset level.
"Limitations and uses vary wildly, but foresight always falls under strict national oversight. That's why I've kept it secret—and haven't told the Bureau."
I calmly added as I turned the wheel slowly.
"Luckily, the Bureau hasn't detected my awakening. Got lucky there."
Yoo Harin freaked out.
"R-really?! Knowing the future means you can do anything! You're amazing, Woo-chin!"
Cynthia was more reserved, but similar.
"Woojin can see the future......"
Their innocent reactions pricked my conscience a bit.
'Technically, I do know the future.'
I rationalized quickly and hit the accelerator.
"But is it true? Kinda suspicious—test it? On me. Tell me my future."
Thanks to the comfy ride, Yoo Harin grinned mischievously despite the speeding car slicing the air.
"You? Probably gonna smash your nose."
"Huh?"
Casually saying it, I checked the rearview—no cars behind—and abruptly slowed.
"Aah?!"
Yoo Harin promptly smashed her nose into the headrest.
Unlike her rubbing her nose in shock, Cynthia clapped softly.
"Wow. Woojin's foresight was right."
"That's not foresight! Hey, damn it! Wanna die, Woo-chin?!"
The car filled with rowdy chaos as speed dropped sharply.
Now on unpaved roads, I drove into the mountains with them aboard.
After they'd chattered about their futures.
Who they'd marry, how many kids, etc.
A lively time playing with my fake ability passed.
Wasting(?) time on silly talk got us to the destination quick.
"By the way, the future isn't fixed. It can change anytime—even just talking about it can alter it."
I warned them as I set the button-side brake.
"Watch what you say, got it, Woojin-ah?"
Cynthia nodded perfectly in sync.
"You too, Harin. Unless you want me dragged to the Bureau—keep it zipped."
"Hmm. What to do~?"
"Huh?"
"Reminds me of old times. Now I finally have your weakness."
"......Is that how it goes?"
Yoo Harin acted pettily for no reason.
Seemed she was holding onto past grievances.
"What to do? My mouth's so itchy. Gotta soothe it quick, Woo-chin."
"......What the hell out of nowhere?"
"Hmm. Start by licking my feet~?"
Giggling, she poked my chest.
"Don't go too far, Harin-ah."
Cynthia stepped up to shield me from her.
Only my Sia.
She came to save me?
"Hey, Sia. You're holding a grudge against Woo-chin too, honestly."
"......A grudge?"
"Keeping secrets is fine, but can't we pay back a little for what we've been through?"
"I-is that so?"
"For example......"
Whispering right in front of me, the two flushed faintly.
No, trying to reverse-train me here?
"So... how about... that?"
"O-oh my, can we really do that~?"
With my exceptional hearing, I caught their sneaky whispers clearly.
Feeling a collar coming on, I swiftly changed the subject.
"Let's hurry. Others are waiting."
They turned to me with bright smiles.
"Why~? Saw our future?"
"It... won't hurt, Woojin-ah......"
I sighed deeply.
"I told you it's not that easy to use. And jokes end here."
Changing my expression, I pointed to a spot in the mountains.
"We're reserves for rear support—don't slack on tension though."
The Lunar Guild members were already there, fully prepped.
One man spotted us first and waved.
"Long time no see, boy~☆."