Chapter 48
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: The Reasons We Live Here
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Was I too hasty? Just moments ago, everyone had been chatting away warmly with laughter all around, but now they had all fallen silent. It wasn't merely that the sudden question had left them speechless—it was clearly a vibe of outright reluctance.
Han Aebom reflexively smacked her lips open and shut a few times before closing them again.
You must hear their purpose to a certain degree of accuracy, or detailed circumstances, for the quest to be completed.
I wasn't an idiot. From the start, I knew that gathering in a one-room like this with these kinds of people wasn't normal in the slightest. Naturally, I figured there were reasons and purposes behind it.
And amid all that, a quest like this came with massive rewards attached, so I knew it wouldn't be easy.
That said, it wasn't entirely about chasing the quest rewards that I was willing to stir up an uncomfortable situation—partly yes, partly no. Like back in school days, when you'd even go to the bathroom with your crush. Sure, Yoon Sua, whom I met today, was one thing, but I had that much fondness for the other two as well, so I wanted to hear more.
I wanted to know more.
"As for me."
I spoke up first. Something the old me could never have done. Acting all nonchalant in a situation like this.
"I wanted a change."
Six pairs of eyes focused on me.
I laid it out plainly: the thoughts I'd harbored on New Year's. Starting from how I'd met up with friends after ages for a year-end party doubling as a New Year's gathering, only to feel down in the dumps; then the mood I'd felt while exchanging New Year's greetings at my convenience store part-time job.
"I had this stupid pride holding me back, so I pushed myself too hard. Rent was short too. So, kill two birds with one stone—find a roommate to split costs and hope for some change. Never thought it'd actually happen."
Ah. Talking it out somehow made the weird feeling worse. I could almost grasp what my old teacher meant when he said teaching someone else benefited him more.
By voicing out loud what I'd always kept bottled up in my head, its meaning solidified even further.
It wasn't like some huge incident had happened. We'd just met. Lived together. That was it. And yet, here I was, changed this much.
"I'm still nothing special now. Haven't changed much. Still a convenience store part-timer and job-hunting student, but I'm not as depressed or lacking in confidence as before."
A wave of shame hit me late. What the hell? Did I sneak a drink before coming? I half-wished Oh Hana would smack the back of my head and mock me again.
But instead.
*Clap clap!*
"Man! This guy's got a knack for making people proud!"
Oh Hana clapped with a playful grin, and the mood lightened in an instant. The ultimate mood-maker you couldn't hate even if you tried.
"Right? Anyone'd think we'd done something amazing. My face is burning up."
"Haaah... what can I say. I don't know much since I just got here today, but that story gave me this heartwarming feeling. Just hearing it makes me sense we'll make great memories here."
Thwack. Oh Hana smacked the table as she spoke.
"Now that it's like this, embarrassing as it is, I can't stay quiet! Mine's obvious at a glance, right?"
Oh Hana giggled like an idiot, dashed to the bromides stuck on the wall, planted a kiss on them, and proudly declared.
"Genesis Eleven superfan, Luxury of Luxuries! That's why I came to this one-room—to fangirl hard!"
Han Aebom snorted at Oh Hana's words.
"You came all the way here just to fangirl hard? That's ridiculous."
Right? I'd thought the same once. That is, until I saw up close how that fangirling bordered on stalking.
Not to mention, for that fangirling, she'd walk across multiple subway stations on foot. That explained her insane stamina too.
Yoon Sua smiled faintly too, clearly not taking Oh Hana seriously. Looked like I was the only one here who knew Oh Hana's truth. My mouth itched to spill, but it felt wrong.
"Non-fans like you, unnie, get hit with the fandom bug the hardest and turn into the most aggressive fans. And the golden rule of fandom is to spread joy—fan happily if you're gonna fan!"
"M-Muggle? Fandom bug?"
Good lord. Han Aebom's eyes spun in confusion. She seemed thrown by the hardcore fandom lingo popping out after so long.
"P.S., my ultimate bias is Riki! Riki!"
Oh Hana's eyes sparkled as she shouted Riki's name. Watching her stirred something odd in me. A complex, subtle feeling I couldn't quite name.
"Ahem! Fangirling's the main goal, but if I had to name a dream? Marrying Riki, maybe?"
"Ah. So that's why you work out so hard every time? Face packs, dyeing your hair blonde."
"No no! The blonde's 'cause Hyunwoo oppa likes it. I asked about going black once, and he said blonde's better."
Did I...? Even I can't remember everything.
"Anyway! Ahem, that's why I ended up here? Hehe, saying it out loud, I'm totally the senior here! Aebom unnie, Sua unnie—show me some respect?"
What an incredible woman. Watching her left me dumbfounded yet endeared, bursting into laughter. No wonder she should be the idol.
Plus, I was grateful. Oh Hana picking up the baton made the mood flow naturally.
"Hmm. I'm not big on sharing personal stuff like this. But I do have a good feeling about Hyunwoo here. In my case, well, you can tell—I'm a bit naive about the world. So, I basically bolted from home with just my body to experience it firsthand?"
"Oho, that's your reason... But did you really need to go as far as cohabitation for that?"
I flinched. Oh Hana's innocently blunt question stabbed right at the core. I worried Han Aebom might get flustered, but...
She didn't bat an eye. Not guilty at all.
"Sigh. This is why I didn't wanna say it—too much to explain. You saw it yourself, Hana. I do what I set out to."
"Ooh, true that."
"No casual speech."
"See? Zero compromise."
"That's my line? Seriously, I shouldn't have let you call me unnie. Anyway, since I'm the do-or-die type and already out of the house for experience, might as well go all-in. As they say, fortune favors the bold. To catch a tiger, enter its den. The harder, the more valuable the lesson."
Clap clap. Oh Hana clapped again. Yoon Sua applauded too, eyes full of admiration. Though clapping looked tough for her. With those huge...
No, stop. Quit fixating on Yoon Sua's chest. I'm basically equating her to boobs now.
More importantly, Han Aebom's reason after Oh Hana's was just as plausible. Honestly, if that rambling was all lies, it'd be creepier.
"Then, l-last up is me?"
"Hehe! I'm curious, Sua unnie! First time seeing someone like you! Why'd you come here?"
"Hehe."
A warm smile if generous, dim-witted if not—Yoon Sua opened her mouth with that grin.
"I've got some shortcomings. So, super sheltered at home, spoiled rotten. B-but I'm already 26. Can't keep living like this. Even if short-term, I wanted to see how others live with my own eyes."
"Ooh!"
"That's when I found this cohabitation post. It seemed so special! Felt like I'd make special memories here, so I jumped on it right away."
"Totally. Totally get it. But your family okayed it?"
"Ah... well, ehehe."
Yoon Sua scratched the back of her head.
"They probably wouldn't, so I snuck out. That's why I've got zero cash on me."
"Eek! That's running away, right?"
"K-kinda? B-but I won't stay long. Haah, if anyone around here asks about me, it'll be family. Pretend you didn't see? I'd be so grateful."
"Whoa."
Oh Hana looked troubled for the first time.
"...Won't you feel bad for your family? Wouldn't it be easier for everyone if you just told them and got some money?"
"No way. They're so overprotective—that's why I bolted. If they find out I'm here, they'll bust the door down and sedate me to drag me home."
"Whoa. What the— that's basically..."
Oh Hana paused mid-sentence, then nodded vigorously.
"Mm-hmm! Could be. Got it! No one's here gonna rat you out after hearing this, so relax."
"Thank you so much! I'll clean spotless and cook as tasty as I can."
"Yass! Woo! Chef supreme!"
"Hehe. Seeing you all happy makes me feel great too. Hyunwoo, was it? I kinda get what you said earlier. Living here, I'll pile up great memories and change in all sorts of ways—I'm confident now."
The talk wrapped up warmly.
"Oppa. Smoke break? Ah, Sua unnie, you?"
"Nah, not me."
"Ooh, Aebom unnie's got a non-smoker buddy now—lucky!"
Han Aebom snorted.
"That cig thing. I tried it thanks to Hyunwoo here? But what's the appeal in something so harsh and miserable?"
Now Oh Hana snorted.
"Pfft. That's why non-smokers don't get it. That throat-scratch from the smoke. Or when cigs taste killer—like with booze, or while taking a dump. Ugh, Oh Hana's dying. Gotta hold it in the bathroom for roommates."
"D-dump again? You... unbelievable!"
"Eek, oppa, let's go quick. Before Aebom unnie smacks my dumb head."
"Yeah."
I chuckled softly and slipped on slippers with Oh Hana, heading out.
Lighting up in the alley, I muttered.
"Warmer out now, huh?"
"Yeah. Gotta stash the puffer soon."
As I reached for my lighter, Oh Hana, who'd lit hers hastily, blocked my hand.
"Whoa there! After sharing stories like that, let's reminisce thick-style. Bow your head."
"Huh?"
Curious, I did as told. Suddenly, Oh Hana pressed her cig to mine and grinned.
Sucking in pleasurably, my cig caught fire.
"Sweeter than last time?"
"Pffft-haha!"
Her question drew an exasperated laugh from me.
"Yeah. Sweet. Too sweet—gonna get diabetes."
"Puhahaha!"
As we laughed like idiots and smoked, I casually puffed while muttering inwardly. Total lie, actually. This cig I'm smoking now...
A bit bitter, maybe. Or acrid.
Find out the purpose and circumstances of cohabiting with the people in this one-room apartment
[0/3]
Reward: 3,000,000 won, Stamina +3, Vitality +3, Strength +3, Intimidation Skill
Including me.
We were all liars.
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