Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: 15. School's Star
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The next day, the first full day of vacation, I heard that Inha's parents were heading to Seoul on a business trip for some kind of investigation. They'd be staying there for two or three weeks. And Inha was going up to Seoul with her parents.
On top of that, while it was fine for Inha due to work reasons, their cell phones wouldn't be reachable for a while.
That made me think briefly of my teacher or the instructors, but I just nodded and said okay.
"But what exactly is going on?"
"Who knows. I don't know. But they've been going out a lot lately for stuff that's different from usual."
Inha answered listlessly, clearly down about being away from me. I patted her head. Ah, Inha's expression sank even more.
"But since you're going to Seoul, it'd be funny if you ran into Hansu. Right?"
"......"
Inha gave a strange look at my words. I tilted my head watching her. Maybe it's my imagination, but lately it seems like these two are fighting less. Have they grown up a bit? Not a bad thing, but kinda disappointing. Their bickering is the charm.
But then Inha pouted. Hmm, they've gotten closer, but they still growl at each other sometimes. Is that a good thing or bad?
"Anyway, have a safe trip."
Inha looked at me cautiously and nodded. Then, with a reluctant expression, she hugged my waist tightly.
Inha left for Seoul with her parents that very evening after saying goodbye. And the next day, I got some unexpected news from Minhee.
[Actually, I'm staying in the school dorms during vacation too.]
"What? How come?"
[My brother said he won't be able to come home for a while because of work at home. And he's worried about me being alone at home during vacation. So I decided to stay in the dorms for a bit.]
"Ahh......"
Makes sense. I nodded in understanding.
"Yeah, from his perspective, he'd be worried. Staying at Siha's place isn't great right now either......"
[Yeah. So I figured it's not bad. Plus, it's easier to visit Hansu's house now! It's only about a 15-minute walk from the dorms?]
"Still, Seoul streets are complicated, so be careful. Don't go out alone, don't wander off doing something silly, ask Hansu for help."
[Got it, got it! My brother already lectured me about not going out alone from the dorms since it's dangerous!]
Fair enough. I chuckled listening to Minhee's voice. We chatted for a bit before hanging up.
But then I felt a little bored. I sat at my desk, resting my chin, staring out at the pitch-black night outside the window. Auntie Seona said she'd cranked up the home security while she was out and told me not to go into the basement. Inha was far away too.
'No, it's not boredom—it's loneliness......? I have plenty of training I want to do and need to do anyway.'
Maybe I'll read more books and write more scenarios during free time. Oh, right—today's the day I promised to upload a novel chapter.
Technically tomorrow, but since I'm going to bed now, I need to schedule it. I sat at my desk and turned on the computer. After pressing the power button and waiting, the desktop appeared. Before uploading the novel, I did some web surfing. Then suddenly, a virus alert popped up on one side of the screen.
"Ah, what? I didn't go to any weird sites."
I pouted, deleted the virus, and headed straight to the serialization site. After logging in, surprisingly, there was a message.
"Hoo?"
From who? I clicked it curiously. Turns out it was from a reader.
『From: bjfb0504
Hello. I'm messaging because I love your novel so much. I have a lot of questions after reading your work....... Would it be okay to chat via email? Sorry to ask out of the blue.......』
Reading on, a smile crept onto my face. A reader interested enough to want to talk—what could be more honoring? As long as they don't insult me. I hit reply right away, saying sure, and included my novel email before sending.
"A bit burdensome, but occasionally should be fine......"
I thought, feeling excited.
After that, I spent a very ordinary vacation. With Inha gone and no access to Auntie Seona's basement, my activities were naturally limited. I trained my illusion manifestation with my virtual system or practiced magic that wouldn't damage the room. So no attribute magic practice or combat training for a while.
Instead, I increased my physical training time. Ran hard, ran some more. Oh, and after telling Teacher Min about the unfamiliar person wandering around, I haven't seen them since.
Well, except for one person.
I ran into that one sometimes. Like, when I'm doing physical training, they'd suddenly be there on a nearby bench or against the wall. Ah! They jog every day too. I usually train in the evening or morning, and sometimes I'd spot them jogging lightly then. It bugs me, so I change routes, and since they seem to stick to a fixed path, I don't run into them if I switch.
A normal person might not stick in memory from occasional sightings, but this one was a strong mage. At least C-rank.
Lately seeing them more means...... something like this?
'Did they move in?'
That thought soon turned to certainty. I saw them enter a house near ours. After that, I stopped paying attention.
More than that, what captured my interest lately was stuff online. I turned on the computer, checked the serialization site and email, and smiled.
"Huh? Another email."
The fan who asked for my email sent one before the next day even arrived. A bit tense, I opened it—ordinary questions. I read theirs carefully, replied, and got another back. Sure, focusing on one fan feels like favoritism, but I can't coldly ignore someone who mustered courage as my fan. I grinned reading the email.
I finished novels completely before posting online. Didn't want to get busy with training mid-way and hiatus. Lately, the novel's gaining traction. Comments, recommendations, ratings shooting up—super fun.
Keeping it secret from friends and teacher for now. They'd demand to read it! Teacher might turn it into a game. Then readers would know I'm the game scenario writer, game fans would know I'm a popular author on some site...... Ugh! Double life's so fun!
I shivered at the possibility, then focused back on the email. This writer matched "fan"—deep reader of my novel. And I think...... a guy.
『You like creating unique worldviews. The pillars holding up the world really stand out. Did you get hints from the magic stones of Ufellシア and Ravient? And the male lead.....』
I read on. Thought up a spoiler-free reply. As I typed away, the phone rang.
"Huh? Inha."
Group call. I paused replying, hit accept, and the video popped up.
When it did, I was slightly surprised. Hyunho and Minhee, who just picked up, also looked at Inha's side and jumped.
No wonder—while we appeared separately, Inha and Hansu stood side by side, looking at us with slightly furrowed, subtle expressions.
Uh...... Surprised, I stared at the two standing together and asked.
"Uh, so, what happened? You there to hang out?"
They glanced at each other and shook their heads.
[No, seems our moms were doing the same job.]
[So I'm staying at Hansu's house for a while.]
Oh my gosh. Shocked by the coincidence, I widened my eyes. I suddenly recalled my earlier words.
'It'd be funny if you ran into Hansu.'
Well, Hansu lives in Seoul...... Inha's going to Seoul....... And Hansu's mom and Auntie Seona know each other...... I said it casually, but who knew it'd actually happen?
As I gawked wide-eyed, Hansu looked pained.
[Argh, seriously. Mom's been busy lately, sure, but who knew it'd be with this one's mom.]
"Oho...... But even if same job, how?"
[Their parents are busy with the same work as Mom. Can't watch her during work, right? Anyway, they left her with us since they were worried. So I'm stuck alone with this guy the whole vacation.]
Aha. Yeah, way better than temporary lodging. Heard Hansu's house has A-rank security and combat robots.
[What! Why didn't you say sooner! I wanna visit Hansu's too!]
[Me too! I'll ask my brother if I can stay at Hansu's!]
[Then...... Eunha, wanna come here too...?]
I pondered their words. Hmm...... If all friends gather, not bad......
[No.]
Then Hansu's mom appeared behind and cut our plans short.
[We only took in that Inha girl due to recent stuff. Not you guys. Hyunho, you stay away too for a while.]
[Eek?! Auntie, why?!]
[No means no. Told Mingi, so you absolutely can't come.]
[Eek~? Mom?]
Then she looked at me coldly.
[Especially Eunha, absolutely not.]
She stated it one-sidedly and strode off. We fell silent.
"[[.......]]"
Mood turned awkward. But soon Minhee scratched her head helplessly.
[Well, Auntie has her reasons. Tch, dorms'll be boring alone.]
[At least Inha's lucky. Won't be bored.]
Inha cut in sharply at Hyunho's words.
[Not lucky.]
[You guys just talk~.]
[Argh, what!]
Hansu snapped at playful Minhee. We laughed again.
[Anyway, that's why we called. Once parents finish work, let's clear that game we didn't finish together.]
"Wait, we're still doing that? Then do it without me. Embarrassing!"
[Embarrassed but you made the game?]
"That's different! Embarrassment of seeing it done in front of me vs. thrill of knowing vaguely someone likes my game—totally different!"
Face flushed red, I snapped. I buried my face eventually, but Hansu, Minhee, others just laughed—no backing down.
[Ah, still wanna visit before Inha returns. See them bickering alone!]
Hansu ticked off at Minhee's words again.
[We animals? Why bicker.]
[Tsk tsk. Hansu knows metaphors, right?]
[This guy's vocab grows daily next to Eunha......]
[You too.]
I giggled. Minhee knows few words relative to memory 'cause she skips books. But picking up my novel tone in daily talk, she learned tough words faster despite not reading.
We chattered noisily before hanging up. Surroundings quieted instantly. I giggled, turned chair to window. Propped chin habitually—then froze.
'Huh, that person.'
──Eye contact.
Looking up at me, the one I thought recently moved in, with shoulder-length brown hair tied back, met my eyes and smiled. Felt like they'd been watching all along, waiting for me to turn—like creepy.
"......What, why stare at someone's window."
I grumbled uncomfortably.
"Creepy."
I'm basically a homebody but go downtown periodically for snacks. I enjoy checking people's mana when passing crowds. Then I sensed familiar mana approaching from opposite.
Confirmed face—recent neighborhood mover. Guy usually wears shirts, longish brown hair tied back.
Spotting him, I flinched. Felt uneasy around him. Awkward frequent encounters, last time staring at my room window for no reason.
Then absentmindedly dropped my bag. Ah, onigiri spilled out.
"Eek!"
Panicked, I bent down. Guy walking ahead spotted me, bowed, put item back in bag, handed it over.
"Ah...... Thanks."
He smiled gently.
"You're that kid jogging around the neighborhood, right?"
He straightened. I looked up, clutching bag timidly. First time this close. Staring in his eyes, felt intimidated. Now I see—foreigner.
"Yeah. That's me."
"What's your name?"
"Yoo Eunha......"
"Right...... Yoo Eunha......"
Deep resonant voice. Déjà vu oddly. He reached, lightly brushed my stray hair.
"Glad to run into you here."
"Ah, yeah......"
He withdrew hand from hair, stared at it briefly. Then smiled, like thinking something.
I bowed to pass— he blocked me.
"What're you doing?"
"Huh? Just snacks...... um...... notebook...... shopping."
"Alone?"
"Yeah......"
"Yeah? Mind if I join?"
"Huh? Why?"
Panicked. Why join a kid's shopping after few face-sightings?
"Out in town but...... don't know way well. Just moved here. Plus, I need stationery store too."
"Ah...... Okay."
Fair. Awkwardly, I led way. Friendlier than thought. Hurried to store.
"Here. Then I'll......"
"Hm? Didn't you come to shop too?"
"Bought earlier. So......"
Actually planned to browse notebooks with snacks, but awkward with him. Hurried off. His gaze followed briefly, then dropped.
After, bought cold mandu and paper cup bingsu. Ate bingsu, stacked fave mildly sweet snacks in bag.
Home from shopping, Mom—who should've been out—back. On phone, voice excited.
"Really? Good. Yeah. Haven't seen. Other kids? Then definite."
What? Quietly entering foyer, peered curiously at Mom on phone through half-open door. Put red bean ice in freezer, approached master room.
"......Got it. Yeah, yeah. What? Bomb?! Crazy?"
Wh-what? Froze stiff. Sounded super dangerous.
"Desperate to get noticed? Ah, disguise? Then...... Crazy, why there? Sigh, got it. If so, I'll step in. Yeah, yeah."
Serious stuff. Decided greet later, took mandu and onigiri upstairs. Sat, turned on hibernating computer—email from 'Rex'.
ID mixes letters/numbers, asked call him 'Rex'. How's that Rex? Probably not real name.
Lately Rex's emails more chatty. Why ask fave color? Tilted head, replied, writing novel—Mom came up.
"Sorry, Eunha. Mom's gotta go on trip."
"Trip?"
Stopped mid-mandu, eyes wide. Mom paused mid-sentence, frowned at my hand.
"You, eating that junk again!"
"Bought yours too. Your fave red bean ice in freezer."
"Really? My girl's best...... no!"
"Tr-trip, right? How many days?"
Mom and Dad trips common, especially Mom's. Cut off nagging, urgently asked purpose. Luckily, she switched.
"Week...... might be longer. Sigh, I'll prep tons side dishes. Leaving money too."
"That bomb earlier...... related?"
Mom jumped.
"Heard?!'
"Uh...... a bit."
Worried, she explained flustered.
"......Yeah, that. Bomber in Seoul...... Makes bombs hacking items/machines, manipulating systems to overheat/explode."
"Hacking? Possible?"
Whoa, insane. Stared shocked. I'd make games with that talent.
"Some guy can. Seona's chasing him? Base/comms hacked once, comms down. Comms/hacking—Mom's pro. B-rank hacker, though I just do security. Called in now."
Face worried even explaining. Wow, Mom's more skilled than thought.
"Huh? Same as Auntie Seona? She said no contact......"
"Yeah. Hiding from hack in special base. No outside comms...... Came out briefly to contact. Anyway. Won't reach me much there."
Huh, first like this. Flustered.
"None at all?"
"No. Can contact breaks outside. Gotta call daughter daily. Tell if anything happens?"
Complex expression. Yeah...... fine. Dad home nights, week's trip.
Mom worried:
"Or stay school dorms?"
"Dorms?"
Mom briefly confused, nodded.
"Yeah. Minhee's there."
Glanced computer. School......
'Yeah. Write novels freely sans friends.'
Shook head.
"Nah. Not kid anymore."
"......Yeah?"
Pondered, gripped hand tight.
"Then Mom's off. Be good, Eunha."
"Yeah. See in week."
Waved brightly. Sometimes Mom, Dad, even Auntie Seona's all trip. Parents away no biggie. When Auntie too, rolled in bed with Inha.
'Kinda lonely.'
Lightly thought.