Chapter 87
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Even If the World Screws Me Over (3)
“Huff, huff.”
Other than when fangirling, had my breathing ever gotten this ragged?
Lee Seo-yeon’s breaths were on the verge of giving out as she pushed through the snowfield toward Yoo Jun-hyuk’s house, looking like she’d topple backward any second.
‘No way Choi Yu-ra planned this, right?’
Before heading out, she couldn’t believe it was real, so she’d quickly searched her current situation.
Learning that it was tied to Russia’s Gate Break—and that Choi Yu-ra was the one who’d handled it—Lee Seo-yeon couldn’t help suspecting if this was all some scheme by Choi Yu-ra.
‘That bitch mentioned her woman’s intuition or whatever? Did she sense me going on a date with Jun-hyuk and cause this mess on purpose?’
Of course not.
Now that Lee Seo-yeon had been acknowledged as Yoo Jun-hyuk’s second girlfriend, Choi Yu-ra’s intuition wouldn’t trigger over the two of them dating or not.
This whole situation was mere coincidence, but Lee Seo-yeon, unaware of that, inwardly tore into Choi Yu-ra as much as she pleased and barely managed to reach Yoo Jun-hyuk’s mansion.
“You’re here? Ah, I kept calling you.”
“Hehe, I just really wanted to go on a date today no matter what, so...”
“No, it’s not that. They were talking about the blizzard on the news earlier.”
The moment he finished speaking, the falling snow cut off like a faucet being shut tight.
“They said this isn’t normal snow—it’s generated by a monster’s mana, so once that monster dies, it can’t linger long outside. In short, if we wait a bit, it’ll evaporate right away...”
The snow piled up to her waist, blocking her advance, vanished in an instant like water droplets on a hot griddle.
The remaining world returned to normal, as if mocking Lee Seo-yeon’s ordeal by pretending no snow had ever fallen.
“Ugh, I kept calling asking you to wait until the snow melted.”
“Actually, it’s great.”
“Huh?”
The old Lee Seo-yeon would have despaired, thinking, ‘Is heaven trying to keep Jun-hyuk and me apart?’ But this was the new Lee Seo-yeon.
Positive energy—or whatever ghostly energy it was—surged within her, focusing her mind solely on the fact that they could still go on a date.
“Then, Jun-hyuk, go change. I’ll wait here.”
“Wait inside...”
“No. I’m calling a car.”
The moment Yoo Jun-hyuk went in, Lee Seo-yeon called the rental car company.
Unlike before, their service now delivered vehicles right to you, so by the time Yoo Jun-hyuk came out, an SUV was waiting in front of the mansion.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes!”
Their first stop was a famous Seoul dessert spot for a light brunch.
She’d already confirmed it was open on weekends and timed their arrival perfectly for opening at 9:20 a.m.
[Sorry, we’re closed today due to the early-morning blizzard preventing ingredient deliveries.]
...Right.
Stuff like this happens.
They say bad luck strikes when you head out, so a blizzard hits right then, cutting off supplies.
“Ahem, looks like they’re closed today. Don’t worry! I scouted other places too.”
But the new Seo-yeon wouldn’t be deterred.
She’d prepared backups for just such emergencies.
“I’ll take you there, boss.”
Playfully calling him “boss,” Lee Seo-yeon floored the accelerator.
[Closed today due to unavoidable early delivery—we’ll reopen soon.]
The next backup spot was also closed.
What kind of ridiculous coincidence was this? All her planned places consecutively on holiday?
Still, Lee Seo-yeon didn’t despair. The new Lee Seo-yeon’s magnanimity wouldn’t crumble over this.
[Closed temporarily for violating the underage drinking law. Fuck off, you damn high school punks scamming booze with fake IDs.]
That’s what she thought.
[Manga cafe pipes burst today, damaging all books. Closed two months for mental recovery.]
Until every backup plan fell through.
＊＊＊
Kim’s Kimbap Heaven.
A restaurant in that ambiguous spot between snack bar and rice joint—reliable for solo dwellers or busy modern folks’ lunches, but the butt of jokes as “Forbes’ #1 Worst Date Spot Picked by Men.”
‘Seo-yeon’s not looking good.’
They’d just finished eating there and were strolling through the park, but her complexion stayed dark.
“Yeah... who am I to think... Ghost girl, my ass...”
She seemed lost in her own world, forgetting I was even there, and it made me feel even worse.
‘Dating doesn’t have to stick to plans, right?’
Why not just go wherever on a whim, like hanging out with a friend?
But with every place hit by construction or sudden closures, it wasn’t entirely her fault.
‘How does everything go wrong like this?’
Anyway, how could I cheer Seo-yeon up?
Normal methods probably wouldn’t cut it.
‘Hm? That’s...’
Then, my eyes caught a tent in the corner of the park.
A shabby stall with a triangle tent made of patched-up fabric had a crudely made sign reading “Fortune-telling.”
‘Fortune-telling, huh...’
Perfect. Let’s go with that.
“Seo-yeon, I’ll be right back—need the bathroom.”
No response, so I quietly got up and headed to the stall.
“Hello? Ma’am? Do you do love fortunes too?”
Inside sat an elderly woman surrounded by occult trinkets and a crystal ball up front.
“Tsk tsk, of course I do.”
She looked just like a fairy-tale witch.
The old lady welcomed me with a smile, then widened her eyes in surprise.
“My, what an esteemed guest. Isn’t this the hero who saved the world? Wow, I sensed nobility today, but to meet someone like you!”
“Haha, no need to butter me up. You said you do love fortunes, right? So...”
Some sales pitch.
Calling me a hero and all.
Still, flattery felt nice.
“My girlfriend’s coming here soon, so please say something nice.”
No price list in the stall.
I pulled out over half the cash in my wallet and handed it to her.
“Hoh, well, why not.”
About 200,000 won?
Luckily, she took it without refusing, and feeling like things would go well, I smiled and brought Seo-yeon back.
“Seo-yeon, how about a love fortune?”
“You’ll just hear bad stuff—don’t waste money on someone like me.”
Grabbing her arm as she moped, I dragged her in, and the old lady greeted us beaming.
“Good heavens! A couple with such perfect compatibility! Locking you two up would have kids popping out left and right—personalities match, chemistry’s spot on!”
Lady.
Thanks for keeping your word, but aren’t you overdoing it?
“...R-Really?”
“You bet! Lovers from a past life who couldn’t marry then—bound to be compatible now! Wow, I’m jealous!”
“...Hehe.”
At least Seo-yeon seemed cheered up a bit. Good.
“Now, you two! Sit. With such a compatible pair, I’ll read your futures for free!”
Having taken the money upfront sure brought out the service spirit.
She stared at me first. Normally fortunes need name and birthdate, but she skipped that.
“Hmm, the man’s future is bright. Surrounded by good people from all the great deeds—piled up so much good karma heaven itself notices. Known or unknown, only good ties await. Good fortune till the grave.”
“Thanks for the kind words.”
Capitalism at work.
But it felt like she’d peeked into my life for real, not just generic fortune-telling.
‘No way. Gates, mana, Awakeners exist, sure—but fortunes are superstition, right?’
Then she turned to Seo-yeon.
Unlike with me, her eyes darted wide and narrow, glaring, even letting out short groans.
Finally, in a somber tone, she pronounced to Seo-yeon.
“You’re doomed.”
“Pardon? Doomed...? What do you mean?”
I asked for the shocked Seo-yeon.
The old lady shook her head.
“Heavy bad karma piled up. Not good deeds—evil ones. Forgiven or not, forgiveness doesn’t erase it. It just stops more from stacking; the old stuff lingers.”
Did she have a fortune-telling skill or something?
Her words pierced right through Seo-yeon’s days as Go Jin-yo.
“That’s why nothing goes right. You’ve only taken help from others—ever achieved anything yourself? Build your own tower, spread your own good. But you apologize once and expect normalcy? Your bad karma blocks your path. It doesn’t want you happy.”
“...Then what should I do?”
Seo-yeon, who’d listened quietly, asked earnestly.
The old lady laughed heartily, as if impressed.
“What else? Build your own tower and spread good karma. How long will you rely on others?”
“H-Hey! Hold on!”
“You too. Sigh, so much good karma, yet tainted by petty evil. I’d prefer heavenly punishment wipe it, but you’re nobility, so I’ll lend a hand.”
“Build my own tower...”
“Ahem, Seo-yeon! Let’s step out a sec?”
Pulling out the pondering Seo-yeon briefly, I went back in alone.
“Hey, you promised good words only!”
“Tsk tsk, bitter medicine heals best. I don’t go this far usually—be grateful.”
“Sigh... And you were supposed to do a love fortune—everything after the first bit’s off-topic.”
“That first bit was the love fortune. Isn’t that enough? No need for fancy talk. Tsk tsk!”
Damn, stepped in shit.
Her words felt like real divination, but I’d read how these scams read faces, expressions, situations for vague fits.
“Hey, you! Piling good karma doesn’t forgive bad.”
“Huh?”
As I turned to leave thinking we were screwed, she tossed me something.
A small red pouch on a neck cord; inside was a crumpled yellow talisman.
“Take it. Horrible, painful calamity awaits. This’ll block it—so no more bad karma.”
“Uh... how much?”
“No charge. Meeting nobility’s enough. It’ll save you from pain and lighten that girl’s bad karma a bit.”
“Thanks...?”
“Go carefully.”
With an ambiguous gift and goodbye, we crossed the park toward the car.
She seemed deep in thought from the old lady’s words.
‘Hm? Where’d it go?’
Before boarding, I looked back—but the stall was gone.
‘...Packed up and left already? Possible?’
Like a mirage.
What a bizarre encounter.