Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: 6. Stubbornness (2)
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Whether it's monthly rent or a jeonse deposit, I don't really care.
Ideally, it'd be close to Miren Academy.
It's not a must, but I'd like at least some sunlight and a decent view.
I prefer a villa or officetel over an apartment.
Two rooms or a studio, as long as it's a bit over 300 square feet.
Not too low a floor. Third or fourth should be fine.
I plan to live there long-term unless something comes up, but I might not even go home for some reason.
No need for it to be near a subway. Even if it's far from a bus stop, that's okay, as long as it's close to the academy.
And...
Ah.
My budget's about this much.
"Could I see your ID? Need to scan it."
"Sure."
"You want to move in ASAP, so gas might be on the day after tomorrow..."
The pitch-black night had fully settled in before I knew it.
House hunting wrapped up way more anticlimactically than expected.
The conditions I laid out weren't that strict, either...
But more than anything, that last one—money—carried more weight than I thought.
Someone once said money can't buy happiness.
But convenience? It buys that in spades.
Anyway, what a comfy world to live in.
Changed my phone number, things with Lee Ha-yoon are progressing smoothly.
Now if I can just dodge Yojora...
As I recalled her giggling drunk face and popped a cheap candy from the table into my mouth.
"Looking for a place near the academy? You must be someone important."
The guy tapping away at his computer from afar spoke up.
The massive Seoul map on the wall made him look tiny.
"Nah, just my workplace."
"Hero, then?"
"Health teacher. Ordinary guy."
"Ah, health teacher. Haven't heard that in ages. Been so long since graduation."
His interest in me finally waned.
Only the cold clacking of keys echoed through the room.
Age ten.
After being revealed as a healing-type Transcendent at such a young age, I learned a lot.
Among them, the most important...
Unless there's a good reason, never reveal your personal info first in front of others.
This world has way too many sick people.
I learned that fact about twenty hours after my identity hit the national news.
Adults far bigger than me knelt before me.
A scrawny man clasped his hands, revealing his bald head under his beanie.
...In the end, my young heart made me heal him.
Without knowing why.
And right in front of everyone, no less.
Thanks to that, middle school was a blast—hiding and dodging people.
Figuring out how to slip away without getting caught today.
If that new healing-type Transcendent girl hadn't been so sweet-natured, they'd have chased me to high school.
Luckily, she got the "saintess" treatment and pulled all the aggro, so high school was peaceful.
Peaceful.
Meaning,
Sitting by the window,
Ignoring class like the villain-aspirant I was,
Gazing at the same pure white clouds,
Thinking about that new hero costume from YouTube yesterday—damn sexy.
With her wrists bound behind, tearing just the bottom a bit and pounding away, what would it...
"Here you go. Check it over carefully at home... Oh, my card..."
"...Ah, thanks."
New house gas hookup was still two days out.
Which meant I'd have to dodge Yojora rampaging on the first floor two or three more times.
No matter how I racked my brain, no escape.
It's not like there were multiple entrances.
Can't fly in through a window like some people.
Motel for two days, then?
But when to pack...
As I pondered while walking the bustling night street, a familiar silhouette caught my eye.
Not a woman's back.
A guy. Around my age.
Not a friend. Reason's a secret.
Same high school? Nah, can't remember every face.
Cropped hair like an athlete.
Casual clothes under a thick coat.
And a big black sword sheath slung over his shoulder.
Hmm. Someone from my company days?
Even upside down, his style screamed "I'm a Transcendent." Guessing his identity for a sec.
Then my eyes hit the end of the dark sheath, and déjà vu clicked.
Teddy bear keychain.
The guy who accidentally wandered into the infirmary last time.
Can't recall the name exactly. Baek... something Baek.
"...Try asking for that again next time."
"Wasn't it good?"
"You think that sour, bitter, spicy, funky crap was good?"
"I didn't like it much either... but girls supposedly love it, so."
"Should've asked me first. Ugh, seriously...!"
Anyway.
Baek-whatever was taking a meek low kick from the girl right beside him. Right in the middle of a crowded street.
Her long red hair whipped prettily with each straight-legged swing.
Bonus: the hearty thwack-thwack from below.
Trained professionally? Angles were sharp.
Sharp enough to tense my own calf just watching.
Baek-guy unfazed. Hero aspirant, maybe.
...Or just used to dating violence...
"Ugh... Ice cream. Rinse my mouth with ice cream."
"Not full? I'm kinda..."
"You barely had a few spoons—what bullshit. Come on, I saw a place last time."
Should I say hi as the friendly Health Committee Member to build rapport?
Or risk being the date-ruining jerk and pass quietly?
Pondering briefly.
The girl grabbed Baek-guy's wrist and vanished into the crowd in a blink.
Last time, he looked sharp-faced too, but she had him wrapped tight.
He said he was a third-year when we chatted briefly...
That girl probably third-year too.
...Ah, there was a high-ranker with numbered rank and red hair. Her?
Lifted on tiptoes to check through the crowd.
But their backs had already melted into the night street distance.
"Hmm."
We'll cross paths after school starts anyway.
Check next time.
I buttoned my collar and crossed the pedestrian light glowing blue.
"......"
Yojora.
Please not be in front of the house.
It was a pipe dream.
"......"
Behind a car parked haphazardly in the alley due to no spots.
I peeked cautiously inside the building and let out a heavy sigh.
...Crazy bitch.
Thought I'd talked her off nicely, but here she was again, casual as ever.
"......Uh-heh-heh..."
"......"
At least no soju-filled black bags today.
And she was slumped by the entrance, glued to her phone, grinning like an idiot.
No, on second thought, the latter wasn't lucky.
Meant she'd waited long enough to get bored and scroll YouTube.
I.e., no plans to leave.
Utterly insane bitch.
No choice. Motel for a few days it is.
Won't solve the moving issue, but lurking and spying won't help either.
Worst case, buy new stuff. Don't overthink.
I tried to slip away quietly.
A sound came.
Not from me—from Yojora.
"...? What're you doing here?"
The entrance door rumbled open, followed by a man's voice.
Don't know the neighbors, but some resident here.
Looked like he stepped out for a smoke and ran into her.
...Some luck.
Checked surroundings briefly.
Entrance CCTV whirring fine, area packed with cars—tons of dashcams.
Very tricky now.
"...Uh...? Me...?"
Yojora, beaming dopily, turned to the man.
"Yeah, you..."
His gaze lingered on her face.
Like spotting a celebrity. For a while.
Hard to tell from afar, but...
Just the face?
"Waiting for a friend... heh heh..."
"Ah, a friend... Got it."
Even a kid passing by could tell she was 100% wasted, giggling away.
He glanced around, pocketed his lit cigarette.
As Yojora turned back to her phone, ignoring him, he planted a hand on his knee and bent low.
"...Whatcha watching?"
"Hmm...? Y'know... cognac recs..."
"You like your booze, huh."
"Yeah. Makes me feel good..."
"Aha."
So this lunatic was giggling at liquor recommendation videos?
Doubt popped up briefly.
Man bent his knee more, inching closer to her.
"Waiting for a specific resident?"
"Specific...?"
"Room number. 101 or whatever."
"Ah, that... Um... 205? Yeah, 205..."
"205... When he comes in, I'll let you know. Number?"
"......Huh...?"
"Oh, uh, not like that, purely..."
"......"
Man spouting nonsense.
Yojora beside him still smiling with her eyes.
Lips pressed shut after parting in a grin. Eyes only.
Calculations raced through my head.
Odds locals get questioned if a healthy adult male vanishes suddenly.
Odds they check every CCTV and dashcam.
Odds his face, hers, and me lurking behind the car all get caught.
How annoying life gets then.
Versus spending a few minutes distracting Yojora now. Way less hassle.
Decision quick.
"Sunbae."
"...Ah! Woo-jinnie..."
Deep sigh, then strode quickly to Yojora.
Last time, an hour did the trick. Same today.
She beamed, toddling over from sitting; awkward guy lit a smoke and vanished somewhere.
Wished he'd take her, but swallowed it.
"...Coming here nonstop won't change my mind."
"Uh-uhng... It'll change...? Gonna make it change...?"
Whispered it hushed, but her signature calm, sticky voice trailed sweetly, unphased.
Probably inaudible to the guy who just left.
"So. What's it today?"
"Today...?"
"You came to drag me to your company."
"...Ahh... Got it... What temptation today..."
"Yeah."
No soju nearby today.
Her breath reeked thick of booze, but that was it.
Money left? I figured.
"Obviously... honey trap..."
"...Pardon?"
"Honey trap. Honey... y'know... That."
"......"
Yojora stepped closer. One foot.
"......Wanna touch noona's body...?"