Chapter 38 Crossed Paths
Chapter 38: {Crossed Paths}
Three days had passed since forming the party and venturing into the Rift together.
Yu Ji-hu realized with some relief that he'd already been back on Earth for a full month—he was adapting faster than expected.
'If things keep going like this, I won't have to worry Noona anymore.'
Though it hadn't been his choice, he had lived as the Hero in another world. He didn't want to spend his life here being nothing but a burden.
'Not wanting to be a burden...'
The thought made him recall the very moment he had first fallen into that other world.
Back then, he had been just a seventeen-year-old boy. And he had been separated from his older sister, Yu Ha-rin—the person he relied on most.
Honestly, it had been unbearable. Maybe that was why he had depended so deeply on Mine, Iris, Scarlet, and Yenia.
'Didn't want to burden them either...'
Just thinking about it left a bitter taste in his mouth.
'Did the orphanage volunteer work yesterday... Guess I should get closer to the other party members too.'
He had spent time with Seo Yu-rin the day before, playing with the kids at the orphanage during their volunteer shift.
'Should I check what Erika's up to?'
Sophia spent her time healing critically ill patients—cases even the Underground Guild's selected hospitals had deemed untreatable. If he went, he wouldn't be able to help much. He'd just get in the way.
While he could use Qi to slightly boost recovery or stop bleeding, his abilities were trivial compared to Sophia's, the so-called Saintess.
Pulling out his phone, Ji-hu immediately called Erika.
After a moment, the call connected.
"Moshi moshi, Yu Ji-hu-nim?"
"Hey, Erika."
He smiled slightly as he greeted her. From the other end of the line, Erika's voice responded.
"Yes, Yu Ji-hu-nim? Did you need something?"
"Nah, just checking if you're busy. Sorry if I called at a bad time."
Erika quickly denied it.
"Not at all! I'm free! Completely free!"
"Yeah? Then you got time to talk?"
She had emphasized the word completely in her denial before giggling slightly and asking:
"Is this a date invitation, by any chance?"
"Uh... sorry, no. Just wanted to chat a bit as party members. My bad."
Ji-hu gave an awkward smile as he apologized.
"Pfft, just teasing. No need to apologize like that. But... really not interested?"
"Mm... Got a lot on my mind lately, so..."
He didn't lay everything bare, but his tone carried a hint of bitterness. Sensing something amiss, Erika didn't press further.
'Sigh... Not just with them, but lately, Noona keeps weighing on my mind.'
Ji-hu was confused by how often he found himself conscious of Ha-rin these days.
Even in mundane moments, his gaze kept drifting to her.
Things he would've brushed off before—like her comfortable loungewear at home, the glimpses of bare skin—now inexplicably drew his attention.
His heart raced when she leaned in close. Even her habit of insisting on sleeping right beside him had become something he couldn't ignore.
Spending time with his party members might have been nothing more than escapism—a coward's attempt to distract himself from the turmoil by surrounding himself with others.
"So, where should we meet? Should I come to Kaesong?"
"Yeah. Let's do that. I'll send you the coordinates."
"Okay, I'll be right there!"
After ending the call, Ji-hu found a quiet café, sent Erika his location, and waited.
True to her word, it didn't take long before he sensed her approaching.
"It's Mochida Erika!"
"No way! It's really her!"
The surroundings immediately buzzed with excitement.
Unlike Ji-hu—whose face hadn't been publicly revealed yet, likely due to his sister's influence—Erika was already a celebrity. Her arrival caused an instant stir.
"Ah!"
Erika beamed, waving as she jogged toward him. She wore a simple white polo shirt with pink accents and a knee-length tan skirt—an outfit that accentuated her pure, refreshing beauty.
"Party Leader, have you been waiting long?" she asked playfully, taking the seat across from him.
"Look at that."
"Blazing Heat, Mochida Erika, sitting with some guy?"
"Is he her boyfriend?"
"Wow, he's really handsome! And he seems so gentle and kind!"
"But doesn't he kinda look like someone...?"
The murmurs of the crowd swirled around them.
"Didn't wait too long. But... damn, you really are famous."
Ji-hu sounded slightly embarrassed by the attention. Erika just laughed.
"Hehe, does it matter? You'll be way more famous soon anyway."
Word about Ji-hu was already spreading.
As the younger brother of the Empress Yu Ha-rin—and now officially active—it was inevitable.
'The fact that it hasn't blown up yet means Noona's pulling strings.'
But Ji-hu no longer cared if people knew. Taking a sip of coffee, he asked:
"Want something to drink?"
"Sure. But I'm curious—what did you want to talk about?"
Erika smiled sweetly. Her delicate beauty made it obvious why she worked as a model.
Her radiance was like a flower in full bloom.
And despite her fiery alias, her personality was bright yet composed—making her surprisingly easy to talk to.
'Meeting her alone really makes it clearer.'
When the whole party gathered, Ha-rin was always present. Naturally, everyone tensed under her watchful gaze.
'Guess meeting without Noona around was the right call.'
Even Yu-rin had seemed subdued the whole time. The sheer pressure of Ha-rin's presence was the issue.
But one-on-one, Erika turned out to be unexpectedly easygoing.
"Erika."
"Yes, Party Leader~ Oh, can I just call you Ji-hu Oppa?"
"Sure, go ahead."
With his permission, Erika grinned, resting her elbows on the table and propping her chin in her hands.
"Then, Ji-hu Oppa. Wanna hit up a Rift together?"
"Sounds good."
"Great! I might not be as good as when the whole party's together, but I can hold my own. And at the rank we'd go for, you could probably solo it anyway."
Having explored Rifts with him, Erika had a solid grasp of Ji-hu's strength.
"I'm sure that one day, you'll surpass even the current Empress."
Of course, Ha-rin was constantly growing stronger too—by the time Ji-hu reached that level, she'd likely be even further ahead.
But how many Ability Users could ever hope to match the Empress's current strength?
"Honestly, I used to think no one would ever reach her level. But now... I know I was wrong."
"Flattering me like that? Thanks. So, Rift it is?"
"Yep! After this coffee."
"Alright."
As he watched Erika sip her iced coffee, Ji-hu asked:
"But is there anything else you'd wanna do? Besides the Rift?"
"Oh? Worried about me? Is this a date?"
Tilting her head playfully, Erika smirked. Ji-hu chuckled wryly.
"Guess it came off that way. Just being honest—I'd like to get closer. Meeting you like this, you seem like good people."
"Hehe~ Really? That makes me happy. Then look forward to my performance in the Rift!"
"I will."
"Great! Let's go!"
Finishing her drink, Erika stood up. After settling the bill, she showed him a location on her phone—apparently having already scouted a Rift nearby.
"There's a good one close by. Let's head here."
"Sure. Wanna run there?"
"Huh? I'm kinda slow... Why don't you just carry me? It'd be faster."
"...Fine."
Normally, any man would be flustered—but secretly pleased—if a beauty like Erika asked to be carried.
But Ji-hu had lived on battlefields where life and death hung in the balance. Carrying slower teammates for mobility was nothing unusual.
Without hesitation, he hoisted Erika onto his back and dashed toward the Rift in an instant.
Less than three minutes after Ji-hu entered the Rift, an anomaly occurred in the world.
A connection from another dimension reached out to Earth—someone was attempting Dimensional Travel.
"At last... at last!"