Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Alumni Are Scary (3)
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“So why’d you only show up now?”
“No, I told you already. I got dragged to another world and barely made it back.”
“So what were you doing there that took you so damn long, you bastard?”
“You ever been to a gate?”
“Hell no, I’m a regular guy. But yeah, I know weird-ass monsters pop out.”
“Right. The place I went had some of those, plus people. But now it’s a spot I can’t escape from on my own?”
I couldn’t create a gate back to Earth by myself, so yeah, it was a place I couldn’t break out of independently. They basically wouldn’t open the gate until I took down the Demon God.
Still pisses me off thinking about it. Ah, I should’ve flicked each of their foreheads thirty times before I left. Got all sentimental and just said nice things instead.
“What the hell were you even doing there? Well... at least it wasn’t dangerous, I guess. You’re still yapping away~”
At that, I just grinned. Sure, I nearly died hundreds of times, but since I made it back in one piece, maybe it wasn’t that bad.
“Looks like we’re confirmed, so shall we head out? Coffee’s all gone anyway.”
I was thinking it was time to head home, so I stood up from my seat.
“Huh? Already? Shouldn’t we grab a drink or something? Or at least dinner?”
“You buying? I’m unemployed, no cash.”
“Yeah, my treat. How about pork belly and soju?”
Hm... Sihyun told me not to follow any guy who offers to buy food.
“Uh, thanks~”
But I can’t resist pork belly and soju. Even Sihyun would get that.
I trailed happily after my friend, who was leading the way to the BBQ joint.
“Hey, can’t you drop the formal talk? It’s making me awkward as hell too.”
“Buy me meat, and I’ll think about it.”
“Ugh, you maniac... Let’s hurry. I’m starving.”
“Yes~”
As we headed to the grill house, I texted Sihyun.
- Pretty lil sis, my buddy’s buying meat and booze.
The reply came right away.
- Fine, just walk home like a normal person. Pick up if I call midway. You know not to overdo the drinking, right?
Still treating me like a kid.
I’m 31.
“No, but seriously, why haven’t you aged a bit? Botox?”
The first words out of his mouth after slamming back some drinks.
“Nah, you just look old.”
I answered with total sincerity. Looking at that exhaustion-soaked face, yeah, you’re the old one.
“You little shit. Told you to talk casual, and now you’re rude...”
“Ah, want me to switch back to formal? Feels more natural this way.”
“Nah~ Keep that attitude. Nostalgic and nice.”
I tilted my glass to match the one he offered again. This acrid, almost nauseating booze taste still made me hold my breath every time I poured it down. The automatic grimace was unavoidable.
“What’s up? Can’t handle your liquor? First time seeing someone your age who can’t drink. Puhaha!”
“This is my first booze this week, and it tastes like crap... The flavor and smell are all off...”
Why the hell do people drink this? Sure, it made me feel good after a while, but holding my breath for hours until then was the real torture.
“Huh...? What’ve you been up to without touching booze till now? What exactly were you doing over there...”
“Uh... errands?”
Errands for the emperor, and I snagged the Demon God on the way.
“... Fine. Tell me later if you don’t wanna. Auntie! One Ice Tick please~”
What’s with that cute-ass name?
“Can’t drink? Try this. Should be better.”
The can he handed over was as adorable as the name. Wrapped in pink, it felt more like a soda than booze. I popped it open without thinking and took a swig. The sweet taste hit, and I couldn’t help but gasp in delight.
“Oh. What’s this? Tastes good. Peach booze, huh. O~”
“Total kid. Looking young too, like you just turned twenty.”
“Whatever. Get more of these~”
Baby Ansiu likes peach booze.
“Ah, Ansiu. We’re doing a class reunion soon. You in?”
“Eh, I don’t know anyone.”
“Don’t pull that formal crap on questions you hate, you bastard. Wait, you were class rep. You gotta round everyone up now that you’re back, you heartless prick.”
Eh? I was class rep?
“Hey, hold up. Adding you to the group chat.”
“No. Hate it. Don’t.”
“Bullshit. Added ya. Now chat it up~”
Fuck. Why me?
? Sudden invite?
Ansiu…? Hey, which bastard’s pranking with the dead guy? Crazy?
Wow~, Kim Jaehyun you bad bastard. Closest friend and you insult the dead? Hey, kick that guy~
The chat room I’d joined kicked off with my name as the hot topic. Was it always this lively? Seeing them banter so freely without a care made me shrink back even more.
Say something, anything. Butting into their tight-knit group wasn’t easy.
Hey, not even talking?
Dead, so how’s he gonna talk.
Kim Jaehyun’s trash. Says he died at the reunion~
No, I’m not dead. Stop killing me off.
“Fighting~”
Beside me, the jerk was shaking his head at my dumbfounded face, cracking up.
Hey~ kick that~ Kim Jaehyun too~
The chat was total chaos among them. Already died four times in there.
Figured I’d get booted at this rate, so I fired off a message.
When’s the class reunion?
?
?
...
?
What’s this. I’m scared...
Luckily, the guy next to me—who’d been howling with laughter—stepped in to sort it out. Guess my teary, wronged look tugged at him a bit.
“Get home safe~ Don’t forget the reunion next week~”
Even wobbling drunk, he flashed a bright grin and waved at me. That innocent face on a 31-year-old salaryman, etched with fatigue and budding wrinkles, looked just like a fresh-faced 20-year-old. His whole body radiating joy made me the embarrassed one.
Wrapping up our not-too-long drinking sesh, the staggering walk home was still buzzing as ever. Karaoke blaring from every shop was the owners’ desperate bids for attention, and folks naturally wandered in.
Those unsteady steps probably meant heading to round two. And sure enough, the streets littered with green onion pancake feasts... gross. Pigeons would clean it by morning, though.
I dodged the diligently frying pancakes here and there on my way home. The towering skyscrapers still didn’t sit right. Always felt like they’d crumble any second. Before Pretoria, these weren’t so common. The world sure moves fast.
Punched in the door code and stepped inside. There was my sister on the living room couch, half-listening to the TV drone while eyeing the entrance. My state looked decent enough; her gaze softened with relief.
“Back? More intact than I figured~ Was about to call.”
“What, Mom now...?”
“You’re more immature than my future daughter would be. Ah, won’t worry about kids later. Practiced raising you first~”
“All thanks to me~ Great big bro.”
“Pfft! Smooth talker~ So, bro, good catch-up? No drama?”
Drama? Plenty. Forced into a reunion I hadn’t even considered—biggest issue.
“Nah, turns out I was class rep. Told me to host the reunion.”
“...? Don’t remember? You were rep all through high school.”
“Whoa... guess I hustled hard back then.”
“Bro. Weird not recalling friends. Actually, you’ve been off since day one. Behavior all awkward. Bro, you lose your memory?”
“Uh, didn’t I mention? Lost most memories up to 21.”
“...”
“Huh?”
“When’d you mention that! You maniac!!!”
Thwack-
Sihyun’s fist packed a punch. Won’t die even if dropped in Pretoria. Big bro’s safe.
Thwack-
“You crazy... At the Association, I hugged you saying the immature high schooler grew up nice!!”
“Uh... felt like that’s what happened...? But quit hitting...”
Thwack- Thud-
“Knew you were too immature! You bastard! Hid the most important thing this whole time?!”
Guess the immaturity wasn’t from lost memories.
“But you recognized me right away, so stop hi— Ack!”
“Hoo... Fine. Forgiven since you knew me. Dumbass bro. Wait, how’d you recognize without memories?”
I grinned and slung an arm over her shoulder.
“Big bro’s heart... Family bonds. Lil sis’s love... Trinity.”
“Bullshit... Totally.”
Sun down, moon up, everyone asleep. I lay in bed again tonight, wide awake. Plush mattress, quiet night, faint floral scent. None eased the anxiety rooted in my heart—instead, darkness enveloped me.
Amplifying the fear, deepening the loss, crushing my nights. Every day since returning ended like this.
So I pulled out my old wallet again. The one always in my pocket. Slid fingers into the inner pouch. Felt the smooth texture. Drew it out.
Just a single photo slipped free. A middle-aged couple standing, two young ones sitting. That one photo.
My precious treasure, still perfectly preserved.
- Mom, Dad, and Sihyun and me.
I smiled at the tiny writing on the edge. The fear crowding me fled far away, tail between legs. Warmth lingered around me.
And so, I drifted to sleep tonight.