Chapter 46
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Ordinary Daily Life is Strange (4)
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Attracting others' attention is actually easier than anything else.
All you have to do is show off something they wouldn't do right in front of them—no need to be flashy or tacky. Their eyes will flock to you.
Thinking back, the one-of-a-kind role of Hero had been just that. A duty only for the chosen one, something no one else could touch. Walking that path, we drew more eyes than anyone.
And now, in a completely different way, I was drawing everyone's attention.
“Hey.”
“Yeah...”
“Can't you walk normally?”
“Dunno...”
“No, seriously, what are you even trying to do...?”
She's been spamming “I don't know” ever since last time, and she won't listen to a word I say.
The moment she saw me, she clung to my chest and rubbed her face against me for ages. Feeling burdened, I shook her off and suggested we grab coffee somewhere.
It's not like there were no people around, but not crowded either—yet here she was, hanging off my neck like a sloth while I dragged her down the street.
After refusing to let her burrow into my arms, she just kept her arms looped around my neck, following wherever I went. It was mortifying.
The whispers seep through even when I plug my ears. Jealous glares from guys, kind smiles from elders, cheers from schoolgirls—they all swirl around me.
I try to ignore it, but that's impossible. It was sheer agony.
I grit my teeth and quicken my pace. The cafe ahead glows like paradise, so I drag the thing dangling off my back inside.
“W-Welcome...?”
I ignore the server's wide-eyed stare and order coffee.
“One iced Americano and one white chocolate mocha, right...?”
“Yes, that's it.”
“Um, could I just take one photo...”
“No way. I'm already dying of embarrassment.”
“Ahh... Okay. I'll call you when the coffee's ready.”
I turn away from her face—now a mix of curiosity and pity—and sit down. Yuna unwraps her arms from my neck, grabs my sleeve, and plops into the seat next to me.
“Hey, no. Sit across from me...”
Please, just stay away.
After finally prying off the clingy, creepy Yuna, I slump over my coffee. The bitter brew slides down my throat, leaving a lingering aftertaste as harsh as the situation.
Everything on earth had looked radiant when I stepped out, but now I hate it all.
The people chatting happily on the street, the trees swapping outfits for fall, even the noisy birds—everything annoys me.
And the most hated of all was Yuna, sitting right in front of me.
She sits across from me, blankly sucking her straw, staring only at me. Her expression is as vacant as ever, but her eyes are crystal clear. The only scenery reflected in them is me.
“Yuna, do you like me, by any chance?”
I ask her straight up. She doesn't lie anyway.
“I don't know...”
But she says she doesn't know again.
“Just say yes or no. Why is it always 'I don't know'?”
“But I really don't know what this is.”
“What is it, then?”
“Well... I want to see you first off.”
She comes out swinging.
“And when I look at you, my heart keeps racing... It's been like that since earlier. Did I get hurt in the gate or something?”
“And?”
“And... I cry. That's the weirdest part. I've never cried before, but ever since coming back from the gate, something keeps choking me up.”
“Hey...”
“Yeah, right. When you collapsed in the gate, my chest hurt so bad and tears came out. And when your little sister got mad, it happened again. This is weird...”
“Have you ever liked anyone before...?”
“No.”
“Watched dramas or movies?”
“Not that either...”
“People around you dating?”
“I don't have friends.”
Then what do you have?
“Alright, finish your coffee and head to the guild to study. Ask the guild folks—they'll explain it nicely. What this is.”
“Don't wanna...”
“No, from what I see, you need some common sense lessons. You're so lacking in that, you keep clinging to me everywhere. That healer from last time seemed good at social stuff—get some tutoring from him.”
“No.”
“I'll tell Sihyun.”
“...”
She shuts her mouth, not wanting to piss off Sihyun. Her pouty, uncharacteristically thoughtful look is kinda cute, so I add one more thing.
“Study hard, and I'll hang out whenever you call.”
“...For real?”
“If I get permission from Sihyun.”
“...What the hell.”
“I don't know. Just go to the guild already. Study.”
I shoo away Yuna, who's blankly sitting there with her empty cup, and enjoy some alone time.
The stares die down, time flows leisurely—maybe I should meet up with friends. Haven't talked since the reunion; life's been too hectic.
[Ansiu]: Hey, whatcha up to.
I fire off a text naturally.
[Kim Jaehyun]: Reading the hot-off-the-press article about your scandalous romance.
I close the phone.
The buzzing won't stop, the screen keeps flashing, and the incoming texts piss me off.
[Kim Jaehyun]: Might as well see your face since I reached out. If the others wanna see you too, no helping it. No reply and I'll loop 'em in.
[Ansiu]: ... That bar from last time, evening.
I reply, then just sigh. I nurse the bitter coffee, killing time.
Summer fades, days shorten fast, and as time passes, more people hit the streets. Cool breezes wrap around, purple skies blanket the ground.
I weave through the crowd in a mask. More stares than expected—my face must've spread through news and forums.
Time ticks by, and I reach the bar. A sloppily dressed guy waves at me.
“Damn, still got that model look~ No wonder you're dating around.”
He teases with a grin.
“Must be your ugly mug getting shredded.”
I hit him with facts.
“What the— you little...?”
His dumbfounded face after eating those words is hilarious.
I drag the cursing Jaehyun inside without letting him retort. It's already bustling early on, and we follow the server to our seats.
“One bottle of soju and some sausage stir-fry, please.”
Jaehyun orders last time's snacks and turns to me.
“So, you okay? Heard you got messed up bad in that gate.”
“Huh... Articles even?”
“How could there not be? Not like S-rank gates are everywhere—they camp out for clears. Oh, Juhyun was there too. He's a reporter.”
“Ugh, don't print stories on injuries~ So embarrassing.”
“You sound fine now, bitching like that. That photo just looked like a bloody corpse.”
“Nah, just clothes soaked in blood. No biggie, no biggie~”
“They even snapped Yuna Hunter carrying you, bawling... You're hiding a ton, asshole. Whatever, pour me a drink.”
I pour for Jaehyun as he shoves his glass over and clap for him to chug.
“Hey, you not drinking?”
“No snacks, no drink.”
“What a load of crap... Not a kid, can't drink without sides?”
“Aw, still a kid~ What's age without experience?”
Kid, huh.
Spot on.
“Hero, quit acting grown-up when you're just a brat. What do you think you can handle, punk?”
“Hero, even if you aged ten more years hacking monsters, you'd still be a kid. Go home, play around.”
Those scoldings still echo. Sio's words always hid care for me.
Through those long, short ten years on blood-soaked battlefields, I was always treated like a kid.
I thought I was still young.
Not a mature adult, but somewhere between a naive grown-up and a child.
Now, trying all these firsts, I'm finally aging.
I smile at Jaehyun's baffled look and tilt my glass.
The booze I finally sip is still bitter.
Raw alcohol scent wrinkles my nose; I hold my breath.
"Ughhh... Tastes like ass..."
“Pfft! Thought you were confident grinning like that—real kid stuff~ Water, quick!”
I gulp the water he hands over, then pour more booze while killing time.
Chatting with my buddy feels pretty good. Until the random call hits.
“Siwoo.”
The sudden call brings a familiar flat voice.
“What? I sent you to study—why call?”
“Because I like you.”
“Uh... Yeah. Studying hard, huh.”
“So marry me.”
“...Nope. Didn't study right. Go back and hit the books.”
I hang up fast. Anxious what else she'll blurt, I mute notifications and focus on drinks.
Just... Yuna doesn't seem all there either.