Chapter 112
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Long Time No See
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Unlike what she'd initially expected, the camp had turned into something she was genuinely enjoying like a real recreation.
Lounging obliquely, Su-hyeon recalled the third installment of that cuttlefish game she'd watched not long ago.
Her face and hands were slathered with all sorts of creams and care products, and she'd just finished applying a thick layer of mud pack.
"Whoa, look at this skin. So plump and bouncy. Is this really human?"
Huang Ji-young, who had come from the room next to Ga-eun's, wiped her hands on a towel in admiration.
Her roommate shot her a glare and said,
"Hey, you wouldn't lend that to me because it was too expensive."
"You think this one's the same as you? How much could she possibly use?"
"Hmph, fair point."
Now that the short lecture on the hunter mindset after dinner was over, Su-hyeon was surrounded by the female participants.
For the record, Ga-eun was giving her a lap pillow and refusing to budge, so she was surrounded too.
With the second day of the camp over, the atmosphere had become quite lively and friendly.
It was almost a shame that tomorrow was the last day.
It would've been nice if it lasted longer.
She'd grown quite close to the other participants who'd seemed distant at first.
It was probably because they'd all gone looking for her together that morning.
Or maybe because of that circus show earlier?
...Circus, huh.
It would've been perfect if Carmen had played the lion.
Su-hyeon imagined Carmen leaping through a flaming hoop.
Ah, her hair was too voluminous—it caught fire.
As Su-hyeon let her imagination run wild, another female participant lit up and asked,
"Shall we try doing makeup too? What do you think?"
Snap.
Shake, shake.
Su-hyeon raised her palm in refusal.
"Aww, why not?"
Swoosh.
Su-hyeon crossed her hands into an X over her face.
Shake, shake.
For the record, Su-hyeon was currently banned from speaking.
The reason was that opening her mouth would ruin the pack.
"Tch. She says no even if we did it."
Anyway, no thanks.
Too much hassle.
And after makeup, she'd have to wash it off and reapply all these products anyway.
As makeup came up, the women's conversation shifted there briefly.
"Ugh, if only the schedule didn't start at 6 a.m.... I didn't even have time for primer."
"I barely managed the basics."
"But someone got up at 5 and did it, right?"
"For real? Wow, she'd be fine no matter what."
So-yeon looked bewildered and asked,
"You all brought stuff like this to camp...?"
But the reaction was as if she was the weird one.
"What are you even saying?"
"You wanna sleep in relying on mana?"
"Pardon...?"
"From your mid-twenties on, it's all about maintenance. Ramp it up hard until then, then use it up nice and slow."
For reference, few participants in this camp were over 25.
They'd selected mostly those with little experience but exceptional potential.
"Aigoo, at 19, she still has a long way to go before she gets it."
"19? She's a baby."
"Y-Yes...?"
'At 19, it's understandable.'
"Look, even Su-hyeon's nodding."
"Heh, really..."
Granted, while Su-hyeon's looks were youthful, at 23 she wasn't among the youngest here.
This camp prioritized hunters with provisional licenses.
Normally, Ga-eun and So-yeon would be the babies.
Unlike the fresh-faced So-yeon, Ga-eun had a mature vibe and didn't feel like one at all.
"So-yeon, wanna learn makeup while you're at it?"
"...Should I?"
The women started showing off their cosmetics to So-yeon, like pheasant or chicken.
So-yeon, whose makeup skills were at best high school level, naturally took the bait.
'Finally, a bit of breathing room.'
As attention shifted, Su-hyeon sighed in relief.
Of course, still unable to speak, she just huffed through her nose.
"One more minute, then wash it off and head to bed? Sound good?"
Hearing Su-hyeon's snort, Ga-eun tapped the pack's surface and said,
"Hey, where you gonna go? You're sleeping in my room tonight."
"...There's a bathroom on the way, so we can go right after."
Haneul protested, but Ga-eun pretended not to hear.
For the record, they were in Ga-eun and So-yeon's room right now.
"No way. I'll wash it off for you. Just stay here and sleep."
"...Sister, rock-paper-scissors again?"
"No! You'll just try to win with brute force!"
"You held out with brute force too? Almost used your ability."
"That wasn't holding out—that's me winning fair and square!"
"This sister's so clingy."
"...You're bolder than you look?"
As the two started bickering, Su-hyeon quietly began tidying up around her.
'Time to prep for bed.'
It was 8:20 p.m. Lights out was still far off.
Normally, they'd chat until the thrilling late hours.
But the sun had set long ago, and her remaining energy was running low.
"Hrng..."
'Sigh...'
Su-hyeon glanced around cautiously, then slipped out quietly.
She had no intention of killing the festive mood by announcing she was going to bed.
Click—
Standing on tiptoes to close the door, Su-hyeon turned, revealing her gray mud-pack-covered face.
Only the skin around her eyes and mouth was circularly exposed, like a baby octopus.
Her bangs were curled up in a pink hair roller.
Grunting as she rolled up her sleeves, chubby little hands peeked out.
A towel clutched in one.
She'd grabbed one from the scattered ones nearby.
Couldn't reach the sink, but dampening the towel should work somehow.
"Hngmm...!"
Suppressing a yawn, Su-hyeon shuffled in slippers toward the bathroom.
"Hm."
The bathroom played elegant classical music.
Standing at the sink, Su-hyeon realized she'd made a mistake.
She'd planned to fill the sink with water since she couldn't reach the faucet, then wipe her face with a wet towel.
'...The towel's not the issue?'
But to fill it, she still needed to turn on the faucet first.
Nothing solved.
"......"
Su-hyeon debated climbing the sink or going back for help.
Then, from the sprout buds shifting around her, a welcome voice called.
"Need a hand?"
"Brüel!"
She was here after all.
Too many presences to be sure.
Seen yesterday morning, yet it felt like ages.
"Uh...?"
But looking up, Su-hyeon was speechless.
The reflection of Brüel in the mirror was very different from usual.
Not her black helmet, but the hood from her staff parka pulled tight over her ears.
Instead of black leggings, a plain H-line skirt and baseball cap.
Black mask over her chin.
Platinum hair that looked bleached...
Overall, she looked like a total delinquent.
The kind in PC bang smoking rooms.
Sunglasses would perfect it.
Skin a bit pale, height tall, but whatever...
"What...? That look......?"
"Disguise. My usual appearance draws too much attention, so I went with what felt most natural."
"...It suits you weirdly well, but suddenly?"
"Tomorrow's graduation—we'll all be together. Prepping for that."
"Uh, uh... Yeah."
If you say so...
"But, are you alright?"
"With what?"
"The time. Isn't it about bedtime?"
Brüel's words snapped Su-hyeon alert.
"Oh, right. Help me wash my face...?"
But before finishing, her eyes softened, and she began to slump...
Not quite—Brüel gently supported her neck.
"...Understood. Sleep well."
A faint earthy scent wafted from the mud pack on Su-hyeon's face.
"...?"
A vaguely familiar ceiling.
Well, not ceiling—the underside of a bunk bed.
Whoosh.
Sitting up, the blanket slipped off her chest.
'Guess I fell asleep after all.'
Pat.
Touching her face.
Cheeks softer and bouncier than usual.
Expensive stuff does the trick, huh?
Looks like Brüel washed off the pack cleanly.
Imagining Brüel washing her face while she dozed against her side.
'Glad Brüel came by.'
Otherwise, rolling on the bathroom tiles.
No one beside her today—Haneul must've shaken off Ga-eun successfully.
Peeking up the ladder, Haneul lay facing the wall on the top bunk.
Graduation day today.
Except for a brief post-breakfast session on grooming, schedule was empty.
Just a rehearsal before that.
'Kinda sad now that it's ending.'
First day was a blur.
Just got comfy yesterday, now parting.
Hard to meet again after.
The old her might've struggled to accept it.
Fearing broken bonds.
Didn't know that about herself.
Thought she was just timid...
Ga-eun relayed what Brüel said—eerily spot-on.
Like horoscopes, all rang true.
Because it was her.
Shaking off stray thoughts, Su-hyeon decided on a morning walk.
Alone today, sadly.
Squish—
As she attached her shoe straps, Haneul bolted upright.
"...Whoa."
Not as bad as Carmen, but startled—no collapse.
People sit up like that?
Calming her pounding heart, Haneul scratched her head and asked lowly,
"...Where to?"
"Just getting some air."
Grumble.
Groaning, Haneul crawled toward the ladder.
"...Let's go together."
"Huh? No, it's only 5. Sleep more."
"I'm up."
Haneul jumped down, then stretched with a huff!
"Bathroom first? You can't even wash without me."
Back to usual Haneul.
"I'm fine."
"Really? Went at dawn? Didn't hear..."
Haneul seemed surprised.
This body absorbed water well, Dryad trait.
Didn't pee often relative to size.
Maybe through hair pores?
"Nah, just didn't drink before bed."
Couldn't say that—brushed it off.
"Weird. Thought your tiny bladder meant constant trips."
"Shut up. Hurry and get ready."
Leaving Haneul's morning filth-talk, Su-hyeon opened the door.
"...!"
Almost collapsed again.
"Morning."
Ga-eun stood there, eyes heavy with fatigue.
"Oh, m-morning? Uh... what're you doing here...?"
So-yeon dozing behind her.
They didn't stay up all night, did they...?
"Worried you'd slip away silently again, came right after waking. You rise with the sun."
"...Sorry...?"
Unclear if it meant the Carmen walk or sneaking for the pack.
Neither her fault, but...
Apologized anyway.
Dudum.
Thus, the four-person party formed.
Outside, the camp felt busier.
Parking lot fuller, lobby stacked with gear.
"Stuff for graduation, I bet."
Su-hyeon eyed the piles.
"Rehearsing for a three-day camp graduation...? Yawwn."
So-yeon gaped in a yawn.
"No need to follow. Breakfast's at 7. Two hours sleep."
Su-hyeon said apologetically.
"It's fine. Last day—feels lonely sleeping alone. Memories stick better with hardship..."
"Oh, yeah yeah."
Su-hyeon nodded vigorously at So-yeon's words.
So-yeon gets it.
The four strolled the grounds, gravel crunching.
"Whoa, pretty high here? That's Seoul way?"
....
"Last day already... Feels surreal."
....
"Didn't do much, but feels like forever."
....
"What after camp, everyone?"
....
"Uni like movies? Campus life and all?"
....
Chatting leisurely, admiring views.
Then,
"My, up early? Good kids all. Want to praise you."
"Huh."
Far across the dim parking lot.
Gravel rustling, two shadows approached.
Seo Na-rin wafting faint fragrance, and Chan-seong's near-2m bulk obvious even behind.
Oing.
What combo is this...?