Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Secret of Birth
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I kept dozing off and snapping awake.
Before I knew it, we'd arrived at the end of the line.
A little over three hours later, I reached Baekmu-dong in Jirisan. There's a popular day-hike course right behind it, so it's a big hit with hikers.
"Auntie will head off now? Get home safe, okay?"
"Oh, come on, just come with us."
The folks who'd been itching to feed me parted ways here. They kept turning back, waving until they were out of sight.
I watched them climb the stairs and disappear.
"Guess I should get going too."
It was a novel feeling—no one had ever fussed over me like this before.
I'd worry too if I saw a kindergartener wandering alone.
Our house was way deeper in than this, so I thought about waiting for the city bus but decided to walk instead.
If the timing was off, I'd be waiting over 40 minutes, and after sitting on that bus so long, my legs were itching to move.
Forty minutes' wait? Might as well walk—it'd take about the same time.
And so began my mountain path stroll.
I clomped along the concrete road.
*Ding-ding-*
The sudden ringtone made me stop in my tracks.
Too lazy to change it, I'd been using the default tone for three years.
<Ga-eun>
A grin spread across my face.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Su-hyeon. You home? I just got out of class."
"Nah, I'm at Jirisan right now."
"......Huh?"
It had been ages since a friend last called me.
"Jirisan!? What are you doing all the way out there?"
"Our family home's in Jirisan."
"Ohhh... When did you even go? It's not even lunchtime yet."
"Took the first bus. But why'd you call?"
"Oh, just... Your aptitude test came back null, right? I was gonna tell you to go to a bigger hospital. You won't go alone if I don't drag you."
Oh yeah, there was that retest thing.
"......Can't I just leave it?"
"Hey! You popped that magic beast like a balloon, and you're not even curious?"
"I am curious, but not that much..."
"It could be B-rank, even A-rank! Aren't you bummed? That thing wrecked C-rank hunters—a solid A at least, right?"
"Y-Yeah?"
B-rank hunter.
Among the awakeners regular folks ever see, they're pretty much the strongest.
With that level of power, they rarely bite the dust, so their faces are familiar to the public.
That's why most hunters name-dropped online are B-ranks.
Reporters camp outside gates famous B-rankers enter.
They get ads and sponsorships, so lots of them manage their looks and image.
A-rankers are treated like national assets, so not much leaks to the public.
How many there are, how strong they are...
Occasionally a B-rank promotes to A, so you know they exist.
Top B-ranks vs. bottom A-ranks is endless online fodder.
But turns out I'm a B-rank awakener?
Honestly, the attention sounds nice, but hassle? Hard pass.
Getting dragged everywhere, stuff to manage, always thrown into danger.
"But I'm not really into money or fame..."
"You're just lazy, admit it."
"......"
What?
How's she reading me already?
"Doesn't take long to figure that out."
"Eek!!"
My shriek sent birds fluttering from the trees.
"H-How...?"
"Totally~ predictable."
Her pleasant laugh tinkled through the phone.
"Ah, signal's about to drop."
"Okay? Rest up and come back safe."
"Wait, hold on."
"Yeah?"
It felt a bit cringy, but I had to say it.
Manners matter.
"Th-Thanks."
"Huh? For what...?"
"Y'know, talking to me, buying me pork cutlet, going to the health center together, picking clothes at the department store... All of it."
My face burned.
Good thing I was alone on this mountain path.
"Outta nowhere? What, off to war or something...?"
"Argh...!"
I'm baring my soul here!
"Kidding, kidding. Heh heh heh. You're just too cute, I swear."
"Y-You! You know I'm older, right?"
"Oh—signal's gone already? Can't hear you? Oh well~. Bye!"
"......"
Even being teased by her felt so welcome, my heart pounded harder.
I pocketed my phone and hurried on.
My steps felt lighter than before.
Light and bouncy.
Rustle.
I froze.
?
Did I hear something?
......Just my imagination?
Clomp clomp.
Rustle rustle.
!!
Grass parting—something was there.
I struck a goofy boxing pose, palms open wide.
Zero skills, but had to do something.
Crunch.
Out popped a tiny chipmunk. These guys were common around the house since I was little.
It met my eyes and boldly scampered right to my feet.
"Uh, hi...? W-Wait a sec!?"
It stared so intently I greeted it awkwardly.
The chipmunk hopped onto my leg, climbed up, and perched on my head.
Its sharp claws pricked my calf—yikes.
"Never seen a chipmunk this fearless around people."
They'll approach for nuts, but this bold from the start? First time.
"You've got an open mind, huh?"
"Chit?"
No way it thinks I look harmless. Me, a certified wimp with chipmunks...?
"Walking through the forest~"
With the chipmunk on my head, I kept going awhile.
Man, my body's definitely tougher now. At the department store, and today—nearly an hour of walking, just a bit stiff, no biggie.
Short legs slow me down, that's all.
The concrete ended; the real forest path entrance loomed.
"Grandma!"
And there she was, waiting at the entrance.
It's a long walk from home.
How'd she know when I'd arrive?
Tears welled up again.
"Oh dear... You're even tinier than I thought. Should've met you at the terminal."
Grandma looked flustered at my size.
Seeing her apologize for my kid-like looks hit me hard again.
"Grandma..."
Unable to hold back, I rushed over and hugged her tight. She's tall, so I barely reached her legs.
The chipmunk buddy hopped off my back and vanished into the woods.
"Haven't had my little rascal cling first in ages—you always played shy."
Grandma scooped me up effortlessly, patting my butt.
"Don't pat my butt."
I whined in embarrassment, but she ignored it.
"You'll be 100 or 1,000—you're still my baby, kiddo."
She patted harder.
"Weren't you scared coming alone? What if a boar or bear popped out?"
"I was fine. Just took a while. And you're the same."
"Me? Same? Grandma's stronger than any bear or boar."
Giggle giggle.
I buried my face, chuckling.
"Crying then laughing—gonna get a unibrow. Let's see."
"Not crying."
She stroked my butt gently; I swatted her hand away with one of mine.
Her shoulder was damp—probably from laughing and drooling. Maybe.
Grandma walked slowly, still holding me.
"Put me down now. I'm heavy, Grandma."
"Heavy? You'd float away if I let go."
"Joints wear out with age. I can walk."
"I'm still spry, kid."
"Still..."
Grandma really was healthier than most her age.
Tall and straight-backed, she looked way younger.
Without the white hair and wrinkles, calling her "grandma" might feel off.
"Lemme hold my grandkid awhile—it's been forever."
"......"
I couldn't protest anymore.
"We're home already anyway. No point putting you down."
"Huh?"
I whipped my head up, shocked. There was the familiar wooden house.
What? Got here way faster than I thought...
Was I so caught up chatting I lost track of time?
Grandma clucked her tongue as I gawked.
"How can you be this oblivious?"
"...?"
"Even if I tried raising you among normals, you never sensed anything odd?"
"Uh......"
Grandma said something cryptic.
"Maybe 'cause you're incomplete. Or still too young."
"Grandma?"
"We'll visit your mom today too."
"Mom? Is there a grave...?"
Mom, absent from my memories since early childhood.
What I recalled: brown hair, gentle smile, frail and ethereal.
But a grave visit now? We'd never gone.
"You fool! Why'd you kill off your perfectly healthy mom? Sigh, so you've thought she was dead all this time?"
"Huh? Didn't she pass when I was little?"
Snap—
"Ow!"
Grandma flicked my forehead with her free hand.
"Your memories are all jumbled, huh? No wonder you moped every new school year."
She'd thought I just hated school.
"Today, I'll tell you your whole birth story from scratch."