Chapter 58

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 58

Chapter Title: Climbing Up

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The next day at lunch.

After her practical class ended, Su-hyeon was crawling around on the lab floor on all fours.

"Be careful. That soil shouldn't touch your skin. I've diluted it several times, but you never know."

"Yes... Okay..."

Su-hyeon nodded at Professor ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Lee Ah-young's voice and double-checked her gloves for any issues.

Around Su-hyeon were small rock fragments, various types of soil, oddly shaped plants, moss, and the like.

What she was making today was a miniature replica of an ecosystem from inside a gate. A terrarium, was it?

The professor had asked her to help create materials for use in other grade levels' classes.

"Next up..."

Su-hyeon firmly packed down the soil and picked up one of the sorted rock fragments.

She was so focused she wasn't even blinking.

After examining it from all angles and pondering, she finally found the perfect spot and gently placed the rock.

"Hm...?"

Sensing something off, Su-hyeon scooted back a bit to admire her work.

It looked like a little giant had appeared in a tiny forest.

Having spotted something, Su-hyeon crawled forward again and began repositioning small plants.

She carefully tidied the surrounding soil and nudged the rock slightly.

The professor smiled warmly at Su-hyeon wiggling her hips as she worked.

It might sound rude to say, but she looked just like a kid totally absorbed in block play.

"It's much better than what I made."

"Uh... Thank you? I'm just copying it, though."

"No, the smaller the scale, the more the tiny details matter. In real size, it'd be meters off. I was right to leave it to you, Su-hyeon. Plant communion ability, right?"

"Yeah. It just feels more comfortable this way? More natural? Something like that."

"It suits your personality perfectly."

"...Thank you?"

What did she mean by that?

Su-hyeon straightened her back a little and looked around. The floor was covered in miniatures replicating various gate interiors.

Barren desert-like land, lush jungles, ice-covered polar regions, and caves filled with bizarre crystals.

"This is for the third-years' midterms?"

"Yes. We'll evaluate how closely they replicate otherworldly ecosystems using Earth materials. You'll make one too if you take my class as a third-year elective."

Oh...

If she'd returned a year earlier, she might have been doing this right now.

"Sounds fun."

Su-hyeon resolved to take it next year.

"Ho ho! But thinking of it as a test makes it no fun. In a way, you're pre-studying right now."

"Huh, but isn't this leaking the test?"

"I've already announced everything, so it's fine. No time crunch, no single right answer. And we'll use different ones next year anyway. They don't last long to begin with."

Right.

These plants and moss were just kept fresher a bit longer by Su-hyeon's power—they'd wither in a few weeks at most.

"Kinda wasteful..."

She'd worked so hard on them.

Knowing they're one-use sapped her motivation.

The professor burst out laughing at Su-hyeon's dejected back and comforted her.

"Hee hee, once grading's done, we'll preserve them with fake plants for display. No way I'd toss out something you worked so hard on."

"Uh, thank you..."

She felt embarrassed, like her thoughts had been read.

Middle school classmate or not, she'd grown way too mature.

"Is all this exactly like the real gates inside?"

"Yes, based on gates that guilds have actually cleared. With cooperation from various guilds, of course. We excluded ones totally unlike Earth."

"Amazing..."

Su-hyeon examined the jungle-like miniature she'd made.

"That one's from a relatively recent Camellia Guild clear. Similar to Earth's jungles but insanely dangerous."

Camellia represented Korea, but she'd been hearing about them more lately.

"It looks just like something from the Amazon, but dangerous? I figured similar to Earth would be easier."

"Even if it looks similar, everything's unknown. Ordinary-looking trees and plants could hide magic beasts, so it's mentally and physically exhausting. Ah, but you'd be invincible in a gate like that, Su-hyeon!"

"Oh..."

Plant-type magic beasts definitely wouldn't stand a chance.

She'd even handled one helping Hunter Jo Sung-min yesterday.

Just as her confidence was surging—

A knock came at the lab door.

"Come in."

A male student opened the door, then froze at the sight of the miniatures covering the floor.

"Ah, sorry, we're in the middle of something... Watch your step coming in."

The student carefully entered, then startled again seeing Su-hyeon amid the miniatures.

Well, a little kid in the lab...

Probably mistaking her for the professor's daughter or granddaughter.

"Hello, Professor. Kim Min-su here. I have something to discuss about my reenrollment..."

"Ah! I remember. Back from the army? Reenrolling this second semester of second ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠year?"

"Yes, but the curriculum changed while I was away, so they told me to talk to you directly..."

"Ahh, got it. You worked hard those six months anyway."

"Thank you. Still way better than three years."

As they started talking, Su-hyeon quietly gauged the moment and prepared to leave.

"I'll head out now."

"Ah! Good work today! Get home safe."

"Yes, goodbye."

Su-hyeon went out and tugged the handle—up to her eye level—to shut the door.

She looked so clever pulling it shut with both hands.

"A relative's kid? Adorable. And so ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠polite."

Kim Min-su turned and asked after watching.

"Not exactly, but similar. You'll find out if you reenroll next semester."

The professor smiled lightly in reply.

**

Honk! Honk honk—

No sooner had Su-hyeon crossed the walkway than a flock of geese came waddling from afar.

How do they always know?

"Hi, no food today. Sorry."

Honk honk honk honk!

The geese ignored her and lined up beside her, walking along.

Su-hyeon chuckled and walked slowly, lost in thought.

Specifically, about her ability.

The geese following was part of it, surely.

She was controlling it now, not drawing in every creature wildly, but to them, she was already a precious flock member.

And the exhibition.

Plant-type magic beasts had synced with her mood and gone berserk.

Unlike other incompletely revived beasts, the plant ones were just desiccated, so they revived intact and subdued the rest.

She'd even slid down Tree Ent's arm to escape at the end.

Plus yesterday helping Hunter Jo Sung-min.

Now she was certain of her ability.

She glanced around, then cautiously tested it.

Nearby flowers turned their heads, grass swayed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠slightly.

Looking at a close tree, its lowest branch extended to lightly touch her fingertip.

"Whoa... Trees too?"

Soft flowers and grass aside, even sturdy trees.

Plants moved freely at her will, drawing on stored energy.

'You'd be invincible in a gate like that, Su-hyeon!'

Professor Ah-young's words echoed.

Against plants, she was invincible, just like that.

'I can control plants!'

Wham!

Flutter flutter—

Honk!

In her exhilaration, she threw up both hands, and the geese spread their wings and honked in sync.

Their parade continued until Su-hyeon left the walkway.

That day on EveryMorning, a photo of her cute retreating figure was posted and vanished after a minute.

"Hello, everyone..."

Ga-eun forced a smile and greeted the camera.

Behind her sleepy face, the crowded airport terminal bustled.

"Yes... As you can see, I'm at the airport right now. For anyone who missed Wednesday's stream, here's a clip to help explain."

Ga-eun fiddled with the screen, switching to footage of her playing a game.

A half-naked man crammed in a drum barrel, flailing a golf club comically.

It was a infamous shitty game about a guy who'd embezzled from his organization and gotten the screw put to him, now escaping the deep sea.

The player had to navigate oxygen zones before the man's lung capacity ran out.

Ga-eun's face in the clip twisted in tension.

Escape was in sight, but lung capacity was nearly gone.

"It's fine, plenty of time. Just go slow."

As viewers said, screw up now and no second chances.

No mission payout, plus spin the penalty roulette.

Gulp—

Nerve-wracking moment.

"Almost there, stay calm...!"

But her hands were already flailing the controller wildly.

The golf club slashed water, bubbles erupted.

Worse, it tangled in seaweed.

"Arghhh! Please!"

Ga-eun screamed, half-standing.

The man flailed wildly following her movements.

"Please! Please! Please!"

Then the character froze.

The man's face turned from red to purple as he plummeted into the deep sea.

A fitting end for a backstabber...

"Kuh, argh! Ah! Nooooo! Kyaaaaah!!!!"

Ga-eun shrieked and collapsed to the floor. Her hair was a mess, breaths ragged.

No trace of her usual poised elegance.

"One more second... Just one..."

Her vacant eyes stared as chat exploded.

The clip ended there, screen returning to sleepy Ga-eun.

"So, that's what happened last time."

"The penalty... Random day-hike hike, but viewers voted the roulette."

Ga-eun sighed heavily and pulled out her plane ticket, holding it to the camera.

Bold letters read 'Jeju International Airport'.

"So... Yes, as you see, Hallasan day-hike today. Headed out for the early flight. Gotta succeed this time. Failure means negotiation table again. Please cheer me on, everyone."

She spoke softly, but chat trolls wouldn't oblige.

"Ugh, seriously."

Ga-eun cutely furrowed her brow, then pulled the camera back to show her full body.

A slim, toned figure hugged by women's hiking gear.

"Ta-da~ But upsides too. Famous outdoor brand 'Phoenix' is sponsoring this climb. Got top-tier hiking gear thanks to them."

"Yes, ad time. Gotta do what ya gotta. Look! See this? Phoenix's latest 'Skywalker X9'. Ultralight, waterproof, windproof, perfect temp control."

Ga-eun twisted side to side, showing the sleek silhouette.

"High places like Hallasan are cold, so leaving sweat on risks hypothermia. But it's hot going up, right?"

Ga-eun rubbed her stomach and thighs vigorously.

"And seriously comfy! Like pajamas. Super soft, super sturdy."

"Ga-eun, that's enough... People are watching."

Da-hye finally intervened.

True to newtuber form, her sleepiness was gone, tension rising, drawing eyes.

(Da-hye wore sponsored gear in another color too.)

"No, shoes left. This is the new 'Mountain Conqueror PRO'. Unlike the name, great for deserts or mudflats too! Previous model had options for gate use by hunters, but this has even tougher durability..."

"You can do it at the mountain..."