Chapter 64
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Fern Pickles
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She lifted her head and scanned the surroundings.
Electronic displays like clocks hung above the entrance to each room, catching her eye.
They seemed to show the temperature in each one.
The thermometer in front of the hot stone room still pointed to a high reading.
'Ugh.'
Seeing it, Su-hyeon instinctively shrank back. Glancing toward the ice room, she saw cold air seeping through the door crack.
"Hmm..."
"Shall we rest outside a bit and then head to the baths?"
"Yeah. I saw they had several kinds of baths earlier."
They hadn't really enjoyed anything properly besides the foot bath and snacks.
It'd be such a shame to wash up and leave just like that.
"Oh."
Then she spotted a room with a moderate temperature.
[37.1 °C], [38.3 °C]
"Guys, how about that one?"
That was barely different from body temperature.
"Hmm..."
The yellow earth room nearing 50 degrees or the similar charcoal room were out, but that seemed fine, right?
The low temperature made it feel like a relaxation room.
"Then, as a last stop, shall we pop in there before washing up?"
"Sure!"
With renewed energy, Su-hyeon led the way to the room with the lowest temperature.
<Salt Room>, <Jade Stone Room>
The left one had the lower temperature.
*
Opening the door, warm air just right for easy breathing welcomed them.
A round button and brush hung by the door.
Rustle-
"Huh."
Passing the wooden footboards, sand slipped between her toes.
Looking down, the floor was covered in pure white grains.
"Ah, so this is the salt room?"
"Using salt for a sauna... that's intriguing."
Sniff sniff.
Oddly, the inside of the sauna felt refreshing.
There was even a faint pleasant aroma.
Lick.
Licking her lips, she tasted a subtle saltiness.
"What are you eating right now?"
Ga-eun asked, seeing Su-hyeon pursing her lips.
"Nothing."
"You can't lick and eat salt like that? Bad girl."
"I said I'm not eating it."
'What does she think I am?'
Just as her lower lip started to pout, movement came from deeper inside.
"It's fine since we just sprinkled it fresh. We use clean salt."
Eh?
The one speaking to them was Seo Na-rin, dressed in sauna clothes with her hair wrapped in a towel.
She sat comfortably in the corner inside the sauna room.
"Mystic's Hunter Seo Na-rin."
"Oh, I thought you were foreign, but your Korean is incredibly fluent."
"Thank you. It's been a while since I studied."
While Brüel exchanged natural greetings, Ga-eun and I were momentarily speechless.
An A-rank hunter casually enjoying a sauna like this, and on a weekday afternoon no less.
"Hello? I didn't expect to run into you here."
"Uh, hi...?"
What? I didn't remember ever talking to her directly.
She was acting like we knew each other.
Na-rin smiled, spotting Su-hyeon peeking out from behind Brüel's long legs.
Responding naturally fell to Ga-eun, who was at the front.
"You're the ones from the Korea University info session."
"Ah, yeah. But how did you...?"
"I glanced down from above, and you playing with your cute little sister and friend looked so adorable, I remembered."
"Ah... haha. You saw all that?"
"A-rank hunters see everything as a matter of course."
Na-rin brought a pipe to her mouth.
A faint purple flame flickered at the pipe's tip.
Sip- exhale...
"Um..."
Su-hyeon, hiding behind her legs, hesitantly spoke up.
"Yes? What's up?"
'Not used to handling kids.'
Her eyes sparkling as she asked if she was really Seo Na-rin, that she'd seen her a lot on YouTube, could she take a photo...
Na-rin, smiling warmly, was slightly thrown off by the unexpected reaction.
A cute little finger pointed at the pipe.
"You can't smoke in an enclosed space. Cigarettes..."
'Even an A-rank hunter has to follow the rules.'
She didn't seem like some arrogant type, so she probably just didn't know because no one had pointed it out.
"Huh...? Ahaha!"
At the bold remark only a pure child could make, Na-rin widened her eyes then burst into laughter, utterly charmed.
'...What.'
Seeing Su-hyeon's lips pout, thinking she was being mocked, Na-rin hurriedly apologized.
"Sorry, sorry. It's understandable for a kid to misunderstand. But this isn't a cigarette—it's an incense stick. It's dried from a special herb grown inside gates, and it calms the mind."
Na-rin's ability manipulated and produced hormones artificially.
To give the optimal buff, she had to analyze in a neutral state, uninfluenced by her emotions.
Thus, a calm mind was essential for using her power at its best.
Of course, she also smoked it just because the scent was nice.
"Ah, so that's the smell in the air..."
"Exactly. Smells good, right? It's not harmful, so no worries. Come on, don't just stand there—sit down, everyone."
Chiming in on Ga-eun's question, Na-rin patted the spot beside her invitingly.
The group accepted and sat next to her.
It'd be weird to chat and then leave right away.
"I didn't expect someone of your caliber, Na-rin, to come to a place like this."
"Oh, I love popular culture too, you know? I just hold back when there's a fuss."
"Ahh... it must be exhausting."
"Hehe, it's fine. It's the path I chose. Still, sometimes I want to hole up somewhere no one knows."
"But why the salt room?"
"This one's the most comfortable to stay in long-term. Air doesn't feel stuffy. Plus, it's exactly time to change the salt."
Got to try fresh salt first thing.
"Ah... you must come here often."
"Yeah, does it not suit me?"
"Well, a little...?"
"Pfft!"
Ga-eun was already chatting away with Na-rin like old friends.
I... what should I do.
We'd come into a room, sure.
But now that we were here, nothing to do.
I decided to sit on the floor, fiddling with the salt pile.
Others could sit on chairs with legs in the salt, but for me, that'd just be like sitting in lukewarm water.
If you're in a salt room, do a salt sauna.
As I shoved my hands in, making toad houses, Brüel crouched beside me.
"Not too hot?"
"Nope, feels just like a sand sauna. Nice."
I built salt hills and packed them firm, buried hands and feet and squeezed tight.
Rubbed my palms together, savoring the texture.
*
Na-rin watched Su-hyeon playing in the salt like sand, finding it adorable, then lowered her voice.
"Lee Ga-eun. I heard you became a B-rank awakener recently. Congratulations."
"Huh? No way, even you heard about that, Na-rin...?"
Ga-eun blushed shyly.
What could she say to a celebrity like this congratulating her...
"You don't realize how amazing it is. B-rank is just one step below me. Considering your age, you could aim for A-rank in a few years. With proper investment, that is."
"Ehh, me an A-rank...?"
Hehe.
Ga-eun scratched the back of her head.
Na-rin gently took her other hand.
"So humble. Or do you lack ambition?"
"Uh... no..."
"Let me be direct. Join Mystic."
Na-rin leaned in close, gripping her hand.
Even woman-to-woman, it felt seductive and intense.
"...I'm not a hunter yet."
"Not yet, right? So you'll join the military? No offense to soldiers, but in my opinion, hunter life is way better."
"You're that sure I'll become a hunter?"
Na-rin just smiled silently.
"...I'll say this upfront. I have no plans to quit streaming. Even if I become a hunter, I'll prioritize broadcasting over active duty. You still want to recruit me?"
"Hmm... so hunting is just to dodge enlistment?"
"I know it's not the best choice, but honestly... yes."
Na-rin met her gaze piercingly, then leaned back.
"Well, fine. Balancing streaming and hunting isn't bad. It could even create huge synergy. Mystic can fully support that."
"Ah, thank you...? Um, I'll think about it more."
"Think... Mystic may not be the absolute best guild, but it's really solid. Plus, for someone like you, a mid-sized guild might suit better than a massive one?"
In big guilds full of prospects, you often get overlooked and no support.
Better to come here for focused investment and growth.
"No, it's not that... I plan to go independent."
Before Ga-eun could finish explaining, Brüel's voice rang out.
"Su-hyeon?"
"Ugh, my throat's so dry..."
A voice sensing something off.
All eyes turned to Su-hyeon.
She stood with hands outstretched, staggering wildly.
Her already pale face had gone even whiter.
"Brüel, I feel dizzy..."
"Su-hyeon?"
"Oh dear..."
Sensing something wrong, Na-rin reached for Su-hyeon.
Intending to give emergency aid with her power.
That instant, something grabbed her wrist.
Na-rin widened her eyes in shock.
'This speed...?'
Not some ordinary foreigner?
Na-rin knew all the foreign prospects inside out.
An unknown young awakener she didn't recognize.
And one moving at a speed hard to track with the eye? Rare.
Only one answer.
'At least A-rank.'
Someone hiding their identity like her true self.
Seeing Na-rin's confused expression, Ga-eun quickly smoothed things over.
"Sorry. Su-hyeon's got a unique constitution... We'll handle it."
"Hunter Seo Na-rin, we appreciate the intent. But due to circumstances, we can't allow contact. Please understand."
Brüel apologized too as she scooped up Su-hyeon.
Na-rin was stunned briefly but quickly composed herself.
"Ah, yes. I overstepped. You okay?"
"We're fine. Then..."
Leaving Na-rin behind, Brüel hurried out of the room.
Ga-eun brushed salt from her feet and jogged after them.
"Do you know what's suddenly wrong?"
"Mild dehydration from osmosis. We need to rinse the salt off quickly."
"Osmosis...? No, how long was she even on the salt..."
"Her skin seems far more sensitive than a normal person's."
"Nyaaah..."
Carrying the flailing Su-hyeon, the two rushed to the baths.
Thanks to Brüel's constant watch, she was better than before, but the saunas were done.