Chapter 78
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Sharing Memories
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"Is this the place?"
Su-hyeon stood in front of the weathered school gate alongside Brüel.
Petal flutters in the spring breeze made it feel like a scene from an old movie.
"Yeah, I crammed through second year here before transferring out and finishing my third year somewhere else."
"I see. Studying surrounded by mountains... I like it."
"Well, back then I thought I was gonna die dragging myself up here every morning."
Climbing the hill with her small body felt like scaling a rock wall, so she'd borrowed Brüel's strength to make the ascent.
"Looking back now, it's kinda weird, isn't it? All my friends, my teachers, everyone I knew just vanished in a year, but why didn't I think it was strange?"
At Su-hyeon's gesture, the overgrown weeds at the gate neatly arranged themselves into tidy rows.
She spoke casually, but a hint of loneliness seeped through her tone.
"Lady Su-hyeon, have you heard of brain plasticity?"
"Brain...?"
"A child's brain is extremely flexible, adapting quickly to new environments. That's why they tend to accept even drastic changes as natural. We elves have an even longer such period."
The phase where brain structure rapidly changes and develops based on environment and experience.
For human infants, synapse formation slows after two or three years, and pruning begins.
In this process, unused synapses are eliminated, while frequently used ones are strengthened.
Thus, it's one of the most crucial periods in life, with experiences leaving lifelong imprints.
"Just my guess, but it seems Lady Su-hyeon has only recently passed infancy."
The two began crossing the schoolyard.
"Didn't you say memories stopped fading around age nineteen?"
She meant her ID age, not her actual one.
Her high school senior year.
Actual age nineteen would've been smack in the middle of the Korean Peninsula war...
Come to think of it, the elves weren't even on Earth back then?
"Around then...? I transferred during third year, so I didn't notice, but it wasn't long after second year. And it's held steady ever since, even through college entrance exams."
She hadn't marked the exact date on a calendar, so it could be off, but the gaps in her dormant periods definitely seemed to shorten over time.
"Human infant brain plasticity gradually decreases around age five."
"Uh..."
Su-hyeon glanced down at her limbs.
Still short and chubby.
"...Guess this look fits perfectly, then."
"Yes, so no need for self-recrimination."
"...It's not self-recrimination."
If anything, it might be a blessing she'd ended up like this early.
Turning from grandpa to full-grown woman overnight would've been worse.
'Maybe I'd have noticed something off seeing Grandma never age...'
Chatting idly, the pair reached the end of the schoolyard.
At the far end stood a concrete bleacher flanking the assembly platform.
"Shall we look inside?"
"Hm... Probably locked. And dusty as hell."
"If you wish..."
"Nah, let's stay on the bleachers."
Brüel looked ready to pick the lock and air it out right then, so Su-hyeon stopped her.
Of course, she did want to peek inside, but there'd be no traces left from back then.
Not with all the students who'd passed through the classrooms since.
Even her first-year room, full of the fondest memories, would just share the same spot—not the one etched in her mind.
Brüel carefully lifted Su-hyeon and placed her midway up the tiered bleachers.
Built for high schoolers, it was unavoidable.
"The schoolyard looks so small. I used to think it was huge."
If the soccer ball went over during a game, you'd have to hack through the bushes to fetch it.
"Having gotten smaller yourself, doesn't it feel even bigger now?"
"..."
Ignoring Brüel's deadpan jab, Su-hyeon headed for the nearest metal pillar.
The pillar supported the pergola atop the bleachers.
Wisteria vines twisted around it, but long withered, they no longer shaded against the sun.
"No one's around to see, so this should be fine."
With a simple wish to bloom flowers, the wisteria sprang to life, clusters of purple blossoms dangling heavily.
Su-hyeon had grown adept at using her powers.
"Beautiful..."
As Brüel admired the bursting blooms, her ears suddenly perked up.
"Lady Su-hyeon, someone is approaching."
"Huh? Here...?"
Su-hyeon tilted her head.
Who'd visit this rundown abandoned school?
"F-First, put on the helmet."
"..."
Su-hyeon fumbled for the helmet in a panic, but Brüel just stared toward the entrance.
"What's wrong?"
"A face Lady Su-hyeon knows, too."
"Really?"
"Yes. The annoying man who came to the PC bang and the school before."
"Ah... That guy?"
The B-rank hunter from Camellia Guild, Jo Sung-min or whatever his name was.
But why was he here?
"...Did he claim to be a B-rank hunter himself?"
"Yeah, it said so on his business card."
Brüel hesitated a moment, then decided to hide.
"I'll stay concealed nearby. But no following him wherever he goes or making promises, no matter what he says."
"Huh? We're not even that close to begin with..."
"Not even if he offers food. If he tries anything, I'll intervene immediately—but still, be cautious."
"..."
Brüel vanished like a mom sending her kid to school solo for the first time.
She'd walked behind a clearly insufficient pillar for cover, then poof—magic.
Where'd she go...?
Up into the sky?
The instant Brüel disappeared, Su-hyeon spotted a tall figure at the gate.
"Oh?"
"Gah."
"Kid... Su-hyeon. What a coincidence."
The man approached with feigned delight the moment their eyes met.
Even from the second bleacher tier, their eye levels matched.
Unlike last time with his hair neatly combed back, now bangs covered his forehead, changing his vibe.
'Should've asked for the third tier.'
Then she could've looked down on him.
This guy was oddly unique, though.
Bold as brass, yet his body didn't tremble like others'.
Even close friends now, or Ga-eun—everyone froze speechless at first meeting.
But he always felt masked.
'Trained to hide his true feelings?'
Only two people ever gave her that vibe.
This man and the weird old guy from the subway last time.
Su-hyeon greeted the approaching man curtly.
"Whatever, hi."
"Never thought I'd run into someone I know at an abandoned school!"
'...?'
Today's better, at least.
His words carried genuine surprise, delight, curiosity.
"Yeah, me neither."
"Right? With your look, I'd expect anywhere but high school."
"...?"
Never mind.
Su-hyeon's brows furrowed at his snickering laugh.
"Out alone today?"
"Pardon? What."
Su-hyeon answered without hiding her annoyance.
"Y'know, at the PC bang, you were with that helmeted one. Thought she was your guardian."
"Oh."
Brüel, so he spotted you then.
She'd stayed silent, so Su-hyeon assumed he'd missed it.
Wait, this guy saw a helmeted freak next to her at the PC bang... and just gritted his teeth and ignored it?
...On second thought, ignoring creeps like that is probably right.
"Why not? I was with Ga-eun before."
She answered brazenly on purpose; his eyes narrowed, then he chuckled.
"Fair enough."
"So what brings you here, mister?"
She emphasized "mister," but he didn't seem fazed.
"Ah, I'm an alum. Stopped by after ages, and was shocked to see these flowers blooming so prettily."
"Aha... Huh?"
No way, an alum...?
"I loved soccer back then. Played every break."
"Soccer...?"
"Oh, girls don't know much besides basketball? This field's a bit small for hoops, see."
"I know."
"For real?"
He seemed genuinely surprised.
"I used to love soccer too. Caught a few pro games during the hype."
"Oh? Favorite team...?"
"Barcelona."
The team with striking red-and-blue vertical stripes.
"Ah, Messi?"
"Yep."
Who else to root for but the world's best?
"I'm Real Madrid."
"...Ronaldo?"
The club rivaling Barcelona, home to Messi's nemesis Ronaldo.
And her first-year class jersey pick.
The vote split between Barca and Madrid, fierce debate.
If only she'd rigged the draw better...
Still, that clean uniform was pretty.
She'd worn the shorts as pajamas till her body shrank.
"Yeah. Killer finisher, showman flair."
"Nah, Messi's touch was finer, better team player. You could see the fear in their marks."
"That's 'cause he got outmuscled. Physicality's Ronaldo."
"Whatever, he's past his prime now. Fled to Saudi when skills faded."
A lament even non-fans felt.
Truth be told, no grudge against Ronaldo.
Just wanted to troll this guy.
Fan rivalries were tradition.
"Time's cruel. But peak Ronaldo? Perfect hexagon. Messi's dribble specialist?"
"Hmph... Still, Ronaldo's the era's loser, no?"
A twitch.
Ah, finally scratched him.
Su-hyeon flashed a satisfied smile.
Victory.
"Hm..."
Then an unavoidable quip.
"Y'know, you kinda resemble Messi, Su-hyeon. Ah, that why you like him?"
?
"...What do you mean?"
"Both a bit, y'know."
He gestured at chest height, palm horizontal, mimicking short stature.
Open mockery of her height.
"Hey! What does that matter? Skill's what counts!"
"Right right, sure. Height doesn't matter, nope."
He gazed at her outburst with a refreshing grin.
She had been short back then too.
Couldn't deny height factored into picking Messi over Ronaldo.
"Kinda weird, though. College kid like you wasn't even in elementary when that rivalry peaked."
"Uh...?"
Su-hyeon froze, mid-debate on charging down.
Ronaldo-Messi prime? Roughly sixteen years ago.
By her twenty-three ID age, that's watching at seven.
...Unusual, but might slide.
Best to bluster through.
Hands on hips, chest out.
"So? Could've watched. Got a problem?"
"Nah, just amazed."
He smiled dismissively, eyes wandering again.
"..."
Conversation lulled; awkward air settled.
"These wisterias are something, huh?"
"...Ahem."
Caught off-guard, Su-hyeon feigned nonchalance.
"May's coming up."
"True. Didn't expect neglected vines on an abandoned campus to bloom this gorgeous."
"..."
"Your power, right? This."
His knowing smirk drew a sigh from Su-hyeon.
Hard to deny after showing it in the parking lot before.
"...Yeah, it is."
"Looks great."
No intent to press, apparently; he admired the flowers anew.
After a long upward gaze, he spoke again.
"Seeing this reminds me of that."
"...Of what now?"
"Han River Park recently."
A pause.
"Nah?"
As his gaze lowered, their eyes met again.
Su-hyeon looked away first.
"M-Me? E-rank Awakener? Do that? Haha..."
"Right? Would take S-rank to cover the whole park..."
"Wow, th-that's amazing."
"Did you see it? So pretty."
"Uh, no...? I was studying for exams then..."
"Ah, college exam season. I'm high school grad, haha!"
"Ah, haha..."
Gulp...
Su-hyeon decided to bail.
His probing felt off, knowing yet poking.
Typical sleazy Ronaldo stan.
"Um, gotta go. Time to feed Kong..."
Backing away carefully, she said.
"Kong? Do plants have mealtimes? Oh, dog name?"
"Ah, no. Yeah, that, sure."
"Okay, take care. I'll linger a bit."
Descending the bleachers gingerly, Su-hyeon bolted across the schoolyard like Messi chasing a cross.