Chapter 80
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Pork Bone Stew
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Afternoon, with the sun hanging at just the right height.
Grandmother whisked Su-hyeon away somewhere after she returned home with Brüel's farewell.
Having led her to quite a rugged spot, Grandmother pointed to a plant hidden among the grass.
"Take a look at this grass. Do you feel anything from it?"
"Huh?"
Sudden botany lesson out of nowhere.
It looked unfamiliar, yet somehow familiar too...
"It's got a weird shape. Well, not that unusual. Have I seen it somewhere...? An invasive species?"
Despite its distinctly alien appearance, it blended seamlessly into the surroundings—a truly fascinating plant.
If Grandmother hadn't pointed it out directly, Su-hyeon would have walked right past without noticing.
"Technically, yeah, it's an invasive species. Probably only found on Jirisan Mountain in Korea."
With that, Grandmother placed a leaf on her palm.
"Whoa."
The leaf, which had matched the color and texture of the surrounding plants, shifted to a mystical silvery hue.
Its veins twisted like a labyrinth drawn in intricate patterns.
"It has the ability to camouflage itself with its environment."
When Grandmother released it, the plant reverted to blending in once more.
Ding~.
Fascinated by the sight, Su-hyeon approached and grasped the grass with both hands.
Only the parts she held shimmered silver—it was incredibly curious.
"This plant is called Cryptophyllon, meaning 'hidden leaf' in the tongue of this land."
"Crypto...?"
"When the gods withdrew from the stage, the Goddess of Wisdom bestowed these seeds so we could hide ourselves. I've been cultivating them bit by bit. Other dryads sometimes call it Athenaia Skia."
"Athena...? The goddess from Greek mythology?"
Thwack—
Grandmother lightly chopped Su-hyeon's head with the side of her hand.
"Speak her name with respect. Even if the languages differ, basic courtesy remains the same."
"Lady Athena..."
"That's better."
Grandmother nodded and gently stroked the spot she'd struck.
"Athenaia Skia means 'Athena's Shadow' in the tongue of this land. It's thanks to this plant that we can live among humans without being discovered."
"Why don't you call her Lady Athena, Grandmother?"
"Silly child, it's just a translation of the proper name. What can I do?"
"Eek."
Another chop landed.
"Anyway, I'm teaching you this because I have to be away until tomorrow lunch."
"Huh? Where are you going, Grandmother?"
"Tomorrow's the day I check on your mother to make sure everything's alright. It'll take a while, so entertain yourself alone."
"Can't I come watch?"
"There's nothing to see, so why tag along? I'll put you to sleep before I leave, so don't starve if you wake up to an empty house—eat the breakfast I've prepared."
"Okay..."
As a pair of leaves drooped sadly, Grandmother softly stroked her head.
"Lunch will be over by the time I return. While I'm gone, play in the mountains but don't get lost. Even if you do, follow this plant and you'll find your way out."
That night, Su-hyeon listened to old tales for a long time under Grandmother's gentle strokes.
Of course, they weren't Korean folktales, but stories of Olympian gods and monsters.
The one she'd just heard was about Virgo.
"Tell me more."
"Aren't you going to sleep?"
"If not now, when can I see the stars?"
It had been ages since she'd gazed at the starry sky.
Before, she hadn't bothered looking up at night.
Even if she had, the stars weren't visible in Seoul anyway...
Now, she fell asleep before they even appeared.
So how could she stay awake until the stars rose now? It was thanks to Grandmother's power.
Each stroke brought a warmth gentler than sunlight, flowing softly into her.
Thanks to that, Su-hyeon could behold the stars with her own eyes after so long.
"Alright, just one more then."
"Yes."
To keep Su-hyeon awake, Grandmother trickled energy into her while pointing out the next constellation with her finger.
"That one's Leo, the lion constellation..."
"Heracles!"
"Lady."
"Lady..."
Thus, as Su-hyeon listened, she drifted into a natural sleep—not standby mode, but simple fatigue of the body.
The next day—today.
Su-hyeon awoke in an empty house.
"Grandmother... Oh."
About to call out absentmindedly, she spotted the cleared spot beside her and recalled the previous night.
The lone futon on the vast wooden floor amplified the silence.
A pang of loneliness tugged at her lips downward in a droop, but she shook it off briskly and rose.
Was it because someone was always around lately? Being alone felt awkward now.
She'd been fine in her one-room apartment.
With hips raised high in a waiting crouch, Su-hyeon folded the futon, straightened her back, and plopped the pillow atop the stack.
The thick, heavy silk comforter was too much to move.
She could leave it like this for another day.
Opening the creaky old fridge, Su-hyeon brought the prepared breakfast to the floor, then decided to wash her face lightly.
Gurgle, gurgle.
As she returned, water dripping from her bangs, an odd noise reached Su-hyeon's ears.
'This is...!'
Thud thud thud. Racing across the floorboards to the meal tray, she found yesterday's house-sized wild boar sniffing around.
"Yaaah!"
Forgetting her fear, Su-hyeon raised a fist overhead and charged the table.
Squeal—
Fortunately, the boar turned its head and backed off.
Its eyes seemed to plead innocence, like it was just sniffing.
Emboldened as the boar retreated, Su-hyeon stepped forward confidently.
"What kind of wild boar comes to a house begging for food? Want another scolding?"
She mimicked Grandmother's expression as she spoke.
Oink oink.
Feeling like it might steal her meal if she stepped away again, Su-hyeon plopped down at the low table, guarding her spot.
And swung one leg idly.
"This is mine, piggie."
Gurgle.
Surprisingly, the boar seemed to understand and backed off a good distance.
"Good boy, just sniff from there."
The pig's nostrils flared.
Su-hyeon picked up her spoon with a clink and scooped some rice.
Sniff sniff sniff—
"......"
About to eat, Su-hyeon paused under the boar's burdensome gaze and rolled her eyes toward it.
It was leaving drool spots on the yard.
"Well, with your size, foraging in the mountains probably doesn't fill you up."
Nod nod—
The boar bobbed its head vigorously, as if agreeing wholeheartedly.
"Sigh, hold on. Grandmother made tons of side dishes anyway."
Her resolve softening, Su-hyeon fetched a massive mixing bowl from the kitchen.
She dumped most of the sides into it and headed to the yard.
Approaching the huge boar sparked some fear again, but seeing it wait obediently like a good dog gave her courage. She placed the bowl before its snout.
"Here, eat."
Oink oink.
And so, the two shared a meal from the same pot.
Meanwhile, at that moment, Junhyeok was wandering the forest.
"...Same spot again."
This was how many times he'd passed the same place?
"Definitely this way, but it feels like I walked into an illusion gate."
No, something even stronger was at play.
He'd long stopped trusting his phone's GPS.
"Ugh, what is this from morning...? Those old timers' trap?"
Junhyeok's characteristic paranoia began to stir.
The old-generation hunters who'd imposed an embargo the moment they learned he was S-rank.
They'd meticulously used officials to front, and for hunter-friendly relatives, leveraged their reputations to sweet-talk them.
If he hadn't been on edge after losing his parents and friend, leaving him alone, he'd have fallen for it hook, line, and sinker—shackled and exploited as their pawn for the elite.
Ironically, his parents' disappearance and Su-hyeon's vanishing had hardened him during that tough time.
When he reached second year, he and his friends had scoured the neighborhood for the ghost-like vanished Su-hyeon.
But a month passed with no leads.
The teachers just said she'd naturally attended only first year and left; they thought transfer school, but no matches.
Friends gradually adapted to their class, moving on to new grades.
Probably transferred far away.
No word, phone doesn't connect?
No loyalty...
Interpreting her disappearance conveniently.
Junhyeok suspected otherwise but could do little.
He was an orphan himself, crashing at relatives'.
It was pure chance overhearing thugs who envied him trash-talking Su-hyeon.
"Hey, come to think, that Gu Junhyeok's been alone lately?"
Cigarette smoke wafting over the wall.
'That voice...'
Guys who picked fights whenever they could, reason unknown.
Junhyeok guessed they disliked seeing him goof around with his playful crew.
Normally, he'd brush them off coolly, but now he had no patience.
'Tch, other way.'
He meant to pass, but stopped at an unavoidable topic.
"Didn't he have one tall friend?"
"Different class, probably hangs separate."
"Nah, not even at school. Not a transfer either."
Ears perked for any clue.
"Kid's probably dead."
Junhyeok's fingers twitched at the casual remark.
"Good riddance."
"Whoa, what's with that personality?"
They called him trash, but their giggles rang hollow.
"Hated seeing that tall freak strut anyway."
"Honestly, annoying how he struts trusting Gu Junhyeok."
Unbearable, Junhyeok stepped out.
"Uh..."
The alley froze like ice water poured.
They'd only seen Junhyeon grinning through pranks on Su-hyeon or taking retaliation lightly.
Now, smile gone, eyes glared murderously.
"Hear that?"
"......"
Silence answered.
As he strode forward, one thug tried diffusing with a clownish tone.
"Hey, joke, right? Getting mad over this? Heard you awakened recently—if you swing for this, you're the fool."
A sly veiled threat, infuriating.
Others, panicking, started yelling.
"Fuck, what're you gonna do about hearing! It's my opinion!"
Junhyeok halted abruptly.
"What? In a democracy, who're you? Not wrong he strutted."
Others chimed in one by one.
"Thought you were hot shit since we ignored you? Now you're awakened too—beat you, it's even."
One rose, others glaring, standing.
The muscle pig in the middle blocked Junhyeok.
Fwoosh—.
"Quit strutting, punk."
The pig muttered, exhaling smoke in his face.
Their leader, a C-rank awakener who'd long resented the handsome, popular Junhyeok.
Tension thick, on a knife's edge.
"......Hah."
Junhyeok spun suddenly, kicking a still-squatting thug's head hard.
Hack—.
The one who'd quipped "good riddance" lightly.
Teeth and cig butt flew high.
"Fucking hell!"
"This punk thinks we're pushovers!?"
Some panicked, some raged and charged.
Fierce brawl erupted in the narrow alley.
Mid-scuffle, someone sneaked behind for a chokehold.
Urk...
"Got him!"
"Fuck off, all!"
Seizing the moment, muscle pig threw a heavy punch.
Crack—
An unbelievable thud for flesh on flesh.
His massive fist snapped Junhyeok's head back.
"......"
"Hey..."
Even the holder panicked.
Crackle.
Lightning flashed in Junhyeok's eyes.
"Nothing special."
"Uh... so, how'd you turn seven into critical cases alone?"
The balding grade supervisor grilled him; Junhyeok looked wronged.
"No, sir! How could I beat seven? I was just passing by, really!"
"Then why're they like that?"
"No idea, sir..."
"Hmm..."
Junhyeok slipped the interrogation trap neatly.
Unlike the stretcher-bound thugs, unscratched despite messy hair and clothes.
"Then why's your hair and outfit wrecked?"
"Practiced overhead kicks alone and rolled... haha."
Plausible, as he always carried a ball.
No more questions; teacher rose.
Difference in built images.
Awakener vs. seven? Absurd logically.
"Fine, kick the ball moderately—second year now, study too."
"Yes, sir!"
Polite bow and rise; supervisor stopped him.
"Wait. Someone's here for you."
"Pardon...?"
"Nice to meet you, Junhyeok. Heard my name?"
A kindly smiling elder offered a handshake to stunned Junhyeok.
"Uh, what business with me..."
After, Junhyeok lived eyeing shadows warily.
Inevitable against sly elders.
Guard up, doubting unverified info.
He used to charge ahead thoughtlessly, with Su-hyeon reining him as the "madman."
Chirp-chirp-chirp—
From uniform-clad wanderer back to suited Junhyeok amid birdsong.
"Man, back home after ages? Keep spacing out. Might really pull an all-nighter."
Junhyeok dashed another direction, faster this time.
Meanwhile, Su-hyeon...
Oing.
"...Is this a gate?"
Oink oink.
Stared at the ominously rippling gate alongside the wild boar.