Chapter 102
Suddenly, I found myself growing curious about my past. Not the exhausting days I'd spent dashing around Pandela just to return to Earth. No, much earlier than that. Perhaps even memories from the time the Immortals invaded Pandela. Another me that I didn't know. How far does what I know even go?
Honestly? It converges toward zero. My past memories felt utterly blank, as if sliced clean from the timeline. Thinking about it now, that's downright strange. Reincarnated, yet carrying memories from a previous life? That defies common sense right there. But I do have those previous-life memories. Which means there's no guarantee my memories from the life before that don't exist too.
A law that applied only to me in the entire world. Yeah. In a world full of normal folks with two good eyes, I was the lone freak with one wonky peeper. Why had I taken that for granted all this time?
"Info's super limited right now. Getting antsy won't magically reveal more."
That was my conclusion. Like fog lifting to reveal part of a veil, the rest of the pieces would surface naturally with time.
"So for now—"
I tossed my smartphone onto the nightstand and flopped onto the bed.
"I'm rolling around all day."
A full day since returning from France. I'd gotten the guild members' blessing to rest for a week. Coming back from work and crashing was national pastime anyway, right? Yeah. Time to enjoy it to the fullest! Plenty of time ahead, after all.
As winter's chill faded and spring's scent tickled the nose, warm sunlight slipped through the gap in the blackout curtains. In the spacious room heavy with drowsiness and silence, an unwelcome intruder burst in.
Bang—
"Sertina!"
"Ughhh…."
The lamp flicked on with a click, flooding the room with light. Sensing danger, I instinctively yanked the blanket over my head.
"Rise and shine for a refreshing morning!"
Tier greeted me with a beaming smile. A devil's grin!
"Mornings aren't refreshing…."
I curled up like a snail, rolling myself in the blanket. A pathetic excuse that wouldn't fly, obviously.
"You said activities start today! Get up, come on!"
"One more day left."
"I checked the dates."
"…."
Of course, I had zero intention of emerging meekly. Give up this cozy bliss? No way!
A faint pressure hit, and the blanket over my stomach puffed down.
"Ding dong?"
"Not buying."
I huddled the blanket tight, holding firm. The pressure vanished, replaced by a sigh.
"Jeez, oversleeping stunts your growth."
What? Stunts growth?!
I instinctively poked my upper body out. And in that instant, I saw it.
"Ah…."
Tier's lips curled up to her ears.
"Now! Grab her!"
"Sertina!"
"Time to get up!"
Cha Eun-joo and Yunsia lunged from both sides.
"Eek!"
After a brief tussle, I was dragged out, arms pinned like a criminal.
You rascals! Resorting to such dirty tricks!
This doesn't count!!
Thinking back belatedly….
······I hadn't grown a single inch in centuries.
*
"Wanna lie down…."
"How long have you been up?"
"······30 minutes."
Today was the regular report day. I'd tried abusing guild master privileges to skip the damn thing, but no dice.
Half-zonked, I slumped in the guild master's chair, force-fed Yunsia's briefing.
"Eterna Mall's total sales this month hit a record 250 billion won. Sales are climbing unusually over time, thanks to lack of leisure options and word-of-mouth."
"Huh, raking it in."
That was all I could muster. The pros and guild handled management fine. I just chipped in cash when needed and approved expansions.
"Next up. The public schools—elementary, middle, high—funded by Eterna Guild are nearing completion. Interiors are underway; they might open as early as this spring, March."
"Schools… oh yeah, that."
With education crumbling, kids stuck to online classes, robbed of peer interaction. We stepped up to give them proper schooling fast. At that age, studies mattered, but building social skills was crucial. Cooped up at home… you'd end up like me.
Hm.
······Good or bad?
Not cute (maybe?), but pretty, tall (sorta?), rich, smart, strong, healthy….
"Hmm…."
Everyone's dream, right? But not everyone could be perfect(?) like me, so social skills wouldn't hurt. Life's full of human connections later.
"And finally… the streaming room you requested is fully equipped with streaming equipment."
This was my social skills project. No real plans or interest, but the guild nagged till I caved for a half-hearted try.
"R-regular report's done, so check it out now! SniperVillain'll show you how."
Meeting over, I headed straight to the prepped streaming room.
"You're here?"
SniperVillain waited inside. Walls, ceiling, floor blanketed in top-tier soundproofing. A beastly PC rig and dual monitors gleamed with RGB glory. Camera and mic perfectly positioned.
"Nothing tricky. All set up—just hit this to go live. Ask me anything."
SniperVillain demoed with the mouse. Broadcast account ready, profile pic a massive rice cake emoji.
Honed donations, chat, settings—streaming prep complete.
"Hmm, but I know zilch."
"No worries! First stream, we'll help!"
Cha Eun-joo thumped her chest.
"Keeping it light with a collab. Oh, and I hyped your channel—viewers incoming."
SniperVillain noted. Bare channel, zero vids, yet subs topped 50k. Promo power….
"Don't stress. We'll prep our side!"
"Yeah."
Cha Eun-joo waved out. By then, my stream was already live.