Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Next Destination
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Creak...
Click.
I slipped through the darkness and opened the door to the lodging.
"You're back?"
Debi was waiting for me with the minimal light on.
Debi wouldn't care, but wandering the streets in my current state would get me reported in a heartbeat.
So I'd sent Debi up first and entered through the back door.
"The building's still a madhouse."
An enormous crowd had gathered in front of the building.
It was pure chaos.
Citizens out gawking, police, reporters—all tangled up in a frenzy.
She's awfully calm about it.
Debi peered out the window at the chaotic scene around the building.
She looked much better than when we'd met at the building—probably because she'd washed up once in the woods.
Most people couldn't stay this composed.
She'd escaped without a scratch in the end.
But Debi had been right on the brink of death.
If I hadn't arrived in time and caught that falling lighter, she would've burned up with the building.
Normally, brushing death like that—even indirectly—would send someone into a panic.
But not Debi.
Strong-willed or just numb? Hard to say.
Swoosh.
I turned my head and scanned Debi's lodging.
A single room with a bathroom and kitchen neatly tucked together.
Way better than my shack.
It was called a shack, but it was just a pile of planks so blended with nature it barely qualified.
The moment you stepped out, nature became your bathroom or kitchen as needed.
"Pick whatever clothes you like from these."
As I headed toward the clothes she'd pointed out, Debi stared at me blankly.
"You can shower in the bathroom too. Before you pick... you know."
She was being careful.
But Debi seemed like the type to say what needed saying.
I turned to the full-length mirror by the entrance and checked my reflection.
Almost forgot.
Maybe from living like a vagrant for so long.
My sense of my own state had gotten fuzzy.
I'd rinsed off roughly in the woods' stream, but traces of battle still lingered all over my body.
My hair, matted with blood, was a tangled mess that barely looked washed.
I'd been too focused on surviving to notice.
When was the last time I properly bathed?
With some breathing room now, realities I'd ignored started sinking in.
After my body hit rock bottom.
Even living in the shack, "washing" just meant dunking in the river.
Then I'd jumped off the cliff near the shack straight to Korea.
Since then, anything resembling a wash was just at the Daikon cave entrance and a bit ago in the woods.
Maybe I should be glad I was covered in blood instead.
Swoosh.
As I thought I'd overdone it on myself.
A thick towel and clothes were thrust in front of me.
Debi was always perfectly prepared whenever I needed something.
"With your height and muscles, this is the only stuff that might fit."
I looked down at the offered clothes.
Baggy top and bottom, loose enough to flap around.
"This'll do. Uh... thanks."
No point hiding in this state anyway.
I awkwardly took the towel and clothes with a nod, then headed to the bathroom.
The small, tidy bathroom was neatly arranged.
I set the clothes on the shelf and stared at the showerhead.
"Ha."
Even looking at it felt unreal.
A showerhead, of all things.
Moments like this made reality hit weirdly.
The last public bath shower I'd used was at the orphanage when I was ten.
Never dreamed I'd go 15 years without seeing one again.
Click.
I cautiously reached out and turned on the shower.
Why so careful?
I couldn't remember how hard to twist it.
Instinctively gentle, not wanting to break it right away.
Whoosh...
...!
The hot water stream scalded my hand, startling me.
Lame reaction, but unavoidable.
The warmth spreading from my fingertips through my body.
Hot water after years.
Shorter gap thanks to the natural hot springs in the mountains with Master.
Step.
I stepped under the stream.
Warm water cascading from head to toe improved my mood without me realizing.
"Feels good."
The word slipped out—hot water was that powerful.
Even the grime river water couldn't touch washed away.
Showering like this made my return from Katabi to Korea feel even more real.
Shampoo, huh.
I squeezed some onto my head and lathered up.
What is this.
Refreshing in a disorienting way.
Made sense, really.
15 years without washing my hair properly.
I'd barely had hair to wash anyway.
Always kept it short since starting training under Master.
Short enough to just wet and go.
The foam turned pinkish with blood.
Shampoo's pretty great, I thought anew.
Korea.
Seeing the bloodstains rinse away.
A smile tugged at my lips.
I'm back.
"Whoa."
Debi stared at me blankly as I emerged from the bathroom.
Intensely uncomfortable gaze.
"What?"
"S-Sorry. You look like a totally different person."
I waved off Debi's deep bow.
"No need to apologize."
"You must usually take pretty long showers."
"..."
Debi chattered on about this and that.
But nothing to argue back with.
I'd lost track of time enjoying the hot water—no denying it.
"Oh, I put some simple snacks out. I don't snack much, so this is all I have."
The table Debi pointed to held various chocolate bars and drinks.
"I'll wash up and we can go eat. I cook well, but no ingredients right now."
Debi's rapid pace left me struggling to keep up.
I glanced out the window.
Even bigger crowd at the building now.
Some cleanup inside, maybe—tons of police combing the area.
Better not go out.
I recalled the cop on the way out of the building.
Dark, but we'd been close enough to see faces.
Running into him outside could spell trouble.
Got clothes, even showered on impulse.
"What now...?"
As I turned to say I should go.
Debi, watching me, spoke first.
"I know you're busy. I know you're beyond normal common sense. But."
A small smile played on Debi's lips.
"Just let me buy you one meal. You saved my life—I want to show at least some gratitude. Don't worry about the police outside!"
Saved her, huh.
Embarrassing word every time.
Wasn't like I'd set out to rescue her specifically.
Just happened that way because she was there.
"No need for th—"
Grrrowl.
My stomach growled cluelessly.
Come to think of it, nothing since the meat in the Daikon cave.
Too loud? Debi wore an odd smile.
"—but I'll eat before I go."
"Yes! I'll wash up quick."
I sighed as Debi headed to the bathroom.
Confused what I was even doing.
But... should be fine.
Just one meal.
Thud!
"S-Sorry...!"
"It's fine, I said."
Debi banged her head on the table again.
"Two special sundae gukbap, one chewy sundae."
Steaming sundae gukbap and sundae arrived beside Debi's head on the table.
Debi had dragged me out to show gratitude.
But.
The building chaos had shut everywhere down early.
All heading out to gawk.
"I wanted to treat you to something way better!"
Debi didn't get it yet.
What level of food I'd been eating, excluding that Daikon cave meat.
This was gourmet to me.
"Can I eat?"
"Y-Yes!"
"Thanks for the meal."
Master's teachings drilled into my ears.
An awkward thanks slipped out automatically.
Wonder how this works.
I looked down at my spoon-holding hand.
Debi had approached and chanted something over me.
Soon, a translucent barrier formed around me.
She couldn't alter my actual build like self-illusion.
But she could fool others' eyes.
Slurp.
"Whoa."
Why did every delicious bite make me gasp?
The broth warmed me from mouth to toes.
Impossible not to.
"First time here too—it's so good. Add the sauce and perilla powder next to it for even more flavor."
I looked up at Debi.
Hard to believe she was an immigrant from another world.
I followed her lead, mixing in sauce and perilla powder as she stirred her gukbap.
"Thinking of opening a gukbap joint back home. No such thing where I'm from."
A few more spoonfuls.
Then I spoke to Debi.
"What was your world like?"
Simple term: otherworld.
Katabi was one too.
But more hell than world—so I was curious about the others merged by Kalderon.
"Frantia. Incredibly beautiful and peaceful. No monsters, no fighting. Limited view since I only knew my corner, of course."
Frantia...
Name didn't roll off the tongue.
Debi clearly loved her home—a fond smile already on her face.
"Frantia is a world blanketed in pure white snow. No seasons like spring, summer, fall here. Always cold, but wonderful. Waking to sparkling snow-capped mountains—breathtaking."
Debi forgot her food, lost in tales of Frantia.
....
Starving, I shoveled gukbap.
But my mind pictured the Frantia she described.
Not stained with blood.
A world piled with pristine white snow.
Hm.
Never lived with "beautiful."
Couldn't quite imagine it yet.
But intriguing.
Fate of the Engraver still silent.
No set destination, so my choice.
Shall I?
Debi set down her spoon, rhapsodizing about Frantia.
Hearing her, I had to see it or regret it.
Not sure the connection.
But Master's words timed perfectly.
Smile.
A grin crept on without me noticing.
Let's go.
Ding.
The moment I decided on Frantia.