Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: I'll Come Back Alive. (3)
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"How many cigarettes have you smoked exactly?"
"Dunno. One or two packs?"
"Oh my god..."
"If you're up, eat first. The quicker we move, the quicker we get back."
The dungeon would reset to its original state anyway, so I'd just blown away the smoke and tossed the butts on the ground. Lee Sun-young had spotted that and made a comment, but I brushed her off and told her to eat. Truth be told, this was the first time I'd ever chain-smoked like this. Lucky I'd packed three packs just in case.
"Something happen?"
"Nothing much."
"You stayed up all night without even waking me..."
Honestly, it wasn't something I could tell her—or even should. I made it clear I had no intention of answering. She hesitated, glancing at me awkwardly for a bit before finally dragging over a folding chair and sitting down to eat. Watching her, I quietly started breaking down the camp piece by piece.
"...All done."
"Perfect timing. Let's head out."
After that, the raid went just as smoothly as yesterday. The only difference was the slightly heavier mood. Staying up all night wasn't new to me, and Lee Seo-woo's body handled it without issue, but with so much on my mind, my head was a mess. Whether out of consideration or just reading the room, Lee Sun-young stayed quiet too.
"Seven ahead."
"I see them."
"You're getting used to it, huh? Go handle them solo. I'll clean up after, same as before."
"Got it."
It hadn't even been that long since we started raiding the dungeon, but she was already handling it like a pro—measuring distances flawlessly and slashing throats with precision. I'd noticed it yesterday, but her talent was impressive. Even as a student, she barely flinched at the sight of sliced-open monster flesh. Yesterday, she'd cut clean, but I'd had to hurl the torsos away; today, she handled that part too, her movements flowing like water.
"You could've made it as a hunter even without a fire-element awakening."
"Me?"
It took just over five minutes to deal with the seven contaminated wolves. Her results were stunning, so I told her she could've succeeded as a swordswoman without her flames. But her unexpected reply caught me off guard.
"If that were the case, I never would've met you, Vice Guild Master-nim."
"Eh, you'd have shone anyway, even without me recruiting you."
"But I wouldn't have grown this fast. I know it best. It's nothing like sparring or training at school."
"You'd have grown the same after graduating."
"And? I'm here now, aren't I?"
"......"
I stared at her for a second, wondering what she meant, but her red eyes gleamed brightly as she met my gaze with confidence and pressed on.
"It's all thanks to you, Vice Guild Master-nim. I'm getting experiences no one else can. The hunter market's a total red ocean these days, but I'm even pulling off first clears. What if I hadn't met you? Could I have gotten this kind of experience?"
"...Probably not."
I couldn't deny it. Hell, even this job had only come through Yoo Soo-jung.
"Truth be told, I didn't think my future was all that bright. No connections like other people. I couldn't afford a top school, so no scouts noticed me. And now I'm at the age where I have to enter society, but nothing's clear ahead."
I wanted to say something encouraging, but I'd felt that exact despair myself, so the words wouldn't come. Just scraping by with mediocre grades at some average college. Graduation looming, and nothing to show for it.
"Even when you gave me your card, I agonized over it for a bit, short as the time was. Whether to take it or not."
"But you took it in the end."
"Yeah. I couldn't let it slip away. And now I'm feeling just how right that choice was."
"Good for you. You're a smart one."
"I am pretty smart."
She took my sarcasm in stride and boasted right back, which drew a chuckle out of me. She definitely hadn't seemed like this type when we first met. Then again, you shouldn't judge people's personalities lightly. Especially since she hadn't even appeared in the original story.
Right. A character who'd gone completely undescribed—whose existence I hadn't even known about—was now my disciple. Something the original Lee Seo-woo never would've done. Had I already changed two lives?
"Thanks."
"Huh? Out of nowhere?"
"Just... yeah."
Her words shifted my thinking a little.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Finally, outside."
"Good work."
Stepping out of the dungeon, we weren't greeted by the charred wasteland we'd seen before, but a lush forest.
"Whew! Great job, you two!"
And the Hunter Association supervisor who'd seen us off on the way in.
"Back to see you in just one day."
"As expected of Hunter Lee Seo-woo. We figured two days at most, but clearing it in one? Never dreamed of it!"
"Notes are here."
"Yes! We've received them clearly. We'll send official word on the rewards later from the Association."
"Got it. We'll be off then. Thanks for your work."
She kept trying to chat more—I'd noticed it yesterday—so I handed over the notepad with my quick jottings from circling the dungeon and dragged Lee Sun-young away. First things first, drop her at the guild. I put her in the car, and she conked out right away, exhausted physically and mentally. Gave me time to sort my thoughts, which was nice.
Thinking about it, I'd already derailed the original story anyway. The "survive" excuse didn't hold up anymore since Seo Ji-hyun had changed. I'd still need to watch Yoo Soo-jung and Yoo Ji-hyeok carefully, but nothing was about to chop off a limb and kill me imminently.
I'd especially felt it talking to the girl dozing next to me now. Reality had already diverged far from the original tale.
So if this was a dream, why not fill it with good memories?
A ton had happened in the week since possessing this body. Taking the protagonist home to look after her just to avoid dying. Lecturing at various schools. And now I'd even picked up an unplanned disciple and raided a dungeon with her. No denying it anymore. I had to live in this world for now.
Of course, I was dead set on getting back. No matter how luxurious this life seemed, it wasn't my fit.
"Wake up. We're here."
"Already...?"
"What do you mean 'already'? Hurry up and grab your stuff. I wanna get home too."
"Okay..."
Still half-asleep, she mumbled groggily as she gathered her things and got out. I'd dropped her right in front of the guild building, so she'd manage. I waited till the doors closed, then rolled down the window. She seemed more awake now and waved normally.
"Get home safe."
"Yeah. See you tomorrow. Tell the Guild Master-nim I'm beat and headed home early."
"Sure thing."
I got home after dropping her off, and for some reason, the place felt extra quiet today.
"Ji-hyun-ah?"
Clink!
"Huh?"
I swore I'd heard something. But looking around, no one was there. Weird—she'd usually be waiting before I even got in.
Not in the living room. Kitchen had covered plates and rice waiting, still fresh. Maybe sleeping? I went to her room and knocked.
Knock knock.
"Ji-hyun-ah? You asleep?"
She couldn't have gone anywhere, and sure enough, she seemed to be inside. Must be sleeping. It was early for bed, but I'd napped during the day when cooped up at home too. Couldn't just barge into a girl's room, so I headed back to the kitchen quietly, washed up, and started eating.
The kitchen filled only with clinking dishes. The side dishes she'd made were tasty, but without Seo Ji-hyun sitting across from me, it felt empty. Kinda lonely, even.
Even after finishing my meal and doing the dishes, even after showering and flopping on the sofa, she stayed in her room.
"Tch..."
They say too much kindness turns into a sense of entitlement. We'd usually be on the sofa watching TV by now. Feeling a bit miffed, I smacked my lips and flipped channels aimlessly until exhaustion hit me too, tension finally easing.
Maybe just a quick nap.
I had stuff to talk about, but she wasn't around, and I was wiped, so next time it was. I lay on my side, pillow under my head, and let my heavy eyelids close without fighting it.
It felt a little warm. Soft too. Something off, but once sleep came rushing, I couldn't resist and just let go.
"...Good night, Oppa."