Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Date (3)
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Dryad's Tomb is the first section of the World Tree Labyrinth.
Even so, due to the overwhelming number of monsters and all sorts of debuffs, it went uncleared for a long time, building up infamy over more than a year.
I remember players cursing up a storm, saying, "What the hell, it's just the first floor—why is this so damn hard?"
It was enough to make the early combat users who rushed in disappointed and leave the dungeon behind.
But hey, I don't think it's all that bad.
Billion Saga had tons of content beyond just dungeons, and because the dungeon was so tough, people spread out into all sorts of life skills.
Only after alchemy, tailoring, magical engineering, and other various life skills reached a certain level did someone finally clear the dungeon for the first time.
That's when players started praising the dungeon's balance.
They called it perfect level design that fused life content with combat.
After Dryad's Tomb was cleared, whenever players hit a wall in a dungeon, they'd pour massive amounts of money into life content to devise strategies.
Items like the Ancient Tree Bark Hat and Wickleed's Oracle are relics from that era.
After that, high-level dungeons in the 3,000s opened up in the blink of an eye.
The beginning was half the battle, as they say.
And right now, Dahye seems to have already crossed that halfway mark, just like we did back then.
"Seonghyeon! Hurry up! The light's gonna change!"
"Wait... Office workers don't run... I'm dying here..."
The way she's darting through the park makes her look like a max-level warrior.
The burger after conquering the dungeon was delicious as hell, just like Dahye said, and we spent a good while sitting on the grass watching the cherry blossoms.
Now we're heading somewhere else.
Park Dahye, brimming with confidence, is leading the way.
She's all hyped up from going out after so long and seeing the cherry blossoms, so she's bounding around like that.
Well, well? Now she's trotting back over here.
Where'd that near-fainting girl from a minute ago go?
Impressive, Park Dahye. Double thumbs up.
"Seonghyeon, what do you think of your sister?"
"What do you mean? She's just a person, like anyone else. Basically me, but with long hair."
"Heehee, that'd be hilarious for real. But why are you going to meet your sister right now?"
"She asked for help with skincare. I don't know what to put on, stuff like that. She's the expert."
"Expert?"
"Yeah. She works here."
[Seongah Beauty Lab]
This must be the final stop of today's date.
"Hair salon? Is your sister a stylist?"
"Yeah. Let's go in. She's not busy, so we can meet right away."
As we entered the salon, the staff greeted us with overly enthusiastic politeness.
"Welcome! Let me check your reservation."
Places like this are for rich folks only. If it weren't for my sister, I'd never set foot here in my life.
Even with her, I probably wouldn't have come if not for Dahye.
"I don't have a reservation, but I made plans with the owner."
"Oh, are you Director Kwon's brother?"
"Yes."
"Oh my, you have the exact same eyes as the director. I'll go get her, so please wait here just a moment~."
I figured fancy salons would have top-notch service,
but right from the start, it feels like I'm in for a beating.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Sitting in a chair flipping through a fashion magazine with Dahye, someone suddenly whacked the back of my head hard.
Thwack!
"Ah... shit!"
I turned around to see a fierce-looking middle-aged woman standing there.
Black hair in an updo, and now that I look, her eyes are just like mine.
Thirty-four years old. Kwon Seongah. She's the owner of this hair salon—my sister.
Oh, and she swears like a sailor.
"Shit? You little punk, you trying to die? Shit? Hey, am I your buddy? You ghost me forever, then only call when you need something, you asshole!"
"See, that's why I only call when I need something. Getting beat for no reason would suck."
"Well, well, thought you were half-dead, but look at you running your mouth—you must be doing fine? Take another one!"
Thwack!
My sister glared at me like she wanted to kill me, then spotted Dahye and instantly switched to an angelic smile.
Impressive. You need that kind of thick skin to run a salon in Seoul.
I hate people.
"Oh my~~ Who's this lovely young lady? Hi there. I'm Seonghyeon's sister~."
"Hello. I'm Park Dahye."
"Girlfriend? Or, like, coworker?"
She never cared before, so why get nosy now?
"Nothing like that. Just a gaming friend."
"Gaming friend? For real?"
"Yeah. So don't ask useless questions or say weird stuff. Just help with skincare tips and product recommendations, like I asked."
Thwack!
Ha... Every time I say something, I get hit.
I thought having a stylist in the family would help at times like this, but the prices are insane.
This'll cost more than potions.
Still, since I'm the shitty brother who only calls once a year, I'll take three hits max.
"Ugh, what am I gonna do with you, you damn punk. Can't you talk nice for once?"
"Nice? Do you even realize how you're talking right now?"
"Of course I do. It's a conversation with fists, duh. While we're at it—"
Whoosh!
No way. I dodged this one.
Good thing I leveled up my evasion in-game.
I quickly put distance between us like against a monster and let out a battle cry.
"I'm gonna step out for a call, so take good care of her! Put any weird ideas in her head and you're dead!"
"Shut your crap and get lost!"
"Dahye, don't be scared! Keep being a pain and I'll call a lawyer!"
"You wanna die!? Scram!"
Whew.
She's gotten a lot more aggressive since last time.
That's my sister for you. As you can see, we're not exactly the warm and fuzzy type.
It's been five years since I left home, and we only talk once a year if that.
Me and her, we both hate home and find our parents burdensome, so we've built up resentment living like that—no real family bonds.
But I know her rough attitude is her way of showing affection.
She makes time right away when I call, even though she's busy.
She's thrilled I brought Dahye—that's only possible because we're family.
Even after so long without contact, her brashness keeps things from getting awkward. I like that.
I took a solo walk for about thirty minutes before heading back to the salon.
Dahye was nowhere in sight, and my sister scowled when she saw me.
"Back, you moron."
"Moron reporting in. All done?"
"Yeah. I got her the hottest skincare line right now, so call if it doesn't suit her skin. She said no hair styling usually, so I just tidied it up."
"Cool. You cut her hair too?"
"Yeah. Don't go anywhere else—if you need the shop, come straight here. Got it?"
"Guess I need to buy a helmet then."
"Stuff a cutting board in your gut too? I'll scissors-stab you silly."
"Thanks for the tip. Where's Dahye?"
"Right behind you, dummy."
I turned, and there she was, stuck right to my back.
Did she get threatened or tortured or something?
She's smiling, but her face is frozen stiff.
She has bangs now.
Cute, curly bangs right above her eyebrows.
What're they called? Chopped bangs or something.
Fitting for a salon owner—she picked the perfect style for Dahye.
Makeup too, apparently—her cheeks are orange-tinted.
Is that the trendy style for kids these days?
If I squeezed Dahye right now, it'd probably drip mandarin juice.
She's already so pretty with thick lashes; I didn't think makeup would make her prettier.
It's like Rosanne the Unemployed came to life.
This isn't a person—it's an illustration. An illustration.
"Whoa. You did your makeup?"
"Yeah... Unnie showed me how. What do you think?"
"It suits you. Pretty."
Thwack!
Suddenly, pain shot through my butt.
Low kick. This one was totally unprovoked.
I'm done. Director, blood relation, whatever—time for retaliation.
"Ow, why?!"
But my sister's face wasn't angry when I turned.
She grinned creepily, draped an arm over my shoulder, and whispered.
What's with her? It's creepy.
"Just felt like hitting you. Heading home now?"
"Gonna do some shopping first."
"You live together, right?"
"Yeah. You interrogate her?"
"Just small talk, punk. So what's the deal? Girlfriend?"
"No, I told you—gaming friend."
"Living together makes sense how? You sleep together?"
"Ugh, butt out. It's not like that."
"Smart thinking, kid. You're getting older, she's a catch—reel her in and marry her."
"Can't you see she's young? Don't say that stuff to a kid. And marriage? I'm not doing that."
"Well, well? You decide that alone? You'll get enchanted, come to your senses, and boom—warming baby bottles."
"Whatever. Won't happen, so don't worry."
"Hilarious. Like you control that. Anyway, sis feels relieved. A moron like you calling a girl pretty."
"I'm human too."
"Yeah. Live like one. Normally. Good seeing you after so long. Now scram."
Pop!
She flicked my forehead one last time, and we left the salon.
How many hits was that total?
"Dahye, this salon's the worst. Should I leave a bad review at home?"
"No way. Unnie was amazing. Taught me all about makeup and gave me tons of products?"
Dahye opened her shopping bag, stuffed full of cosmetics.
Skincare stuff and a bunch I didn't recognize.
That must've cost a fortune.
Having family really is nice.
Makes me feel relieved too.
"Head home now?"
"Yeah! I've been exhausted since earlier? Must be from going out after so long."
"Rest up when we get there. Play some games too."
"Sounds good!"
"Then today's date is officially over. How was it? Leave a review."
Dahye silently gave me a thumbs up.
Great.
This date was pretty fruitful in its own way.
Dahye ate in a crowded park and learned skincare.
Park Dahye gets two thumbs up, me one—that's a solid three-thumbs-up date.
Now...
Time to head home.
Come to think of it, that worries me. She wouldn't really put it in her mouth, right?
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