Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: 33. Rosanne the Unemployed (4)
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I just woke up, and you showed up right on time.
Good morning. It's Park Dahye.
Truth be told, it isn't a very good morning.
It's so quiet... too quiet.
I can't even hear the rustle of the blankets or anyone's breathing. My ears feel stuffed up.
And I hadn't realized it before, but Seonghyeon's place is a bit chilly.
Even under the covers, there's no warmth.
The past four days, it had been so cozy I didn't want to leave the bed...
But not today.
It's because there's no one next to me.
When I open my eyes, I'm the only one on the bed.
So today, I think I'll write a survival log.
Survivor Park Dahye!
Left alone in this big house, I've made it through another day and am reporting in to you all.
Thanks for stopping by today. It keeps the loneliness at bay.
Just kidding.
I'm lonely...
Yesterday was the first day I spent in Seonghyeon's house without him.
I ate, watered the plants, and cleaned.
You can't just live like you're in a cramped goshiwon here.
No matter how comfortable and at ease I feel, this isn't my house.
I have to keep it as clean as possible while I'm here, then leave it spotless when the time comes.
So after Seonghyeon left for Busan, I did chores until nightfall before finally turning on the computer.
No matter how cheap the rent is, I still need to make money.
I can't rely on Seonghyeon forever. He's off working hard— I can't just slack off!
With dreams of striking it rich, off to Billion Saga we go.
I grab a pickaxe to mine ore, but it gets boring so I switch to weaving spiderwebs into cloth.
Then herb gathering, then enchanting.
Even switching activities and listening to music... it's still no fun.
After eight years of this grind.
Why is it especially boring today? It's insanely dull.
But I know the reason.
I had one special reason to grind every single day.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Soul Companion has logged in!] That message that pops up around 6 PM— that's what I was grinding for.
The moment I see it, my real day begins.
The grind is just warm-up for that moment, but doing warm-ups all day with no payoff? No wonder it's boring.
Today, no matter how much I grind, Seonghyeon won't show.
He's a proper member of society; he can't log in every day.
Even staring at the friends list at 6 PM, there's a 20% chance he won't come.
Those days, you just wait.
I'm good at waiting.
I've had eight years of practice.
If he doesn't show, I'm disappointed but fine.
He might come tomorrow.
"He'll definitely come tomorrow."
Motivated like that, back to the grind.
Days pass, then weeks,
Even a whole month once went by without Kwon Seonghyeon Fighter.
Still fine.
Because tomorrow, he'll come.
But... things are different now.
Seonghyeon handed down a death sentence before he left.
[I'm heading to Busan tomorrow evening. Four-day business trip.]
So no matter how hard I grind tonight, the odds of him showing are 0%.
I wish he hadn't told me when he'd be back.
Then I could grind away today, thinking "He'll come tomorrow."
But now that I know the truth, grinding feels like a movie with no ending.
Who watches that crap?
Still, I don't resent Seonghyeon.
For him, his company and colleagues are the real world.
Billion Saga is just a playground for a break— it shouldn't intrude on his real life.
I turned off the computer, doodled at my desk, then hit the hay when bedtime came.
Lying in this small bedroom, no sounds at all.
Just the faint hum of the fridge from the living room, until fear creeps in.
This big house is empty right now.
Living room's vacant, no one on the sofa, even the next room's empty.
Feels like floating alone in dark space.
The goshiwon had walls on all sides— felt safer.
This place is too big to be alone in.
So I moved to Seonghyeon's bed for the night.
This room's empty too, but his pillow still smells like him.
I bury my face in it, inhale... but he doesn't appear.
I don't want to bother him while he's working hard.
Pathetic me ended up sending a message anyway.
[Miss you, Seonghyeon ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
But look at that? Lucky break.
He's calling.
Hearing his voice chases away the fear.
Just moments ago, I was adrift in space; now the bed feels like a fancy camper van.
The phone screen glowing in the dark room is our campfire.
We ride the bed across Billion Saga's vast plains.
Stars blanket the sky, the wind carries the scent of roasting meat.
"Haa..."
But when did I fall asleep?
I just woke up alone in bed.
Day two's morning has dawned.
I'm by myself.
Tomorrow too, and the day after...
"Seonghyeon..."
I call his name, hoping it helps.
No response from beyond the door.
Tears well up from the loneliness.
Tomorrow, and the next tomorrow, it'll be the same.
I survived three months alone in the goshiwon.
Days passed without a single word spoken.
But now...
I can't do it anymore.
I'm good at waiting, but not enduring.
So, I need to go to Busan. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The situation is desperate.
I could go to Busan and see Seonghyeon, but if I say I just came to see his face, he'd get annoyed.
Everyone else is there for work, and here's a thoughtless idiot disrupting things.
But going for GPEX tickets changes everything.
Kill two birds: check out the game show and see Seonghyeon. Perfect, right?
The problem... no tickets.
I searched online.
Ticket sites sold out, full of complaints from people who couldn't get any.
Give up?
No way.
I still have my three rules for escaping crises.
1. If I don't know something, search the internet first.
2. Still stumped? Ask Seonghyeon.
3. No Seonghyeon?
Then this guy's my only option.
💬 1:1 Chat [Requesting 1:1 message to Guild Master.] — Me Master, got a question. — Kahlua LOLOL Pokttal-nim's first 1:1 in two months. What's up? — Me Do you know how to get GPEX tickets? I heard about scalpers but no idea how. — Kahlua For GPEX? It's been open forever, super hard to get now. — Me Even Guild Master doesn't know. Thought you would. — Kahlua LOL you always overhype me, Pokttal-nim. — Me You're an adult... a boss and all. — Kahlua I don't know everything LOL. But I got GPEX tickets! As expected.
The Guild Master is like my ultimate trump card.
We're not super close so I don't use it often, but he always has answers.
Look at that— even sold-out tickets.
Boss level is different!
— Me Guild Master, I really need that... How'd you get it? — Kahlua Seonghyeon gave it. Invite ticket from his company LOL. — Me Whoa. You and Seonghyeon are super close, huh. — Kahlua Yup yup. Me and Seonghyeon are way closer than you can imagine. — Me Didn't know... He never mentioned it. — Kahlua Aw, upset over that? You're the closest to him. — Me Me? Really? — Kahlua Want me to give you the ticket? — Me Yes! Wait, no. I'll buy it! Heard scalpers charge 10x, how much? — Kahlua I'm loaded, don't want cash. Just come to the next guild meetup with Seonghyeon, it's yours. — Me Uh... gotta ask Seonghyeon... — Kahlua Seonghyeon said he'll come if you do. — Me For real!? Then I'm in! Gimme that ticket! — Kahlua One more condition. — Me What is it??? I'll do anything! — Kahlua Keep it secret from Seonghyeon. He hates interruptions at work— better to "bump into" him. — Me Gotcha? Uh... but how'd you know I was going to see him? — Kahlua Guild Master privileges. I know everything. — Me Impressive... Guild Master. Got it! Sneaking in it is! — Kahlua I'll leave it at my shop— swing by and grab it. Address incoming. Oh, and... — Me Yes! And? — Kahlua I sent Seonghyeon a little gift. When you see him, tell him dinner's on him later. — Me Got it! Will do! Thanks, Guild Master! Glad I play this game!
I hurriedly got ready.
Train station, GPEX— crowds everywhere.
No point in Guild Master giving me a ticket if I freeze up like last time.
So I cast a spell on myself.
Carefully applied the makeup Seongah unnie taught me, set the photo from our fashion street date as my wallpaper.
[You're the prettiest girl on this street. I guarantee it 100%.]
Looking at this pic, I hear Seonghyeon's spell from back then again.
Now, whenever I struggle, I can refresh the buff anytime.
Oh, hat and sunglasses too.
Seonghyeon's spell, Ancient Tree Bark Hat, Wickleed's Oracle.
And when I reach the dungeon's end, Seonghyeon will take my hand.
Full gear me has nothing to fear, even solo.
So, shall we set off on our adventure? ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇