Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Rosanne the Unemployed (5)
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As soon as I opened the door, a strange sound rang out.
“Kyaa!”
“Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry...! I didn’t know anyone was standing there...”
Excited about the adventure ahead, I’d flung the door wide open... only to find someone standing right outside.
Sadly, she’d taken a nasty tumble on her butt.
She had sleek black hair and a sharp black suit that looked great on her.
Clearly furious, she brushed off my hand, stood up, and glared at me.
“Why’d you come bursting out like that? Oh, wait—did you just move in?”
“Ah, yeah... I moved in a few days ago.”
“Sigh... Do you know where the guy who used to live here went? He was around thirty.”
“Seonghyeon?”
“Yes! Do you know him?”
“Yeah. He’s a friend. He still lives here.”
“Didn’t you just say you moved in?”
“Yeah. I moved into Seonghyeon’s place. But... I’m really sorry, I’ve got a train to catch right now...”
“You moved into Seonghyeon’s place? So he’s home right now?”
“No, he’s on a business trip in Busan... But I really have to go...”
“Ha... Fine, whatever. Go ahead.”
“Yes! I’m so sorry about the fall! Take care!”
As I ran off, I glanced back and saw her glaring daggers at me.
Who was that woman?
Seonghyeon said he didn’t have any family besides his sister Seongah.
And he’d broken up with his girlfriend.
For some reason, she stuck in my mind.
But just as the elevator doors were closing, another urgent voice called out.
“Hey! Where are you headed?”
“Busan!”
I’d shouted the answer before the doors shut, so she probably heard.
Sorry, whoever you are, but I don’t have time to worry right now.
The guild master booked me a KTX ticket, and time’s super tight...
If I swing by the shop to grab it and head straight to the station, I might just make it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ [Busan Convention Center] Clear time: 4 hours 40 minutes.
I got a little lost, but I made it here somehow.
All I did was follow the path the guild master told me about.
Still, isn’t it impressive that I, someone who’s never even ridden the subway in my life, made it all the way to Busan?
I’m so proud of myself.
💬 In-Game Chat — Me Guild master, I made it ㅠㅠㅠㅠ Thanks so much for the guide. — Kalua Good good. The event’s almost over for the day. Hurry and check it out! — Me Yes! Thank you so much! It’s 5:30 now.
The event ends in just 30 minutes!
I won’t be able to see much if I go in now, but I can meet Seonghyeon.
But once I stepped inside the venue...
Whoa... There are way more people than I expected.
And it’s so much bigger than the train station.
The paths between booths stretch on forever, making my head spin, and the ceiling is high enough to fit a whole apartment building.
And the crowds of people packed in between? Forget it.
My head’s reeling.
I guess I thought this was too easy.
Can I really make it through this massive dungeon?
Then I spotted a screen with a map near the entrance.
I pulled my hat low and squeezed through the crowd to check it out.
Oh, there it is!
[Eternal Princess Crown D48]
What a relief.
Every booth has a number, and there are arrows on the floor marked with numbers.
If I just memorize the booth number, I can follow the floor and find it!
Perfect.
If I keep my head down and avoid eye contact, I can make it somehow.
Last stage—let’s do this!
D48...
D48...
I’ve reached the D section now.
Just a bit farther to booth 48.
46...
47 now!
Next one’s it!
But...
Thud!
Ugh... Ran right into something at the very end.
I smacked my head into something billowy and flapping.
Who leaves something like that in the middle of the path?
I looked up...
And there was Rosanne.
It was the banner Seonghyeon mentioned last night!
Her long brown hair flowed dramatically, she sat in a powerful pose gazing off into the distance of the venue.
Looking around, people were staring at me.
The event was wrapping up, but Rosanne’s popularity was still insane.
Lots of folks taking pictures around the banner.
And here I’d blocked it completely—small wonder I drew eyes.
I quickly stepped away from the banner.
Then backed off and looked up at her from afar.
He said it was super-sized, and boy, was it huge.
Rosanne’s presence dominated the entire venue.
Bigger than this banner that nearly touched the ceiling.
And I’m so tiny.
I’d kept my eyes glued to the ground to get this far.
But she owned the whole place like it was hers to devour.
I thought meeting Rosanne would make me happy.
But my mood’s all off.
Not happy at all.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Once, Seonghyeon came back after a whole month away.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Soul Companion has logged in! 💬 In-Game Chat — Me Seonghyeon! It’s been forever lololol Welcome welcome! — Kwon Seonghyeon Fighter Aaaaah I thought I was gonna die. Our game launched ㅠㅠㅠㅠ — Me No way, for real? What about your project? Did that character launch too? — Kwon Seonghyeon Fighter Lololol what do you think happened? — Me Hmm... Didn’t make it? The illustrations were gorgeous. — Kwon Seonghyeon Fighter Lolollol they swapped the character at the final meeting! Stole the main spot!! — Me No way... For real? The character you made is the protagonist?? — Kwon Seonghyeon Fighter I just helped out. But it’s by the original artist I scouted, so I’m super proud lolol Seonghyeon never asks me anything about myself.
And he never shares much about his own life either.
So all I know about him comes from stray bits that slip out in our chats.
But that time was different.
He showed me his work and poured out the whole story of that month—how hard he’d toiled, how proud he felt.
We sat in the Madland Plains, and I listened till dawn.
— Me Wow... Insane. You must’ve worked so hard. No wonder you couldn’t log in for a month. — Kwon Seonghyeon Fighter Right? Our original artist worked her butt off too—such a relief ㅠㅠㅠㅠ How happy must he be?
He probably barely slept for weeks, glued to development.
And now that character’s the star.
I could feel the joy radiating from his messages.
These weren’t stories from Billion Saga.
This was my first real glimpse into Seonghyeon’s life—his actual reality.
I thought getting closer to his world would make me happy.
So why does my chest ache like this?
Of course.
The one he was happily gushing to wasn’t me—it was that other character.
That day, I started drawing.
I found characters like the illustrations he’d shown me and copied them over and over.
I later learned her name was Rosanne.
Luckily, the game I picked was the one Seonghyeon worked on.
I didn’t know it then.
Even in my tiny studio apartment, on days Seonghyeon didn’t log in, I’d draw Rosanne.
Tracing her silhouette in lines, filling in colors—as her form took shape on paper, my jealousy faded.
I had to accept it, imagining the love he poured into her.
Acknowledge her place and mine, then go to bed.
At dawn, Seonghyeon heads off to create Rosanne.
I wait for him in Billion Saga.
But at 6 PM, he comes back.
And that’s enough for me—total satisfaction.
I let go of greed, calmed my heart.
Or so I thought.
I thought I’d crushed the jealousy completely.
But facing her in person after four years, my jaw clenched tight.
I’m a person; Rosanne’s just a character.
Yet in Seonghyeon’s reality, Rosanne exists, while I wait for him inside Billion Saga.
He breathed life into both of us.
But Rosanne makes him shine, while I hide in his shadow.
What’s with this size difference?
She’s so huge I can’t even look up at her.
She’s GPX’s princess in this vast space; I’m the outsider.
I spotted Seonghyeon behind the banner.
Phones ringing nonstop, calls coming in, people asking him a million things.
He answers them all with a smile.
He’s so busy.
I’m proud of him.
This is his territory.
The one helping him here is Rosanne, not me.
I shouldn’t have come.
I’d believed reaching the end of this dungeon meant he’d take my hand.
Why did I think that? It’s just childish whining.
Time to go home.
But right then, my eyes met those of the woman who’d been with Seonghyeon.
And she pointed right at me.
Soon Seonghyeon’s head turned my way too.
Eek.
Good thing I ducked away quick.
Better leave before they spot me.
But...
Of course.
One step too late.
As I headed for the exit, something hot like lava grabbed my hand.
Haa...
I know exactly what this heat is.
Seonghyeon’s hand.
I turned, and there he was.
Not the face of a ten-year-old kid today—this was the face of an adult holding his own at the center of the world.
It’s not just Rosanne who’s bigger than me.
“Seonghyeon...”
“Whoa... Dahye for real!? How’d you get here?”
“...”
“Wasn’t it scary?”
“Wore a hat and sunglasses... It was okay.”
“Whoa, impressive! Park Dahye grew a ton in one day.”
“Sorry for following you...”
“What for?”
“Felt like I was bothering you when you’re so busy.”
“What are you talking about? I’m in HR—no work for me. But how’d you get the ticket?”
“Guild master gave it to me...”
“Oh right... Should’ve snatched it from that guy ages ago. Why didn’t I think of that?”
He said it while patting my back.
Seeing his happy face puts me at ease.
Of course Seonghyeon wouldn’t say anything mean to me. I overthought it.
Sweat glistened on the back of his neck, shadows under his eyes.
Probably didn’t sleep last night. Must’ve been tough.
I want to help.
I’d lend him my back as a bed at home, but here? Nothing I can do.
Guess someone else can, though.
Then the woman who’d been with Seonghyeon rushed over and grabbed my hand tight.
“Hey, super sorry, but would you ever consider cosplaying as a model? I’ll pay double—no, triple!”
“Cosplay?”
“Yes! Please, just once—can you help me out? I’m desperate... If this fails, I’m in deep trouble.”
Cosplay, right?
Dressing as a character and posing for photos.
How urgent must it be to beg a total stranger like this?
Sadly, I can’t.
Just thinking about photos in this crowd makes it hard to breathe.
But I’m curious.
Which character could she need this badly?
“You were staring at the banner earlier—you’re a Rosanne fan, right?”
“Yeah...”
“You know you look exactly like her, right? No one else can do it... Please, just help me out once.”
Ah, Rosanne.
Haha, hilarious.
Telling GPX’s outsider to become GPX’s princess.
It’s so absurd, I can’t help but laugh.
But...
It’s weird.
I should say no.
Why can’t I get the words out?
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