Chapter 145:
Chapter 145:
Chapter 145:
We kindly ask for your understanding regarding the inconsistency of character pronouns, particularly for the Entities (ex. The Greedy Predator). In Korean, pronouns are rarely used, making it challenging to ascertain a character's gender or identity until later narratives unfold. Update twice a week [SUN] & [THURS] starting August 2024! Also please check out our new Hunter series!
“What about Seong Jarim? Should we bring her along?”
— I’ve considered it, but I could only secure two train tickets.
“Oh, I see. If she finds out later that we went without her, she’ll be really upset.”
Seora contemplated the situation. The departure was tomorrow, and no matter how much Seong Jarim wished, securing holiday train tickets on short notice was a daunting task.
“We’ll bring her souvenirs. Well then, see you tomorrow,” Seora said as she hung up.
As she ended the call, she noticed the fox again. It appeared melancholic, with its ears and tail drooping, but Seora remained resolute. “I set a condition, and the one who refused was you. What do you think? Do you have any thoughts of changing your mind now?”
The fox wore a contemplative expression, which always fascinated her.
?Administrator: ??(*´?`)???
Crying again. No matter how much the fox cried, it was futile. Since he wouldn’t listen to her, she could do nothing. Seora shrugged. “I’m sorry, but I can’t give in to this.” She firmly shook her head at the fox and the administrator beyond it.She was willing to give the fox anything it wanted, except for one thing. She wanted to meet him. No, a simple meeting wouldn’t suffice anymore. She desired to hear his story, build a deeper connection, and share emotions. The administrator couldn’t be oblivious to her feelings.
“Do you dislike me doing this? Don’t you feel burdened? Administrator-nim, don’t you want to meet me?” Seora asked.
The fox cast a discreet glance and gently scratched the floor. It seemed that he didn’t particularly dislike it, as his tail swayed gently.
“If that’s the case, I’m not giving up either. If you dislike it, just say so. At that time, I’ll close my heart and quietly live, grateful to the benefactor who rescued me.”
Kaing.
?Administrator: (?•??•??)?
“I’m sorry. I’m so selfish.”
Seora hugged the fox and gently patted its soft fur. Even with just this touch, her heart felt calm, prompting a sigh to escape her lips.
If it’s already this wonderful, how happy would I be when we actually meet? Just imagining it made her heart flutter.
“I want to meet you soon.”
Seora pressed her lips to the fox’s forehead, openly expressing her sincerity. The fox responded by wrapping her arm with its tail instead of giving a verbal answer.
***
As Seora had anticipated, when Seong Jarim found out that she and Kang Sejun were heading to Busan for the Lunar New Year holiday, she made quite a scene, insisting on joining them.
“Why aren’t you taking me? Take me too! You two are going on a date without me! I’ll spill everything to Song Hanna!”
In the morning, she barged into Seora’s house, throwing herself on the floor in frustration, but Seora stood her ground.
“Throwing a tantrum won’t work, oldie. We only have two train tickets. If you can get another ticket for the holiday, feel free to come. I’ll take you then.”
“Can’t I just run along the train tracks? I can make it that way.”
It was an outlandish idea, but Seora couldn’t entirely dismiss it with Seong Jarim in the picture. “You might get caught that way. Just stay in Seoul. I’ll bring you souvenirs.”
“No! Take me too! I want to travel too!”
“I’ll buy you a delicious meal when I’m back. How about a hotel buffet? I’ll take you to an amazing place.”
Seong Jarim fell silent, appearing torn.
“Since Kang Sejun tempted me, let’s get what we want from him. We’ll ask him to get us some alcohol at the buffet.”
“Okay!”
In Kang Sejun’s absence, they made this agreement. Eventually, Seong Jarim bid Seora a tearful farewell.
As soon as Seora arrived at Seoul Station, all eyes turned toward her. Even with sunglasses on, she was instantly recognizable, having gained significant fame in Korea.
Furthermore, when people saw her meeting Kang Sejun alone, there was a buzz of excitement.
“What’s going on? Isn’t that Yun Seora and Kang Sejun? Why are they together? Especially during the holidays? I didn’t hear anything about a dungeon nearby.”
“No way! Oh, then they’re not, you know, in that kind of relationship…?”
“Wow. Two L-classes meeting like this? Unbelievable. We are witnessing the birth of a legendary couple.”
Seora couldn’t help but overhear their gossip. She sighed and touched her forehead. “I didn’t think of this. Koreans always assume it’s a romantic relationship whenever a man and a woman meet.”
?Administrator: (?°?°)?? ????
“…”
It wasn’t just Koreans. Even the administrator was flipping the table, despite knowing better than anyone that she and Kang Sejun weren’t in that kind of relationship and never even thought of it.
“If we go into the hotel, there’ll be breaking news the very next day.”
“I’ve reserved separate rooms.”
“Do you think people care about that? Well, I agreed to the trip anyway, so there’s no choice. It’ll be a momentary frenzy and die down soon enough.”
If you don’t provide any fodder, baseless rumors disappear quickly. Seora, not paying much attention, entered the first-class compartment reserved by Kang Sejun. The moment she left, people started whispering again.
“Song Hanna sent a message.”
Taking off her sunglasses at Kang Sejun’s words, Seora looked puzzled. Was there a Gate incident in Seoul? Had she contacted him about that? In that case, maybe she should just send Kang Sejun and go to Busan alone.
While contemplating this, she fell silent as she glanced at her phone screen.
?You are dead.?
“…”
“…”
In these concise but significant words, life flowed vividly.
“So, Auntie heard that we took the train together… They say gossip travels fast, but isn’t this too quick?”
“You haven’t received any messages?”
Seora looked at her wristwatch. No calls, no texts. “None.”
“She truly loves her niece wholeheartedly.”
“Even so, baseless rumors like this… Before she jumps to conclusions, let me tell her it’s not true. Don’t worry about your life; I’ll make sure to contact her to assure her. You’re my benefactor, providing me with a free trip. You can’t get hurt.”
Kang Sejun glanced at Seora, who was seated beside him, without saying a word. He didn’t speak until Seora tapped her watch and contacted Song Hanna. Somehow, his cheeks on the side he averted seemed a bit flushed.
“Hmm?”
However, as Seora tapped her watch, she tilted her head. She wasn’t the only one. Everyone in the first-class compartment had their phones ringing. It was a safety alert message.
?Level 3 Normal Dungeon detected in Gwangalli, Busan. Those in the vicinity, please exercise caution.?
“…”
Seora, who was staring at her watch absentmindedly, pulled out her phone to confirm if what she saw was accurate. But the contents remained unchanged. She looked at Kang Sejun. “… Kang Sejun-ssi? What on earth is happening? Could I possibly have been tricked? Are we going to deal with the Gate?” Level 3? A Level 3 Dungeon? And in Busan, where we’re heading now? Are you kidding, Mr. Regressor? “Am I falling for a trap, ending up working during the Lunar New Year in a high-class suite?”
Seora clenched her fist. If he said yes, she was in the mood to throw him off the train right now, so Kang Sejun immediately raised both hands, expressing his innocence. “Calm down. If that were the case, we would have arrived before the Gate was created. But we’re on our way there now.”
However, Seora remained suspicious despite his explanation. Well, considering he’s a regressor, living the same life for the sixth time after passing through five times, wouldn’t it be strange not to doubt?
“Really. Don’t misunderstand. And have you forgotten? There’s an S-class Hunter residing in Busan.”
“Ah.”
Being based in Seoul as part of the association headquarters, there was only one S-class Hunter Seora hadn’t encountered before. It was the Busan Branch Manager of the Eternal Guild.
“If it’s Level 3, the Eternal Guild can handle it easily. I wouldn’t go all the way to Busan for that, especially dragging you along.”
Right. If it’s just a Level 3, then Kang Sejun could handle it alone. There was no need to take a government worker who clings to holidays like her.
“Look. People don’t seem too worried about the Level 3 Dungeon in Busan we’re heading to.”
Indeed, while those who received the safety alert were a bit tense, they weren’t causing a commotion to disembark immediately. After all, it was a normal dungeon, not a dungeon break.
Only then did Seora feel relieved.
“Oh, I thought you were making me work overtime during the holiday. Of course, there’s no way you would trick me into this, Kang Sejun.” Seora chuckled and patted his shoulder. “Sorry for the misunderstanding. Almost thought we were going to film a live-action Train to Busan.”
“…”
Kang Sejun’s face turned pale. The image of himself being chased on a train flashed before his eyes. It would’ve been somewhat better if the pursuers were a horde of zombies instead of Yun Seora.
“Well, I should catch some sleep until we arrive. I woke up early due to Seong Jarim barging in and crying since morning.”
“I thought she might chase you here.”
“Oh, we agreed that you would treat us to a hotel buffet.”
“What?”
“By the way, we agreed to get alcohol shots too. Our Kang Sejun is quite generous.”
“What?”
“Ugh, I’m so sleepy. I’m going to sleep now.”
Seora covered herself with her coat up to her neck and closed her eyes. Beside her, Kang Sejun bombarded her with questions like, “Hey? Yun Seora? What did you say? Who’s treating whom?”, but she didn’t even pretend to hear.
But Seora didn’t know. She didn’t know what awaited her upon arrival in Busan. If she had known, she wouldn’t have slept peacefully; instead, she would have really filmed a live-action Train to Busan with Kang Sejun.
***
“…”
Finally, after several hours, they arrived in Busan.
Seora looked at Kang Sejun without a word, while Kang Sejun turned his head so much that it seemed like his neck would snap, avoiding her gaze.
The people in the first-class compartment sensed the imminent explosion between the two and trembled, unable to even breathe in the tense atmosphere.
No, it wasn’t just because of that.
?’Location – Busan Station’ is being engulfed in the Rift Dungeon!?
Before them was Busan Station engulfed in a Rift Dungeon.
With this, Yun Seora (Note: A civil servant who can’t quit) had her overtime confirmed even during the Lunar New Year.