#123
I tried to glance discreetly, wondering why he suddenly held my hand, but Han Nari’s vivacious energy in front made it impossible to look.
“So, in the dungeon, I-”
She was explaining enthusiastically about what she could do and how things worked. I was dumbfounded, as I’d never met someone who spoke so quickly, barely pausing for breath.
I nodded vaguely in agreement, feeling dazed. She clapped her hands vigorously and said something like, “I think we’ll get along well!”
‘I’ve only come in and… said hello?’
I’m not sure what made her think we’d get along well, but I was relieved that she could laugh so cheerfully despite my shyness.
‘My ears hurt.’
As I continued listening to her stream of words in a daze, Shin Haejun suddenly cut her off.
“You’re still as talkative as ever.”
“Oh, you know me? Wow, the Esper Shin Haejun knows me! That’s amazing! My friends will be so surprised when I tell them!”
While Shin Haejun spoke just seven syllables, Han Nari rattled off words like a machine gun.
Apparently, Han Nari was amazed that Shin Haejun knew her.
“…How do you know each other?”
“I’ve seen her at an Esper gathering before. Or more accurately, I heard her voice.”
Was it a one-sided memory?
Suddenly, I felt a bit dejected. Shin Haejun showing interest in someone? And they seemed to have met quite a while ago!
“Wow, my voice must have left an impression! Everyone says that! They say my way of speaking is memorable!”
What could she have said to make someone like Shin Haejun, who’s usually uninterested in others, remember her?
I stared at Han Nari intently, feeling slightly sulky.
“It was memorable alright. Too much talking and too noisy.”
“Ah! I hear that a lot!”
Han Nari laughed heartily as soon as she said that. Though her expression stiffened slightly when Shin Haejun immediately added, “I thought my ears were bleeding.”
“…That’s rude.”
I whispered, jabbing Shin Haejun in the side. To be honest, I didn’t feel bad, but… Shin Haejun, thinking I was getting tired, promptly shut his mouth.
‘To feel such jealousy all of a sudden.’
I felt a little sorry for Han Nari, who had to hear such unpleasant words.
“Um… you won’t have much to do in the dungeon. Just heal me in case of any accidents… I’ll make sure you’re as comfortable as possible…”
As I spoke to break the silence, Han Nari’s face brightened.
“Wow! I’ve heard from others who’ve been in the dungeon with you! They said you use a lot of amazing skills! That’s incredible! How can you use such powers… Oh, am I talking too much again?”
My expression must have been darkening gradually. Honestly, I’d never met someone who talked this much before, so it was a bit hard to respond… but I didn’t dislike it.
“It’s okay. It’s like background music…”
“Wow… I’ve never heard anyone say that before!”
As soon as I said it, I regretted it. My eyes widened, but Han Nari didn’t seem to mind and just laughed cheerfully.
She doesn’t seem like a bad person. She gives off the impression of being similar inside and out, so I didn’t feel any aversion.
‘Huh?’
Suddenly, Shin Haejun squeezed my hand tightly again. When I turned my head slightly, I could see him making a sullen face.
“Haven’t we exchanged enough greetings…?”
He blurted out, trying to sound indifferent. But I could tell he wasn’t actually indifferent, just trying to appear that way. He sometimes makes that face when looking at Hyun Dowoon too.
I thought it was a bit silly to be jealous, but then I realized I had just done the same thing earlier, so we were even.
“I think I’ve only spoken twice…”
“Didn’t you hear enough?”
Shin Haejun then recited everything Han Nari had said.
Starting from her long self-introduction, to what position she would take in the dungeon, and what level of healing abilities she had.
It was quite a feat to summarize the enormous amount Han Nari had chattered about.
But…
‘Isn’t he remembering too well?’
Why does he remember that she’s the youngest of three siblings? Why does he recall so precisely that she wrote five posts in the community about how amazing Shin Haejun is?
I ended up pouting, just like Shin Haejun, and said:
“We’ve certainly had enough conversation. Shall we get up now?”
“Oh! We need to exchange contact information!”
Han Nari, seemingly oblivious to my sour mood, smiled and held out her phone. It looked like she wanted me to enter my number.
Certainly, we’d need to exchange contacts to meet in the dungeon or discuss related matters. I nodded and reached for the phone, but a hand suddenly shot out from beside me.
Shin Haejun, with an expressionless face, took Han Nari’s phone and quickly tapped in a number.
“This is my number, so contact this one first.”
“What… why are you entering your number?”
Both Han Nari and I were perplexed. Then Shin Haejun grinned and said:
“Hyung is in a special situation. So the Center Director, me, and hyung will all share information in a group chat.”
When was this decided…? I wanted to ask, but Han Nari seemed to accept this explanation.
“That’s right, Lee Jaeha Guide is in a special situation! I understand!”
“Then let’s get going now.”
Shin Haejun grabbed my arm and stood up abruptly.
In a daze, I was led by him, and by the time I came to my senses, we were already in the parking lot.
“…What’s going on?”
“Hm?”
Suddenly, I felt a surge of irritation. Why did he give out his phone number without asking?
I was inwardly fuming, arms crossed and face turned towards the window, when Shin Haejun’s hand came close.
“Why are you suddenly so puffed up?”
“What?”
“Your cheeks are all puffed out.”
Shin Haejun said, giggling. The remaining irritation flared up…!
“Why did you give out your phone number?”
“Huh? We need to make a chat room.”
“You could have saved my number and made one, right?”
“Then that woman would have your number.”
What is he saying? He’s stating the obvious.
I turned my head sharply to glare at Shin Haejun.
“And it’s okay for her to have your number?”
“…Ah. Are you jealous right now?”
“That…!”
For a moment, I couldn’t speak and just opened and closed my mouth. It wasn’t exactly wrong, but somehow I didn’t want to admit it.
Feeling like my true feelings had been exposed, I turned my head away again. Immediately, Shin Haejun leaned his body heavily towards me. His large frame pressed down, crumpling me.
Shin Haejun, in that position, pushed down on me a few more times, squishing me. I realized this was his own way of showing affection, and involuntarily burst out laughing.
‘This shouldn’t look cute.’
Sensing that I had softened a bit, Shin Haejun leaned in even closer and whispered:
“Don’t worry. I gave her my business number.”
“…That’s still your number.”
“Kang’s secretary manages it anyway.”
Well… in that case… it’s hard to say it’s really Shin Haejun’s number…?
Thinking that way made me feel a bit better. Instead of saying ‘You should have given my number since it’s my business,’ I put my hands on both of Shin Haejun’s cheeks, squishing them, and said:
“Good job.”
Even with his face squished, Shin Haejun was annoyingly handsome as he grinned, looking like he knew I would respond this way.
“I should brag to the Center Director about how cutely you got jealous.”
He muttered, unable to suppress the laughter seeping out.
Would I have been fine if it was Hyun Dowoon’s number instead of Shin Haejun’s?
‘Somehow, I don’t like that either.’
As the Center Director, he probably has more awakened people’s numbers than Shin Haejun does.
‘What’s this?’
Suddenly, I felt upset. I guess… when I get home, I should casually ask Hyun Dowoon how many numbers he has saved.
With that thought, I casually asked Hyun Dowoon when he returned home, but unexpectedly, he looked extremely happy, which caught me off guard.
***
The date for Nari and me to depart was posted in the dungeon raid group chat that I wasn’t a part of.
We were heading to a rare B-class green dungeon in South Gyeongsang Province, without any special attributes.
It was already amazing that they assigned a dungeon without special attributes, but Hyun Dowoon felt very sorry that it meant sending us far away from Seoul.
“Wow… there are so many people, it’s overwhelming. I can barely speak properly…!”
“Nari, you’re speaking plenty right now…”
Han Nari said something nonsensical about being overwhelmed by the number of reporters and onlookers. Her mouth was working just fine, but I couldn’t understand what she was saying.
While I was talking with her, Shin Haejun and Hyun Dowoon watched us with disapproving looks. They seemed to want to come along but couldn’t, which made them look frustrated.
Hyun Dowoon aside, Shin Haejun didn’t really need to come all the way here to see us off, but he was already waiting at the front door before we even finished preparing to leave. His firm determination to see us off was evident.
‘Ugh, but there are so many people… it’s a bit overwhelming.’
The entrance to the dungeon was filled with a crowd I had never seen before. Although guards brought by Hyun Dowoon and Shin Haejun were managing the crowd, they couldn’t stop the cheers of “Lee Jaeha, fighting!” and “Wooah!” coming from a distance.
“Are you okay? You don’t look well.”
“I’ll be fine once we’re inside the dungeon. It’s just because there are too many people.”
To be honest, I felt like we needed to enter the dungeon quickly.
“Hyung, please be really careful.”
“Jaeha, I’ll be waiting here.”
The two of them looked at me as if they were seeing off a child on their first trip, which made me laugh, momentarily forgetting my nervousness.
“I’ll be back soon. Don’t worry, nothing will happen.”
True to my word, I intended to resolve things as quickly as possible and return. I couldn’t leave the two of them waiting at the dungeon entrance for too long.
‘It feels like playing a game after a long time.’
No matter what the writer came up with, the quest Nine gave me was clearly E-rank, so it shouldn’t be difficult.