Lee Seol-hwa’s breath hitched.
She found herself unable to accept the scene unfolding before her eyes.
The man, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Yoo Sihyeon—the very person she had so desperately sought—now met her gaze.
“…!”
Upon spotting Lee Seol-hwa, the man’s pupils dilated.
Seeing that he recognized her, could it truly be Yoo Sihyeon?
No, Lee Seol-hwa was a celebrity, her face known to the entire nation.
Anyone who met her eyes would inevitably react with such profound surprise.
In truth, the possibility of the man before her being Yoo Sihyeon was exceedingly low.
What were the odds that the man she had tirelessly searched for would be living in her friend’s building?
It would surely be a miraculous coincidence.
And so, Lee Seol-hwa fervently wished.
For a miracle to occur.
Just then, the voice of Choi Seon-hee, who was seeing her off, reached her ears.
“Oh? Mr. Sihyeon, are you heading to work?”
The name ‘Sihyeon’ brushed past her ears.
Then, a beat later, came a voice.
“…Ah, yes.”
Though slightly deeper than the voice she had last heard years ago.
Though his skin tone was clearer than the appearance she had last seen years ago.
Nevertheless, Lee Seol-hwa knew instinctively.
The man before her was indeed Yoo Sihyeon.
He was not merely someone with a similar appearance and the same name.
A miracle had happened.
Overwhelmed with joy by this realization, Lee Seol-hwa immediately rushed towards Yoo Sihyeon.
-Thump!
Shedding tiny tears, she embraced him tightly.
****
After turning the experiments of those who sought to terrorize my home into a chaotic mess, I returned safely to sleep.
Rising early, I ate a modest meal, then spent some time checking if any Gates might open nearby.
Later, as my commute time approached and I began preparing for work as usual.
“…?”
I sensed the aura of an Awakened individual from downstairs.
The aura’s level felt to be around B-rank.
Given that it moved distinctly from Choi Seon-hee’s C-rank aura, it seemed there was a guest.
‘It feels like I’m invading someone’s privacy in real-time, which makes me a bit uncomfortable.’
However, if I didn’t sense my surroundings with magic, I wouldn’t be able to pinpoint Gate locations in real-time, so I couldn’t simply stop.
Doing my best to ignore the downstairs, I cleaned myself, changed clothes, lightly groomed, and then stepped out the door.
Just as I was about to descend the stairs, Choi Seon-hee’s front door opened.
As my eyes fell upon the figure of a woman who seemed strangely familiar, I naturally halted my steps.
Black hair and ruby-red eyes.
An air of haughty elegance emanating from an aura that felt almost chilling.
And an appearance that elevated all these elements into sheer beauty.
The moment I saw her face, a name sprang to mind.
Lee Seol-hwa.
How could I ever forget those three syllables?
Though more than a decade had passed since I last saw her, I could never forget.
She was my only friend before I was dragged into another world… an object of admiration…
My first, and last, unrequited love.
And now, my eyes met hers.
Warm memories shared with her flashed through my mind.
‘-…Someone like you? Know your place.’
Simultaneously, as memories that still tore at my heart resurfaced vividly, my fists clenched involuntarily.
“Oh? Mr. Sihyeon, are you heading to work?”
“…Ah, yes.”
Engulfed by memories of the past, I answered Choi Seon-hee’s question belatedly.
Then.
-Thump!
Lee Seol-hwa rushed forward and embraced me tightly.
My mind went completely blank in the suddenness of the situation.
Then, a voice laced with sobs reached my ears.
“…You, you’re Yoo Sihyeon, aren’t you?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“…Do you remember me?”
Lee Seol-hwa slowly lifted her head, looking up at me as she asked.
I hesitated for a moment at her question but soon nodded and spoke.
“…How could I possibly forget, Seol-hwa Nuna (TL Note: A respectful term used by a younger male for an older female acquaintance or relative)?”
“…”
Lee Seol-hwa’s lips trembled, and then, without a word, she buried her face in my chest.
“…Are you two acquainted?”
Choi Seon-hee, who had been staring blankly at us for a moment, tilted her head and asked.
“Yes. We knew each other a long time ago. We went to the same elementary, middle, and high schools. She’s my senior.”
At my reply, Choi Seon-hee’s expression stiffened for a moment.
“…Ah, I see. Please, feel free to talk.”
However, a wry smile soon appeared on her face, and with a slight bow of her head, she slowly closed the front door.
Choi Seon-hee’s suspicious reaction bothered me, but before I could act, Lee Seol-hwa questioned me.
“…What have you been doing all this time? Where have you been?”
‘I became a hero in another world, got betrayed, and found a new family.’
Since I couldn’t say that, I simply told her about my life before going to the other world.
“Well, after leaving the orphanage, I just worked various part-time jobs.”
“…”
Upon hearing my answer, Lee Seol-hwa’s fists clenched.
“Have you been well, Nuna?”
At my question, Lee Seol-hwa carefully released me, then took a few steps back.
Turning her head, she wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes with her sleeve, then looked back at me.
“…Well, yes. More or less.”
She had, by then, returned to her original cold and haughty self, Lee Seol-hwa.
Indeed, Lee Seol-hwa had always shone before people with that detached demeanor.
Having watched that image countless times, I found this appearance, ironically, more comfortable.
“By the way, I’m surprised. To think I’d meet you in a place like this, Nuna.”
“She’s a friend; I just come to see her sometimes. Today is part of that.”
“Ah, I see.”
Indeed, with Choi Seon-hee being a high-rank Hunter and Lee Seol-hwa also a high-rank Hunter, it wasn’t strange for them to be close friends.
“…”
“…”
A brief silence fell between us.
Had my conversation partner been someone else, I would have found some trivial topic, like the weather, but since it was Lee Seol-hwa, I couldn’t easily open my mouth.
She had certainly been my friend, my idol, and my first love.
But our parting had been far from ideal.
“…Sihyeon.”
“Yes?”
“Why have you been avoiding my calls all this time?”
As Lee Seol-hwa said, I had deliberately avoided her contact.
Because the deep wound in my heart, unhealed despite more than a decade passing, still ached terribly.
And I was afraid.
“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”
“…No.”
Lee Seol-hwa must have had some idea why I had avoided her calls.
Was she feeling guilty? Lee Seol-hwa’s expression involuntarily hardened.
“It’s not your fault, Nuna, so don’t make that face.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“I’m telling you, it’s not your fault.”
I held her shoulders, stopping her as she repeatedly tried to bow her head in apology.
In truth, she had done nothing wrong in the events that led to our losing contact.
That incident back then… it was nothing short of a natural disaster for our young selves.
If I had to pinpoint a fault, it would be me, who was nothing special.
Therefore, there was no need for Lee Seol-hwa to apologize to me.
“By the way, Nuna, is it really okay for you to stay here like this? You’re the Guild Master of the Guardian Guild. Your schedule must be packed.”
“That’s true, but… where were you planning to go?”
“Me? I was heading to work.”
“Work?”
“A part-time job. Just a part-time job.”
“Where do you work part-time?”
“There’s a place called White Deer; I work there as a bartender.”
“Ah, that place.”
“You know it?”
At my question, Lee Seol-hwa immediately nodded in response.
“I went there just once when it first opened, a long time ago. It’s that place where the owner looks a bit peculiar, right?”
‘A place where the owner looks peculiar,’ she said.
Hmm, she hit the nail on the head.
Our boss is indeed quite an unusual person.
“That’s right. That’s the one.”
“But… you know how to bartend? You didn’t know anything about alcohol back then.”
At Lee Seol-hwa’s question, I gave a wry smile and scratched my cheek.
“Well, a lot of time has passed. I somehow developed a bit of an interest and taught myself, and luckily, I got hired, which is a relief.”
“Time… you’re right. So much time has really passed.”
Lee Seol-hwa closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath in and exhaling slowly.
Then, as if having made a decision, she nodded and opened her eyes.
“So, you’re heading to your part-time job right now?”
“Yes.”
“I see. Then let’s go.”
“Huh?”
The moment I tilted my head in confusion, she grabbed my hand and, with a powerful pull, dragged me along.
‘Wait, where is she taking me?’
“No, where are we going?”
“White Deer. You said you work there, didn’t you?”
‘She wants to go to my workplace?’
‘Well, it’s not like it would be strange for Lee Seol-hwa to come to White Deer, but…’
‘You’re the Guild Master of the Guardian Guild, Korea’s second-ranked guild.’
‘Is it really okay for someone whose every second is precious to be doing this?’
As if being pulled by Lee Seol-hwa, I went outside with her, where an incredibly expensive-looking car was parked on the road.
-Click!
Lee Seol-hwa skillfully unlocked the car, settled me into the passenger seat, then walked around and got into the driver’s seat herself.
I stared blankly at her as she calmly buckled her seatbelt, then blinked and asked.
“…Nuna, didn’t you say your schedule was packed?”
“I did.”
Lee Seol-hwa replied curtly to my question.
-Ring.
She then pulled out her smartphone and made a call.
– It’s me. Cancel all my appointments for today.
-Click.
– Now I don’t have any.
“…”
“What are you doing? Buckle your seatbelt.”
