“What’s this? What’s this? How did this girl know?”
[Is it true that you’ve never seen this person before?]
“Honestly, this is the first time I’ve seen her.”
In the languid classroom, it felt like I was in a different space as bells of alarm started ringing throughout my body.
Before long, Kim Ji-sun, the professor, smiled slightly, drifting just out of earshot.
Ignoring Hyeji, who was wide-eyed like a ghost next to me, I gradually raised my guard, pretending not to know.
“Who is that person? From what I’ve heard from Cheonma, their behavior isn’t exactly upright.”
“Don’t lie.”
Kim Ji-sun’s expression began to harden coldly.
“The Defensive Coat that Shinwoo has.”
“I just received it as a favor from someone I know.”
I stated my prepared answer firmly.
However, Kim Ji-sun simply brushed her hair back with ease.
She had a look that clearly said she already knew.
“Given what was discussed in the professor’s meeting, I think you’re well aware.”
“Well, I don’t even know who they are, so why do you care?”
Once again, Kim Ji-sun showed me a captivating smile.
But her gaze, oddly enough, was as sharp and fierce as a blade, not matching the smile at all.
There wasn’t even a hint of goodwill present.
“Stop lying.”
“……”
“How should I handle this? There are too many eyes watching to clamor for silence right now.”
[For now, keep talking. You may not be able to overpower her, but she won’t be able to harm you either.]
I decided to maintain an attitude of ignorance.
“How can I say anything about someone I don’t know? Speaking to me so suddenly, I can’t even comprehend.”
“Ah, right. I’m sorry; I might not have explained enough.”
Suddenly, Kim Ji-sun wore an ecstatic expression.
Her gaze drifted into the distance as if recalling something.
“I’ve been watching that person for a long time.”
“And?”
“I still think about them whenever I close my eyes.”
Kim Ji-sun closed her eyes, her hands pressed together, wearing a reminiscent expression.
“That person’s indifferent eyes. Their huge back. Those rough but warm hands. The kindness in their harsh words. Everything feels as clear as if it happened yesterday.”
“So… you really want to see that Ryu Kang-hyuk guy again?”
“That’s right! I wish I could see him just once more. That’s why I asked for your help, Shinwoo.”
I started to get the gist of it.
The voice in my head agreed.
[It seems this person is currently harboring feelings for Ryu Kang-hyuk.]
‘I think so too.’
But right now, the Old Man and Yerim were in a slightly sticky pure romance situation.
If I barged in, it would shift from pure romance to harem.
[How dare you try to intrude into pure romance! This cannot be forgiven!]
‘Rabid pure romance, assistant pure romance, confinement pure romance, hypnotic pure romance—those are genuine pure romance, but harem pure romance is not.’
[Do not treat those weird terms as pure romance!!!!]
And not all pure romances are allowed.
There are lowly terms in this world that cannot even be called pure romance.
‘Harem pure romance, along with NTR pure romance, NTL pure romance, adultery pure romance, and corruption pure romance, are not genuine pure romance.’
[Stop adding strange modifiers to pure romance!!!]
But now Kim Ji-sun was trying to intrude on pure romance.
This couldn’t be forgiven.
The answer was execution.
[You are a guardian of pure romance today!]
‘Weep, “pure romance’s true master.”‘
Circulating magical power, I reinforced my whole body.
And just as I was about to pass judgment on the intruder of pure romance.
“I want to find that dog and tear him apart!”
“……What?”
[Huh????????]
Kim Ji-sun spat fiercely.
Guarding myself was the least of my concerns in an instant.
Suddenly, as the circulation ceased, blood began to seep from aching parts of my body.
Hyeji, who was beside me, gasped at the sight of my injury, but I had no time to worry about that.
“Why, why?”
“That bastard borrowed my money and stuffed it in a weird place!”
“Ah…”
“I heard he definitely said he would pay back this time, but he dumped it somewhere called ‘Elf’!!!”
That was a coin name I had heard before.
[Does that mean Elf means imminent destruction?]
‘Crazy. “Elf,” it’s you again?’
With that, I finally grasped the situation.
Kim Ji-sun wanting to see the Old Man was solely for revenge and collecting debts.
“Ah… so you mean.”
“That’s my three years’ worth of salary!!! Money I need to reclaim from that bastard!!!”
“So you’re the collector then.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Kim Ji-sun had returned to her original self.
But unlike her first impression, she now only felt pitiful.
“Then you hold no ill feelings towards me?”
“Oh my! Why would I have any ill feelings towards Shinwoo? If anything, I want to thank you.”
“….Why?”
“Do you remember the last midterm bet? I was so desperate I put my entire fortune on Shinwoo.”
“Ah.”
‘So I saved her.’
[……Is this really the salvation fitting for a web novel?]
Kim Ji-sun beamed and continued to express gratitude towards me.
“Because of you, I cleared all my debts and even ended up with some extra cash.”
“That’s great to hear.”
“Not at all! I’ll treat you to a meal next time!”
“Understood.”
“And the female student beside you, Hyeji, right?”
Suddenly, she had her sights set on Hyeji.
Hyeji looked at Kim Ji-sun with disapproval.
I’m not sure if it was because her expression was changing unexpectedly in real-time.
Hyeji replied bluntly to Kim Ji-sun.
“Yes. That’s correct.”
“I’ll invite you too next time when I treat Shinwoo.”
“I’m just letting you know in advance, but I don’t plan to tag along.”
“Oh, that’s not it.”
Despite Hyeji’s prickly tone, Kim Ji-sun didn’t lose her smile.
“I’ll treat you to a nice meal. And…”
“I’ll decline. I’m not one to fall for food being dangled in front of me.”
Refusing as if she didn’t want it.
But…
“I’ll make sure you can have a meal alone with Shinwoo.”
“All hail! All hail! All hail!”
I immediately pledged my allegiance.
‘I fell for it instantly.’
[……I truly wish you would pick up on the cues.]
‘An oblivious protagonist is frustrating, but a perceptive one is trashy.’
You might wonder what makes a perceptive protagonist trashy.
However, when you read the terms of agreement, you’ll understand my sentiment.
Guanxi was genuinely insane.
‘I’m fairly normal.’
[Was your conscience absent from the beginning?]
Kim Ji-sun started calming Hyeji, who was declaring allegiance.
Once Hyeji settled down, I turned to Kim Ji-sun again.
“Anyway, I’ll tell you the address. But I might have moved.”
“Just knowing that is really helpful! I can figure out the rest myself.”
“How?”
“Ability Users report their addresses every time they move, right? I can find out through someone I know.”
[Are you sure that’s not illegal?]
‘Be quiet. If it’s the real deal, that person is truly dangerous.’
I handed Kim Ji-sun the Old Man’s address.
“Got it. I hope for good results.”
“Thank you~!”
Without looking back, she left the classroom.
Class ended abruptly.
“Hyeji, let’s go.”
“Hehehehe.”
Hyeji seemed not to hear my words.
Seeing her happy expression, it was likely that Kim Ji-sun’s offer had delighted her.
Meanwhile, Jeong Ahyeon was wiping her tears, apparently moved by a movie.
[Let’s not disturb her.]
‘Right. Let’s leave quickly.’
Since we had nothing left to do in the classroom, we returned to the dormitory.
Of course, I stopped by on the way back to get a box of sides and beer.
Beer, everything was messed up today.
*
Now, I was enjoying my last supper all alone in the dormitory.
I tried to invite Hyeji and Jeong Ahyeon, but both declined, saying they had to leave early tomorrow.
As for Elcia.
“Just one drink! Just one drink, please!”
“Are you crazy? Are you planning to throw up right after declaring your representative as soon as you get to the Forest of Elves?”
“Don’t you trust me? I’ll just have one.”
“We need to open the Gate and leave soon, so absolutely not!”
“Why are you being so petty?”
“Who brings a basin after saying they’ll just have one drink!!”
The Escort Elf firmly blocked her.
Later on, Elcia threw a tantrum, lying down on the floor.
But the Escort Elf knocked her out with a swift strike to her neck and then disappeared, carrying her shoulder.
[Looks familiar.]
‘That was a well-practiced assistant’s demonstration.’
Before long, I finished my last bottle.
The buzz was rising, so I felt it was just about right.
Then, I started pulling out the curiosities I had been harboring for a while.
“But why didn’t you help me earlier if you could see the world through my eyes?”
[Because I am a very weak existence.]
‘Well, I can use you for now, but if you were going to grant abilities, at least give me something cool.’
Like stopping time. Or transcending space.
At the very least, having an inventory or a status window would be great.
[I’m sorry. I wish I had given you the ability to control the earth.]
‘What good is controlling the earth? I can’t even create earthquakes; all I can do is make dirt mounds! Fire or ice would be better.’
[Petrification.]
‘Ah, f*ck.’
That hurt like hell.
A sudden mental attack.
Severe internal injury caused my mental state to plummet into despair.
To soothe my broken mind, I hurriedly bought another box of beer.
With each sip of beer down my throat, it became a painkiller for my mental state, gradually calming me down.
‘And I didn’t even ask for your name until the 50th chapter.’
[Names do not exist for me. I am but a fragment left by the creator of this world. Just a tiny shard.]
‘So what should I call you?’
[You may call me as you wish.]
At that moment, one name popped into my head.
It seemed fitting to use a word to commemorate the dramatic moment of our meeting.
But…
[If you invoke any word containing “HAL,” I will not be gentle about it.]
‘You’re aware of that.’
[This novel cannot bear that word.]
The voice in my head moved one step faster.
Anyway, I had to give a name.
I forced my malfunctioning brain to function.
‘Fragment. Fragment. Since you’re a piece, I’ll call you Piece.’
[Piece, huh… not bad at all.]
At that moment, an uncontrollable word came to mind.
My drunken mouth blurted it out without any restraint.
“Double Piece Ahistorical!!!”
[You fcking ccksucker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
Piece unleashed a torrent of curses just moments after being named.
