Chapter 64: Chapter 64 - You sound different when you bluff

The monster was quickly dealt with, and the gate was successfully sealed after leaving the labyrinth. Normally, this would have taken three days, but we finished on the second day because of my intervention.

Still, it couldn't be helped. The heroes would have been in serious trouble if I hadn’t intervened. There was no choice but to get involved. I had to do something as an employee of the Awakened Crime Division. After all, my job is to protect people.

"Good work, everyone. Go back and get some rest."

I said to the heroes in my civilian clothes after releasing my transformation. The heroes, bowing repeatedly in gratitude, started returning to the Hero Association.

“Did I get hit by the monster and roll over? Did a rock hit my stomach? My stomach hurts a lot.”

“Mr. Chul-Min, that’s… No, actually, yes. You hit your stomach on a large rock.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

While heading back, Shin Chul-Min grimaced in pain, holding his stomach. Standing beside him, Baek Shin-Hwa seemed to have a lot to say but sighed and lied appropriately.

Then, as if something had come to mind, Shin Chul-Min suddenly turned and approached me.

“Ms. Hye-Rim, I will surely repay this favor one day. Today, I feel… both thankful and embarrassed.”

“You don’t need to repay any favor. Just go and recover your health quickly.”

Chul-Min, please, I beg you to get stronger soon. I was disappointed in you today. To think the so-called protagonist would be the first to faint.

I sent Shin Chul-Min back with effort, who kept speaking kindly to the end.

I should get going, too. If I linger any longer, the chief might find out.

All the other heroes had left, but Jung Ha-Yeon and Alice, who were particularly close to me, stayed until the end. They seemed like they had more things to say to me, but since I also had to leave, we couldn't talk much.

“You two should head back too. You must be tired. I have to go as well.”

“Okay, Ms. Hye-Rim. We’ll discuss the schedule for our promised date later by text!”

Alice seemed reluctant but immediately took my words and returned to the Hero Association.

“...”

“...”

Alice and Jung Ha-Yeon’s gazes crossed.

Alice smiled sweetly and winked at Jung Ha-Yeon. Jung Ha-Yeon’s face hardened.

What is this? What happened between the two of them?

I don't know, but it seems there was some conflict between the protagonists. As a fan of these characters, I wish I could observe such things closely, but with my own life, it’s hard to even indulge in my fandom.

"...Ms. Hye-Rim."

Jung Ha-Yeon called my name quietly, watching Alice’s receding figure.

“Starting tomorrow, I will be living next door to you, Ms. Hye-Rim.”

“Oh… Right, you said you were moving in next door.”

“Yes, it’s me, I will be closest to you and living with you from now on.”

“Uh...”

Is living next door the same as living together? I don't know, but that’s how Jung Ha-Yeon sees it.

“I want you to understand this. It’s me who will be living closest to you, seeing you face to face every day.”

“Uh... Okay, got it. I’ll remember… huh?!”

I couldn’t finish my sentence. I was too shocked by what had just happened.

Jung Ha-Yeon suddenly approached me with large strides and hugged me tightly. Trying to grasp the situation, she quickly pulled away from me.

Her gaze couldn't meet mine, her face turning bright red. Jung Ha-Yeon quickly spoke, before I could even ask why.

"This is... just a goodbye hug. It’s something I do with my family."

“...I see. Got it.”

So this is how Jung Ha-Yeon says goodbye. It wasn’t in the original story, so I didn’t see it coming.

To be honest, it’s not good for my heart. It’s been a while since my heart beat so fast.

Having your favorite character hug you is like a fatal blow for a fan.

"Ahem! I'll be going now. You should go too, Ms. Hye-Rim. Didn't you say you came here without even reporting?"

"Uh, yeah. Got it. But don't worry, I won't really get scolded or anything."

...Or so I thought.

“Hye-Rim.”

“Yes.”

“Shin Hye-Rim.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Go ahead, explain. Where did you disappear to during working hours?”

On my way back to the office, entering the Awakened Association as if nothing happened, the section chief called me out with a fierce look.

I didn't expect to get caught even though Seo-Eun transformed into my appearance.

“I was saving civilians.”

“Saving civilians? There were no villain reports.”

“Well, about that…”

I explained everything that had happened to the section chief in detail. After hearing everything, he nodded and twirled his pen.

“Right, well done. You did a great job. I can't scold you for that.”

“As expected of you, chief. You understand well.”

“Yeah. As you said, you actually saved civilians, and even heroes, so there’s no reason for me to reprimand you.”

I knew it. No matter how much he values principles, the chief always praises what’s done well.

Since I hadn’t done anything wrong, I could stand confidently.

“But, Hye-Rim.”

“Yes?”

“I didn't call you here because you disappeared during working hours without notice.”

“...?”

What does that mean? Something feels off here.

Why does the chief still seem angry?

“To be honest, does it matter where you go or what you do? You're always doing whatever you want, even worse things regularly.”

“Wait, did you think of me as an irresponsible employee?”

“You aren't?”

“...”

Damn. I can't deny it outright.

“The reason I called you is not because you left without saying a word, but because you tried to deceive me by having Seo-Eun disguise herself as you.”

“Ah.”

“Did you think you could deceive me and act like nothing happened?”

“...You caught on.”

“Seo-Eun is terrible at acting. When I entered the office, she greeted me politely. Normally, you would have cursed at me first.”

“Hey, when did I ever curse at you, chief…”

“Do you want to be the next section chief?”

“Stop bullshitting me, please.”

“There you go.”

“...”

Damn it. I walked right into his perfect trap.

“It's good that you saved people. If it was an emergency, you could have just reported it later. But you chose to deceive me instead.”

Did you really think you could fool someone who’s experienced so much in this society?

I had nothing to say in response.

Fortunately, the chief didn’t scold me too harshly, as usual. The mistake I made was minor, just enough to hurt his pride, so he let it go.

To be honest, he could have been much stricter, especially since I used Seo-Eun’s abilities without permission, but he didn’t seem to care about that.

“Don’t make me do this again. I got scolded by the chief because of you.”

“I’m sorry. I just found it too bothersome to report late. I didn’t expect to get caught."

On the way home after work, I could only listen to Seo-Eun's complaints. As an apology, I gave her a shoulder massage, and she quickly forgave me with a slight smile.

It was a trick I picked up from the massage Jung Ha-Yeon gave me. It seems to work better than I thought.

When we arrived home, Seo-Eun headed straight to the bathroom for a shower, as usual. Normally, I would have started preparing dinner, but today I opened a beer right away.

I had been keeping it to myself, but to be honest, I wasn't feeling great today.

“...”

Sipping my beer, I recalled the events of the day.

The rock monster that attacked the heroes. I said I didn’t know what it was, but I knew it well. I can't forget it, no matter how much I want to.

It wasn’t something I learned from the original manga. I met it and fought it long ago… back when I was in high school.

Sigh, suddenly I’m reminiscing about the old days.

The day I first got transported into this world. The memories from back then are still vividly etched in my mind.

The feelings I had when I first fought a monster, the fear and terror I felt in those days when I was weak, the raw killing intent of monsters, something I never felt while just reading the manga. I really thought I might die.

But those trivial feelings faded over time, and I stopped caring about them. I even got used to the experience of having my flesh cut and bones broken. I even thought it was convenient to have a magical girl's body that healed quickly.

What still torments me isn’t that kind of emotion or pain. It's those particularly strong monsters like the rock monster… or rather, the one at the top of all those monsters.

"I wondered if I might run into her again."

I took another gulp of beer with a hint of disappointment.

My stomach hurts a bit today.

T/N: wow some past lore on the mc