80
After school, I stopped by Han Seul’s pension shop on the first floor of the Black Market.
I hadn’t visited for a few weeks, and in the meantime, the scale of the pension shop had significantly expanded.
[Hanul Pension]
The elegant sign in beautiful calligraphy hanging outside indicated that renovations were in full swing, and the interior, which used to be old and dusty, had been completely renovated to a luxurious extent that was incomparable to before.
“I heard they were renovating, but this is amazing.”
The space had expanded significantly, seemingly by acquiring the adjacent store and breaking down the walls.
There were quite a few people coming and going who didn’t quite fit in with the downtown area. At a glance, they all seemed to be from the upper class. Han Seul’s potions were of good quality to begin with, and it seemed like Amelia’s marketing had been successful in a visually appealing way.
“It would be better to move to a different floor.”
The first floor was considered a poor neighborhood in the Black Market when it came to selling high-priced potions. The location wasn’t ideal. However, having lived in the downtown area for a long time, Han Seul didn’t seem to have any intention of relocating.
After all, even in the game, the area where Han Seul resided was on the first floor.
As I looked around the changed interior, I stood behind the counter. I was just going to quietly look around and leave.
Seeing how busy they were, it would have been rude to call Han Seul out for my small errand.
“Welcome, guest. May I ask what potion you came to purchase today?”
As my turn approached, a cute, unfamiliar woman smiled brightly and asked.
“I came to buy a potion that is effective for a fever.”
“Ah, a fever. Yes. Just a moment······”
The reason I was buying a potion was for Han Seyeon’s get-well-soon gift.
Although fever-relief medicine was available at hospitals and pharmacies, the potions at the pension shop were known for their immediate effects.
After completing the transaction at the counter, I was about to turn around.
“Oh? Aren’t you Haesol?”
An employee who recognized me approached with a puzzled expression.
“Why are you waiting in line at the counter?”
“I just dropped by for a moment.”
“Still, if you stay here like this, we’ll get scolded. Please come inside and wait for a bit. I’ll go get the boss! Hey, Hyojin, please take this person inside.”
“······Yes? Yes!”
The employee hurried into the workshop, and the surprised woman at the counter promptly led me inside.
“It has changed a lot.”
The shabby space that used to be an office was now decorated as a VIP room for special customers.
“I’m sorry for not recognizing you, Haesol.”
“No, it’s okay. It’s normal not to recognize someone at first.”
The female employee, who had bowed her head in apology as if I were some important figure, let out a relieved sigh at my reassurance.
“Some people get upset if they’re not recognized.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“That’s true.”
Indeed, those who reached VIP status in the pension world must have quite an imposing presence.
I couldn’t understand that sort of thing.
“Please have this while you wait.”
“Thank you.”
As I received a simple coffee and chocolate cake, I began to eat them slowly, but before long, Han Seul entered as the door opened.
“Oh, Haesol. I’ve been waiting for you.”
“I’ve been quite busy lately.”
Seeing Han Seul, I smirked.
Though the building and clientele had changed, he still had his characteristic look with his round face and dark circles under his eyes. His worn-out work clothes were stained with potions.
“No, his level has increased.”
From being just Level 1, Han Seul had now reached Level 3.
At this point, it was possible for him to start working on creating a new potion.
“The red potion still only requires a basic one.”
Although Han Seul’s level allowed him to make an enhanced version of intermediate potions, the efficiency of doing so was terrible compared to the time invested.
Considering that it took at least 120 hours to make just one intermediate potion…
“I should probably try making some other basic potions instead.”
The variety of potions in Eternity was endless. While I was pondering which potion would be more cost-effective, Han Seul spoke up.
“hahahaha, I’ve heard a lot about you. You’ve become a hero.”
“It just happened unexpectedly.”
At Han Seul’s words, I awkwardly scratched my cheek. Thanks to preventing Anastasia’s rampage in Hanamega, I was now seen as a sacred figure in the potion industry.
Although it didn’t feel real because of the Academy’s restriction on outsiders, many guilds were eager to recruit me.
“So, what brings you here today?”
“It’s nothing special. A colleague of mine has a fever and came to buy some potions.”
“Ah, a visit for illness.”
“Yes, can’t go empty-handed.”
“Strong potions can actually hinder the body’s recovery, so I’ll give you something to boost vitality.”
Walking towards the shelf displaying potions, Han Seul asked, “Is it for a woman or a man?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Some potions work better depending on gender.”
I had never heard of such a thing before, but since Han Seul was the expert in this field, I didn’t think much of it and replied, “It’s for a woman.”
“Ah, I see. For Amelie?”
Nodding, Han Seul picked out a potion from the shelf.
“No.”
“Oh, another woman? Haesol has quite the ability…”
“Stop with the nonsense and just give me the potion.”
“Alright, understood.”
As if pretending to choose the potion until now, Han Seyul swiftly picked one and placed it in a case, looking indifferent.
Perplexed, I received the case and left the pension.
***
5 p.m. Having obtained the potion, I headed straight to the women’s dormitory.
“It’s the first time you’ve come here like this.”
While the first-year dormitory was shared by both genders, with males occupying the 1st and 2nd floors and females the 3rd and 4th, it was the first time I had come up to the girls’ floors since the aptitude test.
“What room was she in again?”
Passing by casually glancing girls in the hallway, I made my way to Han Seyeon’s room as noted in the residence log.
[Room 304]
Knock knock—
As I knocked on Han Seyeon’s door, I tilted my head in surprise.
“Hey, did she go out?”
Receiving no response after several knocks, I was about to turn back when I tried opening the door, and it simply swung open.
“Lock the door, will you.”
Despite scolding myself, I casually peeked inside.
Unlike my room, which only had a desk and a bed, Han Seyeon’s room was cluttered with various items.
On the wall, an array of firearms she had collected was displayed by type, next to a neatly arranged shelf holding textbooks and notebooks.
On the desk, there was an old-fashioned lamp whose years of use were indiscernible, a glass case filled with feathers from quills, a well-maintained small plant pot. Adjacent to it, on a small shelf, were nostalgic items like worn dolls and playsets, a recorder, a graduation album, family photos, all meticulously preserved without a speck of dust.
It was a neatly organized room.
The peculiar thing was that everything in the room appeared ‘worn out’.
Even relatively recent items seemed to be either firearms or gifts from someone.
“She’s been in and out a lot.”
On one side of the room, unopened juice boxes and fruit baskets, among other get-well gifts, were piled up. It seemed like they were all delivered during the day.
Han Seyeon was sound asleep on the bed next to the gifts.
“Phew.”
I let out a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, Han Seyeon’s spirit seemed to be in a clean state. There were no signs of Morudo’s potential rampage.
“Is her mind sound?”
Among the summoners, there were some malicious ones who, when the contractor weakened, tried to seize control of the body. Especially if it was Morudo, the pinnacle of evil, there was no doubt about it.
In the game, Han Seyeon had been taken over by Morudo, transforming into an event boss.
However, despite Han Seyeon not looking well at the moment, there was no sign of such a thing happening.
This was evidence that Han Seyeon’s mind was intact.
Even if the body wasn’t in good shape, as long as the mind was intact, there was no need to worry about being possessed by the summoner.
Noticing the half-fallen blanket, I covered Han Seyeon, and our eyes met.
Yawning cutely, Han Seyeon blinked her sleepy eyes.
“…Haesol?”
“Wake up.”
“Did you come for a sick visit?”
“No.”
Rather than a sick visit, it was more accurate to say that she came to express her anger.
Despite my repeated warnings not to overdo it since the creation of the potion, I couldn’t help but get angry since she was fainting again.
I’m not sure if she has any awareness that she might have outbursts like this.
“I came to vent my frustration.”
Saying that, as I pulled a chair up to the desk and sat down, I furrowed my eyebrows at Han Seyeon, who was smiling brightly for some reason.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Because I’m happy.”
Avoiding her clear, smiling eyes that somehow made me uncomfortable, I placed the potion case on the desk.
“It’s a heat-reducing potion. You can drink it on an empty stomach.”
“Yeah, thanks. I’ll drink it well.”
I frowned as Han Seyeon continued to smile and nod her head.
“Hey, didn’t I tell you not to overdo it? You might have an outburst.”
“Sorry. I made you worried.”
Han Seyeon apologized with a faint smile.
Sighing, I finally nodded my head in resignation.
“Still, it’s not too bad to overdo it if Hasol is coming to visit.”
“Hey, that’s what I’m say-“
As I was about to vent my frustration, I suddenly stopped.
I hadn’t noticed before, but her casually touched arm felt as hot as a burning coal. Looking closer, I saw that her forehead was also covered in cold sweat.
“Are you really okay?”
“Yeah, I have a fever. I’ll get better with some rest.”
“Well, then get some more sleep. Make sure to go to the hospital tomorrow. I’ll leave then.”
Just as I was about to get up, thinking I had needlessly woken her up, Han Seyeon leaned her head against my knee and lay down.
“Oh, okay.”
“What are you doing?”
Surprised by the unexpected situation, I looked down at Han Seyeon lying on my knee.
“A knee pillow.”
“What?”
When I looked at her incredulously, she responded naturally.
“I heard recovery is faster with Hasol around.”
“Get up.”
“Um-“
Without a care in the world, she buried herself between my legs, and my expression twisted in discomfort.
“I can’t hit you for being in pain…”
“I guess I have to be mischievous at times like this.”
As I glared at her, she giggled, making me finally sigh.
When I talk to her, I always feel like my words dry up. Lowering my head, I glanced around the room. Then, I saw the stand on the desk and clicked my tongue.
“Change the stand. How many years has it been?”
“10 years?”
“······.”
Slightly parting my lips, I picked up the old ‘Chucky doll’ from the shelf next to the bed.
“What’s this?”
“Oh, this is from when I was 3 years old······”
As I caressed the worn-out doll, I suddenly remembered her distinctive trait from a game I had seen long ago.
She had an unusually strong possessiveness, never letting go of anything she once owned.
“So that’s why everything is old.”
Just here, I wondered if her home, the original place, had items that would become the counterpart of this.
“Still, change the stand a bit.”
“······.”
With no response coming back, I looked down to see Hanyeon, hugging the doll to her chest, fast asleep. A moment of awkwardness flickered across my face.
“···It’s awkward.”
The weight on my knees made it too awkward.
At that moment, the sunset streaming in through the window painted Hanyeon, who had fallen asleep, in a reddish hue.
The sight of the little one sleeping with knees bent looked remarkably peaceful.
Yandere alert🚨🚨🚨