Chapter 33: The Stranger Who Followed Me Home

“Drink!”

“Let’s die tonight!”

With Lee Hyerin’s shout leading and Shin Yoonjae’s echo following, the drinking party properly kicked off. Thanks to Hyerin’s stubborn belief that the only correct first drinking snack was pork belly, the location was decided without even a vote. Wedged between them were Seong Jiwoo and Goo Mina — Jiwoo expected it, but Mina being dragged along had its reasons.

First, she had earned Hyerin’s favor by having interned with Jiwoo.
Second, the three of them had been assigned to the same team for X-Gate. There were four more teammates besides them, but still.

Whether it was the sudden sense of alumni camaraderie or simply Hyerin’s natural talent for bonding, everything flowed as smoothly as watered-down alcohol.

Maybe it was because they had all come straight from school life, but the biggest influence inside X-Gate was academic ties. If alumni were assigned to the same team, they acted like childhood friends reunited, sometimes even forming childish cliques. Anyone who ended up alone without a single alum? They became outcasts no one took in — exactly the position the Jiwoo of the previous life had been stuck with.

Watching Hyerin scream “waaaagh!” to liven up the atmosphere, Mina quietly leaned toward Jiwoo.

“Is… she always like that?”

“Always. Every day. Forever.”

Mina’s expression darkened. She could already see her chaotic future approaching. As a small comfort, Jiwoo refilled her soju glass. At least knowing two faces here was better than knowing none.

Paradoxically, this was his second time being twenty years old — and his second first drinking party. The group… really wasn’t bad.

The pork belly sizzled golden on the grill. Breathing in the savory smell, Jiwoo recalled the samgyeopsal place he used to frequent with the Knockers guild. As if she had read his mind perfectly, Mina suddenly said:

“Thinking about Knockers?”

“You too? I was literally thinking the same thing. Their pork belly is better.”

“I’m planning to go there.”

Jiwoo tilted back his soju and rattled his empty glass before answering.

“To Knockers?”

“Yeah.”

“I thought you said you wanted to become a researcher.”

He remembered her saying so when they first met. Mina looked surprised he remembered at all.

“I changed my mind.”

“…I figured you might.”

If all three of them entered X-Gate, Jiwoo would be stuck here alone for at least two years preparing for business. Being alone was normal for him — he had never even imagined having someone by his side. So why did this feel… lonely?

Noticing Jiwoo’s faint disappointment, Hyerin filled his glass.

“It’d be nice if you came with us too. But if you look at life long-term, two years is nothing. Right?”

“Yeah, blink and it’s over,” Yoonjae said brightly.

Strange words to say right before entering a near-military service, but at least they looked cheerful.

They were going there to chase their dreams. Even if they ended up facing despair, it wasn’t something Jiwoo had the right to meddle in. The first few months would be a shock for rookies who’d never stepped into a real dungeon. Working with unfamiliar teammates alone would give anyone a headache.

Jiwoo considered saying something… then didn’t. To them he’d look like someone pretending to know what he didn’t.

“Just come back safe. Don’t get hurt.”

So he said only the one sincere thing he truly wanted to say.

“Hic— sniff! I can’t believe I’m hearing warm words like this from Seong Jiwoo!”

Hyerin clutched her chest dramatically. Across from her, Mina lifted the utensil box to hide her face, embarrassed by Hyerin’s volume — not realizing that hiding made her even more conspicuous.

“Stop being dramatic,” Yoonjae scolded, whisking away Hyerin’s soju glass and replacing it with a full glass of water. Her cheeks were already flushed. She’d only had half a bottle. Ridiculously weak.

“Really? I thought she’d be the type to drink like a horse.”

“She thought so too. She emptied one bottle and fainted immediately. The next morning she woke up devastated, saying, ‘How can this be all I can drink?’”

Just from the description, Jiwoo could practically hear Hyerin’s voice echoing in his ears. Mina, nibbling on a carrot stick with a blank face, suddenly spoke with certainty.

“She likes him.”

Pfft!

The words hit without warning and Yoonjae spit out the water he’d been drinking.

“Me? No! Absolutely not!”

Stop babbling and wipe your chin. Jiwoo sighed and pressed a tissue to the water dribbling down Yoonjae’s jaw.

“I never said who liked who.”

Mina added dryly. Yoonjae went red as a beet and fell silent.

“….”

“My life is going to be miserable. Two years stuck between those two?”

Her deadpan sarcasm made Jiwoo choke back laughter. Yoonjae had never openly admitted liking Hyerin, but the signs were obvious. When Yoonjae glanced at Jiwoo nervously, Jiwoo pretended not to notice.

“Confess quickly.”

“…Huh?”

“Better to be clear than vague. Whether it ends or explodes, just get it over with.”

Mina urged him with an annoyed look. Yoonjae, stomach twisted, downed another shot.

“…Yeah. I’ll do it. I will…”

“I hope it works out,” Jiwoo said honestly.

“So, about your weapon shop. What’s happening with that?”

“Well… opening a proper weapon shop is complicated.”

There were far too many required documents. So Jiwoo decided on a loophole. Messy, but effective.

“I’m opening a general goods shop instead. I’m selling mostly artifacts anyway, not weapons. If you don’t specialize in weapons, the procedure becomes way easier.”

A general shop was more mainstream, more in demand, and better fit him anyway — he didn’t care about guns or blades.

“You said you asked the Knockers guild leader something. Was this it?”

“Yeah. She explained a lot.”

Hunter schools were designed to train hunters, not to support all the other professions. For Jiwoo, Knockers was his only network.

With Guildmaster Park Sujin’s help, he had already applied for a startup support program, and because Knockers agreed to be his partner guild, he’d soon be able to open his own store. The location was even within walking distance of Knockers HQ.

Then Mina said abruptly:

“Put my name down.”

“…Put your name?”

Jiwoo blinked.

“On your customer list. Add me.”

“And me! Add mine and Hyerin’s too!”

Jiwoo stared — of all people, Mina? She quickly added:

“It’s not friendship or loyalty. Your buff is good. That’s the only reason.”

“I am doing it out of loyalty and friendship,” Yoonjae said with a wink.

Either way, Jiwoo was grateful.

“Okay. I’ll add you both. I’ll even make customized artifacts for you. Pick them up when you’re done with service.”

Mina and Yoonjae tried to act indifferent, but were clearly pleased. Their night wound down soon afterward. Without going for a second round, they all headed home.

Jiwoo arrived at the small apartment he’d rented until his shop opened. And—

“…Wait. When did you follow me inside?”

He was staring at something — someone — who had walked into his house behind him.

********************

To figure out when the thing had started following him, Jiwoo called Mina, the last person he’d parted from. Her voice sounded annoyed and half-asleep.

[—What.]

“Did you… see anything when we split up?”

[See what? What was I supposed to see.]

She yawned loudly.

“No really, you didn’t see it? There’s no way you could miss it.”

Woof!

[…What the hell was that?]

Hearing the animal sound, Mina finally became interested.

“That’s what I’m wondering!”

Jiwoo stared at the creature panting under his legs — a big dog with its tongue out, tail wagging. The unexpected guest that had followed him home was… a dog. It circled once and trotted straight into the kitchen.

“What— it disappeared.”

[What are you talking about.]

“It was just here!”

He searched the kitchen; nothing. With its size, there was nowhere it could hide. Strange.

Then—

Woof! Woof!

Two barks came from behind him. Jiwoo turned.

The dog was sitting on his bed.

“…Huh?”

He blinked — and it vanished again.

“What— it disappeared again. I’m seeing things…”

[Probably not. I heard it too.]

“Then why does it keep appearing and disappearing?”

Mina went silent for a long moment, then spoke — her tone suddenly sharp.

[—Hey. Come outside. Bring that thing. I need to see it myself.]