Chapter 37: Paradise (4)

The two women spoke excitedly.

“Wow, you look even more handsome in person!”

“Yeah, like, for real! Can we take a picture with you?”

“

Ummm

...” Kwon Oh-Jin shifted uncomfortably, struggling to speak.

I figured people might recognize me, but I didn’t expect them to be so eager.

Should I just send them off?

He didn’t want to play along for too long.

“... Aren’t the two of you here to buy coffee? Stop pestering me and get lost,” Kwon Oh-Jin asserted, making it clear he wasn’t interested.

That was good. There’s no way they won't take the hint.

“D-Did you hear that? He told us to get lost~!”

“

Kyaa!

He’s the real deal!”

Huh?

“Can we call you Oh-Jin?”

“O-Oh my god! This is nuts...!”

The hell? What's with this reaction?

“Can we get your autograph?”

“...”

A fucking autograph?

Kwon Oh-Jin’s life had really turned around.

... Well, I guess I can do that much.

It didn’t cost him anything, so he didn’t mind. He took the pen they handed him.

But why are they only giving me a pen?

“Where should I sign?”

“Here, right here!”

One of the women slightly pulled back her coat, pointing to her T-shirt. The spot was around her collarbone, dangerously close to her breasts.

No way. Have they actually lost their minds? What is this, a fucking club? What the hell am I doing in front of a cafe counter?

Kwon Oh-Jin, usually a master at poker faces, couldn’t hide his embarrassment.

“Quickly~”

“

Hehe,

staying like this is so embarrassing, Oh-Jin!”

If you’re embarrassed, then just stop.

“...

Haaa

.”

He clicked his tongue and lifted the pen. The situation wasn’t exactly to his liking, but it would be over as soon as he signed.

Let’s just get this done with.

He was on a rare outing with Song Ha-Eun and didn’t want any more interruptions. Just as he was about to sign her T-shirt, a red-headed savage beast approached the group.

“What do you two think you’re doing?”

“H-Huh?”

“Who are you?”

The two women clinging to Kwon Oh-Jin flinched. An overwhelming, fierce murderous aura radiating from Song Ha-Eun sparked fear in them.

“Who am

I

?” Song Ha-Eun reached out and grabbed the back of Kwon Oh-Jin’s neck, pulling him close and wrapping her arms around his head. “I’m his girlfriend, you fucking brats.”

She grinned slyly.

“

Uh...

”

“G-Girlfriend?”

The two startled women looked Song Ha-Eun up and down.

She was tall, with striking features and flawless skin. Though the women were confident in their looks, standing next to her made them hesitate.

It was said that looks weren’t everything, but for women who had approached Kwon Oh-Jin relying on theirs, this felt like checkmate.

“W-Whatever!”

“We just wanted an autograph, that’s all!”

They walked on eggshells before the frightening figure. Soon, they turned tail and fled from the cafe.

“

Tsk

, who do those bitches think they are?” Song Ha-Eun scoffed.

“Mmph!”

“Ah, my bad.”

She let go of her grasp around Kwon Oh-Jin's head.

“

Haaa

, seriously. You...”

“Uh-huh?”

“... Never mind. You did good,” Kwon Oh-Jin said, chuckling.

Since she hadn't beaten them up, there was nothing better than them scurrying off on their own.

“Anyway, you’re hella popular.”

“I know, right? This is gonna be a pain in the ass going forward.”

Being recognized in public was turning out to be more annoying than he'd expected.

Well, it can’t be helped. You can't have it all.

If he wanted to wield the influence that came with being an apostle of the North Star, he had to bear with minor inconveniences like these.

“... Don’t go chasing after girls, okay?” Song Ha-Eun instructed, glaring at him.

“I’m not interested in meeting other girls.”

“Huh? R-Really? Why... not?” she asked, blushing slightly.

“Cause it eats up my wallet.”

“Motherfucker,” she muttered.

This bastard's never going to change.

“

Haa...

I guess that’s better than you fooling around with randos.” She sighed and pulled Kwon Oh-Jin’s arm. “Alright, then, let’s move to the next place!”

“What about the coffee?”

“Forget it.”

Sticking around there could lead to a similar event all over again.

“Let’s go somewhere with no people.”

“Where?”

“

Umm...

” Song Ha-Eun thought for a moment, then snapped her fingers. “Karaoke! Let’s go to karaoke!”

“

Haha

, okay.”

With karaoke, she could enjoy herself even without her sight. The only drawback was having to memorize whatever song she wanted to sing.

“Hurry, hurry!”

With an excited smile, she pulled Kwon Oh-Jin along.

***

After a fun session of singing together, Kwon Oh-Jin and Song Ha-Eun stepped back outside.

“... It’s already dark out.”

December nights fell swiftly.

“Should we head back?” he asked.

“Let’s look around a little—”

“I have business to attend to tomorrow morning, so I should sleep early.”

“... Oh.”

After a long moment of silence, she bit her lips and nodded.

“... Let’s leave, then.”

“Okay.”

As they walked home, Kwon Oh-Jin glanced up and said, “Oh, it’s snowing.”

Snowflakes drifted down from the darkened sky.

“That explains why I kept feeling something cold on my head,” he added with a slight chuckle.

Song Ha-Eun tightened her hold on Kwon Oh-Jin’s arm, smiling softly. Only the sound of their footsteps echoed in the quiet, snowy path.

Splosh, splash.

Though it was silent, it wasn’t awkward. Song Ha-Eun just hoped that this moment would never end.

But I know...

Her lips tingled as she bit them.

“Hey, Oh-Jin.”

“Yeah?”

“How much... have you saved up now?” she asked carefully, like walking on ice.

“I have all of it.”

“... A-All of it? The full ten billion won?”

“Yeah.”

Song Ha-Eun’s lips trembled slightly.

She knew that he'd reach it soon, but she hadn’t expected him to have gathered it all already.

“Th-That was really fast.”

Even for the apostle of the North Star, it was an insane speed.

“I got lucky. Plus, I already had a bit saved up.”

“I-I see...”

She clenched her fist, her nails digging into her palm. The falling snowflakes felt bone-chillingly cold.

“So, that means... there really aren’t many days left for us to spend together like this.”

“Yeah. I guess so,” he replied sharply.

“...”

It felt as if her heart had been torn out.

“Are you really... going to go to Paradise?” she asked, even though she already knew the answer.

“Yeah, I am. That’s what I’ve been saving up for all this time.”

It hurts.

The pain was so overwhelming and consuming, she felt like she might break.

“Don’t...”

Don't go. Don’t leave me behind.

She held those words back.

“Huh?”

“N-Nothing! It’s nothing,

haha

.”

“No, what is it?”

“Just shut up, you jerk!”

She playfully hit his shoulder for no reason. Silence fell yet again.

“Don’t... forget me, okay?” she said, squeezing the words out.

“... Why would I ever forget you?”

With that, their conversation ended.

The December night sky was pitch black, without a single star, just like the darkness in Song Ha-Eun's eyes.

***

Kwon Oh-Jin got ready early in the morning the next day.

“I’ve got an errand to run at the bank,” he said as he stepped out.

Left alone, Song Ha-Eun let out a deep sigh and grabbed her phone to check the news.

[There’s heightened interest in today’s Yongsan auction—]

She turned it off.

“... Should I go check it out?”

Lost in thought, she slowly moved to the edge of her bed.

The only auction item she was interested in was the Demonic Dragon Eye, a six-star Astral Relic that could dispel curses, including those cast by dragons.

Her dull eyes trembled slightly.

If only I could get my hands on it... maybe, just maybe... I could break the curse the Dragon of the Thousand Curses placed on me.

“Ha, haha.”

A hollow laugh echoed inside the room.

“Like I could ever afford it...”

The Demonic Dragon Eye was a rare Astral Relic acquired from six-star or higher-level dragon-type monsters. Because it was so rare, only one showed up at auctions each year, or sometimes not at all. At the very least, it would go for six or seven billion won, but all her money combined barely reached three hundred million won. How could she possibly buy it?

But still, just maybe... there won’t be any competition today.

Her lips felt parched as the sweet thought of

hope

tugged at her. It wasn’t impossible. There had been cases where six-star Astral Relics sold for lower prices if demand was low, although nothing like that had ever happened with the Demonic Dragon Eye.

“Th-That’s right! Who even gets cursed these days?”

There weren’t many monsters that used curses. To date, the Dragon of a Thousand Curses—Barbatos—was the only one to use a specialized curse. If no one else had a reason to seek a cure, perhaps she could buy the Demonic Dragon Eye at a bargain.

Gulp.

She tried to crush her hope by brainwashing herself into thinking it was impossible, but the spark of hope had already taken hold and spread like poison.

“Yeah! What’s the worst that can happen?”

She got up from the bed with enthusiasm, filled with the hope that a miracle might occur.

If only the curse can be lifted, I might be able to go to Paradise with him.

This thought lifted her spirits, bringing a faint smile to her face.

“Alright, let’s wash up and head out!”

She entered the bathroom and splashed herself with cold water, which felt strangely warm today. Getting dressed, she opened the door and headed outside.

Tap, tap, tap!

The sound of her cane hitting the floor was playful.

Yeah, if I’m lucky, I could get it!

Her hand twitched as she clutched her card and ID.