Chapter 37

I Am Not a Reincarnator Chapter 37

Paradise (4)

"Wow, you look even better in person!"

"Amazing! Can we take a picture with you?"

The two women who approached Oh Jin chattered excitedly.

"Hmm."

Oh Jin swallowed, his expression awkward.

'I thought there might be people who would recognize me if I went out.'

But I didn't expect them to be this proactive.

'Maybe I should politely turn them away.'

He didn't want to get entangled for too long.

"…Aren't you two here to get coffee?"

He continued, clearly showing his annoyance.

"Then stop being annoying and get lost."

Fine.

If I say it this clearly, they should get the hint, right?

"Wh-What did you just say? You told us to get lost!!"

"Kyaa!! It's really him!!"

Huh?

"Bro? Can I call you bro?"

"Are you crazy? I really like you…!"

That's crazy.

'What's going on?'

Why are they reacting like this?

"Can you give me an autograph?"

"……"

An autograph? Damn.

Oh Jin's life has really taken a turn.

'Well, just an autograph.'

It's not like it costs anything, so it shouldn't be too hard.

He took the pen they offered.

But why are they only giving me a pen?

"Where?"

"Here, here!"

One of the women slightly pulled back her coat to reveal her T-shirt.

It was near her collarbone, a position where a mistake could easily touch her chest.

'No way.'

Are they really crazy?

'Is this a club or something?'

What are they trying to do in front of a cafe counter?

Even Oh Jin, who was skilled at maintaining his composure, couldn't hide his shock.

"Hurry up~"

"Hehe, it's embarrassing, bro~"

If it's embarrassing, don't do it.

"…Sigh."

Tsk.

He clicked his tongue and lifted the pen.

It's not like I'm happy about it, but if I just give them an autograph, that's the end of it.

'Let's get this over with quickly.'

It's been a while since he went out with Haeun.

He didn't want any more interruptions.

Just as he was about to sign on the T-shirt, a voice interrupted.

"─What are you two doing?"

A red-haired beast approached.

"Uh, what?"

"Who are you?"

The two women, who had been clinging to Oh Jin, trembled and asked.

A fierce aura.

The intense, almost unbearable aura stimulated their instincts.

"Who, you bastards."

Haeun reached out and grabbed Oh Jin's nape.

Thud!

She roughly pulled his head towards her.

"This is my girlfriend."

She smirked, curling her lips.

"Huh?"

"Girlfriend?"

The two women looked at Haeun up and down, confused.

Her height was over 170 cm, and her figure was flawless.

Her features were as if carved by a world-renowned sculptor, and her skin was flawless and fair.

"…Ugh."

Despite their own confidence in their looks, they couldn't compare to Haeun in any way.

An overwhelming sense of defeat.

While looks aren't everything, for them, who had relied on their appearance, Haeun's presence was a one-sided advantage.

"What, what's this? This is ridiculous."

"We just wanted an autograph."

The two women, who had been cautious like minor characters in front of a powerful figure, soon turned and fled the cafe.

"Hmph. What a bunch of ridiculous women."

Haeun, arms crossed, chuckled.

"Ugh, uh!"

"Sorry."

She released Oh Jin's head.

"Phew. You really…"

"Why, what?"

"It's fine. You did well."

Oh Jin sighed and smiled.

He didn't beat them up, and they left on their own, so this was the best solution.

"Still, you're really popular."

"Yeah, I know. It's going to be a bit of a hassle from now on."

He had expected this, but it was more annoying than he thought once his face became known.

'Well, can't be helped.'

When something rises, something else falls.

To wield the powerful weapon, 'Apostle of the North Star,' this level of annoyance was worth it.

"…Don't follow me just because I said it was good?"

Haeun glared at him, narrowing her eyes.

"I don't care if you meet other women."

"Huh? R-Really? Why…?"

Haeun asked, her face slightly flushed.

"Because you pay me."

"Damn."

The same brat as always.

A low curse was heard.

"Phew… Well, that's better than being promiscuous with anyone."

She sighed and pulled Oh Jin's arm.

"Let's hurry to the next place!"

"The coffee?"

"Forget it."

If they stayed any longer, something similar might happen again.

"Let's go somewhere quiet."

"Where?"

"Hmm…"

After a moment of thought, Song Haeun snapped her fingers.

"Karaoke! Let's go to karaoke!!"

"Hehe. Okay."

Karaoke was a place where even she, who couldn't see, could have fun.

The downside was that she had to memorize the lyrics of the songs she wanted to sing.

"Hurry up!"

Kyaha!

Haeun smiled cheerfully and pulled his arm.

When they finished singing excitedly at the karaoke and came out.

"…The sun has already set."

The night in December comes quickly.

"Shall we head back?"

"Just a little longer…"

"I have to work early tomorrow, so I need to go to bed early."

"…Oh."

After a long silence.

Haeun bit her lip and nodded.

"…Let's go."

"Huh?"

On the way back home.

"Ah, it's snowing."

Snowflakes fell from the dark sky.

"Heh. I thought something cold was falling on my head."

Haeun smiled and tightened her grip on Oh Jin's arm.

Thud, thud.

The low sound of their footsteps echoed on the quiet, snow-covered road.

"……"

"……"

The silence stretched, but it wasn't awkward.

Just─ this moment.

This time.

She wished it would never end.

'But.'

A sharp pain accompanied the bitten lip.

"Oh Jin."

"Yeah?"

"Money… how much have you saved?"

Carefully.

She spoke as if walking on thin ice.

"All of it."

"…All of it? 100 billion?"

"Yeah."

"……"

Haeun's lips trembled.

She had thought it would take a while, but she didn't expect him to have already saved 100 billion.

"Wow, you made it really fast."

Even as the Apostle of the North Star, it was an unbelievable speed.

"I had some luck. I also had some savings."

"…Oh, really?"

Gripping her fist tightly.

Her nails dug into her flesh.

The snowflakes falling on her head were bone-chillingly cold.

"Now… the days we spend like this won't last much longer."

"Yeah, that's true."

"……"

A sharp, cutting answer.

It felt like her heart was being torn out.

Her chest ached.

"Really… are you going to Paradise?"

Even though she knew the answer.

She asked.

"I am. I've been saving money for that."

"……"

It hurt.

It hurt so much.

She felt like she was breaking.

"Don't…"

Go.

Don't leave me.

She suppressed the words that tried to escape her lips.

"Huh?"

"Ah, no! Nothing. Hehe."

"What is it?"

"Shut up, you jerk!"

Thud! Thud!

She hit his shoulder in a fit of anger.

"……"

Silence again.

"Will you… not forget me?"

She squeezed out the words.

"…Why would I forget you?"

With that answer, the conversation ended.

The December night sky was pitch black, without a single star.

As dark as the darkness in front of her eyes.

* * *

The next day.

"I have some business at the bank, so I'll be out."

Early in the morning, Oh Jin went out.

"Phew."

A deep sigh escaped Haeun's lips.

She picked up her smartphone and turned on the news.

[The 12th of December auction in Yongsan is drawing more attention than usual….]

She turned it off.

"…Should I go?"

Sitting on the bed, she continued to ponder, then slowly got up.

She wasn't interested in the other items at the auction.

There was only one item she cared about.

'Yongmaan.'

A 6-star relic with the power to dispel curses, including the Dragon's Curse.

"……"

Her gray eyes trembled.

If she had the Yongmaan.

Maybe.

Maybe the Dragon's Curse could be─

"Ha, ha."

A hollow laugh echoed in the room.

"There's no way I can afford it…."

Yongmaan was a 6-star relic that could only be obtained extremely rarely from 6-star or higher dragon-type monsters.

Since it was so rare, it was unlikely to appear more than once a year.

Even if it did, it would cost at least 60-70 billion, and she only had a little over 300 million.

'Still… still, maybe.'

Her lips were parched.

The sweet whisper of 'hope' led her.

'Maybe there won't be any competitors today.'

It wasn't impossible.

While it had never happened with the Yongmaan, other 6-star relics sometimes sold for much lower prices.

"Right! How many people are cursed these days!"

In reality, there weren't many monsters that used curses.

Especially, the 'Dragon's Curse' had only been used by the Celestial Dragon Barbatos.

─Then.

If there was no reason for anyone to 'dispel' curses.

Maybe she could buy the Yongmaan at a low price?

"……"

Gulp.

She swallowed hard.

It's impossible, it's impossible, she tried to suppress her hope with negative thoughts.

But once 'hope' took hold, it spread faster than any poison.

"Right, let's go, go! It's worth a try!"

Haeun got up from the bed with renewed energy.

Maybe.

Maybe a miracle could happen.

If the curse was lifted.

─She might be able to go to 'Paradise' with him.

The thought made her lips curl into a smile.

"Let's hurry and get ready!"

She went to the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face.

The cold water, which should have been chilling, felt warmly comforting.

Click.

She opened the door and stepped out.

She tapped her cane on the floor as she walked.

-Tap, tap, tap!

The sound of the cane hitting the floor felt cheerful.

'Right, if I have good luck, I can definitely afford it!'

She clenched the card and ID in her hand tightly.