Chapter – 18
I was clutching my head in frustration when Nayeon suddenly began speaking through falling tears.
“Please don’t tell Grandma. Okay? I know Mom is dead. Hic But why do you keep hiding it from me? Why is it a secret? I’m the one who knows best that Mom is probably gone. Sob Grandma doesn’t even know Mom…”
“You say you know, so why are you asking?”
“Because no one… hic …no one tells me anything.”
Where she died, how she met her end…
The unspoken words echoed in my head.
Was I getting emotional?
What’s the point in analyzing that…?
There’s no logical or emotional way to deal with death.
“Fine. Okay. This is today’s last free service. But you can’t tell your grandma. Got it? You have to take my side, alright?”
Nayeon nodded her head vigorously.
I had no choice but to stagger to my feet.
I’m so damn tired.
But for that young girl’s unresolved grief, for the simple fact that I was a little older and therefore an “adult,” I had the obligation to help. That was all. I forced myself to push away the exhaustion.
To soothe my burning throat, I sucked down the watery iced Americano until the melted ice made the cup go hollow, then tossed it on the table.
“Ahem, hem! Now then… O Prophet! Hear the question of the mortal Kim Nayeon!”
The hazy, stinging smoke wrapped around me until my mind went foggy. I was barely able to stay standing.
The Constellation Sun’s Prophet grumbled.
When the loading finally ended, the scene that unfolded before me made my breath catch.
“…Inside the Gate’s dungeon… there are skeletons. Souls who died guarding the mana stone, unable to anticipate the ruler who resides there. Give up. No living being can enter that place for a while.”
It hurt. Not only seeing it—but knowing I had to tell Nayeon.
I didn’t want to describe what I was seeing. But maybe because of the smoke I inhaled, maybe because this is what all oracles do… my mouth wouldn’t stop speaking.
I forcibly cut off the rest of the incoming prophecy.
To comfort Nayeon, who would surely be shocked, I desperately tried to force my brain to function and opened my mouth.
“Nayeon. Your mom…”
“Mom was having a hard time because of Dad. He had a lot of debts he hid. Mom went to Grandma for help but Grandma didn’t like their marriage from the beginning, so she cut Mom off.”
Uh… what?
“I still remember it. Grandma didn’t like me either. Mom worked as a hunter to earn money on her own, but one day she stopped coming home. Then strangers came pretending to be my mom’s friends and took me away and…”
Nayeon spoke nonstop—so unlike her earlier self who couldn’t utter a word. I stared blankly, unable to say anything.
But only for a moment.
“Stop.”
That single word from a third person froze both me and Nayeon.
The owner had returned. We were so engrossed we hadn’t even heard the bell over the door ring.
The expression on the owner’s face made my heart sink.
I had never seen that expression before.
Someone as solid and immovable as a boulder—someone like the owner—should never wear an expression like that.
I couldn’t stay in the café any longer and rushed out.
I couldn’t go to the 3rd floor where the interior work was happening, because Song Shinu would probably be there. I didn’t want to face him yet. So I wandered around the train station and the nearby market like a runaway teen, then eventually took a taxi back to the hotel.
A few days ago, when I signed the lease for the third floor, I heard that an officetel unit on the 5th floor next to the station would soon be available. I wanted to pounce on the opportunity, but if I switched the head of household on my family registry, my family would notice immediately.
Damn this family register…
It was exhausting going back and forth like this. I needed to solve my housing situation soon.
I closed my dry eyes. After being drained by emotional labor for the first time in a while, I was barely functioning.
It was getting hard to stay upright or keep my eyes open.
The Constellation bastard—who surely knew exactly what kind of day I’d had—still refused to leave me alone.
As the sky dimmed into dusk, an oracle dropped on me without warning.
“HUEEK!”
Passive Skill Activated!
Oracle (B)
Clarity: 81%
“AAAH! I said I’m too tired for this—!!”
I covered my eyes with both hands and screamed in protest, but it was useless.
And to top it off—why show me Song Shinu’s face now?!
But my complaints vanished instantly when I saw what followed.
Huh? Are those shady hunters flipping over Shinu’s dad’s chicken shop?
“Isn’t this basically a threat? I told you I cleared all my past ties. I’m completely done—Interest? What? Interest? …You bastards did this on purpose, didn’t you? Because you know I can’t go anywhere!”
Shinu’s dad yelled angrily, but even righteous anger is meaningless against a group beating.
“Dad!”
Shinu tried to use his awakened ability to stop them, but against a gang of hunters who came prepared, he was mercilessly crushed.
“AAAH!”
Why show me this now?! It looked like around 9 p.m. in the vision, so there was still time—but still!
Why Shinu, of all people?!
Since I was young, I’d always envied peaceful families.
And Shinu’s family felt like an ordinary, warm one.
When something sad happened, they gathered to comfort each other. When something happy happened, they paused their work to share a warm meal.
A family I had never experienced.
Because they were so kind and warm-hearted, I wanted to protect their peace.
I’d already burned my own family bridges—so watching theirs gave me secondhand happiness.
“Miss!”
“What—what is it?! Why do you keep shouting?!”
“Please turn back! Go back to where we started!”
“Right now? After coming all the way here?!”
“I left the gas stove on at my part-time job and didn’t lock the door—!!”
“You what?! You left the GAS on?!”
The kind taxi driver panicked and made a sharp U-turn, speeding back like a madman.
I felt guilty for lying about the gas, but wow—what a convenient lie.
A 25-minute distance became a 10-minute ride.
I was dizzy like I’d just gotten off an amusement park ride. I grabbed some bills from my envelope and handed them to him.
Ever since receiving that SSS-grade oracle, everything felt like a chore. I stopped bringing my bag entirely—my wallet was even worse.
I just stuffed my ID, card, and cash envelope loosely in my jacket pocket.
“Hey! This is too much!”
“It’s thanks for rushing back! Please just take it!”
I jumped from the taxi and sprinted.
“You… did something happen?”
When I arrived at the old chicken franchise, gasping for breath, Shinu walked out wearing a black apron, eyes wide.
Was it my imagination, or did he look… happy to see me?
Aside from two middle-aged men drinking soju with a fried chicken between them, the restaurant was empty.
I’d arrived too early.
I collapsed into the most secluded seat, opened the menu, and tried to catch my breath. Shinu waited patiently.
“Hah… hah… I’m starving to death… boneless fried chicken with half sauce, half original… Take your time…”
“You say you’re dying of hunger but want me to take my time? I’ll bring it quickly.”
“No! Slowly… I’m gonna eat slowly… my joints are gonna fall off…”
“At your age?! What does that make my dad or your café boss?”
He scolded lightly, then went to the kitchen as a delivery order came in. I heard him talking with his father.
A friend? Oh, is she that young lady who came for money from your grandma?
His dad laughed heartily, while Shinu protested that it wasn’t like that.
Hearing their warm, ordinary exchange strengthened my resolve.
Some families deserve to break—but some must be protected.
“Here. Service. Eat properly. You’re too skinny.”
He set down freshly fried french fries. They were hot and crispy, and as soon as I took a bite, my energy returned and my purpose sharpened.
I would protect the very first part-time worker of my very first business.
!Nightfall’s debuff restricts the Constellation’s Radiance!
The Constellation Sun’s Prophet worries about Contractor Kim Eunsol.
Of course I’ll be fine. You think I came with no plan?
It had been about an hour and a half since I arrived at Shinu’s family shop.
“You’re hiding something.”
Shinu sat across from me during a lull, looking serious. The men drinking had already left.
I was the only customer in the hall.
“No? Nothing’s wrong.”
Just waiting for the thugs from the oracle to show up.
“Are you waiting for someone?”
“Nope.”
Waiting for the scumbags who’ll trash your dad’s shop.
I tried to ignore him, but seeing the serious expression on the first part-time worker I’d ever hired, I was forced to say something.
“What, do you want me to leave? Are you telling a customer to go home?”
“No, that’s not what I meant…”
“Never seen someone eating chicken alone? I eat slow. I’ll leave before closing. Can I get a beer? Want to see my ID?”
Shinu just looked conflicted and didn’t argue further.
The cold beer arrived—foam creamy along the rim—just as a group of men entered the shop.
The ones from the oracle.
Finally.
“Excuse me, is the owner Mr. Song Jehyeok heeere—?”
About time you jerks showed up.
I calmly sipped my beer and glanced at their faces.
I remembered the atmosphere immediately. They reminded me of the loan sharks who used to show up at the chicken shop I worked at back in college.
Who knew I’d run into these types again?
Do I attract thugs or something?
While that thought crossed my mind, Shinu—still unaware of everything—stepped up.
“What’s going on?”
“Who’s this kid? You the owner’s son?”
“Huh? Yes, but… what do you—”
The man suddenly struck Shinu hard across the face with the back of his hand.
SLAP.
The sound was so loud I nearly jumped to my feet….
