I Have a Fiancee in a Parallel World

50 – Bound for Japan

Academy A Zone Auditorium

This place, where the B to A-grade monster strategy seminar was being held, was in a state of chaos and disorder, possibly because the seminar instructors had not yet arrived.

“What’s going on… What is this…”

“I mean, I’ve never seen this before.”

“No… Did they eat something wrong as a group?”

The target audience for this strategy seminar was students from Classes 1 to 3.

However, it was common knowledge that only Classes 2 and 3 would participate, considering that 1st-year students’ faces had hardly been seen throughout their over one-year academy life.

First-year students never attended classes or activities that overlapped with the curriculum of the second and third-year students. Second and third-year students would see the faces of first-year students only once or twice at most on the days of mandatory exams.

But now…

For some inexplicable reason, a large number of first-year students suddenly attended the strategy seminar.

They all had expressions of great dissatisfaction, and among them, a few looked uncomfortable, as if they had been injured somewhere.

“6… 7… 8. Wow, there are 8 of them. Eight 1st-year students came to attend the strategy seminar.”

“Hush! Speak quietly; they can hear us!”

As if the first-years had already heard, Hwang Yoo Tae from the 1st class turned around and glared at the 2nd class student who spoke.

Gulp

Two 2nd-year students who had met Hwang Yoo Tae’s fierce gaze instantly lowered their heads.

But then, Hwang Yoo Tae’s gaze reached Jihun, who was sitting next to those two students.

Grin

Jihun gave a slight smile.

In an instant, Hwang Uitae’s face, which had been full of dissatisfaction, brightened, and an awkward smile briefly appeared before he turned his head and stared straight ahead.

“Hoo… hoo…”

“Why are you like this?”

“Well… that monster is sitting over there with the Class 2 kids.”

“What?”

Upon hearing Hwang Uitae’s words, Jung Inhyuk instantly reacted and turned his head, immediately realizing his own foolishness as he forced an awkward smile and turned his head.

“That crazy bastard… don’t ever make eye contact with him, you never know what he’ll start a fight about…”

“Yeah, I know… let’s try to avoid him if possible.”

It seems that they had forgotten that they were the ones who had started the fight.

Hwang Uitae and Jung Inhyuk kept an eye on Jihoon, eagerly hoping for the instructor to show up.

Aside from them, the Class 1 students that Jihoon had brought from the large guilds all had faces filled with frustration, but they didn’t make a sound and obediently sat in their seats.

“Jihoon, you brought all of them?”

“The Class 1 kids? Yeah, I brought them.”

“You brought eight in just one day?”

“Except for those three idiots, I brought five. The guilds were all within a day’s radius.”

“…Does the distance matter?”

“What else matters?”

“…”

Sojeong could only tilt her head at Jihoon’s obvious expression of ‘of course’.

As if the large guilds would just hand over their Class 1 students…

Jihoon bringing the Class 1 students meant that he had turned the guilds upside down just like he did with Ares.

And on top of that, bringing five of them…

It meant that he had overturned five large guilds in just one day…

Sojeong couldn’t even begin to fathom how far Jihoon’s irrational behavior could go.

“They seem to be quite badly injured…”

“Huh? Oh them… I brought them because they didn’t listen. It’s a kind of tough love.”

“Tough love? What… you probably just beat them up however you wanted. Did you manage to resolve anything through dialogue?”

“…”

Jihoon pressed his lips tightly shut.

Well, yes…

Sojeong was filled with admiration and a hint of regret as she looked at Jihun.

“Now… are you really going to Class 1?”

“Well… I have to. There are still four of them left to bring back.”

“Four of them? Oh, right… where are the remaining four?”

“Japan.”

“…Japan?”

“Yeah. It seems they’ve made a contract with Big Number and are going to Japan to deal with some Gate Incursions that won’t disappear. I’m leaving tomorrow too. I’ve got all the permissions from the Director.”

“What?!?”

Sojeong scolded Jihun loudly, drawing the attention of the students around them. However, those who had been glancing around quickly adjusted their posture to avoid eye contact.

“Is it really that surprising to go to Japan?”

“…Big Number… Gate Incursions that won’t disappear… You really don’t know what those are?”

“No? Why would I know? I know everything.”

Jihun shrugged his shoulders, wearing a proud expression as if he wasn’t a fool. In reality, he had learned about Big Number Guild and Gate Incursions that won’t disappear through his interactions with Suhyeong and Eli this time. However, he had a look of enthusiasm as if he had known them all along.

Sojeong couldn’t help but chuckle at his foolish appearance.

“Someone who knows what those two things are is going to Japan?”

“Yeah. I have to bring the remaining four, and also…”

Jihun was lost in thought, unable to articulate his thoughts properly.

“You’re leaving so suddenly tomorrow?”

“Yes. Big Number is sending over a top-ranked individual or something in four days. There’s something I need to check at that Gate before that person arrives.”

“What is it?”

Sojeong saw Jihun hesitating to answer her question for the first time. He had always told her everything without hiding anything. While she had vaguely felt that there might be something behind it, she had never asked about it.

However, now that she felt they had become closer, the fact that he had something he wouldn’t even tell her made her very sad.

“Is it because of the Class 1 students? That’s why you’re going to such a dangerous place…”

(Note: The translation is provided in a way that retains the atmosphere and phrasing of the original Korean text.)

“There’s a monster that can dimension-hop, I need to confirm its existence. I have to dimension-hop too, you know.”

…

The calmness in Jihun’s words was so absurd that Sojeong couldn’t fathom how to react.

His story was beyond any imagination, utterly preposterous.

Sojeong, not knowing where to start or what to ask, watched as Jihun poured out his words once again, relentless.

“In a world different from ours, someone precious is waiting for me.”

What if someone else had heard Jihun’s words?

They might have dismissed it as a dull joke or nonsense fitting for a teenager in their rebellious phase.

But not Sojeong.

Having spent considerable time with Jihun, she knew he was not someone to speak empty words, despite his often goofy demeanor.

Another world… a story too unbelievable. Yet, if Jihun said it, it had to be true.

Unbeknownst to herself, Sojeong found herself placing absolute trust in Jihun.

“Someone… precious?”

Sojeong found herself focusing on something other than the incredible mysteries of dimension-hopping and alternate worlds.

“Yeah. A precious person.”

“…A girl?”

“Yeah. Incredibly beautiful. No matter how late I am… she’ll wait for me forever…”

Profound sadness filled Jihun’s eyes.

Sojeong couldn’t fathom why her heart ached so painfully.

The thought of Jihun longing for someone and being willing to risk his life to reach them…

A sense of loss and sorrow, unknown to her before, welled up inside her.

At that moment, a guest lecturer opened the door and entered.

“Hello. Today’s special lecture… huh?… Why… First Class… Why…?”

Even the lecturer, in the midst of greeting, stared in disbelief at the eight First Class students sitting upright, their faces filled with discontent.

***

“…What’s this? Is it a dream?”

“A beauty one might only see in dreams?”

“It must be a dream…”

Trying to wake up from his dream, Jihun closed his eyes, but Sojeong kept shaking him.

“Why are you following me all the way to Japan!!!”

Arriving at the Japanese airport and searching for a Big Number employee, Jihun spotted Sojeong in his line of sight.

“You followed me, didn’t you? I came to eat ramen.”

“Who comes to Japan to eat ramen! What about your academy?”

“I also applied for vacation properly. I’ve never taken a vacation before, so I have a lot of days left.”

Jihun, with a tingling scalp and a stiff neck, was caught between Sojeong’s lively tone.

“You should work. I came to eat ramen.”

“Uh… Are you Hunter Kang Jihun?”

An unassuming Japanese woman, speaking timid Korean, approached Sojeong and Jihun.

“Yes, I’m Kang Jihun.”

“Oh… Hello. I’m from Big Number Guild. The vehicle is ready. The gate extermination will start in two days, so let’s take you to the hotel for now.”

“No, the gate won’t disappear. Please take me there.”

“We’ll wait until Number One arrives…”

“I just want to see it.”

“Oh…”

The Japanese woman in charge of guidance had no choice but to change the destination due to Jihun’s firm stance.

“…?”

“Why?”

“I’m going to eat ramen now.”

“I heard there’s a good ramen place near that gate… Just give me a ride on your way.”

“You didn’t follow me!”

Sojeong, with an innocent and childlike sunny expression, shamelessly followed behind Jihun.