NOVEL NEXT Chapter 39.2
She slid down so much that her head touched the part of the chair where she should be sitting.
“I’ve always thought it’s strange.”
“What is?”
“Gyeoul is almost obsessive when it comes to money.”
“Yes, she is quite meticulous about that.”
Even though I told her she didn’t have to repay, she insists on doing so.
She shared the goblin mana stones she caught alone with everyone.
And the beast-kin, despite having no particular need for money, had to save what they received from Gyeoul.
“Maybe it’s because she’s been living alone for so long.”
“Why would living alone cause an obsession with money?”
“Because money was the only thing she could rely on. It’s not strange for her to develop some kind of obsession.”
She hadn’t earned much, though.
Yeoreum’s eyes widened at Sophia’s words.
“No, that’s not true. Gyeoul has friends she can rely on.”
“…You silly girl.”
Thump
Sophia lightly punched Yeoreum’s back with her fist.
Yeoreum knew she was being reprimanded.
“…What’s wrong?”
“Does she really have friends? She probably said that because she was embarrassed to admit she had none.”
“Eh…?”
That couldn’t be true.
There was something she was hiding, but she sounded certain when she said she had friends.
Yeoreum was sure Sophia was wrong this time.
“Should I go ask her?”
“Don’t. It’ll just make things more awkward.”
“Are you underestimating Gyeoul too much? Even someone who’s had a hard life like her can have friends.”
In places like hunting grounds and free meal centers, there were environments where she could have built a community.
‘But how would Gyeoul explain her transformed body to her friends?’
With these thoughts, Yeoreum ran towards Gyeoul, unaware of Sophia clicking her tongue behind her.
✱✱✱
“Gyeoul!”
Focused on digging up herbs under the shade of a tree, I was startled by Yeoreum’s loud voice.
I was practicing blocking out my heightened senses, so I hadn’t noticed her approach.
“What is it…?”
Turning around with a mugwort in my hand, I met Yeoreum’s smiling gaze.
Did something good happen?
I blinked and looked up at her.
“You haven’t met any of your friends since your body changed, have you?”
“Friends…?”
“Yes. You said you had friends.”
I did.
But they were on a different Earth.
A fact I couldn’t share with others.
“Yes, I have friends.”
“Did you tell them about your body change?”
“No, I didn’t…”
To tell them, I would have to cross dimensions.
An impossible task for a mere human.
“Then, should I help you? It must be hard to do alone.”
“It’s okay. I don’t need to tell them.”
“Huh? Can you do it yourself?”
“No. My friends are in a very distant place.”
I couldn’t reveal that I was from another world, but it didn’t matter anymore if they knew I had no friends here.
I had realized Yeoreum wasn’t a bad person.
She wouldn’t tease me for not having friends.
“A very distant place…?”
“Yes. So far away that I can’t meet them.”
Well, if the gates were properly connected, maybe I could walk there?
As I entertained such impossible thoughts, Yeoreum’s face began to turn pale.
“…That…”
“……?”
Yeoreum stops mid-sentence, her mouth hanging open.
Did I say something strange?
Why is she suddenly acting like this?
I couldn’t recall saying anything unusual, so I decided to wait quietly until she spoke again.
“…I’ve also had to send a friend far away.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I often miss them. How about you, Gyeoul…?”
Yeoreum placed her hand on my cheek.
Her touch, gently caressing, felt somewhat awkward.
“I’m fine. I’ll surely meet them someday.”
“Meet them?”
“Yes. I’m always ready to meet them.”
Since various worlds were connected through gates, I had no doubt that someday, the world I lived in would appear.
One must always live optimistically.
To travel through various gates, I would need to become an outstanding adventurer.
As I made this resolve and looked up at Yeoreum, I noticed her expression had become very grave.
She looked as if she had seen a ghost.