29-121

EP.121 Countdown 

Despite the stifling heat of July, the interior of the department store was filled with cool air. 

The swimsuit section, occupying the best spot like the season’s darling, showed off its glamorous style beneath colorful lights. 

Mannequins with perfect figures struck provocative poses in front of a giant panel bearing the words ‘SUMMER PARADISE’. 

“That design over there looks pretty good. What do you think, Mina?” 

“Isn’t it too daring? Ah, but maybe that’s exactly what you’d prefer, senpai?” 

A little distance away, Juyeong and Mina were only half-heartedly looking at swimsuits, stealing glances in our direction. 

Following their line of sight, I saw myself, Lizetta, and the uninvited guest. 

“By the way, who’s that other woman? Did he pick up another new girl while we weren’t looking or something?” 

“Right? And what are they talking about that we can’t hear…?” 

Though she sounded aloof, Juyeong’s gaze never left me, not even for a moment. 

I could faintly overhear their conversation yet their simmering possessiveness was palpable, even from here. 

“Swimsuits, huh. Are you going to the beach or something?” 

My attention which had been fixed on their murmurs shifted to the voice coming from directly in front of me. 

Just like when we’d met in the street, Naeun was gazing at me with a gentle smile. 

“I’m not some stalker could you at least let me shop in peace?” 

Even in the face of my prickly tone, Naeun didn’t so much as blink. 

Instead, her smile deepened teasingly. 

“Oh, are you mad because I interrupted your date?” 

She glanced at Juyeong and Mina, who were awkwardly uncertain behind me, and shrugged her shoulders. 

“This time, it really is a coincidence. If it were work-related, I would’ve brought Seohyun with me. I just came because a fun little-sister manga was coming out today.” 

To prove her innocence, she lifted an eco-bag with a pink rabbit character printed on it. 

That composure only made my insides twist all the more. 

“For someone supposedly hunting down Child, you seem pretty relaxed time for hobbies and all.” 

“Until HQ contacts us, there’s not much more we can do. At best, we’re just keeping an eye on things.” 

“You mean ‘keeping us under surveillance’, right?” 

At my sarcasm, Naeun’s eyes curved into gentle crescents. 

“You seem to be getting ready to move, and to a really nice place at that.” 

I knew it. 

“What, is that not allowed? Can’t I move if I want?” 

“It’s not that, but you must’ve paid for the move with the powers you got from Child, right?” 

“Ugh. Th-that’s… true, but… do you have a problem with that?” 

I was momentarily at a loss for words. It was the truth, but having it called out directly made me feel as if I were being accused. 

“I don’t have any complaints. I never imagined a few words of advice would be enough to get you to stop using your powers.” 

With a smile, she added that anyone else in my shoes would probably do the same. 

“If you’re going to keep using them anyway, I wish you’d at least let me keep my abilities after we capture Child.” 

“Unfortunately, that’s impossible.” 

My casual remark was cut down with a voice sharp as a blade. 

“We can’t leave anything that might disrupt the order of the dimensions. We know, better than anyone, what happens when the order collapses.” 

For a moment, darkness flitted across her face. 

Like she was recalling the past. But the expression quickly disappeared, and her gentle mask was back. 

Just then, Naeun’s gaze flicked over to Lizetta for an instant. 

“…Wait a second.” 

Come to think of it, Child hadn’t just given me traits and possession. 

That glance  

It seemed Lizetta was thinking the same thing, as she briefly turned her gaze and looked at me out of the corner of her eye. 

“In any case, as long as you don’t possess anyone, we won’t meddle any more than we have to. Feel free to enjoy your remaining time however you like.” 

As if bestowing a last supper upon me. 

At that moment, I felt something cold inside my pocket. 

A flash of calculation crossed my mind. 

Right now, this woman was alone. 

If I could put her under my control here  

If I could just get one of them on my side, the rest would be easy. 

“If you’re thinking of using that phone app, it won’t work on me.” 

But my plan was foiled before I could even act. 

“Kh ?!” 

“I saw exactly how you use it when you were having fun in your kid form last time. Show the screen for five seconds, right?” 

A cold bead of sweat slid down my spine. 

That creepy sensation I’d felt throughout my affair with Yeri hadn’t been my imagination. 

“Maybe for an ordinary civilian who doesn’t know, but no one who’s onto your tricks will just stand there and get taken in, right?” 

She had read every move I made. 

“Sigh…” 

With a sigh, I took my hand out of my pocket. 

“If you’re not here to interfere, why don’t you just leave? As you can see, we’re busy.” 

I made my annoyance plain, showing I had no intention of continuing the conversation. 

But Naeun just brushed off my words. 

“Before I go, since we happened to meet, could I ask a few questions?” 

“Huh?” 

Even though I looked at her in disbelief, it didn’t matter to her. 

“We explained a lot last time, so it’s only fair, right?” 

She glanced at her old wristwatch. 

“We all have places to be, so let’s keep it to ten minutes, okay?” 

Her suggestion was barely short of a demand, but I reluctantly nodded. 

If I refused any further, she obviously wouldn’t just walk away. 

“Sigh. So, what exactly do you want to ask?” 

“When was the first time you met Child?” 

…Jumping straight to the point. 

“Around the end of April or early May. I didn’t so much meet as was approached by them.” 

“Mmm. And the situation?” 

“I was at home after work playing a game… and got sucked into the game world.” 

To be precise, it was a fake dimension copy of the Gwichuk Hero scenario that Child created, but I didn’t need to go into detail. 

“So from then on, you made a deal with Child and acquired abilities through possession, right?” 

“Yes, more or less…” 

“Then, as I suspected, something doesn’t add up…” 

“What? Are you saying I’m lying?” 

At my retort, Naeun just waved her hands and smiled gently. 

“No, not at all ” 

But her eyes weren’t smiling. 

“Remember what I told you about Child’s abilities and features last time?” 

“That she can create virtual dimensions, and that inside them she’s basically invincible?” 

Naeun clapped softly, as if I’d gotten the correct answer (not that I was pleased). 

“Exactly. So in other words, Child can only be invincible inside her own virtual worlds.” 

“Right.” 

“But then, why can you freely use your abilities?” 

“…Sorry?” 

The conversation took such a sharp turn I couldn’t keep up. 

“Think about it. If your powers came from Child’s authority, you shouldn’t be able to use them freely outside her domain like here.” 

“R-right…?” 

“But you’ve always been able to use your powers, whether erosion was happening or not. No problems at all.” 

Her keen, appraising gaze made my skin crawl. 

“I thought maybe you’d have some idea about this.” 

A hunch? Of course I had one. 

“Well… as I said before, Child never told me any of the important stuff.” 

“Well… I suppose Child is just using you, too. Maybe your abilities changed without us knowing.” 

At Naeun’s words, after a long silence, I almost let out a sigh of relief. 

They still don’t know about the connection between protagonist desire and erosion. 

That’s why they’re only restricting my possession. 

But if they realize that it’s not possession but the power tied to erosion that matters  

Then, forget watching and waiting game over, instantly. 

“One more thing I’d like to ask, if that’s all right?” 

She barely gave me time to relax before turning to Lizetta, not me. 

“Lizetta, right? According to our research, you’re not just Child’s lieutenant but a being created by her own hand correct?” 

“……” 

Lizetta didn’t reply, but her silence was a clearer answer than anything she could’ve said. 

“I thought so.” 

Her voice was still gentle, but there was a chilling blade in it. 

“Then, you’re both Child’s creation and Hyunseong’s maid. That means you serve two masters, right?” 

“…Correct.” 

“Then, out of pure curiosity if you were given contradictory orders from ‘Child’ and from ‘Lee Hyunseong’, whose command would you obey?” 

At that question, Lizetta couldn’t answer this time, either. 

Her lips trembled but the answer that should have come out just… wouldn’t. 

Only her faintly trembling eyelashes, as if trying to catch something in empty air, betrayed her internal struggle. 

Naeun noticed, and a faint smile played at her lips. 

It wasn’t one of ridicule or satisfaction at a plan gone right. 

It was closer to the pure curiosity of someone finding a fascinating specimen, or the quiet admiration of seeing one’s intuition proven correct. 

“I…” 

That was when  

“Excuse me? Are you planning to hold us up all day?” 

Mina, unable to bear it any longer, strode toward us and clung to my arm with a pout. 

Naeun smiled faintly at her, then checked her watch again. 

“Oh dear, look at the time. Sorry for taking up so much, Hyunseong. And you too, Lizetta.” 

With a formal apology and no hesitation, she turned away. But before disappearing, she left one loaded bit of advice: 

“It might just be an idle warning, but sometimes… tools can cut those who wield them.” 

It was only after she disappeared into the crowd that I let out the breath I’d been holding. 

“What’s with that woman?” Mina groused, but I wasn’t in any state to answer. 

More than anything... 

I turned to Lizetta beside me. 

“Don’t let what she said get to you too much.” 

That’s what I said, but my mind kept drifting back to the look on Lizetta’s face just now. 

Way to kill the mood this early in the date. 

“I don’t know what’s going on, but hurry up and help me and Team Leader pick out swimsuits, will you?” 

Oblivious to my turmoil, Mina dragged me off by the arm. 

I let myself be led along, still half-dazed, head swimming with questions I couldn’t answer. The glamorous swimsuits before my eyes seemed nothing more than meaningless blurs of color.