29-112

EP.112 Geumgangsan-do Sikhu-gyeong (Even on Geumgangsan, You Eat First) 

The whole time leaving Yeri’s apartment complex, Hyunseong followed silently behind the two women as if he were a prisoner being led to execution. 

On his left, the white-haired girl, ‘Choi Seohyun,’ shot him a frosty, contemptuous glare. 

On his right, ‘Choi Naeun’ only offered a gentle, troubled smile, her true thoughts unreadable. 

His mind was in perfect silence. 

For the first time since experiencing possession, a sense of helplessness ran cold down Hyunseong’s spine. 

But where they ended up was not a torture chamber or interrogation room, but, unexpectedly, a typical neighborhood burger joint, “Emperor Burger.” 

Inside, the smell of frying oil and the din of conversation mingled. 

Sitting across from each other at a corner four-person table, a strange silence pressed down on the three. 

What kind of threat or intimidation would break the silence first? 

As Hyunseong swallowed nervously, it was a surprisingly ordinary question that broke the silence: 

“Shall we order first? Even on Geumgangsan, you eat before anything else.” 

“…Huh?” 

A dumbfounded sound escaped him. 

Looking up, Naeun was smiling warmly with her palms together, while Seohyun was already scanning the menu above the counter. 

Almost in a trance, he placed his order with the two of them and returned, only to feel even more confused. 

‘When we met on the street, it felt like they’d tear me apart on the spot. What’s with this atmosphere?’ 

Catching Naeun’s gaze, she curved her eyes and smiled. 

“Don’t be so nervous. We didn’t come here to threaten or intimidate you.” 

Was he supposed to believe that? 

While Hyunseong grumbled internally, Naeun asked curiously, 

“Are you going to stay like that? You don’t have to keep pretending to be a kid.” 

Still in his child’s body, Hyunseong looked himself over and replied, 

“…Only my body changes, not my clothes. To return, I’d have to go home.” 

“Ah, I see~ That’s surprisingly practical.” 

Naeun’s eyes sparkled with interest as she continued, 

“Can you use that power to make other people younger? Like, for example… Seohyun here?” 

“Senpai, that’s seriously making me uncomfortable. Please stop.” 

At the oddly expectant question, Seohyun cut in with an icy remark. 

“No, it only works on myself.” 

“Oh, what a shame~” 

Naeun looked genuinely disappointed, which made Seohyun cross her arms and grumble, 

“What’s so disappointing? Keep those tastes to yourself, please. It’s embarrassing to be your junior.” 

“…So, what are you two actually…” 

Unable to stand the meaningless conversation, Hyunseong tried to get to the point  

Ding-dong! 

The sharp chime signaled their order was ready. 

When three trays were set down, Hyunseong’s eyes widened. 

His and Naeun’s trays each had a simple Spicy Emperor Beef Burger set. 

But Seohyun’s tray was on another level: two double cheeseburgers, two regular burgers, a mountain of fries, and chicken nuggets. 

A fortress of calories for such a small frame. 

She faced her food with the seriousness and readiness of a soldier about to resupply after days of hunger. 

“Let’s eat before it gets cold.” 

Unlike the surprised Hyunseong, Naeun gestured for him to start eating. 

At the same time, Seraph (Seohyun) ripped open a burger wrapper and took a huge bite, eating more like a soldier refueling than someone enjoying a meal. 

Naeun, smiling at her junior’s behavior, reached for a freshly fried chicken nugget. 

“Don’t mind Seohyun. She’s always like this. Now that the food’s here, let’s get to the main topic ow, hot!” 

Maybe she underestimated the temperature; she yelped and stuck out her tongue. 

Seraph, chewing her burger, clicked her tongue and shot her a pitying look. 

“You okay?” 

“Ah, yes, I’m fine. I’m just bad with hot food. Ahaha…” 

A strangely ordinary scene for what was essentially a kidnapping. 

Hyunseong, unable to make sense of the surreal situation, just stared blankly at his cola. 

“Ahem!” 

After dabbing her mouth with a napkin, Naeun fixed her gaze on Hyunseong. 

Gone was the earlier clumsiness her eyes now held the poise and gentle charisma of a senior. 

“All right, let’s begin. Where should I start so it’s easy for you to understand…?” 

After a moment’s thought, Kelpie (Naeun) began, 

“First, we’re not humans from this world.” 

“…Excuse me?” 

If anything, that only deepened Hyunseong’s confusion. 

Not humans? What, were they aliens? 

Sensing his confusion, Naeun explained calmly, like a teacher, 

“This world isn’t just one dimension. There are countless multidimensions. Seohyun and I were each born in different dimensions.” 

“Multidimensions…? You mean like parallel worlds?” 

“Similar, but a bit different. Parallel worlds are branches from a single world’s choices. What we call multidimensions are splits in the very worldview.” 

“Worldview?” 

“Fantasy, apocalypse, mythology. All sorts of worlds created by human desire and creativity. So unlike parallel worlds, there aren’t alternate versions of yourself.” 

‘So, like the “other world” in isekai stories,’ Hyunseong thought, piecing it together. 

Naeun continued, 

“The world you live in is like the ‘mother’ of all these multidimensions. We call it DN-2000. 

And our organization, the ‘Bureau,’ keeps the balance so the universe’s order isn’t ruined by all these dimensions.” 

Seraph, looking bored, added while eating nuggets, 

“We’re not sisters, by the way. Sorry for the lie. We’re coworkers, senior and junior.” 

The scale of the conversation suddenly ballooned, making Hyunseong groan and rub his forehead. 

Did Child know all this? About the multiverse, about these people, about coming to find him? 

“About Child…” 

At the mention of that name, Naeun’s eyes sharpened. 

“You know about Child.” 

“Of course. ‘Child’ is a dangerous anomaly that disrupts the order of the dimensional universe. …How much do you know?” 

“I don’t know what it looks like. I’ve only ever heard its voice. And that it can let me possess a game world…” 

“That world you possessed isn’t just a game,” Naeun said firmly. 

Seraph added, 

“It’s a ‘mimic dimension’ made by Child. Its own playground. 

Inside that garden, it’s basically a god physics, rules, everything bends to its will. That’s why it’s such a headache.” 

Hyunseong stroked his chin, thinking. 

He’d suspected for a while that the world he entered wasn’t just a game. 

“…So what’s Child’s goal? Do you know what it’s after?” 

Naeun shook her head. 

“We don’t know exactly. We only know that the ‘erosion’ happening in this dimension is directly connected to it.” 

“If anything, we should be asking you. Did it tell you anything?” Seraph pressed. 

After a moment’s hesitation, Hyunseong told them about “immersion” and being the “protagonist of the world.” 

Naeun’s eyes sparkled with interest. 

“Immersion… That could be a clue.” 

“Hah. ‘Protagonist of the world’? You actually believe that? Maybe your brain shrank when your body got younger,” Seraph sneered. 

“Seohyun.” 

Naeun’s gentle reprimand made Seraph snort and turn back to her burger. 

“That thing is cunning. There’s no way it approached you purely for your sake. There’s definitely a hidden agenda, and you’re just a pawn.” 

Hearing the truth he’d tried to ignore laid out so plainly made Hyunseong’s chest tighten. 

“In any case, if immersion is related to erosion, you should be careful not to raise it further. Do you have any idea how to lower it?” 

“I… don’t know.” 

“I see…” 

After a short silence, 

“Then please stay quiet for now. At least until we capture Child.” 

“You know where it is?” 

“HQ is tracking it. It’s definitely hiding somewhere in this dimension.” 

Child is hiding somewhere in this world. 

If it’s just not speaking, could it be listening to this conversation too? 

Hyunseong glanced around nervously. 

“A few years ago, another team managed to seriously wound Child. Unfortunately, it got away, but it’s probably been hiding to heal ever since. 

If it’s not in its own territory, it’s not so tough. The fact it hasn’t shown up means it’s still not fully healed. 

Now’s our best chance,” Seraph said, sipping her cola. 

“What happens after you catch Child?” Hyunseong asked. 

“We put everything back to normal. All the mess it made in this world, and your powers too.” 

“…!” 

“You know as well as we do those powers don’t belong in this world. They’re a nuisance, plain and simple.” 

Lose his powers? Everything he’d gained so far? 

The thought chilled Hyunseong’s mind. 

At that moment  

Ding-a-ling  

The bell above the door rang as someone rushed inside, drawing everyone’s attention. 

“Hyunseong-nim!” 

A maid uniform, utterly out of place in a fast food restaurant Lizetta. 

Her sudden arrival drew all eyes in the restaurant. 

“Oh my. A maid…” 

“Tch. An intruder.” 

Seraph jumped up, ready for a fight. 

Lizetta, for her part, took up a defensive posture. 

But  

“Seohyun. There are too many eyes here.” 

Naeun calmly stood and placed a hand on Seohyun’s shoulder, mediating. 

The whispers of the onlookers filled the restaurant. 

“Tch.” 

Realizing the situation, Seohyun lowered her arms. Naeun turned to Hyunseong and bowed. 

“Well, we’ll be going now. Please think carefully about what we talked about and make a wise decision.” 

“Don’t forget. We’re always watching you.” 

With that cold warning, Seohyun turned and left first. 

Naeun gave a polite nod to Lizetta, who was eyeing her warily, and followed quickly. 

“Are you all right, Hyunseong-nim? Are you hurt?” 

“…Yes, I’m fine. Physically.” 

Hyunseong replied briefly, staring blankly at the entrance. 

His mind was a tangled mess. 

Dimensional universe, multidimensions, the Bureau, Child. 

“Who were those people just now…?” 

As Lizetta looked at the exit in concern, a familiar voice suddenly rang in Hyunseong’s mind, like a radio finally tuning in. 

[―Ah, ah. …Finally got through. Those guys are such a pain. Hoohoohoo.] 

The connection with Child, which had been perfectly cut off, was restored. 

Now, Hyunseong couldn’t even guess what secrets might be hidden behind that frivolous laugh.