Chapter 23 – Time and Space Love
Chapter 23 – Time and Space Love
A checkered shirt and jeans.
A large backpack on his back and square horn-rimmed glasses. The man embodied the essence of an engineering student—specifically, a returning student.
“Uh, is that him?”
Sua looked bewildered.
“Ooh! Hello~!”
He shouted and waved upon seeing us.
“Wow, Mr. Siwoo, you’re taller than you look on TV!”
Those were the same first words he had spoken in my previous life.
The only difference was… that Sua was by my side.
Intrigued by his words, Sua asked, “Whoa, you already know Mr. Siwoo?”
“Man, how could I not? He’s a legend of our generation. Don’t you know? The Curse of 2! Our Siwoo, who looks like he’ll live his life twice!”
I froze for a moment at the last sentence, which subtly hit the nail on the head.
‘Ah… right, there was a meme like that.’
“Actually, I’m the one who spread that last phrase. Hahaha, people apparently love it!”
‘It was you!’
This was news to me; I had never heard this even in my previous life.
“Now, now, shall we introduce ourselves?”
I quickly shifted the attention.
My former colleague replied to him with a smile.
“Ah, sounds good. Of course. I’m Ha Seongjae. I believe Siwoo is your real name, Mr. Siwoo… and the beauty over here is…?”
Sua’s expression frowned slightly. She undoubtedly thought Seongjae was trying to pull some sort of move.
‘Sigh, here he goes again.’
I pressed my palm to my forehead.
All-boys middle school, all-boys high school, military, and engineering college. Seongjae, a “pure” young man who had hardly interacted with women, surely believed that was a polite choice of words.
To him, that was actually being courteous!
Whether she realized it or not, Sua gave a short answer.
“Uh… Sua. Kang Sua.”
“Haha, is Ms. Sua Mr. Siwoo’s girlfriend?”
“Ah, no! It’s not like that. No, it’s not.”
Sua waved her hands in panic. I felt as if the atmosphere had shifted somehow, but I decided to let it slide.
Next was the main point: explaining abilities.
I showed them the Worker Bug, then showed the Magitech Armor and briefly explained my ability. I didn’t explain everything, but I covered almost all the necessary general details.
It sounded mean, but unlike with the father-daughter duo of Sua and Deokchan, I knew he was someone I could trust.
Then it was Sua’s turn.
“Uh, I’m a Water Ability User.”
“Oooooh~! A Water Ability User!”
For some reason, Seongjae’s eyes sparkled.
I had a bad feeling.
“I’m a Fire Ability User…”
He trailed off.
“Uh, um, and?”
Sua’s expression looked like she was answering purely out of politeness.
“Water and Fire, just like Yin and Yang! This is a fated—”
Seongjae started to speak, but—
“[Opposites], right? Got it.”
Sua quickly cut him off and finished the sentence.
‘Sigh… Seongjae… why are you like this from day one.’
I sighed while looking at Seongjae.
* * *
“Ahem.”
Whether he caught the hint or not, Seongjae seemed to be acting more cautious.
Originally, I planned to have the Magitech Armor escort Sua and Seongjae home first, then slowly tackle the Plunderer Group and return. But it seemed that would be difficult now.
Of course, both were sensible people, so they wouldn’t actually kill each other. However, if they started a verbal spat while I wasn’t there to mediate, the situation could spiral out of control.
‘Actually, this is better.’
Since it turned out this way, I’ll postpone the Contract Ability User for later.
I wanted to get home quickly and open the dungeon.
[Composite Research in progress… 52%]
‘If I just smash some Mana Stones into this…’
“Heh, hehe.”
A laugh escaped me.
Meanwhile, Seongjae kept reading Sua’s expression, to a point that was almost pitiful. He was bad in my previous life too, but not this bad.
Since I had met him much later back then, he must have learned and corrected himself a lot in the meantime.
And that process was currently ongoing.
“Um, Ms. Sua. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it in a bad way. I just wanted us to get close quickly…”
Even so, fortunately, it seemed human nature didn’t change much.
“It’s okay. I was also rude upon our first meeting.”
Sua seemed to have softened at his honest apology and accepted it immediately.
But then it was my turn.
“Ah, come to think of it, Mr. Siwoo. Your age… you’re 27, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I’m 27 too… shall we drop the formalities?”
Asking to speak casually right upon meeting…
Truly, there was a reason he was called “unique.”
But I didn’t mind.
‘No, actually, I prefer this.’
It had felt awkward for me too, having to use formal language with someone who was once my best friend.
‘Thank god he’s a nutjob.’
“Sure, why not?”
I decided to speak casually immediately.
“Oh, awesome! This is my first time speaking casually with a public figure. No, is this the first time I’ve even spoken to one? Am I going to become famous too?”
‘Good grief…’
Really… he was a peculiar guy in many ways.
‘Still, it brings back memories.’
I shook my head and smiled.
* * *
Meanwhile, Sua’s expression wasn’t exactly great.
She probably still felt uncomfortable with the idea of spending time with someone like him. But I wasn’t worried about that.
‘Time will solve that anyway.’
Because Seongjae was incredibly competent.
Thus, it was obvious he would soon prove himself.
There were several times when a single word from him, subtly hitting the core of the issue, had saved everyone.
His endless curiosity and passion allowed him to harbor questions that no one else thought of. And when those questions were answered, they often became the catalyst for a turning point.
Although he was severely lacking in social skills, overall, that wasn’t even a weakness. Since he wasn’t a bad person, it just became a point of laughter once you got close to him.
One of his many nicknames was the “Strange Mood Maker.” This was a double entendre.
It was because he created a “strange mood,” and also because he was a “mood maker,” albeit a strange one.
And… he was showing his characteristic trait right now.
“So, Ms. Sua.”
“Yes?”
Sua was on guard.
However, his expression was different from before.
“How do you use your ability? As a Water Ability User, is your role to provide water to the group? Seeing as you came here, I assume you can do some combat too. I’m curious about your method of use.”
“Uh, yes, I provide water. I’m practicing combat.”
Sua seemed to have noticed the difference as well.
“How do you use it in combat, specifically?”
“Uh…”
Sua looked at me for a moment.
Once again, her expression seemed to be asking for permission to speak. I had taught her to keep her ability, especially her combat method, a secret, and that seemed to be bothering her.
When I nodded to her, she took out her cellphone and showed him an animation clip.
“Oh, this work is the gold standard for Ability User battle series. I love it too.”
Seongjae nodded with a very serious expression.
‘Of course you do. You’re the one who recommended it to me in my previous life.’
A faint smile played on my lips at his words.
“You’ve already seen the video. But then, do you use water masses only for attacks like this character?”
“Ah… yes.”
At Sua’s answer, Seongjae seemed to be thinking deeply.
“Hmm… but you know, Ms. Sua. Do you know why a sword is thrust forward in swordplay?”
“Yes? Uh… I don’t know. Does that have something to do with this?”
“It’s to place the sword between the opponent and yourself, allowing you to attack and defend simultaneously. But if you place a water mass between you and the enemy like this, you could achieve a similar effect, couldn’t you?”
“Oh, definitely…!”
Sua’s eyes widened. Without realizing it, Seongjae was already starting to earn her respect.
“Wow, I want to try fighting like that!”
Sua seemed eager to test it in actual combat, but… I decided to decline.
“Ms. Sua. I’m sorry, but… it seems the Plunderer Groups are active around here. I think it’s best if we leave quickly.”
There was the reason of avoiding pursuit, but…
“Yes. Ah, Father sent a text… he said he finished building the structure.”
Because the dungeon was waiting for me.
* * *
Returning home while avoiding the eyes of the looters…
Was a piece of cake for me.
I just had to use the Magitech Armor to create gunfire in various places to distract them, and use the Observation Probe to carefully navigate around the Plunderer Groups.
Although the opponent had a Clairvoyance Ability User, it wasn’t a major problem. After all, they wouldn’t even know the connection between the Magitech Armor and us.
‘Contract Ability User… just wait a little longer.’
In any case, a Contract Ability User was nothing more than a tool for Kim Cheonsu to forcibly command others. Far from treating them poorly, he would be doing his best to win them over.
‘Well, it’s not an ability I need right this second.’
A Contract Ability User was the most convenient way to bring civilians under my command in the future without needing separate verification.
However, it wasn’t an ability so rare that it appeared often, and I didn’t even have people to put under my command yet.
‘Of course, that will change later.’
Once I start taking in the Survivor Alliance or refugees one by one, the need for a Contract Ability User will grow accordingly.
It was the best way to prevent spies or information leaks and maintain public order and security.
‘Then… the supply of resources will also improve significantly.’
Not just for the noble purpose of “preserving humanity”… but if I, and by extension everyone, could become more affluent in the process.
There was no reason not to do it.
‘But not right now.’
For that goal, now was the time to focus on snowballing. After all, someone like Kim Cheonsu and his Plunderer Group could be dealt with at any time.
* * *
The sun had just begun to set when we arrived at the shopping mall.
Deokchan was there to meet us.
“Ah, you’ve arrived! No one’s hurt!”
“Yes, Elder. This is Seongjae. Seongjae, this is Elder Kang Deokchan. He’s Sua’s father, so greet him properly.”
“Gasp, Elder! It’s a pleasure to meet you! I look forward to your guidance!”
Unlike with Sua, Seongjae greeted him properly.
It seemed he had learned something.
“Oho, right, right… you’re the kid who does electricity, right?”
“Yes. I heard you’re a carpenter… by any chance—”
And then, the conversation began to flow surprisingly smoothly.
It seemed the two of them had something in common.
‘I can leave it to them.’
I saw my opportunity.
“Elder Deokchan. I’ll ask you to show Seongjae around the shopping mall and arrange his room.”
“Uh, uh, sure, sure.”
Sua looked skeptical as she watched Deokchan and Seongjae hitting it off. Then, she declared in a complicated tone.
“I’m going to go wash up first.”
Still, at the very least, she had realized that Seongjae wasn’t a bad guy, so it should be fine.
In other words… it meant I didn’t need to be there.
‘I can go open the dungeon right now.’
I grinned.
* * *
The building, constructed with a frame of steel and 2×4 lumber and finished with planks, had no outward-facing windows, just as I had requested.
There were small ventilation holes between the main beams supporting the roof and the outer walls, but even those were well-hidden and invisible.
‘The space is much more generous than I thought.’
It seemed Deokchan had really put some care into it.
‘Shall we start right away?’
“Ding!”
The large Nest Mana Stone held by the Worker Bug.
I began to direct my mana toward it.
Fwaaaaa—
Along with a faint light, bands of light within the mana stone trembled in various patterns according to my will.
‘Good.’
These bands of light acted as a sort of address, determining which dimension to open. Depending on how the pattern of the bands was decided, the connection to a specific dungeon was determined.
‘I’ve already decided where.’
I smiled.
I had long since finished contemplating which place would be best, recalling numerous dungeons one by one from my memory.
I immediately manipulated the mana to modify the pattern of the bands.
Srrr—
A pattern that vibrated and twisted slightly. But soon, as if it matched a specific Dimensional Rift, it began to stabilize.
‘The first dungeon has to be here.’
The grade of the monsters appearing was slightly higher than the current Earth, but since the quality of the mana stones was better, that wasn’t a disadvantage.
Moreover, there were significant deposits of rare metals and artifacts that weren’t bad considering the effort required.
It was like a comprehensive gift set where everything was available.
And the moment the bands of light stabilized and stopped vibrating.
‘Fix Rift.’
Paaaaang—
A hole was torn between the two dimensions.
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Water=Warehouse/shed: He said he finished building the Water.””
Castle man: After all, The Men wouldn’t even know the connection between the Magitech Armor and our Castle.