Chapter 213

“It’s dangerous…”

“No, it’s okay now.”

Seo Yeri pulled Lee Jin-ah out from where she was hiding among the dusty cleaning tools.

“I took care of them all.”

At her words, Lee Jin-ah looked around with a startled face.

“You… did all this, Unnie?”

Her dark brown eyes reflected the monster remains scattered everywhere.

Seo Yeri nodded.

“Yeah. Me and my friends.”

Lee Jin-ah’s mouth fell open for a moment before she spoke.

“You must be really strong.”

Seo Yeri almost burst out laughing, forgetting the situation for a second.

Then she noticed the parasol Lee Jin-ah was clutching tightly.

It was in much better condition than the one she’d restored with the power of time just moments ago.

“So cool… I’m jealous.”

Lee Jin-ah muttered. Seo Yeri said to her,

“You’ll be like this too someday.”

“…Me?”

Lee Jin-ah shook her head as if it were impossible. But Seo Yeri met her eyes.

They looked completely different.

Different enough that no one would recognize them as the same person, just like the old Seo Yeri had wanted.

But Seo Yeri knew. That Lee Jin-ah was her past self.

“It hurts too much… It won’t happen.”

To her timid past self, Seo Yeri said,

“You’re all better now. You can move so well.”

“Am I really all better?”

Lee Jin-ah hesitated, still unable to believe it.

Seo Yeri nodded.

“Of course. That’s why you can move like this.”

After this, you won’t suffer from illness anymore.

Seo Yeri looked down at Lee Jin-ah.

Your time, which you had given up on, has started flowing again.

She didn’t need to say it—Lee Jin-ah already seemed to sense it.

“…”

Her eyes, which had sparkled with joy at first, began to cloud with gloom.

Even though her life, which had been waiting for death, had been pulled back from the brink, she stayed silent. It just didn’t feel real.

And…

Seo Yeri took Lee Jin-ah’s hand.

It was still rough, but now that she was S-rank, her skin would soon improve noticeably.

Telling her that wouldn’t lift her spirits, though.

Seo Yeri knew. She’d felt that mood herself.

Back then, convinced she was going to die soon, she’d abandoned all hope.

So she’d lived recklessly.

She hadn’t tried to open her heart to people she might never see again.

She’d been bratty and caused trouble.

‘I’ll just live however I want!’

Or so she’d told herself. But the truth was different.

She’d been jealous of people who, unlike her, had bright futures ahead.

But now…

Being told she was better meant she had to take responsibility for all the relationships she’d ruined with her antics.

The people who’d left wouldn’t come back, and she’d have to navigate an even harsher world alone.

It would be lonely.

She was afraid of that.

“You don’t have to be scared.”

Seo Yeri continued, still holding her hand.

“Live however you want.”

To Lee Jin-ah, whose eyes widened, she repeated,

I was scared too, actually.

I couldn’t approach Shin Yuri the hunter or Shin Jae-heon the hunter as my true self. Even after getting close, I couldn’t tell them I was Lee Jin-ah.

I was afraid they’d be disappointed in me.

At first, because of how badly I’d acted as Lee Jin-ah.

Later, because I’d deceived them for so long under the false identity of ‘Seo Yeri’.

I couldn’t say it, fearing they’d leave.

‘…’

The secret she’d kept putting off—”I’ll tell them someday”—had been exposed unexpectedly because of this dungeon.

In a way she hadn’t wanted, at a timing she never imagined.

But Shin Yuri, Shin Jae-heon, and even Joo Yian the hunter said nothing.

She’d known, really.

They were the kind of people who would accept her as she was now, no matter her past.

But Seo Yeri had been missing something important.

She’d been deceiving even herself.

It was true she feared they’d leave.

That they’d think she’d approached them under false pretenses. That things wouldn’t be the same.

But the real reason she couldn’t reveal her past was different. She’d realized it seeing these memories.

It was because her past self seemed inferior compared to others.

Like she was the only shabby one among all those shining people.

And so, the bonds built on the false identity of ‘Seo Yeri’ had only grown thicker.

The more they did, the harder it became to reveal the truth.

Her very existence was built on lies. She’d even deceived them about something as basic as her identity in their relationships, so she imagined their sense of betrayal would be immense.

I’ll tell them after this year. After summer. After winter… Time had slipped by like that, and ten years had passed.

But now she knew.

The moment you realize it’s late is when it’s truly late—so she had to fix it now.

She would tell them the truth. With her own mouth. Even if they already knew, it would be different from hearing it directly.

The moment she realized that, Seo Yeri clearly understood what her past self in this time—what Lee Jin-ah here—would regret.

She wanted to stand side by side with Shin Yuri the hunter and Shin Jae-heon the hunter. To shine in the same place.

But feeling like ‘this me’ couldn’t stand with them, she’d erased her past.

That irreparable mistake was the regret.

She regretted her past self’s shame. There had been no need to feel ashamed.

“You don’t have to be ashamed, Jin-ah.”

At Seo Yeri’s words, Lee Jin-ah’s eyes went wide.

“How do you know my name—”

As she started to ask, Seo Yeri gently pressed her index finger to Lee Jin-ah’s lips.

Then she smiled prettily.

“What do you think? Am I pretty?”

Lee Jin-ah answered as if entranced.

“Yes… You’re dazzling.”

Of course she was.

I’ve become the version of myself I most wanted to change into.

Seo Yeri smiled faintly.

“You’ll grow even prettier and more dazzling than me. No matter who you’re standing next to, the only one who’ll be ashamed is you.”

She stroked Lee Jin-ah’s hair.

“All you need to do is break free from the past. You’re already beautiful, and your future will shine even brighter.”

Sometimes, even hearing what you want to hear doesn’t make you believe it.

Even words you want to believe can seem too far from reality.

In those times, you need to give them faith. Seo Yeri smiled confidently.

“I’ll assure you—the one who called you pretty. You’ll shine brighter than anyone.”

She said it with conviction.

“You don’t need to change.”

You don’t need a new appearance. Just live as you are, as Lee Jin-ah.

“Ah…”

Those words struck Lee Jin-ah right in the heart.

Seo Yeri saw the buff blinking in one corner of her skill window.

As if it mirrored that she’d moved Lee Jin-ah’s heart.

But the past couldn’t be changed.

Seo Yeri herself would have to live with this skill. But Lee Jin-ah didn’t need it.

So Seo Yeri patted her shoulder.

“…Thank you.”

Soon, Lee Jin-ah said in a small voice. Seo Yeri wiped the tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.

“Now, get out of here. Go do what you want.”

Seo Yeri stood up. Hesitantly, Lee Jin-ah asked,

“Can I really do it?”

Her voice lacked confidence. But Seo Yeri nodded.

“Yes. You already look dazzling to me.”

You can do anything. Seo Yeri beckoned to her.

As if telling her to go now.

But Lee Jin-ah hesitated.

“Why?”

When Seo Yeri asked, Lee Jin-ah said,

“It’s happened before.”

This time, Seo Yeri hid her smile, showing only a puzzled expression.

But inwardly, she wanted to smile the brightest she had since meeting Lee Jin-ah.

She had a feeling what she would say.

“I ignored kindness like this. I didn’t even return it, just turned away… But I won’t do that now.”

Yes, that’s the spirit.

Seo Yeri nodded.

“Then will you give me a gift?”

At that, Lee Jin-ah cautiously nodded.

But having rushed out of the hospital room, she had nothing on her.

As Lee Jin-ah fumbled in her pockets in a fluster, Seo Yeri thought,

She’s pretty. So pretty.

Smiling like that, without thinking, Seo Yeri pointed to what Lee Jin-ah was gripping tightly.

“How about giving me that?”

It was the holey parasol. The one containing Shin Yuri’s feelings.

“This…”

“The sun outside is too bright. It’s exactly what I need.”

Lee Jin-ah hesitated at Seo Yeri’s words.

“I have to return it to someone.”

She said softly. But Seo Yeri shook her head.

“Then go buy a pretty parasol and give it to her. She’ll like that.”

Shin Yuri the hunter would prefer seeing you healthy over getting the parasol back.

She swallowed the last part, but Lee Jin-ah’s eyes widened.

She seemed amazed by this older sister who knew everything.

“…How do you know?”

“Once you become as pretty as this, you’ll know everything too.”

Seo Yeri said, crossing her arms. Lee Jin-ah stared at her and finally burst into laughter.

She thought it was ridiculous, apparently.

But in the end, she handed the parasol to Seo Yeri.

“Here. Please take good care of it.”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

This will be used for the most meaningful purpose in the world. Seo Yeri thought to herself.

Lee Jin-ah stepped back a few paces, then bowed her head.

“Thank you.”

“Sure. The exit is at the top floor. I’ll head out soon too.”

Seo Yeri pointed the way she’d come.

“If you don’t hurry, more scary ones might show up!”

Lee Jin-ah froze at that.

“I’ll go after I see you leave.”

Only then did Lee Jin-ah start walking. As she headed for the stairs, she turned back to look at Seo Yeri.

Seo Yeri waved.

“Bye!”

She said it lightheartedly.

Tadak, tadak. The sound of quick footsteps echoed.

Seo Yeri quietly looked at the space where her younger self had been hiding.

And soon, reactions came in the hunter chat.

The three had been hiding until Seo Yeri ‘finished her business’.

As if about to jump out, Seo Yeri quickly posted in the chat.

The unspoken “You’re not going to die, right?” seemed swallowed.

Seo Yeri smiled gently.

There’s no reason for Lee Jin-ah to turn into me anymore.

Through her own system window, Seo Yeri gazed at Lee Jin-ah’s faintly visible one.

Nowhere on the system window of Lee Jin-ah heading outside was there a skill called ‘New Self (L)’.

She would start her life as a new S-rank support hunter, just as she was.

Seo Yeri smiled faintly.