My Childhood Friend’s Stock Will Never Fail – Chapter 56

Author: Asternkm

After Jian lost her life in the gate that day, an S-rank Esper reportedly arrived to provide support, albeit a little too late.

Fortunately, Do-hwan and the other teammates were injured but not critically, and they all went on to defeat the boss Creature together.

“That was the first time I’d ever seen a Creature like that. Even when the S-rank Esper who came to support us went berserk, it barely took any damage. And that’s when I suspected it was a Gate Rift.”

A Gate Rift. In a way, the world’s setting matched this one almost perfectly, like a parallel universe.

They hadn’t known it at the time, but Creatures growing stronger while possessing abnormal powers. There was no doubt a Gate Rift had occurred.

“But I couldn’t just let myself be defeated. At the very least, I wanted to carry your body outside. I thought that was the least I could do as the one who was left behind.”

Hearing about what happened after she disappeared from the world felt too strange to put into words. Her chest felt tight, yet at the same time, she felt hollow, as if she were floating among the clouds, leaving her unable to say anything.

“I held on with that thought in mind, and when I came to my senses, I realized I’d defeated that thing at the very last moment. That’s when a status window appeared before my eyes.”

‘To you who have achieved an extraordinary feat, we offer a special opportunity.’

And so, Min-hwan had chosen to become a Constellation. He said he had been waiting for this very moment ever since.

“So, Jian.”

Min-hwan reached out and gently brushed Yoohee’s hair.

“Will you come with me?”

“Huh?”

“Honestly, isn’t this kind of life unsettling? If you come with me, you won’t even have to listen to the Constellations’ scenarios.”

The strands of hair wrapped around Min-hwan’s fingers slowly slipped free.

“I’ll make you a Constellation.”

A Constellation?

For a moment, Yoohee could only stare blankly at Min-hwan. Naturally, she had never once considered that she could become a Constellation.

When Yoohee failed to answer, Min-hwan tried to persuade her again.

“Of course, the registration process with the Galaxy will probably be quite complicated. But I’ll definitely make you a Constellation. I promise.”

“What…?”

“I’m serious. I have quite a bit of influence. Even the Easter egg that allowed you to meet me through the fortune cookie was something I created.”

“W-wait… It’s all too sudden. I’ve never even thought about something like this before. I never expected to meet you either…”

Her mind was in complete turmoil.

Min-hwan’s offer was certainly something to be grateful for, but it wasn’t something she could decide so easily.

If she disappeared, the people she had spent all this time with would be left behind.

“Yeah. I suppose you need some time to think.”

As though he could read Yoohee’s mind, Min-hwan nodded.

“Still, I’m glad I got to see you like this.”

“Min-hwan…”

[—-Update Progress—-97%—-98%]

“Let’s meet again.”

[100%—-Clunk Clunk—-Update Complete!]

With those final words, Min-hwan vanished.

Just like that, so suddenly that Yoohee wondered if she had been dreaming.

[Thank you to all the Constellations for your patience! You may now enjoy the channel to your heart’s content!]

As the channel reopened, the ding! of Constellations reconnecting sounded one after another.

[Constellation ‘Die-Hard Romance Fantasy Fan’ grumbles that this is annoying.]

[Constellation ‘SSS-Rank Free-to-Play Player’ curses the damn system.]

The chat on Yoohee’s phone remained unchanged.

Was Min-hwan still watching her even now?

Had he really come all this way just to meet her?

***

Ppiyak, who had slept soundly without waking since the evening, was full of energy again by morning.

After devouring two bowls of feed filled to the brim, Ppiyak happily flapped its wings and flew around the room.

You’re back, Ppiyak.

“This is the life. Eating those bitter tree fruits was such a nightmare.”

Apparently, when Ppiyak had left home, it had survived by eating tree fruits and drinking water from the sink. It had climbed the tree to pick the fruit.

“Shouldn’t we throw a little celebration? A welcome-back party for Ppiyak!”

Jinhee, who had returned that morning as well, was just as excited.

Ppiyak desperately tried to escape because it hated it, but Jinhee eventually caught it and rubbed her cheek against it.

“What does Ppiyak like? You can’t eat cake, so how about some special feed soup?”

“What kind of thing is that?”

“I can make it! Right, Ppiyak?”

“Peep! Peep!”

Ppiyak, caught in Jinhee’s hands, opened its beak as wide as it could and struggled to get free.

“…How about putting it down now?”

Ppiyak was threatening to count to ten and peck her in the face if she didn’t put it down. Since Jinhee obviously didn’t know this, Yoohee carefully warned her. With a disappointed expression, Jinhee finally pulled her cheek away from Ppiyak.

“Did I fuss over you too much? Sorry, I was just so happy to see you. But you still have to listen to your owner.”

The moment Jinhee put it down, Ppiyak shook its body vigorously, then toddled straight into its little house.

“We’ll be going now.”

“Go ahead.”

“Don’t run away from home again.”

“I won’t. Now get lost.”

Ppiyak answered cynically from inside its house.

Reassured that Ppiyak would stay home obediently, Yoohee gave a little smile and left the dormitory with Jinhee.

After parting ways with Jinhee in the hallway between the Kestrel and Black Panther classes, Yoohee entered the Black Panther classroom, where only a handful of students were still seated.

The moment she crossed the threshold, the disaster from yesterday suddenly came back to her.

Right. Yesterday…

Has Joohoon noticed?

It had been because of that damn scenario, but as far as Joohoon was concerned, Yoohee had practically been a kiss thief.

What if Joohoon despises me now?

She stood stiffly, when one of her oblivious classmates suddenly greeted her.

“Yoohee, hi! Huh? What’s wrong with you? Aren’t you going to sit next to Joohoon?”

“Ah, y-yeah.”

Hearing the conversation, Juhun turned around.

Perhaps because he was sitting by the window, he seemed to shine even more brightly today.

“You’re here, Yoohee.”

“Ah, hi.”

Fortunately, Joohoon’s attitude hadn’t changed much.

Did he not notice…?

“Phew.”

She let out a short breath of relief, but Juhun raised his languid eyes.

“What?”

“Ah… Oh! I found Ppiyak yesterday. So I was just relieved.”

“Really? That’s great. But how did you find it?”

Joohoon asked with genuine happiness, as if it were his own concern. Thanks to that, Yoohee relaxed as well and was able to talk to him comfortably.

“I found it on the way back to the dorm yesterday. Ppiyak was on top of a tree, and—gasp!”

She was so startled that she immediately raised a hand to cover her mouth.

When she instinctively turned her head, she saw a man who absolutely should not have been here.

…Am I really seeing this?

I mean, why? Why?

How is he…?

“Can I sit next to you?”

A calm voice came from beside Yoohee.

His shaggy hair still covered his eyes. He looked similar to how he had yesterday, but today, instead of the shabby blue jumpsuit, he was neatly dressed in the academy uniform.

As if he really were an academy student.

Unknown X.

Do Min-hwan.

“H-how…”

“Is this seat empty? I’ll sit here.”

While Yoohee stood frozen, Min-hwan gave a slight upward curve of his lips and placed his bag on the empty seat beside her.

He calmly put his books on the desk and took out his writing utensils.

He looked exactly like an ordinary student.

“Is he a transfer student?”

“I didn’t hear anything about that. But his hairstyle is really unusual. So is his vibe.”

“Don’t you think he’d be insanely handsome if he cut his hair?”

The students in the classroom whispered as they looked at Min-hwan.