Debuting by Riding the Returnee’s Bus – Chapter 139

Author: LyraDhani

‘Are you guys seriously… still talking?’

“…….”

‘For real? You’re still at it?’

“…….”

‘Still, how can you stay up all night outside…’

It was 4 AM, then 5 AM, and Jegal Hwi’s empty bed was seared into my eyes. Joo Wooyoung likely hadn’t returned either.

I hadn’t heard the door open, nor had I heard footsteps. I couldn’t believe they were still somewhere out there having a conversation at this hour.

‘What on earth are they talking about? F*ck. What could they possibly have so much to discuss? Is it about me? Don’t tell me… they’re deciding what to do with me?”

The anxiety was driving me insane. In fact, it would have been stranger not to feel anxious. After all, the two people I suspected knew my true identity—or at least knew what kind of abilities I possessed—were having a private conversation.

What was there more to explain? I bitterly regretted nodding my head at Jegal Hwi’s words and coming back to the dorm alone like a fool.

‘Didn’t Jegal Hwi catch me using Conversation with the Dead? What if… what if he’s telling Joo Wooyoung about that right now?’

“…….”

‘I was stupid. Lee Unha. I should have stayed there, no matter what excuse I had to make. Coming back alone like an idiot was a truly brain-dead choice. I should’ve hidden somewhere and eavesdropped on whatever they were talking about.’

“…….”

Of course, that had never really been possible. It was nothing more than wishful thinking. My anxiety was just flaring up, making me regret everything: What if I did this? What if I did that?

Thinking about it rationally, returning to the dorm had probably been the better choice. It was better than making them unnecessarily suspicious. If I had tried to hide at an awkward distance, Joo Wooyoung would have caught me for sure, and using Conversation with the Dead to ask a soul for help was also out of the question.

Even if Joo Wooyoung tolerated me eavesdropping, would Jegal Hwi?

Just as before, using spirits would have run into the same problem. Even if Joo Wooyoung miraculously failed to notice the anomaly… Jegal Hwi definitely would have.

With a high probability—no, almost certainly…

‘That bastard is a returnee too.’

Or at least, an ability user.

“…….”

Truthfully, I’d already felt that something was off. I just tried to ignore it, thinking it was too nonsensical.

That look in his eyes in the music show hallway a while back. That expression only a human butcher from the other world would make. Recalling now how his breathing never faltered during practice or performances, I felt like a fool for missing so many signs.

Looking back now…

‘Crown… Kang Hyuk getting kicked out of Idol Classism…’

Could that have been Jegal Hwi’s doing?

I distinctly remember talking with Jegal Hwi about the debut song and Crown’s management direction before the incident exploded. Until now, I thought it was the Archmage’s work, but maybe it wasn’t them—maybe it was Jegal Hwi.

I still didn’t know exactly what kind of ability he had… but at the very least, it was certain he had something strange. Maybe he possessed power rivaling Joo Wooyoung’s.

That wasn’t the only reason I’d reached that conclusion.

After all,

‘Didn’t Joo Wooyoung seem to be… wary of Jegal Hwi?’

He definitely looked like he was being cautious and on guard. At the time, everything had happened too quickly for me to think clearly but thinking back, Joo Wooyoung definitely seemed wary of him.

He even gave the impression that he was trying to protect me. He’d physically stepped in front of me and seemed to be trying to peel Jegal Hwi away when he was asking me sensitive questions.

Of course, it was a stretch to call it concrete evidence based on facts, but…

‘No. My intuition is right.’

Normally, Joo Wooyoung would have just chanted Unchiora immediately. When he first met me, didn’t he mindlessly chant it and then give a ridiculous excuse? He practically had Chronic Unchiora Syndrome; he would have handled that situation with Unchiora if it were a normal day.

The fact that Joo Wooyoung had held himself back told me everything I needed to know.

Naturally, my presence there wasn’t even the real issue. He could have just knocked us both out and given another absurd excuse. The fact that he didn’t choose the easiest solution…

‘Jegal Hwi has the magic resistance to withstand Unchiora. Or he has an ability to take measures before the spell even activates. No matter how much I think about it, that’s the only explanation.’

Before that…

‘What is the relationship between those two? Did they cross paths in the other world? They didn’t seem that close. It’s safe to say they aren’t comrades, right? I never heard about a black-haired comrade. Or were they political enemies?’

No, if not that…

‘Did he come from somewhere else?’

Not the same other world as ours…

‘Did he come from an entirely different place?’

For example…

‘Could he be from a Murim novel?’

Come to think of it…

‘Those souls I saw back then… those souls… weren’t they all wearing martial arts robes? Their speech was a bit strange… and I think some of them were carrying swords… Child… child… this lady… didn’t they say something like that?’

No, it wasn’t just that…

‘His way of speaking is weird, too. He overuses strange four-character idioms and Hanja…’

Not to mention…

‘What the f*ck are those morning exercises he does on the rooftop every day? Seriously… isn’t that… isn’t that internal martial arts cultivation? I always thought it was just like those old guys exercising in the park… was that actually cultivation practice the whole time?’

Even I thought the idea sounded utterly ridiculous. I felt a sense of self-loathing for basically writing a novel in my head, but several circumstances pointed toward Jegal Hwi having popped out of a Murim world.

Since I had no eye for judging the strength of others, I couldn’t tell how powerful Jegal Hwi really was, but Joo Wooyoung might have realized Jegal Hwi was unusual from the start. Perhaps they had an implicit agreement to keep their distance and not invade each other’s territory…

And…

That agreement… might have been broken yesterday because of me.

“…….”

The scattered pieces that had refused to fit together suddenly felt as though they were beginning to fall into place. If someone asked whether I was certain this was the truth, I could only answer with a hesitant nod…. but it definitely felt like another layer of fog had lifted from my mind.

If I had to summarize everything, it would probably look something like this:

First: Joo Wooyoung is a returnee from the same other world as me, and Jegal Hwi is likely a returnee from a different world.

Second: The two were aware of each other’s existence and, under implicit consent, kept to their own areas while observing Lee Unha.

Third: As the rank of my Succubus’ Eye got an upgrade, Jegal Hwi might have judged me to be a dangerous element. Joo Wooyoung knew this.

Fourth: Whether Jegal Hwi is hostile toward me or not, Joo Wooyoung is trying to protect me from him. In other words, he considers me a comrade.

Yeah, that seemed like a solid summary. In a situation where everything felt unpleasant, the only good point was… that Joo Wooyoung was trying to protect me.

‘Can I finally consider him a true ally? Can I assume he’ll keep shielding me from Jegal Hwi?’

Or perhaps the day would come when the two of them would show up together to kill Lee Unha…

‘F*ck, seriously… why are things turn out this way…’

Just as I decided there was no point thinking any further—

Creeeeak. The door opened.

“…….”

Reflexively, I jumped out of bed and looked at the figure entering the room. Naturally, it was Jegal Hwi.

“Uh… you’re back?”

“Yeah.”

“So…”

“Did you get any sleep?”

“A… a little?”

“That’s good.”

His expression was no different than usual. Since his poker face was his normal expression, nothing about it seemed particularly strange but today, I felt a lingering sense of unease.

But Jegal Hwi didn’t particularly make eye contact with me. Naturally, he didn’t seem to have any intention of talking about what he discussed with Joo Wooyoung or what had been said. Even if I asked, I instinctively knew he wouldn’t answer. Furthermore, in this room…

‘Baek Suhyeon is here too.’

It would be even harder to talk. Sure enough, as if refusing any further conversation… Jegal Hwi walked straight to Baek Suhyeon and started shaking him.

“Baek Suhyeon. It’s morning.”

Soon, Baek Suhyeon’s voice was heard.

“Mmm… five more minutes.”

“Get up.”

“Hnnmm.. I didn’t get proper sleep yesterday, Jegal hyung. Can’t I sleep just ten more minutes…?”

“Get up.”

“…Okay.”

“…….”

“Ah! Good morning, Unha.”

“Yeah, Suhyeon. Good morning.”

This was a little random, but…

‘Is he from another world too?’

If it was practically certain that three members were from another world, wasn’t there at least a chance Baek Suhyeon was as well?

“I should greet the spirits today too.”

‘No. He’s definitely not from another world.’

“I pray, I pray. Please, Water Spirit… Wind Spirit… let me hear good news today. Let us hear good news.”

‘There’s no way he came from another world too. A guy who blabbered about being a Northern Grand Duke couldn’t possibly be a returnee.’

Judging by the exasperated look even Jegal Hwi was giving him…

‘I’d sooner believe Taehee or Haejun hyung are from another world. This guy is definitely not.’

He was likely far removed from supernatural powers.

Perhaps noticing that mine and Jegal Hwi’s gazes were fixed on him, Baek Suhyeon let out a hearty laugh and spoke.

“You’ve got to pray like this if you want good luck. Today’s an important day.”

“?”

“The day the final first-week sales are tallied!”

“Don’t we… already roughly know?”

“Roughly knowing is different from hearing it directly. It’s the day we hear the results of our hard work starting from Idol Classism. Shouldn’t we face the results with a mind as clear as a still mirror?”

“…….”

“Ah! I got a text from the Director last night.”

Grinning from ear to ear, Baek Suhyeon held up his phone. My mind was in such a mess that I thought nothing could surprise me, but…

“That’s insane….”

[Rookie Agency]

[First-week Sales: 1,674,320 copies]

[YouTube Views: 168.05 million]

[Short-form Performance Views: 303.24 million]

[Portal Site Trend Search Volume: 1st]

[Jamon Music Site Ranking: Peak 2nd]

[M-Countdown: 1st Place]

My jaw dropped at the metrics I had never even imagined.