Translator : I tried really hard to accurately translate this chapter but the writing style of the author is very hard to understand.
"Wow!"
What's going on here?
As our eyes met, a boy seemed more astonished than I was, his eyes widening as he covered his mouth. I wondered if this was some trick of the author's, so I just watched him quietly. Then, the boy who seemed to find it unbelievable muttered, pointing at Sihyun with his finger.
"It's you... me?"
"...Not exactly."
"...Amazing."
The boy uttered a pure exclamation and blinked. Lost in thought, he bit his lip and fell silent. How much time passed like that? Finally, as if he had sorted out his thoughts a while later, the boy who had been seated waved towards Sihyun.
"Hey."
As me.
Well, more accurately, as Kang Sihyun—the way I've lived for the past month.
Sihyun, feeling uneasy at the sight of the boy with the exact same face as his own, hesitated as he stared at the boy in front of him. The boy chuckled. It felt odd.
Not awkward, just...
The boy's appearance felt more natural than his own.
That feeling made Sihyun keenly aware that he wasn't Kang Sihyun. Unlike himself, who barely changed expressions or showed any emotions apart from a poker face, his feelings toward the boy, small but brightly smiling, were just that. It felt natural and beautiful. Sihyun learned today that when he smiles with Kang Sihyun's face, it looks like that.
"This...?"
"How do I look?"
"......"
At the question, Sihyun's thoughts stopped. His mind, which had been spinning with thoughts, came to a halt, making him feel like the world had stopped.
As he stared at the boy, astonished by the unexpected words, the boy smiled like a protagonist from a youthful comic, revealing a neat row of teeth. A senseless laughter rang out. It was refreshing just to look at it—a clean, refreshing smile.
The protagonist from a youthful comic.
...No way.
The thought that struck Sihyun was astonishing. The boy's question about how he looked echoed in his ears.
"You..."
As Sihyun stumbled over his words in surprise, the boy laughed. It was affirmative.
"Ah..."
Speechless, Sihyun's eyes wandered. While he had pondered what it might be like to meet the real Kang Sihyun someday, he never imagined meeting someone like this.
"Is this a dream...?"
It made sense if all of this was a dream. Expressing that thought verbally, the boy, who had looked at him meaningfully, collapsed onto the ground, crossing his legs.
"Not too dark, huh? Want to come this way?"
The boy, tapping my seat beside him, offered cheerfully. Feeling a sense of affability, Sihyun hesitated but eventually walked over. The boy, satisfied with Sihyun's choice, looked up as if in thought. Unintentionally following his gaze, Sihyun's sight landed on the ambiguous area that could be called the ceiling or the sky. It was dim.
"Sudden, isn't it? Umm... where should I start?"
Sihyun, seated, fixed his gaze on the boy who seemed to want to kindly explain something in this unfriendly world. Unconsciously, amidst everything inhospitable about this world, he found himself listening, as the boy seemed genuinely willing to share something.
The bewildered boy responded with a puzzled expression, scratching his cheek and managing an uncertain smile. Suddenly, he squirmed uncomfortably, as if feeling constrained, and fidgeted a few times. Tap-tap. He rubbed his head. Each of these small actions seemed mismatched yet strangely fitting with Kang Sihyun's demeanor. It was an odd contradiction.
"So, what I'm trying to say is... Argh! It's hard to sound like there's something when the words just won't come out!"
"...."
Startled by the sudden increase in volume, Sihyun blinked at the boy. After meeting Sihyun's gaze, the boy cleared his throat and continued.
"Basically, what I mean is, not all dreams necessarily show falsehoods. Even what you're seeing right now, even if it might be a dream. It's not certain that what you're experiencing is false."
It sounded nonsensical. Yet, despite the boy's surreal talk, Sihyun couldn't voice his thoughts. Understandably so, as he lived a life more surreal than most.
His head dropped abruptly. The colorless floor filled his view.
Is this a dream or reality? Is the person I'm seeing the one I'm imagining?
Questions looped endlessly. Lost in unsorted thoughts, Sihyun stared at the boy, who, in turn, wore a somewhat tender expression as if understanding his confusion.
"Sorry, just thinking aloud."
"Why?"
Sihyun raised his head at the unexpected apology. If anyone between him and the boy had to apologize, it should have been himself, not the boy.
Actually, neither him nor the boy had a reason to apologize. If anyone had to, it would be someone else entirely. Yes, whoever sent him here should apologize, not the boy.
With that thought, looking at the boy, the one facing Sihyun gave a slight, wistful smile. It felt oddly poignant to Sihyun.
"It must be confusing and frustrating. You seem incredibly sensitive from what I've seen. So, you're probably struggling even now. I... I was just too straightforward back then; I thought that was the best approach."
"...Talking like you know everything. But we've only met today. What are you saying?"
"Well... I'm limited in what I can disclose."
"Limit?"
Asking about words he couldn't comprehend, Sihyun pursed his lips, and the boy playfully chuckled, bringing his index finger to his lips. "Men are naturally secretive," he murmured, revealing a contrasting nature between Sihyun and the boy. Maybe he had known this from the start.
"Anyway, it might sound like an excuse, but back then, I genuinely thought that was the best way. I'm not really attentive, so I never considered your temperament. I'm sorry. They said I couldn't brush it off as if it never happened, although I didn't want to."
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
His firm gaze wavered at the influx of incomprehensible words. Seeing his clear displeasure, the boy shrugged, indicating his inability to explain further.
Better not to speak at all if it's going to confuse people.
Being ambiguous only adds confusion, and that's the best up to here; from there on, it's a secret. Sighing at the lack of clarity despite rolling thoughts, Sihyun scrutinized the boy, who looked exactly like him. The confusion solidified into a question.
"...Are you the person I think you are?"
"I wonder, what do you think?"
The boy's playful smile didn't confirm anything. Finally voicing what he had been thinking, Sihyun said, "You seem like a creation of my imagination."
Gasp! The boy was taken aback by Sihyun's words. With an exaggerated reaction and no response from him, the puzzled boy rubbed his head, closing his eyes and shaking his head.
"Umm... Okay. I think I can tell you this much. I am the person you think I am. It's not a figment of your imagination. To be precise, you entered my space, so I wonder if what I see is real."
"Me?"
"Yeah."
"...."
Lost in thought after the boy's words, Sihyun felt like his head was boiling with new information, adding to his already complex thoughts. Ugh. While observing Sihyun, who seemed as strange to himself as a stranger, the boy laughed at his perplexity.
"Haha, it's natural to be confused. To me, you need to simplify things a bit. Trying to know what shouldn't be known only makes it harder for you."
People who are too complicated struggle more in simpler aspects. You seem to fit that bill.
Wouldn't anyone become complicated in such a situation? Sihyun couldn't agree with the cheerful boy's words. Then, something dawned on him. The boy abruptly moved his head from side to side as if dismissing something and stood up.
"Check my mind. Not the time for this."
"....?"
"Um, I don't know how much longer you'll be here, but there's plenty of time to teach, right?"
"What?"
"From what I see, it seems I sent you here to learn something."
"...What do you want to teach?"
What to teach and being sent here... What do those words mean? Am I even conversing with a person right now?
"Since a while ago, Kang Sihyun felt increasingly alienated as the boy beside him muttered something only he seemed to know. Feeling isolated despite being the only two there, Sihyun raised an eyebrow at the boy's peculiar behavior, until the boy suddenly tapped his neck with his fingertips.
"Isn't there something you need to know?"
"Oh."
Come to think of it, there was.
Sihyun, who had unconsciously reached up to touch his own neck at the boy's gesture, nodded. He'd heard that he needed to realize it himself, but he hadn't expected the boy to enlighten him.
"Do others realize in this way too?"
"Doubt it. Others figure it out on their own. We're a bit of a special case, including my ability in yours. That's why I have to show you. I've been practicing every day, thinking this chance might come."
Practicing?
As Sihyun tilted his head in puzzlement, the boy chuckled, saying seeing is believing, and clapped his hands. Then, the space behind the boy lit up as if a light had been switched on.
Snap. When the boy flicked his finger, a human figure appeared in the bright space. Startled, Sihyun looked at the boy who gestured towards the figure as if commanding attention, applauding like a magician.
In response to the applause, the figure extended its hand.
Whoosh!
Fire erupted from the figure's hand unexpectedly.
"Your ability is fire?"
"If it were that simple, would I show it off this grandly? It's not over yet."
The boy, seeming pitiful in his surprised response, flicked his finger once more. The figure slowly began to disappear.
Feeling as if watching a magic show, Sihyun stared at the boy who casually lifted his chin. Then, with a flick of his finger, the figure reappeared as before and suddenly emitted a bolt of lightning.
After that, the boy healed the injured figure and even melted something like an object. It was impressive, but the ability lacked consistency.
"I really can't figure out what ability this is." As if pondering, the boy looked at Sihyun, touching his chin. Then, with a smirk, he said something so confident that it made Sihyun uneasy.
"Remember the ability I first showed you?"
"Fire?"
"Yes, technically, it's one of the skills in the fire attribute class. Look, like this."
Whoosh!
As the boy reached out, flames identical to what Sihyun had seen before spewed from his hand. Feeling the heat, Sihyun stared at the blazing fire with a puzzled expression.
"Still not getting it?"
Shaking his head in response to the question, Sihyun watched as this time the boy began to disappear right before his eyes.
"…!"
Suddenly vanishing, Sihyun widened his eyes, wondering if the dream was ending, when suddenly, from behind him, a playful laughter sounded. Turning around, he saw the boy reappear slowly, making a sound effect and displaying both palms.
"Well? Any clue now?"
"…Can't be."
His narrowed eyes widened a few seconds later. Can't be, he thought, but there was no other explanation. With a bright smile, the boy flicked his finger decisively.
"Bingo."
A flash, and lightning struck. It was the lightning he'd seen before.
Unbelievable.
Swallowing the almost-spoken curse, Sihyun looked at the boy with a helpless expression.
"I just wished for a power that wouldn't let me fall."
"Copy, that's my class name."
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