SWNOVELXO Chapter 17
**Episode 17: A Dreamlike Reunion**
I felt my consciousness slipping away.
It seemed as if I was about to reunite with my ex-girlfriend, who had departed to a place I thought I would never see her again.
After hearing Harin’s notification-like request to arrive by 8 o’clock, I made my way to the large guild’s main gate on time.
This time, I made sure not to forget my weapon.
My weapon, wrapped several times in a thin cloth, looked rather shabby but was strapped to my back, hiding the blade and only showing the hilt.
Why do I mention this?
It’s because of the reflection of my appearance in the guild’s main gate.
I was a bit flustered that what should be visible wasn’t.
That’s because a panty-clad spirit was sitting on my shoulder.
When I turned my head to the side, her firm behind blocked my entire view.
“Hey. Why are you sitting on my shoulder?”
I used Chaewon’s characteristic of reading my thoughts to communicate with her mentally in a crowded place outdoors.
It seemed that only I could hear what Chaewon was saying anyway.
So, I ended up with a talking companion who could communicate anytime and anywhere.
【I’m tired.】
“You can fly, right? What’s tiring about that?”
【Flying is tiring too.】
“Hey, but isn’t it a bit strange?”
【What is?】
“The shoulder you’re sitting on feels a bit heavy, doesn’t it?”
【Of course. I’m actually sitting there.】
“But you’re a ghost, right? It’s normal that I can’t feel your weight or texture sitting on my shoulder.”
【No. I’m your possession by my permission, so I can be touched whether I permit it or not.】
It seems that if a ghost allows it, one can touch them.
“Well, no wonder the cushion feel from my shoulder is quite something.”
【Uh, I suppose? If that’s the case, I’ll occasionally use it as a seat, so thank me.】
It was fortunate that being a spirit didn’t make her feel excessively heavy.
Chaewon, who spoke with a flushed face, seemed to have reluctantly played along with my joke.
“… It’s a bit funny to ask now, but can I ask you one thing?”
【..What is it now..】
“I was just wondering, do you go out like that, wearing only underwear?”
【I didn’t want to be going around like this either?!.. Lucky to have worn a top before dying….】
【Ah.. I thought of something last night. Listen.】
As the conversation seemed to be getting lengthy, I summarized what she said.
Chaewon mentioned that she had been wearing the same clothes when she died.
Maybe because of that, she said she couldn’t wear clothes from the living world.
“… That sounds a bit strange, doesn’t it? What do those two reasons have to do with each other?”
【Just listen!】
Anyway, she said she could shed clothes but couldn’t wear those from the living world.
This meant that she could wear clothes from other spirits (ghosts).
In any case, she could wear anything except for the clothes from the living world.
【Got it? So next time, whether we go to a common graveyard or a gate where many spirits appear, let’s go! My lower body feels empty outdoors… I’m starting to feel weird… I think I’m going insane!】
I would have to take Chaewon to wherever she wanted next time.
But where was Harin?
While I was mentally chatting with Chaewon and looking around, Harin was nowhere to be seen.
“Did she go in first?”
Considering the situation where Harin might be standing around in the crowded association that gets bustling from 8 o’clock, it would be tough for her to just stand there.
I entered into the large guild.
“Welcome. Is this your first time inside the Triangle Guild?”
I hadn’t noticed someone approaching from behind.
“Ah.. were you already inside?”
I turned around to check the face and spoke.
“Yes. I haven’t been waiting long. I just arrived a few minutes ago.”
“But… Triangle Guild? The guild’s name is ‘Triangle’?”
“Yes. You didn’t know?”
Harin crossed her arms.
With Harin crossing her arms, her chest was emphasized more.
【What are you looking at so sneakily?】
Chaewon, sitting on my shoulder, shook her behind, urging me to pay attention.
“Ahem.. If it’s Triangle… does that mean triangular guild? What was the meaning behind the name?”
“Sure, it does mean triangle, but I think the meaning of Triangle in Triangle Guild probably relates to instruments.”
“Instruments?”
The triangle instrument I knew was undeniably a triangular instrument where one of its angles was disconnected.
“That metal triangle instrument you hit with a metal stick, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
【Pfft, what kind of description is that? It sounds completely lacking.】
Chaewon, who said that, continued to laugh afterward.
Her laughter filled my mind entirely.
‘Please be quiet.’
“Here, take this.”
“Huh? A4 paper? What is this?”
“Today, we need to do everything written on it and reconvene here in the lobby.”
The paper Harin had given me contained the list of tasks for today.
“Ah.. got it. What are you going to do?”
“I’ll be doing the same work. Don’t forget our date after work today~ That’s the most important part.”
Harin smiled with her eyes.
After that, she turned around and walked away.
‘..Is there no way for her to see ahead?’
【Huh? What did you say?】
“Oh right.”
Harin quickly approached me, as if she had forgotten something, and placed her hand over my heart.
“You… I’ll heal you so you can work well today.”
“I’m not injured… can you at least help me get back in shape?”
“Yes.. but first, could you check if anyone around us is watching?”
‘Why are you asking me to check?..’
I looked around, scanning for any observers.
On the right, I felt no gaze upon us; everyone seemed busy.
And on the left…
… Someone’s behind filled my field of view heavily.
‘Aren’t you coming down?’
【… Didn’t you say it was nice?】
‘Strictly speaking, I never said it was nice. I just called it art.’
【That’s the same thing, isn’t it?】
“Uh?..”
Suddenly, Harin withdrew her hand from my body and reached down.
With a strange sound.
Then, unexpectedly, a sharp pain shot through my palm.
The feeling of skin tearing.
“W-What are you doing…?!”
“What? By the way, my palm suddenly hurts a lot…”
“Ah.. it’s nothing. We’ll talk again after work.”
Harin seemed a bit colder now.
“Um.. take care…”
I greeted softly.
【Hey. Why are you nice to that girl but treat me like this?】
‘You’re the one who’s into exhibitionism, right?’
What is going on?
【Do you think I expose myself because I want to? Besides, only you can see me… is that not good for you?】
‘…’
The pain I felt in my palm seemed like it wouldn’t subside anytime soon.
【Since you’re silent, I guess you admit it? That my long legs are absolutely stunning.】
It felt like Chaewon was losing her sense of propriety gradually.
Originally, she had at least a bit of shame when I first met her.
Had she changed thinking that no one could see her?
Of course, her lower body was flawless and really great.
But hearing her say it herself infuriated me.
Especially since she was the one who was embarrassed until yesterday.
She slowly traced her fingers from her toes to her pelvis.
【My pelvis… is wide, isn’t it?】
The pain in my palm gradually intensified.
“Hey… don’t do that.”
【Why? Can’t you stand it? If that’s the case, go to the bathroom and solve it. I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything.】
With a sigh, I lightly ignored Chaewon’s words and glanced at the list Harin had given me.
1. Conduct safety inspection. (32nd floor)
2. Check the gate clearance ledger (review profit structure)
3. Date afterward (most important)
Summarizing it into three lines made it very convenient.
However, it seemed that this was written with a pencil by someone who couldn’t see.
Writing with eyes closed, the handwriting looked exceptionally neat.
The first task I need to tackle is the safety inspection.
According to what’s written, I need to head to the 32nd floor.
【Why did you write to only conduct the safety inspection on the 32nd floor?】
‘I don’t know.’
I walked toward the elevator.
The elevator door opened.
“I met Harin here last time.”
【Was Harin that dangerously cute girl you saw earlier?】
“No, Harin is incredibly kind, so what’s dangerous about that… It was just a little happening last time.”
【Last time?】
“Yeah. When you weren’t around. You don’t need to know.”
Just like when I met Harin here last time, I felt like there might be someone waiting inside when the elevator doors fully opened.
But this time, there was no one inside the elevator.
I got inside and looked for the button to the 32nd floor.
As I pressed the 32nd-floor button, I noticed something strange.
While the association has up to the 51st floor, this counted only up to the 49th floor.
They were clearly constructed in the same way, so why were there no 50th and 51st floors?
Or conversely, it might be strange for the association building to have a 50th and 51st floor.
After quite a long ascent, I began to feel gravity inside the elevator.
– Ding~!
The elevator doors opened.
【Wow.. it’s huge, isn’t it? Bigger than my house!】
“My house? When did it become my house…”
【Shouldn’t we move to a place like this?】
‘You can talk about those things after you get off my shoulder…’
As I ascended, the association and guild buildings gradually narrowed.
That said, the top floor didn’t shrink down to single-room size.
The top floor is approximately 70 pyeong.
As soon as I stepped out, I knocked on the glass wall treated as a window.
– Knock – Knock
It still felt solid.
Chaewon tried to knock on the glass after me but couldn’t.
Her hand pierced straight through the glass wall.
【Eek!】
She quickly withdrew her hand and cradled her head in her hands.
‘My head isn’t a handle, you know?’
【…】
While I was conducting a typical inspection, someone passed by.
I couldn’t help but stop reflexively, and first, checked the face.
That person seemed fully immersed in their smartphone.
Thankfully, it seemed they didn’t notice me.
‘Even if I showed my face, they wouldn’t recognize me.’
The potion that changes my appearance had about 9 days left.
That’s why I wasn’t worried yet.
That person hurriedly entered a room.
【What’s going on? Who were you staring at so intently?】
‘I just saw an S-class awakened person who entered here not long ago.’
‘That person’s name is… Yena.’
【Is she famous enough for you to know her name?】
‘I don’t know if she’s famous or not, but… she was someone I definitely wanted to meet.’
【Then why didn’t you ask for an autograph?】
‘An autograph sounds good. But it’s already too late, isn’t it?’
【You can still go now…】
I didn’t forget.
That day’s humiliation?
No. That’s not humiliation.
I have never seen her as beneath me or above me.
We’ve always promised a future as equals.
Not just me, but her too.
Some might think I’m pathetic.
But that’s just the talk of those who have never been on the receiving end.
Every time I recall this matter, my heart aches.
This pain definitely isn’t because I miss her.
Yeah. Just like the fountain in the plaza below.
The arc of water that had soared high inevitably fell back to the ground.
But not long after, it rises again.
Like waves on a rainy summer day.
What rises is solely revenge.
I started to feel my sanity slipping away.
‘This can’t continue… I need to be thorough with my revenge.’
I composed my thoughts.
‘Okay. I need to pay back the feeling from that day.’
The feeling of betrayal.
I was betrayed by a trusted lover.
And you, who had put your utmost faith in her.
You, who had been fervently devoted.
If your powerful abilities come to betray you,
We can become equal again.
That doesn’t mean I’ll accept you back.
You were only dreaming.
Starting today.
Like a midsummer night’s dream.
Only dreams.
Can awaken the deepest consciousness hidden in darkness.
I have already dreamt.
The dream of living happily, promising a future with you.
Since you awakened my dream, I will now…
Not just wake your dreams.
But shatter them.
**System**
– Ding!
“My information.”
[Checking your information.]
[Information]
Name: Han Shiwoo (21)
Level: 20
Position: Dealer
Stats: 3
– Current Stats –
Strength: 6
Agility: 3
Intelligence: 2
Luck: 6
– Skills Owned –
Dampening-Nerf (EX) LV.1 (Max)
[By using commands after physical contact with another ability user of the same race, their ability decreases by two levels.]
P. Blessing of the System (EX) LV.1 (Max)
[Helps Han Shiwoo to grow. Various rewards can be obtained as he grows.]
Inheritance of Abilities (S) LV.1 (Max)
[Can inherit abilities from the corpse of a creature you have defeated. (One choice possible.)]
King’s Insight (S) LV.2
[Can gain more information. (The amount of information acquired increases with level.)]
Soul Protection (S) LV.1
[Negates the effects of abilities that cause mental damage. (Cooldown: 24 hours / Only blocks harmful effects.)]
Soul Summon (A) LV.1 (Max)
[Can summon the soul contained in the sword. (However, can be released if both wish.)]
Invisibility (A) LV.1
[Makes the body invisible during non-combat. However, the duration is proportional to intelligence stat. (Intelligence stat x 5 minutes)]
P. Basic Swordsmanship (D) LV.4
[Can handle swords more sharply.]
Three Consecutive Attacks (D) LV.4
[Quickly attacks three times.]
P. Drug User’s Blessing (D) LV.2
[Increases the duration of beneficial effects of drugs by ten times.]
==========
“I’ll allocate all my stats to intelligence.”
[Information]
Stats: 0
– Current Stats –
Strength: 6
Agility: 3
Intelligence: 2 → 5
Luck: 6
==========
【What have you been mumbling since earlier? I can’t understand.】
“I’ll activate Invisibility.”
Now, it’s time to begin.
My final gift prepared solely for you.
The long-awaited sweet time for revenge has finally arrived.