SWNOVELXO Chapter 43
**Episode 43: Time to Sleep (1)**
**[Baek Harin SIDE]**
– Creak. – Creak.
The sound of stepping on snow.
And…
– Thud… – Thud…
A sound that could not be heard if one’s senses were not keen.
The sound of a construction site on a snowy winter day.
Personally, I can say that I quite like the falling snow.
After all, it’s because I don’t have to shovel the snow that has built up.
Heh, I’m joking.
Do you hear it? The sound of snow falling.
The sky is whispering to all living beings in the world, **“It’s now time to sleep.”**
Right now, I am on my way to Shiwoo’s house with him.
The snow I step on while heading toward his home.
I like snow.
Isn’t it funny that I, without eyes, like snow?
It could be unpleasant when my shoes get wet from stepping on the snow, but still, I enjoy walking on it.
Because, um… I hadn’t thought about it, but the sound when I step on snow is nice… It’s not such a simple and childish reason.
The cold sensation wrapping around my soles when I step on snow.
I think it’s because I like the sensation that I feel on my feet when I hear the crunching sound of snow beneath me.
So, the reason I’m going to Shiwoo’s house now is that he invited me over.
With him, any space will feel like a warm home.
But why did he invite me home?
To comfort me… maybe?
What situation could he be trying to comfort me regarding?
To find that out, I think it’s better to rewind time a little.
**********
“But how did you know my size?”
Ah…
“Well, that’s…”
What do I do? Shiwoo has touched upon the most awkward part.
I measured his size just by guessing…
If you ask when, well, that day… when Shiwoo briefly fell asleep due to the power of a drug.
I… kind of touched his body then.
I think I roughly imagined it at that time.
‘Roughly, the size would be ~…’ or something.
“Do I really have to tell you?”
Oh no, this is bad.
My face can’t hide its awkward expression anymore…
What do I do…
“Oh, if it’s hard to say, it doesn’t really matter. As long as it doesn’t come back to bite me.”
Huh? It’s surprising how easily he can brush it off just because I made a slightly awkward expression…
I’ve got a surprisingly good weapon here.
Since I can’t show tears, I was starting without one of a woman’s weapons.
But now that I have a specialized weapon for dealing with Shiwoo, isn’t it better?
“Oh, but I have to hurry to the 4th floor, or Mr. Park Bu-jang might scold me for being late.”
“And so?”
As soon as I heard Shiwoo’s words, sounding like he was trying to escape from me, a reflexive reaction came out like a sensitive cat.
“W-What do you mean, ‘and so’?”
What is this boldness?
“Who has a higher rank between me and Park Bu-jang, your department head?”
To make excuses while trying to leave me behind.
“Well, I’m not exactly sure who’s higher….”
I smiled faintly after hearing his answer.
And I approached Shiwoo directly.
I found his ear and put my mouth to it in one go.
“What are you doing—!”
“… Just kidding. I don’t have any rank, you see.”
Then I whispered to him.
Still, at this level, I’d say it’s a pass.
It was a decent enough answer for Shiwoo.
He pulled away from me.
“Don’t worry too much, okay? Today is the day we need to investigate ‘that’ matter from various angles, right?”
“Ah… What is ‘that’ about?”
“You’re surprisingly clumsy, aren’t you? I’ll explain on the way.”
“Where are you going? I said I need to go to the 4th floor!”
“Really, stop being so difficult and just follow me!”
I boldly grabbed Shiwoo’s hand and headed toward the elevator.
As soon as we entered, I pressed the button for the 49th floor.
The 49th floor is the Association President’s office.
I’ve never seen the Association President’s face.
I really want to see the face of the Association President who keeps bothering me.
Some might think that this can be resolved through sensory sharing, but if I connect with the president, only my face will be visible.
I can’t see the president’s face.
I’ve seen Shiwoo’s face once.
Through the reflection in the glass with his eyes.
Because I’ve seen it before.
Of course, the president’s office is also full of glass, but thinking back now, I just… didn’t want to be connected with a despicable person like the president.
The sensations he feels are chillingly disgusting.
Yeah, it’s definitely going to be disgusting.
Since we’re on the topic, I think I’ll have to check it out through Shiwoo.
Otherwise, I won’t feel satisfied, and I’ll be uneasy all day about having missed a chance.
Anyway, to do that, I need to use it beforehand in the elevator.
‘Activate sensory sharing with Han Shiwoo.’
– Whooooosh…
His sight fills my mind.
It’s a bit disappointing that it’s not a deep sensory sharing, so we can’t share more intricate sensations.
And… that sly girl is still nearby.
I really regret not having combat abilities.
If I had S-rank combat abilities, I could have trapped Shiwoo.
But since I’m weak compared to Shiwoo only in terms of combat abilities, I can’t help it.
Still, there is a way.
That way is… um, well, anyway.
At least, they are not as clingy as the last time, so I guess I can say I’m fortunate.
Last time, she was sitting on my shoulder… Several triggering scenes flashed by, almost making me angry, but that’s not the case this time.
– Ding~!
– Rattle.
The time has come.
…
Why isn’t this man getting off?
Ah, I see.
Earlier, he said he had to hurry to the 4th floor, but now he’s just goofing off with that sly girl in an elevator with the door already opened. It’s really ridiculous.
I’m annoyed.
“You. You’re thinking about something else right now, aren’t you? Let’s hurry and get off.”
I poked him in the side with my elbow as hard as I could.
“Uh, yeah.”
But he replied nonchalantly, not showing any sign of pain.
‘Just wait a moment. You.’
We got off the elevator and headed straight to where the president was.
– Tap. – Tap.
“President, we’ve arrived.”
I knocked, trembling with my hands.
‘Haa…’
I’m shaking.
It feels like he’s staring right through my hands.
No, it’s certain that he’s watching.
His eyes have now become mine.
– Alright.
A small sound that cannot be heard if you lose focus slipped out through the tightly closed door.
“Ah. I’ve never seen the president before; what should I do?”
“Don’t worry, you. I’m seeing him for the first time too… No, I’ve never seen him and won’t be able to see him in the future.”
But if Shiwoo is there, I can.
Isn’t that amazing?
With great emotion, I opened the door to the president’s office.
– Bang!
It’s kind of like venting my frustration.
“Did you finally come? I’ve been waiting for you to show up today.”
I saw the face of the president for the first time after several encounters.
The president’s first impression was that of a common old man living in the countryside.
“That couple outfit suits you well.”
Damn old man.
He has some discerning eyes.
Ah, no, that’s not it.
I need to regain my composure.
“President, I heard you called us regarding the Gate matter.”
“Yes. That’s correct. I don’t have much time, so let’s get straight to the point.”
The president spoke while looking over various documents.
“The investigation results… indicate that the gate you entered was indeed a Blue Gate.”
“Yes? But…!”
Shiwoo immediately reacted.
“Listen to the end. The gate you entered was a Blue Gate, but we believe that during the process of entering the dungeon, it experienced some kind of influence causing a dimensional distortion.”
Having a long tongue always comes with undesirable consequences.
“In the future, there’s a possibility that others could be harmed for this reason. So I want you two to continue the investigation on behalf of us old fogies in the association.”
It was a formal yet publicly acceptable reason that could not be argued against.
“Baek Harin, I’ll temporarily assign you to the Gate Response Team. You two will solve this unresolved case.”
‘Suddenly?… But if I can be with Shiwoo, I’m happy.’
Surprisingly, the president is helping me a lot today.
However, but.
The president has always done this.
Always exploiting and using the common people, acting as he pleases… Doing as he likes, regardless of his position.
Despite holding the position of a president, which assumes a public institution tasked with protecting us from threats from the gates, he often shows an unbecoming demeanor.
“The gate has a threat, which the association is implicitly seen as a public agency… I dislike this president who speaks lightly despite holding such a crucial position.”
“But what I can do is—”
“I know.”
The president cut off Shiwoo’s words with a curt answer.
“Yes? Then why…”
“It’s just for appearance’s sake. To show the public that the association is always working hard, not just to hunters, but to ordinary people.”
The president turned his chair around, looking down at the buildings beyond the glass.
“But, President, how?”
I—
“Well… if you’re asking for specifics… just the two of you should go around closing the gates a bit more.”
The president proposed a careless method that seemed to have just come to mind.
“Oh, okay…”
“And if it gets hard, just give up.”
I couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Um… By the way, I think watching the snow falling in winter from the association president’s office is quite a lovely sight, don’t you?”
It’s noisy.
“Also, association manpower is a valuable resource, you know. We need to pay to move them, especially on a cold winter’s day like this.”
I clenched my fist tightly.
– Bang!
I slammed the president’s desk with all my might.
“… What on earth are you doing?”
The president turned his chair back to face us again.
“I don’t mind being dispatched against my will. That’s my ‘job.’”
I continued, striking the desk.
“I’ve always disliked this.”
“What do you mean?”
The president replied immediately.
What are you so proud of…?
“What is the association even for?!”
I shouted until my throat was sore.
“If the hunters are the ones clearing the gates, then the association exists to properly utilize those hunters’ powers, right?”
“Yeah, as long as you offer money or shiny things, it doesn’t really matter, does it? What exactly are you dissatisfied with?”
‘Huh?’
“Receiving a reward for movement is the ‘Guild’! Is the association operated privately?!”
“Well, I guess it’s not public either.”
“Ugh!”
“Hmm… After all, Harin-chan, is there anything else you can do other than argue? Just doing what I say is for everyone’s sake. Throw away that unnecessary sense of justice.”
“I can’t accept such immoral corruption!”
– Creak, bang!
I stormed out of the president’s office after getting into an argument with him, unable to control my anger.
– This corruption…
The last words I left echo in my mind.
I felt unwell and dashed out of the association building.
And there, I waited for Shiwoo to come find me.
Ah, the sensory sharing has been cut off.
I feel gloomy.
But it’s okay.
I will continue to wait here.