Chapter 41 (2/2)

The woman read the paper with squinting eyes, before suddenly raising her hand up high. An Asian man with black hair appeared from somewhere beyond the corridor and hurriedly came over. The reception lady (?) asked this new guy.

”You're from the Area 1, correct?”

”Yes.”

When she asked while handing over a piece of paper, the Asian man nodded his head.

”Then, help me to set the coordinates.”

”Let's see. Area 1, Seoul, the district of Seodaemun, the suburb of Hongeun… Ah, this shouldn't be too hard.”

The Asian man smiled.

”I have a place in the suburb of Eungam, you see.”

”I'll be relying on you, then. And, also….”

The woman stared straight at Seol.

”You weren't planning to head back to Earth looking like that, yes?”

”We'd like to utilise the storage service.” (Kim Hahn-Nah)

Kim Hahn-Nah replied as if it was par for the course.

”Since you're Level 1, it's for free. Here. Please use room number 8. You know how it works, yes?”

”I've explained to him already.” (Kim Hahn-Nah)

”You're a commendable guide, then.”

The woman handed over a small key with a plaque while looking rather relieved.

Seol received the key and walked down the path to his right. The interior further in was divided into several tall floors with walls glowing in an amber hue. And he saw many doors, each easily exceeding over two metres in height. He found a door with a silver '8' s.h.i.+ning on the front and entered the room.

The items of the Lost Paradise couldn't be taken back to Earth, with the exception of a few. Which meant that he had to store his things away before leaving, and temples happened to be the most secure place to do so. While the asking fee was exorbitant, as his stuff would be protected by the divine power, the security was pretty much the best out there.

However, only up to Level 2 could use this service for free. Once he became a Level 3, at which point he'd be considered as an actual, true combat force, he'd have to spend something called 'achievement records' if he wanted to use either the transfer gate or the storage service.

He propped his two spears against the wall, and took off his armours. He still had the clothes he wore from Earth, but they were far too tattered now. What a relief it was, since Kim Hahn-Nah and her discerning fas.h.i.+on sense brought along some clothes and underwear for his usage.

'I forgot to thank her.' (Seol)

Seol finished getting dressed and checked his items one last time. He had to leave behind Elixirs as well as the Divine Stigmata. He was slightly worried about them being stolen, but since a G.o.d was personally protecting the temple, he thought he should believe the security of this place for now.

He finished sorting through his articles and left the storage room before locking the door. The silver '8' on the door then changed its colour to gold. From here onwards, only Seol could open this door. Even if someone else came in possession of the door's key, it would still not open.

While walking on the corridor, Seol fell into a deep thought.

He couldn't really believe that he was returning to Earth this easily. Why? Back inside the dream, 'he' couldn't return to Earth even after a considerable length of time pa.s.sed by since his departure from the Neutral Zone. The dream version of him missed home a lot during the early part of his life here. Was this yet another difference between Contracted and Invited?

Seol couldn't help but feel a bit of regret. He may have accepted the fact that he had to leave the Neutral Zone. But, leaving behind the attachments formed through interactions proved to be another problem altogether.

'What are the kids doing now, I wonder?'

Did they sign their contracts alright? They probably wanted to go back home, too. Should he have waited for them to finish and leave together?

At least, he should've said goodbyes before leaving. He only signaled to them with his eyes because he didn't want to disturb them, but now, he was feeling a bit of regret doing that.

When Seol got back to the reception, the Asian man was no longer there. Only Kim Hahn-Nah and the reception lady (?) were waiting for him.

The lady beckoned the youth to come closer.

”Show me the back of your hand, please.”

When Seol wordlessly presented his left hand, she placed another paper with a complicated diagram drawn on its surface there and pressed it tightly to his skin.

”And with this, your return coordinates have been set. Whenever you use the transfer gate from here onwards, you will always arrive at the address you provided us. If you plan to move house, you need to tell us right away. Or we might end up causing an unnecessary chaos on Earth.”

”I understand.” (Seol)

Seol replied and returned the key. Kim Hahn-Nah explained previously that he needed to do that once he was done with storing his items. The lady opened her eyes slightly wider before giving him a slip with a number '8' written on it.

”Hmm…. I'm sure you heard the explanations already, but still, don't forget to take good care of this slip. And also, you know that, after retrieving your stored items, you need to confirm the colour of the number on the door, yes?”

”Yes. From gold to silver.” (Seol)

”Correct. If the colour remains gold, that means you left something behind. Unless you wish to extend the period of the storage service, things will get mighty complicated for both sides, so please, check thoroughly.”

The reception lady (?) sounded rather resentful about something. She then handed two more pieces of paper to Seol.

”One of these is used when you wish to return to the Paradise. You've performed missions back in the Neutral Zone, so you should know that when you tear this in half, a transfer portal will open for you. People who doesn't possess any Markings whatsoever won't be able to see the portal nor feel its presence, but still, I recommend finding a quiet place with no one else nearby.”

”What about the other one…?” (Seol)

”It's the list of items you can bring back from Earth. It's your first time, so peruse the list and familiarise yourself with the contents.”

Seol carefully tucked both papers inside his pocket.

”Whew, whew, whew, whew! All finished! Now then, you just need to sign over here….”

The lady pushed forward yet another paper, a doc.u.ment this time, for Seol to sign while sounding as if they were finally near the finish line. It was a non-disclosure agreement, forbidding Seol from revealing anything even remotely related to the Lost Paradise to other people on Earth.

Such an agreement was also covered by the divine powers, so the moment it was signed, the G.o.d's powers ensured that the terms would be enforced no matter what. One could tell how much thought had been given to maintaining the secrecy.

He already knew as much from the dream. And Kim Hahn-Nah explained it too during the coach ride, so Seol signed the doc.u.ment without too much fuss. Honestly, there were a few things that irritated him slightly. But as these processes had to be performed for someone wanting to use the transfer gate for the first time, he said nothing and endured.

”Very good. Please head inside the a.s.sembly area behind me and use the gate there.”

Finally, he was allowed to leave.

”You finished much faster than I thought.” (Kim Hahn-Nah)

”Well, there wasn't anything too complicated, after all.” (Seol)

”Okay, let's go.” (Kim Hahn-Nah)

Kim Hahn-Nah stepped forward first.

Just before he entered the a.s.sembly hall, Seol took the last lingering look behind him and sighed out softly. But, before he could enter….

*SFX for rushed footsteps*

Suddenly, echoes of hurried footsteps rang out, and….

”Wait for me!” (Yun Seo-Rah)

….And, a familiar voice called out to him.

Seol turned around in surprise. Kim Hahn-Nah too was rather puzzled as well.

”Why is she here….?” (Kim Hahn-Nah)

They saw her leave with the coach not too long ago, so….

The woman supporting her body with her arm against the wall near the entrance while panting heavily was none other than Yun Seo-Rah.

She looked relieved after finding out that Seol hadn't left yet. She regulated her heavy breathing, swallowed her saliva, and shouted out a question.

”Your name!” (Yun Seo-Rah)

”Please… tell me your name!” (Yun Seo-Rah)

Seol's expression hardened considerably, then.

”Seo….”

His mouth opened reflexively, before closing shut again. His lips quivered uncontrollably.

”Seol….”

”But that… Isn't that your surname?” (Yun Seo-Rah)

He was about to say his name was Seol. But suddenly, his eyes grew wider and wider.

His heart was beating wildly now. His sight blurred.

”B, but, how?” (Seol)

”When you entered the second floor in the Tutorial, there was an alert. I heard your name then, but I forgot…. The alert said, Mister Seol….. something, had arrived on the second floor.” (Yun Seo-Rah)

”Ah.”

So, in the end, someone did hear the alert.

”I always thought it was strange. Your name was definitely three words, yet you kept calling yourself 'Seol' all the time….” (Yun Seo-Rah)

”T, that is….” (Seol)

Her words. .h.i.t the bullseye, and Seol began stuttering.

”You name…. Can you please tell me your full name?” (Yun Seo-Rah)

Seol closed his eyes shut.

Quite inexplicably, the days he spent in the Neutral Zone brushed past his consciousness.

In the mornings, he ate breakfast with Yi Surl-Ah, Yi Sung-Jin, and Yun Seo-Rah.

Then, he met with his teammates on the first floor and discussed the day's schedule and battle tactics.

They did their best to complete various missions.

When they successfully cleared missions, they would head off to a lounge and chat over refres.h.i.+ng drinks.

He sometimes met with s.h.i.+n Sahng-Ah and Hyun Sahng-Min, and asked them how they were doing.

He then returned to his quarters, share the day's activities with his roommates, before falling asleep……

Didn't matter how many times he recalled them, those were good memories.

When he opened his eyes, he found Yun Seo-Rah quietly waiting for him, her breathing now normal.

”M, my name, it's….” (Seol)

His throat dried up. If his heart pounded any harder, it might explode out of his chest.

It'd be three, maybe four years since he willingly revealed his full name.

An all-too familiar sensation of vertigo finally left him, allowing Seol to take a deep breath.

His trembling lips parted and let the air out.

”My name is….” (Seol)

And, finally….

Seol…

”….Ji-Hu.”

….Was now Seol Ji-Hu.

”My name is Seol Ji-Hu.”

He stared straight at Yun Seo-Rah and smiled dimly.

As he was walking past the a.s.sembly hall and towards the gate.

”Was there a reason to hesitate telling her your full name?” (Kim Hahn-Nah)

Kim Hahn-Nah asked him.

”Now that I think about it, I was getting kind of curious, too. Why did you always say your name was Seol? I mean, that's your surname, right?” (Kim Hahn-Nah)

Seol Ji-Hu kept on walking resolutely for a while, before slowly opening his mouth.

”….I was Seol.”

”Ng?”

”For the last 3-4 years, I was Seol.”

Kim Hahn-Nah's expression reflected how confused she was. She wouldn't know, of course. It was the story from the days when he was still addicted to gambling, after all.

His family disowned him.

His t.i.tle gradually changed from 'son' to 'idiot', then to 'b*stard', then finally, even a 'lying as*hole'. In the end, never mind being referred to his name, he wasn't even treated like a human being anymore.

The distance between him and his love also widened.

And he even got called a son of a b*tch by her.

Before he knew it, no one was calling him by his name.

And he stopped telling others what his full name was, too.

Only that, back in the casino, some people called out to him using Mister Seol, Seol hyung, etc, etc.

And so, Seol began accepting that as his name.

”Mm… Okay. So, why did you decide to reveal your full name, then?” (Kim Hahn-Nah)

Seol Ji-Hu momentarily stopped walking.

”Not sure.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

His gaze drifted up to the ceiling, unable to come up with a sound explanation even though he tried.

”I'm not sure. It's just…” (Seol Ji-Hu)

”Just?”

”I thought that, now I can… No, maybe I can't be certain of that, but…” (Seol Ji-Hu)

Seol Ji-Hu slowly lowered his gaze back down.

”At least, I thought that, if it's Miss Yun Seo-Rah….” (Seol Ji-Hu)

He swept up the back of his long hair and smiled wryly.

”…..I should be able to tell her my name without being embarra.s.sed about it.” (Seol Ji-Hu)

< 41.=”” my=”” name=”” is….=””> Fin.