"Miss, is there any way we could go to Elirac?"
The whole class gasped at my question. The teacher paused for a moment before turning around and starting at me. She put her piece of chalk on the desk in front of the board.
"Mr. Sang, why is that of any concern to you?" She seemed like she couldn't care less.
"Just curious."
She sighed, reached for her chalk and turned back around. She continued writing, "Where was the gate to Elirac closed?" She asked the class.
"In present day Japan, Hashima island," Hyeon answered.
"You're right as always, Miss Chung," She turned back around and looked at me, "Mr. Sang, Hashima island was abandoned because that was where the gate to Elirac was opened. Now, only scientists are allowed on that island."
"Why are only scientists allowed there? Is something going on?" They couldn't still be researching about the gate after all this time. Unless they were trying to open the gate, which isn't an unlikely theory.
"I am a mere high school teacher who teaches the class of history, Mr. Sang. How could you expect me to have such knowledge about the gate?"
"I just thought I'd ask."
I looked at Hyeon to see that she was already looking at me. She nodded and started to take notes of the teachers lecture.
Hashima island, huh? I could probably run there if I release my full power.
But at that moment, what really worried me were the power Levels of the monsters in Elirac. Judging by her reaction to when I had told her about going to Elirac, I started to get worried.
What type of demon's were there? What made Hyeon turn pale like that?
I also had some questions about her I'd ask later. When you touch slave marks, they burn exultatingly for the slave and the brander. But when I had touched Hyeon's, she instantly attacked me, but also started talking in some language. A language that sounded familiar. I brushed it off and continued to focus on the lesson.
.
.
.
"Sang-ah!" Hyeon said as I took a cookie from her batch. I nibbled on the cookie as she started grilling my ear. "Sigh, you have your own food, you know?" She glared at me.
We had left the lecture hall and got some cookies from the vending machine right outside the
I smiled at her as I took a bite of the cookie. She turned away and continued to eat the one in her hand.
"Hyeon, are you sure you want to go with me to Elira-?"
"Yes." She said plainly. I looked at her, trying my best to conceal the shock of how quick her response was. It felt nice to have her go with me.
. . .
"You're really kind, you know that?"
It was just a compliment. I've received a lot of compliments in my life, so I didn't understand why it felt so good to hear it.
Until it hit me; her smile was identical to Sa-Rang's when she had agreed to be with me. Right before she was killed, her smile of genuine happiness was the same as the one Hyeon was wearing right then and there.
My eyes widened when I realized why that smile seemed so familiar.
I shouldn't be acting like this.
I shouldn't be happy.
Before she had noticed anything, I changed my expression. What was the point of being happy with a compliment, when the person who had said it first died because of you?
I quickly started a conversation. Hyeon didn't seem to mind it, though.
.
.
.
I had suggested to walk Hyeon home, but I couldn't shake the feeling of fright away. I didn't show it, but I was scared out of my mind that Eternal would show up like he did with Sa-Rang.
I caught Hyeon glancing at me from time to time, and I knew why. The expression I had put on at that moment wasn't exactly the happiest.
. . .
"Sang, I think you should know a little about Elirac."
"Yeah, I think so too." I finished my cookie and turned to look at her. I needed to know what I could to survive.
"Well," she began, "time moves extremely slow there. A day here is about three months there. And the monsters there are incomparably stronger than us, you included. The monsters are intelligent, some have been around for millennials. Edible food for humans exist, like Hungima's which are a sort of fruit, although they're a little difficult to eat."
"How does your previous world know about Elirac so much?"
She continued, "Because our ancestors hailed from Elirac."
I paused.
What? She's from Elirac??