Chapter 83

To make sure she didn’t miss a single word, Si-hyun focused intently, pressing her phone right up to her ear.

On the other end of the line, Ji-a’s excited voice rang out loud and clear.

“Last time during that dual dungeon, I got this weird feeling!”

“Uh huh, uh huh!”

“So I coordinated with the Guild to come back down to the provinces again, and guess what? It actually worked! All thanks to you, Si-hyun!”

“Aww, it was your effort! Seriously, congrats!”

Si-hyun congratulated her wholeheartedly.

An S-rank Hunter!

Currently, there were only single-digit numbers of them in all of Korea—truly the apex predators at the very top of the Awakened pyramid.

The story of Kim Ji-a joining their ranks would undoubtedly cause quite the stir.

Si-hyun could already imagine the news being flooded with Ji-a’s story for weeks to come, and couldn’t help but smile faintly.

“So, when are you coming back to Seoul?”

“Hmm… There are quite a few dungeons to handle this time around. It might be tough anytime soon.”

“I see… Hmm, won’t things get even busier once you’re back?”

“Haha! Maybe!”

Si-hyun’s light-hearted joke made Ji-a burst into cheerful laughter.

“Hey, can you keep this a secret from Si-yoon for now? I want to tell her myself.”

“Sure thing!”

Si-hyun readily agreed to Ji-a’s request.

Besides, Si-yoon had already gone into her room claiming she had work to do today anyway.

With her lips sealed, it wouldn’t be hard to avoid spilling the beans.

Even though the room was soundproof—or so it seemed—Si-hyun wondered if Si-yoon would accidentally let out a surprised shout today.

Smiling mischievously, Si-hyun ended the call with Ji-a.

—

Slouching on the couch, Si-hyun grabbed the TV remote.

She effortlessly started up TrTube and checked if MomoBin’s stream was live yet.

“Not started yet, huh…”

Checking the time, Si-hyun idly browsed through the recommended video list while waiting.

Her refined tastes tempted her further.

“Hmm…”

Her eyes briefly caught one of MomoBin’s singing clips.

Though she used to occasionally do singing streams in the past, Momo hadn’t done any recently.

Si-hyun had never watched Momo’s singing live.

Swallowing her regret, she scrolled further since she’d already seen the edited versions before.

“…Should I watch this one?”

Her gaze stopped on a sleek middle-aged uncle enjoying drinks in Japan.

Since her interest in alcohol had been growing lately, Si-hyun casually decided to watch the video.

“Man, I should go traveling sometime…”

After this semester ends, maybe she could take some time off and go somewhere.

It’d be fun to ask Ji-a and Si-yoon if they wanted to plan a trip together.

Getting a passport wouldn’t be too hard.

Si-hyun mentally reviewed the spontaneous plans forming in her mind.

And just like that, she spaced out for a while…

“…Ah!”

Time to check out Momo’s stream!

Verifying the time, Si-hyun quickly returned to MomoBin’s channel.

The opening credits were long over, and the VTuber MomoBin was chatting away with her audience.

“What? Why are you playing this game again today? Because I feel like it!”

– Hahaha!

– Yeah 100% agree!

– If she feels like it, why not?

– Lmao

Skimming through the chat, Si-hyun glanced at the broadcast info.

The game Momo was about to play looked oddly familiar.

“Is it because I saw an old video?”

Si-hyun racked her brain.

Then she remembered.

“Ah! This is the game Si-yoon asked about a few weeks ago.”

That day when the three of them had dinner together.

When Si-yoon handed over some MomoBin merch and played with it like a doll.

Si-yoon had definitely requested help with a game then.

She mentioned how fun it was but lamented its difficulty.

“Did she enjoy it after I helped her out?”

They hadn’t talked about the game since.

“I’ve practiced a bit, so I’m definitely clearing this today!”

– Here we go again lol

– Practice gonna help much?

– Nah bro, practice doesn’t matter if your hands don’t follow!

– Already clipping highlights lmao

As Momo confidently declared, the audience erupted into laughter.

Si-hyun joined in on the vibe.

“Yeah, believe in our Momo!”

“Wow, someone actually believes her!”

– Believe (in her failing)

– Lmao true

– Nod nod

“Come on now, folks. Let’s have faith. Learn from this attitude!”

– Are you really believing this?

– Believing she’ll fail obviously

– Lmao true

– Hahahaha

Momo feigned shock.

“Excuse me? Surely you guys aren’t implying that? I trust the purity of my viewers!”

– Pure?

– Pure what?

– We believe in you (failing)

– Lmao

Their usual peaceful banter continued.

Suddenly, Momo spoke up.

“Wait a sec? Incoming call.”

The mic went off.

Si-hyun blankly stared at the chat window.

Right at that moment…

“Waaaaah! Huff!”

A startled gasp leaked from the next room!

Apparently trying to cover her mouth, the sound abruptly cut off.

“Huh?”

Si-hyun raised an eyebrow and glanced at the door.

She turned back to the screen, then looked at the door again a few seconds later.

Dozens of question marks popped up in her mind.

“Coincidence?”

It could happen.

It was probably just a convenient timing.

Thinking back to today’s events, surely Ji-a’s call had startled Si-yoon.

Just as Momo received a call…

…

“Could this really be a coincidence?”

No no no. Even so, it must be.

If it wasn’t, that’d be weirder, right?

Back when they first returned to Earth, Si-yoon had said:

“Oh, I freelance sometimes! It might get noisy in the room occasionally, but don’t worry about it.”

Definitely those exact words.

Not to worry about occasional noise from the room.

But in reality, noise rarely ever came from there.

Si-hyun suspected the room likely had soundproofing.

Probably a strict warning against entering, which she’d never dared to test.

“…Am I starting to rationalize here?”

Staring fixedly at the door with an unrelenting expression, Si-hyun’s eyes practically pierced through it.

If looks could break doors, it’d be shattered by now.

Her emotions kept denying the truth.

Human thoughts tend to block out all possibilities once fixated on something, steering only toward what they wish to believe.

However, Si-hyun’s sharp intellect stubbornly clung to reason.

This couldn’t just slide by.

Logic insisted otherwise.

Caught between emotion and logic, Si-hyun swayed like reeds in the wind.

Still, she waited patiently.

Like a predator stalking prey, her sharp gaze remained glued to the situation.

Silently observing.

Waiting for Momo’s stream to resume.

“Sorry sorry! Took too long, didn’t I? It was an important call!”

– What kind of call???

– Important calls exist for Momo??

– Hahahaha

Momo’s stream resumed.

Everything appeared normal.

She breezed past the topic of the call without a hitch, continuing casual conversation with her audience before launching the game.

Si-hyun remained completely still, not even moving a finger to join the chat.

“Alright folks, today’s the real deal—I’m showing you the ending!”

– Believe (she’ll fail)

– Believe? Me?

– Whatever, I’ll give it a shot

“Why does everyone lack faith?”

Momo smoothly carried on, cracking jokes as usual.

After exchanging pleasantries, she pressed start and began the game stream.

‘Still…not yet…’

Si-hyun held back.

Waiting for the perfect moment.

‘If it’s a mistake, I’ll just enjoy the stream. If not…’

…What if it isn’t?

Her mind spiraled into confusion again, but action had to be taken.

Si-hyun kept her hawk-like focus on the screen.

And…

‘This is it!’

Right as Momo began a crucial battle!

Si-hyun whipped out her phone and called her sister.