The S-Rank Character Is My Alt

Chapter 10: Shin Bitnari (9)

“You bastard… I will never forgive you. Never…”

Nari sat on the villa stairs and cried for a long time. Midnight had already passed.

She had met her father. Once again, she had been squeezed for money in her usual pathetic way. If she could call it being robbed, that was how she wanted to describe it.

It was always like that. A year, then six months, then three months. Now it is nearly every month. Not even family was worth much in the end.

No matter what people said about family, if they were not there when you truly needed them, then they weren’t really family at all. Nari’s father was one of those people.

‘This damned Lord of Chaos isn’t even showing up…’

Indirect messages went unanswered. The Lord of Chaos always closed his mouth at times like this, as if he were watching Nari’s despair.

It felt like the whole world was peering into her troubles and using her. Crying here would only make her look more pathetic, so Nari pressed her sleeve hard to her eyes and stood up.

‘I am already used to it. It is fine. I should get ready for work tomorrow.’

Flutter. As she rose with that thought, something fell from her pocket. Nari picked up a small slip of paper.

「 Kang Ihyun | Tell. 010-XXXX-XXXX」

As if bewitched, Nari pulled out her phone. Dialing his number was an impulsive act.

‘I just, I just want to be with someone. I’m not calling because you said you’d help me. I just…’

After a short ringing tone, a voice came from the other side.

[...Hello? Nari? Where are you right now?]

* * *

“Um… this is really good. Please try some.”

Nod. Nari sat quietly across from Ihyun, only nodding her head.

The table sizzled with the sound of food cooking. She picked up a piece of gopchang, put it in her mouth, and chewed slowly. The long silence made sweat run down Ihyun’s back.

She had called him just two hours after he had given her his card. When he came at her summons, she was the complete opposite of the bristling figure in her apartment. She was utterly deflated.

‘Have you eaten anything?’

To that question, Nari only shook her head. So he brought her straight to a gopchang place nearby, one of the few that was open late at night.

And now, Shin Bitnari sat eating gopchang without a word. Kang Ihyun sat quietly there too, not knowing what to say.

[The constellation, Staff of Purification, comforts its avatar, saying that sometimes simply being by someone’s side helps.]

‘Y-Yes… that must be true…’

Her family had fallen apart. Her true self had been exposed. She had been forced to reveal her private troubles.

In Nari’s place, he thought she had every reason to hate him. Yet in the end, she had turned to him. That alone made it impossible for Ihyun to leave her alone.

“S-Should we order drinks?”

“…If you want me to turn into a drunk illusionist spraying dark spells everywhere.”

“N-No, never mind. Excuse me, just one bottle of soda, please!”

Only after some time had passed did Nari finally lift her head and look at him. She questioned him with a quiet voice.

“…Why did you come out for me?”

“Pardon?”

“It is late. It is already past midnight. And I treated you so badly. Plus, you even got to know who I really am.”

“W-Well, that is…”

His voice trailed smaller and smaller, the sound of someone who had lost all confidence. He looked at her.

“I was worried about you.”

“Liar. I bet you did this because you wanted something from me too.”

Nari fiddled with her hands and looked down.

She had learned to live alone without relying on others ever since ten years ago because countless people left her.

The first rule of living alone was never to expect kindness from others without a price.

For ten years, the only ones who had approached her or stayed by her were the kind who wanted something in return. Sexual desire, money, validation, or simply an emotional dumping ground.

Especially those who wanted to exploit her downfall, turning it into content. And once they had their fill, they left her.

After enduring that too many times, she stopped trusting anyone.

Even this man before her. He may have been acting kind now, but he had learned her weakness. Who knew what demands he might make later? Nari kept her guard up.

But then why had she called him? Why was she secretly glad he had rushed over, breathless? Why did she want to keep him close?

Why had she entrusted her safety to someone whose concern might be only hollow words? Why? She couldn't explain it herself.

“Uh…”

Ihyun awkwardly scratched the side of his head. He seemed flustered, as if he had never dealt with anything like this. After thinking for a moment, he asked hesitantly.

“Then… will you grant me what I want?”

Nari lowered her head again. There it was. He was just like everyone else. False hope only hurts more when it breaks. Better to have none at all. Right as she had this thought,

He slid the “Oath of the Sacred Flame” contract before her.

“If what is written here is changed to say ‘let us be friends,’ will you agree?”

Nari looked at him with a puzzled face. In the tense air, Ihyun gave an awkward smile.

“What?”

“Friends. I want to be friends with you. I should have said that first, but I was too greedy even though you have your own life to live.”

“Wha… I-I never imagined you would ask for such a thing Why?”

Her tears vanished. She stared wide-eyed at him. Ihyun rubbed his chin, his ears turning red as he spoke sheepishly.

“Actually… six years ago, when I was trapped in a gate. You saved me… Since then, I have wanted to get close to you. It’s honestly not an exaggeration to say that I became rank 2 thanks to you. I wanted to stand at your side.”

“Huh?”

Nari fidgeted with her fingers. She thought for a while, then spoke in a calmer tone.

“I don’t remember such a thing?”

“Of course. It was six years ago, and I am not the same person I was then.”

At his words, she shook her head firmly, as if refusing to accept it.

“Wait, but all just for that? If you had asked for money, I could at least understand…”

“How can you say ‘just’! You are my hero, Nari!”

His shy smile made her stare at her fidgeting fingers. Something… felt strange.

“Me…?”

In society, Nari was practically invisible. No, it was more accurate to say she was someone who should not be seen. Only then, was she able to live.

She didn't hate her alternate character, because it was also herself. But all her deeds as a Hunter belonged to Lude, not Shin Bitnari.

Only with Lude’s avatar could she stand before people.

She looked at the man before her. Kang Ihyun was too large. His height, his presence. Compared to him, she felt so small.

‘And yet he was saying that I’m his hero. Not Lude, but me.’

When Kang Ihyun met his eyes with Nari who was lost in thought, he smiled brightly.

“That is why I wanted to be close to you.”

“I am not that good of a person like you think. I-I only did it for money. I doubt I meant to save you at all…”

“That doesn’t matter. You came, and I lived because of you!”

He gave a warm smile. For the first time in ten years, aside from her manager, someone was treating her with pure positivity.

‘Someone I saved became an S-rank.’

For the first time, she felt she had contributed to making the world right.

After a long silence, she finally whispered without meeting his eyes.

“…Um, since middle school, I have, never had a friend. So like, I don’t really know how it works.”

“We just eat together like now, contact each other sometimes, and ask how we are doing.”

“I have no money either.”

“That is fine. Just being there is enough.”

“I am not even good looking like you.”

“Thank you. But you are cute too, Nari.”

“W-Why me of all people?”

“Because you are my hero. I even climbed to rank two because I wanted to be close to you.”

Every word he said could knock someone out.

Hearing praise for the first time in ten years, Nari’s face turned bright red. Meanwhile, the Lord of Chaos mocked her through her status message.

She waved away the messages and clutched her head. Straightforward people were dangerous for this reason. Outgoing types were dangerous. This was exactly why…

“Ugh, whatever. Do what you want!”

“Really?! Yay~! Then shall we write it down?”

Whoosh, a fountain pen and contract appeared before her. The neat writing laid out the terms.

「Party B (Kang Ihyun) will never reveal Party A (Shin Bitnari)’s secret.

In return, Party A (Shin Bitnari) will maintain a friendship with Party B (Kang Ihyun).

As long as this contract stands, neither will harm nor deceive the other with malice.

If the contract is broken, the offender will fall instantly into hell, guaranteed by the Archangel, Staff of Purification. This contract may be altered or voided by mutual agreement.」

Was that really all? She glanced at him. He was grinning for whatever reason.

She honestly couldn't understand him. But… he didn't seem like a bad person.

Truly. After hesitating, Nari slowly signed it. Golden letters appeared before her.

[You have entered into the Oath of the Sacred Flame.]

[Awakeners Shin Bitnari – Kang Ihyun / Duration – Unlimited]

[The one who breaks the contract will instantly fall into hell.]

“Ah, hot…!”

The pen turned to flame and seeped into her palm. She felt his holy power flow into her chest.

Only after the intense sensation, she felt it was real. Her eyes flicked nervously as she muttered.

“You will regret this. I’m seriously not lying.”

“Then we will see. Right now I am just happy! Are you not, Nari?”

“I…”

She clearly felt much better than before but her pride wouldn’t let her admit it, so she moved her pupils around nervously. But honestly, she… was a little happy.

Has it really been this easy to feel better? Confused, she rolled her eyes, then stood abruptly and strode toward the door.

“Nari! Wait. Why are you leaving alone…”

“Shut up! I am going home!”

“Ahh, wait! You barely ate this. Are you sure you want to leave?”

Pause. She froze near the door and glanced at the grill.

‘Now that I think about it, that gopchang was good... Full… tender… no smell…’

Glare. She glanced at him with an embarrassed look. Kang Ihyun was smiling back. That irritated her even more. That guy, he was too good at dealing with people.

If she sat back down, it would feel like losing.

But… growl. Her stomach rumbled in hunger. His eyes widened, then he laughed.

“Shall we get the rest wrapped up to go?”

“Yeah.”

‘Damn it, damn it, damn it…!! But if we ever get to eat gopchang again, I am coming back here…’

Her ears burned red as she shut her eyes. The truth was, gopchang was one of her favorite foods.

Before food, pride never lasted long.