Chapter 57. Seo Dan-bi
I made a mistake.
While expressing thanks without much thought, Pururu’s real name had slipped out of my mouth.
Pururu seemed startled, posting a question mark in the chat and then going silent for a while.
【Mysticism】 ─ What’s this *Dan-bi*?
【Yumi】 ─ Could that be Pururu’s real name?
【Rizenova】 ─ Judging by Pururu’s reaction when the name *Dan-bi* was mentioned, it seems likely.
【Mysticism】 ─🤔
【Mysticism】 ─ How does Kang oppa know Pururu’s name?
【Yumi】 ─ Exactly? Didn’t you say you didn’t know Pururu’s identity?
【Yumi】 ─ Ah, unless you figured it out just by looking at the drawing?
【Rizenova】 ─ It seems Kang subtly called out the name *Dan-bi* mid-conversation to observe the reaction, knowing she’d deny it if asked directly. If she reacted, she’s Dan-bi; if she didn’t or asked who Dan-bi was, then she isn’t.
【Mysticism】 ─ A trap!
It wasn’t like that.
I really called her name by accident…
I was just as shocked as she was.
Though I did reveal Pururu’s identity myself, it wasn’t intentional—it was a mistake, and the situation had unfolded rather suddenly.
‘I originally planned to reveal her identity slowly after giving her some time to prepare.’
…Well, what’s done is done.
No use crying over spilled milk.
Since the name had already been called, I decided to push forward.
“Dan-bi, why aren’t you responding?”
Had she left the broadcast, shocked by the sudden situation?
I checked the assistant list, just in case.
‘She hasn’t left.’
Pururu was still listed among the assistants.
She must have been contemplating how to handle the situation.
About 30 seconds later, Pururu posted in the chat.
【Pururu】 ─ Haha, caught me.
【Yumi】 ─ Gasp.
【Rizenova】 ─ She confessed.
【Mysticism】 ─😱
I was surprised.
Honestly, I expected her to deny it at first.
Something like, “I’m not Dan-bi.”
But who would’ve thought she’d admit it so easily?
In that case, why hide her identity for so long?
【Pururu】 ─ When did you realize it?
“I knew right away from the drawing. Your art style is too unique.”
【Pururu】 ─ Ah.
【Yumi】 ─ With such a distinctive style, it’s hard not to know.
【Mysticism】 ─ So Pururu is Dan-bi? You’re really Dan-bi?
【Pururu】 ─ Shut up.
【Mysticism】 ─😠
【Pururu】 ─ Phew.
【Pururu】 ─ Anyway, I’m sorry for keeping it a secret. I had my reasons.
“What reasons?”
【Yumi】 ─ Maybe Pururu is just really shy? Hehe.
【Rizenova】 ─ Was Pururu a bashful person?
【Mysticism】 ─ I get it. I’d hide too if I was shy.
【Pururu】 ─ I didn’t hide it because I was shy.
【Pururu】 ─ I was just worried you wouldn’t remember me.
“What do you mean by that?”
【Pururu】 ─ If I revealed myself as Seo Dan-bi, and you responded with, ‘Who’s that?’— that would be so embarrassing.
I let out a chuckle at her unexpected reason.
I thought there might be a more serious explanation, but it turns out she kept it hidden out of a simple fear that I wouldn’t remember her.
She worried too much about things.
“Why wouldn’t I remember you? We were in the same class; it’s not like I’d forget.”
【Yumi】 ─ Oh, you were classmates?
【Rizenova】 ─ So, you were peers? That’s quite a long-standing connection.
【Mysticism】 ─😮
【Pururu】 ─ You could’ve forgotten. Do you remember all your high school classmates?
Of course, I don’t remember all of them.
It wasn’t like I graduated just a year or two ago—it had been over nine years since I graduated.
“If it was someone I wasn’t close with, I might forget.”
【Pururu】 ─ See?
“But if I heard their name or saw their face, I’d probably remember, even if only faintly.”
【Pururu】 ─ Do you remember Min Ju-hyun?
“Who’s that?”
【Pururu】 ─ She was in our class. See, you don’t remember even after hearing her name.
【Pururu】 ─ You probably wouldn’t recognize her now, even if you saw her face. People change as they age, especially women.
“Maybe because we didn’t interact much? If I can’t recall even after hearing her name, we probably didn’t talk much.”
【Pururu】 ─ Exactly, you two weren’t close.
【Pururu】 ─ That’s why I didn’t reveal my identity.
【Pururu】 ─ I was worried you’d forget who I was, just like you did with Min Ju-hyun.
Her comparison felt a bit off.
Unlike Min Ju-hyun, Seo Dan-bi and I had shared quite a few interactions.
Though we hadn’t kept in touch much after graduation, and we hadn’t communicated at all since I’d returned from another world…
Back in school, Seo Dan-bi and I had bonded over our shared interest in drawing. We often spent breaks sketching together.
That wasn’t the kind of memory that would fade away after just nine years.
The comparison didn’t hold up.
“That’s different. We weren’t at the point where we wouldn’t remember each other’s names.”
【Pururu】 ─ Haha, I know.
【Yumi】 ─ She probably just realized it now.
【Pururu】 ─ But you never know. We weren’t *that* close. Sure, I remembered you, but…
【Pururu】 ─ I didn’t want to feel hurt if you took a while to remember me or if it took time to jog your memory. Now do you understand?
“…”
【Pururu】 ─ Ah, and it was touching that you recognized me just from the art style. Haha.
“…”
【Pururu】 ─ ??
【Pururu】 ─ Why aren’t you saying anything all of a sudden?
“I thought we were pretty close in school. Guess you didn’t feel the same way. I’m disappointed.”
【Pururu】 ─ ?
【Mysticism】 ─ Pururu is trash.
【Mysticism】 ─ I’m disappointed.
【Yumi】 ─ Wow, Seo Dan-bi is trash. Ugh.
【Rizenova】 ─ So Kang thought of Pururu as a friend, but Pururu didn’t see it the same way…
【Pururu】 ─ Honestly, we weren’t that close!!!
In truth, I didn’t think we were that close either.
Even objectively, we weren’t.
I had only said that to mess with her.
I was a bit annoyed that she had hidden her identity all this time.
***
【Pururu】 ─ Mysti, you’re beneath me now.
【Mysticism】 ─ Huh?
【Pururu】 ─ At least Kang recognized me from the drawing right away. You didn’t. Haha.
【Pururu】 ─ That’s the difference between you and me. So long.
【Mysticism】 ─😐
【Yumi】 ─ That emoji looks like it’s asking, ‘So what?’
【Mysticism】 ─ But Kang oppa didn’t say Pururu was pretty. So Pururu is probably ugly, which makes her beneath me.
【Pururu】 ─ Shut up.
For the record, Pururu was quite pretty.
At least by my standards.
You wouldn’t notice from afar, but up close, her features were sharp and well-defined.
She hadn’t stood out in school because she didn’t bother with makeup or fashion. But if she had, she could’ve been quite popular.
Anyway.
It was nice to reconnect with my old classmate, Seo Dan-bi.
As we caught up, chatting about how we’d been, the other assistants started asking more about Pururu.
【Yumi】 ─ Kang, what was Pururu like as a person?
【Mysticism】 ─ Yeah, what kind of student was she?
【Pururu】 ─ Why do you care, you crazy people?
“She was quiet, loved drawing, and was just a normal, calm friend.”
【Yumi】 ─ Quiet, huh?
【Mysticism】 ─ So why is she like this now?
【Yumi】 ─ Exactly.
“She must’ve changed with age.”
【Rizenova】 ─ The passage of time has turned Pururu into a rascal.
【Pururu】 ─ Rascal, my foot.
【Pururu】 ─ I was just a quiet nerd back then, trying to avoid attention.
【Pururu】 ─ Getting noticed by the bullies would’ve made school life a pain. Haha.
【Pururu】 ─ And I’m still pretty quiet now.
【Yumi】 ─ Huh? Then why are you so wild here?
【Mysticism】 ─ Maybe Pururu’s a keyboard warrior.
【Pururu】 ─ What? This is normal.
【Pururu】 ─ And Mysti, stop talking to me so casually. I’m older than you.
【Yumi】 ─ Then Pururu, use honorifics with me. I’m older than you.
【Pururu】 ─ No. Is being older something to brag about?
【Yumi】 ─ What’s wrong with her?
【Mysticism】 ─ Double standards.
Starting with the question of what Pururu had been like, the assistants continued asking about her, clearly curious.
Then, out of nowhere, a surprising question popped up.
【Yumi】 ─ Did Pururu have a crush on Kang? I mean, she always sat next to him to draw, right?
【Mysticism】 ─ She definitely had a thing for him!
“I don’t think so. We just had the same hobby and hung out as friends. I never got the sense that Dan-bi liked me.”
【Yumi】 ─ Hmm. Suspicious.
【Mysticism】 ─ Pururu’s suspicious.
【Yumi】 ─ Kang, did you have any feelings for Pururu back then?
I hadn’t. We were just friends.
Before I could answer, Pururu beat me to it in the chat.
【Pururu】 ─ Kang had someone else he liked.
【Yumi】 ─ What?!
【Yumi】 ─ Kang liked someone else? Really?
【Mysticism】 ─ Who? Who? Who?
【Rizenova】 ─ Oh, this is getting interesting.
“Dan-bi, let’s not talk about that.”
【Pururu】 ─ Ah, got it. Sorry. I didn’t think before typing…
“You don’t need to apologize.”
【Pururu】 ─ Mmm…
【Yumi】 ─ Seems like it wasn’t a happy ending.
【Rizenova】 ─ That’s unfortunate.
【Mysticism】 ─ Now I’m curious. 😢
The lively chat had quieted down.
The atmosphere had suddenly turned awkward.
To lift the mood, I decided to change the topic.
As I was thinking about what to talk about next, I suddenly remembered the invitation tickets I had forgotten about.
“Ah. Now that I think about it, I haven’t used my invitation tickets yet.”
【Yumi】 ─ Invitation tickets?
【Pururu】 ─ Must be the low-tier invitation tickets.
I had originally planned to collect a few more before using them, but since it had come to mind, I decided to use them now.
At least this would divert the assistants’ attention from my past.
Petting Melody Fox, who was napping on my lap,
［Kyurorong.］
I used 10 low-tier invitation tickets.
<Low-Tier Support Request>
▷Available Tickets: 10
「You have used the Assistant Summoning feature.」
「Used 10 low-tier invitation tickets.」
「Selecting a random request method.」
「Request method selected.」
「Requesting support from those connected to Kang Geon.」
「Determining the scope of connection.」
「Scope determined.」
「Is brushing sleeves enough to form a connection? NO! Even eye contact forms a bond!」
「A letter will be sent to those who have made eye contact with Kang Geon, requesting support.」
「Randomizing invitation message.」
====================
Somebody help me!
Labyrinth Explorer *Kang Geon* is requesting your assistance!
If you wish to become Kang Geon’s assistant, place this letter in your mouth and swallow it immediately!
※If you do not consume the letter within 3 hours of opening it, the letter will disappear, and Kang Geon’s support request will be canceled!
====================
「10 letters have been created.」
「The letters have been sent across dimensions.」
“Hmm…”
【Pururu】 ─ Did you send them?
【Yumi】 ─ Did you request support?
【Mysticism】 ─🤔
【Rizenova】 ─ If a new assistant joins, I’ll no longer be the youngest! Haha.
“I’ll just take a nap.”
【Pururu】 ─ ?
I decided to erase from my mind the fact that I had just used the invitation tickets.