Joo-Hee sat quietly on the edge of her hospital bed, her slender fingers absentmindedly tracing the soft texture of the neatly folded white sheets beneath her.
The morning light seeped through the blinds, casting a warm, golden glow across the room.
It was a day of new beginnings, but for Jake, who now inhabited Joo-Hee's body, there was a lingering anxiety that weighed down the otherwise peaceful atmosphere.
The time had finally come after days of recovery. Today was the day Joo-Hee would be discharged from the hospital.
Yet Jake, fully immersed in her life, couldn't help but feel an odd attachment to the place.
The hospital, though confining, had provided him with a strange sense of safety.
It was a cocoon where he had processed the shock of his transmigration, a place where the reality of this new life settled in.
But the real world was now calling.
The thought of stepping back into the unpredictable outside world left her feeling both apprehensive and eager.
'This is it,' she thought as she tidied Joo-Hee's belongings, carefully packing the few items she had brought into a small bag. 'No more hiding. I guess this is the time to face whatever this world has in store for me.'
As she zipped up the bag, a soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
The sound was familiar, comforting even.
Joo-Hee turned just as Jin-Woo stepped into the room, his usual stoic expression softening at the sight of her.
"Joo-Hee, it seems you are already done packing... are you ready to go?" Jin-Woo asked, his voice gentle but tinged with concern.
Her heart clenched slightly at the sound of Jin-Woo's voice.
She had grown unexpectedly fond of the quiet hunter, and the bond they had formed was something Joo-Hee hadn't anticipated.
'It feels like I'm leaving behind a friend,' she mused, feeling a mix of sadness and reluctance.
But deep down, she knew he couldn't linger in this hospital forever.
'Well, I have to move on. I have to get stronger, strong enough to survive and protect myself. After all, I can't rely on Jin-Woo forever.'
'And...'
'It would be just stupid not to enjoy my transmigration in South Korea for the very first time!'
Joo-Hee smiled, trying to mask the whirlwind of emotions inside.
"Yes, I'm ready," she said, standing up from the bed.
She met Jin-Woo's gaze with a soft smile.
"Jin-Woo... thank you. You know, for visiting me almost every day. It meant a lot to me. But you better think about discharging yourself soon too," she added playfully, trying to lighten the mood.
Jin-Woo smiled faintly, though there was a glimmer of something deeper in his eyes—concern, perhaps? Affection?
Joo-Hee couldn't tell, but the thought left her feeling a little uneasy.
She wasn't supposed to get too attached. This wasn't her world, after all.
She took a step forward, standing just a few feet away from Jin-Woo.
She hesitated, then spoke again, this time more softly, "I know I already said this before, but… thank you once again, Jin-Woo. For saving me in that double dungeon. If it weren't for you, I… well, I might not be here now."
A bright smile spread across his face, an expression that seemed to catch Jin-Woo off guard.
For a moment, Jin-Woo seemed frozen, his gaze lingering on Joo-Hee.
There was something in his eyes, a flicker of surprise, perhaps even admiration.
The brief silence between them felt charged, filled with unspoken words.
Jin-Woo finally nodded, his voice steady but warm.
"It's the least I could do. You've always been there for me, so it's only right that I'm here for you too."
The sincerity in his words struck a chord within Joo-Hee, stirring something deep inside that made her momentarily forget about the complexities of this life she had stumbled into.
There was a shared understanding between them now, one that transcended the awkwardness of their earlier encounters.
'Why does this feel so strange?' Joo-Hee thought, feeling a lump form in his throat.
'I know I'm using him for my survival… but it's not just that anymore, is it?'
She hated how complicated it was becoming. She hadn't asked to feel this way, to develop this connection.
'No... I can't get attached that much. I can't stay here for long. This makes me wonder, what will be the end of my journey here?'
Clearing her throat, Joo-Hee broke the silence, determined to anchor herself in the present.
"I'm pretty sure you'll be okay, Jin-Woo," she said, her voice softer now. "You're much braver than I am, after all… But don't you dare sacrifice yourself again. Okay? Promise me."
Jin-Woo blinked, caught off guard. The earnestness in her voice was unexpected, almost caring.
He paused, then gave a gentle, almost melancholic smile.
"I'll try," he replied, though there was something buried in his tone, a quiet sadness Joo-Hee couldn't quite decipher.
She stood up, trying to brush off the tension, but for once, she couldn't lie to him. Not completely.
"Good," she said with a slight lift in her voice, eyes focused ahead. "Because... Joo-Hee would really be worried if you didn't."
Jin-Woo tilted his head, raising an eyebrow. "Joo-Hee? Haha~ why are you suddenly speaking in third person? Are you trying to act cute now?" he teased, the corners of his lips twitching upward.
Joo-Hee froze for half a second. 'Fool,' she thought bitterly. 'If you only knew… that she's long gone—'
But she swallowed it down and smirked instead, closing her eyes briefly. "Hmm… maybe not cute," she replied, turning the tables. "It should be pretty, right, Jin-Woo?"
The shot landed clean.
Jin-Woo flushed, clearly not expecting her to fire back like that. "W-What? I—" he fumbled, rubbing the back of his neck and looking away.
Joo-Hee laughed, her chuckle light and teasing. The mood shifted, warm and playful, as their banter continued for a few more lines, brief and meaningless on the surface, but grounding—like a lifeline between two people caught in different storms.
Soon, Joo-Hee adjusted the strap on her shoulder and headed for the door.
"I guess I'll be going now. I'll see you soon, Jin," she said, her tone casual but sincere.
"I'll still visit you from time to time, so don't think you're getting rid of me just yet."
Jin-Woo chuckled softly, the sound rare but comforting, "I'll be looking forward to it."
And with that, she walked away, leaving Jin-Woo sitting on the hospital bed, the ghost of her smile lingering longer than she realized.
But before she left, she turned back one last time, unable to resist offering a final reassurance.
'This is it. My real journey starts now. I'd better write a novel when I get back to my world. I'll call it—That Time I Got Transmigrated into the World of Solo Leveling,' she thought, chuckling slightly at the ridiculous idea.
Walking through the hospital's sterile white halls was rather heavy. It felt the weight of his new life pressing down on him.
The outside world was filled with the dangers of dungeons, monsters, and wars—but it was also a place where Joo-Hee could experience the bliss of a life vastly different from her former one.
The hospital had been a refuge, but now it was time to face reality head-on.
There were too many unknowns ahead, but Joo-Hee knew one thing for certain. She wouldn't stop until she was strong enough to survive on her own terms just like a protagonist of any other novel.
As she stepped into the cool morning air outside the hospital, a sense of determination washed over her.
'South Korea, here I come!'
'This is my first time visiting an outside country—I feel like crying.'
'And... this is my second chance. I won't waste it. Never! After all, it's not every day you get transmigrated!'
With one final glance back at the hospital, Joo-Hee took a deep breath and moved forward.