“How can you tell who’s from this world and who isn’t?”
“That necklace is like their ID. Everyone with one of those necklaces is a local.”
The shimmering pendant caught Heesoo’s attention.
It seemed far from ordinary.
She nodded as Minjoo explained.
Minjoo, having spent more time here, was more familiar with this place than Heesoo.
“Those people only work here for a set amount of time before leaving the mine.
For them, it’s just a punishment.”
“And after they leave…
Where do they go?”
For Heesoo, the mine and the dangerous world outside were the only realities she knew.
Anything or anywhere else was beyond her comprehension.
Minjoo stared longingly at the blonde woman.
“To where the ‘normal’ people live.”
Normal people.
The blonde-haired woman was a criminal, serving her punishment.
But she was also someone who, with enough effort, could return to a normal life.
Minjoo wanted to be like her.
“I want to get out of this mine. I really do.”
Minjoo’s eyes gleamed with determination as she spoke.
Heesoo didn’t have the heart to shatter her hope, so she stayed silent.
‘Do you even know what’s out there?
Have you seen it for yourself?’
Men were terrifying enough, but the zombies…
Those creatures that the people from this world called ‘Maenoks’ were something even worse.
Heesoo had lost all hope and found solace in the routine of working in the mine because the sight of zombies tearing people apart had utterly broken her.
She had no desire to leave the mine.
Whatever lay beyond, she didn’t want to face it.
‘The place where normal people live.’
She couldn’t speak their language, had no friends or family, and had no idea how she could ever live like everyone else.
If she had one wish, it would be to go back to the life she had before crossing through the Dark Hole.
If that wasn’t possible, then she’d rather stay in the mine forever.
As long as it meant staying with Minjoo.
Heesoo desperately needed someone to lean on.
As long as there was someone who could communicate with her, sympathize with her, and share her pain, it didn’t have to be Minjoo.
But in this world, Minjoo was all she had.
Heesoo found the labor exhausting, but she worked hard, afraid that Minjoo might find her as a burden.
Over time, she gradually adjusted to life in the mine.
The repetitive nature of the work made it easier to pick up, and she no longer got whipped due to making mistakes or getting on the bad sides of the guards.
Even when others treated her harshly or bullied her on purpose, she learned to just let it slide.
Her life offered no hope for the future, but as long as she could continue like this, it felt bearable.
Here, at least she was safe from zombies and the threat of being assaulted.
But unfortunately, that newfound ‘peace’ didn’t last long.
* * *
Their main job was preparing meals near the mine’s entrance.
They used flint to start fires and boiled potatoes.
For the workers, boiled potatoes were the only meal every day.
Heesoo occasionally complained about the lack of variety in their meals, but Minjoo, with her calm demeanor, reassured her that she’d get used to it.
Despite her youth, Minjoo had so much to teach.
Watching her endure even longer stretches of living on potatoes without complaint, Heesoo resolved to change her mindset.
Strangely, the flames weren’t red—they were blue.
Heesoo stared curiously at the unusual sight, but Minjoo seemed unfazed.
“Sometimes they light blue fires like this.”
“I see.”
Two suns and two moons already made this world strange enough, so a blue flame didn’t feel so out of place.
“Arbre.”
Minjoo inspected the firewood, practicing a word she’d learned.
“Arbre.
Arbre.”
“It means tree.
Arbre.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Heesoo watched her blankly.
Minjoo was learning the language of this world.
She had gotten closer to the blonde-haired woman, who sometimes shared meat with her.
Through gestures and questions, Minjoo had started picking up words and trying to remember them.
“Heesoo, why don’t you learn the language too?”
“No, I’m fine.”
Heesoo had no interest.
The only person she spoke to in the mine was Minjoo.
She didn’t see the need to learn the local language.
“But you’ll need it if we ever get out of here.”
“We’re not leaving.”
“How do you know? What if we do get the chance?”
Even if such a chance came, Heesoo had no intention of leaving.
She held her tongue, not wanting to dampen Minjoo’s optimism.
“Heesoo, you’re like someone without any sorts of dreams or ambitions.
Why are you so passive?
Why don’t you talk to people more?”
“….”
Heesoo hadn’t always been like this.
Back when she traveled in the U.S., she had no problem befriending strangers or striking up conversations.
But now, she wasn’t in the middle of a fun trip or anything like that.
Everything she’d experienced in this world had closed her off completely.