Chapter 58: Don’t Scare Me Like That Again

Tucking the bag containing my new phone under my arm, I entered the mobile carrier store across the corridor.

There were only a few customers inside. After taking a number from the ticket machine near the entrance, I sat on one of the seats along the wall and waited for the two people ahead of me to finish.

My bank account still hadn’t recovered from the serious injury it had just suffered, so I didn’t want to make another payment. All I needed was to recover my old number and put the new SIM card into my phone. There was no reason for that to take more than a few minutes.

When my number appeared on the screen, I walked over to the counter and handed the employee my ID. The young man entered my information into the computer before looking at me.

"How can I help you?"

"My phone was destroyed, and the SIM card went with it. I want to recover my old number."

"Do you have any part of the old SIM card with you?"

"No. It could be somewhere among the remains of an Overlap or inside a monster’s stomach right now."

The employee stared at my face for several seconds as if trying to decide whether I was joking. Then he turned back to his computer without asking any questions.

He had probably heard stranger explanations while working in customer service.

"Could you tell me your number?"

Noctis’s old number was clearer in my mind than his own date of birth. After reciting it, I waited for the employee to check his screen.

The man opened several different pages, compared the information on my ID with the registered owner of the number, and finally nodded.

"The line is registered in your name, but we can’t issue a replacement directly without the old SIM card. After the security verification, a new card will need to be ordered from the central office."

"How long will that take?"

"It usually arrives at our store within three business days. Depending on how busy they are, it may take up to four."

I frowned.

"Why does it take four days for a tiny piece of plastic that you’ll put the same number on?"

"For security reasons, the number has to be reassigned and approved by the central office."

The woman at the phone store had managed to take half the money in my bank account within minutes, yet this man needed four days to give me back my old number.

It truly was a flawless system.

"Isn’t there any faster way?"

"Unfortunately, no. However, you can purchase a new line to use in the meantime."

With a new number, I could contact Eris, but I didn’t know my angel’s number. I had saved her in my phone as [Angel] without even learning her real name.

To access the messaging account from my old phone, I needed a verification code sent to my old number. Once the line was active again, I could restore my conversations and recover my angel’s number.

Giving up my old number wasn’t an option.

"All right, place the order for my old line. I’ll also take a new number to use for now."

The employee placed a list containing several numbers in front of me.

"You can choose one of these."

After looking at the numbers for a few seconds, I pointed to the first one. I had no intention of paying extra for a nice or easily remembered number when I would be returning to my old line in a few days anyway.

After signing the necessary documents and making two separate payments, I received the new SIM card and the order document for my old number.

I had entered the store only to recover my old number, yet I had somehow purchased a new line and ordered another SIM card.

Everyone I met today seemed exceptionally skilled at taking my money.

After explaining that I would be notified through my new number when the replacement SIM arrived, the employee placed the documents inside a small folder.

"Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"Not unless you want the rest of my money too."

A faint smile appeared behind the professional expression he was supposed to maintain around customers.

I took my bag and the new SIM card, then left the store. After sitting on one of the benches in the corridor, I opened the phone box and removed the device.

The protective case that the saleswoman had repeatedly emphasized was free had already been fitted onto the phone. Using the small metal tool inside the box, I opened the SIM tray and carefully placed the new card inside.

The phone detected the line a few seconds later. As the signal bars appeared in the upper corner of the screen, I noticed that my palms had begun to sweat.

I no longer had an excuse to run away.

It was time to face Eris.

I didn’t need my old line to find her number. Among the memories left behind by this world’s Noctis, Eris’s phone number was one of the clearest. She had called him so often over the years that my fingers could enter the digits without me even thinking about them.

I opened the call screen and entered the number. With my finger hovering over the call button, I remained still for several seconds.

I couldn’t remember being this tense even when I attacked the ram-headed monster.

After taking a deep breath, I pressed the button.

The phone rang once.

The call connected halfway through the second ring.

"Hello?"

Eris’s voice sounded wary and tired. Since she didn’t recognize the number, she was probably trying to figure out who was calling.

"Eris, it’s me."

No sound came from the other end.

I checked the screen to see if the call had disconnected. The timer continued to advance, but Eris still wasn’t speaking.

"Eris?"

"NOCTIS EVERNIGHT!"

Her scream exploded in my ear, and I pulled the phone away from my face in panic. Several people walking through the corridor turned toward me in surprise, and I lowered my gaze in embarrassment.

"Could you lower your voice a little?"

"Where are you?! Do you have any idea how many times I’ve called you since last night? Why was your phone off? I went to your apartment and pounded on the door, but you didn’t answer! I even called the hospitals, you idiot!"

She spoke so quickly that her words nearly ran together. I tried to interrupt and answer, but Eris continued without pausing for breath.

"The entire park was trapped inside the Overlap! I know you go there every morning, and until they released the names of the dead—"

Her voice suddenly cut off.

Then I heard her take a trembling breath.

"Are you really okay?"

Her anger vanished for a moment, leaving only fear behind.

A tightness formed in my throat, and I gripped the edge of the phone a little harder.

"I’m fine. Really."

"Then why didn’t you answer?"

"My phone was destroyed. I lost my key too, and I fell asleep the moment I got home."

"How did your phone get destroyed?"

I knew that question was coming, but I hadn’t had time to prepare a suitable lie.

"Because I was pulled into the Overlap too."

Silence fell over the other end of the call once again.

This time, it took Eris a few seconds longer to explode.

"YOU WERE WHAT?!"

"I was inside the Overlap, but I’m fine now. Don’t make me say it twice."

"How can you be fine? The news showed those creatures tearing people apart! Were you hurt? Did anything bite you? Did you go to the hospital?"

Technically, I had been bitten several times, had my chest torn open, broken both arms, and been impaled through the shoulder with a rusty sword. However, if I told her any of that, the amount of time I would be able to use my new phone would probably be limited to a few minutes.

"I don’t have a single wound anywhere."

For the moment, that wasn’t a lie.

"What did you do inside the Overlap?"

"I found a safe place among the ruins and hid there. I didn’t come out until the core was destroyed."

Most of what I said was a lie, but I really had been among the ruins and remained inside until the Overlap was cleared. Rearranging a few details wouldn’t hurt anyone.

"My phone was crushed beneath some falling rubble while I was escaping," I added. "I made it out, but my phone wasn’t as lucky."

Eris let out a long breath. The tension in her voice hadn’t completely disappeared, but at least she was no longer shouting.

"Where are you now?"