Chapter 79

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I was at a loss for words for a moment at that daring word.

However, I quickly regained my composure at Han Soo-Young's staring gaze, and asked her.

“Hey, did I hear you right?”

"Yes. You heard it right.”

“No, then…… .”

“I've been thinking about it a lot, too. For the past few days.”

Han Soo-Young said that and looked at me with a nod.

“I've thought about it a lot. And I've come to a conclusion. That I will do what I want.”

“You, did you really listen to me…… .” 

“Besides.”

Han Soo-young paused for a moment, then took a breath and said.

“Your that…… 'Personal circumstances' I don't know what they are, but maybe I can be your strength. Don't you think so?"

“That's not possible.”

There was a time when I thought that Han Soo-Young, who was specialized in space-related magic, might be able to help me.

However, simply dealing with space-based magic and dealing with a completely different dimension were literally different things.

And it is only the Seven Evils in this world that can do that.

And even in that Seven Evils, only Ariman, the final boss, can do that.

And I had to kill Ariman to escape from this world and return to the original world.

There was no way Han Soo-Young could be of help in that process.

Even more so if she is in this state.

But she somehow looked teary as if she didn't like my answer.

“… How do you know that? Whether I can be of help to you or not."

“Why are you suddenly…… No, more than that.”

I sighed a little.

Han Soo-Young was still staring at me with a stern look.

“Hey, to be blunt, there is Choi Hyun-Woo next to you, and there are many other members too, so why me?”

"What?"

“No, that's the truth, you know.”

It was a little sad to say this with my own mouth, but in the current situation, it was more important to change Han Soo-Young's heart, who was stubbornly pushing.

"I don't have anything to show off for you to like me…… .”

"Hey."

"Huh?"

"You. Watch what you say."

Han Soo-Young said to me, sincerely showing signs of feeling bad.

"If you say it like that, what does it make of me who just confessed to you?"

“Uh, uh?”

"Then what you mean is that I'm a fool who confessed because I like someone who doesn't have anything to show off, now am I?"

"No, that's not what I meant…… .”

Han Soo-Young crossed her arms and looked at me as if asking for an excuse.

Then she let out a small sigh and continued to talk in a quiet voice.

“Yeah, I know your personality that pretends not to know and then secretly backtrack. So, I'll tell you what you said, so listen carefully."

She said looking straight at me.

She looked as if she would not tolerate me averting my gaze.

"Should I compare it as you said? I know, Hyun-Woo is more handsome than you.”

Han Soo-Young stared at me while saying that.

"He is taller than you, has wider shoulders than you, takes care of me better than you, and has a better voice than you. He has known me longer than you, so I'm sure he knows me better than you."

“…… .”

"But it's you, Yoo Ji-Hyuk, who I came to see like this, not Choi Hyun-Woo."

Saying so, she added quietly.

“… Yes, maybe it was. The reason I had never been interested in other boys or ignored their confession up to this point was probably that Hyun-Woo was right next to me. Because I ended up comparing them to him without realizing it.”

She nodded her head and looked at me.

And she muttered as if she didn't know.

“But why? As you said, you don't really have anything to show off, but you know? I'm in a state where I can't help it because I want to be your strength somehow."

“… I can't give you the answer you want.”

As I mumbled as if making excuses, Han Soo-Young let out a small laugh.

“I know well, there's something important to you. Something you can't tell anyone else...… And it must be because of that you've always been covered in wounds. To be honest, I didn't think I'd get an answer from you right now either."

Han Soo-Young stood up after saying that.

“Just promise me a few things instead of that. Then I'll stay as usual in front of other people without going ahead or anything like that as you want.”

Han Soo-Young, who said so, approached right in front of me, and it seemed as if she was locking me up so that I could not run away.

“It’s good to move for your personal circumstances. But please tell me or Hyun-Woo from now on. We're both ready to help you whenever you want."

“… That."

“If you’re going to get hurt, at the very least get hurt in front of my eyes."

Only then will I be able to pick up your injured body, no matter what you do.

Looking at Han Soo-Young muttering like that, I couldn't say anything.

Was she originally like this?

“And second. Don't give this kind of thing to others."

"This kind of thing?"

"This kind of thing."

Han Soo-Young said so and gently raised one side of her hair to me.

Then, the earrings I gave her, which had been hidden, appeared.

As I stared at it, she quickly covered her ear with her hair.

“…If you're going to give it to others, at least give me a proper answer before you give it."

“… Okay."

She blushed for a moment, then coughed and looked at me.

As if this was the main point.

"Then, the last one.”

"There are a lot."

“You, call me and Hyun-Woo by our first names from now on.”

I felt like something was poked in her words and stabbed me in the vital point.

As I flinched and trembled at her, she nodded her head as if understanding.

“You've always called us with our last names, haven't you? Choi Hyun-Woo, Han Soo-Young. Like that. You've never called like Hyun-Woo, Soo-Young. Is that your own line? Do you call us by our first and last name to express that you don't want to get close to us?”

“I didn’t mean it that way.”

"Then it doesn't matter.”

Call me. Hurry.

Saying so, she gave strength to her eyes and looked at me.

"Try it. I won’t go until you do it.”

“Soo-Young.”

"Huh?"

As I called her name with a sigh of resignation, I could see her bewildered for a moment. 

"I'll be careful from now on, so please stop, Soo-Young."

“Uh, uh…… .”

Han Soo-Young nodded blankly.

Am I overdoing it?

Thinking so, I got up from my seat on crutches.

"Then I'll get going now. From now on, as you said, I will be careful, so don't worry. And that…… The answer is…… .”

"Hey."

"Huh?"

At that moment, I realized that Han Soo-Young had grabbed me by the collar.

And then, her face came closer to me...… .

Immediately, a dull pain spread like a slap on my face.

"Eug!"

"Eug!"

I sat down on the bench again in an unexpected pain.

Reflectively, I covered my mouth with my hand, but it felt uncomfortable, so when I checked, there was blood on my palm.

It was only then that I could notice that my lips were chapped.

"It hurts…… .”

When I gently raised my head to look, I saw that Han Soo-Young was also frowning as if in pain, covering her mouth with her two hands.

Her eyes were moist with small tears, and when her eyes met mine, she was startled, surprised, and gave a small shudder.

“Are you okay?”

When I asked, pressing my lips with my hand, Han Soo-Young shook her head.

Her face immediately turned red as if it was about to explode, and she soon disappeared as if she were running away.

“… What the hell.”

I mumbled to myself as I held my mouth, which was still bleeding from being hit so hard.

Was she trying to kiss me just now?

Embarrassed at her absurdity, I just looked at the place where she disappeared as if she was running away.

* * *

A few days later, I was able to get permission to attend classes at the Academy as normal.

It was almost two weeks after leaving the academy.

Although I walked with crutches, I was able to attend all classes except a few.

At first, it was normal for me to have a hard time following the classes, but I wasn’t taking the classes from the beginning, so it didn’t matter that much.

All I had to do was copy and write it down in moderation using the status window.

That's why I never dreamed that something like this would happen.

“Um, Ji-Hyuk. I'm not asking you this with any ill intentions, so I hope you don't misunderstand this."

The elderly man sitting facing me was Professor Roh, who was in charge of all written classes at the academy.

And he was also the professor in charge of Class C.

With a kind-looking smile, he asked me for an interview after class, and as soon as we sat down, he carefully unfolded out the test papers I had taken in various subjects.

“Are you, by any chance, deliberately mistaking a few questions?”

"Yes?"

He asked carefully, and spread out some test papers on the desk.

"If you look here…… You'll see that you've made some mistakes and submitted some blank questions, but there is nothing strange about this in itself.”

While saying that, he held out the other test paper to me.

"But you submitted a perfect answer on this test. For your information, this was a trap problem that first-year students could not solve."

He smiled slightly.

“Only six people got it right, and one of them was you.”

“… I studied.”

“Oh, this test was taken before the previous two tests, remember?”

“…… .”

I shut my mouth.

As I said before, it was because I never expected that such a problem would arise.

No, more than that, does this person remember all the exams that thousands of students have taken?

As I was thinking this, he smiled a little.

"I didn't call you to scold or interrogate you. Just…… Well. I guess this old man just wanted to talk to you.”

With that, he began to ask questions.

For example, how is your life at the academy?

I heard you were sick, but are you okay now?

There were small talks about whether I would be able to keep up with the classes without any problems.

“Then, how many mistakes do you think you'll keep making mistakes?”

When I didn't answer his question, he nodded as if he understood.

"Yeah…… You must have a reason. Then it would be uncomfortable to ask more, so I'll stop."

"Thank you."

“What, I’m sorry for calling you to bother you for nothing.”

He added quietly with a smile.

“Still, I'd like to see the test papers where you worked hard once.”

“… I'll try.”

"Hmm."

It was when I was about to get up after bowing to professor Roh, who nodded his head in satisfaction.

A familiar voice came from outside with a knock.

“Professor Roh, this is Lee Yu-Na. I've come here for the survey question you asked for, is it okay if I come in?”

“Come in.”

Lee Yu-Na, holding a stack of papers in one hand, carefully opened the door and came in.

And when she saw me, her eyes narrowed slightly, and I had no idea why she had been reacting like this to me lately.

“Good job, Yu-Na.”

"No, it's something I have to do.”

Lee Yu-Na answered in a lively manner put the papers she had brought on the table.

Come to think of it, she was the only playable character from the first year who was in Class C.

Choi Hyun-Woo, Han Soo-Young, and Jin Ye-Seul were in Class A.

Ivan Hunt and Ahn Do-Hoon were in Class B.

Maybe because Lee Yu-Na was so far away alone, she had more episodes going on by herself than the others.

“Oh, Yu-Na. I'm sorry to bother you while you're here, but can I ask one favor of you?"

Professor Roh, who said so, pointed at me with a gesture.

“Here, since Ji-Hyuk is still not feeling well, can you help him to get to where he's going?"

“… Yes, well.”

“Then please.”

And the two of us got out of Professor Roh's private room.

Lee Yu-Na sighed lightly and looked at me.

“Do you really need help?”

“No, I can go alone.”

"Then just in case, I'll go with you until you go outside.”

Even though she showed that she was uncomfortable being with me, she seemed to be trying to see me off as Professor Roh had asked after all.

From the back of her head as she went on ahead, it seemed as if it was saying 'Don't talk to me for no reason, because I'm uncomfortable.'

Why the hell is she doing this to me these days?

I don't think I've ever been involved with her...… .

Thinking so, I followed her carefully.

* * *

Lee Yu-Na was very uncomfortable with Yoo Ji-Hyuk.

Of course, it wasn't like that from the beginning.

Rather, she had a good impression of Yoo Ji-Hyuk, and even had liked him to some extent as a friend.

On several occasions, she had seen him turn out to be quite a nice guy, such as in the mock dungeon accident and in Professor Abel Grossman's class.

However, it was only a few days ago that his evaluation, which had been quite favorable, was overturned.

His relationships with women were very complicated.

And Yoo Ji-Hyuk was definitely enjoying it.

That was Lee Yu-Na's conclusion.

He was often seen hanging out with Han Soo-Young, who was his classmate, and many times he was seen hanging out with Jin Ye-Seul, who was her friend.

It was known to everyone that Lee Ye-Eun, a year senior, cared about him quite a lot.

And even the blonde female student who was walking arm in arm with him during the guild invitation ceremony.

For some reason, every time she looked, the number of women was increasing.

The climax of the incident was when she went to visit Yoo Ji-Hyuk and Jin Ye-Seul.

She couldn't forget the sound of Jin Ye-Seul's excited breathing coming from behind the door.

Perhaps because of her pure white skin, she could tell that her face was hot even without looking in the mirror.

She wonder if the two of them had been in a relationship, and even if that was the case, at the hospital...… .

Even though she thought so, Lee Yu-Na wished for the best as it was her friend's love affair.

And a few days ago.

Even if it was unintentional, she had seen it.

‘Ye-Seul, Han Soo-Young, and Senior Lee Ye-Eun. And that unknown blonde girl...… How many are there?’

Maybe there's more that she just doesn't know.

Thinking so, Lee Yu-Na bit her lips.

Whether it is a woman or a man, the people who have messy relationship with the opposite sex and manage the fishery were the people she hated the most.

And Yoo Ji-Hyuk was that kind of person no matter who looked at him.

Even though Lee Yu-Na thought she was a fool, who had a good impression of him for no reason, she took a step towards him to make sure that he was following well.

"Ah."

It was then.

Lee Yu-Na's cell phone suddenly rang and she clenched her teeth.

Because there was only one kind of phone call that came at this time.

However, Yoo Ji-Hyuk, who had no idea behind her, opened his mouth.

“You are getting a call?”

"I know."

When she replied bluntly, he nodded as if he understood.

The phone kept ringing.

It was a phone call that always came around this time and urged her to pay off her debts.

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[Note: '어장관리' 'manage the fishery - 'to keep someone on a string(In a relationship)'.]

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