12 – Guests of the Hero Country (4)
Luina? Why Luina!?
More than any other emotion, the first thing that struck her was bewilderment.
She had suddenly appeared at our workplace.
Luina’s expression was not one of laughter or anger, but a cold and sharp expression as if a gust of wind was blowing.
“Me, me that’s not…?”
Hero Blaze, tightly gripping my hand.
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It was a statement from Sieun.
She, who I have no idea about her true face.
In a situation where we don’t know if the woman in front of us is the worst villain, the door has been shattered, so it must have been out of frustration due to her past offenses.
“Well, well, who is that goddess model…?”
The next voice came from Kyungtae, with an infatuated tone.
Certainly.
A calm yet provocative fashion.
Lucina’s current outfit seemed to be suitable for any cover model, appearing quite sophisticated.
“Was there such a beauty in our building?”
“I’m telling you, it wasn’t me who broke the door. Will you believe me?”
Between the two of them, arguing on both sides of me.
Lucina, dragging her feet roughly, gradually came closer.
Of course, the direction was in a straight line from the bench where we were sitting.
“By the way, didn’t that person say something earlier?”
“Definitely, she clearly said ‘herself’….”
It was the moment when the two of them turned to me, who was sandwiched in the middle, with a surprised look.
Thud!
Lucina stood in front of us, her cold frosty eyes flickering as if ice was pouring out.
“Hand.”
The direction that Lucina was looking at was my hand.
The hand that Si-eun was tightly gripping.
“Let go.”
Lucina’s tone was so cold, it was sharp.
“Ah, ow! W-Welcome! Come to think of it, you said you were coming!?”
As soon as I heard that voice, I suddenly stood up amidst the two people who were momentarily stunned.
Lies were pouring out of my mouth to the point of being shocking.
While doing that, on the off chance that a terrible accident might happen.
I quickly pulled Lucina’s waist towards me and held her tightly in my arms.
“Kya…♡”
The moment I held Lucina in my arms.
Her icy expression melted away like snow in an instant.
“Wait, don’t tell me… You and Seong-hoon…?”
Perhaps they sensed that our relationship was not just on the level of acquaintances.
The two of them had expressions as if they were seeing something unimaginable.
“W-What’s with those unbelievable expressions? Excuse me.”
“You clearly were in the same position as me just a while ago…?”
Note: This translation aims to preserve the atmosphere and word choice of the novel, especially with regard to the idol theme.
“So, our Sung-hoon, who used to view women like statues…”
“Our Sung-hoon?”
Han Si-eun, why do you keep saying things that could be misunderstood…!!
In response to Si-eun’s nonsense, I grinned excessively at Lina, who coolly reacted.
“We’re in a position of not knowing each other, so we should start with introductions, right!? This is our company colleague, Yoo Kyung-tae!”
“Ah, hello…”
Kyung-tae bowed subtly with a nuanced expression.
“And this is──.”
“Blaze.”
Before the introduction could even be completed, Lina coldly brought up her alias.
Indeed, Si-eun is a popular hero known to everyone.
Naturally, the villain, the adversary of the hero, from Lina’s perspective, she had to know her.
However, to anyone listening, that tone goes beyond hostility.
This, if not resolved quickly somehow…
“Ahahahahaha. Sorry if I caused any misunderstanding. As you said, I’m Blaze. I was just a fellow student at the Hero Academy with Sung-hoon, and there’s nothing special between us, so rest assured.”
Perhaps thanks to Si-eun’s unique optimistic personality.
Or maybe pretending not to know intentionally.
Ignoring the atmosphere Lina exuded, Si-eun, with a carefree attitude, offered her own explanation, scratching the back of her head.
“………….”
“Right. It’s like an awkward relationship with this guy. Really, just that kind of relationship.”
I added, still keeping my mouth shut, to the cool-headed Lina.
“Really…?”
“Y-yeah! It’s true, really.”
To give her a little more confidence in my words.
I pulled her closer and gently stroked her head.
“Okay… I understand. Sorry for misunderstanding, honey♡”
Finally, I felt Lina’s doubts and suspicions easing.
She nestled her face against my chest, now that she had received my touch.
Phew…
Finally, I can breathe a sigh of relief.
“Secretary Jo Sung-hoon, it looks like you’re about to burst into tears, seeing such a scene in front of you.”
With clenched teeth, Kyung-tae’s words seemed like he was about to shed tears of blood.
“Wow, Sung-hoon, you’re good. When did you get such a beautiful girlfriend?”
And Saeun, teasingly, with a bland smile.
“W-Well, it’s not been long, but…”
To be precise, not even a day has passed since we started dating.
“So, what’s your girlfriend’s name?”
“Huh?”
“Her name. It’s a bit weird to keep calling her ‘your girlfriend,’ isn’t it?”
Unexpectedly, Seiun’s question left my brain frozen stiff.
Come to think of it, I’ve always referred to Lucina by the code name assigned by the committee.
Naturally, I didn’t know her real name.
“Uh, what’s the name….”
“It’s Yuri. Yes.”
At that moment.
What Lucina brought up with the name she heard for the first time was…
“A resident registration card?”
“It indeed says Yuri, but…”
Looking at the resident registration card proudly displayed by Lucina, both of us nodded slowly.
Even though she should not have any personal information registered….
Is this also the work of the National Intelligence Service? Like my hero certification.
“Aha-ha. Miss Yuri is quite unique. Introducing herself with a resident registration card.”
“In some ways, it seems to suit you well with him….”
“What ways. What kind of ways are you talking about?”
I responded in a joking manner to Kyungtae’s teasing with a smirk.
Anyway, we’ve overcome another hurdle.
I’ve been wondering for a while.
Looking at the paper bag hanging on Lucina’s arm, I asked, “By the way, what’s that?”
“Ah, I see. You haven’t eaten yet, have you? hehehe.”
A complete shift from before.
Luina smiled brightly and took out a convenience store lunchbox from her bag.
“I haven’t eaten either, so I brought two to share with you!”
“Oh, I see. That’s nice of you.”
Come to think of it, Luina hadn’t eaten anything since yesterday, just like me.
I graciously accepted the lunchbox.
“I was just about to eat, so tha–“
“Yuri, you’re really an interesting person. Normally, they would bring homemade lunchboxes instead of convenience store ones.”
“………. Is that a problem?”
Clearly, due to Saeun’s carefree personality.
It must have been a thoughtless remark, meant as a joke.
However, Luina seemed somewhat uncomfortable with her words.
In a cold tone, she retorted as if she was very uncomfortable.
“Um, hey. Your girlfriend seems like she needs to say something….”
Quick to pick up on the atmosphere, Kyeongtae interjected, firmly holding his ground.
I squeezed myself in between Luina, who was giving me a piercing stare, and Saeun, who probably didn’t even know she was in a situation that needed defusing.
“Hey hey! It’s lunchtime, so let’s start eating, okay!? I’ll eat here with Yuri!”
“……….”
“Oh, I see. Then let’s have a meal together next time!”
“I’ll go down first to grab something to eat then….”
Luina stared at the hero in front of her as if she wanted to kill him.
Sieun still seemed oblivious to the fact that she was being treated as an enemy.
On the other hand, Kyoungtae was keenly observing the situation, prepared to smoothly extricate himself.
“And about the entrance, don’t insert it into the report as if I did it for real, okay!?”
“W-well, I’ll take care of that myself! L-let’s go, Blaze.”
“It worked out well. Since this is fate, let’s grab a meal together, Mr. Kyoungtae.”
Leading the noisy hero Blaze until they descended, Kyoungtae headed towards the entrance.
Before going down the stairs.
He turned around and nodded firmly at me.
That guy is a master of reading situations….
I should repay Kyoungtae later for preventing this situation from turning into a disaster.
“Hoo….”
It was a sigh of relief.
“Do you also like handmade food…?”
Luina asked cautiously, shaking her head.
Her voice was noticeably softer.
“Luina…?”
“That hero earlier said that. He asked if I bring convenience store lunch instead of homemade food for a lover theme.”
It felt like something similar yet maliciously distorted memory….
I sat down Luina, who was hostile toward Sieun, on the bench without even using the derogatory term “년” (yeon).
Then, I sat right next to her and opened the lid of the convenience store lunch box.
“I’ll eat anything you give me. After all, you brought it all the way here for me, didn’t you?”
“Sweetie…”
“Don’t pay attention to what she says. Thank you, Luina.”
I comforted Luina with a clumsy smile.
But then, Luina started to shake her shoulders, tilting her head 90 degrees.
“Luina…?”
“Y-you’re really… too much…”
Huh? Did I comfort her the wrong way?
“You’re too good to me… I can’t help but love you even more…”
In Luina’s eyes, which she sneakily raised, tears were glistening.
Luckily, it seemed my worries were unfounded.
I took out a handkerchief from my pocket and wiped her eyes.
“hehehe. You’re so kind…”
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“It’s nothing. Should we eat before it gets cold?”
“Just one thing before that.”
She slowly closed her eyes and gently pressed her lips against mine.
“If you don’t, I won’t give you chopsticks.”
“That, that’s a bit awkward, hahahaha…”
The oppressive memories from last night flashed through my mind in an instant.
But now, things are different.
This is entirely my will.
Approaching Luina with her lovely face, I lightly pressed my lips against her smooth ones.
The gentle and supple sensation lingered for a moment and then separated.
“…hehehe. I really love you. Sweetheart♡”
Blushing, Luina took out chopsticks from the paper bag and handed them to me.
After kissing Luina with my own will, it was quite embarrassing, but I gathered a little courage and expressed the answer I wanted to convey to her.
“I truly love you too, Luina.”