Chapter 145 – Onsen Ryokan (2)
“…….”
“Uh, that….”
A suffocating silence flows.
Kang Joo-yeon suddenly met in a mixed bath.
After seeing her her, my pupils in her lost their way.
Although they each covered themselves with large towels, they were dressed in hot spring clothes.
I could see my entire upper body, and Kang Joo-yeon’s curvaceous and slim figure stood out.
Splash Splash-
The moment I looked away in embarrassment, I stood up.
I felt that something shouldn’t be like this.
“Oh that… Me, did I wash everything?”
… So, do you want to write alone?
A question with such meaning.
For some reason, I couldn’t express myself as neatly and clearly as usual.
And that’s not all.
Her gaze was still directed towards the sky, unable to see Kang Joo-yeon, and she was desperately holding on to her waist in case the towel would come down.
‘… Are you sick?’
It really doesn’t look like me.
I want to tear this idiot’s head off.
It was felt from his words and actions that he was extremely embarrassed.
Perhaps the current situation was rather embarrassing.
“That, Kang Joo… “
“… It’s okay.”
“Uh?”
The moment she tried to call her one more time because there was no answer from her.
An unexpected answer came from Kang Joo-yeon.
And trudge-
She slowly approaches her bath.
I couldn’t see it because my eyes were on the air, but I could feel it coming this way just by the sound.
And….
With a splash-
“Huh-.”
I heard the sound of stepping into the bathtub.
I involuntarily took a deep breath.
I could feel Kang Joo-yeon’s presence at my fingertips, and the warmth of her hot water kept piercing her body, giving me a strange feeling.
And once again.
Kang Joo-yeon brought her words out.
“… It’s okay.”
No, crazy
What’s going on is okay, sir.
Her face heats up at the words without an object.
However, Kang Joo-yeon added her words and she cleared up the misunderstanding.
“… I’ll be leaving soon anyway. And tomorrow, we have to talk about where to go to investigate….”
“Ah.”
At the words of understanding, she immediately nodded her head.
Not really.
I need time to talk about it because I have to team up with Kang Joo-yeon tomorrow to investigate, and she doesn’t have to step out of the mixed bath I made for her to use together, and…
Splash- Splash-
The moment when my head became very complicated.
Kang Joo-yeon leaned her back on a large rock, making the sound of her water.
Seeing that relaxed look relieved me too.
‘What are you thinking, what the hell?’
It was a bit embarrassing to be honest, but it wasn’t a situation where something big would happen.
We just use mixed bath together, talk…
It was a natural thing to do.
Feeling ashamed of having a live show on my own, I approached and sat down next to Kang Joo-yeon.
With a splash-
“Have you thought about where you are going tomorrow?”
“… Uh, huh?”
But this time, Kang Joo-yeon’s voice trembled.
I asked, tilting her head.
“What are you so surprised about?”
“… No.”
It’s not like that.
I tried to ask more when I saw Kang Joo-yeon awkwardly avoiding my eyes, but as soon as my gaze reached her body submerged in the water…
Unbeknownst to me, I was speechless.
I calmed myself down inside.
‘… Good thoughts, good thoughts.’
I feel like I’ve been losing my mind ever since.
The smooth, white skin filled his field of vision, and his brain was not functioning properly.
Besides, Kang Joo-yeon is pretty.
It’s not just pretty, it’s overwhelmingly pretty.
She is one of the most popular holders in the academy, and even in her first year, she is one of the top three beauties along with Kim Chae-eun and Moon Ga-eun.
No matter how close you become, if you’re in a mixed bath with a girl like that… Naturally, she couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.
“Hmm, hmm. Anyway, let’s decide in advance where we will start investigating tomorrow. Since we decided to take care of the southern part of Nagoya’s west side, we’re going to go to the Nagoya Port Aquarium first. What do you think?”
“… It’s okay.”
… Again, again.
Anything is fine
But anyway, once we started talking about work, it was much better.
The atmosphere of constant embarrassment faded little by little.
Jooyeon Kang and I sat leaning against the same rock and exchanged words.
From which point to start, which route to go, which part to focus on when searching, how to get a base in a battle composition, etc…
At first, these were the words I brought out to open up the water, but as I did so, time flew by.
Did we talk like that for about 20 minutes?
We have been able to fully orient the investigation for tomorrow.
“Then… How about having breakfast tomorrow and leaving for the Nagoya Port Aquarium at 8:00?”
“… Yes.”
“OK.”
The work talk is over.
Silence came again.
Still, this time it’s quite natural.
There was no gloomy atmosphere like before.
The inside of the bath is cozy and the temperature is just right, so I quickly forgot what I said about leaving soon.
Splash- Splash-
Kang Joo-yeon moved his hand and made another sound of water.
In response, I also used my hand to follow her water sound.
The sound of splashing water overlaps naturally…
Our mischievous eyes met each other.
“Puh-.”
“… Heh.”
Kang Joo-yeon’s laugh, which is rarely heard normally, was heard.
I also laughed out loud.
Since we were 20-year-olds doing pranks that only elementary school students would do….
When beautiful nature and comfortable atmosphere overlap, people seem childish.
“What about the vice president? Aren’t you coming?”
Suddenly, I couldn’t see Yoon Ji-ah, and I remembered that Kang Joo-yeon came alone, so I brought up her topic.
But at this question, Kang Joo-yeon’s eyes became sharper for some reason.
… What.
What did I say wrong
“… You are tired.”
“Oh yeahhaha. Park Jin-woo was like that too. He said he didn’t want to come because he was tired and bothered. He begged me to come, but even if he died, he wouldn’t come. It really relieves fatigue like this.”
“Yes.”
It was cooked
This is almost the level of chilly energy that was seen in the meeting room of the circle room last time.
He poured out useless words as if he were rapping, but it didn’t seem to work.
“… It does relieve the fatigue.”
Fortunately, that spirit didn’t last long.
Perhaps because she knew that it was a question she asked without much thought, Kang Joo-yeon quietly accepted her words.
And the dreamy atmosphere of the hot spring seemed to play a part too.
Is this why everyone comes to the hot springs?
” …… So, are you only picking 5 new clan members this time?”
“Yes. Even if there is not enough manpower, we have to be sure to hire them.”
“Wow… After all, large clans are different.”
Anyway, after the work talk was over, we exchanged small talk.
Most of them talked about the academy and the 〈 Judgment of 〉 clan, but since they were holders by birth, these topics were not boring at all.
Rather, hearing these stories from Kang Joo-yeon was fresh and fun.
Splash- Splash-
When the conversation is over and it gets quiet, I always hear the sound of water again.
In that pleasant silence, I spoke quietly.
“Kang Joo-yeon.”
“Yes.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“… Yes.”
When Kang Joo-yeon nodded her head, I asked without hesitation.
“Why did you help me then?”
“… At that time?”
“Yes. When we first went to the underground dungeon raid. You didn’t know me at all.”
The first semester, just after entering the academy.
The first time I attacked the underground dungeon of the academy.
In fact, without the help of Kang Joo-yeon and Moon Ga-eun, it would have been close to impossible to attack the dungeon.
At the time, the level of difficulty in the underground dungeon was beyond my ability and rune level, and if it weren’t for the two people who demonstrated advanced firepower, there would have been a significant lack of deals to catch the monsters.
Dungeon clearing rewards, linked growth directions, new runes, etc…
I was able to achieve explosive growth from the attack at that time.
But I was curious all the time.
About the reason Kang Joo-yeon, who I hadn’t even met with, accepted my sudden offer.
She has been friends with her for quite some time, and it is only now that she is much more comfortable…
Could ask that question.
“Just… It stood out.”
“Do you stand out?”
“… Yes.”
And to my question like that.
Kang Joo-yeon answered without worrying too much.
“The day the entrance exam was held… Do Jae-hyun stood out the most. Although lacking in skill, he was calm, and he was tired from fighting for a long time, but he had perseverance.”
With a splash-
Kang Joo-yeon continued talking with an awkward water sound.
“Someone who stood out like that approached first… So I guess we did it together. Without hesitation.”
A long sentence that is not like her.
However, I nodded my head at the words that felt sincere.
“I see.”
In the meantime I…
It seems that I had some kind of prejudice against Kang Joo-yeon.
The main character of the original work, the heroine, someone I have seen for a long time.
Blindly believing in the information she had come across through her papers, she had always judged her with her own standards.
“…….”
But Kang Joo-yeon, whom she faced person-to-person, was a much more humane person than I thought.
I thought she was cold and blunt, but she was kind and had a warmth inside.
I always thought she was strong and confident, but there was a soft spot in her heart.
She party-hunted together, lived a clan life together, and until now they are in the same circle together.
While I’ve been seeing her for a long time and getting to know her, her prejudice against Kang Joo-yeon seems to have come off a lot in me.
Therefore…
“… Jaehyun.”
“Uh?”
“Me… It took me a while to call your name… Even so, I wanted to call you from now on….”
So, despite Kang Joo-yeon’s appearance of not being able to speak until the end.
What are you trying to say, what kind of heart are you talking to…
Now I can feel the sincerity of it all.
With a splash-
Kang Joo-yeon lowered her head, and the awkward sound of water rang once again.
I answered him with a smile.
“Yes, Joo-yeon.”
End of the day.
We unexpectedly met in a hot spring bath…
Somehow she felt like she was much closer to her.