176 – 176. Midwinter (2)
“There is room for growth…… ?”
Midwinter pondering Ahn Suho’s words. Soon, dark wrinkles began to form between her brows. There is room for growth, isn’t that what a person who looks down on himself would say?
“…… Are you flirting with me now?”
“Sibiraño. I mean it sincerely. I think the mid-winter student can still become strong enough.”
What Midgyeol pointed out was not whether the words were true or not, but his attitude, but Ahn Suho didn’t notice. As her expression was about to contort even more, she added Ahn Soo-ho small.
“The last ranking match. It coincided with work hours, so I also intuition. Personally, I think it was close.”
“…… It seemed so close, even without eyes to see it, I haven’t seen it for a while.”
“That is uncharacteristically humble. I thought that if she was a student in the middle of winter, she would naturally boast that she lost by a narrow margin.”
At those words, Midwinter shed his eyes. However, more than her irritation with Ahn Su-ho, the self-help boiling inside her soaked her spirit first.
She let out a sigh and hugged her knees tighter. Like a helpless worm crouching in a corner.
“…… Put away the consolation in her mouth. It’s not very comforting.”
“This is not a verbal consolation, but a sincere statement. The reason why Midwinter student lost to Taehyun was purely because he fought within the frame of a ranking match.”
Unlike Ryu Tae-hyeon, who is the main character in close combat, Midwinter, who mainly fights in long-range firefights, has several restrictions in ranking matches.
First of all, in all attacks, firepower should be limited due to concerns about damage to the opponent or spectators, and in some cases, the technique itself may not be used. She is also forced to engage in short- and mid-range battles due to off-the-field decisions, and it is difficult to use hit-and-run tactics.
“If it had been a real fight, not a ranking match, at least if it had been a fight in the open space where I had sparred with winter students, it would have been mid-winter students who won.”
I don’t know what it will be like in reality, but Ahn Su-ho deliberately said that. To alleviate some of the gloomy midwinter.
“…… What does that mean? Anyway, the only time I fight Taehyung Ryu is in ranking matches.”
Midwinter’s blunt expression still had a cold expression on his face, but a small smile of joy was about to spread on his lips as he shook his head.
Because I’m genuinely happy that someone has recognized me, even if it’s just a flattering compliment.
“Midwinter student is right. The two of them fight in the ranking match. Dalian, where the rules are set, not raw fights. To win in it, you have to win a number fight first.”
“Su fight?”
“The two men’s styles are sharply divided into close combat and long distance combat, respectively, and they can clearly have an edge in each area. That’s why it’s a number fight.”
A fight where you can somehow bring your opponent into an area of your advantage.
In the last ranking match, Ryu Tae-hyun won in that number fight. At Ahn Su-ho’s words, Mid-gyeol urged the next words with an expression of ‘So what did you say?
“…… Mid-winter student is already clearly overwhelming Ryu Tae-hyeon from a distance. Even if you sharpen your ranged combat ability, it won’t have much effect. If so, it is a story that it would be better to improve the weakness.”
“Even so, I can never beat Ryu Tae-hyun at close range.”
“Even if I can’t win, I can catch my ankle.”
Currently, when it comes to close combat, Ryu Tae-hyun has an overwhelming advantage.
However, if Midwinter’s melee ability improves even a little.
At least to a level that can withstand Ryu Tae-hyeon’s onslaught to some extent. Then, if it’s just enough to make a gap and widen the distance again, it’ll be enough to resume long-distance combat.
Obviously the aspect of the battle will be quite different. And maybe he could win against Ryu Tae-hyun.
“… ….”
It was said as a kind of encouragement, but the reaction in the middle of winter was cold. She shook her head in disbelief.
“…… I said something great, but it’s an obvious tabletop theory. There are so many variables in a fight, can it just work out like you said?”
“Since there are many variables, we have to supplement at least one thing that can be supplemented. I told you. The ranking match is a battle of numbers.”
Mid-gyeol did not respond to Ahn Su-ho’s words. His words were obvious, but that’s why they were right words without a single corner wrong.
However, if you admit it, you will deny yourself what you just said.
Now, he denies his own words saying that there is no use in supplementing close combat.
It will soon be revealed that those words were a naive and pitiful excuse made to run away because he hated the situation of being compared to Ryu Tae-hyun.
“… ….”
That’s why midwinter kept his mouth shut and lowered his head like a pouting child. Ahn Su-ho watched her without saying a word.
‘You know that, too. In order to beat Ryu Tae-hyeon, honing my close combat skills is an urgent priority.’
Nevertheless, the reason why I am taking a field trip by myself like this is because, as I said before, I do not want to be compared to Ryu Tae-hyun.
But that may not be all. Ahn Su-ho predicted the depths of winter. Thinking about her psychology, which was revealed in her original work, and her human being called midwinter, which she felt while facing her.
‘Are you afraid? Even if I overcome defeat and try again, I’m afraid I’ll lose again.’
While playing this ranking match, Midwinter was confident that he would be able to beat Ryu Tae-hyeon this time. She actually seemed to have a good chance of winning.
However, the result was defeat as usual.
And that defeat gave Midwyeol a deep lethargy of hers.
It won’t happen anyway. She said that even if she tried again, if she tried to improve her weaknesses and tried again, she probably wouldn’t be able to win.
‘……………… So what should I do? If I were to hone my interpersonal fighting skills now, I wouldn’t be able to match even half of Ryu Tae-hyeon.’
That learned helplessness was evident in her words and attitude a moment ago.
About 3 weeks since the last ranking match. While Ahn Soo-ho took his eyes off for a moment, the mid-winter was suffering more than he thought.
“That, mid-winter student.”
Ahn Su-ho wanted to tell a story that could cheer up mid-winter. Ahn Su-ho, who was worried, opened his mouth soon.
“The other day, Taehyeon and I had a fight with the Assassination Team members at the amusement park. Have you heard the story?”
“…… I did cross over and listened. But why?”
“The opponent Taehyeon fought at that time had a style similar to that of a midwinter student. It seems that he fights mainly in long-distance battles. It is also similar in that it is an emission system ability. Besides that…….”
The person Suho Ahn was talking about was the 9th place in the Assassination Team of the Dawning Corps, codenamed ‘Cube’. The fighting style of the man with the psychic power of ‘energy bullet’ clearly resembled that of midwinter.
“Anyway. Taehyun had a hard time fighting with that man. But from my point of view, in terms of simple firepower, the midwinter student seemed much stronger than the man on the assassination team, right?”
“…… What do you want to say?”
“It is a story that a student in mid-winter will be able to beat Ryu Tae-hyun. Because it already has enough firepower. Of course, as I said before, close combat should be supplemented, but…….”
As he continued to speak incoherently, Suho Ahn wondered what he was talking about. He was going to say something comforting, but when he came to his senses, he was still giving instructions.
However, I couldn’t help it. You won’t be able to move your heart in the middle of winter with a simple consolation that tells you to cheer up. Of course, that didn’t mean it wasn’t a good way to hunsujil, either.
“Anyway! Next time you will definitely win! Taehyung looks strong, but once you get to know him, it’s not a big deal! So don’t be so depressed, let’s try a little harder. If there’s anything I can do to help, I’ll do my best to help. For example, something like sparring together again, or subtly asking Taehyun about his weakness…….”
Ahn Su-ho, who continued to speak gibberish, ended up shyly shutting his mouth and lowering his head.
Ahn Suho thought.
The main characters in novels often comfort and care for the heroine in scenes like this. It seems easy when you read it in writing, but it is not difficult to do it yourself.
If you look at it, isn’t it natural that Ahn Su-ho himself is sincerely concerned about her?
Of course, she doesn’t have a heart to worry about her, but while she cares about her human-to-human, there is still a view of seeing her as a cog in her story, following the development of her novel. .
“…… Hey.”
Then midwinter called him. With both eyes filled with a mysterious light.
“I’ve been curious about this for a long time, why are you trying to be so nice to me?”
“Yes?”
“I thought it was a little strange. Ryu Tae-hyun and I seem to be close, but I’m almost like a stranger. The only things that matter between the two of us are that we met by chance in the club room, or that I unilaterally asked for a match…….”
But why are you so nice to yourself? Ahn Su-ho was speechless at that question.
The reason why he works hard both physically and mentally for midwinter.
The reason itself was simple and clear. Because she was the main character and heroine of the original work. It was because I wanted her to grow up a little bit faster, as she would get caught up in all sorts of incidents by Ryu Tae-hyun’s side in the future.
“That… ….”
However, there is no way I can answer that straight away. It’s not a meta-fictional gag novel, and it was a taboo among taboos to reveal that fact to a character in a possessed water.
That’s why Suho Ahn was worried. An excuse that midwinter can understand and move on.
“…… If I have to give a reason, it is a kind of personal greed.”
“Personal greed…… What?”
Ahn Suho pursed his lips as he looked at Midwinter, who tilted his head and asked back. He wondered if Midwinter would accept the excuse he came up with hastily, but he couldn’t back down once he said it.
“Yes. As a personal greed, I want Midwinter students to do well. Specifically, I want a midwinter student to beat Ryu Tae-hyeon.”
“Why do you want me to?”
“I want to see Ryu Tae-hyun lose to someone at least once.”
“Yes…… ?”
At that answer, Midwyeol couldn’t help but panic. Putting her in front of her, Ahn Su-ho speaks next.
“Ryu Tae-hyun is strong. It’s damn strong too. Maybe that’s why, he’s a bit drunk on his own strength, so he doesn’t feel arrogant. Should I implicitly say that I see others as weaker than myself? Of course, he has a kind personality and is a good younger brother who is well-mannered, but I gradually felt that way.”
The sentiment that Ahn Su-ho is talking about is not what he actually felt, but the mid-winter psychology of Ryu Tae-hyeon described in the original work. In other words, although there may be some differences, the impressions of midwinter are largely the same.
That’s why I couldn’t help but be surprised in the middle of winter. As if Ahn Soo-ho looked into his own head, he was saying exactly what he thought.
“Well, it’s not that I can’t understand why people are so strong that they view others as inferior to themselves. But it’s a little bit awkward. So, once in a while, someone snaps that guy’s nose! He wanted me to step on him.”
And the one who is most likely to step on Ryu Tae-hyeon right now is Midwinter.
Midwinter couldn’t help but be embarrassed by Ahn Su-ho’s bad joke. A small, absurd exclamation escaped from between her slightly parted lips.
“…… Pooh! Aha! Ahahahahaha!”
Soon, that exclamation turned into a small laugh. Midwinter shook his shoulders and laughed, wondering what was so funny, or how absurd it was.
“…… Is this so funny?”
“Huh! No, that’s a bit unexpected. I don’t think you could have been good to me for this reason. I thought the answer would be something like a duty as a security guard.”
“Ah.”
‘Sure. I’d just answer like that.’
Ahn Soo-ho seemed to have been hit hard in the back of the head by the model answer given by Midgeoreum. But the bus had already left.
“Well, it’s understandable enough though. Certainly Ryu Tae-hyun has that side. Seeing others below you. I had a similar impression and thought similarly to you. Someday, I definitely want to break that arrogant nose.”
However, Midwinter did not find Ahn Su-ho’s answer strange at all. Rather, he seemed amazed, saying that he had never known that there would be anyone who thought similarly to him.
At that response, Suho Ahn said he was relieved. Looking at him like that, Midwinter stood up from his seat.
“Whoa. I’ve always been in a bad mood, but it’s a little better because I laughed out loud. Thank you.”
“Nothing. I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
“Yes. I need to cheer up. Because I can’t stay depressed forever…….”
Midwyeolyeo looked at Ryu Tae-hyeon, who was practicing from afar. Complex emotions on her face.
“You said you wanted to see me stepping on Ryu Tae-hyeon, right?”
However, in the next moment, all those emotions disappeared and only a deep smile remained. Looking back at Ahn Su-ho, who stood up belatedly, she said with a confident face.
“Look forward to it. I will definitely win the next ranking match.”
At that bright smile, Suho Ahn let out a sigh of relief.