Gaiden ― Later story (4)
“Have you made a decision?”
Youna naturally sat down next to me and started talking.
I answered looking at her, who has grown more mature than two years ago, but still can’t erase the feeling of being young compared to her age.
“Well.”
“Okay.”
I asked with a smile at Yuna, who burst out a small laugh.
“Yuna, what would you like me to do?”
“Uh, are you asking for my opinion here?”
She seemed perplexed for a moment, then spoke in a quiet but firm voice.
“Well… I wish you hadn’t done that.”
It was an unexpected answer.
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Of the eight people, if I had to pick the person who had the most sense of justice or mission, of course, it could be said that she was the reason.
It was also her belief that those with power should be held accountable for it, and that there was no need for any special reason to save people.
But then she would give me an answer like this.
As she looked at me with amazement, she smiled slightly.
“Are you very surprised? Do you think I would have told you to take it of course?”
“To be honest… right? Even now, Yuna, I thought you were here to convince me.”
She laughed once more.
“… What I’ve done so far is enough. Now even if Jihyuk says you want to rest, no one can say anything.”
Saying that, Lee Yu-na gently raised her arm and bent her arm as if showing off her biceps.
Her forearms, which had protruded under the hem of her clothes, were still worrisomely thin and white.
“Are we there? Instead of you, we’ll take care of it. If there are people who insult you, we will punish you!”
“haha.”
Unknowingly, as she burst into a laughter that seemed to fall into the wind, she lowered the arm she had raised gently.
Her face was stained red with shame and shame.
“But shouldn’t we have to do something similar anyway?”
“yes?”
“That’s right. After all, after graduating from the academy, you have to do something.”
Nominally, the clan of the World Tree or anything else would not be in need of money, but that was it and this was this.
“Honestly, I didn’t learn anything, so I’m going to work as a hunter or a hero… Then I don’t think there’s anything as valuable as the name of Sipgang.”
“… I can’t do it.”
Lee Yu-na muttered in a fat voice.
“… To be honest, it could be enough to feed one person.”
After muttering like that, she quickly changed the topic with a light smile before I responded.
“Besides, do you know how other kids are doing these days?”
“uh?”
He paused for a moment, but then he nodded his head moderately, wanting to match her rhythm.
“What, roughly? Suyeong and Hyeonu know that everyone is busy.”
The people left at the academy are now me, Yuna, and Jin Ye-seul.
And it was about Ahn Do-hoon.
No, I heard that Ahn Do-hoon was almost half-employed and didn’t even appear in the academy.
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Of course, the place he went to was where Laura Hartmann was.
“Even if it’s just a name, you can know a lot in many ways because your name is the student council president. Also, I hear various stories from Uncle Wooseok and Yeeun unnie.”
It was as she said.
There were many places that were connected with her, such as Sipgang, Orge Academy, and the World Tree Clan.
In addition, unlike when Lee Ye-eun, the head of the World Tree, took over as the student council president, Lee Yu-na was an ordinary student on the surface, so the pressure or burden that the other person felt would have been less.
Maybe that’s why, even I could feel that the number of people talking through her in this way has significantly increased compared to the past.
Just today, isn’t it?
It was not for nothing that Ye-eun Lee, who excelled at seeing through people’s talents and abilities, strongly recommended Lee Yu-na as her successor.
… Of course, for reasons or her point of view, it would be like death.
“… Hyeonu He said he was attacking in a very dangerous dungeon right now. I’ve heard that there are some sips along with Ose Evans, whom we just talked about.”
“I heard you finished attacking one gate a few days ago, but again?”
“yes.”
She continued speaking in a quiet voice.
“Perhaps we didn’t call because we were worried.”
“but… .”
If I had to pick the most active person out of the eight, it would be Choi Hyun-woo.
He already belonged to Lee Myung-jun’s guild, the Hammer of the Brain, and was actively attacking the gates and dungeons.
He was gradually revealing his power and name to the extent that he was introduced several times in the media as a rookie hero who will appear like a comet and lead the next generation, with a staggering appearance and powerful power.
… Maybe that’s why, lately, there have been a lot of requests for me to introduce Hyeonu.
It seems that it has been a long time since the rumors that he and I were close had already spread.
Maybe that’s why, Lee Myung-jun’s younger sister, Lee Hye-rin, who entered Orhe Academy in the same grade as me, used to treat me very kindly and friendly whenever she saw me.
Rumors circulated that she might be interested in me, as if she was showing off her closeness to me, but I knew well that she had been obsessed with Choi Hyun-woo since long ago.
[Before attacking the castle, fill the moat first.]
I nodded my head involuntarily at Sbangali’s words.
Because there was no analogy that made more sense than that.
“You know Jihyuk better than Sooyoung and me. Are you busy with your research?”
“Yeah, it sounds like it’s very difficult to hear your voice.”
Sooyoung Han, after graduating, met Evangeline Lohengrin and Alice Blesbuck and talked, then set up her own workshop and was immersed in research.
It was so difficult that it was burdensome to even ask what kind of research he was doing.
“Anyway, I called you last night… ah.”
As soon as I got the call, I pulled out my cell phone and smiled involuntarily.
“He can’t be a yangban either.”
It was a call from Sooyoung.
Yuna nodded her head as if to answer it quickly, and I immediately brought the phone to my ear.
“Yes, Sooyoung.”
– Jihyuk-ah… .
She called my name in a voice that crawled as if dying.
I asked her carefully at the sound of her voice that was filled with regret.
“Did you eat?”
– Yes… No, I haven’t eaten yet… .
“Even if you eat well, you should eat well. Can I bring you something?”
– Uh-huh, no… .
She politely declined.
― I can’t because Jihyuk looks at your face right now, and I think he’ll cry and beat everyone… Now I really just need to do a little bit more… .
I couldn’t help but smile bitterly at the whining voice that was not like her.
Come to think of it, I heard that Hyeonu, who had been next to him talking to her before, was nauseous without realizing it, and then got caught and received a separate call.
– Jihyuk, who are you? what were you doing
“Yeah, talk to the kids. After all, Horie-san and the old man came to visit.”
– uh? Why is Master? And Yuzuki’s older sister?
“This is a story that just came out… .”
I briefly summarized the events that preceded her.
Han Soo-young spoke in a startled voice when he heard that Hyeon-woo was half-assigned to the top ten, and that Yuzuki Horie and Myung-Jun Lee had a wedding date.
― Hyeonu is said to be ten? That stupid idiot, you made it!
“You idiot.”
When asked with a smile, she also burst into laughter.
She was delighted as if it was her own job when she heard that Hyeon-woo had been selected for the tenth class, but this time she murmured as if she was really lucky.
― It went better than that, Yuzuki unnie, even if I pretended not to be, I suffered a lot… .
“That’s right.”
– When did you say the wedding was?
When I told him the date again, she said, “Umm,” and thought about it for a moment.
― I’m glad, I think we can set the date at this time.
“really? I’m really happy.”
― Hehe, actually, I think I’ll be able to finish all the urgent work by this weekend.
“You worked hard, Sooyoung. Oh right. I forgot to tell you this.”
– yes? what?
“I also got an offer. What if I could take over the rest of the tenth class?”
– Reject it now.
It was an unmistakable voice.
She nailed it one more time before I could react.
– No, okay? you must refuse Have you not accepted it?
“uh? Uh, I thought I was going to give it some thought.”
– Well done. You can never give an answer right away. got it?
She spoke with a voice that seemed to hit me several times, as if she had received a promise.
― At the very least, let’s meet at the wedding of Yuzuki’s sister, and then let’s talk and decide. huh?
“… swimming. what are you up to?”
When I asked her carefully, she shut her mouth.
After a while, she answered, seemingly sincere.
– No, yes. never mind. Don’t worry.
“really?”
– Because it is. Oh yeah. I think I’ll have time this weekend… Won’t we see each other after a long time?
“this weekend?”
– yes. I don’t mind seeing it with other kids.
When she answered yes to her words, she burst into laughter as if pleased.
– Oh, I’ll have to go slowly now.
“already? Always struggling.”
― What are the few things left now? Oh. Ji-hyuk. Can I ask you one favor?
“Request? What?”
– I’ll take a picture of you now and send it to you.
“Photos?”
– yes. Is there anyone beside you? If you don’t have a selfie, it doesn’t matter.
“uh… .”
After a bit of hesitation, she murmured.
– Pali, huh? I, Jihyuk, want to see your face. huh? huh?
“Ah Okay. I’ll take a picture and send it to you right after the phone call is over.”
– Hi-Hi.
She laughed as if she had done it.
– See you on the weekend then. I’ll call you back later, do you have to free up time?
When the phone hung up, I slowly turned my head to look at Yuuna.
She was smiling, trying not to offend me, but her smile was so awkward.
“Can I take a picture?”
“No, it’s okay. I’ll do it.”
I immediately took a picture and sent it to Sooyoung.
It was an awkward composition with an awkward expression on her face, but she immediately responded as if she was satisfied.
[♡]
“Great.”
My face became hot without realizing it.
When she put her phone in, Yuna also muttered with a slightly red face.
“You’re still active, Sooyoung.”
“Don’t tease me too much.”
“You’re kidding me, it’s not like that. just… .”
After a moment’s hesitation, she faltered, then smiled.
“Ugh, nothing. How far have you been talking about it? Oh, right.”
She sat down next to me and started talking again in a quiet voice.
I listened calmly to her voice, which sounded like a chirping bird, or a song that sounded like a song.
She told me several stories.
Ahn Do-hoon and Laura went to the baseball field together.
Cass Lyle and Alice Blesbuck have recently discovered a ruin and are busy excavating it.
Ivan Hunt is recovering from a recent dungeon exploration wounded, but in his own eyes, he is 100% foolish… .
“Wait a minute, Ivan is playing tricks?”
The guy who can be called the pronoun of sincerity is a fool.
When asked the question as if she couldn’t believe it, Yuna answered.
“That, why? Expected sister… .”
“ah.”
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Only then did I nod my head as if to understand.
If there’s a reason for that, Ivan, that guy was enough.
“Um, so now that I’ve finished talking… .”
With a popping sound, she jumped up.
“How is your hair feeling a little refreshed?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
“I was just chatting with Jihyuk with you. What?”
She ruffled and brushed off her clothes.
“Then I’ll go in first.”
“Oh, wait. Let’s go back together.”
With those words, I also got up from my seat.
All of a sudden, I was thinking that her hair was coming up to my chest.
“Am I too big?”
“Uh, two years ago… It was really small.”
It wasn’t small, but it was even skinny enough to be pitiful.
Lee Yu-na said while waving her bedside as if boasting.
“That’s right, compared to two years ago, I’ve grown 5cm!”
… Yes, it is still far below average, but I decided not to mention that.
In fact, compared to two years ago, she has matured beyond recognition because it was exactly what she said.
“Oh, did you know that Professor Grossman is back?”
“What, really?”
Abel Grossman.
He was in charge of me, Yuna, and Jin Ye-seul, and he was a benefactor who gave me a lot of advice and help in many ways.
By the time she returned to this world two years ago, she had already returned home to recuperate.
Did you say that you were refusing to visit because of your illness?
Fortunately, I had heard the news a few days ago that the condition had recently been alleviated and that he had recovered enough to be able to return to the scene.
However, it was really good news when I was refraining from face-to-face meeting in case of any interruption.
“Yeah, but he said he wanted to see us again.”
“Of course I should go.”
She smiled broadly at my confirmation.
“It’s good, then I’ll tell you… .”
For a moment, Yuuna stopped speaking and frowned slightly.
Lydia was standing outside the classroom door.
“I was in the way.”
She bowed her head politely towards us outside the door.
After a while, when I and Lee Yu-na came out of the classroom, she bowed her head once more and said:
“I had to leave because something urgent happened. But I came here because I thought it would be right for me to say hello to the benefactor… I unintentionally interfered.”
“Well… Shall I leave the seat then?”
“No, it’s not that important and it doesn’t matter because it’ll be over soon.”
Lydia, who answered Lee Yu-na that way, took a deep breath and looked straight at me.
“Originally, I should have set up a proper place to tell you, but I hope you understand.”
“I don’t care… But there is no need to be so formal.”
“It can’t be, sweetheart.”
Lydia smiled a little.
Then I took a few more deep breaths.
“… My family, Red Case, I am leading will now become a legal company within a few years.”
Suddenly, he uttered something that he had never expected.
“… What, is that really possible?”
Unknowingly, I asked a question that could have been rude and startled, but she just smiled.
“This is what I am doing to make that possible. It’s actually getting easier.”
Said a woman who was once an executive of the world’s most powerful villain group.
“Some may swear and slander me, but I don’t care. It’s something I’ve always heard. just… .”
She bit her lip slightly.
“… Eun-in-do, do you think I’m shameless like this?”
“Not at all, no. Not at all.”
It was an immediate answer.
And when Lydia heard that answer, her eyes widened slightly, then gently curved and looked at me.
That’s a sweet word.
After muttering, she took another deep breath.
“Perhaps a year at the earliest, or three years at the latest would be sufficient. So, I mean… benefactor.”
Lydia licked her lips and wet her dry lips.
“If I can finally be proud, then… ugh.”
Lydia, who had been talking up to that point, sighed heavily.
“… no. it’s nothing. I was also invited to the wedding, so I will formally greet you at that time and explain in detail.”
Then she bowed her head along with the words to be healthy and disappeared with a quick pace as if she was running away.
When I was staring at her back like that.
“… … .”
A quiet breath could be heard from somewhere.
When I slowly turned my eyes, there was a figure of Lee Yu-na looking at Lydia’s back with a cold gaze.
Back then, when we first met, they misunderstood me and sold me the same eyes.