492

 [Chapter 136]

[Prelude to Love]

'—It seems the paths you and I are trying to take are completely different paths.'

The path he wants to take.

The path Baek Seo-jin wants to take.

What exactly is the difference between them?

He couldn't figure it out no matter how many days he spent thinking about it.

Just what...

What was I misunderstanding?

Today too, Eunha fell into thought after finishing training, holed up in his room.

He sat with his back against the wall, blankly staring at the swords set up on one side of the room.

'What is your sword for?'

The words Baek Seo-jin spoke that day, changing his tone, float around in his head.

In his previous life, Eunha said his sword was for killing, while in this life he said it was to protect the Fairy.

And he was certain.

Surely Baek Seo-jin would have the same heart as him.

But his answer was different.

...Teacher is someone who actively supports the Fairy government.

The reason Lim Ga-eul is recognized as the Fairy's authority is also because she receives support from living legends including teacher Baek Seo-jin.

There were largely three reasons why the Fairy reigns over players.

One, that she has the gift of <White Silver>.

One, that people support the Fairy who can protect them as the head of state.

Two, that living legends who are an insurmountable wall to players and players who support her form her power base.

That's the reason Fairy Lim Ga-eul could become the head of state.

So he couldn't believe that Baek Seo-jin, who strongly supports her, didn't affirm his answer.

"Back then... what should I have answered?"

In the end, Eunha came to think that perhaps his answer made him misunderstand.

For example, the answer Baek Seo-jin wanted from him might have been a sword protecting the 'Fairy government', not the 'Fairy'.

Maybe Baek Seo-jin got the impression from his answer that he was someone who staked his life only on protecting the Fairy.

Well, that's not entirely wrong.

I don't care how the world turns as long as Baek-ryeon is happy.

For Baek-ryeon to be happy, the Fairy government needs to be intact but...

Eunha leaned his head against the wall.

It was a thought he had been having every day since that day.

It could be called the lingering attachment of someone who had unconsciously expected to receive <The Seed> proposal from Baek Seo-jin.

"Can't do anything about what's passed..."

But regrettably.

Lingering attachment and regret are emotions that dull the sword.

Eunha decided to shake off his emotions and forget about not becoming Baek Seo-jin's <The Seed>.

Even if he didn't become <The Seed>, the future he envisioned didn't change.

"I should go to sleep now."

The second semester ended.

Winter break starts tomorrow.

Eunha who planned to go home early tomorrow morning decided to go to sleep now.

That's when he got on the bed.

"Huh?"

When he tried to check his smartphone before sleeping, there was a Fine Talk message from Jo Ara.

"Looks like she's gotten a taste for it now?"

He burst out laughing reading the message she sent.

"Jo Ara": Looking for No Eunha to go to convenience store with! (01:48 AM)

☆

He doesn't know since when.

It feels like it's been quite a long time since entering high school academy now.

Past midnight.

Eunha who put on a cardigan over his pajamas and left the dormitory looked back on the ending year.

"How did I end up joining her convenience store expeditions..."

The weather is cold.

Eunha blew out white breath.

The trigger seemed to be when he mentioned cup noodles eaten in the middle of the night are delicious while contacting Ara sometime.

One day, at midnight.

Eunha who went to the convenience store in the academy feeling very hungry jokingly called out Jo Ara.

She said she developed a hobby of occasionally exploring convenience stores late at night after being deeply impressed eating cup noodles then.

Like today.

"—Why are you coming so late? How long does it take from the dormitory to the convenience store?"

"This is coming on time too? Why were you waiting here instead of inside when it's cold?"

"I was waiting to time how long it takes you to come. You always come late."

"Who says that?"

"Seo-na does."

"Hah... I don't know if she's my friend or enemy."

A convenience store located not far from the academy dormitory.

Eunha approached Jo Ara who was waiting sitting on a wooden bench in front of the convenience store.

She who put both hands in her hoodie pocket immediately scolded him.

But Eunha wasn't scared at all even though she scolded him with hair rollers in her bangs.

"Let's go inside since it's cold."

"You know the person who came late pays for kimbap too, right?"

"You... Did you call me after coming first for this?"

"You know the kimbap I ate before was delicious so I tried eating it again a few days ago but it didn't taste the same?"

"So?"

"So that's when I realized. Ah, kimbap eaten without spending my own money tastes the best."

"Wow... So you're going to mooch off me?"

"It's not mooching, I'm saying I'll take a late fee. And you have more money than me and come from a rich family, so you're making a fuss over one roll of kimbap?"

"...Fine, choose whatever you want to eat."

"Thanks! Then I'll eat well. Ah, and I'll buy next time."

The 12th year of Seonryeok is ending.

Eunha and Ara have become close enough to bicker lightly with each other.

Soon the two who entered the convenience store started choosing food to eat.

Then Jo Ara hesitated for a long time at the cup noodle corner.

"Hmm..."

"You still haven't chosen?"

"Yukgaejang and Wang Ttukkeom. I'm debating which would be better."

"You're agonizing over such a small thing."

"Well if I eat one, I can't eat the other. What did you choose, Eunha?"

"Me? Wang Ttukkeom."

"Oh, really? Then I guess I'll eat yukgaejang."

"You sure know how to eat?"

"Whose fault do you think this is? Ah, how about a can of beer each?"

"Not bad. You choose the beer. I'll choose some beef jerky."

"Oh, beef jerky is good. Peanuts too!"

They unexpectedly got along well.

The two who briefly exchanged opinions gathered the items they needed to buy and met at the counter.

Eunha held out his card to the clerk.

"I'm buying so eat well."

"Hmph, I already know that's not your card? It's a Sirius Group sponsorship card."

"I'm still the one buying, right?"

"Yes, yes. I'll eat well, thank you."

"Let's eat inside instead of outside in the cold."

"Okay. I'll go get hot water for the ramen."

By the time Eunha finished paying and went to the rest area inside the store.

Just then, Ara had finished all preparations and was laying out the food on the table.

The two who sat down first toasted with beer cans.

"Wow, it's snowing!"

"It'll be trouble going back."

"Aw, that much is fine to get hit with."

The two eating late night snacks while looking outside the window.

They soon appreciated the scenery watching the snow falling under the streetlights.

It wasn't the first snow.

Snow had fallen a few days ago and was still piled on the ground.

Eunha clicked his tongue watching the snow settling on the road where snow removal work had been done.

"...It'd be better to return home as soon as morning comes tomorrow."

"Huh? Why?"

"We might get called for snow removal work if we're not careful."

"Ah... I should hurry back too."

One bite of ramen, one look at the snow.

She who put kimbap in her mouth next agreed while making a face.

Afterwards, the two chatted casually about whatever came to mind.

"Ah, I got a text from Tae-yang."

"What does it say?"

"He says he strangely can't sleep? He's also asking what I'm doing now."

"What does he say he's doing?"

"He says he'll watch TV. I'm hmm... I should say I'm just listening to music."

"You're lying."

"Imagine if Tae-yang thinks I'm eating cup noodles at this hour. What if he sees me as a pig? I have to look good."

"Oh my. Weren't you a pig?"

"You bastard!"

Jo Ara who was exchanging messages with On Tae-yang pretended to hit him.

Eunha who knew he wouldn't get hit shrugged his shoulders.

Then he casually asked her who was focusing on typing.

"How's On Tae-yang these days?"

"Same as always. Ah, no. After the cultural festival, that... after Ga-in became like that, he raised his training intensity a lot. He must have been shocked. It's... understandable to be shocked. Tae-yang and Ga-in were close."

"...Really?"

On Tae-yang is training while overworking himself.

Eunha who heard the information from her was inwardly satisfied.

On the other hand, he was also curious how On Tae-yang's feelings changed after Choi Ga-in disappeared.

...Seems the kid got tougher.

Did Choi Ga-in's death become a catalyst for him to get tougher?

From what he heard from her, it seems he's become quite sensitive lately.

It meant On Tae-yang was devoting himself to training as if being chased by something.

She seemed quite worried, but Eunha rather welcomed his situation.

It was good for the future just for <Braver > to grow even without recruiting On Tae-yang to the party.

"What about you?"

"What?"

That's when.

Ara who stole the ramen Eunha was eating now passed the baton as if it was his turn.

"Ha-yang. You two fought, right?"

"..."

Jeong Ha-yang.

A name that strikes suddenly.

Eunha who flinched for a moment silently drank the cup noodle broth.

Then she folded her arms as if she knew it.

"I don't know what you fought about, but try to make up well. Ha-yang is probably waiting for you to make up too?"

"...We didn't fight."

"If you didn't fight, then what?"

"..."

It's not that they fought.

There wasn't anything to fight about.

Eunha was just intentionally distancing himself from Jeong Ha-yang.

But he didn't say it.

He didn't want to say it, and she wouldn't understand even if he said it anyway.

Because I don't have that luxury.

Changing the future isn't difficult.

He had been certain without any basis since sometime.

But when the future where Choi Jung-hoon kills Choi Ga-in, yet he will become Galaxy Group's chairman came to mind.

And recalling the people and monsters he will face starting with him.

Eunha had to realize the 'reality' that he had been infinitely arrogant.

The ideal was still far away.

Everything I do lately goes too well, so I was thinking too optimistically.

This isn't the end, the calamity hasn't come yet.

Create a happy future.

He decided to dedicate his life to achieve that ideal.

It was a path where he didn't know if he could take care of even his own body.

So to himself—

—That's a luxury.

How do I have that capacity?

Dating, love is a luxury.

He was thinking pessimistically.

He would only make the other person worry by wandering around extremely dangerous battlefields.

He clearly wouldn't have time to consider the other person while struggling to change the future.

In other words—

—It's obvious I'll just end up hurting them needlessly.

Eunha gulped down beer self-deprecatingly.

The alcohol tastes good.

So he craves more alcohol.

He who got up from his seat calculated new drinks for Ara to drink too and returned.

"If we're going to drink like this, we should have gone to eat chicken and beer..."

"Chicken and beer? Sounds good. Want to go for round 2?"

"Huh? Just the two of us?"

"Then who else is going besides you and me? The person calculating over there?"

"No, that's not it... Drinking just the two of us at this hour is a bit..."

"Then what are we drinking now?"

"...Alcohol."

"Then what's the problem?"

"Ugh..."

"If you're uncomfortable, let's not."

"..."

Eunha speaking nonchalantly.

Jo Ara showed a conflicted appearance while repeatedly fiddling with the new beer can lid she received.

But Eunha knew.

I've known her for a year now, do I still not know?

Jo Ara always rejects once unconditionally.

Then if you suggest a few times, she pretends to reluctantly go along.

Sure enough.

"Just... one drink."

"Didn't you do this when we first went to the convenience store too?"

"You bastard!"

Jo Ara reacted.

Eunha chuckled.

Inwardly vowing to make her drunk even if he had to force her to drink for making him crave alcohol needlessly.

That's when.

"—Huh?"

He who was about to clean up soon checked his Fine Talk messages.

Messages in the group chat with friends had piled up enormously.

As always, it was trivial chatter.

He who was scrolling down thoughtlessly suddenly stopped his finger at one message.

"Huh? What's wrong?"

"...They're saying to have a year-end party?"

"Really? Sounds fun."

"Do you want to go too?"

"Me? Can I go too?"

"Are you still saying that?"

"I can't help feeling awkward. Oh, wait. I got a message from Eun-woo too?"

Let's all gather to eat and drink together.

The words Jin Pa-rang brought up escalated in scale to become a year-end party for No Eunha's faction and students friendly with No Eunha's faction.

☆

In Japan, the fall semester usually starts in October and ends in January of the next year.

As a result, Han Seo-hyun's return to Korea was scheduled for mid-January next year.

"Do you need to pack already? There's still a long time left before you go."

"There's only 2 weeks left so I think I should start packing soon."

"Still... it's too regrettable. Time seems to pass so quickly."

A hotel located in Ginza, Tokyo.

Han Seo-hyun who had about a week of year-end and New Year's holidays started packing from the very first day of the holiday.

To this, Kaguya who came to meet her made a sour expression.

"I want to hold you back... But how can I hold back someone whose heart has already left."

Kaguya sighed as if regretful.

Only then did Han Seo-hyun turn to look at her and thank her for being considerate while she lived in Japan.

"If you're grateful, come again later. Don't let No Eunha see that pretty face alone."

Kaguya said jokingly.

Seo-hyun smiled silently hearing his name after a long time.

Kaguya was dumbfounded.

Because she knew the reason she was so eager to return to Korea was just because of one man.

"You're really excited about meeting No Eunha?"

"I'm not."

"What do you mean you're not... It's already showing on your face."

Kaguya teases.

Han Seo-hyun who would have gotten irritated and annoyed before only answered with a smile.

Then Kaguya grumbled saying it's no fun.

 "...It's snowing."

"Oh? You're right."

Just then.

Han Seo-hyun turned her head absentmindedly.

Snow was falling outside the window.

She who stopped packing and approached the window watched the snow falling from the pitch-black night sky.

Then she lowered her gaze to look out at the city night.

"..."

Pitch-black night.

Snow-white snow.

Glittering city.

It's beautiful.

Han Seo-hyun tried to take in the Japanese night view she would probably never see again.

Then suddenly such a thought occurred to her.

"...It would be prettier if I saw it with him."

It's a beautiful night view.

A night view beautiful even when seen alone would surely look even more beautiful if seen together with someone else.

And even more so if that someone else was a person she liked.

"—I want to go back quickly."

She wants to go back quickly.

Go back quickly, and see him quickly.

Han Seo-hyun muttered her feelings while exhaling winter air.

Only 2 weeks left of time in Japan.

She felt like 2 weeks was too long.

She wished that time would come soon.

When that time comes—

"—..."

Pleasant memories pass by.

Han Seo-hyun gently brushed her lips while savoring each memory one by one.

And so, the end of the year approaches.