479

 [Chapter 134]

[Tangled Relationships]

Second day of the cultural festival.

Second round of the comprehensive division competition main tournament.

There weren't as many people visiting the arena compared to the previous day.

However, from a certain match onwards, the number of seated people increased.

It was due to the fame of the students currently competing.

—Weasel Claws

Sidewind

Hoshimiya Kaede.

And Bae Soo-bin.

Though overshadowed by No Eunha, they were also promising talents the industry was paying attention to.

One was known for using versatile skills while stubbornly using a large bow against the trends of the times.

The other was currently gaining attention for her skills in quickly casting magic while also roughly using her body unlike a typical caster.

These two people were now having a match.

"...Kuk...!"

The stage was terrain advantageous for hiding with rocks placed here and there.

Bae Soo-bin hid her body behind a nearby rock as soon as she spotted a flash of light in the distance.

"That girl... She's just going to hide and wait it out, huh?"

She mutters while panting.

Then she curses Hoshimiya Kaede who must be hiding somewhere over there.

Bae Soo-bin, who initially thought this was a very advantageous stage for herself, was unable to hide her irritation after exchanging a few blows.

Even if she quickly cast magic, for Hoshimiya Kaede it was just a matter of drawing her bowstring.

"Shit... My luck with matchups is terrible too..."

Bae Soo-bin messed up her hair.

Just then.

Dozens of mana arrows rained down from above.

She clicked her tongue and rolled.

She quickly cast a protective spell while avoiding the arrows falling on her head.

But as if waiting for this, arrows flew at her from the front as soon as she came out onto the path.

—Spider Legs

Bae Soo-bin's judgment was quick.

She dismantled the technique she was casting and converted it to an attack spell.

Blades that sprouted from her sword-wielding wrist blocked the incoming arrows.

"That bitch..."

It's the opposite of last year's final evaluation in the second semester of 3rd year middle school academy.

Back then, she was the one focused on happily bombarding the area from a high position.

But this time the person with the advantage is not herself but Kaede.

Come to think of it, it was strange and—

"—This is perfect. I had something to pay back anyway."

Unexpectedly, an opportunity to make up for that defeat back then had come.

At that time, she was defeated by Kaede despite fully demonstrating a caster's skills from a high position.

She was fundamentally someone who hated losing.

So she didn't want to lose to Kaede again like this.

—Sidewind

She who had firmly made up her mind first used magic on herself to get away from her position.

The wind blowing from behind her back added propulsion.

It was a crude method.

But the idea of using an attack spell as a movement spell was flexible thinking, as <Sword Empress> Hwang Jin-hee had advised before.

At least that's what she thought.

Sidewind

This time she raised a wind towards the ground just before her feet touched it.

A storm blew.

She soared into the air riding the storm she created.

Star Picking

It's reckless against a ranger.

Sure enough, Hoshimiya Kaede shot magic to capture her.

Bae Soo-bin smiled.

"So that's where you were."

She grasped Kaede's position.

She who deflected the arrows with magic she had prepared in advance looked down while barely able to control her body.

She hadn't just been riding Sidewind to move around and avoid her attacks until now.

Without Hoshimiya Kaede knowing, she had cleverly moved around the area setting traps here and there.

And if those trap techniques were connected, it would create large-scale magic that could collapse the entire area.

—Spark Blast

The ground burns bright red.

Soon the traps that went off in chain reaction exploded the entire ground.

Bae Soo-bin had an ecstatic expression.

Even as she fell entrusting her body to gravity, she didn't take her eyes off the ground where a sea of fire lurked.

—Sidewind

Spider Legs

Just before impact, she nullified the shock with Sidewind.

Immediately after, she let the blades sprouting from her back hang down to substitute for her two legs.

She had become able to move the bent blades like spider legs after practicing endlessly on Mara Island.

She who floated above the ground like that searched for Kaede without lowering her guard.

"...Crazy bitch."

"What, you twin-tailed bitch."

The arena was devastated.

There was no collateral damage.

It wasn't difficult to find Hoshimiya Kaede.

Bae Soo-bin glared at Kaede who couldn't avoid injury despite deploying protective magic.

Kaede also put strength in her eyes.

Judging by her gaze, it seemed she hadn't given up yet.

"But what should I do about this?"

"...?"

Kaede frowns.

Watching Soo-bin floating in the air fiddling with her mouth.

Soo-bin threw away her broken glasses and raised the corners of her mouth.

"—Did you think I only prepared this one thing?"

"...What?"

"A caster coming to the front means they've already finished preparing to take you down."

Casters must be cautious.

Bae Soo-bin, contrary to appearances, actually had a very cautious personality.

She seems to entrust her body to emotions, but she's moving while calculating to some extent in her head.

The only one among her friends who knew this fact was No Eunha.

So this could be called Hoshimiya Kaede's mistake.

—Spark Shower

If it was magic, she had already made it while falling from the sky.

When Bae Soo-bin swung the sword in her hand, dozens of fireballs formed above her head.

Kaede looked up and her eyes widened.

Bae Soo-bin laughed gleefully.

"—Are you ready to be skewered?"

"..."

Hoshimiya Kaede could probably avoid the rain of fireballs falling from the sky with her skills.

But that's not important.

Because while she's struggling to avoid the magic, she herself plans to ceaselessly prepare other magic.

Bae Soo-bin couldn't hold back her laughter watching her backed into a corner.

"Cowardly bitch..."

"Weren't you doing the same to me earlier? And singles have nothing to lose originally. Why don't you join our village too?"

That day, it's said Hoshimiya Kaede was defeated and Bae Soo-bin received favorable reviews from industry insiders.

☆

"Did you know?"

"Know what?"

"There's a rumor going around that you're three-timing."

"What?"

"A rumor spread throughout the academy that you're dating three people. Since yesterday."

What nonsense is this.

Eunha frowned immediately.

Similarly, Yu Do-jun who had nothing to do at this cultural festival either shrugged nonchalantly.

He continued speaking.

"At first the rumor that spread in the academy was that you'd get engaged to Choi Ga-in. Then after students witnessed you with Hayang by the lake, it changed to a rumor that you were two-timing and testing the waters."

"..."

"And yesterday. It became three-timing when you matched well with senior Ryu Yeon-hwa who intruded into the arena during your duel with the Blaze Clan players."

"Just because of that?"

"I heard you went around looking at the cultural festival together all day yesterday?"

Another's misfortune is my happiness, they say.

Yu Do-jun snickered.

On the other hand, Eunha glared at him with a blank face.

Not that he was the one who spread the rumors.

"It's all lies. Why are you doing this when you know? It'll disappear if we just leave it alone anyway..."

"Well, that's true. That's why I'm staying quiet like this. If it was really a problematic rumor, I wouldn't have stayed quiet."

"Well well, you sure talk well."

His friends each had their own business.

So Eunha was looking around the cultural festival with Yu Do-jun who always had free time.

The two walked aimlessly with drinks in hand.

"But Eunha, do you know why I'm suddenly bringing this up?"

"How would I know what you're thinking?"

"We've known each other for how many years now, isn't it about time you knew?"

"You have a point. Okay then, try guessing what I'm thinking right now."

"My friend, I was wrong."

A lot of people recognize him.

Eunha changed direction seeing people who seemed to be approaching from afar.

Yu Do-jun sighed deeply while matching his steps with him.

Soon they shook off the people.

Eunha lowered his guard and turned to Yu Do-jun.

"So what were you trying to say?"

It's already annoying that rumors are circulating about him dating Choi Ga-in.

Not just two-timing but three-timing?

He hid his incredulous feelings and waited for Yu Do-jun to answer.

Soon Yu Do-jun opened his mouth.

"Until last year, rumors about you dating someone didn't get much attention. But from this year, suddenly when you're associated with the opposite sex, rumors are greatly exaggerated. Do you know why?"

Yu Do-jun's tone was quite serious.

Eunha asked with his eyes.

What's the reason?

Yu Do-jun continued speaking as if there was no need to think.

"We've now become 17 years old. We're legally recognized as pre-adults, and it's an age where it wouldn't be strange at all to hear we're dating."

"..."

"Moreover, you're getting the most attention in the academy. So wouldn't people around be curious about your every move? Rumors are bound to spread."

"So what? They're just rumors anyway."

He's receiving public attention.

So he needs to be careful with his conduct.

Eunha understood Do-jun's concern, but he didn't think it would harm himself.

So he overlooked it.

"You might be fine since you don't care. But have you thought about the position of people who get entangled in rumors with you?"

"..."

"We may not get caught up in sordid rumors now since we're still not fully grown, but think about when we really become adults. People who get entangled with you might take a hit to their image."

Even if the world ended once.

Some prejudices didn't disappear.

Rather, they became more entrenched.

In some cases, it even became a world where force ruled.

Unfortunately, in issues between the sexes, those who usually suffer damage were women, in the past and now.

"That's why I'm telling you to be careful. You may have no such intentions at all, but if everyone in the world insists something is true, it becomes true. It would be good to be careful with your actions. Well, I don't care what happens to Choi Ga-in..."

The problem isn't Choi Ga-in.

Eunha read Do-jun's trailing words and silently affirmed.

Then Yu Do-jun smiled sheepishly.

"But well... Sometimes it can't be helped."

"When is that?"

"If there's someone you really like, don't mind those things. What does that matter? Your feelings are what's important. It might be something to feel sorry about to the other person, but my friend is you, not them, so what is there to be sorry about?"

"..."

"So what I want to say is... be honest when it's time to be honest. Sometimes being honest is the answer. Like when I decided to join hands with you."

Hearing those words.

Eunha stopped walking.

He had heard such words recently too.

To be honest.

Eunha fell into thought right there.

He organized the emotions trying to burst out from deep inside.

"—I'll try."

"In my opinion, you'll probably mess up several times... But well, it's good to hear you say you'll try at least."

"Your tone sounds completely condescending. Are you my superior?"

"Hey, I'm the sponsor so I'll take the superior position. I was thinking this before too, but you seem different somehow since coming back from Japan. Did you eat something wrong?"

"I ate Japanese jjamppong. Why?"

"You changed this much from eating one Japanese jjamppong? Anyway... Something must have happened there. It's a shame I couldn't go with you."

"You wouldn't have come even if I said I was going to Japan..."

"That's right, I'd just go to Mara Island. Why would I go crazy and go to Japan?"

Yu Do-jun burst out laughing.

Eunha also had a faint smile.

In his previous life and now.

Eunha enjoyed exchanging conversation as an equal friend with Yu Do-jun.

It was just then.

"—I found No Eunha who went to see the cultural festival without me yesterday! How dare you have fun by yourself, huh!?"

It was a very loud voice.

Loud enough to be heard from far away.

Eunha spotted Ariel pointing at him from beyond the crowd.

Kim Minji and Yoon I-byeol were also standing on either side of her.

The three approached Eunha.

"Oh boy, it looks like you'll be busy if you're with them. Eunha, I'm going to look around alone from now on."

"Why don't you look around together?"

"No thanks, man. I have tact too."

"What tact..."

"Ah, and you know."

Yu Do-jun was about to leave.

Then he turned back and spoke to Eunha.

Yu Do-jun shifted his gaze to the girls visible behind Eunha's shoulder and opened his mouth.

"I roughly know what feelings you're acting with... But still, don't try to push away halfheartedly when you push away. That can hurt even more."

"..."

"When you push away, push away clearly. Dragging it out hurts both sides. Well, I don't care as long as you don't get hurt. Then I'm going."

"...Okay, go. Let's eat sometime."

"Okay. I'll buy the meal."

Yu Do-jun waves and leaves.

Eunha saw him off while greeting the approaching friends.

Ariel suddenly ran up and clung to him.

"No Eunha! Why is it so hard to see your face!?"

"Yeah, sorry for not showing my face."

"If you're sorry, the sorry person buys drinks, you know?"

"Nope, don't know."

"Aw, don't be like that. I heard there's a pub opening later tonight, let's go drink! You're not participating in the competition anyway."

Ariel whines.

Eunha sighed seeing her cling and throw a tantrum.

Then he had to indulge her whining about how he sighed looking at her.

She was a mermaid with a talent for tiring people out.

In the end, Eunha decided to ignore her as he always did.

"Were you looking around by yourselves?"

"Well, yeah. We're just coming back from watching the comprehensive competition."

"How did it go? Did the kids win?"

"Si-hyeong lost to Binggu oppa, and Kaede lost to Soo-bin."

He feels Yoon I-byeol's gaze.

Eunha pretended not to notice her gaze and spoke to Minji who was eating a chocolate banana.

When he stared at her, she held out the one she had taken a bite of as if used to it now.

Eunha bit into the chocolate banana while listening to the current status of the comprehensive division competition.

Bae Soo-bin deserved to win.

She didn't have a chance to show her skills, but how strong is she when she snaps.

As for Kang Si-hyeong, well...

He nodded hearing the result of Bae Soo-bin and Hoshimiya Kaede's duel.

Kaede's talent was amazing too, but Bae Soo-bin's talent couldn't be ignored either.

Eunha, who remembered <Witch of Massacre> Bae Soo-bin, thought it could happen.

Personally, he rated Bae Soo-bin higher when comparing her to Jo Ara.

They both have different characteristics.

While <Quartet > has innate talent for complex casting, each of Bae Soo-bin's spells is powerful and doesn't take long to complete casting.

Soo-bin also knows how to handle a sword, so she's somewhat capable in close combat too.

A caster pursuing versatility.

A caster preferring quick decisive battles.

The two each had their own strengths.

Eunha imagined a future where he would recruit both to his party and deploy casters according to the situation.

It made the corners of his mouth rise involuntarily.

"Why? What are you thinking about?"

"What thoughts? Eunha is busy thinking about me right now."

"You be quiet. Won't you drink with us later?"

"I'm good at keeping my mouth shut! I'll be quiet from now on!"

Minji chided her.

Eunha snapped back to his senses and put Ariel who was clinging to him down on the ground.

Soon Minji glanced at Yoon I-byeol and opened her mouth as if acting.

"Ah, right. Come to think of it, it's time for Ariel and me to be at the booth. Then I-byeol will have to be alone, but you'll stay with her, right No Eunha?"

"What?"

"Huh? But my shift isn't yet..."

"Ariel, you must be remembering wrong! Let's eat something on the way! How about it?"

"Great! Sounds good! Then Eunha, remember to drink with us later!"

Things developed too quickly.

Eunha looked with a dumbfounded face at what his childhood friend who couldn't act since young was doing.

Regardless, Minji linked arms with Ariel and turned around.

Telling me what to do.

Minji walks away.

Eunha grumbled inwardly.

He got the general picture.

Eunha had asked Minji to take good care of Yoon I-byeol in the first semester.

Since then, Minji had been friendly with I-byeol.

She must have received a request she couldn't coldly refuse.

"We... ended up alone together."

"Yeah. What were you planning to do with the others earlier? Should we go do that?"

"Ah... Yes. There's a place selling cotton candy nearby, we were going to eat that."

"Ah, is it the one Lee Cheon-seo is doing?"

"Huh? Cheon-seo?"

"There's something like that. Then let's go."

Left alone together.

A smile spreads across Yoon I-byeol's face.

Eunha walked forward with her behind him.

She hurriedly moved her feet to walk side by side with him.

Eunha matched his pace.

"There are too many people..."

"Yeah. Hold on tight."

"...Okay."

There were times they almost got pushed by the crowd.

Then Yoon I-byeol grabbed his sleeve and muttered as if making an excuse.

Eunha chuckled and let her comfortably hold onto his sleeve.

"How is it? Is it good?"

"Yes, it's delicious."

"I tried it once yesterday too and it was really tasty."

"...With that person?"

At the grape cotton candy booth.

Eunha first handed the cotton candy Cheon-seo gave him to her.

She smiled softly after eating a piece of the grape-like clumped cotton candy.

Then she bowed her head deeply.

"That person?"

"The one you went around with yesterday..."

"Ah, Yeon-hwa noona?"

"...Is she close to you?"

"I've known her since I was young. She's also friends with my sister."

"Ah... I see."

Yoon I-byeol's voice is gloomy.

Eunha read her change in emotions and decided to change the subject.

But Yoon I-byeol held onto Eunha tightly and kept muttering something.

"It seems like there are a lot of pretty people around you, Eunha."

"..."

"You know... I heard there are fireworks on the fourth day of the cultural festival..."

"That's right."

"Minji said they're really beautiful..."

"Is that so? I wasn't very impressed. Fireworks are fireworks."

"..."

The topic keeps going in a strange direction.

Eunha looked down at her speaking with her head bowed deeply.

She's fishing for an answer.

He wasn't unaware of what words she was waiting for.

Nevertheless, he didn't open his mouth.

"If you're free that day, would you like to watch together with me?"

In the end, she spoke up.

Tightly gripping the cotton candy in one hand.

She raised her head with trembling eyes, holding his collar with her other hand.

She looks like she might cry at any moment.

The usual Eunha would surely have given her the answer she wanted.

"—I'm sorry. I already have someone I'm watching with that day."

But unlike her expectations.

Eunha said something different.

"I... see..."

Yoon I-byeol dropped her head deeply.