491

 [Chapter 135]

[A World That Doesn't Go As Planned (6)]

The second semester will end in a few days.

As a result, students were busy taking final exams.

Scratch scratch

Jeong Ha-yang was the same.

She who finished three exam subjects today was studying for exams at the cafe located on the top floor of the cultural center.

Since it's exam period, there were no empty seats in the cafe even at late hours.

She who was studying alone at a seat overlooking the lake looked around briefly.

Then her eyes met with someone who came up on the elevator.

"I-byeol, over here."

"Ah... Sorry I'm late."

Yoon I-byeol.

She who got off the elevator soon widened her eyes seeing the cafe packed full of students.

She seemed flustered since it's usually empty.

Fortunately, she discovered Jeong Ha-yang who had secured a seat first and made a relieved expression.

"The cultural center's skylounge cafe is usually quiet, but it gets really crowded during cultural festival and exam periods."

"Ah, I see. I didn't know since I don't come to the skylounge often. Um... Can I go order a drink?"

"Sure, go ahead."

Yoon I-byeol left to order a drink.

A moment later, Yoon I-byeol who brought her drink carefully sat down across from Jeong Ha-yang.

"Did your exams go well?"

"Hmm... I made some mistakes, but I think I did pretty well overall. How did it go for you this time, Ha-yang? Isn't tomorrow's exam a navigator division subject?"

"That's right. It's a class studying strategies that can be deployed in urban areas... but there's so much to memorize it's hard."

"Ah, I'm glad I didn't take that."

"Tch. You might have to take it someday to fill credits for graduation too, I-byeol."

"Ugh... I guess I'll have to after all?"

The two chatted quietly so as not to disturb people around them.

But there's no substance felt in the content exchanged.

They're just passing time exchanging conversations about exams without talking about each other.

It feels like conversing for the sake of conversation.

The two knew that but still only exchanged formal conversations.

As a result, the conversation keeps getting cut off as they run out of topics.

""..."" 

Looking back.

Jeong Ha-yang thought she had never spent time alone with Yoon I-byeol.

No, it seems like they had.

But she couldn't remember clearly when that was.

It seems like it was a very long time ago.

It was probably... the beginning of the school year.

That was when... we hadn't known each other for long yet.

Jeong Ha-yang suddenly fell into thought.

Thinking about it, she seemed to have been comfortable with Yoon I-byeol then.

Not anymore.

Jeong Ha-yang who now felt awkward with her watched Yoon I-byeol drinking cafe latte unable to endure the awkwardness likewise.

She shrinks like a turtle.

"But I-byeol. Why did you call me today?"

"Ah..."

As if she didn't know anything.

Ha-yang asked her with a brightly smiling face.

I-byeol bowed her head hesitantly.

Soon she straightens her back and raises her head as if she gathered her courage.

"—I called because I have something I want to say to you, Ha-yang."

"..."

Yoon I-byeol looking at Jeong Ha-yang with strength in her eyes to not show her anxious appearance.

But Ha-yang knew she was trembling inside now.

Though Yoon I-byeol tried to hide it as much as possible, her eyes didn't lie.

Her pupils are shaking.

Jeong Ha-yang who became skilled at observing people's faces after entering the political and business world couldn't miss that.

"Really? What is it?"

So Jeong Ha-yang could ask back with a relaxed attitude to her who seemed to have made some resolution.

As expected, as Jeong Ha-yang predicted.

Ripples form on Yoon I-byeol's face.

It was proof that she was unskilled at hiding her emotions.

"I..."

Nevertheless, she tries to open her mouth even while being intimidated.

Jeong Ha-yang quietly waited for her to speak.

Actually, she was guessing the reason why she called her here.

When she received a private message from her, Jeong Ha-yang instinctively sensed it.

That's why Jeong Ha-yang could maintain a poker face even hearing the words that would come next.

"I— like Eunha."

"So?"

"..."

Jeong Ha-yang answering Yoon I-byeol abruptly.

Yoon I-byeol seemed at a loss for words.

Meanwhile Jeong Ha-yang showed off her composure while smiling brightly.

From her perspective, she had long noticed that Yoon I-byeol liked Eunha.

In fact, not just her but their friends probably noticed too.

Surely Eunha as well.

"...So... since you and Eunha were 'just friends' since childhood, won't you help me a bit?"

"..."

But this was unexpected.

Jeong Ha-yang froze with a smiling face.

The corners of her raised mouth slowly lowered as she made a serious expression.

"—I'm sorry but that won't be possible."

"..."

"I like Eunha too."

It's an obvious ploy.

Just as she knows I-byeol's feelings, I-byeol knows her feelings too.

Nevertheless, I-byeol asking her for help was a ploy to subtly separate her from Eunha.

She couldn't help but be displeased.

While she was trying to have a friendly competition thinking of her as a friend, she tried to use an underhanded trick.

""..."" 

Their gazes clashed.

Jeong Ha-yang didn't try to avoid Yoon I-byeol's gaze.

She also glared.

But the person who backed down from the battle of nerves was Yoon I-byeol.

"...I'm sorry. I was just... trying to confirm once."

Yoon I-byeol apologizing with her head bowed.

Jeong Ha-yang kept her mouth shut as if ignoring her apology.

Then she snapped her fingers and deployed a soundproofing barrier so people around couldn't hear their conversation.

"So what did you want to say?"

She was upset.

Jeong Ha-yang spoke in a calm tone while twirling the pen in her hand.

To this, Yoon I-byeol—

"—I saw at the cultural festival. You and Eunha were on the tower too."

"..."

"Actually, I had been following you since before that."

Yoon I-byeol said in a subdued tone.

Jeong Ha-yang doubted her ears. She thoroughly searched her memories recalling when they were on the tower that day.

Come to think of it...

Yoon I-byeol was there.

She didn't think much of it then, but thinking about it now, she hadn't noticed Yoon I-byeol's presence.

When that thought occurred to her, she felt shocked as if hit on the head with a hammer for a moment.

She hadn't noticed that Yoon I-byeol had been following all day.

In other words, Yoon I-byeol had grown.

Yoon I-byeol who she thought had unremarkable skills until just a few months ago now had skills worth being wary of.

"But it seems like nothing has changed between you two since then."

"..."

"No, it feels like you've become more awkward since then."

"..."

"You two aren't dating, right?"

And as if striking her weak point.

Now I-byeol asked her with a bright smile.

Jeong Ha-yang didn't answer.

But Yoon I-byeol nodded as if satisfied just by Jeong Ha-yang not answering.

"Yeah, my guess was right."

"...It's not like that."

"Even if it's not... I'm okay."

"What?"

"I've been thinking a lot since the cultural festival ended, and I decided to confess my feelings to Eunha rather than keep them bottled up inside."

As if embarrassed.

Yoon I-byeol speaking with reddened cheeks.

Ha-yang silently listened to her words while stopping her hand twirling the pen.

Eventually Jeong Ha-yang opened her mouth.

"—It will be useless."

Assertion and certainty.

Jeong Ha-yang told Yoon I-byeol in an unwavering voice.

No, warned her.

"Why? Why do you think it won't work?"

Yoon I-byeol's eyes twitched.

She pressed.

"Because Eunha isn't trying to date anyone right now."

"How do you know that?"

"Don't you already know too?"

"..."

Jeong Ha-yang asking back as if it's obvious.

Yoon I-byeol bit her lip unable to say anything while making an indignant face.

Nevertheless, she tightly grasped her skirt pleats under the table and—

"—I still want to try confessing once."

"..."

"You never know. Maybe Eunha will accept..."

"That won't happen."

"The reason I asked to meet you today, Ha-yang, was to tell you this. I'm going to confess to Eunha this time, are you not going to do anything?"

"..."

The vicious question hollows out her chest.

Jeong Ha-yang couldn't find words receiving the sudden question.

Her thoughts wander.

She can't make a choice.

"—I told you in advance. So I hope you won't say anything to me later, no matter what happens."

Then Yoon I-byeol saw her hesitating appearance and got up from her seat without showing lingering attachment.

Yoon I-byeol moves away.

Now Jeong Ha-yang left alone at the seat fell into thought while blankly staring at the table.

Soon she reaches a conclusion.

—It won't work.

Eunha won't accept.

She could pride herself on knowing No Eunha well.

That's why she vaguely felt that he had been distancing himself from her lately.

"...I hate you. I really hate you. You coward. You're bad. Idiot, dummy, mutt..."

She thought their hearts had connected.

But he's trying to push her away again since that day.

He said recently too.

'—I'm sorry. I don't think it's time for me yet.'

Eunha doesn't tell everything.

So the people who interpret those words are always the people who hear them.

Ha-yang tried to forget the memory that felt like her chest was hollowed out as she gripped her pen.

Anyway, Yoon I-byeol's confession will unfortunately fail.

So—

—Crack

Nevertheless, she couldn't help her insides boiling.

She really hates No Eunha.

☆

There's no room to spare his heart.

It feels like he'll become dull the moment he shares his heart with someone.

And he can't oppose Choi Jung-hoon with a dull blade.

Minimum 1 year, maximum 3 years.

I created an opportunity for Galaxy Group's growth to falter.

The timing is just right. The invasion of Seoul will happen by then. If I drive in one more wedge then, Galaxy Group will spend a lot of time recovering from the damage.

A way to definitely keep Galaxy Group in check has emerged.

The quiet succession dispute currently happening under the surface was gradually inflicting damage on Galaxy Group.

According to Yoo Do-jun, Galaxy Group's atmosphere will be unsettled for several years.

So Eunha drew a better future using this opportunity as a foothold.

A future where Galaxy Group can't bare its teeth at all to the Fairy government.

—Ox Step

So to create that future.

Eunha had been focusing only on training since the cultural festival ended.

No, he was trying to forget distracting thoughts through training.

He tried to somehow suppress the heart trying to surge up while composing his mind.

Ox Step

There were results.

Eunha now reached a level where he could use Ox Step freely.

His form using dual swords became even more precise.

Moon Dance

"You have to use your waist flexibly! Don't swing with strength, support with your lower body then swing with your waist."

There was also help from Baek Seo-jin.

He came once a month to help with training.

He even passed down dual sword magic that he couldn't learn in his previous life.

Magic mixing Mana Crusher and Light Dance plus adding Thousand Steps.

The magic of elegantly swinging the sword at least 8 consecutive times while holding mana in the blade could be said to be useful in close combat.

Whoosh

Clang

Swish

Eunha didn't stop moving even after finishing the 8th attack.

He connected the flow by using magic with the most ideal posture from where the attack ended.

Thus he who swung his sword 15 consecutive times tried to behead Baek Seo-jin—

"—It's still too ear...ly?"

Swish

At that very moment.

Baek Seo-jin quickly stepped behind Eunha using Ox Step.

But this time Eunha was one step ahead.

As Baek Seo-jin used Ox Step, Eunha also used Ox Step and appeared at his side.

"Hah, geez..."

Even though Baek Seo-jin didn't use any magic besides Ox Step.

Baek Seo-jin who instantly gave up his neck was startled and swallowed a laugh.

"Okay, I lost, I lost. I didn't expect you to predict my next move."

"You've been showing it all this time. It was simple to predict."

"You say predicting was simple, but even that bastard Chang-jin can't do that without his gift's help... You're really a monster."

Baek Seo-jin sticking out his tongue with both hands raised above his head.

Eunha withdrew his sword and bowed his head to thank him.

Today's training was over with this.

No, today was also the last day receiving his teachings.

The academy semester ends this week too.

The teacher said he's busy so he can't come anymore.

"3 months... You've grown quite a lot in a short period."

"It's all thanks to you, teacher."

"What did I do? You accomplished it on your own. Today's duel was especially good."

"I've been constantly studying your movements all this time."

"The results of your study showed quite well. But if you had revealed the skills you were hiding, you could have caught up to me long ago."

"..."

"Haha, did I hit the mark?"

"...No."

Baek Seo-jin casually blurts out.

But the content wasn't light.

Eunha instinctively flinched and momentarily forgot what to say.

Then Baek Seo-jin burst out laughing heartily.

He unhesitatingly reached out his hand and messed up Eunha's hair.

"Ah, please don't touch my hair."

"I'm doing it because I'm proud, why are you like this? Right, a player should know to hide their trump card. Remember you shouldn't show all your cards in an industry where skill is everything."

"...That's why I'm doing this."

"Still, it's a shame. I wanted to properly see your skills. Can't you show me just once?"

Baek Seo-jin playfully held up his index finger and asked Eunha.

Eunha shook his head.

There were too many magic he couldn't show.

Though Baek Seo-jin probably wouldn't ask now how he learned lethal magic, he had to be careful around the <King of Darkness>.

You never know.

"It's a shame but it can't be helped. Okay, Eunha. Then I'll be going now."

"Yes, thank you for everything."

In his previous life, and in this life.

Baek Seo-jin became a teacher to Eunha.

Eunha politely bowed his waist to convey his gratitude for all this time.

 That's when.

"—Let me ask you one thing, Eunha."

"...Yes."

"What is your sword for?"

"..."

Baek Seo-jin asking with a serious expression.

Eunha hesitated for a moment after facing him.

What is your sword for?

It was something he had heard in his previous life too.

Back then, Eunha had answered that his sword was solely for killing.

"..."

A question that could perhaps make him Baek Seo-jin's <The Seed>.

Eunha mulled over what to say while looking at him as if being tested.

Do I need to become teacher's <The Seed> at this point?

But if I become someone's <The Seed>, becoming teacher's <The Seed> would be best.

Since teacher is deeply connected to darkness, if I become <The Seed> I could freely use information about darkness.

Eunha was conflicted.

It was fine whether he became Baek Seo-jin's <The Seed> or not.

But to use Baek Seo-jin's power, it would be better to become <The Seed>.

So Eunha—

"—It's a sword to protect the Fairy."

"Hooh..."

A sword to protect the Fairy.

Eunha opened his mouth after much deliberation.

It was words spoken conscious of Baek Seo-jin belonging to the Mana Management Organization.

It was certainly an answer he would like, having actively protected the Fairy even after retiring from the Twelve Seats in the previous life.

Above all, it was also Eunha's true feelings.

"...Looking at your eyes, it doesn't seem to be a lie. That's very good. For a promising talent like you to say you'll become a sword protecting the Fairy, that is."

Sure enough.

Baek Seo-jin showed interest.

Eunha nodded silently.

"Alright, then let me ask one more thing. What exactly do you want to protect the Fairy from?"

From what, he asks.

Eunha who received Baek Seo-jin's question tried to hold back the corners of his mouth trying to rise.

There was so much he wanted to say.

But even if he poured out what he wanted to say, Baek Seo-jin wouldn't understand.

So Eunha decided to express in words the emotions he felt before regression.

"—Everything. I'll protect her from everything that could harm the Fairy. And I'll make sure no one can go against the Fairy."

"..."

Their gazes meet.

Baek Seo-jin didn't say anything.

He was just evaluating Eunha while stroking his chin.

A long time passed.

And so he—

"—You... are truly a dangerous guy. Looking at your eyes, you intend to realize your grand ambition even if it means becoming a madman."

"..."

He had heard similar words before regression too.

Eunha blinked while standing blankly after hearing Baek Seo-jin's heavily uttered words.

Baek Seo-jin sighs.

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

"..."

"Well, I'll be gladly watching to see just how far you can go, Eunha."

Baek Seo-jin turned around.

Eunha was still standing blankly while watching his back moving away.