episode_0032

032.

About fifteen minutes before the morning assembly.

– Yoo Seol-hyun, granddaughter of Yoo Gap-ryeong, succeeds in rescuing the heroes?

– Complete conquest of Yeongdeung Dungeon! What is Gaon Nuri Clan’s next move?

– “Rescuing the missing hero!” The cruel laboratory of half-human, half-beast monsters!

– “Was the help of academy students really necessary?” Gaon Nuri’s incompetence and reality.

Many internet articles poured out regarding this Yeongdeung Dungeon incident.

Internet articles, social media, community sites, blogs, and more.

Surprisingly, a lot of attention was focused on Yoo Seol-hyun.

Despite only conquering one dungeon, the reason many people were interested was that Yoo Seol-hyun was the granddaughter of the legendary Yoo Gap-ryeong in South Korea.

Also, the fact that she was a student at the academy and a beautiful blonde beauty highlighted her rise to fame as an easy target.

Among the positive articles, there were also negative ones.

It was understandable that even veteran heroes were skeptical of an academy student like Yoo Seol-hyun participating in the failed dungeon conquest.

It was controversial to involve an academy student in a crucial situation of rescuing missing heroes.

Of course, Yoo Seol-hyun’s exceptional abilities were very useful for dungeon conquest.

Apart from being an academy student, Yoo Seol-hyun was considered a decent choice.

However, there were no other individuals in large clans like Gaon Nuri who could replace an academy student.

Therefore, people expressed their own thoughts in the comments about why Yoo Seol-hyun was involved.

Whether it was due to the hastily formed team with few available heroes, Yoo Seol-hyun’s career building in Gaon Nuri, internal conflicts, and more.

“But there’s hardly any mention of me.”

Almost all the attention seemed to be on Yoo Seol-hyun, right?

Like Yoo Seol-hyun, I am also an academy student, received a commendation recently, and one of those who defeated the black-handed long-armed monkeys.

There were stories related to me, but compared to Yoo Seol-hyun, they were insignificant.

“Seol-hyun, Seol-hyun! You were active in conquering Yeongdeung Dungeon, right?!”

“And didn’t you defeat the monster that appeared at the academy recently?”

“You’re definitely on a different level than others!”

Over there, in the distance.

The children of Yoo Seol-hyun’s group were full of praise as always.

They showered praise and compliments without pause, like chirping birds.

I inwardly chuckled at the smooth tongues of the children, even smoother than usual.

Well, these days, Yoo Seol-hyun’s stock was rising with academy monster subjugation, commendation, Yeongdeung conquest, and more.

It was easy to appeal for more benefits at a time like this.

“Hmm… Anyway, since the dungeon was successfully conquered, we can say we’ve overcome the first crisis.”

What would have happened to Yoo Seol-hyun if she had failed?

Knowing the game’s contents, I knew the answer better than anyone.

“It’s not completely over, but it should be fine for a while, right?”

Through this incident, I built a somewhat positive relationship with Yoo Seol-hyun.

Considering her usefulness for future events, I was truly fortunate to have successfully completed the Yeongdeung conquest.

“But, why did that guy go with her?”

“Oh, Lee Jin-hyuk? Yeah, why did he go with her?”

“Isn’t that guy the top scorer in the head evaluation? Is that why?”

“Oh, come on, he’s just a student. How could he stick his nose in places where he doesn’t belong?”

Well, of course, not everything is always good.

As interest in Yoo Seol-hyun grows, there will be more and more kids with negative feelings towards me.

“Oh, but they also did the performance evaluation together, right?”

“I heard they met alone at a cafe not too long ago.”

“Could there be something real between them?”

“What? Seriously?”

“No, seriously, this is ridiculous. Yoo Seol-hyun and Lee Jin-hyuk?”

“If it’s true… did Yoo Seol-hyun try to boost Lee Jin-hyuk’s career?”

“Wow, Yoo Seol-hyun is so sweet on Lee Jin-hyuk.”

Whispers.

Some kids continued the gossip.

They whispered their opinions while sneakily glancing at me.

“It’s inevitable that rumors will start spreading.”

Come to think of it, I’ve met Yoo Seol-hyun quite often.

If it was the usual Yoo Seol-hyun, it wouldn’t make sense for her to keep meeting someone like me, but the kids naturally have doubts.

During the performance evaluation, we were on the same team, so it made sense then, but meeting alone at a cafe, or bringing me along for the dungeon rescue… various things piled up to lead to the current situation.

Could there be something between me and Yoo Seol-hyun?

“Maybe it’s because they’re kids and sensitive to issues…”

“Hey, Lee Jin-hyuk? You read the article well.”

Suddenly, a hand rested on my shoulder.

I flinched at the gentle touch on my shoulder.

As I turned my head, I saw a familiar face with a chubby cheeks. Oh, it was Jin So-yeon.

“You said you were sick, but that’s a load of crap.”

Jin So-yeon, with her flowing hair, sat on my desk and glared at me discontentedly.

She didn’t seem to be in a good mood.

“So, the reason you were absent was to go to the dungeon with Yoo Seol-hyun? Without telling me?”

With a strange emphasis on the name Yoo Seol-hyun and the words “without telling me,” Jin So-yeon started expressing her dissatisfaction.

“After the dungeon raid, I explained everything over the phone, didn’t I?”

“I still don’t get it, I just don’t.”

Jin So-yeon shook her head in frustration and let out a deep sigh.

“Yoo Seol-hyun, that guy. Why did he only tell you and take you to such a dangerous place like a dungeon? And why did you follow him?”

With furrowed eyebrows and a displeased expression, Jin So-yeon began to express her complaints.

“Even active heroes failed in the raid, and several people went missing, right? Why would you go to such a dangerous place?”

“Um.”

“Yoo Seol-hyun is from the Gaon Nuri Clan and has useful abilities for dungeon exploration, so I get that. But what about you? You don’t have any special abilities.”

“Um.”

“You went to rescue the missing people, but why did you follow him there? How did you know what would happen inside the dungeon? You’re weak. Did you ever think you could die?”

Blah blah blah.

Jin So-yeon’s characteristic nagging was like a machine gun firing.

It had been a while since I heard her worried nagging, and it felt somewhat new.

Her demeanor was similar to a mother scolding a child who wandered off alone by the water’s edge.

“But So-yeon.”

“What, why?”

“You used to do risky things in the past too, didn’t you?”

“Huh?”

“There’s a reason for that. Remember when you went to confront those delinquents who were extorting money from a kid when you were young? Or when you rescued a dog that fell into the water on a rainy day, even going into the flooded river, or when you almost got hit by a truck trying to save a child?”

It was a past story of the protagonist with a wide sense of justice that could belong in a boy’s comic.

“Every time I told you not to do dangerous things, but you always said, ‘How can I just leave someone who needs help?’”

“Is that similar to this situation?”

Jin Soyeon hesitated slightly with a sheepish expression.

“In a broad sense, wouldn’t it be similar?”

I shrugged casually.

“People went missing in the dungeon, and Yoo Seolhyun requested help related to that. After looking into the investigation materials, I thought I could help, so I decided to participate.”

If someone needs help, it’s only right to help, right? I stared at Jin Soyeon with a look that seemed to say that, and she turned her head away with pursed lips.

Then, she suddenly blurted out a word.

“…Who can help someone who’s become weak.”

Hey, you, always saying I’m weak?

…I am weak, but still.

“Basically, even the veteran heroes approved of it, right? Besides, it wasn’t that dangerous.”

I had no choice but to accept it because of Yoo Seolhyun’s request.

It was also very, very dangerous.

But that fact is not mentioned in the story.

It wouldn’t be good to let people know that Yoo Seolhyun and I almost died.

“In conclusion, through this dungeon conquest, I’ve built my own career, so it wasn’t all bad. Rescuing people and building a career. When will I try to conquer another dungeon, right?”

“Sometimes, you seem more reckless than me. Well, that’s why back then I…”

“Huh?”

Jin Soyeon slightly lowered her head and let her words trail off, making it hard to hear the last part.

I was staring at her, wondering what she meant when Jin Soyeon quickly raised her head.

She pointed at me with her index finger and continued.

“Anyway! What’s the point?”

“What point?”

“Why did Yoo Seolhyun take you to the dungeon?”

“Maybe she wanted to raise my tactical abilities during the evaluation. In dungeon conquests, that’s more important than mediocre strength.”

“Huh.”

Jin Soyeon chuckled in disbelief.

It was the reaction you’d expect when hearing something that didn’t make sense.

Finally, Jin Soyeon shot me a piercing look.

“Do you think that makes sense? Evaluation? Top of the class in theory? Hey, idiot. There are several veteran heroes there, so why would they use a hero aspirant like you as an advisor?”

Well, um.

That’s true. Honestly, it doesn’t make sense.

There’s no reason to use an amateur like me.

…Unless Yoo Seolhyun thinks I’m a precognitive.

“No matter how good you were tactically in this evaluation, it doesn’t make sense to take an amateur like you for personnel rescue. What is Yoo Seolhyun thinking?”

“Well, I just went along because Yoo Seolhyun said she needed help. I don’t know what she’s thinking.”

I brushed off the topic like skirting around a snake pit, knowing it would be fruitless to delve into it.

“Sigh.”

Jin Soyeon sighed deeply, fiddling with her hair and exhaling loudly.

“Hey, Lee Jinhyuk.”

“What, why the long face?”

“It’s noisy. I didn’t want to say this, but… Yoo Seolhyun, that person.”

Jin Soyeon glanced discreetly at the other students before approaching them and starting to whisper quietly.

It seemed like she was trying to say something that others shouldn’t hear.

“I heard that she had a bad reputation in middle school.”

“A bad reputation?”

“Yeah. Apparently, she flirted with the boyfriend of a girl she had a bad relationship with.”

Such a setting does exist.

Of course, it wasn’t exactly flirting, but rather, after exchanging a few smiles, the guy would mistakenly think, ‘Oh, Yoo Seolhyun, does she like me?’ This happened a lot due to some girls who were jealous of Yoo Seolhyun spreading malicious rumors.

Although she did intentionally smile flirtatiously, it was a bit of an exaggeration to say she was flirting.

In reality, Yoo Seolhyun was supposed to be a loner.

Hmm. Flirting of a loner beauty…

It’s a really subculture-like setting.

“By the way, what’s going on? Why are you gossiping like this? Oh, did you do this before?”

“Yoo Seolhyun seems to be getting closer to you these days, maybe because of me.”

“So, what you’re saying is, she’s pretending to be close to me just to get back at you?”

“…It sounds a bit strange to say it so openly, but it feels similar. Anyway, that’s how it is.”

“But you and I are just friends. Why me?”

“First of all, you’re my ex-boyfriend. That’s probably why.”

I swallowed slightly at Jin Soyeon’s words.

It seemed like Jin Soyeon didn’t think highly of Yoo Seolhyun.

For the future, there was a need for a slight improvement in the relationship between the two.

“Maybe Yoo Seolhyun brought you along for that reason?”

“That’s possible.”

“…Yeah. That makes sense. The dungeon conquest is no joke, after all.”

Jin Soyeon also muttered to herself that she had gone too far and slowly shook her head.

I watched her closely and eventually spoke up.

Because she seemed to have a negative view of Yoo Seolhyun.

“Anyway, don’t think too badly of Yoo Seolhyun.”

“Huh?”

I had already received a promise from Yoo Seolhyun that she wouldn’t bother you anymore.

“After talking to her directly, she’s not as bad as you think…”

“Huh, that’s strange?”

Abruptly.

Jin Soyeon interrupted my words and looked at me from a distance.

Her golden eyes calmly took in my face.

“Is your childhood friend of 10 years suddenly taking Yoo Seolhyun’s side?”

“What, she’s not a kid, and where’s your loyalty?”

“Haha. What kind of guy are you. Just because Yoo Seolhyun is being nice to you, you’re falling for it?”

“No, that’s not it.”

Oh, did I scratch where it didn’t itch?

Perhaps because there were no words around, I seemed to have slightly touched her feelings.

Looking back, from Jin Soyeon’s perspective, my words might have seemed oddly comforting.

“Ha, okay, okay.”

“You’re not upset?”

“…I’m not upset, okay?”

Jin Soyeon got up from her desk and headed out of the classroom without looking back.

“Hey, where are you going?”

“I’m going to the bathroom, why?”

“The teacher will be here soon.”

“Hmph, I’ll be back soon, won’t I?”

With that, Jin Soyeon ran off without looking back.

“…How should I improve the relationship between those two for real?”

I just lightly scratched the back of my neck as I watched where Jin Soyeon had gone.

Thinking about making the female lead and the villainess into friends in my head, that is.

***

“What’s up with Jinhyuk, just because I said a few words about Yoo Seolhyun, she immediately takes her side. A pretty girl is being nice to her, so she falls for it?”

Jin Soyeon washed her hands grumpily at the bathroom sink.

“He’s definitely a guy. He never showed any interest in other girls before, so why now, of all times, does he have to be interested in Yoo Seolhyun… sigh.”

If it wasn’t just Yoo Seolhyun, I would have congratulated him…

Yeah, …congratulations, I would have congratulated him.

That’s definitely how it would have been.

Why does it have to be someone like Yoo Seolhyun.

So that’s why she feels this way, if something good happened with a nice girl, Jinsuyeon thought she would never feel this way.

“Why does Yoo Seolhyun keep bothering me…?”

Squeak.

With the sound of the bathroom door opening, someone came in.

It’s almost time for the ceremony, so she wondered who it could be and checked her back in the mirror.

“Hello, Soyeon?”

Yoo Seolhyun was approaching with a smiling face.