episode_0097

097.

Baek Yurin was standing in front of the entrance gate, looking somewhat awkward.

Her usual dry expression and emotionless ash-gray eyes were just staring blankly at my face.

Hmm. Slightly uncomfortable.

“……”

“……”

A moment of silence fell.

It was a slightly awkward silence.

Just then, the wind blew fiercely with a whooshing sound.

Baek Yurin’s hair, tinged with a light crimson color, fluttered in the wind.

Her sleeves and the hem of her skirt also swayed in the breeze, but Baek Yurin seemed unfazed, waiting patiently for my response.

“An apology?”

“Yes.”

I glanced briefly at Baek Yurin’s waist.

The practice sword she always carried with her was nowhere to be seen.

Even if she was unfamiliar with swords other than the one she had received as a reward, she wouldn’t come all the way here to do something strange.

Moreover, she had said she came to apologize.

Baek Yurin might be a bit obsessed with swords, but she wasn’t a villain or a liar.

During the ranking match, she had used a quite threatening sword technique while losing control, but she was in a much calmer state now.

The possibility of Baek Yurin coming to me with a lie about apologizing as an excuse to harm me was very low.

“Well, come in for now.”

I also had something to say to Baek Yurin.

I needed to help her solve the problem she was struggling with and take measures to prevent her from turning into a villain.

“Excuse me… I’ll come in.”

Baek Yurin slowly took off her shoes and entered the living room.

After guiding her to the plush sofa, I walked towards the kitchen.

I took out a jujube tea bag from the instant tea set I had bought a while ago, brewed it in a teacup, added some honey and ice, and placed it on the living room table.

“……Huh?”

Baek Yurin stared blankly at the jujube tea, blinked her eyes a few times, and then tilted her head slightly.

She looked puzzled.

“……Am I supposed to drink this?”

“Yes, drink it. You’re a guest for now, a guest.”

“Do you not like instant tea? Well, you’re a rich girl after all.”

Unlike Yuseolhyun or Ju Jiyeon, who dressed up, Baek Yurin was as much of a rich girl as they were.

After all, wasn’t Baek Yurin’s grandfather praised by many for his swordsmanship with the best sword in the country?

Many aspiring swordsmen crossed the threshold of the swordsmanship dojo to learn the Baek sword style created by Baek Yeonghyun.

Even the famous Yi Siun had struggled to learn swordsmanship from Baek Yeonghyun.

Come to think of it, how many Baek sword style dojos were there in the country?

Hmm… It’s like a franchise.

“…No, I wasn’t sure if I should give you jujube tea.”

“Oh, okay.”

You have a character profile that says you like jujube tea.

Because of your strict grandfather, you drank jujube tea since you were young and got used to it, right?

You prefer to add a little honey because the taste is slightly bitter?

“Anyway… thank you.”

Was it because she was being treated with tea?

Baek Yurin sipped the jujube tea.

Whether it was because she thought she should observe proper etiquette as a guest or not, Baek Yurin was drinking the jujube tea I had given her quite well.

Baek Yurin seemed somewhat normal when it came to matters not related to swords.

“…Jinhyuk.”

Baek Yurin, who had set down the teacup, was now looking at me.

“I’m sorry about the other day.”

With her slightly trembling lips, she repeatedly apologized in a quiet voice, “You told me several times that he wasn’t the one… but I didn’t listen…”

It was a bit absurd to hear with one ear and let it go with the other.

“It’s not because I was certain that you were that man… It’s because I wanted to believe that you were that man… I think that’s how it was… I’m sorry.”

I wanted to believe, yes.

“In fact, I once lost miserably to a man who was called Vittorante… So I wanted to meet him again and show him how I’ve changed… And also…”

Jimjit met Baek Yurin’s eyes.

In the cloudy white pupils, there was a flicker of intense longing.

“…I vaguely hoped that I could learn something through that man’s fight.”

It felt like being blocked by a wall as in the game.

And that anxiety ultimately turned Baek Yurin into a villain obsessed with the sword.

“I feel like… I’ve caused you trouble.”

Baek Yurin muttered, looking a bit embarrassed.

“Baek Yurin.”

“Yes.”

“But why did you mistake me for that man?”

“Huh?”

“Was it because I had that man’s sword, got injured by the white-haired woman during the midterm exam, and because of the incident with Seong Yura last time?”

“…”

Baek Yurin hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.

“…That’s part of it, but someone told me.”

“Who?”

“…I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you more than that. There’s no point in you knowing, anyway.”

“Just tell me one thing. Am I a girl of the same age as you?”

“Probably.”

“Alright, that’s what I thought.”

“You seem to know something.”

It must have been Yudahee after all.

Among the Rebellion members who interacted with Baek Yurin, Yudahee and Seong Yura were probably similar. Since Seong Yura was captured, only Yudahee remained.

“Perhaps she tried to provoke Baek Yurin using me.”

Whether Yudahee really mistook me for Vittorante or was just suspicious, I couldn’t tell, but it was clear that she tried to use me.

“Well, with the incidents during the midterm exam and Seong Yura, it’s inevitable that Yudahee noticed me.”

Standing out to the growing villainous eyes of Baek Yurin was not a good thing in many ways.

“But why did you have that man’s sword…?”

“Oh, that’s… ”

I explained the rough circumstances to Baek Yurin.

I also told her about the unidentified figure who had defeated a considerable number of villains inside the mansion during the Seong Yura incident.

Due to the fire, the identities of the bodies couldn’t be confirmed, but judging by the sword collection used by Vittorante, it seemed like…

“…Is that man dead?”

“It’s not certain.”

“I never thought he would die so pathetically.”

Baek Yurin muttered slightly despondently, looking up at the empty air.

For her, the man who was a wall to overcome and a rival had met his end, which seemed quite shocking.

But if that man was really alive, it would have been quite awkward for you.

In terms of the world setting, if Yudahee, a talented person similar to or slightly below you, had not died and continued to grow, you would never have been able to catch up.

You were destined to be surpassed by Ishiwoon and Kang Daehan in the first place.

Unless you suddenly gained enlightenment and grew rapidly like in an IF side story novel.

Enlightenment and rapid growth…

“Baek Yurin, are you stuck behind a wall?”

“How did you…?”

Baek Yurin looked slightly surprised at my sudden question.

“What if I help you break through the wall?”

“You?”

Perhaps, she had been struggling alone for over a year, blocked by the wall.

She must have been quite surprised to see Ishiwoon and Kang Daehan grow so rapidly in this ranking match.

Watching other kids grow day by day, an unknown frustration and anxiety must have filled her heart.

Baek Yeonghyun didn’t provide much help because he was uncomfortable with her obsession with swords, and others just watched Baek Yeonghyun’s reactions.

Furthermore, Baek Ryuin didn’t get along well with Baek Geomryu.

That’s why in the spin-off novel, she created a modified version of Baek Geomryu that suited her style by herself.

“Would you like to take a look at this?”

I handed Baek Ryuin several pages of documents filled with drawings and text.

Handing this to Baek Ryuin could have been a mistake if done wrong.

It could have been a situation where I was helping a potential enemy grow with my own hands.

But from what I’ve seen of Baek Ryuin so far, she had no intention of repaying the favor of swords with enmity.

Considering Baek Ryuin’s character that I’ve been watching for a few weeks, her feelings towards swords were more sincere than anyone else’s.

Even in the spin-off novel, when Soyeon provided significant help with swordsmanship, Baek Ryuin eventually sided with Soyeon.

Originally, Baek Ryuin didn’t think much of things like Rebellion.

Whether villain or hero, such things were probably just a matter of preference for Baek Ryuin.

“….?”

Baek Ryuin looked puzzled but seemed curious as she silently accepted the documents.

It was a basic martial arts manual for the modified Baek Geomryu based on in-game knowledge and spin-off novel content, rearranged to be plausible.

It contained various techniques, principles of basic movements, Baek Ryuin’s bad habits, mana manipulation, and annotations on swordsmanship.

Oh, I only wrote down what I accurately remembered.

And the annotations were not my own speculation but excerpts from Soyeon’s advice in the spin-off novel, right?

There were a lot of vague expressions, but Baek Ryuin in the novel understood them well.

After listening to the advice, Baek Ryuin broke through the barriers and reached the highest level of skill.

She might become an unstoppable genius.

“….”

Baek Ryuin read the documents as if entranced.

Since it was just a taste to see Baek Ryuin’s reaction, it didn’t contain too much content.

“….Hm.”

After quickly reading the front part, Baek Ryuin looked around.

Her gaze fell on the decorative sword hanging on the wall. Huh? Are you serious?

Baek Ryuin soon took out the decorative sword and slowly began to manifest mana while illuminating the techniques in the middle of the living room.

“Wait, Baek Ryuin?”

“….Hmm? Uh? Hmm.”

Baek Ryuin wielded the sword a few times as if possessed by something.

With each technique, a thud echoed through the living room.

After elegantly showcasing the sword movements, Baek Ryuin slowly put the sword down.

“….It’s a bit different.”

She looked at me as if finding it intriguing.

“…The movements seem a bit smoother… the shift in center of gravity… subtle differences in basic posture and mana manipulation… it feels quite different.”

“Oh, really?”

I wouldn’t know unless you tell me.

I just wrote down what you would have monologued during your training in the future in the spin-off novel.

“…Amazing. How did you do this?”

“I have confidence in analyzing and formulating things.”

“The content was a bit short… could you… tell me more?”

“Well, once you master everything written there.”

Baek Ryuin approached me, her eyes filled with a fiery passion, and looked at me with a mix of heat and intensity.

It was a bit overwhelming.

“…I came to apologize today… but it seems I’ve incurred another debt.”

Baek Ryuin opened her mouth, clutching the documents to her chest.

“Tell me, Lee Jinhyuk. What do you want…? If it’s a request I can fulfill… I’ll do it all.”

“It’s nothing special.”

Actually, it’s quite impressive.

“I’m planning to catch a few villains later. Can you help me with that?”

“Sure.”

“Oh? You’re answering right away? Do you know who I’m trying to catch?”

“I have a feeling. It’s about what you asked earlier. About what Yoo Da-hee said, right?”

“Hmm.”

You caught on, huh?

Anyway, can I just say Yoo Da-hee’s name right away?

You said you wouldn’t tell me because it’s dangerous to know more.

And you’re a member of Rebellion too, isn’t it disloyal?

Anyway, it’s like a similar organization. That’s why they’re easily taken advantage of by the protagonist and his group of trainees.

“From your reaction earlier, it seemed like you were related to Yoo Da-hee’s group. After all, you were the one who arrested Sung Yura.”

“Can I say it like that? Well, you’re also a member of that… ”

“Ah, am I also a member of that group? Do you know that much… Well, it doesn’t matter since that man is dead. Both Yoo Da-hee and I only cooperated for our own purposes.”

Baek Yoo-rin hung the decorative sword back on the wall.

“Yoo Da-hee probably dragged me into this to tarnish my grandfather’s reputation. Well, I’m not sure of the exact purpose.”

Yoo Da-hee’s exact purpose.

It seems like…

“Oh, the floor is a bit damaged. Is it because of me… Sorry… Take this.”

“A card?”

Baek Yoo-rin, who noticed the damaged floor due to the fight, handed me a card.

“You can spend up to 25 million won… Take it.”

“No, I can’t accept this.”

Haha. I already had a lot of money, but there’s no need to refuse free money.

“Well. You seem a bit weak… Let me bring you some medicine…”

“Oh? Really?”

They’re even giving me medicine? Wow, that’s generous.

It’s hard to get valuable medicine even with a lot of money.

“Don’t feel burdened, this is nothing compared to… It’s not a big deal.”

Baek Yoo-rin pointed to the documents I gave her.

Oh, that, I just scribbled down some memories.

Baek Yoo-rin understood and implemented it brilliantly because you’re a genius.

“Anyway… I’m sorry for what happened during the ranking match. And thank you for today.”

“Oh, yeah.”

“Let’s meet again after the curse is lifted… I’ll pay off more of the debt today.”

Did she find a clue to cross the wall?

Baek Yoo-rin seemed quite thoughtful for her usual self.

“Well, I’ll take my leave…”

With a slight nod, Baek Yoo-rin bid farewell.

It seems like our relationship has become quite close after this incident.

“I didn’t expect to get involved with Baek Yoo-rin like this… But well, it’s not a bad thing.”

Yoo Seol-hyun, Sung Yura, Locksanne, Baek Yoo-rin, and others.

They have already appeared in the middle and are either persuading or arresting the villains who threaten the protagonist’s group.

Isn’t it a completely different development from the game?

The first semester break hasn’t even started yet, but already so many villains have turned over a new leaf.

“Seoyeon has awakened, and I’ve built quite a friendship with Yoo Seol-hyun and Locksanne… Ishiwoon doesn’t seem to be that jealous… And I can get help from Baek Yoo-rin…”

I have a lot of cards to play now.

Really.

“With this level of power, there’s no need to delay any longer.”

Although the protagonist’s group is still growing, the Rebellion members are also growing.

They will eventually become high-rankers, top-ranking, or monstrous beings to be reckoned with in the future, but not now, not yet.

“Let’s strike before they grow any further.”

In other words, I’m going to make a preemptive strike.

Originally in the game, whenever the Rebellion members caused an incident, the protagonist and his party would join forces to resolve it.

But this is not a game, it’s reality.

We already know the whereabouts, names, weaknesses, abilities, and everything about several Rebellion members, so there’s no need to silently wait until they cause trouble unnecessarily, right?

***

“…Ah. They won’t say anything about visiting without contacting first, right?”

Jin Soyeon muttered to herself as she hesitated near Lee Jinhyuk’s house.

Although it wouldn’t be a problem for childhood friends to visit without saying anything, she couldn’t help but feel nervous because of the memory of confessing to Lee Jinhyuk.

Jin Soyeon, whose heart raced just by being near him, tried her best not to show it.

So she was surprised when Baek Yurin suddenly used her sword skills during the ranking match.

Ugh. Baek Yurin, what’s up with her, seriously.

Attacking a surrendered opponent? Is she in her right mind?

“Haah, for now… Jinhyuk… Is he… at home?”

Jin Soyeon expressed her thoughts about Baek Yurin.

Soon after, Lee Jinhyuk, who doesn’t have many friends, would definitely be at home, she thought, and was about to take another step.

“Huh?”

Wasn’t that Baek Yurin coming out of Lee Jinhyuk’s house?

“Why is she here?”

Baek Yurin, who always had a blank expression, was now coming out of Jinhyuk’s house with a noticeable expression on her face.

Why?