episode_0030

Honestly, I’m grateful they’re already assigning me work.

Even a single point in entrance scores is precious to trainees.

Especially in my case, where I’m being overrated.

‘I don’t want to be too conspicuous, but…’

It’s too good of an opportunity to pass up.

The only unsettling thing is that this development wasn’t in the original story.

If I hadn’t received this ‘misunderstanding’ in the first place, I wouldn’t have received this offer.

“Is it a very dangerous urban legend?”

“I don’t know. That’s what we’re going to investigate.”

Lee Jaehak added after a moment of thought.

“You could die.”

The scary thing about Chunjihae is that they can say things like that so casually.

‘That means they have no information.’

That’s the worst-case scenario.

There haven’t been any casualties yet.

‘If there were, they would have dispatched a formal exorcist.’

Currently, it’s just a level of suspicion that something’s there.

Maybe there’s no urban legend at all.

I weighed the risks and rewards and nodded.

“I’ll do it.”

“Is that so? Then…”

“Instead, allow me to choose the people from the trainees to go with me.”

Lee Jaehak looked at me for a moment and asked.

“…I don’t mind, but isn’t it better to go alone? You’d get a higher score that way.”

“I’d rather split the score than go alone and die.”

“…I see. That’s a wise decision.”

Lee Jaehak nodded.

I thought his lips curled up for a moment, but I must have been mistaken.

‘There’s no way Lee Jaehak would smile.’

Anyway, I’m glad we seem to be on the same page.

I was going to give up if he said no.

‘There’s no way I could go to such a scary place alone, right?’

“May I also decide who I go with?”

“Do as you please. It’s your assignment. However, recruiting colleagues is also up to you.”

“Understood.”

I wasn’t worried about being rejected.

Who would refuse when they’re offering entrance points?

‘Since I have game knowledge, I don’t have to worry about who to bring.’

There are quite a few named characters that come to mind right away.

Most of them are already at the level of active exorcists.

With them, I wouldn’t be afraid of any urban legend.

“How many people should be in the group?”

“Three, including you. It would be problematic if you all rushed in just to get points.”

“Understood.”

Three people. That’s perfect.

‘I should take Jiyeon and Eunhye.’

With Cheok Jiyeon, I don’t have to worry about physical strength.

Plus, Eunhye’s sensing ability will be a great help.

‘What are friends for? We help each other out at times like this.’

I don’t have to do anything, which is great.

And they can get points, which is also great.

‘Killing two birds with one stone!’

I couldn’t help but smile at the unexpected luck.

“Then I’ll form the team and report back after investigating.”

“Do so.”

I greeted him and left the office.

Dopamine rushed to my head at the unexpected opportunity.

‘It’s a chance to get entrance points for free!’

I’m glad I’ve been subtly building connections.

Especially with Jiyeon, there’s no urban legend that’s a problem.

‘If there’s an urban legend that Jiyeon can’t beat, I can just deal with it with an instant kill.’

It’s a foolproof plan.

I didn’t hide my excitement as I made plans.

And then, on the day I told Jiyeon to join me.

“…I’m sorry, but I can’t go with you.”

I received an unexpected rejection.

Oh, God.

Who am I supposed to trust to take on urban legends now?

****

Recently, there’s a man Cheok Jiyeon has been concerned about.

That’s Nam Dohyung.

Originally, she approached him to repay several favors to Eunhye.

But at some point, they became close and always ended up together.

It would be fine if it ended there.

It’s good to have a close colleague.

The problem is that it didn’t end there.

‘Why do I keep thinking about his face…’

When eating, when sleeping, even when training.

His face always came to mind, and every time, her heart stirred.

When she was with him, the stirring in her heart intensified.

When she saw him smile, her heart beat fiercely.

This feeling grew stronger whenever she saw Nam Dohyung with a woman.

When he was talking to another woman… she felt a strange heat rising inside.

‘What on earth is this feeling?’

The problem is that Cheok Jiyeon isn’t aware of her own feelings.

Normally, she would realize she likes him and have a crush.

But because of what happened when she was young, Cheok Jiyeon’s experience with humanity is devastating, and she doesn’t even know what romantic feelings are.

She doesn’t read the common romance novels and is only attached to the sword!

‘My chest is stuffy and churning. Is it arrhythmia?’

She was worried, so she got checked out, but there’s nothing wrong with her health.

Even while this was happening, his face kept coming to mind, making her feel frustrated.

As a result of training hard to shake off her distractions, she actually gained enlightenment and grew stronger.

Still, it’s difficult to continue like this.

‘Why am I doing this…’

She couldn’t bring herself to ask anyone about this feeling.

It feels like it would be very embarrassing to reveal such a weakness.

“But I can’t keep going on like this either.”

After much thought, Cheok Jiyeon finally posted an anonymous post on the internet.

[My heart keeps pounding when I see a colleague at work. I think of his face every morning, and I get annoyed when I see him with other women. Why is this happening?]

Cheok Jiyeon frankly expresses her feelings in detail!

She should have realized it herself by now.

But she still doesn’t know anything and posted it.

Whether it’s lucky or unlucky for her.

This pure love post caused an explosive reaction.

-It’s a “some”

-It’s a “some”

-It’s a “some”

-Isn’t it more like a crush than a “some?”

-Die

‘…What’s a “some?” And why is this jerk cursing?’

But Cheok Jiyeon, who has no knowledge in this area, lacks the ability to interpret the responses.

-Thank you for answering. But what’s a “some?”

┕It means you like that person.

Cheok Jiyeon read the post without thinking.

About 5 seconds passed.

“Ptoo!”

Cheok Jiyeon spectacularly spat out the protein she was drinking.

“Wh-What nonsense!”

She shouted without realizing it and jumped to her feet.

She was so flustered that her face turned red.

‘M-Me liking Nam Dohyung? There’s no way…’

She tried to shout it in her heart, but she already realized it.

The destructive power of the word was that strong.

This feeling, both embarrassing and about to burst, with one side of her chest tickling, had to be ‘love.’

“Ugh…”

Cheok Jiyeon covered her cheeks with her hands and sat down.

Even though no one was watching, she wanted to hide in a mouse hole out of embarrassment.

She likes Nam Dohyung.

Realizing that fact was quite a blow.

Her face is flushed, and her heart won’t stop pounding.

‘H-How am I supposed to meet him in this state…!’

I wish I hadn’t known!

Once she became aware of her feelings, she started to become conscious of everything she had done and everything around her.

‘…Maybe I should have cut the monster a little prettier during the practical exam?’

That’s about the extent of Cheok Jiyeon’s thoughts.

She didn’t know what to do with these feelings.

In the end, Cheok Jiyeon relied on the internet again.

[I think I like that guy. But what should I do?]

-Confess.

┕I can’t.

Cheok Jiyeon closed her eyes tightly as she replied.

How is she supposed to confess!

‘I might die of embarrassment…’

-Then you should give up

-Hey, answer properly. It seems serious.

-But office romance is dangerous

-If you confess and get rejected, it’ll be awkward and you’ll have to quit. It’s definitely not my story ㅠㅠ

If you get rejected, it’ll be awkward.

Cheok Jiyeon’s heart sank at this one sentence.

‘What if I confess and get rejected…’

Will she not be able to see Nam Dohyung after that?

Sadness washed over her at the thought, and her heart felt like it was tearing.

After her brother died and her family was wiped out.

It was no exaggeration to say that Nam Dohyung was the first person she had befriended.

‘N-No, I must never confess…!’

She doesn’t even think about being accepted.

No, she couldn’t!

There are too many competitors around to be optimistic.

Yoo Eunhye.

Kind and innocent, she’s so cute like a hamster that she evokes a sense of protection even in other women.

Yoo Yeonhwa

Elegant and wealthy, she’s a modern-day noble lady.

In addition to them, the damned instructors who are skilled and stylish are also subtly aiming for Nam Dohyung.

Then what about herself?

She’s good with a sword.

That’s all.

What man would like a scary woman with the nickname of Sword Demon!

‘But I can’t just have a crush forever…’

She doesn’t want to live with this feeling forever.

Above all, she doesn’t think she could bear it if Nam Dohyung started dating another woman.

[I don’t want to confess, but I don’t want him to meet other women. What should I do?]

-ㅗㅗ

-Hmm. That’s a difficult question.

-That’s ridiculous.

-Then you should give up.

-Make the man confess.

The last comment caught Cheok Jiyeon’s attention.

┕Make the man confess?

┕Judging from your post, it seems likely that the man is also interested in you. If it’s hard to confess, then get him to confess.

If it’s hard to confess, then get him to confess!

What a wise and beautiful sentence!

┕How do I get a confession?

┕It all comes down to being pretty, but the basics are push and pull.

┕What’s push and pull?

┕Pushing and pulling. In short, be nice to him, but sometimes play hard to get. A woman who only accepts is not attractive.

‘A woman who only accepts is not attractive.’

Cheok Jiyeon had an epiphany.

In order to get a confession, it’s necessary to say ‘no’ instead of ‘yes.’

‘Alright! Let’s start with this first!’

That’s how Cheok Jiyeon received teachings from a life senior(?).

And unfortunately, she was an excellent student who immediately used what she learned.

When she met Nam Dohyung at work and he spoke to her, Cheok Jiyeon wore a nonchalant expression.

“Ah, Jiyeon-ah. I got a request from Instructor Lee Jaehak to investigate an urban legend, do you want to go with me? They’re giving entrance points too.”

Normally, she would have been worried and immediately said yes.

But now, Cheok Jiyeon was a woman who had learned push and pull!

“…I’m sorry, but I can’t go with you.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Hehe! If you thought I was an unattractive woman who only accepted everything, you’re mistaken.”

“I guess I made the offer too suddenly since you might have things to do. Sorry.”

…But Nam Dohyung’s reaction was different from what she expected.

He was supposed to beg because he couldn’t do it without her.

She was going to reluctantly accept if he asked one more time…

“You must be busy too. I thought about it too lightly. I’m sorry.”

“O-Oh?”

As Cheok Jiyeon was panicking, Nam Dohyung was already nodding.

“It can’t be helped. I’ll ask someone else.”

“N-No… Actually, it’s okay. I have a lot of time…”

“Don’t push yourself. You don’t have to match me by lying.”

“I-It’s true! I want to go with you too! I was lying earlier!”

“It’s okay. You really don’t have to feel sorry. Don’t worry about it and practice hard!”

Nam Dohyung said and left.

Cheok Jiyeon, left alone, stood there for a while with a pathetic expression.

‘Ah…!’

I’d rather slice up urban legends.

Romance is still too difficult a task for Cheok Jiyeon.