episode_0086

Conversation topics flowed easily without needing to be forced. Unless they were spending time with their respective daughter or granddaughter, they spent most of this Cheongsongje together.

This day, with Ryu Seeun and Lee Hyunjin’s match, was no different. Nothing had changed.

“Ahem…”

Baek Muyeom gazed at Lee Hyunjin with profoundly mixed feelings, an aftereffect of a certain incident from earlier.

For him, it was a moment of utter despair when his precious granddaughter, the apple of his eye, had declared her intention to marry.

Quite a bit of time had passed since then, and he had almost managed to forget about it. Yet, seeing his face once more, he couldn’t help but recall it.

‘Of all people, she had to fall for that kind of scoundrel.’

Baek Muyeom incessantly lamented inwardly. It was true that, in terms of character and ability, he was the only male student who could be considered to have passed muster.

Even so, the Gwon Hwang still didn’t want to hand Baek Ayun over to that Lee Hyunjin.

It wasn’t simply because he disliked Lee Hyunjin as a man, or because he was displeased that his granddaughter had a boyfriend. It wasn’t such a childish reason.

Rather, it was a feeling of profound anxiety, filled with a grandfather’s genuine worry and concern.

Wasn’t that true? Baek Muyeom had, of course, also been present at the arena during Lee Hyunjin and Cheon Soyul’s first match. He had been there to spectate.

So how could he not know about the incident that happened then, and the rumors of an ‘engagement’ that subsequently began to spread in secret?

‘How can a man possibly have so much luck with women, hmph.’

Baek Muyeom inwardly ground his teeth, yet absently stroked his white beard, realizing he had no choice but to admit it.

Did they know how ridiculous the situation became when you put all the rumors that had spread so far together?

Seol Hayeon’s disciple was now engaged to one of his classmates, had been asked to marry by another, and was even creating a strange atmosphere with his direct junior.

He wondered if this even made sense logically… but since he had witnessed these things with his own two eyes, he couldn’t help but admit they were true.

“Hoo.”

Baek Muyeom sighed deeply and turned his gaze to the side.

Of course, he too had complex feelings.

…

Yet, at this very moment, the man feeling even more bewildered was none other than the one beside him.

Beside Baek Muyeom was Ryu Jinseong, Black Heaven, who was unusually focused on watching the unfolding match.

It was a match his own daughter was participating in, naturally. He watched Ryu Seeun’s struggle with the heart of both a parent and a master, even letting out surprising exclamations of admiration from time to time.

In truth, by now, such things had become utterly meaningless. In that moment, any semblance of expression had vanished from Ryu Jinseong’s face.

It was almost as if a deep, resonating hum accompanied by a black aura was emanating from him. And it wasn’t a mere optical illusion.

In fact, as Ryu Jinseong’s emotions fluctuated, dark mana was indeed flowing.

What sight was reflected in his two violet eyes?

The very center of the arena, of course.

There, two people lay in a very affectionate (?) posture and composition. The woman stroking the man’s cheek with her hand was Ryu Jinseong’s adopted daughter.

Ryu Seeun, a truly remarkable individual who had most greatly disturbed the Great Archmage’s mental state over the past decade.

By now, Ryu Jinseong was, astonishingly, in a situation where he was gradually developing the mindset of a father, thanks to a certain male student’s fistfight and the Gwon Hwang’s continuous ‘education’.

He had been growing, step by step, with the feeling of progressing one stage at a time.

Then, suddenly, things took a turn.

A sight that wasn’t particularly pleasant came into view.

“…Hoo…”

Ryu Jinseong first tried his best to somehow calm his surging emotions.

After all, if he simply let his mana flow freely in a place like this, there was no telling how much negative impact it would have on ordinary people who weren’t Awakened.

Baek Muyeom watched Ryu Jinseong with a gaze that was half admiration, half concern.

While the way he was gradually regaining his old self was certainly very pleasing, the situation itself was quite bad.

Even Baek Muyeom himself disliked Lee Hyunjin for charming his granddaughter while simultaneously creating ‘scandals’ with all sorts of other girls.

Ryu Jinseong, who was watching his own child deeply infatuated with a man in real time, must be in an even worse state. It was, so to speak, a mental breakdown.

“Aargh.”

But what could he do? In truth, Ryu Jinseong had no real means to intervene.

Ryu Jinseong, perhaps feeling suffocated, lightly thumped his chest, letting out low groans…

Wasn’t he, after all, the one who had given Ryu Seeun that absurd order a few months ago?

It was related to Lee Hyunjin, who was, at this very moment, on top of her.

Yes, it was that absurd order: ‘Come back pregnant with Lee Hyunjin’s child.’

Because of his past karma, Ryu Jinseong was in a position where he couldn’t do anything at that moment.

Would he tell her not to meet Lee Hyunjin? Or would he tell her to give up on him entirely?

A person still has some conscience; how could he change his words as easily as flipping his palm?

Ultimately, Ryu Jinseong could only quietly calm his mental state while grabbing the back of his neck. Mental damage was indeed fatal for mages.

And there wasn’t much Baek Muyeom could say to the father of such a daughter.

“Be strong…”

Baek Muyeom, feeling a strange sense of camaraderie, weakly patted Ryu Jinseong’s back.

He probably didn’t know for sure, but he couldn’t help but recall a gloomy thought: wouldn’t the day come when he, too, would be grabbing the back of his neck in the same way?

*****

As the sun began to set, evening approached.

‘Ah, damn it.’

I couldn’t help but curse inwardly.

While wearing a butler uniform, no less.

This was a planned event, as the theme of the 2nd year Class A booth was a cosplay pub, but the problem wasn’t the outfit itself.

It was the gazes I received when I stepped out alone, clad in such an incredibly embarrassing outfit.

That was the only problem. It was utterly mortifying.

No, I just wanted to flip everything over.

Clench-

I clenched my teeth, turning my gaze diagonally to the side. Why was that Kim Yijun here, even though it wasn’t his class’s booth?

If I asked, I’d probably get the obvious answer that he came as a customer. So, I decided not to say anything, but…

‘Ugh.’

That taunting gaze, those playfully crinkled eyes, were utterly displeasing.

Why was this guy, who rarely made such expressions, doing this to me now?

The bigger problem was that I couldn’t possibly misunderstand the meaning in his eyes and gaze.

Actually, how could I not know? These were the things I’d been hearing almost all day.

‘…That Ryu Seeun, seriously.’

I needlessly cursed that junior inwardly, rubbing my temples. In truth, it wasn’t really his fault, but I just wanted to make it his fault somehow.

Because of that 0.5 public ‘confession’ (?), I ended up needlessly embroiled in another scandal.

In fact, mentions related to Cheon Soyul’s immaturity had almost entirely disappeared by now. A much more interesting topic had immediately emerged.

Wouldn’t that be true? The disciple of one Great Archmage had charmed the daughters of the other two Great Archmages all at once, so it was naturally surprising.

If only I hadn’t been the person involved, I probably would have thoroughly admired and enjoyed it.

“Haa…”

I roughly swept up my bangs, which were slightly obscuring my vision, and let out a sigh. What I realized was that there was truly no solution now.

It couldn’t be reversed, nor could it be stopped. The rumors spreading further and wider were as good as a foregone conclusion. And it was utterly dreadful.

Now that things had come to this, there was truly nothing that could be done. Consistently ignoring it was probably the only answer.

With the mindset of just focusing on work, I moved towards the hall. I’d just serve.

…Although I was worried about Cheon Soyul, who still hadn’t replied to my messages, it happened to be her day off today.

If I wanted to talk to her face-to-face, I had no choice but to go find her after work.

I let out a muffled sigh and moved my feet.

Holding the tray I received from Rachel, who had a mysterious look in her eyes, in the kitchen, I headed for table number 18, located in a secluded corner of the pub.

One 500cc draft beer and a set of shrimp tempura and nuts as a snack.

Judging by the quantity, I moved with the thought that it was probably for one person.

“Your order has arrived…”

And so, standing before the table, relatively dimly lit and away from the center, the person I encountered was…

“Hello.”

It was Seo Harin, lightly swinging her long legs, as she waved her hand towards me.

“Shall we talk a bit, Hyunjin?”

…

And I fell silent. Simultaneously, I remembered.

‘Oh, right.’

‘I had a date scheduled, didn’t I?’

…Cold sweat began to trickle down my cheeks and back.