Ch.158Episode 33. The Evil Sky Begins to Move (3)

“Fasten your seatbelt.”

“I know.”

“Or should I fasten it for you?”

“No, I’ve got it!”

Yeon Muhui fastens her seatbelt with an irritated response.

Come to think of it, she looks like someone who would be taciturn and unexpressive, but she gets flustered and raises her voice more easily than I expected.

Is this the Yeon Muhui I’ve changed? It feels kind of nice.

In the original story, Yeon Muhui was indifferent from beginning to end, and never once showed a smile.

She killed Yeonhwaryong but couldn’t protect her family, and despite desperately chasing happiness, she couldn’t shake off her misfortune.

That was the life of Yeon Muhui who became a villain.

But now, seeing her snapping back at me and showing her emotions, I can feel she’s really improved a lot.

“Muhui.”

I called her name as I turned on the heater. Gently.

“…Why are you calling me by my name?”

Her response was curt, but even that seemed cute to me.

“Well… because we’re going on a date now?”

“What, what?”

She clenched her hands on her thighs. Not to hit me, but because she didn’t know how to react.

Yeon Muhui is socially awkward in these situations.

“Wasn’t that it? I thought you were asking me out on a date?”

“W-why would I ask you, Yujin, on a date?”

“Never mind then.”

“…”

The fact that she didn’t firmly deny it suggested that the idea of a date wasn’t completely off the table. She seemed to secretly want it.

“Relax.”

When I tapped the back of her hand, she made a cute “Eep!” sound and shrank back significantly. She pressed herself against the door, wary of me.

“D-don’t touch me…!”

It’s funny how she used to be like a lion radiating killing intent, but now she’s like a chihuahua. Even her anger was just cute.

“When you say it like that, it makes me want to touch you more.”

“What?”

“I’m joking.”

“That’s a really bad joke. I almost questioned your qualifications as an instructor.”

After having a relationship with Yu Ari… no, after two-timing, I think I’ve already lost my qualifications as an instructor.

Even though the Academy encourages those kinds of relationships, it’s supposed to be between students, not between an instructor and a student.

The reason is that there aren’t young instructors like me. Generally, instructors are experienced professionals who’ve spent a long time in active service.

“…Don’t tell me you act like this with other girls too?”

“What do you think I do?”

I smirked as I started the car. Seeing my expression, she furrowed her brow and clicked her tongue.

“…Trash.”

Even though she knows about my relationships, no one else calls me out so directly.

“Calling your instructor trash.”

I snorted in feigned displeasure, reported to the security at the Academy entrance, and drove out.

“…I take it back.”

“What? No, it’s true—”

“If I don’t take it back, will I get punished?”

“Another flick to the forehead?”

“I’ve flicked your forehead so many times I’m afraid you’ll become stupid, so no.”

“What?”

My eyebrow twitched at the word “stupid.” I casually avoided Yeon Muhui’s glaring gaze as she stared at me with fiery eyes.

“I’ll give you a different punishment.”

“What kind?”

“If I tell you now, it wouldn’t be a punishment, would it?”

“What does that even…”

“So, are you taking it back or not?”

“Ah, well, playing with multiple women’s hearts… isn’t that, being trash?”

She’s asking me to acknowledge it. She really doesn’t want to take it back.

I’ve decided to act like trash while two-timing, and I have no intention of denying that I’m trash. But directly mentioning it and not mentioning it are two different matters.

“So you’re not taking it back?”

“I won’t take it back… Though I might have for someone else.”

“Can I change my question then?”

“…What is it?”

“Do you dislike me?”

“I respect you.”

She’s a master at avoiding questions.

“So you like me?”

“I-I said I respect you!”

“Isn’t that the same thing?”

“No, it’s not!”

“If you say so.”

I shrugged as I spoke.

We soon got on the highway. Thanks to avoiding rush hour, we were able to get on the highway with almost no traffic.

“…But what if I touched you right now, what would you do?”

“I’d scream.”

The words came out without a second of hesitation. That’s a bit disappointing.

“Could you win?”

“Ugh…!”

“I’m joking.”

I was about to stroke her hair but noticed it was tied in a ponytail, so I patted her shoulder instead.

The fact that she didn’t avoid my touch made me feel like she would accept all skinship once it started.

Not that I had any intention of doing anything to her right now.

* * *

After bickering with Yeon Muhui like that, we arrived in Hongseong, Chungcheong Province, where Akcheon’s hideout was presumed to be.

We headed straight to the café where we had arranged to meet.

There were quite a few cars, but fewer people than I expected. I parked in the spacious café parking lot.

“Do you want to stay here?”

“…How long do I have to wait?”

“Well, I’ll have to talk to them to find out. Why don’t you come in and have a coffee?”

“Okay…”

When I turned off the engine, she unfastened her seatbelt and got out. I also grabbed my phone, wallet, and car keys before getting out.

Coming from the warm interior of the car into the cool breeze outside made my body instinctively curl up.

Winter has really arrived. It’s starting to sink in that it’s been a year since I was possessed.

“Brr. It’s cold.”

I said that while watching Yeon Muhui, who didn’t forget to bring her sword despite saying that.

“You never forget your sword, do you?”

“You never know when it might be dangerous. There are still countless villains appearing.”

It’s really admirable that she’s prepared, but the only case where she could use her weapon was for “self-defense.” She didn’t have the authority yet since she didn’t have a hero license.

“When you’re alone, always carry your Academy student ID. Without it, you might be mistaken for a villain.”

“Okay.”

“Let’s go in.”

As we entered the café, warm air enveloped us. The chill that had clung to our bodies fell away, making us shiver slightly.

“What do you want to drink?”

Yeon Muhui asked while operating the kiosk.

“Hot Americano.”

“Okay.”

“Welcome— Oh! Are you Hero Yujin?”

The employee who spotted us asked cautiously.

“Ah, yes. Hello.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m a fan.”

I awkwardly shook the employee’s outstretched hand and smiled.

I’m not some celebrity, so I don’t understand why I have fans. Whenever people approach me like this, I find it burdensome and awkward.

“Could I take a picture with you? Oh… is the person next to you your girlfriend?”

“No. She’s an Academy student. We came down together on business.”

“Ah, I see.”

I take a picture with the employee. Meanwhile, Yeon Muhui, who was operating the kiosk, was looking at us with disapproval. What, do you want to take a picture too?

“You’re really handsome, just like they say. Oh, is there anything you’d like? I’ll give it to you on the house since you took a picture with me.”

“No, that’s okay.”

“Is that so?”

The employee smacked their lips in disappointment.

I didn’t want to receive favors from strangers. I’m not someone worthy of respect enough to receive kindness from others.

I gave the employee a slight bow and looked around.

Since I knew Forest’s appearance, I scanned the people in the café. Then I spotted brown hair sitting in a corner.

I handed the card to Yeon Muhui and walked straight to him. I casually spoke to the man with brown hair and green eyes.

“Nice to meet you. You’re Hero Forest… right?”

“…Hm? Ah… yes, that’s right.”

The man who stood up abruptly upon seeing my face smiled naturally.

“Yes. Nice to meet you. I’m Yujin.”

“Nice to meet you. Forest… no, Lim Surim.”

It was indeed a name I’d never heard before.

Even though this world has the settings of the novel world I knew, considering how it changes dynamically according to actions, it wasn’t strange for unfamiliar characters to appear.

However, he was a character I had never heard of or seen until Jeong Iyeon graduated from the Academy and fought with the special class.

I couldn’t just sit still in a situation where he could potentially be a variable.

“Please, sit down.”

He gestured to me to sit down willingly. I nodded and sat across from Lim Surim.

“…”

Silence passed between us.

He was calmly sipping his coffee, observing my reaction.

“I heard you had something to talk about…”

“Ah, yes.”

What should I ask? To learn about this suspicious person who suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

Should I start with light conversation to break the ice?

“Have you eaten?”

“Of course. The Korean beef around here is amazing, so I ate until I was full. This place is famous for it, you know.”

“…But Hoengseong is famous for Korean beef, not Hongseong.”

“…”

He paused at my words.

“Ah~ I was joking! Hahaha! Do you think I can’t tell the difference between Hongseong and Hoengseong?”

“Right? Hahaha.”

An awkward silence descended. I shouldn’t have pointed it out.

“Ahem. Anyway, feel free to ask whatever you want. For example, about my ‘existence’.”

“…Pardon?”

I reflexively asked back at his meaningful words.

I stared at Lim Surim sitting across from me.

He was smiling with his lips, but his eyes were watching me intently. As if observing my reaction.