Ch.170Episode 34. Christmas Eve (3)

As soon as Yeon Muhui arrived at the reserved pension, she met the owner and received the key. She used the key to open the door and enter.

We carried our luggage from the car one by one—bags containing toiletries and change of clothes, grocery bags with ingredients we bought at the supermarket.

Only after bringing everything in could we look around the pension.

“This place hasn’t changed at all.”

Yeon Muhui said as she looked around the wooden interior.

Being a modest countryside pension by the sea, it didn’t have luxurious interior or furniture, but it seemed nice enough for the two of us to spend a night.

“…What do you think?”

She glanced at me sideways and asked casually. She seemed worried that I might not like it.

“Hm? It’s nice. Good enough for us to spend the night together.”

She flinched at my thoughtlessly spoken words.

“Ah….”

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

“No. Nothing….”

Yeon Muhui turned her head away so I couldn’t see her face and headed to the kitchen. I stared at her blankly. Could she have had some adult thoughts when I mentioned spending the night together?

If so, that would be good.

Such imagination would help her mentally prepare for having a relationship with me.

If she didn’t want to take our relationship further, she would push me away. But I wasn’t going to be discouraged.

The main purpose of coming here was to give Muhui some space. Though I would be disappointed, of course.

While watching Muhui neatly arranging food in the refrigerator, I checked if the heater was working properly, then went to the bedroom to inspect the bed.

The mattress was soft enough for my hand to sink into it, and there seemed to be plenty of space for two people. It didn’t smell bad, and the pristine white bedding had no stains. The pension appeared to be well-maintained and clean.

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

I turned around at the sudden voice and saw Muhui standing there awkwardly. I hadn’t even noticed her presence.

“When did you come in?”

“Just now… I finished organizing everything.”

Muhui shook the empty plastic bag, making a rustling sound.

“I see. Good job.”

“…How is it?”

“The bed?”

She nodded slowly. I had a feeling that wasn’t what she really wanted to ask, but I decided to answer anyway.

“It’s good. The owner seems to take really good care of this place.”

There were no used condoms or trash in the corners. I was satisfied with how clean it was.

“Um. Well….”

It was refreshing to see Muhui hesitating with her words.

She, who always spoke her mind regardless of who she was talking to, was opening and closing her mouth repeatedly, hesitating.

Though I already anticipated what she was trying to say, I waited patiently.

“A-are we… g-going to sleep… together? I mean… s-sleeping together?”

“Yes.”

I answered decisively. I wasn’t going to say things like “If you don’t want to~” That kind of half-hearted statement would only leave room for uncertainty.

It would be better to hear a clear rejection before things got too far.

“Haah….”

An anxious sigh escaped her lips.

Her red eyes moved restlessly, matching her turbulent emotions. She must be confused at the thought of her first experience.

“Is… is that okay?”

“Why wouldn’t it be? We’re close.”

“W-well… that’s true, but… Mom and Grandmother don’t know about… this….”

The reason Jinsu-bin and the elder let us go on this trip openly was probably because they trusted us, but mostly because of our teacher-student relationship.

Though we’re a man and woman, they probably thought that as teacher and student, and being old enough to exercise self-control, it would be fine.

But they must have anticipated it anyway. That Muhui and I would form a relationship.

When a man and woman go on an overnight trip together, who wouldn’t think that way?

Absolutely no one.

I’m sorry to both of them, but unless Muhui genuinely pushes me away, I will embrace her tonight.

“Do you dislike it?”

“No… I-I don’t dislike it….”

“Then it’s fine. We still have time before dinner, so let’s walk around a bit. The sunset over the sea looks like it’ll be beautiful.”

“Yeah. I know, but….”

I quickly changed the subject. If I paid too much attention to her reaction, I might start hesitating. That would only increase the chances of missing my opportunity.

“Let’s go.”

I naturally grabbed her wrist instead of her hand and left the room. Before an awkward atmosphere could form.

* * *

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

The blue sky beyond the sea visible from near the pension was turning orange. Watching the setting sun without thinking about anything made me feel strangely emotional.

The desperate life I had lived since my possession, with the sole goal of making them heroes, flashed before my eyes like a panorama.

“Phew.”

The light breath I exhaled became visible in the air before dissipating into nothingness.

“What’s wrong?”

Noticing my subtle change, Muhui leaned in slightly and asked. She’s quite perceptive.

When we left the pension, I was holding her wrist, but somehow we were now holding hands with our fingers interlocked. Just like when we held hands at the beach, she didn’t avoid my touch. She was just a little shy.

“Just thinking… that I really lived this year to the fullest.”

“…That’s right. You really did.”

She quietly agreed with my words.

Come to think of it, what I’ve done might be nothing compared to Muhui. She’s the one who truly lived earnestly with a single goal in mind.

“Next year, I’ll have to work even harder.”

“If you work any harder than that, you’ll die.”

“People don’t die that easily.”

She’s so rigid.

After saying that, what will she live for after defeating Yeonhwaryong? Will she say she wants to defeat me next? Or become the number one ranked hero?

Either way, I just hoped she wouldn’t dwell on the past after defeating Yeonhwaryong.

“Isn’t that something you should say on New Year’s Eve?”

“What does it matter when I say it? It’s almost… the new year anyway.”

“That’s true.”

“When the new year comes… I really have to fight that person.”

Fight Yeonhwaryong.

She’s learned all the Yeonhwa-style techniques I could teach her. Now she needs to improve her proficiency and make the combinations flow smoothly.

But I’m not particularly worried about that part.

She’s been working for years to defeat her father, so even without my further help, Muhui will perfect the Yeonhwa style.

“To be honest, I’m still not confident. Whether I can really defeat that person.”

“That’s unusual, you showing weakness.”

She flinched at my words and fidgeted with our interlocked hands.

I realized how much her tone and voice had changed since the beginning of the first semester.

“That’s because…! As much as I hate to admit it, that man is the second… no, the third strongest person in Korea… He’s not someone I can defeat.”

While he is certainly a representative hero of Korea, Yeonhwaryong is not an absolute powerhouse. If he were truly invincible, he would never have been defeated by her.

“Is that so? I don’t think that’s the case.”

“Huh?”

If she masters the Yeonhwa style completely, Muhui will be able to defeat Yeonhwaryong as in the original story. Of course, it won’t be an overwhelming victory, but a desperate and fierce one.

“You will definitely win.”

“…Come to think of it, from the beginning to the end of training me, you always said I could win.”

“That’s right.”

“How could you be so sure?”

“Maybe because I know fragments of your past year and how you’ve lived…?”

I can’t exactly say “Because I saw it in the original story.”

Am I turning into Pinocchio here? My nose is getting so high I can’t bring it down.

“…Just from that?”

“What you call ‘just that’ is enough to judge a person.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

She tilted her head with a dubious expression.

In this world, where absolute differences exist based on abilities and ranks, it might be hard for her to accept. So then.

“Muhui.”

“Yes?”

She looked at me, having been deep in thought.

“If you’re really not confident in yourself, then believe in me.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll create that confidence for you.”

I said, pulling our joined hands into my coat.

Muhui, who couldn’t trust others, didn’t mock or reject my words. This was evidence that she trusted me enough.

“You will defeat Yeonhwaryong. You will definitely become a hero. How will that happen?”

I grinned at her.

“Because I’ll make it happen.”

Only then did her stiff expression soften. With her lips curling into a smile, she seemed free from any worries.

“…It’s warm.”

“My hands are pretty warm.”

“They’re sweaty. Are you nervous?”

“That’s your sweat, you know?”

But she giggled as if even the clamminess of our joined hands felt good, openly showing her emotions.

“Yujin.”

She moved closer to me and spoke again.

“Yes?”

“Thank you. For becoming my instructor.”

“…Sure.”

After that, we walked through the snow-covered area, exchanging meaningless jokes until the sun disappeared beyond the sea.

“The sunset is over.”

“Yeah. Let’s head back.”

I pointed toward the pension with my thumb.

“For some delicious barbecue.”

“…Yes!”