Ch.175Why Aren’t You Doing It for Me?

Clatter― Clatter―

“….”

“….”

Dinner with team members who had planned this gathering since before the Russian assignment.

Normally, it would have been quite enjoyable and lively, with conversation flowing while enjoying the food.

But the current situation was neither enjoyable nor lively.

“….”

The reason was Soohyun Kim, who was eating while emitting a dark aura.

Because of this, Hana Kang and Dasom Yoo were busy watching me and Soohyun.

They seemed to think there was some problem between us.

“Oh… this steak is really delicious. There’s always a reason why expensive things cost more!”

Meanwhile, Hyunwoo Lee remained completely carefree, but let’s ignore that.

If I paid attention to him, I’d either die from frustration or suffocation.

Hyunwoo, you bastard. May you live as a single person forever. I curse you!

Anyway, Soohyun wasn’t angry or irritated with the team members.

She was just quietly using her fork and knife as if nothing was wrong.

At a glance, one might think she wasn’t any different from usual.

But anyone perceptive would immediately understand.

Ah, this person must have experienced something extremely unpleasant.

I’d better be careful not to provoke her or I might become the target of her anger!

“Arbiter. Did something happen with Soohyun?”

Hana Kang, who had been pretending not to notice, casually asked.

She seems to think it’s a couple problem, but she’s barking up the wrong tree.

I’m not the problem; it’s something else that’s bothering her. That’s what made her angry.

If we’re assigning blame, I do own a certain share of responsibility.

“She had a fight with Rina before coming here.”

“Rina? Wait, do you mean that Rina Lee?”

“Yes. That Rina.”

Hearing my words, Hana Kang was alarmed and quickly examined Soohyun.

She seemed to be checking if Soohyun was injured anywhere.

“She looks fine to me? Oh, did you already get treatment?”

“I wasn’t badly hurt. Just….”

Just that she’s down because she ultimately lost to Rina.

“I lost.”

“Ah.”

She probably knew from the start that she couldn’t win.

It’s not like Soohyun to openly display her emotions anyway.

The reason she’s acting this way is because the one who handed her defeat was Rina.

“Try harder. How can you call yourself Seojin oppa’s woman like this? People will just gossip that you’re a woman trying to get involved with an S-rank because of your social position.”

Rina must have been quite angry at Soohyun’s provocation about being second.

She said those words right after winning the match.

Until now, even when she won, she would just smile without saying anything special.

The fact that Rina said such things means she’s also very conscious of Soohyun.

In any case, one thing has become clear.

‘It’s not possible yet. Soohyun has a long way to go before catching up to Rina.’

I now know what goal Soohyun has set for herself.

Nothing else matters. She wants to be better than Rina, or at least equal to her.

The problem is that the reason is none other than me, but regardless, that’s Soohyun’s goal.

If Minseong Kang heard this, he might be pleased and say, “That’s right! If you’re going to get stronger, that’s the kind of goal you should have!”

But from my perspective, I can’t help but worry if it’s too much.

Unnecessary competitiveness and impatience could backfire and diminish her skills.

“It’s okay, Soohyun. I heard everything. It’s amazing that you lasted that long in a match with Rina Lee!”

Meanwhile, Hana Kang smiled and started comforting Soohyun.

Additionally, Dasom Yoo, who had been observing the situation, joined in supporting Hana’s efforts.

They said things like how amazing it was that she, younger than Rina and having just reached A-rank, could perform at that level.

That if she honed her skills a bit more, even S-rank wouldn’t be difficult.

That someday she would be able to overcome even that high wall.

“Junior! Say something to encourage her too.”

Huh? Hana? Making such a suggestion to Hyunwoo is really not a good—

“What? Oh. Yes. Soohyun! Cheer up. You know what they say, victory and defeat are common in war? Even though you lost, you can use that defeat as fertilizer to grow stronger! And you fought fair and square. Even if you lost, you should accept it with a smile! Like me. Hahaha!”

This bastard. Asked to comfort her, he keeps mentioning defeat and losing.

Sharing my thoughts, both Hana Kang and Dasom Yoo put their hands to their foreheads.

As if wondering whether he was trying to comfort or provoke her.

“…Thank you.”

See? The black aura around Soohyun, which was starting to lighten a bit, is getting darker again.

“No….”

“Sigh.”

Hana and Dasom’s expressions clearly said they wanted to ask if that was supposed to be comfort.

Despite Hyunwoo’s trolling, Soohyun didn’t go berserk.

That was possible because I was there as a restraint. Hyunwoo, you should be grateful to me.

If I hadn’t been there, she might have strangled you in response to your provocation.

“Arbiter.”

After paying the bill first and stepping outside for some fresh air,

I turned around to find Soohyun already right beside me.

“I was going to pay.”

I waved my hand dismissively at Soohyun’s words.

Being an S-rank and the leader of this team, how could I postpone paying?

That would be too unseemly. Money should be spent when needed.

“…You did really well in your match with Rina today.”

To be honest, I debated a lot whether to say this or not.

I was worried that mentioning it might make her recall the defeat again.

But I needed to clearly acknowledge what deserved praise.

Although she lost, it’s certainly nothing to be ashamed of.

Rather, it’s impressive. She performed remarkably well against Rina.

‘Rina was even somewhat surprised, wasn’t she?’

According to Rina, the ability to use one’s own magical power as an ignition point to burn the opponent’s magical power is something she hasn’t seen even among S-rank magic users.

She said she couldn’t even imagine the idea of wrapping that around a sword for attacks.

“Is she really a witch? Every time I see her, I’m amazed. She’s barely an A-rank now, but she’s not intimidated fighting me, and she does these impossible things. Old man Kang must be thrilled.”

Judging by that reaction, Soohyun’s growth potential must be tremendous.

Though Soohyun herself seemed more focused on today’s defeat.

“But I still lost.”

“Just because you lost today doesn’t mean you’ll lose tomorrow. Just like failing a promotion evaluation today doesn’t mean you’ll fail forever. Right?”

In response to my question, Soohyun slowly shook her head.

Good. She seems to have relaxed a bit. I should continue a little more.

“Rina told me. That you’ve grown impossibly fast in just a few months. She was surprised. She told me not to tell anyone she said this, but I’m making a special exception to tell you.”

“…Really?”

Whether she was satisfied that Rina was surprised,

Or happy that I was telling only her,

Either way, a smile returned to Soohyun’s face.

…But what is this lingering anxiety in a corner of my mind?

“Arbiter. I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“Is what Rina Lee said earlier true? That you did it for her but not for me?”

“…Huh?”

“Is it because I’m really dirty that you wouldn’t do it for me?”

So that was it. That was the source of this inexplicable anxiety.

Rina! Why did you have to say unnecessary things and create this situation…!

“Of course not. Absolutely, absolutely not.”

“Then will you do it for me too? For me too….”

As she said this, she glanced down at her lower body.

If I let her continue, I might die of embarrassment.

“Oh! Yes! I’ll definitely do it for you later! I didn’t just do it for Rina! You looked so busy then! That’s why I couldn’t! Rina was floundering around, so there was an opportunity!”

“…Really?”

“Really! You’re not dirty! Why would you be dirty, Soohyun!”

Only after gesturing wildly did Soohyun finally smile brightly.

Then she snuggled into my arms and murmured in an excited voice.

“Okay. That’s a relief. I thought you didn’t do it for me because I was really dirty….”

Now I even have to be fair in matters like this.

I’m going crazy, I’m going crazy. What a fate.

‘…This is really driving me insane.’

After successfully finishing the promised dinner with team members,

And also successfully comforting Soohyun, I returned home.

When I arrived, I saw Rina standing right in front of my door.

“You’re back?”

“Why are you here…?”

“Good thing. I was going to come find you if you didn’t return before 10.”

Before 10? Why before 10?

“It’s obvious. Not coming back before then means you’re fooling around with that witch, Kim Soohyun.”

“What fooling around? With team members there, that’s not…”

“Ah. Not fooling around. That’s for general audiences. Should I call it a wild sex party?”

Is she really crazy? No, she actually is crazy.

“So that’s why you’ve been standing here? To see if I come home early or not?”

“That’s part of it. And I also have something I want to ask you.”

First Soohyun, and now Rina says she has something to ask.

…I can pretty much guess what she wants to ask.

“Why didn’t you do it all night with me? I heard you did with that Kim Soohyun.”

Right. I knew she’d ask that.

“You fell asleep first.”

Fortunately, I have a reason she can’t argue with.

Rina, who didn’t even get tired fighting multiple Elders and only got more excited,

Recently when she was with me, she cried and eventually collapsed into sleep.

Of course, it wasn’t an early hour. We went until dawn, so it was actually quite normal.

If anything, it was Soohyun who was unusual, riding on top of me all night long.

“T-That! I was too excited from catching The Mole!”

“Right. You might have been tired because of that.”

When I agreed appropriately, Rina’s momentum completely subsided.

Definitely, in these aspects, she’s actually easier to handle than Soohyun.

“Anyway! Next time, let me do it all night too. Got it?!”

“Okay. I got it. Now go back to your place.”

When I gently pushed her back, she pressed the elevator button, saying she’d go.

“Oppa.”

“Yeah?”

“Is it possible for that next time to be today?”

Not today. You fool. I have work tomorrow. Please.