Ch.194End, Beginning Again – 4

“Senior. If you could wait just a little longer, I’ll finish this quickly….”

It wasn’t worth listening to anymore. Is he crazy? Expecting me to wait for that.

“Shut up and follow me. Junior.”

Dasom Yoo grabbed Hyunwoo Lee by the scruff of his neck and dragged him somewhere.

No matter how battle-hardened she was, she couldn’t do much if Hyunwoo resisted.

But Hyunwoo wasn’t completely oblivious, so he allowed himself to be dragged along relatively quietly.

Finally, when they reached a quiet place where no one could interfere—

Thud!—

“Ugh.”

Hyunwoo Lee, freed from Dasom Yoo’s grip, slumped down in his spot.

He wanted to ask what was going on, but she looked quite different from her usual self.

So he couldn’t bring himself to speak freely and just fidgeted nervously, watching her carefully.

“Junior.”

Having made up her mind, Dasom chose a direct approach rather than beating around the bush.

“Do you have a girlfriend?”

“…Pardon?”

“I asked if you have a girlfriend.”

She already knew he didn’t. Would she be doing this without checking that first?

The reason Dasom Yoo was asking such a question was simple.

She wanted Hyunwoo to realize why she was acting this way as quickly as possible.

She had mustered up the courage, but it would be embarrassing if she was the only one being urgent from start to finish.

That’s why she was trying to nudge Hyunwoo a little.

“Hahaha. Come on, Senior. How could someone like me have a girlfriend?”

“Huh?”

Of course, Hyunwoo was even stranger than Dasom had imagined.

“Think about it. All I do every day is swing a sword, and it’s not like I come from an impressive family. I’m certainly not a stunning handsome man like the Sole Arbiter. Someone like me having a girlfriend? That’s absurd. What part of me would anyone find appealing?”

What’s with this guy? He’s even harsher on himself than I thought.

No, this isn’t just harsh—it’s downright cruel.

“And well, I’ve never really thought about having a girlfriend. Hmm. Or maybe that’s not right? Perhaps I couldn’t even think about it since there were never any women around me to begin with. Anyway.”

“…”

My goodness. How can he say such things so casually?

It’s heartbreaking. I just want to hug and comfort him.

“Um, but Senior. Why are you suddenly asking about this?”

“You really are clueless. Look, Junior. Why else would I suddenly ask about girlfriends?”

At Dasom Yoo’s retort, Hyunwoo Lee fell into brief contemplation.

Rubbing his chin, he suddenly seemed to realize something and let out an “Ah?”

“Don’t tell me, Senior?”

That’s a relief. I was worried he might say something ridiculous, but that shouldn’t…

“Do you perhaps have a woman you want to introduce to me?”

“…?”

Actually, that is happening. What am I going to do with this guy?

Dasom Yoo barely managed to swallow the sigh that was about to escape.

Calm down. Stay calm. Getting angry won’t change anything.

I expected this. I’m the one who fell for this incredibly dense junior first.

So I have to deal with it. If I want to make a decent human out of him, I need to do at least this much.

“An introduction. I suppose you could see it that way.”

“Oh. Thank you. Then who is it…?”

“Here.”

She said, pointing to herself.

Hyunwoo let out another “Huh?” as if trying to confirm whether he was seeing and hearing correctly.

In response, Dasom pointed at herself again, as if delivering a coup de grâce.

“Right here. Here.”

“Um, Senior. Did you perhaps point at the wrong—”

“How could that be possible, Junior? Do you really want to get in trouble?”

“…”

Faced with a completely unexpected situation, Hyunwoo was at a loss for words.

‘Her? Senior Dasom Yoo? Me? Why me?’

The first thought that came to mind was, naturally, the question “why.”

From what he’d heard, Dasom was the granddaughter of the CEO of “Mirae,” one of Korea’s largest corporations.

In other words, her future was set. Few economic figures outranked her.

On top of that, she was also an exceptional Superpower user. Hadn’t she received an A-grade in the Support Class?

She was a woman with a bright future. Of course, Hyunwoo himself had similar prospects, but it felt different.

Compared to himself, who was nothing without his superpowers.

Dasom was at the absolute top in every other aspect!

“From your expression, you seem to be wondering ‘why?’ Am I right?”

“Y-yes. To be honest, that’s correct.”

“It’s nothing special. I just think you’re really cool. I felt attracted to you as a man.”

“To me? What have I done to…”

“What you’ve done isn’t important. What matters now is that I’m drawn to you.”

With her arms crossed, Dasom Yoo took another step forward.

Because of this, Hyunwoo, who was already sweating profusely, nervously looked around.

“So I’m asking, how do you feel? And if you say something like ‘you’re a good senior’ or ‘you’re an amazing Superpower user,’ I’ll really get mad. You know what I’m asking by now, right?”

Nod, nod—

“That’s good. So, what’s your answer?”

“Well, about that… Could I perhaps have some time to think—”

“Junior. Will you go out with me?”

Dasom Yoo went straight for it again.

As a result, Hyunwoo’s eyes darted around even faster.

‘This is ridiculous. He charges ahead without looking back when fighting monsters.’

Dasom thought this and let out an incredulous laugh.

If he just showed weakness around women, she could understand.

But from what she’d seen as his teammate, he was quite comfortable around her, Hana Kang, and Soohyun Kim.

He treated them all very casually.

‘Maybe he doesn’t see us as women, just as teammates?’

She wanted to pressure him more right now. Make him give an answer.

But looking at it from another perspective, this must be very sudden and awkward for Hyunwoo too.

Until just recently, they were senior and junior, teammates.

It would be confusing for anyone when such a comfortable relationship suddenly shifts to a romantic proposal.

“Junior.”

“Yes, yes!”

“I’m sorry. Was I too sudden?”

“Huh? Ah, a little… No. It’s fine.”

His face says it’s not fine at all, how is it fine?

With a small smile, Dasom Yoo uncrossed her arms and stepped back.

“Anyway, that’s how I feel. I’d like to hear your answer. Whether it’s rejection or acceptance. Whatever it is, I hope you’ll give me an answer as soon as possible. Waiting is harder than you might think.”

After finishing her words, Dasom Yoo gave him one more smile, then turned around.

As she turned and waved goodbye, Hyunwoo instinctively waved back.

“…”

What just happened? This feels like the most difficult moment of my life.

Not when I suddenly awakened my superpower, not when I barely got into the Academy.

Not even when I faced The Elder or when I was beaten up by Seojin Baek.

‘A girlfriend? And Senior Dasom Yoo at that.’

Someone who was subtly intimidating and strict, but also subtly caring.

He had only thought of her as a good senior, but it turned out she liked him?

The first thought that came to mind was, ‘Why? Why me?’

‘I need to give an answer, and quickly.’

He was human too, a man. So naturally, it felt good to receive a confession.

Especially from someone he considered even more impressive than himself.

Even more so from someone as pretty and kind-hearted as the woman who stood before him earlier!

First, let’s try to calm down. Yes, let me swing my sword a bit.

Thinking this, Hyunwoo hurriedly turned around and returned to the training ground.

But with his mind in such turmoil, there was no way he could properly grip his sword.

‘Wow, damn. This is driving me crazy.’

This had never happened before. No matter what, once he held his sword, his mind would become calm.

But at this moment, even his beloved training was difficult to perform properly.

Is this what it means to discipline someone with a confession? It’s really effective.

As Hyunwoo was struggling with these thoughts—

“Student Hyunwoo Lee.”

Seojin Baek was approaching with quick steps from the front.

“Sole Arbiter?”

“Oh, um. You’re alone. Were you training?”

Seojin Baek had come to check on the situation after hearing the news.

But contrary to his expectations, Dasom Yoo wasn’t there, only Hyunwoo.

‘Surely this guy didn’t immediately reject her?’

If he’s that clueless, he’ll be single until he dies.

So he hoped Hyunwoo hadn’t done something so foolish.

“Um, Sole Arbiter.”

Hyunwoo, who had been watching nervously, quietly approached Seojin Baek.

“Could I… perhaps get some advice?”

“Advice? Not a sparring match, but advice?”

“Yes.”

This is truly unusual. The Hyunwoo Lee asking for advice instead of a sparring match?

Though taken aback, Seojin Baek nodded, gesturing for him to continue.

“Well, actually.”

Hyunwoo explained in detail what had just happened to Seojin Baek.

About receiving the confession, about her waiting for an answer, and finally about his own confusion.

“It’s difficult for me. I’ve never had a girlfriend before.”

“Oh my.”

“So I wanted to ask for your advice. You have two girlfriends, don’t you?”

“…?”

What’s with this guy? Is he trying to provoke me?

Seojin Baek seriously considered whether to hit him or not.

*

Really, it’s still unbelievable when I think about it.

Who would have thought Dasom Yoo would fall for Hyunwoo Lee? After all those scoldings.

…Wait. Or was it because she liked him that she paid so much attention to him?

Is that why she nagged him so much? Yes, that seems more likely.

Thinking about it, this actually makes sense.

Even without me, Hyunwoo Lee, Hana Kang, and Dasom Yoo were destined to be on the same team.

When men and women spend that much time together, developing feelings is only natural.

And crucially, Hyunwoo isn’t just a supporting character but the protagonist…

“…”

…This is a bit unexpected.

After glancing around, I turned my steps toward a less populated area.

It was after work hours so it was dark, and going between buildings would take me away from people.

“I think no one’s around now, so come out. Don’t keep hiding when you’re so obviously leaking your energy.”

Suddenly, my shadow in front of me began to writhe.

Ugh. That scene, no matter how many times I see it, I can’t get used to it. It’s so creepy.

“Hello. It’s been a while.”

The shadow, finally taking form, casually waves at me.

“Yes, it has been a while. Ms. Sujin Hyun.”

The identity was none other than the former S-grade Superpower user and former Elder.

And now, neither of those things—a kind of civilian. Sujin Hyun.