Ch.75Their Fight – 1

“Or, how about we do this?”

Whether she knew about Soohyun Kim’s efforts to act nonchalant or not.

Rina Lee continued with a smile and a subtle tone.

“Let’s have a match between you and me, on the condition that I’ll never cling to Seojin oppa again.”

“…What?”

Soohyun Kim’s expression turned incredulous at those words.

No matter how much she had distanced herself from mingling with the world.

She still knew enough about how things worked.

Who was Rina Lee? She was called the strongest ability user in South Korea.

While opinions about her were divided, she was a figure with overwhelming support.

Rumors said that even villains, no, even The Elder found her troublesome.

Have a match with such a person? And win?

It would be completely justified to snap back at such a ridiculous suggestion.

“Hmm. Just from your expression, I can clearly feel the ‘stop talking nonsense’ vibe.”

To make such an absurd proposal while knowing this.

Soohyun Kim’s eyes clearly revealed her thoughts.

Scratching her head, Rina added with an “Alright then!”

“Let’s do this. No time limit. You can have the match whenever you want.”

“Look, even so…”

“And if you can inflict even a single wound on my body, I’ll coolly give up on Seojin oppa. I won’t bother him again. Come on. This is what you want, isn’t it?”

A sudden proposal, and absurdly ridiculous content.

To a third party, there couldn’t be a more preposterous proposal.

The most important person, Seojin Baek, had his opinion completely omitted.

Besides, what part of Rina could be trusted to accept such a proposal?

That woman always acted according to her own whims, closer to a villain.

What if later she says, “Huh? I never said that. I don’t remember”?

But Soohyun Kim didn’t have time to think that far.

Setting everything else aside, the fact that this strange woman would no longer be by Seojin Baek’s side.

That was the only thing that registered in her ears and circled in her mind.

“You won’t be by the Arbiter’s side anymore?”

“Yes. I should at least set that condition.”

“…”

“But in return.”

Rina continued with a strange smile on her lips.

“Until you win, I’ll do as I please.”

Soohyun Kim’s face contorted once again.

To summarize Rina’s proposal, it could be put this way:

She had to accomplish something with less than a 0.1 percent chance of success.

And until she succeeded, she had to endure continuous harm.

It might be a slightly inaccurate comparison, but that was exactly how it felt.

From Soohyun Kim’s perspective, what kind of proposal was this?

She could rightfully refuse, saying the conditions were impossible.

However, Rina seemed to have anticipated even that.

“Don’t say it’s too unfavorable. If you don’t accept, I’ll continue to stay by Seojin oppa’s side, you know?”

“Ah…”

“Of course, the possibility is extremely low. Yes, it will be. Because I’m so exceptional. But I told you, right? Even the tiniest scratch on me would be enough. Did I say you had to defeat me? I didn’t, did I?”

Coming from Rina, who was called a madwoman, her persuasion was strangely convincing.

It also helped that she precisely targeted the fact that Soohyun was the one in a hurry.

“You’d at least have a justification to get rid of me.”

“…”

“If you can’t trust my word, I’ll swear on my mother. This is a big deal, okay? I’m swearing on my mother in South Korea, the land of courtesy and propriety. I’m not evil enough to sell out my mother. So, does this build some trust?”

Soohyun Kim quietly looked at Rina.

What ulterior motive did this woman have for doing this to her?

She had no way of knowing what she was aiming for with such a proposal.

It was almost as if, rather than a scheme to stay comfortably by Seojin Baek’s side.

She seemed more interested in having a match with her.

‘I should refuse. Yes, I should refuse…’

Contrary to the reason whispering inside her.

“Alright.”

Soohyun Kim’s instinct took the bait of Rina’s proposal.

“Great. Oh, our Soohyun. So cool, huh?”

“…Don’t address me so casually.”

“Why? It’s nice to get closer this way.”

“I still don’t like it.”

Geez, making a fuss over something strange again. Sigh.

Inwardly grumbling like that, Rina shrugged her shoulders with satisfaction.

“Fine. Then I’ll contact you later when you have time…”

“Where are you going?”

“Huh? Me? I need to go home. If my mom catches me, I’ll really be in trouble…”

“We need to have our match. Where do you think you’re going?”

“…What?”

What is she saying now? Rina thought she had misheard.

Have a match? Now? Right away?

“Um, did I just mishear? I thought I heard you say we should have a match.”

“You heard correctly.”

“…”

After hearing Soohyun Kim’s words, Rina stared blankly at her.

And unconsciously blurted out this one line.

“…Are you crazy?”

She had enough pride in being called “The Yellow Madwoman.”

She believed there was no one crazier than herself in the world.

But this woman, Soohyun Kim, made even Rina marvel.

“Right now? Are you confident? Perhaps you think that even if you can’t defeat me, you can at least inflict a scratch? Is that it?”

To Rina’s question, Soohyun Kim slowly shook her head.

And then gave an answer that left Rina even more speechless.

“I’ll lose. I won’t even be able to touch the hem of your clothes, let alone wound you. But I still want to do it.”

She’s truly insane. How can someone be so fiercely crazy?

“You said you’d have a match with me whenever I wanted. Are you forfeiting?”

And she’s even subtly provoking me.

It was a reminder that she was indeed the granddaughter of Minseong Kang.

Rina looked at Soohyun Kim with disbelief.

Then, shrugging her shoulders once, she spoke.

“Fine. Let’s do it right now. Where?”

“It wouldn’t be good for the general public to see.”

“Right. Especially for me, there would be articles about how I bullied an innocent schoolgirl.”

“That doesn’t sound bad.”

“…You’re really going to die.”

Despite Rina’s fierce voice, Soohyun Kim showed little change.

She guided Rina to get into the car she had arrived in.

“You can come with me. There’s a training ground allocated to me there, we can do it there.”

“Wait. Don’t tell me it’s your house?”

“It is.”

“That’s where Minseong Kang, that old man lives, right? Ah… I really don’t feel comfortable there. Both with the old man and all.”

“If you don’t like it, forget it. But then it counts as a forfeit…”

“I’m not forfeiting, you fool. Are you trying to make me forfeit somehow?”

“Not at all.”

Srrr—

As the two women bickered lightly, the car began to move.

Leaning against the window and looking beyond, Rina sighed.

‘I’m screwed.’

By now, my mom must know I’ve gone somewhere else.

I wonder how long this will last. When I get back, my back won’t be spared.

“…Can I ask you one thing?”

As she sighed again, wondering how to apologize for her mistake.

Soohyun Kim, who had been sitting quietly, cautiously opened her mouth.

“What is it?”

“…You.”

“Rina. I have a name too, you know.”

“…Rina-ssi. Why do you like the Arbiter?”

What’s this? I thought she was just a strange person exuding bloodlust.

But she also has a girlish sensitivity? Haha. How cute.

In reality, there was hardly any age difference between Rina and Soohyun Kim.

But she answered as if she were a senior in life.

“Do you need a reason for such things?”

“Yes. I do.”

Wow. Look at how sharply she cuts me off. I really don’t like her.

Inwardly grumbling, Rina fiddled with the window.

“It’s nothing special. Just, I find him fascinating.”

“Is that all?”

“What more do you need? He’s fascinating, so I want to know more. Wanting to know more makes me want to be closer. And for that, being in a romantic relationship is best, right? You’re not suggesting I become a stalker, are you? I’m very different from that water ghost bastard, Hyuk Kwak.”

Zzzzt—!

The moment she uttered the name Hyuk Kwak, Rina’s eyes slightly contorted.

Clear killing intent. It felt like a thick, sticky scent of blood.

Turning her head to check, she found the source was none other than Soohyun Kim.

‘…She really is as crazy as I am.’

She suddenly became curious. Were there no normal people around Seojin Baek?

Starting with herself, then Soohyun Kim who surprised even her.

And then the stalker water ghost Hyuk Kwak and the vengeful ghost Sujin Hyun.

Everyone who had some connection with him was in this state.

“First, you need to learn to contain your energy.”

“I’ll handle it myself.”

“Handle it yourself? Leaking it all like that only advertises your low level. Seojin oppa might think you’re sloppy, you know?”

Soohyun Kim didn’t react to being called low level.

But she immediately responded to the mention of Seojin Baek.

Her calm eyes were now wavering back and forth.

Looking at that, Rina just laughed with a “Really now.”

“…What about you?”

“Pardon?”

“Why are you so clingy with Seojin oppa?”

I answered, so now it’s your turn to answer.

Understanding Rina’s intention, Soohyun Kim answered in a small voice.

“…He saved my life. Multiple times at that.”

“So you like him because of that?”

Nod, nod—

“You know, that might not be love.”

“What do you mean?”

“No, I mean, you might just want to repay the favor. And you have a good impression of him because he saved you. I wonder if you’re mistaking that for romantic feelings.”

“Absolutely not.”

Her voice was cold, almost chilling.

Seeing that, Rina didn’t say anything more and just smiled.

By now, the car carrying the two women had passed through the main gate and entered.

“…Ah.”

Through the window, multiple servants and an old man standing in front of them.

Seeing that, Rina couldn’t help but sigh.

The old man, who always made her uncomfortable, was waiting for her.