Ch.80Episode 16. Annual Event (End)

I left the cake at the store’s refrigerator and returned to my seat.

The table was already set. There were spoons and chopsticks at my place too. Yeon Muhui must have done it.

Despite her rude way of speaking and arrogant attitude, she knows how to do things like this. That’s somewhat admirable.

We had come to a restaurant specializing in chicken feet. Even though it was past ten o’clock, the place was bustling with students and instructors.

Even though we had taken a corner seat, a few people seemed to recognize me and Muhui, glancing our way occasionally.

Well, I’m currently rated as an ‘S-class’ instructor. It would be unreasonable to expect not to draw attention even in civilian clothes.

“Hey, look at that couple over there. Aren’t they good-looking?”

Damn it. So it wasn’t because I’m S-class, but because of my face.

“But doesn’t he look familiar somehow?”

“Hey, isn’t that person the one they say is an S-class instructor at the Academy?”

“What?”

It’s meaningless to say that now.

If you’ve finished drinking, just go home and sleep quietly.

“…Yeon Muhui?”

I called out to her as she fidgeted restlessly.

“Yes, yes?!”

“Yes?”

Since when does she use formal speech?

“No, nothing.”

“No, shouldn’t it be the opposite? You should use formal speech. What’s with saying ‘nothing’ to your instructor?”

Just when I thought she was finally correcting her speech, she went back to informal language. Damn it.

“Would you like to order?”

A server approached and asked.

By the way, the part-timer was an Academy student. When operating within the Academy, they couldn’t hire outsiders for part-time work.

“We’ll have mild chicken feet. What would you like to drink?”

“…Soju.”

“Two bottles of soju, please.”

“Yes.”

The student rushed to the kitchen to relay our order.

I looked at Yeon Muhui sitting across from me. She was staring blankly at the table.

“Muhui.”

“Yeah?”

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

“Just… various things…”

It’s understandable that her mind would be complicated after going to meet her mother but not being able to see her.

Since she’s not one to express herself normally, I should create an atmosphere where she can speak comfortably while drinking.

“…Where did you go today?”

Almost simultaneously with my question, the soju bottles landed on the table with a thud. Then the side dishes were set out.

I placed a shot glass in front of her and opened the soju. When I offered her the bottle, she received it with both hands.

Does she know drinking etiquette?

…Wait, why does she follow drinking etiquette but still speak informally?

At this point, it was a mystery.

“I’ll pour for you.”

“Sure.”

I handed her the bottle, and she filled my glass with a somewhat awkward posture.

I didn’t suggest a toast. Muhui wasn’t the energetic type like the other kids.

We looked into each other’s eyes while holding our glasses, then simultaneously extended them to clink together.

I downed the drink and took a bite of steamed egg to ease the bitterness. Muhui was using soy sauce tofu as her snack.

“Whew.”

Before long, Muhui refilled her soju glass.

“Drink slowly. You’ll get drunk.”

“…I want to get drunk. I don’t want to think about anything.”

That was problematic. I was planning to hear her honest feelings while drunk.

“At least let’s eat when the chicken feet arrive.”

“I guess…”

She looked at her glass, then stared at my empty soju glass and filled it to the brim. Can’t stand seeing an empty glass?

“Do you usually drink like this? You didn’t drink when we were grilling meat last time.”

“I was planning to train the next day then.”

“You’re not training tomorrow?”

“…No, I am.”

“What’s with that?”

“Just think of it as nonsense coming out because I’m tired.”

“Right. That’s too much nonsense.”

Muhui stared at me blankly before emptying her glass again. As if relieving stress.

“Hmph. Instructor… is arrogant.”

As the alcohol took effect, ripples began to appear in her previously rigid expression.

“You’re more arrogant.”

Do I really have to hear this from a student?

If this wasn’t a drinking setting, I would have given her a proper knock on the head.

“…When will I become stronger than that person?”

She refilled her glass with soju, seemingly intent on finishing a whole bottle before the appetizers arrived.

I took the soju bottle next to her and placed it near me. If I left it beside her, she’d probably drink without stopping.

“Are you impatient?”

I extended my glass toward her as she was about to take another drink. I couldn’t let her drink alone. She paused with the glass at her lips.

She moved the glass away from her lips and clinked it against mine. Despite the noisy restaurant, the clear sound rang out, and a few drops of soju fell onto the table.

Without hesitation, she poured the soju into her mouth and took a bite of steamed egg.

“…Impatient? I can’t help it. I… have to defeat that person somehow.”

“Why?”

I asked even though I already knew the answer.

I needed to hear this directly from her. That’s how justification would begin to form.

“…I can’t say. This is something… I have to do myself.”

“I see. But you won’t suddenly become stronger just because you’re impatient.”

“I know. Because I know… that’s why I feel so frustrated.”

She spoke somewhat irritably. This was probably self-criticism.

She probably wants to defeat Yeonhwaryong right now and tell her mother that no one can hurt her anymore, but she’s angry at herself because she can’t.

But she’s missing the point.

Even if Muhui defeats Yeonhwaryong dozens or hundreds of times, Jin Subin won’t escape her trauma. Removing the cause now won’t change the result.

Muhui is being cautious about approaching Jin Subin out of consideration, but that’s not the right approach.

The situation won’t improve until they properly face each other.

Even if it triggers episodes, even if seeing Muhui terrifies her, they need to increase the time they spend together. Even if she can’t overcome the trauma, she needs to “adapt” to it.

Jin Subin is simply afraid because she sees Yeonhwaryong’s image overlapping with Muhui.

She still loves Muhui.

In fact, in the original story, when Muhui became a villain, Jin Subin’s story was briefly mentioned. At that time, Jin Subin repeatedly blamed herself, saying Muhui became a villain because she couldn’t be there for her.

I should have faced her. I should have been brave.

I should have held her hand and told her mom was okay.

I should have told her I love her, wished her happy birthday.

After regretting like that many times, she grew weak and soon met her death. There were suicide implications, though it wasn’t explicitly described.

With Jin Subin’s death as the catalyst, Muhui destroyed the Yeon family and became a true villain.

That was the future of Muhui walking the path of a villain. It could truly be called an extreme tragedy.

“…Is it because of your mother?”

I asked quietly while drinking. At my words, she flinched violently, hitting her knee on the table.

“Ow. H-how did you know?”

“You mentioned it yourself. That she didn’t come for the parent visitation. Since Yeonhwaryong visited the Academy, by process of elimination, who else could it be but your mother?”

“It could have been my grandmother.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Just tell me already. I know everything anyway.

I’m circling around because I think it’s better for you to say it yourself rather than me telling you. You don’t even appreciate my consideration.

“…”

While Muhui maintained silence with a troubled expression, our ordered chicken feet arrived.

The distinctive smell of the seasoning that wedged between us momentarily drew our attention. Even in a serious situation, the appetizing food was irresistible.

“Enjoy your meal.”

After the part-timer left, I gently pushed the chicken feet dish toward Muhui.

“Eat a lot.”

I had no intention of forcing her to talk about something she didn’t want to discuss.

I’ve built up trust in various ways so far, so I decided to give her some time.

As we ate chicken feet and drank, we had already gone through more than four bottles.

Before reaching four bottles, we didn’t talk much.

Muhui wasn’t the talkative type like the other kids, and she seemed to handle alcohol well, as her expression didn’t reveal much emotion.

But now, after four bottles, Muhui was staggering. She roughly undid her tied hair. She roughly brushed back her hair and exhaled deeply.

“Hmmm…”

“Are you drunk?”

I wish I could get drunk too. Not being able to get drunk made continuously drinking the bitter soju quite a chore.

“Yujin…”

“Now you’re calling me by my first name?”

“Yujin. Yujin.”

“Why are you calling me?”

Now she’s gone beyond informal speech to using my first name.

I’ll understand it as drunk talk for now, but tomorrow morning, I’ll give her a flick on the forehead while handing her a hangover remedy.

“The alcohol’s gone.”

“…Alright.”

Do you think I’m here to serve you drinks?

I silently sighed and filled her glass. She stared at the filled glass for a moment before downing it.

“Whew! Yujin.”

“What is it, kid? Again?”

“…I don’t know.”

She looked at me with unfocused eyes. Seeing the usually rigid and flawless Muhui being loose from alcohol somehow seemed cute.

Is this what they call gap moe?

“What don’t you know?”

“Just everything… I don’t know anything.”

“If you don’t know, how would I know?”

I wish I could read your thoughts too.

In some fantasy novels, the protagonist can read others’ thoughts, making it really convenient to gain favor with heroines.

…Oh, was that a dating sim?

I chuckled at the random thought that had nothing to do with the atmosphere.

“I’ve been thinking while drinking… but I just don’t understand.”

“What?”

She stared at me intently. Even while drunk, she seemed to be considering whether it was okay to speak.

“…That person, my father.”

She began to speak haltingly, avoiding my gaze.

“If I defeat Yeonhwaryong… will I be happy?”

“I think you would be. After all, you’d have surpassed your goal.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“Then what do you mean?”

I asked, watching Muhui shake her head without restraint. She seemed reluctant to speak, pressing her lips together as she looked at the nearly empty chicken feet dish.

“…Will Mom be able to feel at ease?”

She quietly asked after hesitating for a long time.

“If I promise to protect her forever, will she be able to look at me now?”

My answer was obviously ‘NO.’

To Jin Subin, Yeonhwaryong was already a ‘stranger.’ Defeating him wouldn’t create the relationship she desired.

The mother-daughter relationship was maintained only because Muhui had been consistently caring for Jin Subin every year. Without even that, their relationship might have also been considered that of ‘strangers.’

“Well…”

“…That’s an ambiguous answer. Tell me clearly.”

“Everyone has a different personality. How can I give a definite answer?”

“Then if I tell you about her personality, can you answer?”

“…”

I know what she wants isn’t an answer.

Drunk confessions are about revealing hidden emotions, so she probably doesn’t want a rational judgment.

“Can you be honest with me?”

But I’m going to offer a solution, not empathy. To untangle this complicated relationship.

“Yes. Tell me.”

“I don’t think your relationship with your mother will improve just because you defeat Yeonhwaryong.”

At my words, her relaxed facial muscles returned to their original position. Eventually, she formed her usual rigid expressionless face.

No, it wasn’t expressionless.

This was a serious look.