Ch.85Episode 17. Home Visit (End)

“I see the instructor knows quite a bit about our family affairs. Did Muhee tell you?”

The elder spoke to me as I was sitting on the floor putting on my shoes. He still seemed puzzled by what I had said to Jin Subin.

“Yes.”

I smiled confidently and lied in response to the elder’s question.

Standing beside me, Yeon Muhee blinked several times, seemingly not fully grasping the situation, before finally speaking up a beat late.

“What? I—”

“Muhee wasn’t focusing on her training. When I asked what was wrong, she explained everything.”

I quickly cut her off before she could say anything unnecessary. The elder looked suspiciously between me and Yeon Muhee but nodded nonetheless.

“…I suppose it makes sense to confide in an instructor you trust. Muhee must really like you as her instructor.”

“N-no, that’s not it!”

She met my eyes and growled with a fierce scowl.

She’s quite expressive. Just a normal girl at home after all.

Seeing sides of her I hadn’t seen in the novel felt like discovering a hidden game route—refreshing and satisfying.

Come to think of it, I never knew Yu Ari had such possessive tendencies either.

Perhaps what I knew least about in this world was their actual “personalities.”

“Weren’t you excited before about getting stronger? Who was it that kept asking me to teach her more~?”

“…Just shut up.”

She can’t deny it.

“Muhee! Telling the instructor to shut up! How dare you be so disrespect—”

Just as the elder was about to scold Yeon Muhee, I hurriedly intervened.

“Haha. It’s fine. Honestly, I was teasing her too much. We joke around like this sometimes, so please don’t scold her.”

You realize I’m covering for you, right?

Time to catch on and let this little lie slide?

“…I-I told you not to say I was the one who told you…sir.”

That’s right. Good girl.

Want me to pat your head later when we’re alone?

I grinned as I watched her fist tremble in a way the elder couldn’t see. There’s a certain pleasure in teasing her.

After putting on my shoes, I bowed to the elder.

“I’ll be going now.”

“All right. Come visit again.”

“Yes.”

I opened the iron gate with a clank and went out. Yeon Muhee followed.

Is she planning to come with me?

I had to leave because I couldn’t ask to stay at their house, but this kid is following me without reading the room.

Yeon Muhee closed the iron gate.

“You’re leaving now, right? You’re done here, right?”

She looks like she’ll have a fit if I try to go back inside once more.

Her anxious face as she asks reminds me of a puppy that’s had its favorite toy taken away. Though her image is more cat-like than dog-like, I suppose.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“Why did you come out?”

“Huh?”

“I helped you break your habit of staying out overnight. Go back inside. I’m staying here tonight.”

“What? You’re staying at my grandmother’s house?”

“Why would I stay at your house? I’ll stay at a motel nearby. There are a few motels if you head toward Taean town center.”

She gapes at me as if hearing this for the first time.

“No, why would you stay here overnight? I have nothing more to do here.”

Nothing more to do here? Do you only visit your grandmother’s house when you have business? What a cold-hearted kid.

“Shut up. Didn’t you hear me talking with the driver earlier? I’m not leaving today. Deal with it.”

“Y-you think I can’t leave?”

“I won’t let you.”

“Eek! W-what are you doing?”

She knows that if I wanted to, restraining her would be nothing to me. That’s why she’s just squawking loudly.

“If you keep shouting like that, your grandmother will hear everything.”

“Seriously, this…”

“Go see your mother’s face once today. Whether you pass by her in the hallway or happen to see her during a meal, just see her.”

“Why should I do that?”

“Because it will put your mind at ease.”

“You mean it will put YOUR mind at ease?”

She keeps dragging this out. It’s so hot I could die.

“Anyway, go back inside. I’ll look around the area and then head to a motel.”

“We’re not done yet. Our conversation.”

“Is there more to talk about?”

I answered indifferently as I walked away. Yeon Muhee followed with quick steps.

“How did you know about my family affairs? Explain. I never told you about that.”

Her tone was serious.

I had gone along with it because the elder was present, but it seems she still had questions. If I answer incorrectly here, my trustworthiness would plummet.

“Good question.”

“Are you going to claim mind-reading again?”

“How did I know, you ask?”

She looks at me as if she can’t believe my nonchalant response.

“Seriously. Tell me. How did you know?”

As we talked and walked, I spotted a pavilion and sat down. Fortunately, there were no elders around, so we could speak comfortably.

“Are you not going to tell me?”

She stands in front of me with her arms crossed, looking down at me.

“Some things I saw on the news, and some things you talked about during our drinking session last time.”

“I didn’t say that much. Even if I did, it’s strange that you know things I don’t know.”

Right. It would be strange.

Logically, it’s impossible to read Jin Subin’s mind without ever having talked to her or met her. Even a psychotherapist couldn’t do that.

“Whatever the case, isn’t it good if you get a chance to improve your relationship with your mother?”

“…Don’t try to dodge the question.”

Should I tell her I read it in a novel?

“Anyway… you saw your mother’s reaction, right? Fighting Yeonhwaryong won’t get you a good response.”

“That’s…”

“Even if you defeat Yeonhwaryong, your mother will remain the same.”

“I… haven’t won yet. So you don’t know.”

I knew you’d say that.

“…Fine. This is my problem. I’ll handle it myself.”

What does she mean she’ll handle it…

If she could handle it herself, would I have come all this way?

“Alright. Let’s drop that for now, but go back to your grandmother’s house. Send me photo proof every hour.”

“I won’t.”

Yeon Muhee snorted and turned back toward her grandmother’s house. She deliberately walked with heavy, determined steps.

“Hey, Yeon Muhee.”

“What now?”

“Come here for a second.”

Though annoyed, she walks over at my gesture.

“I already said I won’t do it.”

I got up from the pavilion with a slight smile. Without a word, I gently patted her head.

“Thank you. For going along with my story.”

“What are you…”

Though she grumbles, she doesn’t avoid my touch, so I guess she doesn’t mind it.

Yes, be obedient and listen well. It’s all for your own good, isn’t it?

After sending her off, I rested a bit at the pavilion before beginning my countryside village exploration.

* @ *

“Mom, Muhee is—”

The moment Yeon Muhee opened the iron gate and entered her grandmother’s house, she came face to face with Jin Subin, who was sitting on the porch.

“Oh?”

“Mom…?”

When was the last time she saw her? Years ago?

Yeon Muhee couldn’t take her eyes off Jin Subin’s disheveled hair and emaciated appearance. She was shocked by the disparity between the mother she remembered and the woman before her now.

Stunned by the sight of someone who didn’t look capable of boldly crossing swords with Yeonhwaryong in the past, she was at a loss for words.

“Ah, um… you’re here?”

“Yes, Mom.”

That was the end of their conversation. Jin Subin trembled and couldn’t bear it, retreating inside.

The grandmother, who came out belatedly, clicked her tongue as she watched Jin Subin hurry into the room.

“Aish. She sees her daughter after so long and just coldly goes inside like that.”

“It’s okay.”

“Why did you come back?”

“…The instructor said he’s staying here tonight.”

She answered, finally coming to her senses.

The grandmother chuckled as she looked at Yeon Muhee, who was muttering while avoiding eye contact.

“…I see. Stay overnight for once. Did the instructor leave right away?”

“No. He said he’s staying at a nearby motel.”

“What motel?”

“He said he wants to return together tomorrow.”

“…So that instructor came all this way just for you?”

“Well… I guess so.”

Her heart raced unexpectedly at the thought that he had come just for her. Puzzled by the sudden palpitation, Yeon Muhee thumped her chest a few times.

“Instructor Yujin, was it? That man must really care for you. Does he treat you well at the academy too?”

“…Yes. He treats me well.”

Yeon Muhee had wanted to speak ill of him because she was annoyed by his recent behavior. However, when she recalled everything he had done for her, she couldn’t bring herself to say anything bad about Yujin.

“Is he someone you trust enough to talk about our family affairs?”

“Well…”

Yeon Muhee hesitated briefly but soon gave her answer. Her sincere truth.

“Yes. He’s someone I can trust.”

‘Though he seems to have a mischievous side…’

“That’s good then. Come on in.”

She climbed onto the porch, remembering him talking about demerits at the beginning of the semester.

After chatting with her grandmother while watching television, she sent Yujin a selfie when an hour had passed.

Yujin replied, [I didn’t say to send a selfie? lol]

Yeon Muhee responded, [You’re so mean. Really.]

[You look pretty. The ribbon hair tie suits you well.]

Yeon Muhee felt her heart flutter momentarily at Yujin’s message.

[I have good taste, don’t I?]

Of course, his subsequent self-praise made her smile wryly.

[Keep wearing it from now on. It changes your whole vibe.]

An emoticon of a cat with its paw under its chin followed.

‘Cute…’

[Instructor.]

[What?]

[Where are you now?]

[Don’t know. Walking down a country road. It’s quite refreshing?]

When Yujin sent a selfie in response, she stared at the photo intently.

Despite his sharp eyes giving him a somewhat fierce look, his high nose bridge and slightly upturned crimson lips created a harmonious and distinct appearance, making even a casually taken photo look handsome.

‘He really is good-looking.’

As she was quietly looking at the photo, her grandmother suddenly poked her head in.

“What are you looking at?”

“Eek!”

“…Why are you so startled?”

“N-nothing at all!”

Yeon Muhee unconsciously hit ‘save’ on the photo and turned off her phone, not even realizing she was now ignoring his incoming messages.