Festival (4)

Yeon Simun hated losing.

All humans probably do, but she was well aware that she was particularly so.

The reason she hated losing was simple and clear. She had already experienced too many defeats given by this world.

Her sworn brother was killed by a villain.

No matter how she thought about it, he died because she was weak.

So she constantly pushed herself.

That she had to become stronger.

Revenge is inevitable. However, she knew well that there’s not much at the end of that inevitable revenge.

She felt that clearly when she finished her revenge on the one who had beheaded her sworn brother last time.

So she didn’t want to just walk alone through that barren wasteland. Life had to be enjoyed in its own way too.

That’s why Yeon Simun was serious about eating.

Because eating delicious food made her feel good.

Crunch-

She chewed the pork cutlet. The crispy batter and meat blended together and swirled in her mouth.

Slurp-

Since she hadn’t eaten breakfast today, she even inhaled the ramen.

“Delicious, isn’t it?”

Lee Dojin ate his pork cutlet while looking at the grinning Yeon Simun.

“Yes, it’s delicious.”

Yeon Simun liked the existence called Lee Dojin. Unlike herself who had experienced a terrible defeat, the appearance of this man continuing his winning streak seemed noble, to borrow a word Rachel often used.

‘It doesn’t feel like he’s just used his fists once or twice. Nor does it feel like he’s been hit just once or twice.’

Considering just sword skill alone, he was enough to be called a genius. But from the shallow experience of sparring with him, his martial arts also had their own merits.

“Come visit often.”

Lee Dojin felt the spirit of a hunter who had spotted prey in Yeon Simun’s words and gaze.

“Next time, let’s both go all out. With our specialties. Using ki and everything.”

“…Sure.”

But Yeon Simun was one of the people he was grateful to, so he couldn’t coldly refuse.

---

The weekend passed and Tuesday came.

It was the first day of Iroaz Academy’s three-day festival.

Since it was still lunchtime, it was far from the time celebrities would arrive. The students were busy participating in events held by the clubs.

“Has anyone come to arm wrestle?”

What appeared before Lee Dojin, who had entered the Martial Arts Club, was the burly male senior he had seen on Saturday.

“Oh, your friends have come.”

Park Seonggu and Kang Changhyung were gripping each other’s right arms in an arm wrestling position.

Yeon Simun was supervising the women’s arm wrestling.

Lee Dojin approached Park Seonggu and Kang Changhyung.

“Yo, friend!”

Park Seonggu grinned as he stared at Lee Dojin.

“You came, Lee Dojin.”

Kang Changhyung also stared at Lee Dojin with fighting spirit in his eyes.

Park Seonggu and Kang Changhyung looked at each other again.

“Where does this bulky bastard think he’s going, huh?”

At Kang Changhyung’s provocation, Park Seonggu immediately opened his mouth.

“The anchovy always flaps its mouth.”

Both were far from being bulky or an anchovy. Their bodies were just shaped a bit differently, but they were muscle masses with almost no body fat. So they stopped their meaningless insults towards each other and entered into a proper arm wrestling match.

Kwak!

The arm wrestling match started evenly.

The two exerted their strength without giving an inch to each other.

The even balance that hadn’t wavered for a minute gradually tilted. Park Seonggu took the upper hand.

Bang!

Eventually, Kang Changhyung’s hand touched the table.

The defeated Kang Changhyung grabbed his blonde hair.

“Aah! You muscle-head bastard!”

Park Seonggu burst into hearty laughter.

“You can’t even accept defeat! Half-man!”

Park Seonggu’s gaze turned towards Lee Dojin again.

“You’re next! Friend! Surely the freshman representative won’t avoid a challenge!”

Lee Dojin grinned at Park Seonggu’s obvious provocation.

“Today is just for playing around. The 500,000 won competition is tomorrow. Stop wasting your strength today and do it tomorrow.”

500,000 won.

Among the academy students, those who craved 500,000 won were quite rare. Because money was needed to awaken talent and nurture that talent. Even students born into unfortunate families eventually ended up in livable environments by catching the eye of sponsors in this world.

Those who had talent but couldn’t get a decent background, or those influenced by the underworld, tended to become villains.

Even with the same talent, results were divided by luck in this world’s reality.

Usually, they would place more meaning on the honor of being first place itself rather than the 500,000 won prize money.

“Stop hesitating and come in, friend. Are you afraid you might lose?”

Park Seonggu laughed widely, showing off his neat teeth.

Lee Dojin wasn’t the type to fall for such provocations, so he was about to ignore it, but suddenly the surroundings became noisy.

“Looks like the freshman representative and that big guy are going to arm wrestle.”

“Can he beat that big guy with pure physical strength without using ki?”

About a dozen male and female students had gathered. Most were first-years who had started enjoying the festival period with excited faces.

Lee Dojin clicked his tongue inwardly.

He didn’t expect so many people to gather. And Lee Dojin’s competitive spirit wasn’t low enough to avoid a fight that had been brought to him in front of so many people.

After all, it was the desire to prove himself that had allowed Lee Dojin, who had the disease of mana inability, to reach the level of the Transcendent Realm.

“Alright.”

Finally seated, Lee Dojin grasped Park Seonggu’s right hand.

Only one thought was in Lee Dojin’s mind.

‘Quick resolution.’

There was no reason to drag it out against Park Seonggu, who had already exerted strength against Kang Changhyung.

Kang Changhyung, who was beside them, brought their right hands to the center of the table.

“Ready.”

Tuk!

Park Seonggu felt ominous from the moment his hand was wrapped by Lee Dojin’s hand. Because the sensation of being wrapped so perfectly flashed through his mind.

“Start.”

As soon as Kang Changhyung’s words ended, Park Seonggu’s right arm tilted sharply. By Lee Dojin’s right hand.

Bang!

And soon Park Seonggu’s huge hand touched the table.

The match ended too instantly.

Ooooooh!!

Cheers from the students resounded in front of the Martial Arts Club.

Lee Dojin patted Kang Changhyung’s shoulder as he stood up.

“I won because you drained his strength.”

And ignoring the gazes of his peers staring intently at him, he left the place for now. After all, the day he had agreed to properly help was tomorrow when they would hold the competition with 500,000 won at stake.

Lee Dojin sat on a bench. True to the name of a festival, male and female students were sticking together and walking around. Of course, nearly half were pairs of same-sex friends, male-male or female-female students.

For Lee Dojin, who had become half-accustomed to clashing with villains, he felt his mind settling at this truly college-like festival scene.

“Lee Dojin!”

Lee Dojin faced something running towards him as he sat on the wooden bench.

It was Choi Bit-na wearing an apron.

Choi Bit-na, who came running with her short hair fluttering, suddenly grabbed Lee Dojin’s right hand and pulled him up.

“Come with me!”

“Where are we going?”

“Never mind that!”

Choi Bit-na just ignored Lee Dojin’s question and pulled him through the crowd. Her fluttering short hair and the diamond earrings swaying on her earlobes were visible.

‘Fortunately, she’s using the gift well. I thought she might not wear it out of spite.’

Words formed in Lee Dojin’s mind that would make Choi Bit-na furious to the tips of her hair if she heard them directly.

Where Choi Bit-na’s footsteps stopped was a food stall with a bright red color that caught the eye.

“Cooking Club! It’s a snack bar!”

Choi Bit-na shouted with her fists on her hips. It was a confident pose that felt like the epitome of triumphant.

Choi Bit-na’s bright eyes stared straight at Lee Dojin.

“But it’s not selling!”

…Was this meaning to ask me to spend money?

Lee Dojin smoothly took out his wallet.

A bear-like man stirring tteokbokki on the grill shook his head with a tired face.

“…Bit-na, no forced sales. Do you want to be reported to the student council? Right. I’ve heard a lot. Nice to meet you, freshman representative junior. I’ll just give you one cup for free, so taste it. I can’t make an objective judgment because I’ve eaten too much while adjusting the seasoning.”

Choi Bit-na quickly explained the man’s identity.

“Ah, this is the club president! Senior Kim Taek-sung.”

Lee Dojin felt sincerity in the man’s words.

“I understand, senior.”

He looked at the cup of tteokbokki the man had scooped out.

For this moment, he decided to channel his best gourmet contact, Yeon Simun.

With that thought, he ate a piece of tteokbokki.

“Hmm.”

It doesn’t taste good.

Lee Dojin barely suppressed the honest impression that had risen to his throat.

“It’s a bit too sweet.”

The man ruffled his shaggy hair at Lee Dojin’s words.

“Sweet? I’ll have to add more sauce and make it again from scratch. Sigh… it’ll take a few more hours. Well, I guess it’s better to sell something proper even for the remaining two days. Thank you, Junior Lee Dojin.”

The man disappeared towards the kitchen.

Lee Dojin looked at Choi Bit-na again.

“Didn’t you make anything?”

Choi Bit-na answered firmly.

“I don’t know how to cook.”

Lee Dojin burst into laughter at her very confident answer.

“Then why did you join the cooking club?”

“I wanted to try being a domestic woman. But shortly after joining the club, there was the mock dungeon exam! Then I met you. Thanks to that, I became quite busy becoming the Spear King’s disciple.”

You’re really beating around the bush about not having done anything in the club.

A domestic woman, huh.

Lee Dojin couldn’t even jokingly tell her that she could become such a woman. Choi Bit-na’s nature was quite far from being domestic.

“Are there no other menu items?”

“Well, chicken skewers. And makgeolli.”

“Makgeolli?”

“Yeah, no one’s tried it yet. The club vice president brought a lot of it. Want to try some?”