episode_0030

The promised week passed by quicker than expected.

Both Yujin and Kim Taejin faced each other with a sense of regret.

Unlike the first day, Kim Taejin had come out to greet her at the front gate.

“Good work.”

Kim Taejin said with a wistful smile.

“I’ve only been thinking about driving you away from the start until now. How did you endure a week?”

“I enjoyed being with you, senior.”

Yujin was sincere.

The surroundings were peaceful, with no complicated human relationships.

All that existed was a somewhat mature girl.

It was a space where even the awkward Yujin could comfortably exist.

Of course, it would be difficult if she were asked to stay here for life.

“Can I come again next time?”

“…Well, we’ll see.”

Despite wavering, Kim Taejin was still at odds with Heukcheon.

Meeting the successor of that place regularly was not ideal.

There was a possibility of negative rumors spreading in the industry.

Not only would it be detrimental to himself, but it wouldn’t have a positive impact on Yujin either.

He might even be doubted by Heukcheon’s senior members.

“Well, if you want to come, you can.”

But that’s how Kim Taejin responded.

She appealed to Yujin.

Even though it had only been a week, she genuinely considered her as a disciple.

Above all, she was somewhat hopeful.

The thought crossed her mind that this guy might change Heukcheon.

“He may be inexperienced, but he’s trained well enough not to be easily defeated.”

Even if she had to risk her life in a fight, there would be no problem.

With the current Yujin, she could handle it somehow.

Receiving Kim Taejin’s teachings meant just that.

“Here comes the escort.”

From afar, Park Secretary drove a black Benz towards them.

The Benz smoothly stopped a little distance away from them.

Park Secretary, still wearing black sunglasses, nodded politely towards them.

“Thank you both for your hard work.”

“What are you?”

“Oh, I’m Park Secretary, who serves as my secretary.”

Kim Taejin looked at Park Secretary, who bent his waist 90 degrees, with a curious gaze.

At least from A-grade top to S-grade bottom?

Even if he was the successor of Heukcheon, using a man of this caliber as a secretary was surprising.

It was difficult to judge whether it was due to Heukcheon’s distribution or Yujin’s excellence.

“Hey, are you Heukcheon’s lackey?”

“No, I am the honorable first aide of Master.”

Kim Taejin chuckled at Park Secretary’s unexpected reply.

She thought he was just a rookie.

But it seemed he had laid a solid foundation for himself.

“Interesting. Well, that guy isn’t normal from the start.”

Park Secretary remained silent.

But inwardly, he was slightly surprised.

Just from his tone and expression, he could tell it was praise.

‘Kim Taejin is famous for harsh evaluations even among heroes.’

Let alone facing the successor of Heukcheon.

Unless Yujin really impressed her, it was impossible.

“If you’re the successor’s secretary, you can talk to the higher-ups, right?”

“I worked as the personal secretary to the former chairman.”

“Then pass it on to your boss. Kim Taejin will soon visit Heukcheon regarding Kim Yujin.”

“What…!”

“That’s all for the conversation with Heukcheon.”

Kim Taejin turned away without saying more and faced Yujin.

“Hey, kid.”

“Oh, Senior. At least call me by my name for the last bit.”

“Annoying. Still a rookie.”

“Well, at least I’m not an egg. I did it.”

Kim Taejin gazed silently at Yujin.

Though it was a short time, she felt affection for her disciple in those eyes.

“I saw potential in you. Don’t lose that spirit and keep growing.”

“…I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you mean!”

“Sigh, forget it. You’ll need it over there soon. Until then, take care and don’t rely on anyone.”

“I’m confident I can handle that!”

Defeat doesn’t happen just because you fight.

So, if you don’t fight, you won’t win either.

Therefore, the Asa was invincible.

“If you can’t say anything. Then this is a farewell gift.”

Kim Tae-jin pulled out a pouch.

Inside were blue, round sweets.

“What’s this? Rice cake?”

“It’s Yeongdan.”

Yeongdan.

A solid form of medicine that enhances one’s strength and abilities when consumed.

If it’s this color, it belonged to the highest grade.

It was a rare item that even an average S-rank hero would covet upon seeing.

“It doesn’t look tasty. I prefer sweet flavors.”

Of course, Yujin didn’t know its value.

Kim Tae-jin, who took a deep breath, said, “Use it when you encounter a tense situation where you need to be on edge.”

“For example?”

“During a fight with someone else.”

In reality, Yeongdan posed many dangers.

It temporarily boosts the user’s power significantly.

However, it also causes them to lose rationality and become aggressive monsters temporarily.

Using it in battle comes with risks.

It’s akin to a last-resort technique.

“Well, as the successor of Hukcheon, you should already know about this.”

That’s why he handed it over.

Of course, it would be best not to use it.

Considering the environment of Hukcheon, you never know what dangers might arise.

It’s to protect one’s life in the worst-case scenario.

“Anyway, it means ‘take care until we meet again.’”

“Yes! You must take care too, senior! Don’t eat too frugally thinking about your age.”

“Who’s worrying about whom here.”

Kim Tae-jin waved his hand lightly as he turned around.

Watching him, Park Secretary felt a shiver down her spine.

“Could he have targeted me?”

As mentioned, Kim Yujin’s status in Hukcheon was low.

Without achievements, no matter how strong, without the approval of the officials, one couldn’t become a true successor.

Failing to win over all the officials meant potential attacks aiming for the successor position.

In other words, the current officials were potential enemies of Yujin.

But what if S-rank hero Kim Tae-jin intervened?

“Not only can he restrain the officials, but he will also gain tremendous power by recruiting Kim Tae-jin.”

Of course, it’s not an easy task.

The opponent is an S-rank hero and an absolute powerhouse who dislikes Hukcheon.

Making her join his side is nearly impossible.

Yet Yujin managed to do it in just a week.

“I wonder what strategy he used.”

To become so close in such a short time that she could call him senior.

Yujin knew he was skilled in both strength and tactics.

But to excel in social skills as well?

“If I don’t work harder, I might end up being a hindrance to Master.”

Park Secretary made that resolution, looking at Yujin with eyes filled with respect.

“Hehehe! Looks like the so-called hero Kim Tae-jin won’t be showing up after all! Nice!”

Ironically, Kim Yujin didn’t even know that the girl she had spent time with so far was Kim Tae-jin.

****

The next day.

After a week, Yujin returned to the academy.

Normally, meeting friends again would be exciting, but for the eccentric Yujin, it was different.

Or rather, as she got closer to school, her condition worsened.

“Oh, my stomach hurts…”

-Why all of a sudden?

Yujin’s behavior wasn’t something that happened overnight.

While the slime beside her thought it was starting again, it asked out of courtesy.

“I’m nervous about going back to school after a long time.”

-Now? Hasn’t it been a while since you attended school?

“My mental toughness, which was trained daily at school, has weakened over the past week.”

“You’re crazy.”

To others, it might sound like a ridiculous reason, but for Yujin, it was serious.

She had returned after almost a whole week.

As usual, I went to school every day without feeling much, but suddenly, anxiety overwhelmed me.

It felt quite awkward, to say the least.

“Will they think it’s weird?”

“They were probably happy because you weren’t there.”

A chilling fact bomb was dropped on me.

No, isn’t that too much?

I wish they understood that I’m a delicate being.

“You’re a really bad person.”

“Do you get it now? Shut up and just walk. You’re already in front of the school anyway.”

True to those words, Eugene had already arrived in front of the school.

He was just lingering outside the school gate.

If anyone saw him, they would have thought a barrier was being set up around the school.

“To an asocial person, a psychological barrier is no different from a magical one.”

Muttering such words for a while,

from the perspective of the watching slime, it was infuriating.

“Just go in. It’s something you have to do anyway.”

“But today, I promised to spar with Cheolsoo from this morning! What if I make a mistake again and end up being resented like last time?”

“…What worse thing could you do to be more resented? Kill his parents or something?”

“Cheolsoo doesn’t have parents to kill.”

“Insane. Were you planning to kill them if he did?”

Of course, Eugene never had such thoughts.

He actually wanted to get along well with him.

He wanted to be friends, have lunch together, study together, and enjoy youth together.

“But based on my experience, it feels like I might fail again.”

“Only now you realize that. It’s truly tearfully fortunate.”

Eugene was an asocial person who knew how to grow.

Usually, when you worry about such things, they tend to turn out even worse than expected.

Perhaps this time will be different.

If that happens, becoming friends with Cheolsoo again would be nearly impossible.

That’s something he wanted to avoid at all costs.

“Ugh! Worried and now my stomach…”

“Always making a fuss.”

Entering means meeting a friend after a week, not just entering.

Moreover, the future of their relationship as classmates was at stake.

It was strange for Eugene, as an asocial person, not to feel nervous.

“Oh, right! That talisman!”

Suddenly, a thought crossed Eugene’s mind.

He took out the talisman he received as if realizing something.

In it was the talisman given by Kim Taejin.

“Surely he said to eat it before getting tense or before fighting someone.”

Now is the time to get tense, let alone before sparring.

When else would he eat it!

“But eating it when tense. Is it like a placebo?”

Anyway, it’s better than not eating it.

Eugene swallowed the talisman in one gulp.

“Hey, you idiot!! Why did you eat it now, damn it!”

“Ugh!”

The slime hurriedly shouted, but it was already too late.

Simultaneously with swallowing, the energy of the talisman spread throughout Eugene’s body.

As the empowering force spread, his eyes began to lose their usual innocence, replaced by coldness and madness.

How much time had passed like that?

When Eugene raised his head, something about him had changed.

“…Are you okay?”

“…Feeling like shit.”

“Damn it.”

Eugene’s eyes were full of life.

The slime silently mourned the fact that soon Eugene would fight with that lunatic, Cheolsoo.