episode_0032

I, Eunhye, and Go Jooyoung gathered in front of the ruined shopping center.

It was a three-person party formed to investigate a ghost story.

“It feels strange seeing you outside the company like this.”

I was still a little awkward with Go Jooyoung.

It was natural, as we had just met and talked.

In particular, Yoo Eunhye looked at Go Jooyoung with surprise.

I had told her beforehand, but it seemed different seeing her in person.

“Go, Go Jooyoung-ssi is from a prestigious family! How did you manage to recruit her?”

“We’re all colleagues at Cheonjihae, so what.”

“Even so…!”

I understood Eunhye’s words.

The power of families still remains in this world.

The scions of prestigious families are truly modern-day nobles.

Even Jiyeon, who is close to us, is technically a fallen noble.

‘Commoners like me and Eunhye would never have even seen them if we hadn’t joined Cheonjihae.’

Sensing the atmosphere, Go Jooyoung greeted us first.

“I’m Go Jooyoung. Please take care of me.”

“Ah, y-yes! Please take care of me too! Ah, I’m Yoo Yoo Yoo Eunhye!”

“Yoo Yoo Yoo Eunhye? That’s an unusual name.”

“N-no, that’s not…!”

“Hehe! I’m just kidding, Yoo Eunhye-ssi. We’re colleagues, so let’s get along.”

“Y-yes…”

Is this the social power of a noble lady!

It’s like watching Bocchi-chan and Kita-chan.

Eunhye is melting from her social beam…!

“Anyway, how are we going to investigate?”

“We’ll just go in together and see what’s there.”

“Isn’t that a bit primitive?”

“It’s not a place where there have been any casualties. Maybe there’s no ghost story at all.”

If they were sure there was a ghost story, they wouldn’t have asked us to do it.

Of course, judging from the atmosphere, it seems likely that something will come out.

‘In a world where Red Masks ride buses, anything is possible.’

We have to assume that at least a minor ghost will appear.

I have to stick close to Go Jooyoung no matter what.

“Our purpose isn’t to defeat the ghost story. If we see anything dangerous, we’ll get out immediately.”

“Hmph~ that’s a bit disappointing.”

“It’s better than being in danger. Ah, of course, we can fight minor ghosts.”

Go Jooyoung must be confident no matter what happens.

But we, no, I, am not interested in ghost stories.

“Then let’s go in. By the way, the core of our party is Go Jooyoung-ssi. Be careful not to get hurt.”

“Oh my. Are you worried about me?”

“If you get hurt, we’ll be in danger too.”

“What. I was about to be moved.”

I’m sorry, but I can’t help it.

I’m not in a position to protect anyone!

“Then let’s go in. Ah, should we do a chant before we go?”

“Wow. You even prepared something like that? What is it?”

I cleared my throat for a moment and said.

“Safety! Safety! Safety!”

“……”

“……”

Safety is the top priority, no matter what.

I don’t want to die pathetically in a place like this.

****

“Waaaaah! Minor ghosts, minor ghosts!”

“……”

Seeing the approaching minor ghosts, Nam Dohyung quickly hid behind Go Jooyoung.

Go Jooyoung looked at him with an absurd expression.

“Excuse me. Can you stop pulling from behind? I’m not a shield.”

“The ghosts are coming.”

“Seriously…”

What greeted the three who entered the underground shopping center were minor ghosts.

They were ghosts that weren’t even at the level of a ghost story.

But they had the power to attack people.

They popped out from everywhere.

Every time, Nam Dohyung was startled and hid behind Go Jooyoung.

“They’re just minor ghosts. They shouldn’t be a threat to you.”

“I don’t know how to fight.”

“Don’t lie! There’s no way the top student of Cheonjihae wouldn’t know how!”

Go Jooyoung, who shouted without realizing it, sighed deeply.

‘What the heck is this guy? He doesn’t live up to his looks. Or is he living up to them in reverse?’

When he said he would entrust the fighting to her, she thought that was fine.

But she never expected him to hide behind her the whole time.

‘…Somehow, this kind of reaction feels fresh.’

He’s the first man to act like this in front of her.

Go Jooyoung is beautiful and the heir to a prestigious family.

The men who approached her were full of ulterior motives.

Of course, they were busy showing off in any way they could.

But this man—

“Shoot quickly. You have to engrave the Go family’s proud bow into the readers’ minds from your first appearance!”

“Haa, who’s even reading this…”

How can the top student of Cheonjihae be so afraid?

But this honest reaction isn’t so bad either.

‘Somehow, it feels rewarding to protect him?’

Feeling a strange sense of protection and maternal love.

Go Jooyoung shot arrows in quick succession to get rid of the minor ghosts.

The rapidly flying arrows accurately pierced the ghosts’ heads.

“Whew! That’s a relief.”

“…Why are you sweating when I’m the one who fought?”

“Go Jooyoung-ssi wouldn’t sweat fighting those minor ghosts.”

“That’s true, but why does this guy’s words make me so angry?”

How many people would treat Go like this, being from the Go family?

He’s either very scared or very brave. It’s impossible to tell.

“I…I’m sorry. It’s one thing for Dohyung, but I’m just a burden.”

“Ah, don’t worry about it. This is nothing, really.”

Unlike Nam Dohyung, Yoo Eunhye tried to gather her spirit energy to defeat the ghosts.

It’s just that Go Jooyoung’s arrows were so fast that she didn’t have a chance.

“By the way, there’s really nothing here? Why did they tell us to investigate a place like this?”

“They told us to investigate because they don’t know if there’s anything here. You’re a bit short-sighted.”

“I want to shoot this guy more than the ghosts!”

“C-calm down!”

Anyway, the three of them safely investigated the underground shopping center.

It only had an eerie atmosphere due to the ruined stores.

There were no major problems to be seen.

The only things that came out were minor ghosts.

If that’s all there is, then Cheonjihae wouldn’t have to intervene.

“Ah, this is a restroom.”

After investigating for a while, they found a restroom.

Being a place with a lot of water, it was famous as a place where ghosts appeared from ancient times.

“Since we happen to be a team made up of men and women, let’s each go in and take a look.”

“Yes, Eunhye. Let’s go together.”

“You men go over there!”

At Go Jooyoung’s words, Nam Dohyung looked like his favorite 4.7 million-subscriber VTuber had just graduated. [Virtual YouTuber; online entertainer using a digital avatar]

“You want me to go in alone? To a place so dark and scary?”

“It’s a ruined place, but it’s not appropriate for a woman to go into the men’s restroom.”

“…Just because she’s a noble lady, she’s picky about strange things.”

“Hehe! Hey~ I can hear you~”

In the end, Nam Dohyung decided to check the men’s restroom.

Go Jooyoung went into the women’s restroom with Yoo Eunhye.

‘He’s really a strange man.’

What’s up with that reaction from earlier?

It’s annoying, but I don’t hate it.

Rather, it feels comfortable because he’s so honest and human.

‘…How many years has it been since I became close to someone so quickly?’

He was someone I only heard rumors about in Cheonjihae.

I guess you can’t trust rumors after all.

“There’s nothing here.”

“Nothing here either. I guess this place is normal too.”

Go Jooyoung’s gaze flickered towards Yoo Eunhye.

Come to think of it, I think that man and Yoo Eunhye were close from the start.

“Are you two… involved?”

“Yes? We’re just colleagues who joined the company at the same time. We’re also friends.”

“Hmph~”

It was a similar answer to what Nam Dohyung had said last time.

But something was different from just being simple friends.

Even just Eunhye’s gaze.

The way she looked at Nam Dohyung was clearly like a girl in love.

“It’s like I’m talking about him when he’s not here, but that man seems to have feelings for you.”

“Yes?”

Yoo Eunhye blinked and looked at Go Jooyoung.

It was like she had won the lottery in a dream.

“Ehh… that can’t be.”

But she shook her head with a bitter smile.

“There’s no way Dohyung would like someone like me. There are so many other women around him.”

“…I don’t think you have to think that way. Eunhye-ssi is cute too, and men are weak against that type.”

“R-really?”

Go Jooyoung had met many men who liked her.

But most of them would run away when they saw her shooting ghosts.

Unlike her, Yoo Eunhye had a cute charm like a small animal.

“That man might like someone like Eunhye-ssi more than a strong woman.”

“I-if that’s the case… I think I’d be happy.”

Yoo Eunhye blushed and lowered her head.

Go Jooyoung’s lips curled up at her fresh and honest reaction.

‘Oh-ho.’

A reaction that’s too cute to ignore!

It seems like I’ve found something quite interesting in my boring company life.

“It’s strange in the first place. He brought you all the way here because he wants to give you points. Why would a man bother taking care of a woman he doesn’t even like?”

“That’s because Dohyung is so kind…”

“Even so, it doesn’t make sense that that’s all there is to it.”

In the first place, that man doesn’t seem particularly kind.

Yoo Eunhye might see it that way because she’s blinded by love.

“Maybe he wants to continue working at the company with you? That’s why he’s taking care of you on purpose.”

“……!”

Yoo Eunhye’s face flushed even redder.

“In my opinion, that person is definitely interested in you.”

“D-Dohyung is interested in me…”

If that were the case, there would be nothing happier than that.

Yoo Eunhye’s heart was pounding with excitement.

“So, be brave and go for it! I’ll support you too!”

“Yes? Why would Jooyoung-ssi…”

“Hmm~ Maybe because I want to help a fresh couple?”

If Nam Dohyung were single, she might have targeted him herself.

But she has no intention of interfering with the budding romance between the two of them.

Yoo Eunhye is also a kind and likeable person, which is rare in this day and age.

“Ah, that’s right! Let’s exchange numbers. Let’s contact each other regularly even after this is over.”

“S-should we?”

And so, the two exchanged numbers.

“Hehe! I’ll take the lead in dealing with this ghost story. In the meantime, Eunhye-ssi, try to capture that man.”

Go Jooyoung suggested to Yoo Eunhye in a subtle voice.

“They say that men and women can easily become close in the darkness and fear.”

“I-is that so!”

“Men are weak to skinship, so stick close to him! Men are just creatures that become idiots when they touch a woman’s skin.”

“O-okay…”

Despite being a virgin herself, Go Jooyoung was enthusiastically advising on someone else’s love life.

“But then I’d feel too sorry for Go Jooyoung-ssi…”

“Ehei! Don’t be like that between friends. If you feel sorry, just tell me good news. Got it?”

“Yes, yes! Thank you so much!”

And so, a new friendship blossomed between the Cheonjihae women.

With one man in between.