episode_0080

080.

“….”

On a warm summer day with the gentle sunlight shining down, Lee Jinhyuk and Roksan strolled through the Union Academy campus for a while.

Following the pleasant breeze, they found themselves in a park filled with lush greenery and beautifully blooming flowers, tinted in shades of green.

The park was bustling with couples and students enjoying themselves.

Lee Jinhyuk and Roksan sat in silence on a park bench under the shade of the sun canopy.

A sense of quietness settled in.

“…It’s a bit awkward, isn’t it.”

Lee Jinhyuk glanced at Roksan beside him and thought to himself.

To be honest, they weren’t close enough to chat and laugh together, so sitting quietly like this made him feel a bit awkward.

But unlike Lee Jinhyuk, Roksan didn’t feel any awkwardness and simply watched the people around them enjoying themselves.

“Um.”

Suddenly, Roksan spoke up in a soft voice.

“Thank you.”

“Huh?”

Roksan shifted her gaze slightly.

Her eyes, reminiscent of the blue sea, were fixed on Lee Jinhyuk.

“Thanks to you, we were able to prevent Seong Yura’s misdeeds. I’m really grateful. If I were alone, it would have been impossible to arrest Seong Yura.”

Roksan bowed her head sincerely to express her gratitude.

Her light pink hair cascaded down, revealing her fair face. She was undeniably beautiful.

Lee Jinhyuk silently watched Roksan, scratching his chin.

“You don’t have to thank me. And I already thanked you last time, didn’t I?”

To be honest, from Lee Jinhyuk’s perspective, receiving thanks from Roksan felt a bit awkward, almost like a sense of guilt or conscience.

After all, Roksan didn’t care about Seong Yura’s harassment, whether it happened or not.

In fact, he was ready to abandon Roksan.

If Jin Soyeon hadn’t been kidnapped, he would have let Seong Yura do whatever she wanted, without arresting her.

Even though he knew that leaving Seong Yura alone would plunge Roksan into despair.

“I didn’t have the courage at that time, so I couldn’t do it properly.”

Roksan raised her head and looked into his eyes.

Her clear and pure eyes seemed to prick Lee Jinhyuk’s conscience.

“Don’t look at me with such pure eyes.”

“And I wanted to repay you.”

“Repay?”

“Yes. Anything I can do to repay you. Just tell me.”

“….”

Repay, repay…

Considering Roksan’s personality, it wasn’t an empty promise.

If it wasn’t a request that would harm others, she was likely to make an effort to fulfill Lee Jinhyuk’s request.

So, what should he ask for?

After thinking for a while, Lee Jinhyuk chuckled. Many things came to mind, but he shook his head in the end.

Let’s look further ahead, rather than immediate benefits.

“Well then.”

“Yes.”

“Treat me to a meal sometime.”

“Huh?”

Roksan widened her eyes in surprise.

She hadn’t expected him to ask for something as simple as a meal when he said he could ask for anything as repayment.

“A meal, you say?”

“Yeah. That’s enough, right?”

“Well, even so, just a meal seems a bit…”

At most, Roksan thought that asking for a meal was too trivial.

Ah, this is the reaction I expected from Roksan.

As expected.

“Then one more.”

“Oh, sure.”

“Shall we get along well? Oh, of course, as friends.”

Although Lee Jinhyuk spoke casually as if passing a farmland street, his desire to get along well with her was sincere.

Roksanu was going to be introduced as the main villain in the fallen saint episode.

This meant that she had the potential and ability to handle a major part of the later story.

Not only did Roksanu possess abilities, but her background was also remarkable.

Being in charge of the core of the church, where several superhumans roamed under the blessing of God.

It was obvious that Roksanu’s faction would regroup once Saint Yura was arrested.

Moreover, by securing various pieces of evidence stored in the safe, she had gained leverage over the corrupt priests who conspired with Saint Yura.

Given her nature to condemn corruption, those who would support Roksanu in order to eradicate it would continue to increase.

Roksanu possessed a strong charm that attracted people of all ages and genders.

If Roksanu became an ally, she would be of great help in the future.

Until now, they had ignored her due to Saint Yura, but now there was no need for that, right? It may have seemed a bit shameless, but oh well.

“Friend, friend…”

Roksanu murmured to herself, pondering over the word ‘friend’.

“Friend, you say…?”

With a cautious voice, Roksanu glanced at Lee Jinhyuk as if seeking his reaction, making him blink his eyes rapidly.

What’s with that reaction?

“Why, don’t you want to be friends with me?”

“Oh, no. It’s not that.”

Roksanu hesitated with a slightly embarrassed expression, then flashed a shy smile.

“…It’s almost my first time being called a friend.”

“Oh, really?”

Huh.

Was there a setting where Roksanu had no friends?

He was a bit unsure. He remembered most of the necessary settings, but couldn’t recall every detail. Roksanu wasn’t even a major character.

“But come to think of it… that could be possible.”

Being an orphan and having suffered from Saint Yura’s harassment since a young age, it would have been difficult for her to make friends.

Didn’t she also get ostracized at Union Academy because of Saint Yura?

Ah, this one too.

She must have had a hard time dealing with that psycho woman.

Since Saint Yura had a possessive nature, she probably didn’t like seeing Roksanu getting close to anyone.

Oh, but what happened to Saint Yura?

She seemed quite busy with the trial.

There’s no news about her, no news.

“By the way, how’s life at the academy these days?”

“It’s been good. …Everyone was just being harassed because of Saint Yura.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

It couldn’t be true, right?

Some girls were more jealous of your appearance and harassed you even more.

In fact, the boys didn’t bother Roksanu much, but it was the girls who made her life miserable.

They didn’t like how she attracted the attention of all the boys in the class.

“Well, as long as it’s resolved, it’s all good.”

“Yes… Thank you for worrying about me.”

Roksanu smiled softly.

Her innocent smile was reminiscent of a delicate flower.

Lee Jinhyuk imagined what would happen in the future. Oh, the boys in Class 3, the competition must be fierce, right? They must have all fallen for Roksanu’s smile.

“Oh, by the way, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“When you saved me at Yukseongsan last time, why were you there?”

“……”

Uh, um.

Jinhyuk, scratching his cheek awkwardly, seemed a bit flustered at Roksanne’s question.

It wouldn’t be believable to say that he coincidentally met her in the forest where monsters appeared. But he couldn’t say he went to find relics either.

“Just, well, I had some business to take care of.”

“Business…?”

“Sorry, it’s a personal matter, so it’s a bit awkward to talk about.”

“Oh, I see. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything weird.”

“No, it’s okay. You might have been concerned as well.”

Was she suspicious about encountering that situation?

Jinhyuk glanced at Roksanne’s expression, trying to guess her thoughts.

As Jinhyuk and Roksanne continued their conversation, someone was secretly eavesdropping on them from a distance. It was Jinsuyeon, Jinsuyeon.

Jinsuyeon, hiding her body slightly, peeked at the two of them.

She felt a bit self-conscious because others might mistake her for a stalker, but now was not the time to worry about such things.

Those two seemed to have a good atmosphere between them.

Of course, there was no hint of a romantic vibe between them, but Jinhyuk’s words and attitude bothered her.

‘Let’s grab a meal? Want to be friends?’

Jinsuyeon pondered Jinhyuk’s words carefully and reacted bluntly.

‘What are those words? Jinhyuk doesn’t seem like the type to say such things to a girl.’

Was he trying to flirt openly with such a pretty girl?

It might have been an overreaction, but seeing Jinhyuk show that much interest in another girl for the first time made her feel confused.

‘Could it be that Roksanne is the girl Jinhyuk likes?’

For a moment, Jinsuyeon couldn’t hide her anxious thoughts.

Jinsuyeon absentmindedly chewed on her index fingernail, trying to calm her uneasy mind.

She thought she had time to tempt Jinhyuk, but if he started pursuing the girl he liked in earnest, it could be dangerous.

Maybe time was more pressing than Jinsuyeon thought.

‘…But, there’s a way now.’

“Ah, there.”

“Ah!”

It seems like she’s been caught!

Suddenly, Roksanne and Jinhyuk’s gazes were on her.

Jinsuyeon looked at the two of them with an awkward expression, sweating nervously. What should she say?

She approached them with a fake cough.

“Suyeon?”

“Uh, yeah! Hi!”

“What brings you here?”

“I was just walking and happened to see you two, haha.”

Roksanne chuckled briefly at the somewhat lame excuse, but then seemed to understand and blinked.

She seemed a bit suspicious, but didn’t seem to want to pry.

“Suyeon, how are you feeling?”

“I’m feeling better now. I’m fine.”

“That’s a relief.”

Jinsuyeon also sat on the bench.

“But what were you two doing here? Is it a date? Did I interrupt?”

“It’s not a date or anything like that.”

Jinhyuk just gave her a look as if to say, ‘What nonsense are you talking about?’

“Oh, time has flown by so quickly.”

“Yeah, you go in first, Roksanne.”

“Yes. See you later, Jinhyuk. And Suyeon too. Goodbye then.”

Roksanne lightly bid farewell and took her steps far away.

Watching her walk away, Jinhyuk began to nervously bite his lip.

Resting his chin on one hand, he casually blurted out, “Were you following her?”

“Huh? Oh, no, not at all.”

Phew!

But unable to confess, Jinsuyeon busily tried to divert the conversation. If she admitted to following her, Jinhyuk might think it’s strange.

…But wait, following her is actually quite strange.

“She seemed to be hiding well. I didn’t sense her presence at all.”

“Well, maybe because two people were secretly having a rendezvous in the park, I got a little curious…”

“Rendezvous? You’re talking nonsense again.”

“Hey, there’s no need to be embarrassed. You mentioned a girl you liked before, maybe, just maybe, it’s Roksanne?”

She sneakily glanced at Jinhyuk.

What would Jinhyuk say in response?

He didn’t seem like he would easily confess, probably just brush it off? Normally, Jinhyuk is like that, even without looking, he’s like a video, a video.

“…Hmm. You got caught.”

“What?”

What did he just say?

“In fact, it’s Roksanne.”

“What, really?”

Jinsuyeon couldn’t hide her astonishment, her eyes wide open. She never imagined he would answer so directly, let alone that Jinhyuk’s crush was Roksanne.

“Why, why Roksanne?”

“Well, she’s pretty.”

“….”

I’m pretty too.

Not to mention Roksanne is even more.

“And she has a kind personality.”

“Is that so?”

I don’t think my personality is bad either.

Honestly, I’ve never heard anyone say I have a bad personality.

But compared to the virtuous priestess Roksanne, I might be lacking…

“…You liked Roksanne, that’s surprising.”

He knew Jinhyuk liked someone, but hearing it directly was a bit shocking.

No, honestly, it was more than a bit shocking.

The fact that he harbored feelings for Roksanne instead of Jinsuyeon made an unexpected surge of emotions well up in her.

I don’t want to see him smiling brightly at another woman.

For a moment, her eyes welled up.

She felt disappointed, bitter, and angry.

“Roksanne… she’s a good person… Yes, a good person.”

Talented, wealthy, and with a decent background.

Moreover, unlike Yuseolhyun, she has a very polite personality, which could make her a suitable girlfriend for Jinhyuk.

Of course, even if she passed as a suitable girlfriend, it didn’t mean she approved of Roksanne.

“Well, it’s a lie.”

“What?”

“It’s a lie that I like Roksanne.”

“Wait, what?”

“Did you really believe that? Haha, how long have I known Roksanne to like her?”

How annoying.

I really thought he liked me. Ah, really!

“So, who is the one you like?”

“Why are you so interested in other people’s love lives?”

“Just curious. Why are you hiding it so tightly?”

“It’s a secret. I’ll tell you when we start dating.”

“…Huh.”

Jinhyuk.

In reality, he does like Roksanne, but she wonders if he’s hiding it or not.

Did he change the subject so suddenly because he regretted saying it calmly? That’s very possible.

“…If we start dating, I’ll tell you? I can’t wait until then. No, I won’t wait.”

Jinhyuk’s popularity is rapidly rising.

His friendships with girls like Yuseolhyun, Roksanne, and Senari.

Jinhyuk’s efforts to hide the girl he likes as if she were someone he already knew.

Today, after seeing the conversation with Lee Jinhyuk and the sight of him with Roksanu, Jinsuyeon made up her mind.

“I can’t drag this out any longer.”

Whether it’s a success or a failure, I have to confront it once.

“Jinhyuk, can I come over to your house after a long time?”

“My house? Why all of a sudden?”

“Well, it feels like it’s been a while since I last visited. Is that okay?”

“Well… it’s not that it’s not okay.”

“You bragged about how the interior of your house changed a lot last time. I wanted to see it.”

“Well, okay, I don’t have anything urgent today. And there seems to be some time left until the ranking match.”

When Jinhyuk accepted the visit, Jinsuyeon clenched her fists tightly.

“In reality, I was going to tell Jinhyuk after he started to like me again, but now that the situation is like this, I have no choice.”

I have to confess first and make him care about me emotionally!

From Jinhyuk’s perspective, he would be surprised, but Jinsuyeon couldn’t afford to be foolishly relaxed at the moment. There are too many girls around Jinhyuk, and they are all pretty.

“Confession, yes, I’ll try confessing. There’s a high chance of rejection and it might get awkward for a while, but it’s okay… Just by confessing, Jinhyuk will pay more attention to me.”

So, let’s do it, confess!

It’s a bit shameless, but I’ll give it a try.

I can’t just stand by and watch Jinhyuk be taken away by a girl he doesn’t even know.

“And… there’s a slim chance that Jinhyuk might accept.”

Of course, the likelihood of that happening was very low, but you never know with people, right?