episode_0148

148.

At the absurd remark from Yoo Seolhyun, Jin Soyeon unconsciously bit her lower lip lightly.

“Can I have him?”

What nonsense is she spouting?

Jinhyuk is not someone you can have just because you want him. But what’s with that arrogant attitude?

Jin Soyeon raised her eyebrows slightly, showing a displeased expression.

However, Yoo Seolhyun, seemingly unfazed, continued with a provocative smile on her lips.

“I’ve thought about it carefully, and I think I… ”

Yoo Seolhyun licked her lips seductively.

“…have to have what I want to satisfy my temperament.”

Whether it’s an object or a person.

Since she was young, she had to have what she set her mind on.

Although she didn’t show it outwardly, Yoo Seolhyun was quite possessive.

“Heh. Seeing this, I wonder if you might fit the role of a villainess better than Yeonae, following Jiinhyuk’s words?”

A rich girl, very beautiful, possessive, with a bad relationship with the female lead… She’s a perfect fit for the role of a villainess, isn’t she?

“Oh, and Soyeon. I’m not asking for your permission right now.”

Yoo Seolhyun brushed her hair back.

“Well, we’re kind of bad friends, right? So I thought I should say it out of courtesy.”

She smiled slyly.

“What I’m thinking and what I’m going to do.”

“…”

“You might feel hurt later, so I’m giving you time to prepare in advance.”

“…”

Provocation.

Yoo Seolhyun is provoking right now.

Her arrogant attitude and laughter, claiming she can have him anytime, are quite irritating. It’s like someone drinking cold medicine without even thinking about giving rice cakes.

But Jin Soyeon couldn’t easily suppress the rising discomfort and inexplicable anxiety in her heart.

Because Jin Soyeon had once been rejected by Jiinhyuk.

She couldn’t actively pursue him because she already had memories of being rejected, unlike Yoo Seolhyun.

If Jiinhyuk actually had feelings for Yoo Seolhyun?

And if he had been hiding that fact all this time?

…It’s unsettling.

Thinking like that makes me so anxious.

Looking back, Yoo Seolhyun was the closest female friend to Jiinhyuk, excluding Jin Soyeon.

Of course, she was quite close to Roksanne and Senari as well, but Yoo Seolhyun was the first girl to express her liking so openly.

Other ordinary girls might not be so anxious.

But Yoo Seolhyun is different.

You have to be careful with Yoo Seolhyun.

“Yoo Seolhyun.”

Suddenly, Jin Soyeon’s voice lowered even more.

As the cold voice reminiscent of the winter chill reached her ears, Yoo Seolhyun, who felt a slight shiver, raised her head and met eyes with Jin Soyeon.

Jin Soyeon’s eyes were now flashing.

In a flickering, broken light bulb-like manner, Yoo Seolhyun couldn’t help but be amazed.

“Huh? Impressive talent? How do you make your eyes disappear?”

“Jinhyuk is off-limits.”

In fear that she might lose Jiinhyuk, Jin Soyeon unconsciously gripped the table with force.

As a result, the edge of the table cracked and split.

“Oh my, you’re strong. This is quite expensive.”

Despite the rather threatening appearance of Jin Soyeon, Yoo Seolhyun remained unfazed, showing a relaxed demeanor.

“Scary, isn’t it? Scary.”

Yoo Seolhyun, on the other hand, shivered slightly.

“But Soyeon.”

“….”

“Even though Lee Jinhyuk isn’t yours, where does it say you have a say in what he does or doesn’t do?”

“…You.”

“Ah, of course, I understand that you are quite important to Lee Jinhyuk, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a romantic relationship, right? Especially since you’ve already broken up once.”

“…Yoo Seolhyun.”

As Yoo Seolhyun’s brazen whisper continued, Jin Soyeon found it increasingly difficult to remain patient.

She wanted nothing more than to shut that loud mouth up.

For Jin Soyeon, it was a simple matter.

If she just reached out her hand, she could easily…

“Soyeon? Your gaze seems a bit unsettling.”

In that moment, Jin Soyeon flinched.

What am I thinking?

Dealing with villains had seemingly dulled her resistance to such things. Why am I having these thoughts?

“You’re staring at me so menacingly, as if you’re about to do something to me.”

“Yoo Seolhyun, it would be best if you didn’t provoke me too much.”

In response to Jin Soyeon’s warning, Yoo Seolhyun casually replied.

“Haha. Well, if you have ill intentions, I might be quite scary, right?”

If Jin Soyeon decided to attack now, there was nothing Yoo Seolhyun could do.

Even if all the security teams in this mansion were alerted, they wouldn’t be able to handle Jin Soyeon, who was stronger than a high ranker.

Furthermore, there were only Yoo Seolhyun and Jin Soyeon here.

With just a reach of her hand, she could reach Yoo Seolhyun without any interference.

But it was fine.

Lee Jinhyuk was also staying in this mansion.

“However, if you make too much noise, the sleeping Lee Jinhyuk might wake up, so it’s best to be quiet, don’t you think?”

“I really don’t like you.”

Jin Soyeon responded curtly to Yoo Seolhyun’s nonchalant words.

This guy isn’t scared at all.

Although there was no intention to threaten, his overly casual response was slightly irritating.

“Oh, really? I don’t particularly like you either. Should I just say I don’t like you?”

A relationship where they disliked each other.

Perhaps the two would never become friends.

Their personalities, tendencies, hobbies, and preferences were so incompatible that they would probably never get along.

“Well, there’s no need to worry, Soyeon. I don’t have any immediate plans. I’m currently busy trying to catch Yu Dahee, who is practically an enemy. Lee Jinhyuk is involved as well.”

“Uh-huh.”

“He even asked for my help. Oh, of course, I plan to help. If we manage to catch Yu Dahee, who is known as the worst villain in present-day South Korea, it will benefit me as well.”

Yu Dahee, who was considered the top villain in present-day South Korea.

It wasn’t logical to think that they could easily catch someone who had even defeated single rankers, but Yoo Seolhyun believed they could do it.

Lee Jinhyuk would surely succeed.

He had achieved countless things so far.

“We plan to settle things on Heroes’ Day, February 29th, right?”

Heroes’ Day.

It was the day when the official heroes were inaugurated in South Korea and also a commemorative day when people were saved from monsters.

Every year, a large event was held at Gwanghwamun Square to celebrate Heroes’ Day. Many heroes greeted the citizens.

As it was a symbolic day, Gwanghwamun would be bustling with heroes and people alike.

And Lee Jinhyuk was almost certain.

That on that day, Yu Dahee and her group would carry out a major terrorist act.

“So we’re postponing things until that day.”

Yoo Seolhyun nodded alone.

“If we just catch Yu Dahee, things will return to normal.”

Everyday life.

Yes, I can regain my everyday life.

When I think about it, there have been many incidents involving Yoo Dahee and his group, such as the Union monster appearance, the midterm exam villain attack, the kidnapping of Jin Soyeon and the Seong Yura incident, the theft of Busan auction items, the Uroboros raid, and so on.

However, the time has finally come to untangle the complicated knots.

It’s almost the end of February, approaching soon.

Just before the start of the new semester, Lee Jinhyuk was planning to bond with Yoo Dahee and his group.

Before Yoo Dahee grows any further, and before the information about the future completely changes.

Originally, on February 29th, the day Lee Jinhyuk was supposed to be killed, he would do his best to bring down Yoo Dahee and his group.

“….”

Suddenly, Jin Soyeon fell silent.

She already knew that the future had changed a lot, but since it was originally the day he was supposed to die, she couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling.

If she had won in Daeryeon, she would have somehow prevented Lee Jinhyuk from being taken.

But now, that was no longer possible.

So, Jin Soyeon quietly prayed in her heart that nothing unusual would happen that day.

***

“Isn’t it almost Hero’s Day?”

Yoo Dahee muttered to himself as he spat out the blood that had gathered in his mouth.

“There will be a lot of people bustling around Gwanghwamun as usual, right? Isn’t that so?”

“Probably.”

Isabel answered quietly.

“There will be plenty of heroes there too.”

“Oh~ Are you looking forward to it? Especially since they say the security will be strengthened this time, I wonder which heroes will welcome us?”

“It could be quite exciting, Yoo Dahee.”

Yoo Dahee chuckled between breaths.

“Why are you so grumpy today?”

“It’s not like you haven’t done crazy things before… but this time, it could be quite dangerous.”

“Well, yeah, but you don’t have to worry too much.”

Yoo Dahee finally took out a few small beads and fiddled with them. Seeing this, Isabel furrowed her brow.

“I’ve prepared a lot for this day.”

Beads that summon monsters.

Perhaps this time in Seoul, a monster more powerful than the snake and fire deity that connect the beginning and the end might appear.

What kind of monster will appear?

Will the heroes be able to stop it?

How many people will suffer?

Yoo Dahee was curious and excited.