episode_0150

150.

It was the weekend evening.

I invited a girl to Yoo Seolhyun’s residence.

I felt the need to meet and talk with her at least once.

And now, in front of me, a petite girl was glancing up at me.

She looked like a middle school student at first glance.

A face that seemed like baby fat hadn’t completely disappeared. Arrogantly raised eyebrows. A slightly naive gaze, and so on. Even after scrutinizing her features, she definitely looked younger than her age.

It’s been a few months since we last met, but she hasn’t changed a bit.

Do you drink a lot of milk?

“Huh.”

While I was lost in my thoughts, the girl let out a short sigh, shaking her long, straight hair.

“What’s this about now?”

Was she a bit surprised?

She furrowed her brows at me, then pressed her temples as if she had a headache.

In the brief moment, she let out a deep sigh.

“Phew… What’s going on?”

“Well. Long time no see.”

“Long time no see? What kind of nonsense is that? Ah. I heard from Seolhyun in advance, but seeing it in person is unbelievable, really.”

Seeing a long-dead classmate alive and waving their hand makes one feel dizzy.

“Seolhyun, really? Is it true that he died and came back to life?”

“So, he must be standing in front of you right now, right?”

Yoo Seolhyun, who was quietly sipping her tea, chuckled and replied.

“I understand if you’re skeptical. But it really is Lee Jinhyuk. I guarantee it.”

“……Fine.”

Seonari seemed a bit puzzled.

It seemed difficult for her to accept Seolhyun’s words so easily.

But that was just for a moment.

Suddenly, Seonari let out a short sigh as if she had no choice, then slowly nodded her head.

“Well… Seolhyun, if you say so…”

She seemed a bit suspicious, but since Seolhyun had vouched for him, she decided to go along with it for now.

“Anyway…”

Seonari glanced sideways.

She glanced at the black-haired girl who had been silent all along.

It was Jin Soyeon. Soyeon was sitting at the end of the sofa, silently watching our conversation with an indifferent expression.

“Soyeon, you’re here too?”

“……Yes.”

“It’s the first time since summer vacation, right? I heard you were missing?”

“……Yes.”

“Anyway, nothing serious happened? It’s good to see you safe.”

“……”

Seonari seemed quite perplexed by Soyeon’s short answers and let out a bitter smile.

Well, it was understandable.

The Soyeon she remembered was quite different.

Normally, Soyeon would have laughed and called out cheerfully, but now it was a completely different story.

The subdued atmosphere, the indifferent expression, and the cold voice.

It was a completely different feeling compared to Soyeon a few months ago.

“Hey, hey Jinhyuk.”

“What?”

Seonari approached me quietly and whispered.

“What’s up with her? Why is she like that?”

“Soyeon? Well, she’s probably just calmed down a bit.”

“Is that what calm looks like? Her whole demeanor is different. What’s with that look in her eyes? Is she really Jin Soyeon?”

“She’s been through a lot of ups and downs in life for the past few months. Please try to understand.”

“Well, even so, that’s just… ”

And at that moment.

“Why are you whispering to each other like that?”

“Huh?”

Soyeon suddenly interjected.

“Are you saying something I shouldn’t hear?”

“Huh? No, it’s nothing like that.”

“Then we don’t need to whisper in each other’s ears like this, right? Isn’t that so, Nari?”

“Well, I guess so.”

At Soyeon’s words, Senari moved away from me with a slightly distracted look.

Then Soyeon swept her hair back and started to scan the two of us with a sly smile.

“It seems like you two get along well when I look at you quietly.”

“Me and her? Ha. Soyeon, what nonsense are you talking about?”

“Is that so?”

“Of course. I’m just playing with her because of Seohyun, you know?”

“Is that so? I see.”

Soyeon muttered in a low voice, almost as if she was talking to herself.

“You’ll have to keep it up.”

“Hey, Jin Soyeon. Are you going to keep talking like this since earlier?”

“Tsk tsk.”

Just as the atmosphere was starting to sour, Yuseolhyun let out a cool laugh, covering her lips with her hand.

“Soyeon, are you openly criticizing her?”

“….”

“Are women who are so obsessed not popular?”

“….”

Soyeon glanced at Yuseolhyun for a moment before turning her gaze to Senari and raising her voice gently.

“Sorry, Nari. I’ve been a bit sensitive lately.”

“No, it’s… fine.”

Senari also didn’t want to argue for no reason, so she leaned back on the soft sofa, nodding her head obediently.

“Phew. So, why did you call me this weekend? Lee Jinhyuk?”

“Oh, it’s nothing, I just wanted to see your face after a long time. And I have a small favor to ask.”

“What kind of relationship do we have that you want to see my face? Just live your life.”

Senari chuckled.

“Anyway, what’s the favor?”

“Actually, a few members of the Gaon Nuri Clan were selected as external security for the Heroes’ Day event at Gwanghwamun.”

“Oh, I heard about that. It seems like they’ve hired quite a few external personnel these days because of the current situation. Why is that?”

“You’re planning to go to Gwanghwamun on Heroes’ Day, right?”

“…Well, for now?”

This time, Yuseolhyun started to smile mischievously and pursed her lips.

“Then, Nari.”

“Yes?”

“In case something happens that day, we’ll give you orders from our side, so can you help us out if needed?”

Yuseolhyun placed her tea cup on the saucer with a light tap.

“As you said, things are pretty dangerous these days because of the villains, right? That’s why they hired external personnel.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

“So, in case the villains cause trouble during the event, it would be nice if you and the security guards could help prepare the people.”

“If that’s all, well…”

Personally, Senari wouldn’t be of much help.

But the security guards who came with Senari would be quite helpful.

She was the daughter of the CEO of a subsidiary company of the Gaon Nuri Clan, after all.

“So, will you help us, Nari? Thank you.”

“No, I’m also a hero trainee for now. If monsters or villains cause trouble, I should help out, of course.”

In fact, it would have been difficult for Senari to refuse Yuseolhyun’s request from her position.

Senari was just the daughter of a subsidiary company’s CEO, and Yuseolhyun was the daughter of the group’s chairman.

It was fortunate that she followed along without any complaints or objections, probably because she was a close aide to Yuseolhyun’s faction.

“Hmm. You’re obediently agreeing to the request? Were you planning to use your wish power if you refused?”

“What are you talking about, Lee Jinhyuk? Wish power?”

“Don’t you remember? We made a bet before. The winner gets to ask the loser for a favor.”

“Oh.”

They had made a bet on the outcome of the ranking match between Jin Soyeon and Ju Jiyeon, and it ended with my victory.

I had been saving it without using it until now.

Someone like Senari, with such high self-esteem, wouldn’t say such things.

“What should I ask for?”

“Hey, hey. When was that? And now you bring it up.”

“Wow. Are you trying to say two things in one breath? The great Senari?”

“Ah, no, it’s not like that.”

“Well, I should make good use of it later. Just wait for the right moment, Serenari.”

“…Don’t think about useless things like asking for strange favors, I won’t grant them, got it?”

“Got it, got it.”

Suddenly, Serenari let out a sigh.

“By the way, Jinhyuk, Jinsuyeon.”

She said, looking at us alternately.

“When do you guys plan to return to the academy?”

“Ah, um.”

Return to the academy?

Come to think of it, I haven’t really thought about it much.

Capturing Yudahee was a much more urgent issue than the academy.

…I haven’t even reported my survival to the authorities yet.

“Can we even return? There’s no precedent for someone coming back to life, so I don’t know how the academy will judge it. Oh, right. And it’s a secret that I came back to life, got it?”

“And you, Jinsuyeon?”

“…Well, I think I might have been expelled or suspended.”

“No, Suyeon. You were on leave.”

“Huh?”

Suyeon tilted her head in surprise at Yuseolhyun’s response.

“Why? Why was I on leave?”

“Instructor Hong Daye understood your situation. I was there at the time. And I also made a separate request.”

“Oh.”

“Well, you don’t need to thank me.”

“There was no need for that.”

“What?”

Suyeon responded indifferently.

“Anyway, you can get a hero license without graduating from the academy. With my current skills…”

“…Yeah, I guess so. You and Jinhyuk don’t really need to attend the academy.”

Suyeon was already a high-ranker in terms of skill.

Usually, upon graduation from the academy, a hero license is issued, and through the academy’s connections, one can join a clan, but Suyeon didn’t need that.

Connections? Networking?

Such things were of no use to Suyeon now.

With her current skills, she could join any clan she wanted.

“Still… if I can go back, I should.”

I chuckled lightly.

“After everything is over.”

Yudahee.

If I can just capture that source of all evil, everything will be resolved.

And then I can go back.

To a peaceful life at the academy.

“Alright, I had a good conversation with Serenari. Now, all that’s left is Juyeon, but Kang Daehan will handle that. So, I’ve gathered almost all the useful forces.”

It’s almost time, Yudahee.

The decisive moment is fast approaching.

***

“…Have we come this far already?”

A woman muttered to herself, looking up at the sky.

With sharp eyes and empty gaze, she exuded a weary atmosphere. She was a beautiful black-haired woman.

“I hope it ends peacefully, but it probably won’t be easy.”

The woman tightly grasped a relic in her hand.

“…Then I guess I have to make a choice too.”