episode_0240

***

Second day of school. After finishing class with ease, I stopped by the supermarket and bought something for dinner.

In the short term, I had to go up the hill with a big plastic bag in both hands, but I still managed to get home.

I should have just ordered a supermarket delivery.

I can’t figure out if it’s because I haven’t yet adapted to modern times or because I’m too old to use the benefits of civilization.

There were two reasons why I decided to change my diet, which focused on cup ramen and frozen foods.

One was because I felt like I was only eating too much processed food after being possessed, and the other was because I wanted to have dinner with Yoon Sia.

Considering her thin wallet, I suggested that we have dinner together on days when we had classes.

Upon hearing the proposal, Yoon Sia was conflicted at first, but agreed when I asked her what she was worried about now that she had eaten cup ramen before.

It was not simply a suggestion based on sympathy. It was a bit lonely to eat alone in this large house.

I think it’s a win-win because I can reduce my feeling of loneliness and Yoon Shia can prevent additional spending.

[Where are you?]

I’m sending a message to roughly estimate the lecture time.

Originally, in the world, I only knew how to make curry, stir-fried pork, and pasta.

This is because, as a person living alone, there was no need for a diverse menu.

However, in the world of martial arts, I had to cook while camping with my teacher, and although it was rough, I was able to build up the basics of cooking.

I whined all day if it didn’t taste good, so how can I not get better?…

The nightmare I had when the wild boar meat that my teacher had caught was burnt black…

Recalling those memories, I stirred the seasoned meat in the pan.

The spicy and sweet smell of commercial seasoning sauce stimulated my sense of smell.

– Growling

I’m hungry because I haven’t eaten anything since lunch.

She was supposed to come at 8, so there’s about 30 minutes left.

Under the pretext of tasting it, I put a couple of pieces of meat in my mouth and chewed them.

Well, after all….

The meat seems to be better than average even if it is roughly made.

The rice cooker has also moved from cooking to keeping warm, so all preparations are complete.

I cleaned up the messy kitchen and washed my hands.

After putting the food neatly in bowls and displaying it on the table, I took off my apron and hung it roughly on an unused chair.

Now all you have to do is bring someone to eat with you.

It’s already 7:57.

It’s soon time for Yoon Sia to come.

[Where are you?]

The number ‘1’ that appeared next to the message I sent earlier has not disappeared.

As I started setting up the cutlery, I looked at my phone.

The number ‘1’ that appears next to the message has not disappeared yet.

[Teacher, are you late?]

I may not have seen it because I was walking, but I’ll send it to you again.

Like that for 5, 10 minutes.

Yun Sia did not come even after 20 minutes.

***

He was clearly on his way to class.

When she came close to In-ho’s house, Shin Jeong-ah appeared in front of her.

[I have something to tell you.]

She was surprised that the child who had raised his claws and growled every time he saw her spoke first.

[There is something you need to know about Inho.]

Normally, she would have been ignored. However, the story about In-ho caught Yoon Sia’s attention.

When she showed interest, Shin Jeong-ah took a couple of steps towards her.

[It’s a bit awkward to do here, but do you have a moment? It only takes 5 minutes.]

Shin Jeong-ah spoke in a low voice as if she was going to say something extremely important.

Yoon Si-ah picked up her cell phone and was about to send In-ho that she would be a little late.

However, Shin Jeong-ah’s hands were folded over hers.

[It only takes a moment.]

I follow Shin Jeong-ah back up the hill.

Go down the stairs connected to the park at the bottom of the hill.

It was a park created by the city to create an environment, but it seemed to be poorly maintained due to low accessibility.

After walking precariously down the steep stairs instead of the hill she usually walked, Yun Sia was able to arrive at a small park with a bench, a pavilion, and several exercise equipment.

“So what do you want to talk about?”

Yoon Si-ah asked behind Shin Jeong-ah as she walked toward the pavilion.

Up until this point, she had not felt a sense of crisis.

Maybe I underestimated the level of cruelty of students that age.

“Okay. What should I talk about?”

Yoon Sia felt a little creepy when she saw Shin Jeong-ah turning around and smiling.

And little by little, I began to realize that something was wrong.

“I thought you were smart, but you’re so fucking stupid?”

Shin Jeong-ah, who returned to the way she spoke when they first met, raised her mouth and sneered.

As soon as I could feel the presence of people under the dark pavilion, fireflies began to glow.

The long stick-shaped fireflies had red lights on their backs.

Someone grabbed its head and flicked it toward Yun Shia.

A firefly flew in an arc and landed at her feet.

After confirming the identity of the firefly that was emitting acrid smoke and a pungent smell, Yun Sia swallowed dry saliva.

“…you?”

I felt like my blood was drying up.

“Why are you saying that?”

Shin Jeong-ah, giggling, took a step back, and next to her, vaguely impressive black shadows began to slowly walk towards Yoon Sia.

‘This… Inho.’

Yun Sia desperately moved her shaky legs to slowly escape from them and thought about the student who would be waiting for her.

***

After being unable to contact him, In-ho came out of the house and waited for Yoon Sia.

He waited in front of the house at first, and gradually walked down the hill until he noticed something and stopped.

He bent his knees and observed what had fallen to the ground.

“This is….”

It was nothing special.

But Kang In-ho was suspicious of something about this soil.

He suddenly remembered the feeling he had when chasing bandits with Namgung Soyu.

This hill road is mainly used by cars. The only people walking are myself and Yoon Sia.

However, looking at the extent of the dirt and the minute marks, you can see that someone has walked here relatively recently.

Kang In-ho went a little further down the hill.

The amount of fallen soil gradually increases. This means that the owner of this trail came up the hill.

“I went down again near my house.”

Another unusual thing is that the trail that went up the hill went back down.

Kang In-ho turned on the light on his cell phone and shined it on the dirt.

It’s a soil you don’t see anywhere nearby.

From down the hill, past the convenience store, to where Yoon Shia gets on the bus, there is no place where dirt like this can get on.

Inho started walking down the trail.

When I got halfway up the hill, I could vaguely sense that a large number of people were gathered in the park at the bottom of the stairs.

“Ah… please.”

In-ho hoped his thoughts were wrong.