episode_0510

conversation.

The act of meeting each other and talking to each other.

From the moment she realized that she was a little different from other people when she reached puberty a little earlier than others, she has never felt empathy in conversations with others.

parents.

Love, abundance, stability, etc. that come from them.

Stories of people who have something they don’t have as if it’s completely natural.

Because it all just sounded like she was full.

Because of this, I was frustrated at times.

I thought that I might have to hide this cynicism while living in harmony with others.

Is that why?

“I understand that feeling. No matter how good you are, you can’t help but be noticed.”

No matter how good you are, you still remain.

My heart pounded as I heard his words, which deeply sympathized with my feelings about living in their house.

‘Yes, that’s right. ‘You were an orphan like me.’

She also made the same mistake as others who looked at her.

He was so captivated by Kim Do-jin’s flashy appearance that he forgot that he was an orphan like himself.

My mind changed slightly.

From a person who will give you wings to change this boring life.

Perhaps the first person to fully empathize with my life.

So I asked him as if testing him.

“Please be honest. What did you think when you heard that?”

Sihoo Yoon.

A childhood friend who is different from you in every way.

How did Kim Do-jin feel after hearing the dream he expressed?

The answer was fantastic.

“I was still young and didn’t know much about the world, but I thought I didn’t know much… De?”

It was as if he had entered my mind and pulled out the answer I wanted.

“Ah.”

she sighed.

And I was relieved at the same time.

‘I wasn’t strange.’

I was feeling anxious.

I thought maybe the strange thing was myself.

Calling his actions full of justice as foolish.

Everyone else praises them for doing a good job, but they swallow the frustration rising inside themselves.

It’s not because I immediately realized the cold wall of reality, but maybe it’s because I’m simply twisted.

The anxiety and doubts that were creeping up my body disappear without a trace.

‘There’s no way you’re a twisted person, yes.’

No one else but Kim Do-jin agreed with my opinion.

That fact alone was enough.

Because his word has more weight and value than the opinions of a hundred or a thousand people.

Thirst is quenched, and a feeling of refreshment spreads throughout the body.

As a result, the facial muscles became flabby.

Instead of the fake smile that I always put so much effort into, a bright and goofy smile comes out of nowhere.

“Ah… , I kind of regret it.”

“… … ?”

“If I had known that we would get along so well, I would have talked to my senior more often right away.”

“… So, so.”

Kim Do-jin thought as he saw her smiling brightly, as if the ten-year-old congestion had gone away.

‘This guy is completely messed up.’

* * *

After a few words, I understand.

Even though her insides are twisted, she is completely twisted.

I’d believe it if they said this wasn’t a person, but a pretzel shaped like a person.

Jin Ha-rin is constantly rationalizing herself.

Because I’m an orphan.

Knowing the harshness of reality first, I cannot accept Yoon Si-hoo’s actions.

But you are wrong.

That’s not why Jin Ha-rin can’t accept Yoon Si-hoo’s actions.

He’s just that kind of guy.

His personality is cynical and self-centered, so he doesn’t fit in with the altruistic Yoon Si-hoo.

So, if I give the same answer as Jin Ha-rin, aren’t I the same person as her?

That’s another problem.

I truly realize and deny the harshness of reality that she speaks of.

Jin Ha-rin mistakenly believes that she has realized reality, and she rationalizes and denies it.

There is also a big difference in fundamental aspects.

Jin Ha-rin hates Yoon Si-hoo’s altruism, but I don’t deny or hate it.

I just feel sad because there is a high chance of being blocked by the wall of reality.

Still, if you want to do it yourself… , It’s your life, so why don’t you take care of it well?

“Senior. I’ll be honest with you.”

Following her softened expression, her mouth becomes lighter as well.

Not only does he have quite a lot of trust in me, as he understands my inner self, which is different from others, he even subtly reveals the cold side that lurks behind the pretty mask.

“I don’t want to lose to Sihu.”

A passionate fighting spirit, the exact opposite of his cold inner feelings, burns in his eyes.

This is what I want to protect.

My twisted core.

Regardless of right or wrong, the only thing left to me who has nothing.

I can see my old self in her face.

At that time, I had nothing, and I was struggling to protect my sharp pride, forged by the resentment and evil that remained inside me, and I had thorns all over my body.

“So please help me.”

An extremely earnest request creeps into the cracks of my resolute heart.

Because you feel sorry for her?

no.

I just realized it too late.

Jin Ha-rin and Yoon Si-hoo.

The fact that these two people are like opposites to each other.

Therefore, they stimulate each other even more, which in turn leads to growth.

A childhood friend, rival, and pacemaker.

Isn’t this a really interesting relationship?

“Okay, okay.”

“Senior… !”

Jin Ha-rin looks so happy as if she could jump at any moment.

It’s probably too early to be happy.

I’m not done talking yet.

“Instead, there is a condition.”

“Conditions… If so.”

After standing there hesitantly, he sits down again and recites the conditions to her.

“You will not have any complaints or doubts about the training I give you. what… , It’s okay to do it in your mind, but you should never get caught.”

She is lost in thought with her mouth tightly closed.

Looking at his slightly white face, he seems to be recalling the training that Yoon Si-hoo used to do.

Eventually, after thinking about it, her eyes search me.

“… What if I get caught?”

“The training is over as is.”

She thought for a moment and then nodded.

“I understand. I will do as you say.”

The answers you expected come pouring in.

In fact, I probably would have accepted it even if there were stronger conditions than now.

For her now, there will be no one who can replace me.

This is a kind of restriction and whip.

Because of this promise, she will do whatever I ask, even if she doesn’t want to.

Oh, only for training, of course.

Now that you’ve beaten the whip, of course it’s time to give him the carrot.

“As you can see, training will be very difficult and difficult. Instead, your skills will definitely improve. And as your skills increase, your treatment within the guild will also change significantly.”

She asks again, her eyes shining.

“What exactly… ?”

Snobbery that is subtly revealed.

Well, I understand.

I also jumped into this industry just for the money.

That’s why I know it well.

The desire she has now.

And how should this be stimulated and dealt with?

“Exactly, there is no need for the same thing.”

“… … ?”

“As long as you have the right skills, I will do whatever you want.”

A smile blooms on her lips.

Of course, this is only when you endure all the hellish training.

… I decided to bury that sentence deep in my heart.

* * *

I had to think a little deeper.

-“You will not have any complaints or doubts about the training I give you.”

Why did he mention such conditions?

Of course I thought about it.

Just like Yoon Si-hoo, he also thought that he would undergo very difficult training.

But I didn’t know it would be like this.

“Ha, ha… !”

“Harin, isn’t it hard? How about running a little slower?”

I never thought I would be running around the training ground just like Yoon Si-hoo.

And that’s already hundreds of laps.

“I’m okay… , ugh, ah.”

he said

If you don’t have physical strength, whether it’s a sword or magic, it’s useless.

That was correct.

The process of drawing a magic circle and manifesting it with magic consumes not only magical power but also physical strength.

but.

‘Anyway, is this right?!’

Anyway, isn’t it true that the wizard, a ranged dealer, and the swordsman, a melee dealer, do the same amount of running every day?

But I couldn’t ask.

Whenever I had to say something, he would smile and say something like this.

“Are you dissatisfied with the training?”

“Oh, no… .”

The moment you express your dissatisfaction, that’s it.

“Huhhh, haa, haaaa… !”

Thanks to this, half of the training time was spent running.

Even some of the remaining half was spent stretching out to recover her stamina, and in less than half the time she was able to master the magic she so desperately wanted.

His teachings were amazing in many ways.

“No. I gathered too much magic power. You can reduce it by about 10% compared to now.”

“This much… ?”

“Reduced too much. Let’s raise it a little bit. More, more, more… , that’s right. Just remember now.”

He pointed out the amount of magic power as if he was looking into someone else’s magic power with his own eyes.

“Seup… , that magic circle is a bit inefficient.”

“… Is this magic improved directly from the Magic Tower?”

“So. Actually, it doesn’t matter if you don’t have this part. Now, look.”

By arbitrarily adding or subtracting from magic techniques that are already at peak efficiency, their power is noticeably increased.

“What about you… .”

Every time that happens, I feel like my common sense is being destroyed.

It’s definitely a magic that you have to memorize and understand until you get a headache when learning it on your own or from someone else.

To Kim Do-jin, such magic seems to be nothing more than a play or a toy.

“Okay, this is the end of the personal training.”

After the number of people trained increased to two.

At midnight, the end of training, it ended the same way every time.

“To each location.”

“To location!”

“To location.”

Two people standing at either end of a spacious training ground.

The method was simple.

Jin Ha-rin pours out magic, and Yoon Si-hoo blocks or avoids it and burrows inside her.

If she gives up her side to Yoon Si-hoo, who rushes in, she will be defeated.

Conversely, if you block his charge with magic, you win.

Seeing him change his stance with his sword tightly gripped, I grit my teeth and raise my magic power.

‘I can never lose.’

I don’t want to lose to anyone.

Among them, especially Yoon Si-hoo.

“Start!”

Yoon Si-hoo runs fast with a signal.

I aim the prepared magic at him.

「Ice Spike.」

Quad deuk!

Clear and transparent thorns created all over the training ground floor.

As an evasive maneuver is made to avoid this, the distance from him naturally increases.

This time, build a wall.

「Ice Wall.」

Pap-duk!

Quick!

A white wall covered in frost rises up, blocking his path.

It combined with the previously created thorns to exquisitely tie Yoon Si-hoo’s feet.

But he didn’t give up either.

“Haaa!”

I thrust my sword horizontally towards the thick wall blocking my path.

Squeak!

An ice wall that is cut off and collapses just as the sword cuts through it.

I accelerate along the road that appears beyond it.

But she already knew.

The fact that he, whose skills have risen sharply, will cut through my ice wall.

The reason the ice wall was built in the first place was simply to block his view.

The truth was in the magic prepared in the meantime.

“Ice Cannon!”

Pure cold energy without any particular form shoots out, drawing a long line between her and him.

Fast speed and wide range, reminiscent of a cannon.

At that time, Yoon Si-hoo’s body, which had been hit directly before he could avoid it, was pushed away and the arms he raised to protect his face and chest began to slowly freeze.

“Okay, that’s it.”

Kim Do-jin’s voice resonates.

Yoon Si-hoo is on the verge of freezing before even reaching halfway, and Jin Ha-rin is not moving a single step.

He declared that the victory was clear.

“Jin junior won again today. Very good job.”

“… Thank you.”

A not very happy winner.

“Sihu, you… , yes, you did well too. I still went one step further than yesterday.”

“Hehe, tadadadak, yeah.”

A loser shivering in the cold and smiling cheerfully.

It was as he said.

‘One step closer.’

More yesterday than the day before yesterday, more today than yesterday.

The distance between him and himself was gradually getting closer.

Even a single, insignificant step sends a danger signal to her.

The opponent is getting closer, so be careful.

Go further away.

Her gaze deepened as she saw him smiling reassuringly at the subject of being cruelly defeated.