episode_0068

Tap tap tap―!

A cute little punch.

If I had put some real strength into it, it would have hurt, but it just seemed like an appropriate massage for expressing surprise.

“Yongaaaah!”

The owner of the massage punch(?) is none other than Juna Yong.

She was letting out a rare onomatopoeic sound like a cat’s ‘meow’ with the same surprised expression.

Her eyes were rolling around, and the temporary panic symptoms were evident from her lack of focus.

I silently took the punches and thought to myself.

Today is quite lucky.

“Hehe… didn’t expect to see this so early.”

Also known as the ‘Yongdada Punch’.

It was Juna Yong’s unique habit and signature move she used to appeal to the maplers.

It was a behavior that showed up when her embarrassment reached a certain level and her emotions intensified.

In essence, it was a charming point symbolizing the character of ‘Juna Yong’.

Many maplers declared that they would raise their characters just for this ‘Yongdada Punch’.

It was clear that it was not just cute.

After maintaining it for about 10 seconds, Juna Yong soon came to her senses and stopped with a ‘Huh…!’

She hesitated, fidgeting her fingers.

“Oh, um… sorry. It’s a habit I picked up from my mom.”

“It’s okay. So, why were you here?”

Juna Yong hesitated at my question.

She turned her mouth this way and that, avoiding eye contact.

Then she looked straight at me and muttered, “I-I wasn’t spying!”

“Who said you were?”

“I-I mean it! I-”

“I know.”

“…Huh?”

“I know you’re not the type to do something like that.”

Juna Yong was a typical character who couldn’t stand injustice and disliked unfair things.

But she wasn’t a stubborn person who wouldn’t listen to anything.

She was flexible enough and would first understand the situation before acting, so she rarely showed a frustrated side.

Would someone like her spy on others?

‘That’s unlikely.’

Meanwhile, Juna Yong was puzzled by my confident answer.

Why would she believe herself and say such things?

“…And what’s with that look in your eyes?”

Her slightly rebellious expression, as if looking at a cute little troublemaker, made me feel a strange feeling.

Pouting, she retorted softly, “When did you see me?”

“Anyway, it’s good. I wanted to give it to you but never had the chance.”

“…Huh?”

Juna Yong tilted her head.

After a moment, Yuseha, who had asked her to wait, brought a small bag.

After rummaging inside, she handed something over.

This is…?

N-No way!?

“…Perilla Leaf Mint Mentos!?”

There was no mistake.

The unique green color and the subtle scent of perilla leaves.

It was definitely the real deal.

Not some cheap knockoff with just the flavor and taste hastily added for the maniacs.

“Wow.”

Juna Yong was dumbfounded, her mouth hanging open.

She had secretly asked the secretary and even told her close team leader.

But she couldn’t get any of it.

It was already discontinued, making it hard to find even a crumb.

“W-Where did you get this precious thing?”

“Hehehe.”

Chuckling, Yuseha shook the Mentos in front of Juna Yong.

Her eyes moved eagerly, like a dog seeing a treat.

Her green pupils dilated.

It was the unique reaction Juna Yong showed when feeling greed.

“Do you want to eat it?”

Gulp-! Juna Yong swallowed dry saliva.

Slowly reaching out his hand, Joonayong hesitated.

“Are you trying to bribe me with this? Don’t be ridiculous! I’m Joonayong!”

“Hey…”

“What!”

“Then, please let go of my hand.”

“….!?”

Surprised, Joonayong looked straight ahead.

Before he knew it, his hand was trembling as he held onto the Mentos.

Just as he was starting to feel a bit greedy, Yusaha chuckled and handed it over.

“Here, go ahead and eat.”

“…With this…”

“Just eat it. Come on.”

Carefully unwrapping it, Joonayong took a bite.

The unique, subtle, and sweet taste made Joonayong’s cheeks blush.

“Mmm~”

“It’s refreshing. Have some of this too.”

“Mmm…? Mmm!?”

She was once again surprised by the drink he handed her.

It was unmistakably a Perilla Mint Cola.

It was also hard to come by.

“Let’s drink together. It’s a set item.”

“Wow… You know your stuff, huh?”

It seemed that Yusaha was also a kindred spirit.

Feeling a sudden sense of camaraderie, Joonayong accepted his offer and drank it without hesitation.

As it went down, the explosive carbonation added an overwhelming sense of refreshment.

“I haven’t had this in a long time.”

“It was discontinued three years ago… It’s hard to find now.”

Yusaha made a surprised expression at her words.

After a moment of contemplation, he hesitantly spoke up.

“Actually, I have hundreds of these left.”

“What…? Hundreds?”

“Yeah.”

“You sneaky hoarder! So that’s why I couldn’t find any!”

“No, no. I received them from someone else.”

Joonayong hesitated at his words.

After a moment of thought, she quietly asked, “How much for the remaining stock? I’ll buy them all. I’ll pay a premium.”

Even she seemed embarrassed by her own words as her neck turned red.

It seemed awkward to ask Yusaha, who had just been grumbling, for this.

But Joonayong really wanted them.

The Perilla Mint Cola series was a nostalgic scent and a symbol of longing for her.

“If you want them, I won’t take the money… I’ll just give them to you.”

“Huh?”

With a sly smile, Yusaha handed over all the Mentos in his bag, which amounted to dozens.

Joonayong’s eyes widened at the generous gesture.

“So many… all of them?”

“Yeah, it’s not a big deal to call it a favor… I just have one request.”

“What is it?”

“Let’s talk more often like this.”

“Talk?”

Joonayong was taken aback by the unexpected words.

“Yeah, more specifically… hang out with our kids in the morning. And talk here in the training room at night.”

Kids?

If they were the kids Yusaha was hanging out with…

“The cute and adorable Maha and Moonbora, the Miao tribe girl who speaks ?”

“Yes, Maha and Moonbora. These two.”

“I’ve been curious… How did you recruit as party members? Rumor has it they’re cold and aloof.”

Yusaha chuckled in disbelief at Joonayong’s words.

“They may seem cold and aloof… but they’re actually quite gullible.”

“Huh?”

“Well, I kind of forced them in. Anyway, what’s your answer?”

Joonayong pursed her lips.

From a business standpoint, it was a no-brainer to accept.

Just by hanging out with them, she was receiving the hard-to-find Perilla Mint Cola series.

‘But…’

There was a subtle sense of pride that made it difficult to simply nod along.

Especially when competing with Yusaha, who was vying for the position of Professor Pang Jin-ah’s exclusive disciple.

But as he took out another Perilla Mint Cola from his bag and shook it, she ultimately surrendered.

“Okay, fine! But… only for a while! Not for long!”

“Of course. Anyway, I’ll do my best. Junayong.”

“…What do you mean by ‘do my best’… It’s just a conversation…”

* * *

Time passed relentlessly.

One day went by.

Two days went by.

And on the third day.

“…Huh?”

Junayong, blinking her eyes, looked ahead with a mesmerized expression.

“The pork here is delicious.”

“Isn’t it?”

“Mmm.”

Moonbora, confidently eating the stir-fried pork, resembling a precious young lady from a noble family.

Yuseha, indulging in tonkatsu.

And Mahana, drooling over the pork belly rice bowl.

Before she knew it, Junayong was sitting with them, naturally sharing lunch.

“Mmm~ Junayong. What’s wrong? You seem lost.”

“Huh? Oh… Oh…”

She even found herself speechless with Mahana and Yuseha.

Heard they were both 19, just like Yuseha.

“I’m actually two years older?”

Can’t remember well, but maybe she was charmed by their cuteness and fell for it.

*

The confusion didn’t stop there.

After lunch, it was time for training in the afternoon.

“You’re doing great, Junayong.”

“Thank you.”

Junayong, driving her fist even stronger into the rock than a few days ago.

Watching her, Pengjina faintly smiled.

She bowed with a joyful heart and turned away.

Two welcoming women were visible.

One was a lively girl with short blue hair.

And the other was a gentle girl with silver hair.

They were Ryudarae and Hwangkippeum, classmates who entered the school at the same time as Junayong.

“Junayong, you’re amazing.”

“Junayong! You’re awesome!”

The two had recently become closer to Junayong.

Specifically chosen by the professors for the team battle in the 3rd week.

Junayong wasn’t particularly close to them, but they were both sociable, so they naturally became friends.

Well, they could just get along.

Since they were teammates.

The problem was the male and female duo waving hands from another place.

Mahana and Yuseha.

“Mmm~ Junayong, you’re amazing!”

“As expected of .”

Junayong was taken aback.

Why were they welcoming her like that?

Even more surprising was her own action of waving back at them.

“Huh…?”

*

Time continued to pass.

On the 4th day.

On the 5th day.

During lunch, she ate with Yuseha’s group as if it were natural and had trivial conversations.

In the afternoon, she trained hard with a sense of rivalry towards him.

And in the evening, they met in the training room and chatted comfortably.

Just like now.

In the training room with just the two of them.

Junayong was talking happily in front of Yuseha, enjoying the conversation.

“So, the thing is… How cool was it when Professor Pengjina appeared in a black cape… Huh?”

At this point, Junayong also sensed that something was wrong.

“What… am I doing right now?”

“Oops!”

“…? Junayong, what’s wrong?”

It seemed too late already.

But in fact, it was indeed late.

She stood up from her seat.

“Already leaving?”

“Don’t… act like we’re close! Remember? You and I! We’re competing for the position of Professor Pengjina’s exclusive disciple!”

Yuseha made a slightly disgusted expression at that.

“Oh, was that setting still in place?”

“Setting?!”

She chuckled at the determined Junayong.

“Anyway, I’m leaving!”

“See you tomorrow.”

“……”

*

Without a word, Junayong disappeared.

I watched her go and loosened my neck.

It may seem like a hasty retreat, but there was no better way to get closer to Junayong.

She may be wary of those who approach her with a purpose, but she is infinitely vulnerable to those who genuinely want to befriend her.

“If this is not enough to get rid of the ugly hair.”

With this momentum, it would be great if I could recruit party members…

But I decided to stop being greedy about this.

Juna-yong, like Mmyangi and Moon Bora, is a character I have spent a long time nurturing.

Of course, the reason I initially raised them was for their performance.

But that doesn’t mean I didn’t give them my affection.

“Just looking at them is enough.”

Just a few words exchanged between us.

Even if we were just friends who occasionally ate together, I was satisfied.

Anyway, it was time to go back when I thought it was getting too late.

Suddenly, I heard hurried footsteps.

Yongdada-!

“…Huh?”

Juna-yong, whom I thought had already left, was running towards me.

What’s that in his hand?

“Juna-yong? What did you leave behind? Do you need Mentos? More…”

“Here, take this.”

He handed me what he was holding without hesitation.

It was a circular case the size of an arm…

It looked like it contained something important.

I tilted my head in confusion and asked.

“What is this?”

“Here, open it…”

“…Huh?”

“Come on, stop asking and just open it!”

Unable to resist his insistence, I opened the lid of the case.

With a sound of chiing-! the residue of magic spread out like mist.

And what was revealed…

Was a faintly glowing yellow dagger.

It was a small dagger about 15cm long, strangely plain with no patterns or designs.

To anyone else, it might look like a cheap item.

But as soon as I saw it, my eyes widened in surprise.

Could this be…?

Could it really be?

As I looked around, I confirmed from the mysterious characters engraved on the handle of the dagger.

There was no mistake.

“…Crazy, this is…”

It’s really the [Pilgrim’s Dagger]!