episode_0069

Do Yu-geon took out the answer sheet from the problem book with the feeling that it was finally over. To guess the correct answer.

After going through dozens of pages, I found three questions were wrong. Although it was wrong, it was just a simple calculation mistake rather than a wrong use or approach to the mathematical formula, so there seemed to be no need to write down a note of the wrong answer. This is a satisfactory result.

If things continue like this, wouldn’t it be possible to finish one workbook a day, which is the level Cha Ha-neul mentioned? When I decided to study for the test, I thought it was Cha Ha-neul’s bluff, but now it seemed to catch my eye.

I cleaned up my desk and squeezed my eyes, which had become sore from concentrating for a long time, for a moment. Although I was proud of the achievement, I was not completely happy. There was a sense of helplessness and despondency that followed leisurely. What does it mean if your grades go up? If you use your current studies as a foundation and continue studying in high school, you can get a good job at a good university? That’s not certain, but the possibility increases anyway?

I felt stagnant. Scores were rising and ranks were rising, but this wasn’t it. You can’t get what you want this way.

There is a story that Cha Ha-neul told me when I was in elementary school.

『Why are you studying? Are you already in puberty? There is no answer.』

My friend was right, but it was a bit cold.

『It’s because of university. Why are you asking the obvious?』

… … Were you friends?

『What happened? Let me explain. It’s true that it’s because of college, but it’s not because of learning. The knowledge you receive from your bachelor’s degree has too many holes in it to be used in practical work. You don’t learn references properly. So, do you really need a sign saying that you graduated from college? If you like elite courses, you can do that. That’s stable.』

If you think about it, Cha Ha-neul was even weirder when she was in elementary school. It’s true that he’s still a strange guy, but he was even more so back then.

『But what is more important than those things is infrastructure, human infrastructure. In other words, connections. … … To put it simply, a business partner. You understood that right… … ? Yes, you are smart. Be amazing.』

Now that I think about it, what was Cha Ha-neul’s intention in saying this to an elementary school student? Besides, I was an elementary school student myself, so what did I learn at home to say things like this? Succession class?

『Since we’ve already started talking, let me explain a little about human infrastructure. The important thing in college networking is not the friends of the same age next to you. It’s the human infrastructure that friend has. Sometimes it’s important to have a friend you can talk about these things with. Aren’t you interested in this field? I told an uncle I know and he was interested. Would you like to meet him for a moment? like this. Then I met that uncle, so-and-so, and we heard stories about the site, chatted, and by chance we even went on a brief field trip.』

Young Cha Ha-neul continued.

『If you dip your toes into a related field like that, you will naturally meet people in the related field. A worker I’ve become close with is having some trouble and needs to fill a position urgently. Do you want to give it a try? Since it focuses on miscellaneous work, it won’t be too difficult. If you say the same thing, by the time you graduate from college, voila, you have become a new employee with experience. Something like that. Well, kids who probably have connections like this end up hanging out together, anyway. Now you understand why you need to study, right? To get this opportunity, you have to go to a good university. According to research, most students at good universities come from highly educated or high-income families. Okay, I think that explains it. Since you’re smart, I’ll believe you figured it out. So will you please leave now? I’m asking you to bother me, who is the human infrastructure itself, just a little bit. For your future. Do you understand now? Or did I just talk loudly?』

Cha Ha-neul is a strange kid.

So I liked it and envied it.

But there is no meaning to a heart that cannot be reached. There is no meaning to the end of a road that cannot be reached.

I sighed. I felt hot inside.

I took my sword and went out to the living room. There isn’t much difference. Well-honed sword skills are useless against the power of magic, and risking your life with a sword is just a dangerous act. What’s the use of all this if you can’t cut down the sky or collapse Mount Tai with a single blow?

But even so, this is all I can do, so I just repeat it in silence. So as not to miss the opportunity that will come someday.

I swept the surface of the sword with my hand. There was also a part of me that hoped that I would suddenly become stronger, like climbing stairs. If I sharpen my swordsmanship just a little bit more and raise my level, wouldn’t I be able to rise to the next level and gain the power to completely change reality? Although it was just a wishful thinking, anticipation and anxiety made it impossible to stop action. Wouldn’t it really be more powerful if you took a little more risk and grew more?

However, Cha Ha-neul was bound to block such actions from the start. Sometimes I warn you, sometimes I help you, and sometimes you solve it yourself. It’s true that I’m grateful, but thanks to this, everything is stagnant. Going around in circles within the fence called safety.

I have doubts. Shouldn’t we get away from Cha Ha-neul? Shouldn’t we distinguish between purpose and means and separate them for a while?

My cell phone rang. It’s Yumina’s phone. I leaned on the sofa while answering the phone.

-hi!

“Your first words were lively. Did something good happen?”

-Whether it is a good thing or not depends on you. If I do something wrong, I’ll be the only one stuck in the middle.

Since he was caught in the middle, it seems like Cha Ha-neul asked Yumina for a favor.

“Caught in the middle?”

-Hmm. Do I have to tell you that far?

I think Cha Ha-neul’s request is right.

“There’s no need to do that. So what does it mean to be a good thing? Is it something I can look forward to?”

―Hehe, we are now high school students after taking final exams and winter break, right?

“I’m a high school student. I’m looking forward to it. Would you like to go out and have fun together to celebrate becoming a high school student? I heard the water park is opening around spring.”

―Please suggest something like that through our lady. I was just wondering if it had been bugged.

“Hey, what kind of wiretapping is this?”

-haha… … .

Yumina has a poor evaluation of Cha Ha-neul. Since they both go to the same middle school, they may look different, but it’s too much.

―To get back to the main topic, since you are now a high school student, how about living alone?

“Living together…? With who?”

-You and the lady.

For a moment, terrible thoughts passed through my head. My face felt hot. I shook my head to shake off my thoughts.

-Hmm.

Yumina added a little later.

-And four people including me and Laplace. Not just two people, but four people.

“I’m just confused.”

-If you make an excuse without even asking, it’s even more suspicious.

“no…….”

I put down my phone and wiped my face for a moment. I picked up my phone again.

-Are you listening?

“I’m listening very well.”

-I know you didn’t hear it, but I’ll skip it.

If you know, I hope you don’t bother to reveal it.

-My lady will take care of the cost issue. They said they paid for housing and management expenses, so it would be reasonable to expect food expenses as a bonus, right? If you eat ramen for a few meals, won’t he pay for it?

I seemed to really like this part, as it was a clearly happy voice.

“In the end, Cha Ha-neul is going to pay for it, right?”

-Do you feel burdened? If you’re not going to do it, tell me quickly.

Bad thoughts came back to me, so I quickly shook them off.

“That doesn’t mean I won’t do it.”

After hearing a few more explanations, I hung up. Living together was something I had imagined, but never thought about. I felt restless for some reason, so I walked around the living room. Maybe I just accepted it for no reason? Could it be that we just blindly accepted it without proper thought or consideration? If they stay together, won’t Cha Ha-neul be disappointed in her? I got nervous.

The intercom rang.

When I opened the door, my grandfather was standing there. It’s a familiar face. The group’s chief secretary. I don’t know your name. Because I’ve never heard of it.

The chief secretary smiled.

“Can I come in?”

It was an unfamiliar visit.

“Uh…, yes. Please come in.”

The Chief Secretary entered and looked around the house leisurely.

“House is…….”

My finger flicked the end of the TV. There was a click.

“It’s cozy, huh. By the way, have you had lunch?”

“I haven’t eaten yet. What’s going on here…?”

I don’t know why I came here.

“Good. The Chairman invited you to lunch.”

The chief secretary picked up the sword on the table and examined it.

“I guess I can take this too.”

I don’t even know the intention.

* * *

“When I thought about it, I realized that I had done a lot of things wrong. I should have done this a long time ago, but I was hesitating.”

The dining area is uncomfortable. It was especially true that Cha Ha-neul’s grandfather, who clearly did not like her existence, spoke to her in a friendly voice.

“Isn’t that so?”

The chairman smiled softly and asked.

“……yes.”

burden. Just as Cha Ha-neul said that there was always a cook at my grandfather’s house, the soybean paste stew was delicious, but not enjoyable. It was even more so because it was a meal with just the two of us. Would it have been different if Cha Ha-neul had been with me? Of course it would have been different.

“In what era are we dating based on family backgrounds? If you like something, you love it, right?”

I quickly swallowed what was in my mouth.

“……Yes, that’s right.”

“I’m worried, but it’s right to trust my granddaughter’s judgment. Besides, wouldn’t it be more old-fashioned for a grandfather to interfere in his granddaughter’s love life? Right?”

Of course it was true, but I felt out of breath to say yes in front of the person involved.

“yes?”

As if urging me to ask, I quenched my thirst with water and answered.

“……yes.”

I should have responded by saying something more, but no more words came out.

The chairman nodded and muttered.

“but.”

He continued to say:

“That’s your opinion.”

The chairman laughed.

“What are you agreeing to? Huh!”

The gaze was cold.

“I’ll stop eating here. From what I heard, I heard you use a sword, and I happen to be the same way. Do you want to exercise after eating and attack me? Otherwise, we’ll just go back to this.”

I had no choice but to fall for the provocation.