RE: Player again

270

[Chapter 091] [A Promise That Can't Be Kept (4)]

This has become troublesome.

Eun-ha looked at Han Seo-hyun and Choi Ga-in who were facing off against each other.

Sparks were flying from their glaring gazes at each other.

A battle of nerves between the direct descendants of Galaxy Group, the top group in the country, and Sirius Group, ranked second in the country.

Although a rare sight was unfolding, onlookers weren't gathering because this was the corridor leading to the VIP viewing room.

That was fortunate at least.

It would have been a headache if people had crowded around needlessly.

"My, what brings Seo-hyun unni here. You didn't even come to the gathering last time saying you weren't feeling well... Was it the time before last, or the time before that...

I can't remember well. It's been so long since I've seen you, unni."

Choi Ga-in was speaking.

Saying why did she come here when she usually doesn't attend gatherings using the excuse of being sick.

Asking if she wanted to play that badly.

Eun-ha inwardly clicked his tongue seeing the i***t Choi Ga-in indirectly attack Seo-hyun with her words.

He remembered how Choi Ga-in treated people below her, but had never seen how she treated someone of equal status.

I heard that kids in political and business circles gather among themselves and badmouth each other, but this is no joke.

Is this what they call intra-species hatred?

He who hadn't noticed when he was with Ha-yang felt such emotions from the two facing each other.

"What do you mean by that?" "Huh?"

The intensity was no joke anyway.

However, Eun-ha realized he had misjudged the battle of nerves between the two.

Although they were facing each other, the two were by no means in equal positions.

Han Seo-hyun was several moves ahead.

"Are you talking about the gathering last Sunday that you didn't attend?"

"...What...?"

"Oh my, I'm sorry. I thought the gathering Ga-in was talking about was 'our' gathering, was it a different one?" "......"

Choi Ga-in's facial expression hardened.

Eun-ha was astonished seeing Seo-hyun who usually doesn't laugh much chattering happily with a giggle.

To put on a mask so easily.

He discovered a new side of her.

Meanwhile, her attack continued.

"I'm invited to so many gatherings that I can't remember exactly who is at which gathering." "I-I see. I thought Seo-hyun unni was so sick that it was hard to come out like 'that child' from Luminous Group. Since I couldn't meet you at all, I was wondering if I should send you some good medicine... But I guess there was no need?"

"Oh? That's strange?" "U-Um? W-What is?"

"Ga-in, do you really not know? The 'child' you're talking about isn't sick..."

"Huh? But I clearly heard that..."

"Oh my, then maybe that's the case. You haven't met 'that child' yet?" "......"

"But it's strange. 'That child' often attends 'our' gatherings..."

"......"

"I wonder why you haven't met Ga-in?"

Before they knew it, Choi Ga-in had become a frog, and Seo-hyun had become a snake swallowing the frog.

The frog was already tightly bound in the snake's coils.

It was a rare sight for Eun-ha.

I wish I had some caramel popcorn.

That was regrettable.

He thought a troublesome situation would unfold, but the situation was tilting so refreshingly towards Han Seo-hyun.

It was too entertaining seeing Choi Ga-in unable to fight properly and being constricted by Seo-hyun's coils.

How much he had wanted to see this sight.

He felt like bursting into laughter seeing her who used to treat Ha Baek-ryeon as an inferior and unconsciously bully her before his regression being treated like this.

He wanted to hold his stomach and laugh.

It was so frustrating having to hold that back.

"Ah, that's right. It was a different gathering. Sorry, I forgot about that again."

Han Seo-hyun clapped her hands shamelessly.

Her acting was so natural it seemed like she had learned acting since childhood.

Even Eun-ha believed her shamelessness was real for a moment.

"It's a gathering where only those with 'qualifications' among direct descendants gather, so Ga-in, you haven't been able to enter there yet."

"...Stop... now."

In the end, Choi Ga-in lowered her head.

Eun-ha inwardly roared with laughter seeing her who had been glaring at Seo-hyun with knife-like sharp eyes now lowering her gaze.

But Han Seo-hyun showed no mercy to the general admitting defeat and dismounting from her horse.

"─But isn't it curious?"

As if to ensure she could never climb up again.

She held a knife to the neck of the general who dismounted.

"Ha-yang is in that gathering, and 'that child' attends occasionally... I wonder why Ga-in, you still haven't received an invitation?"

"...Really, stop..."

"Then I don't know about this either. This time Hong Jin-woo brought his third fiancée and introduced her to us...

Was it KK Pharmaceuticals' child? That child came once like that too, but why still Ga-in, you..."

"...I said stop."

"Hasn't Choi Jung-hoon oppa told you anything? That oppa could bring you if he gets bored attending the gathering alone... Why don't you try asking your oppa?" "......"

"To quickly put me in there too."

Choi Ga-in's face turned bright red.

She couldn't swing her fist and was just trembling while clenching her hand tightly.

It was the critical point.

If she tried to provoke her any further, a big commotion would spread.

Nevertheless, Seo-hyun didn't hesitate.

"If it's hard to ask your oppa, should I give a hint for you?"

"I said stop now, really!" "...Oh my, I'm sorry."

In the end, Choi Ga-in exploded.

She who shouted angrily revealed her true nature.

Even a cornered mouse will bite a cat.

Han Seo-hyun had overlooked that.

She had overlooked it.

Eun-ha thought so.

But she hadn't overlooked it.

Because she let go of the hand she was holding.

She took a step forward.

Now to a distance where Choi Ga-in could easily swing her fist.

Don't tell me she...

This was the VIP viewing room.

There was no way people who left the viewing room after the division competition ended would just pass by Choi Ga-in raising her voice in the corridor.

People who peeked out opening doors, people passing through the corridor, people who came running hearing the commotion were all watching from afar.

Seo-hyun seemed to know that.

She seemed to know this would happen.

On the other hand, Choi Ga-in didn't notice the eyes and ears far away because she was so angry.

"Or─"

In that state, Han Seo-hyun took a step closer to Choi Ga-in.

Very close, to where she could grab her and swing her fist.

Han Seo-hyun whispered softly into the ear of her whose face had turned red.

"─Should I invite you once?"

"Aaaah─!!!"

Choi Ga-in screamed.

Choi Ga-in who could no longer contain her anger shouted curses that weren't fully formed words and acted violently.

She tried to swing her fist at Han Seo-hyun who had taken a step back.

But her fist cut through empty air.

Because Eun-ha who had already predicted this situation hugged Han Seo-hyun from behind and retreated.

She who failed her punch thrown with all her might lost her balance and fell face-first onto the floor.

"─What are you doing so dangerously. If I hadn't helped you, you could have been hit by her just now."

Eun-ha didn't even glance at Choi Ga-in lying face down on the floor unable to lift her head.

He only spoke in a stern tone to Han Seo-hyun who had suddenly entered his arms.

"I knew you would do this."

Han Seo-hyun retorting in a tone that wasn't serious in comparison.

Eun-ha was dumbfounded.

Wondering if she trusted him too much.

He was about to say something but became conscious of the gazes around and let go of her he was hugging.

"H-Han Seo-hyun, you really..."

Meanwhile, Choi Ga-in who had been lying face down on the floor lifted her head.

Tears were welling up in her eyes.

Seeing that, Eun-ha and Seo-hyun felt no emotion.

The two knew very well.

That looking down on her like this would make her more miserable.

"Why did you pick a fight with me without even bringing your faction? How embarrassing with no one to help you up..."

"......"

"Don't do that next time. Understood?"

Choi Ga-in's pupils shook greatly hearing those words.

She soon turned her head to Eun-ha standing next to Seo-hyun.

She who had been quietly staring at him slowly reached out her hand.

"E-Eun-ha..."

Eun-ha immediately frowned.

Why was she reaching out her hand to him?

He had no intention of helping her up.

But she was holding out her hand to him as if he would help her up.

What on earth was she believing in?

He couldn't understand.

Eun-ha ignored her gaze.

Just then, Seo-hyun grasped his hand.

"─He's my exclusive. Don't touch him as you please." "Ah..." "Let's go." "Okay."

Seo-hyun pulled his hand.

Eun-ha entrusted his body to her touch and passed by Choi Ga-in.

The empty gaze of Choi Ga-in sitting on the floor followed their backs.

It was none of his business.

He decided to ignore it.

He decided to ignore it, but─

"─How long do you think that will last!? Han Seo-hyun, do you think Eun-ha will still be your exclusive even if you enter YH Group!?"

Han Seo-hyun stopped in her tracks at the shout from behind.

"Do you think he'll keep staying by your side? Why would he stay with someone becoming someone else's wife!!"

A voice echoing through the corridor.

People's gazes increased.

Whether she knew that or not, Choi Ga-in spewed out curses about Han Seo-hyun as they came to mind while panting.

Not knowing how much she was tarnishing Galaxy Group's reputation in this place.

Not knowing it was becoming grounds for Sirius Group to attack Galaxy Group.

Choi Ga-in was stupid.

Because she was stupid, she fell splendidly into the trap Han Seo-hyun had planned.

"─He's mine."

She who suddenly turned her head spoke forcefully to Choi Ga-in sitting on the floor far away.

As if telling everyone present here to listen.

☆

On the evening of the third day of the cultural festival, there was a campfire at the main field.

People were dancing around the crackling bonfire with partners they matched well with.

"Want to dance too?"

"Can you dance?"

"What's so hard about that..."

Eun-ha casually spoke to Han Seo-hyun who was looking at the bonfire blazing with layers of firewood as fuel.

She turned her head with a blank face.

Her face with her back to the flames seemed to be dyed in a color enveloped by warmth.

Her pupils were especially shining.

It was a sparkle that seemed like one would fall into her pupils if looked at carelessly.

Eun-ha deliberately pushed his head back and continued speaking.

"This isn't dancing at a party, you just need to dance freely to the music so it's not difficult."

Eun-ha pointed at the area around the bonfire.

Quite a few people dancing alone to the music were noticeable too.

Everyone was entrusting their bodies to the rhythm without any particular form.

"You don't know that's the hardest thing?"

"No, it's really not difficult." "Don't match the rhythm."

Seo-hyun didn't listen to his words.

She led his hand and took a spot among the people.

The music changed.

Music slower yet more cheerful than before flowed from the speakers.

People's movements changed.

He tried to move along with that too.

If only she hadn't grasped his hand tightly.

"Stay still."

"No, why?"

She didn't answer.

She who had been quietly listening to the rhythm grasped his other hand.

"Don't try to match the rhythm, match me." "......"

"One, two..."

Seo-hyun moved.

Eun-ha whose hands and shoulders were grasped had to move his feet following her with a thud.

Eun-ha looked down trying not to step on her feet.

Then a clear voice flew in from right in front.

"Don't look down, just look at me."

"......"

"Why are you trying to look at your feet when you're not dancing alone? You should look at your partner." "...That's true." "Erase the thought that you need to lead from your mind. Sometimes you need to know how to be led too."

You need to know how to be led too.

Eun-ha fell into thought hearing her words.

Until now, he had been thinking he needed to lead the flow.

So he had been trying not to get swept up in the flow.

If he did get swept up, he chose methods to overturn the opponent's situation.

That's why her words were hard to accept readily.

Nevertheless, he felt like he was grasping some clue.

Something he couldn't understand himself.

He entrusted his body to her movements and asked to know that for certain.

"Why? Being led means you could lose the initiative? Even though I could be at a disadvantage?"

She furrowed her brow.

She seemed to guess he wasn't asking about dancing.

But she didn't get flustered.

"Conversely, you don't have to take responsibility. You can enjoy to your heart's content while leaving the responsibility to the other person."

"......"

"And if you want to lead the flow, can't you just expand the situation?" "Expand the situation?"

"What would happen if you get swept up in the flow the other person led, and make it a flow the other person can't control either?"

"......"

"The flow becomes so big it swallows up other people too. Then will other people just try to be swallowed by the flow?" "......"

"I think flow will devour flow... and become an even bigger flow."

"...Then it would be quite chaotic." "As you said, it could become chaotic or someone who can lead that flow could appear."

Make the flow so big even the opponent can't control it.

The moment he heard those words, he felt something flash through his mind.

He vaguely grasped it.

Until now, he had been insisting on magic to strengthen himself.

Creating stronger protective magic.

Or creating counter magic to deflect the opponent's magic.

He had been focusing only on those two types of magic.

But there was no need to insist only on strengthening himself.

"...What if I make the opponent stronger?"

"Then it would be one of two things. Either the opponent becomes strong and leads the flow, or they self-destruct unable to handle their own power."

That was right.

What would happen if he intervened when the opponent used magic?

Considerable mana control was needed to control the opponent's magic.

But infusing his own magic while the opponent was manifesting magic didn't require mana control.

And if that happened─

The opponent might go berserk facing a result completely different from their image.

It's not about controlling the flow of water.

It's about making the flow stronger.

He discovered a new possibility.

Eun-ha smiled broadly while looking into Han Seohyun's eyes[─The Academy's traditional fireworks display will begin now.]

A bang was heard and flowers bloomed under the night sky.

The flames made of mana turned into flower petals and scattered over the Academy without ever going out.

People were amazed at the flower petals. Everyone started moving to get a closer look at the fireworks.

“…It’s pretty.”

Seohyun also let out a small exclamation while looking up at the night sky.

A flying flower petal fell on her head.

bonfire.

Night sky.

Scattered flower petals.

Han Seo-hyun.

Eun-ha, who was looking at a scene that was like a painting, opened her mouth to the woman who gave her a new realization.

“─Do you want to go to the dorm?”