RE: Player again

341

[Chapter 104] [A Monster with Worn-out Emotions (6)]

Failed middle school academy entrance exam.

Failed high school academy entrance exam.

Lee Kanghyuk, who had tasted failure twice, was able to enter high school academy on his third try.

Of course, he didn't enter from 1st year, but only for 1 year in 3rd year.

Although he was classified differently from the 027 class, 27th class, the fact that he could obtain player qualifications upon graduation was no different.

Moreover, he had no intention of working on the frontlines as a player anyway.

The reason for obtaining player qualifications was purely to expand his range of activities in back alleys and make it considerably easier to advance into the black market.

And above all...!

And the biggest reason he entered the academy was that Noh Euna was at the academy.

His feelings that hadn't changed since elementary school finally overcame the barrier of love and allowed him to enter high school academy.

That's what Lee Kanghyuk thought.

Hah, really. How well do you know Euna to say that?

Do you think Euna would be interested in you just because you do that?

He knows well about Euna.

So he inwardly snorted when people passing by in high school academy talked about Euna.

Because Euna was so pretty and kind. Moreover, since her skills were outstanding too, it was inevitable that she captured the hearts of many men.

But that didn't justify those guys making Euna uncomfortable.

What Lee Kanghyuk did after entering high school academy, without properly attending classes, was preemptively excluding bad guys trying to approach Euna.

And he was watching for opportunities to naturally approach Euna while looking for timing.

Lee Kanghyuk, he was a pure romantic pursuing self-love.

Already, 50 situational greetings were stored in his head.

Today is the chance for the most fateful, romantic, and natural meeting!

3rd year high school academy students exempt from participating in the cultural festival.

Nevertheless, the reason Lee Kanghyuk came out to see the cultural festival like this was because he thought the simulation of accidentally meeting Euna at the cultural festival was the most romantic among his simulations.

Moreover, on the third day of the cultural festival, they do fireworks which could be called the flower of the cultural festival, don't they?

Fireworks bursting in the night sky.

Creating a fateful and romantic encounter by accidentally meeting under that.

Lee Kanghyuk was even preparing a bouquet for this moment.

He styled his hair in a slicked-back pompadour, and even wore expensive clothes he had been preparing for this day.

"Yeah, maybe it's better to fall into delusions and make nonsensical plans rather than pursuing self-love while not leaving the house. I hate either way though..."

Lee Kanghyuk, who even prepared a justification for participating in the cultural festival though he didn't need to attend.

Euna's younger brother Eunha asked him to guide Twenty-five to the cultural festival.

At this point, Lee Kanghyuk thought Eunha had finally given him permission.

In fact, Twenty-five following behind him was sighing saying to say something that makes sense.

Love makes one deaf.

Lee Kanghyuk couldn't hear anything.

"Anyway, I'll take care of my business, so let's part ways here."

"Really? Is that really okay?"

"We've been wandering for 3 days already. The academy structure is already in my head even without you, so go on your way."

"Geez, what a way to talk... Fine, I got it."

Lee Kanghyuk irritably waved off Twenty-five who was turning around.

Anyway, the romantic meeting would end if he met Euna with him.

It was better for him to slip away like this.

According to my information, Euna should be going to watch Ryu Yeonhwa entering the comprehensive competition around now.

So if I go that way...

Inference based on information.

Lee Kanghyuk, who dominated the back alleys of Seongbuk-gu, devoted his talent to finding Euna.

Thus, Lee Kanghyuk was able to find Euna he had been searching for so desperately among the crowds.

It's Euna!

She's really pretty today too!

Her glimpsed among people.

Even seen from a distance, she stood out particularly.

Lee Kanghyuk's heart pounded thump-thump.

He walked across the crowd as if enchanted by something.

Euna's voice was heard.

"Euna, stop being angry now. I really did wrong. Okay?"

"Changjin, you're really strange. When did I ever get angry at you?"

"Because of what happened in the haunted house, you were disappointed in me..."

"No. I don't care at all. Well, we're not in any kind of relationship, right? Why would I be angry even if you abandoned me and ran away?"

"......"

Euna.

Lee Kanghyuk couldn't call out like that.

Because Han Changjin was sticking close to her side as she walked grumbling with her stone tablet held behind her back.

Although Euna seemed to be tapping Han Changjin on the surface.

Lee Kanghyuk, who had been watching her for a long time, could tell that she wasn't angry unlike her tone.

The emotion on her face was like mischief that children would make.

She was teasing Han Changjin.

The look in her eyes towards him seemed to contain unusual emotions.

"Oh? Those fish-shaped bread look delicious. They say there's sweet potato mousse and cheese inside the fish-shaped bread?"

"Hmph, look at you changing the subject again."

"Euna, wait there. I'll go buy a bag."

"Who said I'd eat it?"

"Euna, you liked sweet potato flavor, right? I'll go buy it right away."

"...Tsk..."

People passing by here and there.

Lee Kanghyuk stood blankly in place as if he had lost his way.

While everyone was walking as if they had a purpose, he didn't know where to go now.

"─Euna."

"What now?"

Lee Kanghyuk saw.

Noh Euna responding to Han Changjin who looked back with a sulky face.

Lee Kanghyuk felt his heart tearing apart realizing that gaze, that voice wasn't directed at him.

"─I'm not trying to change the subject. And next time, I'll definitely protect you no matter what happens."

"...Tsk... I could say such words too."

"I'll show you with actions from now on."

"......"

Han Changjin handing fish-shaped bread to Euna.

She who had been looking up at him without even glancing at the fish-shaped bread soon opened her mouth.

As if asking to be fed.

Han Changjin's face brightened.

Ah...

There was never such an assumption.

Quickly turn your head.

You must use information.

But the assumptions he had made until now crumbled miserably seeing Euna biting the fish-shaped bread from the head.

No...

This can't be!

Although he tried to deny reality.

The fantasy kingdom he had built up until now began to crumble step by step.

The eldest son disappeared, the daughter disappeared.

The large house collapsed, the dog left somewhere.

Ah, I had a good dream.

☆

There were too many people.

It was crowded everywhere.

So Hayang was being pushed here and there.

"─Be careful."

"...Yeah, thanks."

Meanwhile, Eunha repeatedly grabbed her sleeve and pulled her to his side.

Sometimes their bodies pressed close due to being swept up in the crowd.

Unlike herself who was conscious of Eunha, he was focused on finding paths that weren't crowded with people.

"Is there anything else you want to see next?"

"Hmm... Come to think of it, I heard 1st year class 3 is making handmade candy, I'd like to take a look."

"Okay, let's go that way. Let's see, 1st year booths are..."

Somehow Eunha was annoying.

While she was so conscious of him, Eunha spoke casually.

...Can I hold it?

Hayang followed behind Eunha, lowering her gaze to his hand swinging back and forth.

In this situation, holding hands would prevent being swept away by the crowd.

There was such an excellent 'justification'.

Ugh...

No. I can't do it.

Soon Hayang gave up on putting the thought that suddenly came to mind into action.

She was too embarrassed to do it.

Won't it seem strange for no reason?

No matter what justification there is, isn't it too obvious?

'Hayang, just go for it!'

'That Noh Eunha kid won't understand unless you say it in words for his whole life!'

Suddenly she recalled what Seona and Minji said at the pretty girls' dormitory council meeting sometime.

'Eunha is... I'm not sure if he's dense or not. Seeing how he puts up a wall against Gain, it doesn't seem like he has no sense at all...'

'I don't understand at all what's good about such a kid. I think you're really wasting yourself, Hayang.'

Eunwoo and Subin's words came to mind as a bonus.

Anyway, wasn't the conclusion reached at that meeting that she should approach him more aggressively?

...Okay, fine.

Hayang decided to muster up courage.

She who clenched her fist decided to grab his hand.

Looking back, she remembered casually holding Eunha's hand in the past.

It was after realizing her feelings of liking him not just as a friend but romantically that she became unable to hold his hand.

Thinking about it now, she regretted it.

Why did she let go of the hand she was holding because she was embarrassed then?

Since that day, he also tried not to touch her as much as possible.

Except when pinching her cheeks.

"Eunha..."

Hayang tried to grab his hand.

Right at that moment.

She staggered from people suddenly bumping into her as they passed by.

"......!"

Her body lost balance and was about to fall to the ground.

Hayang flailed her arms and legs trying to somehow maintain balance.

"Those guys bumped shoulders passing by but didn't even apologize."

At that moment, Eunha caught her.

He pulled her close into his arms and had an annoyed face towards the people who passed by.

"Are you okay?"

"Uh... Yeah, I'm fine."

Jung Hayang looking up at him while holding her hands on Eunha's chest.

She who nodded with round eyes slowly backed away.

"There are too many people, this won't do. Come closer."

Eunha grabbed Hayang's sleeve and pulled her as she tried to back away being too conscious of him.

Hayang approached awkwardly.

Nevertheless, he crossed through the crowd without minding her mood at all.

Before she knew it, she became accustomed to walking while holding his sleeve.

So she gradually became bolder.

"You're right. There are too many people."

The hand pulling her sleeve.

She pretended to be as natural as possible while gently intertwining her arm with his.

Only then did Eunha who had been pulling her sleeve turn around startled.

"─Why?"

Calmly, naturally.

Hayang used the poker face she was educated in since childhood.

To hide her true feelings, smiling as brightly as possible.

"It's nothing."

Eunha smiled.

As if finding it cute.

She didn't like him treating her like a child endlessly, so she put strength into the hand intertwining his arm.

☆

Our master really has good fortune.

Making me do all the work, while the master enjoys dating.

Twenty-five.

He cracked his knuckles after pulverizing the shoulders of the men who had bumped Jung Hayang's shoulder earlier.

At first, he discovered his master among the crowds and tried to approach.

But seeing a girl walking side by side next to his master, he decided not to interfere unnecessarily.

Instead, he decided not to leave alone the people who made his master angry.

"Ow, my bones..."

Twenty-five moved his joints roughly.

The opponents were players.

Although they were incompetent players, it was quite tough facing multiple opponents.

He was in an injured state too.

It's fortunate his recovery ability was overwhelmingly higher than others from his time as an experimental subject.

If not, the one sprawled in the middle of the street would have been himself, not them.

Anyway, I should leave soon.

He drew too much attention.

Twenty-five looked indifferently at people pointing smartphones at him and decided to quickly leave this place.

But Twenty-five discovered his master again at the place he fled to.

"Oh, this is delicious."

"Yeah. It seems fine to package a few and bring them to the kids."

"Should we? Give us two more of each type."

"Two each? Isn't one enough?"

"One set is to gift to family."

This is fate.

Twenty-five was certain.

That he and his master were in a relationship bound by the red thread of fate.

This was far more romantic than that toad-like Lee Kanghyuk bastard talking about fate.

I should go greet the master.

And should I call the person beside the master 'young lady'...

I need to make a good impression.

It's the academy my master attends.

Although I came to work, shouldn't I go greet him as his slave out of courtesy?

Twenty-five thought that as he approached the booth where 1st year students were making candy.

Just as he was about to speak to the two─

"─Eunha...! So you were here! I've been looking for you until now, where on earth were you and what were you doing!?"

""......"

"...But Jung Hayang, why are you here?"

To his and his master's meeting.

Some girl who looked like a lump of soybean paste butted in.

Seeing the two people who were happily conversing have their expressions sour, they didn't seem to be close.

Above all, in Twenty-five's eyes, his master seemed to be seriously contemplating looking at the soybean paste.

Since the master was contemplating so much, shouldn't it be his turn to step up?

Twenty-five who reached that conclusion soon naturally snatched the plastic cup a passing person was holding.

The person engrossed in conversation didn't seem to realize their coffee was stolen.

"─Kyaa! What is this!?"

"Oh my, I'm really sorry."

Twenty-five approached the soybean paste holding the cup, and poured the contents on the soybean paste's head.

This whole series of events happened naturally.

So the soybean paste who got doused with coffee raged at him without realizing it was an intentional incident.

Meanwhile, the master whose eyes met gave a grateful eye greeting and left the place.

Master, you don't need to come home today. I'll take care of everything.

Twenty-five saw him off with a satisfied look.

Then, he decided to deal with the soybean paste.

But this soybean paste.

"Hey, you bastard! Are you listening to me right now!?"

Her whole body was plastered with luxury brands.

Twenty-five's sharp gaze quickly appraised the luxury goods adorning her body.

I can't waste the master's money unnecessarily.

I'll save some money today?

Whether male or female.

He's confident in enchanting people.

Twenty-five flipped his long hair back and left a refreshing smile on his lips.

"─I'm sorry. Are you hurt anywhere?"

"......"

Old skills

Haven't gone anywhere.

Twenty-five snickered inwardly.