RE: Player again

342

[Chapter 104] [A Monster with Worn-out Emotions (7)]

This year, most of the students who won the middle school academy division competitions were 2nd years.

Mok Minho in the dealer division.

Hoshimiya Kaede in the ranger division.

Cha Eunwoo in the supporter division.

Jung Hayang in the navigator division.

Jin Seona in the telepath division.

In the hunter division, Jin Parang who advanced to the finals fell out of bounds alongside his opponent, so there was no winner.

Lastly, 2nd year Bae Subin won the caster division.

Out of the 9 divisions, 6 winners were 2nd years, excluding the hunter division where no winner emerged.

Some of these kids seem like they could be active in the field right now?

Divisions that consume a lot of internal mana usually have 3rd years winning because the system needs to be well-established... To think 2nd years would sweep everything...

What era is this to use a bow as the main weapon? At that level, she'd be no joke even using firearms instead of necessarily using a bow...

Did they say these were the 031 class? I came to see kids entering high school academy next year, but ended up seeing kids entering the year after next.

The middle school academy division competitions were lower grade than the high school academy division competitions.

Scouts who came to watch for fun and industry officials who had no choice but to attend the competition after failing to get desired tickets were inwardly rejoicing at their windfall.

The early bird catches the worm.

The promising rookies of the 031 class will surely receive attention from industry officials someday.

So connections must be made with them before competition heats up.

The thoughts of people who came to the division competitions all aligned, and they approached the promising rookies looking for opportunities.

As a result, Bae Subin was extremely annoyed by their gazes.

Moreover, whatever method Eunha used, all the people who flocked to Hayang also flocked to her.

Where did that Noh Eunha kid go?

He doesn't read even when I send KakaoTalk messages...

You always carry your smartphone around, so why don't you read my messages!?

Bae Subin barely shook them off and kept fuming.

Then she sent dozens of messages to Noh Eunha's last message "Work hard in our place."

But Noh Eunha didn't read any of them.

Even after more than 3 hours passed.

Humanly speaking, it didn't make sense not to read KakaoTalk for over 3 hours no matter how busy.

Is he ignoring my messages on purpose now?

Thinking that made her feel upset.

Irritation kept building up, and she had to work in place of Noh Eunha and Jung Hayang who disappeared saying they'd take a break as they pleased.

There was absolutely no time she could rest.

She who prided herself that no one was as busy as her was so annoyed by Noh Eunha's message ignoring.

Do you think you're my only friend?

Bae Subin sent messages to other friends while fuming to vent her frustration.

But all her friends seemed to conspire not to read her messages.

Even Seona who usually replied within 10 minutes, Minji who seemed to live only looking at Pine Talk, and Eunwoo who chatted very occasionally weren't reading her messages today.

Feeling too depressed, she even sent a message to Mok Minho for the first time, but Mok Minho didn't read it either.

"Jin Parang": LOL hahaha (05:12 PM)

The only person who read her message and replied was Jin Parang.

But Parang cut off the conversation well.

When she tried talking about trivial things, Jin Parang only sent 'ㅋㅋㅋㅋ' saying even trivial things were funny.

It didn't feel worth conversing.

Honestly, although she sent it to Parang, she almost reflexively responded "So what...".

So Subin read-ignored Parang's reply and decided to focus on her witch role.

Phew... Finally sitting in a chair.

Tsk, but why is Noh Eunha still not reading my messages?

Seeing even Hayang who usually replies well not reading, he's definitely ignoring me now, right?

Soon the haunted house booth operating time ended.

She who left the back to students in charge of the stage sat in a chair standing alone and checked her smartphone.

There was still no reply from Noh Eunha.

Now she just felt dejected.

He treated me well at first...

Now that we've become close, he's going to neglect me?

The sense of deprivation was no joke.

Subin fiddled with her smartphone endlessly while swallowing her resentment towards Eunha.

Meanwhile.

"Ah, Subin. If you have time, would you like to help with some student council work?"

"Student council? What work?"

The president who was busily moving to clean up the booth spotted her and smiled brightly.

Subin tilted her head at the president's question, wanting to move her body just then.

"It seems there's a problem with the fireworks now. They're saying if there's someone who can handle magic formulas well, please come to the student council quickly and help."

"Fireworks?"

The third day of the cultural festival.

There was an event to launch fireworks made with magic on this evening.

It could be called the flower of the academy cultural festival.

To the extent that even she was looking forward to it.

I wanted to watch with the kids this year too...

I have no idea where my friends are or what they're doing.

Last year we all watched the fireworks together and made happy memories.

Somehow it seems I'll spend this year alone.

If I had been alone from the start, I wouldn't have felt so lonely, but now becoming alone, loneliness came rushing in as a reaction.

So she decided to appreciate the fireworks while helping with student council work rather than watching alone.

"Is this what had a problem?"

"Yeah, that's right. The fire won't light even though we're putting in mana as fuel."

"Okay. I'll check it out."

Subin carefully examined the magic formula of the problematic firework.

Fortunately, it seemed like she could solve it.

The ratio of mana used as fuel was just miscalculated.

─Wait.

Then she who was fixing the magic formula suddenly stopped her hand.

Bae Subin could vividly imagine how the fireworks would illuminate the night sky when they burst.

It will be extremely flashy and pretty.

Thinking about having to watch that alone made her so sad.

Seeing couples all over the field made her even more spiteful.

Yeah, let's see just how pretty it is.

Everyone in this world can die except singles!

I'll set off really flashy fireworks.

Enough to deafen ears.

Bae Subin, the village chief of Korea's single village, started tearing apart and fixing the magic formula while shrugging her shoulders.

Such an experience filled her knowledge more abundantly.

☆

Before, before Han Seohyun left.

She had said in passing while handing over to Hayang:

'The person who ends up with him will most likely become unhappy.'

'...Why do you think that?'

At that time, she couldn't casually brush off Seohyun's words.

She couldn't understand why Seohyun was thinking that way.

As far as Jung Hayang herself knew, even she harbored feelings for Noh Eunha that were certainly not light.

'Because he's not interested in others. Can you deny that?'

'......'

A question that struck hard.

At that time, Jung Hayang couldn't immediately react to her question.

She who had watched Noh Eunha for a long time knew him very well.

Eunha is not interested in others.

Didn't it take quite a long time for Eunha to show interest in her and her friends?

Even if one receives Eunha's interest after much effort.

'Do you think you can receive more interest than he gives to his family?'

Han Seohyun asked like that.

As if saying you know too, right?

Rather, wouldn't you who have watched him for even longer than me know better?

At that time, she was looking at her as if seeing through her heart.

'Sometimes when I see him, I think Noh Eunha seems unable to empathize with others' emotions.'

'......'

'─It's not that he has no emotions. He just can't empathize. What do you think will happen if you end up with such a person?'

Jung Hayang knew too.

That Eunha doesn't empathize well with others' emotions.

Then someday she had such a thought.

Perhaps Eunha's obsession with family is because he thinks that's the only way he can hide himself who can't empathize with others.

That he's obsessing over family to show his family that he's no different from other people.

That the reason he's usually indifferent is to cover up his inability to empathize with others as an indifferent personality.

So─

'─Don't you sometimes feel scared when you see him? Especially when he... expresses anger.'

Hayang, and probably her friends too, must have found Eunha scary at times.

Even if Eunha's killing intent wasn't directed at her and her friends, nevertheless the aura he emitted was too frightening.

Seeing such an appearance, she couldn't help but think that perhaps that was Noh Eunha's true self.

A monster who only knows the emotion of anger.

A monster who can't empathize with others.

Noh Eunha might be a monster.

'Still... Eunha has good points too.'

'I know that too. That he's an attractive person enough to make up for his flaws. That's why it's more dangerous.'

'What?'

Although only two years apart.

Hayang was slightly envious of Han Seohyun who seemed to have a more mature way of thinking than herself.

While she liked Eunha this much, yet was scared of him in one corner of her heart.

On the other hand, she didn't seem afraid of Eunha.

If she was looking at Noh Eunha from her own perspective, it seemed like she was looking at Noh Eunha from an objective perspective at the same time.

'─Because someone completely fallen for Eunha will surely think they can change Noh Eunha as a person with their heart.'

'......'

'They say they don't expect anything in return with words, but there's no one in this world who truly doesn't expect anything in return as they say. At first, they'll be happy just being with Eunha. Then someday they'll start demanding from Eunha.'

'......'

'I love you this much, so why don't you love me like this? Why don't you love me more than your family?'

Han Seohyun speaking calmly.

But Jung Hayang couldn't calmly accept the words she let slip.

Strangely, the future she was assuming resonated in her heart.

'So do you think you can endure without becoming unhappy?'

Han Seohyun's words are right.

If you come to like Eunha, you will become unhappy.

Nevertheless, Hayang didn't want to back down like this.

'Then─'

Surely Han Seohyun would know.

The way to not become unhappy.

'─How can one be happy while liking Eunha?'

'Why are you asking me that?'

Han Seohyun answered with a smile.

At that moment Jung Hayang sensed.

That she knew the way.

So she looked at Han Seohyun with a pleading face.

And Han Seohyun, unlike Han Seoyeon, didn't act hatefully.

As if she intended to tell from the start, she opened her mouth.

'You shouldn't like Eunha, but make him like you.'

'......'

'Or become a person with strong spirit of sacrifice who is satisfied just by pouring your heart out to him.'

It was a simple yet very difficult thing.

But she had a peaceful face unlike herself.

Hayang couldn't stay still without asking.

'Then can you... do one of the two?'

Then she burst into a faint laugh.

As if it was a meaningless assumption.

'What could I possibly do when I have to marry someone else?'

Was that affirmation or negation?

Hayang still didn't know even now.

But the words she gave her before leaving for Japan still remained in her heart.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Fireworks exploded.

The night sky of the academy cultural festival she watched with friends last year.

This year she was looking up at the night sky embroidered with fireworks together with Eunha.

"I thought they might have skipped it this year due to some problem, but they set them off without any notice... What are those organizers thinking?"

Streets bustling with people.

Nevertheless, Hayang could vividly hear Eunha's complaints.

Even though people's cheers were so loud.

Even though the sound of fireworks bursting was deafening.

It felt like only she and he existed in this world.

"─Eunha."

"Huh? What?"

So.

At this time when people were looking at the fireworks, she decided to confess her feelings.

'You'll become unhappy.'

Han Seohyun's words flashed by.

The advice she gave too.

But she firmly resolved.

That she would sacrifice herself endlessly until Eunha turned to look at her, even if he never turned to look at her.

'Please take good care of Eunha in the future too.'

Euna's encouragement came to mind.

Hayang decided to take courage from her encouragement.

"I─"

The person she likes.

What kind of person is Eunha?

A person who is indifferent to everything yet sometimes takes care of people around him meticulously.

A person who tries to protect those who enter his fence to the end.

A person who looks mature yet childish, scary yet charming.

Noh Eunha is gentle and kind.

He always considers her.

"─really like you."

But being gentle is cruel.

But being kind is cold-hearted.

Words with opposite meanings are ironically used in the same context when you look at the content.

"─What? I can't hear well!!"

Noh Eunha is gentle.

Because he's gentle, he shows cruelty by pretending not to know her feelings.

Noh Eunha is kind.

Because he's kind, he shows cold-heartedness by indirectly expressing rejection of confessions.

Bang!

Boom boom─!!!

Bang bang!!

The fireworks sound deafens ears.

It was too noisy.