RE: Player again

338

[Chapter 104] [A Monster with Worn-out Emotions (3)]

He succeeded in monopolizing Euna.

Eunha, who managed to get a break during lunch time, brought up the idea of having lunch with Euna.

Of course, excluding Han Changjin.

"I'll tell Changjin separately that I'm having lunch elsewhere."

"Is that really okay? I heard you were going to have lunch with Changjin oppa."

"Hmph, it's fine. Why should I eat with someone who pushed me away and ran off saying he'd live on his own?"

"That's right. Noona's words are 100% correct. That Changjin hyung isn't even a man."

"Ahaha..."

Euna was misunderstanding.

Before the maze transformed, Han Changjin's actions to protect her while under the illusion seemed to have looked like he was running away saying he'd live on his own.

And he had no intention of clearing up her misunderstanding.

Thanks to that, Jung Hayang, who received a break alongside him, could only laugh awkwardly while knowing the truth.

"He said he'd protect me... He was just all talk like other guys. You got that, Eunha? You should never make empty promises to women. You need to remember this clearly."

"I know. How many times have I heard this from noona? I'm not like Changjin hyung."

"Haha..."

She was thoroughly upset and wasn't even properly responding to contacts from Changjin.

Eunha agreed with everything she said as if it was all truth, trying to cheer her up.

Although in Hayang's opinion, Eunha seemed to have made quite a few empty promises too.

She just laughed awkwardly.

"But where are we going to eat lunch? Everywhere will be crowded with people at this time..."

"Don't worry about that. Hayang said she packed lunch boxes."

"Lunch boxes?"

"Yeah! Ta-da!"

The academy was bustling with people everywhere due to the cultural festival.

Places without booths set up had fewer people, but there weren't proper places to eat.

Even if they ate at the student cafeteria, it would be crowded with students too.

That's why Hayang packed lunch boxes so they could eat lunch comfortably in a quiet place.

She showed Euna the large stacked lunch boxes she took out of her bag.

Euna's eyes widened.

"Wow, did you make all this yourself, Hayang? This much?"

"I made a lot on purpose to share with others."

"It must have been hard making this."

"Ehehe... No. I just woke up a bit early and made it with ingredients I had."

"This doesn't look like it was just made with ingredients you had..."

Eunha spread a mat under a tree shade.

Euna, who sat down, kept exclaiming in admiration seeing the lunch boxes Hayang brought.

Although Hayang said it was nothing, Euna could tell that the lunch boxes she packed were by no means nothing.

"But..."

"Hm? What's wrong?"

"There's a bunch of things Eunha likes."

"Oh, it just turned out that way somehow. And unni, Eunha and I have similar tastes, right?"

"Hmm... Was that so?"

"...Uh, Eunha, are you hungry!? Unni, aren't you hungry too? Let's eat quickly! I'm so hungry!"

Euna narrowed her eyes and looked at her closely.

As if thinking how adorable.

Soon Hayang awkwardly changed the topic and handed chopsticks to the two.

"Eunha. It seems Hayang made this for you, shouldn't you say thank you?"

"Oh, unni! You don't have to do that!"

"You two, I heard your shifts overlap throughout the cultural festival period so you have to eat together. Hayang will probably keep packing lunch boxes each time... It's not good to just eat without saying anything."

"...Well, that's true. Thanks, Hayang. I'll eat well."

Euna giggled softly.

She who picked up chopsticks spoke to Eunha who had been turning his head elsewhere until now.

She could see.

That Eunha was pretending not to know.

"Me too. Hayang, I'll eat well!"

"Okay! I hope it suits unni's taste."

"It suits my taste so it'll suit noona's taste too. It's delicious."

Eunha answered indifferently and put food in his cheek.

There was no way she who learned from Jung Seokhun would have made unpalatable food.

As expected.

Eunha nodded at her skills that captured his taste perfectly.

Honestly, if he got addicted to this taste, it seemed like he wouldn't be able to live without eating this cooking anymore.

...But it's not like I can't live without it.

Food is for filling the stomach.

Eunha smiled bitterly without realizing.

He who realized how delicious the food was, was willing to boldly accept the methods from before the regression for what he wanted.

That food was merely for filling the stomach.

Nevertheless, he hoped this life would continue if possible.

Buzz buzz

At that moment, his smartphone vibrated.

Eunha took out the smartphone from his pocket and changed his expression.

"I'll go make a phone call for a moment."

"Why? To whom?"

"Just someone I know."

Eunha vaguely brushed off Euna who was curious.

Then he got up from his seat and checked Pine Talk again.

"Twenty-five": Arrived at academy (12:23 PM)

☆

While Eunha was away for a moment.

Only Euna and Hayang remained at the place where they were eating lunch.

The awkwardness was very brief.

The two who had been close since childhood soon chattered happily as if nothing had happened.

Then Euna smiled bitterly and changed the topic.

"I'm sorry. You made it for Eunha, but I butted in unnecessarily... Eunha is really oblivious..."

"No, unni. I was glad I could eat lunch together with you."

"Really?"

"Yeah, of course."

What a kind child.

Euna thought that looking at Hayang who was considerate of her feelings.

She wasn't unaware that Hayang had feelings for her younger brother.

How could she not know?

It would be strange not to know.

It was really welcome news that a kind child like Hayang had feelings for Eunha.

Honestly, she was even grateful.

"─Hayang."

"Yes, unni."

So Euna wanted to cheer her on.

Her who had harbored feelings close to single-minded devotion since childhood.

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

"......"

At the same time, Euna wanted to advise her.

Her who had been not hiding her feelings since childhood.

"As Eunha's noona, I'm telling you... Liking Eunha will be difficult."

She knew her younger brother very well.

Her younger brother who couldn't love himself.

Although Eunha hadn't said anything until now, she vaguely noticed that he was harshly whipping himself in his heart.

Saying he should be unhappy.

Saying he shouldn't be loved.

Her younger brother who endlessly drove himself.

Honestly, it would be difficult to love Eunha unconditionally without being family.

"Still, I hope you'll like Eunha a lot, Hayang. So that he can like himself... I hope you'll support him by his side."

"......"

There are limits to family love.

Family love alone can't fully embrace his heart.

That's why Euna spoke her selfish wish.

A wish forcing sacrifice on Hayang.

It will probably be very difficult.

Even Euna who had been watching Eunha until now couldn't confirm how deep his sadness was.

However, those who like Eunha must fill that sadness with their love.

On the other hand, deep valleys would form in their hearts.

To keep the well of love from drying up, they must draw water from each other's wells.

However, those who like Eunha will probably have to fill his well with their own well water.

I'm sorry.

And thank you.

Euna knew very well that she was a bad person.

For her younger brother to be happy.

That she was forcing sacrifice on her.

"......"

Hayang didn't readily answer her words because she knew that too.

No one would easily answer that they would do so.

☆

"Why do I have to come here..."

"I can tell you the reason why you have to come as much as you want."

It should be tiresome by now.

Jung Geumjeon kept grumbling.

Nevertheless, his secretary answered his complaints without minding.

Jung Geumjeon's mouth protruded.

"I want to read a newly released novel, but why do I have to come to a cultural festival for little kids..."

"That novel you're talking about... If you'd like, I can tell you the plot here."

"What? How do you know that?"

"Did you think I wouldn't know that? I was the one who found p*********y on your computer before..."

"Why is that story coming up here!"

Academy cultural festival.

Jung Geumjeon, who was walking through the bustling place, reflexively shouted.

Of course, attention focused on him.

However, the secretary with a hairpin in her hair was just smiling quietly.

Eventually, Jung Geumjeon realized it was a loss to deal with her and turned his body sharply.

She wearing a tight suit followed behind him.

"These days, it seems young master is interested in villainess novels."

"So what?"

"I have recommendations for novels you might like... You'll probably be satisfied."

"Hah, really. How can you guarantee that?"

"Long ago... When I saved the pantyhose pictures you like on your computer..."

"...Okay, I got it. Stop."

This secretary really can't be handled.

Geumjeon, who surrendered to her who knew his childhood too well, sighed deeply.

Thinking about it now, he felt the biggest reason he left the mansion was because of her who seemed to see through his life thoroughly.

"Ah, right. Young master."

"What. What now."

"To confess now... I also took and saved pictures of mine there."

"...Oh my god."

The older secretary laughing "Huhu."

He couldn't help but swear.

He didn't know if that noona was joking now, or if it was really true.

He had disposed of the computer at that time when leaving home, so there was no backup.

He regretted it for a very brief moment.

Why did grandfather send this noona to me?

It wasn't that grandfather sent her, but that she volunteered herself, he said?

Anyway, Jung Geumjeon, who became Donghae Clan's lord only in title currently, spoke to her who was his secretary while serving as an administrator.

"So what do you want?"

"For young master to work."

"Hah..."

Work, what he hated most.

Jung Geumjeon scratched the back of his neck.

He thought it couldn't be helped in the end.

It was obvious this would happen from when he was dragged to the academy cultural festival as Donghae Clan's lord.

"Alright. Work. I just need to work, right?"

"Yes. If you recruit even one person, I'll recommend one novel you'll like for each."

"You're really not lying?"

"I swear to heaven I have never lied until now."

"Hmph, as if. Is it human to live without lying?"

"I've never lied to young master."

"Your words flow like a mountain stream now as before."

Donghae Clan was quite an ambiguous clan.

There weren't proper players to represent the clan, and it wasn't a clan specialized in anything.

As a result, they stayed in A-grade every year and were in a situation of fighting for position with clans trying to rise from below, far from aiming for S-grade.

While KK Clan of KK Group, which could be called Donghae Group's rival, was establishing itself in S-grade after producing Hwang Sanggun as one of the Twelve Seats.

So Jung Geumjeon, who became Donghae Clan's lord, had to create a clan that wouldn't lose to KK Group.

The reason he came out to the cultural festival today was all because of that.

To recruit promising rookies with bright futures to the mediocre Donghae Clan.

"Then recruit anyone?"

"If you want to receive a scolding from the chairman later for recruiting just anyone..."

"Tsk."

Donghae Group's chairman Jung Jiman.

Geumjeon had to work diligently if only because of his grandfather who could be called his money tree.

He looked over those highly evaluated among the 027 class graduating next year with materials his secretary handed over in advance.

"Ryu Yeonhwa... With the Gift of "Sword Saint", there are sufficient elements to show off. Hmm... Her skills seem quite good too."

"There are rumors spreading in the industry that Ryu Yeonhwa will already join Regulus Clan."

"Did Regulus Clan butter her up? Or is it just a rumor?"

"After checking, it seems almost true. Noh Euna and Han Changjin below will also join Regulus Clan together."

"Whew... I wonder what will happen to Regulus Clan next year."

"So the chairman said, what were you doing while Regulus Clan was doing that, and that he'll give you a good scolding soon..."

"Damn. That old man should just rest quietly at home after retiring, why does he keep meddling in my business?"

"Although he stepped down as chairman, he's still the major shareholder so it can't be helped."

Jung Geumjeon fumed.

Those classified as promising rookies were almost all in discussions with large clans.

Even though they set a period for clans to wage recruitment wars against each other, large clans had somehow legally approached them in advance.

He realized that was the difference between A-grade Donghae Clan and S-grade clans.

"...It doesn't seem like we'll be able to pick up any gems from the academy 027 class..."

There were still many promising rookies left on the list.

However, after missing out on those standing out including Ryu Yeonhwa, the others looked like chaff to Jung Geumjeon.

Jung Geumjeon, who resolved to contact promising rookies in advance like other large clans from next year, raised his head from the list.

He was hungry.

He wanted to eat something.

"They're selling tanghulu over there."

"I was just craving something sweet. Let's eat that while thinking for now."

Jung Geumjeon licked his lips looking at the tanghulu being sold at a booth.

Jung Geumjeon approached the booth, gave money to the clerk, and bought tanghulu for himself and his secretary together.

She showed a surprised expression unusually.

"Why? Did I look like such an evil boss that I couldn't even buy this for you?"

"I've never seen you as an evil boss until now."

"Well... I'm not an evil boss, you're an evil secretary, right?"

Jung Geumjeon giggling while tasting the tanghulu.

Then his gaze went to the person who entered the booth after him.

"Miye, which one do you want?"

"Dad, you're thinking of eating again after eating like that earlier? I really can't live like this. You're so carefree even though there's not much time left on your contract period..."

"Miye... Even though I look like this, I'm really an amazing guardian? There will be plenty of clans making offers to me even if I just stay still."

"Then why isn't the clan you're in now even proposing a contract renewal!"

"T-that's... Rather, I was thinking of leaving as soon as the contract ends because I don't like it. It's like adult circumstances... You'll understand when you grow up."

A girl who looked like an elementary school student.

A large man flustering before that girl.

He wearing light armor convenient for activities was trying his best to cheer up his daughter's mood.

"Somehow it smells like money."

And Jung Geumjeon, who was watching the two, put the remaining tanghulu in his mouth and muttered.

He had a good nose for money.

And this player he met by chance was exuding the smell of money