RE: Player again

267

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

First day of the cultural festival.

The academy cultural festival runs for 5 days.

That means many people visit the academy from outside.

As a result, the entire academy grounds were bustling with people.

Especially the temporary food stall booths not far from the entrance were crowded with people as soon as they opened.

"They're selling roasted chestnuts at the academy?"

"Wow, Mom! There's roasted sweet potatoes too!"

"...Magic roasted sweet potatoes?"

"Welcome to the Class 1-1 cultural festival booth! We're roasting sweet potatoes using mana for heat! It's eco-friendly and super delicious!"

"We also have soda infused with mana! It'll be more fizzy than regular soda!"

Roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes cooked with mana.

Soda infused with mana.

Although these were foods commonly seen in the market, ordinary people who entered the gates looked curiously at the sight of food being made using mana.

Some people were so fascinated by the magic that they bought food at expensive prices that tasted no different from ordinary food.

As a few people paid and bought, others lined up out of curiosity, and the line soon became long.

There's not even a moment to rest.

The Class 1-6 booth was the same.

Eun-ha who received a new order took frozen dumplings out of the refrigerator and scattered them all over the griddle.

There was a sizzling sound as the frozen dumplings melted on the hot griddle.

Hot oil splashed on his arm.

Now Eun-ha didn't feel anything in particular.

He who had been grilling dumplings since the festival opened had become accustomed to the unpredictable oil splashes.

"Eun-ha! Two more orders of gun-mandu!"

"What's this? Gun-mandu grilled on an iron plate...? The visuals are no joke."

"Yes, gun-mandu is ready!"

The surroundings were noisy.

He couldn't understand this situation of grilling gun-mandu for people when he couldn't even eat gun-mandu himself.

Originally his role at the cultural festival was to distribute water to students working at the booth.

Why do I have to be grilling gun-mandu?

Eun-ha grilled gun-mandu while inwardly complaining.

He wanted to throw down the spatula and leave.

But he couldn't run away because the Class 6 instructor was watching from behind.

"Eun-ha! Sorry, but can I ask for one more order of gun-mandu?"

"Everyone, welcome! Come eat gun-mandu made by Noh Eun-ha who entered the middle school academy as salutatorian this year!"

"The academy entrance salutatorian is grilling gun-mandu! It's gun-mandu that doesn't cool down easily even when stored for a long time!"

Just a few days ago, the Class 1-6 students found it difficult to deal with Eun-ha.

But now they didn't find it difficult to deal with him grilling gun-mandu.

Because the image of Eun-ha diligently grilling gun-mandu didn't overlap with what happened at the 1st semester closing party.

"Kim Min-ji, you really..."

This was all because of Kim Min-ji.

Eun-ha cursed Kim Min-ji inwardly while forcefully infusing mana into the griddle.

The griddle infused with mana alloy heated up using mana as fuel and cooked the gun-mandu all the way through.

"How can there be so many people..."

One bag of gun-mandu was used up.

Eun-ha who stuck his head out of the booth made an astonished expression seeing people still lined up.

Why do I have to clean up the mess Min-ji made?

Orders came in again in the brief moment he rested.

He sighed and took out a new bag of gun-mandu from the refrigerator.

"If I had known this would happen, I should have just eaten that gun-mandu myself."

Noh Eun-ha who now skillfully grilled gun-mandu without even looking at the griddle.

He recalled what happened a few days ago while flipping gun-mandu with the spatula.

That day, the Class 1-6 students had practice time to make gun-mandu in advance to sell at the cultural festival.

Students from other classes came to Class 1-6 to eat gun-mandu when they heard the news.

Among them was unfortunately Kim Min-ji.

'Hmm... the seasoning is too bland?'

'...Huh? Really? Then should we add some salt?'

'Salt is too common... Wait a minute... I know a thing or two about cooking. In this case...'

Self-proclaimed cooking expert Kim Min-ji.

The Class 1-5 students who had eaten the curry she made during the comprehensive ability evaluation in summer knew her skills very well.

But the Class 1-6 students certainly did not.

The students cooking gun-mandu were fascinated by her talking like an expert and ended up handing over the spatula to her.

'...How about adding mustard? That way the unique flavor of mustard will seep into the gun-mandu and be delicious. If we add ssamjang and sugar too, it'll be really tasty!'

'...S-Should we?'

'Of course! You guys, do you know about dipping sundae in ssamjang?'

'Isn't sundae eaten with salt?'

'This is why you're cooking ignoramuses... Is there a law that says you must only dip sundae in salt? You should know to sometimes dip sundae in ssamjang too. It's so delicious...'

The result was as expected.

That day, the monster Kim Min-ji who appeared in Class 1-6 ended up causing a large-scale distortion.

Students who ate the gun-mandu she made kept fainting.

'...Huh? Did the dumpling filling go bad? You guys, it would have been a big problem if you sold this at the cultural festival.'

""......"

Unfortunately, among the students who didn't regain consciousness until the day of the cultural festival, quite a few were people who cooked gun-mandu.

As a result, there was a shortage of people to grill gun-mandu.

So the Class 1-6 president hinted at Eun-ha who was friends with Min-ji.

And Eun-ha had no choice but to clean up the mess his friend made.

"President, can't I take a break too?"

I can't do this anymore.

Eun-ha called the president who was serving gun-mandu to people seated at tables.

He didn't know his name.

He was a man he had never seen in his previous life.

His appearance was ordinary too.

So the Class 6 students called him president.

Even he who wasn't very interested in others could comfortably call his name without remembering it.

"Eun-ha, I want to let you rest too, you know that... There are so many people, and not many people who can grill gun-mandu..."

The president expressed reluctance.

Eun-ha decided to curse Kim Min-ji who became the root cause of all this.

He pressed down his anger and seared gun-mandu on the griddle with the spatula.

The outside burned black.

"...Eun-ha, this is a bit..."

"It's gyoza. Enjoy."

Eun-ha was shameless.

The bespectacled president served the blackened gun-mandu while showing his feelings.

The customer complaints that followed were none of Eun-ha's business.

It's almost lunchtime...

Surely I won't have to grill without even eating lunch?

If that happens, I'll quit everything and choose to escape.

Eun-ha inwardly resolved to endure just until lunchtime.

That's when it happened.

"Huh? Was this your class's booth, Eun-ha?"

"Noona?"

Eun-ha who had been burning gun-mandu with anger looked at the people who stopped in front of the griddle.

A goddess had descended.

Eun-ha could proudly say that.

A woman with her curly hair tied back, revealing her fair neck.

Even the faint glow of fine hair looked sacred as she stood with her back to the light.

"Noona..."

"What's wrong? Did something difficult happen?"

He had been grilling gun-mandu for a long time.

He felt an indescribable joy at meeting her after just one day.

Then he came to his senses.

"...Noona, don't come close. You'll get the gun-mandu smell on you." "What does that matter? Wow... Did you make this, Eun-ha? It looks delicious."

"Want me to give you one?"

"Oh, really!?"

Actually, he hadn't come to his senses.

Eun-ha was just dazed.

He who had been sweating profusely from the griddle's heat only tried to keep her from coming close so the smell wouldn't get on her.

"Isn't this cool?"

"...Huh? You were here too?"

"I've been here since earlier..."

Eun-ha who was putting gun-mandu in a paper box for Eun-a.

He who had been doing that only then realized Ryu Yeon-hwa's presence when the area around the griddle suddenly cooled.

She who had tied her blue hair back had a somewhat displeased expression.

"Yeon-hwa noona wants gun-mandu too, right?"

"...Then, just one."

"Eun-a and I will eat together, so one is enough."

"Okay." "Um... Eun-ha, I'm here too..."

Eun-ha didn't notice Han Chang-jin who was standing apart behind the two.

He who had covered his mouth with a bandana quietly placed an order, but Eun-ha didn't hear that sound.

"Hey, Eun-ha..."

It was just when he handed gun-mandu to Yeon-hwa and Eun-a.

Eun-ha turned his head to the president who approached with a troubled expression.

"What? Just eat what I give you."

"No, that's not it... The people lined up are complaining why we gave to them first... From now on, can't you give in order...?"

"Hey, president."

"Yeah."

"Do you not know who our noona and Ryu Yeon-hwa noona are?"

"Of course I know well. They're people I respect. They're notable people at the academy."

"Should we make such people wait, or not?" "...Huh? No, but Eun-ha, for things like this we should follow the order..."

"Our noona comes first. Got it?"

"...Oh, okay."

Eun-ha pointed the spatula he had been using to grill gun-mandu at the president.

The president raised both hands and stepped back as if it were a knife.

He was overwhelmed by the atmosphere.

To the point he nodded reflexively.

"Eun-ha. I told you not to fight with friends, didn't I?"

It seemed Eun-a was embarrassed.

She who forcibly cleared her throat scolded him while deliberately putting strength in her eyes.

Then she bowed her head towards the people in line.

Ryu Yeon-hwa too.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know there was a line. I'll give the gun-mandu I received to someone who lined up first." "I'm sorry."

Suddenly two beautiful women bowed their heads.

Even without that, ordinary people who came to the academy were already whispering seeing the two who appeared at the gun-mandu booth.

Some were even taking photos.

In fact, only a minority of people were criticizing the two for cutting in line without waiting.

They just had loud voices.

The majority were distracted looking at the two's beauty.

But then the two bowed their heads and apologized.

People who were surprised waved their hands saying it was okay, especially those at the front of the line.

"Anyone could do that not knowing! Has the world become so harsh these days!?"

"It's just one portion, what's the big deal! We can wait a bit, how can you yell at young kids for not being able to endure that?"

People who had been complaining loudly until just earlier shut their mouths.

Eun-a and Ryu Yeon-hwa approached them and asked for understanding.

"...Was I too harsh?"

"You girls take that. We'll just wait a little longer."

"Is it really okay?"

"Ah! I said it's fine!"

People who saw the two's faces up close blushed and backed away.

Men and women both.

Rather, women even approached the two friendly asking to take photos together.

"As expected of our noona."

Meanwhile, Eun-ha looked outside where the atmosphere had become friendly while grilling gun-mandu.

The corners of his mouth lifted involuntarily.

He felt good seeing her happily start conversing with people.

"Then Eun-ha, work hard! We'll enjoy the gun-mandu!"

"Enjoy."

"U-Uh, Eun-ha, my gun-mandu..."

"Okay, see you later."

Eun-ha saw off Eun-a and Yeon-hwa who waved goodbye saying they would look around elsewhere.

Somehow it felt like there was someone between the two, but he decided to ignore it.

"...I want to go play too."

"Let's hang in there until lunchtime. I'll take you off shift then."

"...Okay."

Fortunately, there was time to rest.

Eun-ha who confirmed a break with the president devoted himself to grilling gun-mandu for the short time remaining.

"─Eun-ha."

"...Yeon-hwa noona?"

It wasn't all difficult things.

Yeon-hwa who returned midway brought an apple candy saying he was working hard.

"Hang in there a little more. Here. Eun-ha, you like sweet things, right?"

"Thank you. But... I want to eat it, but I can't eat it now because my hands are like this."

Eun-ha was holding spatulas in both hands.

Orders were backed up and there was no time to eat the apple candy.

So he decided to just accept the thought.

He decided to just accept the thought, but─

"─Here."

"......"

Yeon-hwa who unwrapped the packaging held out the apple candy across the griddle.

Eun-ha stared at it blankly.

The gun-mandu was burning.

The gun-mandu didn't matter.

"Thank you."

It was behavior unlike Ryu Yeon-hwa.

Eun-ha who couldn't adapt for a moment bit into the apple candy.

The sticky candy stuck to the corners of his mouth, but he could absorb that much sugar.

Now he felt like life was worth living.

"How is it?"

"It's delicious."

"Right? Eun-a ate it deliciously, so I thought you would like it too."

Ryu Yeon-hwa gently lifting the corners of her mouth.

Eun-ha discovered a Ryu Yeon-hwa he didn't know in her smile that was like thin ice melting.

"...Next time I'll bring some snacks for you."

Surely even Eun-a hadn't seen this smile yet.

☆

Third day of the cultural festival.

Today too, Eun-ha was diligently grilling gun-mandu.

The rumor that he who entered the middle school academy as salutatorian was grilling gun-mandu spread in an instant.

As a result, people from several clans even came to the booth to try to become acquainted with him.

"You really have no intention of joining me? No, why? What a great opportunity for you! Come under me, then I'll make you strong!"

Among them, the incident of Kang Hyeon-cheol visiting the booth shocked academy students as well as industry insiders.

Kang Hyeon-cheol.

Although known as a troublemaker, Kang Hyeon-cheol was still a Twelve Seats member.

Such a person had offered the position of .

People assumed that Eun-ha would naturally accept the offer.

"─I told you no. If you're not buying gun-mandu, you're bothering the people behind you, so get lost."

"...Ah, really! Why! Why! Why! Why on earth! Just give me one portion of gun-mandu for now!"

However, Eun-ha flatly refused.

People gaped in surprise.

The Class 6 president was also staring in bewilderment, wondering what was going on.

Regardless, Eun-ha and Kang Hyeon-cheol bickered among themselves.

"...Tch. Hey, Choco Pie kid. I haven't given up yet, you know? I'm telling you I won't give up, just like Park Hye-rim followed your sister around asking her to become ." "...Wow... Creepy. Extremely disgusting."

Eun-ha sprinkled salt.

Kang Hyeon-cheol saw that and left laughing heartily.

The people present had no idea how to take this.

Of course, he just grilled gun-mandu without paying them any mind.

"Yes, one portion is ready. President, what are you doing not taking it quickly?"

"...Ah...! Uh... uh-uh, right!"

Eun-ha called the president who was standing there dazed.

The president who was called by his title nodded suddenly and took the piping hot gun-mandu.

Because he responded so naturally, people could only line up while harboring uneasy feelings.

But they were surprised once again.

"─Can I have one gun-mandu too?"

"...Seo-hyun, what brings you here?"

Han Seo-hyun, direct descendant of Sirius Group.

She appeared, with looks that would make passersby turn to look.

Even wearing light makeup.

Without bringing her exclusive Player.

Yet no one could approach her surroundings.

Because she exuded an atmosphere as if detached from the world.

Like someone who came down from the moon.

"What are you doing not giving me any?"

A clear resonance.

There was only one person in this place who would treat her casually even after seeing her.

Eun-ha─

"─Then you should line up first."

Said.

A statement that would make the people lining up open their eyes wide.

Naturally, Han Seo-hyun snorted.

"Want to get scolded?"

The two burst into laughter.