chapter 215 – Building a Castle (3)
Kang Shin-hyuk always thought it was best to be sincere when dealing with people. So, he tried totell Oh Hye-na what happened in the fight with herfather, but after, she began to cryagain.
“Of course, you’llcry!”
“No, didn’t you want to talk using swords? So…”
“Without even taking out your sword…”
“Fist-to-fistmunications is what I used this time around.”
“You haven’t even been hit once…” Oh Hye-na wasextremely depressed as she used Baek In-ha asa shield and sipped thetea ire gave her. Shin-hyukhad to wait for her to calm down to continue.
“Hye-na, this guy isn’t a badguy,so…”
“I know.”
“You know?”
“Just…” Even after finishing the tea, she cradled the teacup inher hands. ire poured her a new cup before pulling back behindthe bar. Oh Hye-na looked at Kang Shin-hyuk, who was on the otherside of Baek, and spoke without hesitation as if Baek wasn’t even there.
“I came because I had toknow. How strong is the person who killed my dad? Is this really theperson who killedhim?”
“… Didn’t youe to ask why he died?”
“That’s… I already knew that.” Oh Hye-na sipped her tea, her thoughts amystery to KangShin-hyuk.
“…I don’t even know what I reallywanted to learn.” Oh, she started crying again.
“Ah…”
“But you’ve be very strong. Your skill withthe sword has increased.” Baek In-ha tried to praiseher, but she responded angrily at him.
“You’re not a swordsman; how wouldyouknow?”
“It’s clear even to me.”Kang Shin-hyuk looked back at ire as the two in front of him began toquarrel.
“What do you think?”
“Yes, isn’t it okay? Those two go well together.”
“Then, can we surprise them and drive them out?” Kang Shin-hyuk hardenedhis heart and prepared to kick them out,but just before he could, Oh Hye-naurgently turned to him.
“Sword.”
“Ah, let’s fight with swords this time?” She nodded wordlessly.It wasn’t difficult; he decided to ept the request. However,this time it was concludedmuch faster than the previous battle. It was enough toswing his sword once and sh with the greatswordshe wielded. There was no need to show off his status. Hissword was able tozily brush off the attack and jab at hisfoe’s vitals with perfect timing. Of course, the tip of the de stoppedright before her eyebrows.
“…” Oh Hye-na sat down on the spotwith a nk expression. Kang Shin-hyuk waved his hand in front ofher, but she was unresponsive. Now she seemed like acorpse.
“What do we do?” While Kang Shin-hyuklooked around in embarrassment, the body…no, Oh Hye-na suddenly raised her hand and beckoned toBaek. With a sigh, Baek approached her gently and helped her up.She quickly moved behind his back again.
“I want togo.”
“Are you satisfied now?”
“Let’s go.”
“Ah.” She stepped back until she reached theentrance using Baek as a shield. Then, after opening the door, she leaned her headout from behind Baek and slightly bowed to Kang Shin-hyuk.
“Thanks.” With that, she ran away, dragging Baek behind her. The door closed with a rattle.Kang Shin-hyuk tilted his head and looked at ire,who was taking off hermask.
“What is she thanking me for?”
“You said you savedher from the gate, right? Didn’t she mean that?”
“…So, all this was just for you tobe able to saythat?”
“Perhaps?” At this, Kang Shin-hyuk closed his mouth. Although she had been hostile to him fromthe start, she didn’t try to criticizehim for her father’s death. Thatmeant she already understood and epted that her fatherhad to die. The reason why she wanted to meet himwas, of course, because she thought that there should be no resentment towards Kang Shin-hyuk andthat she needed to thank him for saving her.
“But you can’t just bow your head to the person who killedyour father. So, that’s what the dispute was about.”
“Did itwork?”
“I thought it would be a more intense battle.” ire’s fantasiesstarteding out in full force.
“You know, pouring out your sincerefeelings and screaming while your swords sh.”
“Oh, like when the main character and their rival, who was a friend,fight?”
“You both let out all the words insideof you and then feel relievedafter.”
“Well, the misunderstandings were resolved, at least.” Unfortunately,there was a wall between them that could never becrossed.
“I’ll be very tired all my life.”
“Well, the whole world was my enemy at that age.”
“Yeah?” Still, he could see that she wasn’t a child with abad personality. However, she did cry alot.
“I’m d it was resolved, anyway.”
“Don’t worry too much; Oh Joo-young had to bekilled.”
“Yes, but his family is innocent. I’m d it all workedout well.” Now he didn’t need to worryabout hering at him with a knife after entering Shinyoung next year. Seeingthat she was a close acquaintance of Baek In-ha anda soon-to-be freshman at Shinyoung, it was a matter that needed to be addressed.However, she was more mature than expected.
‘The way she behaves is still a bitinexperienced, but that is the way for most.’ He couldleave the rest to Baek. Relieved, Kang Shin-hyuk leaned ontothe bar counter. ire ran a handthrough his hairidly.
“It went verywell.”
“Yeah, no thanks to Baek.”
“Is thatall?”
“Hm?” She joined him in a simr position, their eyes meeting. Kang Shin-hyuk felt thehair on the back of his neck raise.
“I don’t feel like it went well atall.”
“Are you such a kid?Not at all.”
“Wow, such confidence.” But despite her words, ire had a faint smile. He wishedthat she could feel as secure being around him as Oh Hye-na did aroundBaek.
“Are you feeling insecure?” At his question, ire thought quietly beforenodding. It was hard for him to ept that someone as confident asshe could also be anxious about anything. Heknew that it wasmon when you valued anotherthat much. Anvil’s memories were evidence of that.
“That’s why you shouldn’t go for someone betterthanme.”
“How ridiculous.”
“Honestly, I felt a little nervous whenI first saw Red Shoes.”
“I didn’t even know she was aiming for Eunah…”
“So, did you not find her attractive?”
“I thought shewas.”
“Hey.”
“I only like you, ire. You’re theonly one I want to date.” Kang Shin-hyuk spoke firmly.
“Huh… then, give me your hand.” He reached out with hishand. Slowly, she reached outwith hers, then pulled his hand up to her mouth. Her lipsparted, and she bit his ring finger, then reached out her hand for him todo the same. Once heplied, she had a lookof satisfaction on herface.
“We’re datingnow.”
“Now?”
“Lovers.”
“How did you learnthat?”
“From Eunah.” But how did Shin Eunahknowthat?
“You have two years until you graduate.”
“Yeah.”
“I hope that time goes by quickly. Ahhh.” ireining mischievously, pulled her handback.
“Shall we go eat some chicken?”
“That’s what we normallyeat.”
“Then shall I make something?Oh… but should I open up first? Will you be okay waiting?”
“No, I’m so hungry I can’t stand it anymore.” ireshook her head stubbornly then slowly stood up.
“No business today. Let’s have a party tomemorate you entering yoursecondyear.”
“It’s just going into the second year.”
“It’s special because you’re a senior now, right?”
“What are you nning…?” ire giggled then hidherface.
“Well… we should keep the store door closed.”
***
Shinyoung freshmen originally had many tasks to do during theirvacation. Most of them were practical tasks to enter guilds on a probationarybasis and learn how to deal with actual gates. But this year,the vacation assignment came from the opposite direction as theyhad already been doing that. What they had missed out on learning wascovered in video lectures providedby the school. The students cried out, asking what sort of vacationthis was, but Shinyoung was silent. Kang Shin-hyukpleted allof his assignments in the week after vacation began andreceived a new dimensional quest.
-It’s a quest that really suits you. Tobuild a big and dignified castle…
“How noisy.”
-Super Ultra Gxy Fist’s whisper: Grandpa,where are you? Come on now?!
It was a quest tobuild a massive castle, unlike any seen on Earth.