When Go Yeon-ju agreed so readily, I was taken aback. She was definitely different from the other <Top 10>. She knew how to leverage her position without abusing it. She maintained her dignity without provoking resentment in others.
Though she did attach the condition of teaching the basics, I still thought she was a truly impressive user. I felt a surge of optimism that Yu-jeong might finally make some progress, and a satisfied smile crept onto my face.
“Thank you. I didn’t expect you’d actually agree.”
“Hmm. You didn’t seem too grateful when I offered the whole inn, but this seems to mean a lot to you. However… it looks like the one who needs to learn isn’t too thrilled about it.”
At her words, I quickly turned to Yu-jeong. As Go Yeon-ju noted, Yu-jeong wore a sullen expression. If I had to put it into words, her face seemed to say, “You promised you’d teach me. Why…?” She looked quite betrayed.
I sighed inwardly. This clueless girl. She didn’t seem to grasp the magnitude of the opportunity before her. Go Yeon-ju’s offer was a generous gesture, and if Yu-jeong reacted like this, anyone would feel slighted.
I glanced at Go Yeon-ju’s face, but she just smiled, showing no sign of offense. She alternated her gaze between me and Yu-jeong, then chuckled as if she understood the situation.
“I’m always ready. But once I start teaching, I don’t go easy. So… if you really want to learn, come find me yourself, you little rascal. Tsk tsk.”
Go Yeon-ju clicked her tongue, not out of anger, but more like an adult watching over immature kids. Ha-yeon, not wanting to miss this chance, kept nudging Yu-jeong to seize the opportunity. (Meanwhile, Ahn Hyun was practically begging to take Yu-jeong’s place if she didn’t want it.)
“Ugh.”
Yu-jeong gritted her teeth at Go Yeon-ju’s teasing tone and turned her head sharply. Go Yeon-ju shrugged her shoulders, just as I often did, and looked at me. I sent her an apologetic glance and decided it was time to wrap things up.
I realized I needed to have a serious talk with Yu-jeong soon.
After breakfast, everyone returned to their usual routines. Ha-yeon, with a calm expression, took An-sol by the hand and dragged her up the stairs. An-sol, with eyes like a startled rabbit, opened her mouth to protest, but no one came to her aid.
Go Yeon-ju decided to clear the tables on the first floor, as the topic had come up. She wanted to make space for the kids to train. Although she said she could handle it alone, Ahn Hyun insisted on helping, eager to lend a hand. When Go Yeon-ju complimented him, calling him a gentleman, he tried to maintain a dignified demeanor, twisting his body awkwardly.
It wasn’t surprising that Ahn Hyun acted this way, but it was unexpected when Shin Sang-yong also offered to help Go Yeon-ju. Seeing his pleasant smile, I guessed he had similar thoughts to mine. I nodded slightly in gratitude, and Shin Sang-yong shook his head as if to say it was nothing.
Yu-jeong, still upset, went straight up the stairs. I watched her retreating figure for a moment before slowly getting up. In the past, I might have scolded her immediately, but after the incident at the ruined lab, I understood how much she cared for me. I planned to gently talk things over with her.
Just as I was about to move, Go Yeon-ju, who was rearranging tables nearby, caught my arm. Sensing my intentions, she shook her head and spoke.
“Don’t go. Just leave her be.”
“What?”
“Just let it be. I’ve noticed this before and wanted to tell you. It’s not good for the leader of a caravan to get involved in every little issue. Especially with something like this, it’s better for her to figure it out on her own.”
“But…”
As I hesitated, I felt another hand on my left. Turning, I saw Vivian holding my hand with a cautious expression.
“Kim Soo-hyun, I agree with her. I’ve been meaning to say this, but you tend to get too caught up with the kids, especially the two who aren’t here right now. So don’t go.”
“Yeah, hyung. Don’t go. You acted all high and mighty at the lab, but you’re just the same. Watching you create such opportunities and then seeing this is frustrating. So, since it’s come to this…
Even Ahn Hyun, practically an original member, chimed in, and I finally closed my mouth. Honestly, Go Yeon-ju wasn’t wrong. In fact, she was spot on. Her words made me feel like a parent wanting to defend their child, which only made me feel sadder.
“Hoho. Anyway, while I can’t speak for the kids’ potential, in Hall Plain, the mental aspect greatly influences the survival potential you mentioned. So, as the leader, go handle the bigger tasks. Trust the individuals involved and your other companions.”
Go Yeon-ju gently pushed me away, lightly rejecting Ahn Hyun’s advances. (Her firm words left Ahn Hyun visibly hurt.) As she nudged me, I fell into thought. My current demeanor was vastly different from my first round. I had considered this softer approach as just a facade, and I was confident I could revert to my old self if the situation demanded it.
After all, they were kids who trusted and followed me… As I reached this thought, I realized my mistake. A bitter smile crept up from within.
Perhaps it wasn’t just the kids swept up in the atmosphere. Maybe I, too, had been caught up in the flow.
In my first round, I was alone. Sure, I had my brother and her, but they had many followers. I was just one of many users around them. So, technically, I was alone.
But now, things were different.
I wasn’t just a user among others; users surrounded me. Waking up to see kids looking for me stirred unfamiliar emotions, giving me a pleasant feeling. Maybe that’s why I unconsciously paid more attention to them.
I gently pried Vivian’s hand off mine and calmly ascended the stairs. I planned to head to the business suite to adjust our upcoming schedule.
“Kim Soo-hyun. Kim Soo-hyun.”
As I reached the third floor, Vivian’s voice trailed behind me. I turned with an indifferent expression, and she clung to my sleeve. I quickly brushed her hand away and spoke.
“What is it? Let go and talk.”
“Okay, okay. But I have a question.”
“What is it?”
What could she be so curious about, looking at me with such an earnest face? It didn’t seem like a trivial matter, so I listened closely as Vivian spoke.
“What does ‘ubunam’ mean?”
”…Why do you ask?”
“That woman said she could even accept an ‘ubunam.’”
“Sigh… Try interpreting it with the previous words. She said ‘with a child,’ right? It means a man with a wife, in other words, a married man.”
Vivian’s eyes widened at my explanation, and she asked again.
“What? You were married?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m too young to be married.”
I denied it strongly, and she continued with a more relaxed expression.
“Then why did she say that to you?”
Vivian’s question made me sigh again. If even Vivian, usually so oblivious, understood Go Yeon-ju’s words, then everyone else must have too. But since Go Yeon-ju had already clarified, I decided to let it go.
Watching Vivian tilt her head with question marks practically floating above her, I began to explain calmly. I told her that since the kids often called me ‘dad,’ it could be interpreted as having a wife, and Go Yeon-ju had said it to tease me.
After my detailed explanation, Vivian finally seemed to understand, nodding and giggling.
“Hoho. That’s funny. Sometimes you use such amusing words. ‘Ubunam,’ huh.”
“And it’s not ‘ubunam,’ it’s ‘yubunam.’ Anyway, just wait. From now on, anyone who calls me ‘dad’ or ‘yubunam’ will get a spanking.”
“Spanking?”
“I mean, I’ll smack their behind.”
I said it half-jokingly, half-seriously, but being called ‘dad’ at twenty-four wasn’t exactly pleasant. Vivian’s eyes sparkled for a moment, then she blushed slightly and spoke.
“So, you don’t like being called ‘dad’ or ‘yubunam,’ Kim Soo-hyun.”
“That’s right.”
I nodded, and she continued.
“So, you’re not a dad or a ‘yubunam,’ Kim Soo-hyun.”
“Exactly.”
“I see. So you’re not the kids’ parent, and you don’t have a wife.”
Her persistent, meaningless repetition was starting to irritate me. I frowned and gave her a warning.
”…Are you teasing me right now?”
Vivian didn’t even bother to listen. She just hummed to herself, nodding as she turned away, giving a little wiggle of her hips.
”…”
I had half a mind to give her a playful kick, but something told me that would only play into her hands. Instead, I lightly tapped her on the head and headed inside to the third floor. It was nice having more people around, but I had a feeling things were about to get a lot noisier.
<Barbara, the Great City of the Northern Continent - Golden Lion Clan House>
“Hey, isn’t there some big announcement tomorrow?”
“About what… Oh, that? Yeah, I heard. I guess they’re trying to boost morale and draw more people in before the big plan. Our clan sure loves to show off.”
“Ugh, some people have it easy. The Golden Lion Clan is really backing her up. I had to work my butt off to get in, and she just waltzes in with a good class and a guy on her arm in less than a year. It’s infuriating.”
“Less than a year? Try zero years. It’s annoying. She’s so young and acts all high and mighty. I can’t stand her.”
“Hey, watch what you say. You know Park Hyun-woo looks out for her, right?”
“Ugh, whatever. It’s the same everywhere, whether it’s here or back on Earth. Anyway… I bet her smug face will be even more annoying after the announcement tomorrow. Just thinking about it makes me sick.”
“Heh, you’re right.”
The mocking voices faded away, leaving the hallway in silence once more. In a shadowy corner stood a lone figure, a woman of striking beauty. Her hair, a deep blue-black, cascaded past her ears and over her shoulders. Her nose was elegantly shaped, and beneath it, her small, cherry-like lips were perfectly set. Her skin was as pale as freshly fallen snow.
Her face was cold, though the expression suited her. One couldn’t help but think how lovely she would look with a smile. But at that moment, her face was unreadable, exuding an icy aura. Her eyes were calm, betraying no hint of her thoughts, almost as if she had lost all emotion.
Yet, if one looked closely, there were subtle signs. Her long, slender eyebrows were slightly raised, and her forehead was faintly furrowed.
Eventually, her serene gaze drifted to the hallway where the voices had just been.
“Sigh…”
She let out a soft sigh, revealing her pearly white teeth. After a moment, she lowered her gaze to her hand, which held a glowing jewel. She squeezed it tightly, almost as if to crush it, but then relaxed her grip, letting it fall to the floor.
Thud, roll.
As the jewel rolled away, a hint of sadness crossed her face for the first time. In a hollow voice, she called out a name.
“Su-hyun oppa…”
The woman was none other than Kim Han-byeol, the Jewel Mage.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
Yes, I finished the manuscript around 11 PM today, but I was so exhausted that I lay down for a bit. I thought I just closed my eyes for a moment, but when I woke up, it was already past 4 AM. My heart skipped a beat. I know many of you were waiting, so I decided to do a double update today to make up for it. Please accept episode 130 as a peace offering. :)
Oh, and… I used to be the only one who knew I was writing a novel, but today my parents found out. My dad somehow discovered the site through a friend and even mentioned a few author names. When I asked how he knew, he said someone who frequently reads on Joara told him about it. Then my mom chimed in, saying she visited the site yesterday and read my work and comments. They even guessed my pen name… Sigh. (I had mentioned it in passing before, but I never thought they’d figure it out. OTL.)
So now I’m kind of freaking out, haha. They both said it’s fine, but it feels like they found my childhood diary. Ahhh. What should I do? I love writing, but now that my parents know, I feel all twisted up inside. Haha.
PS. My mom asked me today what “Ero Yujin” means. I guess she clicked on the comments. Hahaha.
PS2. I’m not in the right mental state right now, so I don’t know how the replies will turn out. I’m barely holding it together as I write this, but I might lose it soon. So I recommend you skip them if you can. Ahaha.
『 Replies 』
FallenPigeon: Oh wow. Posting at 4 AM? That’s impressive. Congrats on being first. Ahaha.
MuGong: Yes, here’s the double update. Ahaha. Sorry, I’m freaking out, haha.
MoonShadowSword: No! I don’t know! I really don’t know! What does
MKira: Right? Poor Su-hyun. Haha. He’s got a kid now. Ahahaha.
Gahanna: Eek eek eek. Coochie coo. Wow. I really like coochie coo. Haha. Who is the clan lord of Istantel Low? Could it be Coochie coo? It’s Coochie coo! Wow~!
WaterMageDragon: Haha, thanks for the coupon. I did a double update today. Haha. My family is asking if I’m writing next to them. Haha. Yes, I’m writing. Haha. Sigh. ㅜ.ㅠ
OffToLove19: Haha. Ahn Hyun can never end up with Go Yeon-ju. Why? Because I like Go Yeon-ju too. So there’s no way Go Yeon-ju will ever be interested in Ahn Hyun. Hahaha.
WolfOfJirisan: No! I’ll give you another chapter! You don’t have to wait another day! Here it is! Bow! (-_-)(-_-)
hohokoya1: Haha. hohokoya1, what should I do? Haha. What should I really do? Haha. Why did that person tell my dad, really? Haha. It’s awkward. It’s embarrassing. Eek.
zjekfksqlc: Haha. Am I Ero Yujin or Goja Yujin? Yes! I’ll take care of my health. Thank you! I am Ro Yujin! Wow!
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Sigh. I’m sorry. Really sorry.
Your recommendations and comments are the driving force behind these updates. (This is the truth. The truth!)
I always read all the comments repeatedly. (Really!)
Please don’t be too upset if you’re not in the replies. (Please don’t!)
If you’re really curious about something, send me a message, and I’ll reply! (I will!)
I hope you always read my work with a relaxed mind.
Recommendations, comments, critiques, and questions are always welcome.