A Step Towards Maturity
It was about Yujeong. Since I had already anticipated this, I nodded calmly, signaling for Ahn Hyun to go on. However, he hesitated, opening and closing his mouth repeatedly. I waited patiently for him to speak.
After a moment, Ahn Hyun swallowed hard and finally spoke.
“Hyung, I don’t mean to tattle, but Yujeong’s behavior lately… it’s been a bit much.”
“Didn’t you tell me before to just let her be?”
I replied with a slight smile, and Ahn Hyun scratched his head awkwardly.
“Yeah, but honestly, I just wanted to agree with Go Yeonju back then. I still don’t think Yujeong’s actions were right. But lately, her behavior seems to be crossing the line… and the atmosphere is really off.”
Go Yeonju, huh? Has she already managed to sway Ahn Hyun? I clicked my tongue inwardly and asked, “What exactly is she doing that’s so out of line? Tell me more.”
Seeing that I was genuinely interested, Ahn Hyun seemed to make up his mind. With determined eyes, he began to voice his grievances.
“As you know, she barely talks to the others these days. Sol tried to talk to her yesterday, but she just ignored him and went upstairs. And she hasn’t even come down to the first floor yesterday or today. Maybe she came when I wasn’t around, but I haven’t seen her training recently.”
“Hmm.”
I made a noncommittal sound, and Ahn Hyun, gauging my reaction, continued in a cautious tone.
“I know I said to just leave her be before… but we’ve been through a lot together. Maybe you should have a word with her before things get worse.”
I smiled slightly at Ahn Hyun’s suggestion. He had certainly matured over time. The sharpness from our initial trials had softened into a more amicable and moderate demeanor. It seemed he couldn’t just leave Yujeong alone, despite their past conflicts.
Nodding in agreement, I spoke quietly, “Yeah… we’ve been through too much to just let it go.”
“Right?”
Ahn Hyun responded eagerly, and I continued with a cool voice, “Yeah. We should at least give her a chance. Might as well do it now. Ahn Hyun, go tell Yujeong to come to my room.”
A flicker of surprise crossed Ahn Hyun’s eyes at my words. I had almost said “abandon,” but changed it to “at least” to soften the blow. This was a line I had drawn, a chance I was willing to give.
As long as she didn’t cross that line, I intended to guide Yujeong. Despite her current behavior, I understood her feelings and empathized with her situation. But if she continued like this, my stance would inevitably change, no matter how much potential she showed or how much she followed me. After all, this was the Hall Plain.
For now, I would follow my judgment, but if things didn’t improve, I might have to consider Go Yeonju’s opinion more seriously. Ahn Hyun seemed to sense the shift in my mood and hesitated before speaking with a reluctant expression.
“She might be sleeping…”
“Then wake her up and bring her here.”
“Uh, okay, hyung. I’ll go get her.”
Watching him dash out of the room without waiting for my response, I lit a cigarette. Then, I took out the cursed sword, Skurep, which I had kept carefully. As I looked at the rusted blade, Skurep exuded a chilling aura. I flicked the blade sharply.
Thud!
“Stop exuding that aura.”
Wooong!
“Oh, really?”
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Wooong…
After three sharp flicks, Skurep reluctantly withdrew its aura. As I looked at the now docile sword, I spoke quietly.
“Stay still. Your new owner might be coming.”
Wooong. Wooong.
“I’m not lying. It’s true. But seriously… behave yourself.”
Wooong?
Ignoring its feigned innocence, I growled, “Behave. A little aggression is fine, but if you drive someone to madness, I’ll lock you away. Or put you on the purification altar. Got it?”
Woo… Wooong. Wooong.
I held the squirming Skurep firmly, waiting for Ahn Hyun. The sword seemed to want me to use it, but I had no intention of doing so. After a while, the sword’s desperate vibrations subsided, and it lay still.
As I idly tapped Skurep, I heard someone thundering up the stairs. I stubbed out my cigarette and nudged the sword awake.
“Hey, wake up. Your owner might be here.”
Wooong!
Skurep responded with a vibration, seemingly excited at the prospect of meeting its new owner.
But when the door swung open, it wasn’t Yujeong who entered. It was Ahn Hyun, his face flushed and his breath heavy, as if something had gone wrong.
“Hyung!”
He shouted as soon as he saw me, his voice filled with frustration.
“What happened? And where’s Yujeong?”
“Ah…! Don’t even ask. I’m an idiot for worrying about that crazy girl. Seriously, I could just… Ugh! I’m so mad.”
“What happened? Tell me.”
“Don’t even ask. She won’t come. I knocked and knocked, but she didn’t answer, so I went in, and she went hysterical. Scratched, hit, and cursed at me. I barely got out. Look at this.”
Ahn Hyun showed me his arm, covered in long nail marks and handprints, clear as day.
After a moment of silent observation, I stood up. As I walked towards the door, Ahn Hyun tried to stop me with a worried voice.
“Hyung, don’t go. Yujeong’s really angry. She might lash out at you too.”
Yujeong, lash out at me? I couldn’t help but chuckle. The Yujeong I knew would never do that. And if she did…
Before leaving, I asked Ahn Hyun in a low voice, “Is Yujeong on the third floor?”
“No, she packed her things and moved to the second floor. But really, hyung…”
“If she doesn’t want to come, it’s better if I go. Anyway, thanks for your help. Leave Yujeong to me and get some rest.”
I cut off Ahn Hyun’s attempts to hold me back. He seemed uneasy about my demeanor, his lips moving silently. But I turned and left the room.
“Hyung…”
I heard Ahn Hyun’s uncertain voice behind me, but I didn’t respond.
As Ahn Hyun said, there was no sign of Yujeong on the third floor. So I headed straight to the second floor, gathering my mana to sense her presence. The flow of mana swept through the floor, and I soon found myself at the door of the last room on the left.
I paused in front of the door and knocked lightly.
Knock, knock.
I wondered if she would respond, but to my surprise, Yujeong answered immediately.
“Go away.”
”…”
Knock, knock, knock, knock.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. I said go away. Are you deaf, you crazy bastard?”
Yujeong seemed to mistake me for Ahn Hyun. Hearing her rough language after so long felt oddly refreshing. Feeling playful, I knocked again, this time with a rhythm.
Knock, knock. Knock, knock, knock. Knock, knock, knock, knock. Knock, knock.
The rhythmic knocking was met with an even more irritated voice.
“For the love of God, just fuck off, you piece of shit! Stop spouting nonsense and go jerk off to that woman. Seriously… what a fucking nuisance.”
Amused by her outburst, I turned the doorknob and entered the room. Inside, Yujeong lay with a blanket pulled over her head. Though she couldn’t see me, she must have sensed someone entering, as the blanket fluttered, likely from a strong kick.
As I slowly closed the distance to the bed where Yujeong lay, a sharp voice buried under the covers echoed through the room.
“I’m warning you. If you want to get hit like before, just try touching me again. The moment you lay a finger on me, it’s over for both of us.”
”…”
“I told you not to come. If you’re here to spout nonsense again, just leave.”
Nonsense, huh. I wondered what Ahn Hyun had said to earn such a label. Judging by Yujeong’s reaction, he must have spoken quite harshly when he came to fetch her. My curiosity piqued, but knowing these questions would eventually be answered, I moved closer to her side.
Once beside the bed, I reached out to where I assumed her head was. Without hesitation, my hand slipped under the blanket.
”…!”
Soon, my palm brushed against her soft hair, and I felt her body flinch at my touch. Gently, I stroked her hair. Once, twice, three times, four times, five times…
“Ugh…”
After more than ten strokes, I sensed her trembling gradually subside. By now, she must have realized that the person who had entered wasn’t Ahn Hyun. In fact, she seemed to recognize it was me. It was a bit surprising, really, that she could identify me just from the way I petted her hair.
”…Oppa…?”
After a moment of awkward silence, it was Yujeong who spoke first. I gave her hair a gentle squeeze to confirm her guess and then withdrew my hand.
When I tried to gently pull back the blanket covering her, a weak resistance held it in place. It seemed Yujeong was clutching it tightly from inside. With a soft smile, I spoke in a gentle voice.
“Yujeong, can you lift the blanket? Let me see your face for a moment.”
She shook her head in refusal, the part of the blanket where her head was bulging moving side to side. When I tried again, she pressed down on the blanket once more. I wasn’t using much force, and neither was she. I could have forced it open, but I didn’t want to.
After about a minute of this pointless tug-of-war, the blanket began to tremble slightly. At the same time, Yujeong’s grip on it loosened. With a silent sigh, I lifted the now-relaxed blanket.
There she was, her face buried in the bed, her shoulders shaking intermittently. She was crying quietly.
“Yujeong, let’s talk.”
I spoke softly, trying to gently turn her head. She resisted weakly, reluctant to show her face, but eventually, my persistent coaxing won out, and she revealed a glimpse of her face.
Her eyes were tightly shut, and her lips were pressed together. Watching the clear streams of tears flowing from her closed eyes, I sat lightly on the edge of the bed.
“Ahhh…”
Finally turning her head fully, Yujeong let out the sobs she had been holding back. Watching her tears fall, I spoke in a calm voice.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ryu Yujin.
Yes, we’re almost done with Yujeong’s part and the final adjustments. Soon, it’ll be time to head out to the Mule. After all the fun we’ve had, it’s back to the grind—earning money, gathering equipment, and fighting. Once we return from the Cave of Wails, many things will have changed. I can’t wait to write the scene where we leave for the Mule. Haha. (The pace might pick up a bit during the Cave of Wails, so I ask for your understanding in advance.)
PS. In the forum,
『 Reader Comments 』
Hwiul: You are the commentator of willpower. You’ve reclaimed the top spot. Congratulations. :) I hope you enjoy this chapter too!
]Radier[: Haha, that does sound fun. I wonder what will happen to Hanbyeol in the future? :)
HumanLife: Gosh, why seek revenge on me… ㅜ.ㅠ It’s so hard to figure that out… Hahaha. How’s your health these days?
Kuroshion: Hehe, was it really just a head pat, or maybe a tickle, or…? I’ll leave it to your imagination. :)
GradeRown: Yes, even
Kaihon: One person made a purchase, and another clicked to view comments. (There’s a button for that. How did you find it…?) Thanks to you, my days have been quite spectacular lately. Haha.
GameMaster: Well, who knows? Haha. Suhyeon may be all smiles now, but what will he be like when he leaves for the Mule? Hehe. Please look forward to it. :)
BrokenFan: Thank you for the celebratory illustration and the revised Yujeong fan art! Yujeong looks so beautiful now, I’m really pleased. In a way, Yujeong is my ideal type… Ahem. Actually, they’re all my ideal types. Haha.
Kkoya: Yes, it was a strong expression of my will. EroYujin’s coming out! I plan to continue writing the novel with conviction.
ShuriA: Ah, I see. Thank you for the lengthy comment. I’ve been pondering this a lot, even now. However, I don’t want Suhyeon to come across as someone desperate for H. While he may form relationships with other women as needed, I intend to give each one its own narrative justification. Thank you for your valuable advice. :)
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