Chapter 19
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Cold War (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
For the first few seconds, honestly, I was a bit on pins and needles. What if she didn't open the door? What if she'd decided to ignore me outright?
Fortunately, that worry turned out to be unfounded. Cheon So-yul—who knows, but she must have mulled it over a little—unlocked the door before long.
A rhythmic series of beeps rang out, followed by the sharp click signaling the lock had disengaged.
But since she still wasn't opening the door herself, it looked like she was pretty sulky.
I let out a wry smile and threw open the now-unlocked door myself. It was Cheon So-yul's dorm room, a place I'd visited plenty of times before.
There was no reason to hesitate. Lingering any longer might get me spotted by the dorm supervisor, which would only make things worse.
I darted inside quick as a flash to avoid prying eyes, then slammed the door shut with a thud.
Only after meticulously confirming the door lock reactivate did I finally relax and turn around.
"Hey, come out."
I tapped on the mirror near the entrance to summon Cheon So-yul.
"Today, I specially got the flavor you like."
Right or wrong aside, it was a fact that I'd upset her, so I magnanimously conceded on the menu pick—the one we usually butted heads over.
For me, the classic half-and-half mix of seasoned and fried was the way to go...
But Cheon So-yul had a thing for some bizarre golden fried chicken dusted with unidentifiable salty powder.
Her magic was the same way—she really seemed to have a connection with anything gold. Anyway.
To be honest, it was surprisingly tasty once you dug in, so I never really objected.
And with the little mishap today, I'd even dipped into my own pocket to trek to a shop near the academy campus and pack it up fresh.
"...".
Hmm.
But this girl was seriously sulking. No sign of her coming out at all.
Resigned, I kicked off my shoes without asking the homeowner's permission and strode through the short hallway into the living room.
Where she'd be was obvious. Curled up in her tiny body, hiding in the bedroom or bathroom—somewhere like that.
"...What are you doing in there?"
That thought had crossed my mind just ten seconds ago.
But I had to rethink it immediately.
My guess missed the mark. Far from hiding like a grumpy cat, Cheon So-yul was right there in the living room, bold as you please.
...With a green empty bottle propped carelessly beside her—probably polished off before I even arrived.
I was caught off guard by that first.
Cheon So-yul, straight soju?
This girl, who was stricter with self-control than most high-ranking mages, had downed two bottles without a single side dish?
Her face wasn't flushed, so she'd broken down the booze a bit, but even accounting for that, this was incredibly rare.
It was right then, as I—genuinely impressed—set the takeout chicken on the table.
"...?"
Something caught my eye that I couldn't just brush off.
None other than around Cheon So-yul's eyes.
"...Hey, you."
I genuinely stuttered in shock for a moment. Cheon So-yul glanced up at me briefly, then whipped her head away.
"What? Why? Got something to say?"
"...".
She shot back curtly, but I couldn't respond. I was that deeply shaken—and for good reason, from my perspective.
As she tried to hide her slightly misty eyes, Cheon So-yul spoke up again.
"...If you don't have anything to say, just leave the chicken and head out..."
"Did you cry???"
I called out her state bluntly, not even letting her finish.
"...".
Ah. On second thought, that was a bit too direct. Cheon So-yul froze, shooting me a sidelong glare like what kind of guy is this?
Did she expect me to tactfully spare her feelings? But pinning that kind of over-the-top hope on me was your mistake, wasn't it?
I swallowed the urge to say as much with superhuman restraint. I had a gut feeling I'd be shown the door without another word if I did.
Instead, I just let out a dry pfft of laughter and plopped down across from her.
"If I'd known it'd be like this, I should've grabbed some booze too. No way I expected you'd be drinking solo..."
I tossed that out, and she eyed me with displeasure for a moment before flicking her gaze behind me.
"...Canned beer in the fridge."
"Oh."
"Get it."
The bossy tone rubbed me the wrong way, but what could I do? I was the one who'd come to console her today, after all.
I nodded obediently and stood right back up, not even a full minute after sitting.
Sure enough, the little fridge held three cans of beer.
I grabbed all three without a second thought and shut the door with a thud.
Armful in tow, I headed back. Cheon So-yul waggled her fingers imperiously, and I handed one over without a word.
She popped it open with practiced ease. A sharp pssh of fizz rose up.
Before I could get a word in, Cheon So-yul started chugging her beer. Gulp, gulp!
Not even giving me a chance to say "let's drink together."
I stared at her in bewilderment, but she turned the tables, glaring at me like what of it?
Utterly dumbfounded, I let out another dry chuckle.
Resigned, I cracked open my own can and shoved the cold brew down my gullet.
The beer's signature fizzy bite tickled the tip of my tongue as it slid down my throat.
I decided to crack open the takeout chicken right then too. Chimaek wasn't a thing for nothing. If we're indulging, might as well do it together.
After kindly unpacking and setting everything up, I tried speaking to Cheon So-yul again—she was staring lasers at the chicken.
"Now spill it."
Only then did her gaze finally shift to me.
Especially today, she'd been avoiding me on purpose.
"...Spill what? What're you talking about?"
Cheon So-yul feigned ignorance, but I'd seen that coming. I smirked outright and jerked my chin at her.
"You're not gonna pretend those three straight days of dodging me never happened. You've had time to cool off by now. How else am I supposed to know what's eating you if we don't talk? Why the cold shoulder?"
"...".
No quick reply came. Cheon So-yul stayed silent, so holding back a sigh, I tossed out a joke.
"No way you're still dodging me over that thing from before. At this point. When we talked on the phone, you were comforting yourself about it—didn't seem like it was bugging you then."
I'd mixed in some levity, hoping for anger or embarrassment—any reaction at all.
Unfortunately, neither.
"...It's not that."
She lowered her voice, and I blinked in split-second confusion.
"Huh?"
"I said it's not that. I already told you that didn't bother me. It's just..."
"Just...?"
"...".
She trailed off once, then clammed up the second I prompted her.
I was starting to feel a tad frustrated and about to raise my voice just a smidge.
"Haa."
Cheon So-yul let out a sigh that felt totally different from before as she grabbed her beer can.
Whether she wanted a bit more liquid courage to speak, that was beyond my insight...
"...Puha."
At the very least, her expression after setting the can back down. That is, the clear-eyed look she finally leveled at me.
It carried a hint of melancholy.
...The moment I got a little flustered, unable to grasp that sudden emotion.
"Yeah, avoiding you out of nowhere, no explanation at all—that must've been rude to you too..."
Cheon So-yul started her story.
'So you knew it was rude, huh?'
I tucked that near-mood-killer away safely in my mind.
"...Uh, so."
Cheon So-yul's whole story had wrapped up.
Every time she'd continued, she'd pair it with a sigh and a chug of beer; now she was fanning her face like she was embarrassed in hindsight.
"...So..."
And I was racking my brain, trying to neatly comprehend and boil down her lengthy spiel—the complex tangle of emotions she'd felt over those three days...
Into one clean line.
The incongruity she'd sensed watching my ranking match with Kim I-jun. And the inferences she'd drawn about my traits from there.
Plus, the key reason she'd headed home after 'that incident' with me—and above all, the gist of her chat with her mother.
I mulled it all over, distilling it into one conclusion as best I could, and arrived at it.
I stared at Cheon So-yul with the most ridiculous look on my face.
"Did you like me?"
Shwaaak! Thunk!
A chicken bone crackling with lightning hurtled through the air and slammed straight into the sofa behind me.
I swallowed hard and rolled my eyes. Couldn't track that move at all.
Forcing my head back to meet her gaze, she was glaring with a level of genuine fury I hadn't seen in ages.
"...Calm down, friend. Please opt for an intellectual conversation style?"
I tried to soothe her somehow, but it had zero effect.
If anything, my words seemed to stoke the fire; Cheon So-yul let out a shrill yell.
"What the hell did you take my words for?!"
I reflexively clapped my hands over my ears. Enduring that piercing scream bare was pure agony—a fact only someone who's lived it could truly get.
Man, I'd clearly poked the wrong bear.
But come on—if she was talking son-in-laws, didn't that mean she had feelings for me?
I'd thought it was a reasonable inference, but apparently not from her standpoint.
She glared at me, huffing, her face flushed redder than ever.
"Who the hell likes who...! As if, you crazy bastard! I-I was just looking for a way to let you use Heavenly Thunder!"
"...".
Hm.
So, what I'm asking is—how did hunting for that 'way' end up with us married and me as the Cheon family son-in-law?
Cheon So-yul clearly hadn't grasped my point.