Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Cheon So-yul (2)
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There was a minor mishap. Well, it might not have felt minor to Cheon So-yul...
Anyway, I'd had my fun watching her reaction, so I decided to delete the video.
But because of that little(?) prank, her internal opinion of me plummeted once again—nothing to be done about that.
Already, after last night's events, her perception of me had been bouncing between heaven and hell. Now it felt like an even wilder rollercoaster, which was kind of amusing.
So, what were we doing now?
The sun was up, and no matter how awkward things had gotten, we still had to eat, right?
I dragged Cheon So-yul to a nearby gukbap joint and plopped her down at a table.
Why drag her? Simple reason. For some reason, she was in a huff today and declared she'd eat alone.
Of course, if that was all, I wouldn't have said anything...
-Urk.
The problem was that as she stormed out of the room, making it blatantly obvious she was pissed, she suddenly collapsed right there on the spot.
Her legs had given out. She'd been wobbling earlier, looking unsteady, and sure enough, my worry had been spot on.
I went behind her flushed ears and patted her shoulder.
-Want a piggyback?
-Shut up...
Maybe she was embarrassed to be carried on the back of her guy friend, even if we're adults. She compromised by grabbing my clothes and asking me to just support her.
That small voice, lacking her usual boldness, felt oddly cute. Was I still influenced by last night?
Anyway, I couldn't just leave her collapsed there, so I offered my shoulder.
I chuckled at her limping—it was too pitifully funny—and got elbowed in the side.
Anyway.
So here we were at the gukbap place. The menu choice was my perfectly reasonable worldly decision to shake off last night's hangover.
"What is this?"
Apparently, Cheon So-yul didn't like it. The moment we sat down, she started picking a fight with me.
"What do you mean?"
"Why gukbap of all things?"
She pressed on as I brushed it off casually. It was funny how she was diligently setting up the utensils despite complaining.
I picked up a piece of meat from the steaming black gukbap bowl that arrived quickly and said,
"We drank last night."
"...Yeah."
"They say gukbap's the best for hangovers."
"Who says?"
"People?"
She chewed her lip at my vague answer, her face scrunching up a bit.
What now?
As I debated whether to add the included noodle strings, Cheon So-yul tossed out a casual remark.
"You seem kinda like an old man."
"...?"
I froze. What did I just hear?
I looked up with a hurt expression, and she finally seemed flustered.
"...Why are you giving me that look again? I was just saying."
"No..."
Did she know? Even if I'd reincarnated, combining my past and present lives, I was definitely not your average twenty-year-old.
I started self-hypnotizing that past and present lives were separate.
Who even adds up ages from two lives? Even by past life standards, I was twenty-six.
...My mood sank for no reason. I jerked my chin at Cheon So-yul curtly.
"Stop with the useless talk and eat. It's getting cold."
"...You know I have a sensitive tongue."
"Can't handle hot stuff? Brag about it."
I smirked at her poking at the plain rice.
She glared daggers, but it wasn't scary.
She sighed and picked up her spoon again. Looked like she'd finally eat properly, but nope—more complaints.
"...Next time, take me somewhere more proper."
"What?"
"Such a mood-killer..."
I reflexively asked back, and she grumbled softly, dissatisfied.
I blanked for a second, then caught her meaning half a beat late.
...So that's why she'd seemed 20% more down since we entered? The menu choice?
I asked incredulously,
"You eat gukbap fine usually. Not that you love it... but you crave it sometimes."
Maybe she was just as baffled, because she scowled harder and jabbed at me with her spoon.
"That's just 'cause you keep dragging me here, so I end up eating it."
"...?"
So now some other guy's dragging her? I made a confused face, totally lost.
Apparently, my expression betrayed my thoughts. She shot me an annoyed look with her eyes.
She licked her lips as if choosing words, then, failing to find good ones, ate a spoonful of gukbap with a sulky face.
"...This isn't like usual..."
Her voice was so quiet I barely caught it, but I got the gist. And her feelings too.
I chuckled dryly and replied,
"If you wanted mood, well, I could've done that."
"...?"
"But you said no need."
"...What?"
She'd been listening quietly but froze mid-motion, head snapping up.
Her eyes full of questions, I shrugged.
"You said I didn't have to take responsibility."
She hesitated again. Then, realizing what I meant, her face twisted ambiguously.
"...Hey, that was."
"So I'm treating you casual like always. Any complaints?"
I cut her off with a smirk, and her expression was priceless—like debating whether to smack me.
As she deeply pondered zapping me or not, prioritizing the shop's interior, I added,
"For the record, if you'd said take responsibility all the way, I'd have treated you like a superior for life."
"Hey, I change my choice. Take responsibility quick. My back's wrecked 'cause of you."
"Nope, chance gone. Should've grabbed it earlier."
I flipped her off lightly. A vein throbbed on her forehead, lightning flickering.
...Right, Heavenly Thunder.
I'd forgotten amid the morning's 'Cheon So-yul bathroom masturbation incident,' but it wasn't something to forget lightly.
I pondered. Should I tell her? It didn't seem casual enough.
"Sigh."
Still, I decided to. It wasn't mine originally, and even if acquired via trait, the original owner was her.
At minimum, I had to give her a heads-up.
After brief hesitation, I looked seriously at her, now eating gukbap normally.
"Cheon So-yul."
"...Yeah? What."
She tilted her head, small lips still moving.
Somehow reminded me of a hamster.
...Anyway, I had to say it, so no more delay. I scratched my nape and raised one hand.
"Look at this."
"Why, what."
"What does this look like?"
She blinked slowly, puzzled, like I'd said something weird.
"...What else? A hand. Your hand. Anything else?"
Still, she answered reluctantly at my urging.
Correct, so I nodded and moved on.
"And this?"
Heavenly Thunder
Bzzz...!
I lightly drew up mana. Blue energy from my heart raced through my body's circuits in an instant, gathering at my raised fingertip.
And the phenomenon wasn't my signature ice magic.
Crackle—!!
"...!"
A spark flew. A beautiful golden spark. That mystical flame could also be called lightning.
Heavenly Thunder. The Cheon family's ancestral magic, created by the first-generation Awakener Thunderclap Divine Lord—world's most destructive unique spell.
Seeing that golden lightning bloom from my fingertip, Cheon So-yul's face held greater shock and disbelief than any I'd seen in the past year.
Like witnessing something impossible in this world.
In other words, confirming with her own eyes what should never happen.
Her jaw dropped uncharacteristically as she pointed and stammered,
"Y-you, wha-what is that? How, no, why? Huh? Uh?"
She was so shocked she couldn't speak properly. I nodded sympathetically.
...Yeah, I get the shock. Of course.
Why's unique magic called unique? Can't learn normally—passed only through bloodlines or master-disciple bonds, mighty secrets.
And here an outsider demonstrates it flawlessly.
"C-calm down first. I'll explain step by step."
This could get deadly depending, so I tensed a bit, soothing her.
Then explained. Concisely, hitting key points.
Her expressions shifted vividly: eyes twitching at first, lips flapping in disbelief mid-way, hollow laugh by end.
"...That's how it happened. Why I've hidden my trait so fiercely."
"...?"
She didn't reply immediately. She understood. Needed time to process.
Honestly, I needed prep time too.
At least, hoping the Cheon family wouldn't make me vanish without a trace.
'We've been friends awhile... maybe they'll cut slack.'
I thought, but recalling how roughly I'd treated her last night, that felt shameless.
What if she held a grudge? As I straightened politely,
"...Can't be helped, huh."
She finally spoke. Flat tone, unlike expected.
I met her eyes; she continued softly.
"Your trait was like that from the start—what can I do? If you didn't want it stolen, we shouldn't have... s-sex... uh, that."
Did she almost say sex?
Wild. First time hearing it from her.
"Anyway, whatever. It's power you got fair and square—use it or not, your call. Just handle it so no rumors from others or media."
I gave her a meaningful look; her ear tips reddened, like she caught my drift, and she wrapped up.
Conclusion: she didn't mind me using Heavenly Thunder.
I hesitated, then asked,
"You sure?"
Instant reply.
"I said it's fine."
...Felt like brushing it off. Uneasy, I pointed out the crucial part.
"Might be fine for you, but your family?"
"...?"
"Think the elders will stay quiet?"
She suddenly played dumb. Half-listening, elegantly slicing and eating meat like steak.
Not steak...
I narrowed my eyes, pressing on.
"Say at the Blue Pine Festival in April, I go all-out against seniors, mix your Heavenly Thunder with my Ice Binding, it airs, and Cheon elders clutch necks and faint—"
"...Argh, stop, stop! Shut up, let me eat!"
Unable to take my 'what if' barrage, she shrieked.
She glared; I shrugged back.
Should've answered sooner.
She aimlessly stirred her nearly empty bowl.
Glancing at me, she spoke ambiguously.
"...There is one case where an outsider using or learning family unique magic is allowed."
"Oh...?"
More useful than expected. My eyes widened. Such a method exists?
I waited hopefully for more.
"...?"
"...?"
"Hey."
No follow-up. She poked at food again; I glared sharply.
What now? Getting frustrated, but her face looked more conflicted than mine.
I swallowed a retort. Sighing, propping chin reluctantly, she finally mumbled,
"Can't tell you now..."
"...You little."
Wasted waiting?
Irritation surged.
"Why start and not finish?"
"Can't say. Won't. No."
"Seriously, why?"
No matter my prodding, she shook head stubbornly. Made an X with arms, then scarfed remaining gukbap.
Ignoring stunned me, she bolted up and out.
Too fast to grab. Paid even my share, gone in a flash.
"...What."
Left alone, I laughed in disbelief.
What's her deal?
"...Ugh."
Right after leaving, despite the cold wind, Cheon So-yul felt her flushed heat linger.
Why? Simple. She'd almost casually blurted something she shouldn't, swept by momentum.
She turned a corner, squatted down. Hands over face, but winter chill tickled her red cheeks through gaps.
She stayed like that awhile. Not rising, not moving, still.
Thinking. At first, before break, no need to leave academy.
But now, guess she'd have to visit home once.
"Awooo..."
Face buried in knees, she let out a long, weak whine.
It was winter.