Chapter 161
Chapter 161
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 161
Chapter Title: We Need to Talk (1)
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-Ring, ring. Ring, ring.
Repeated incoming call tones blared one after another.
It didn't take long before—click—a familiar voice came through.
[...What is it?]
A bit rough, easy to mistake at first, but laced with hidden affection.
It was Cheon-do.
I clamped my mouth shut and stayed silent for a moment. Then, chuckling, I said cheerfully,
"Nah, just checking if my master is doing well."
[Out of the blue?]
"I can call when I miss you, right? What, did you think I'd just cry because I was gone a few days? You said you missed me."
[......On vacation and hit your head or something? That won't happen.]
"Heh heh heh. How's Shiba? Put Shiba on."
[What? Shiba's at daycare.]
"Oh right, that's right... It's daycare time now. My bad."
My sense of time had gotten really fuzzy.
The time I'd spent in the past felt long to me. But here, it had barely been a few days.
No matter how much I'd been kicked around like a soccer ball during that time. No one could know.
I let my hand holding the phone drop.
Deep breath. Steadying my trembling hand completely.
The people from my past had no idea what I'd been through.
"...Hearing your voice after so long feels good. Anyway, I'll hang up."
[......Yeah? Alright, got it.]
-Click.
The call ended.
I wiped the beads of sweat from my forehead.
"Did you see everything you needed?"
Next to the futon where I sat, a woman in shrine maiden attire knelt gracefully and asked.
"Yeah."
"May I quickly tell you about what happened while you were away?"
"Go ahead."
The shrine maiden paused for one breath, then began her story.
"When you disappeared. And a day later, a woman came here. A green-haired woman."
"Yeah."
"As per the World Tree's orders, we told her you had personal business and wouldn't be participating in academy events for a while."
So that was how they covered for me.
An alibi—or whatever you call it—had been prepared.
Not that saying I'd gone to the past would fly anyway. Too far-fetched.
It was convenient.
"...You can return to your daily life now."
The words slipped from the shrine maiden's mouth.
I cast my hollow gaze downward.
"Daily life."
The phrase didn't resonate.
It had been like that ever since coming to this world.
As I scratched my sweat-drenched nape and smacked my dry lips, the shrine maiden offered a cup of tea.
Iced green tea with floating tea leaves.
-Gulp.
I wet my throat and took a moment.
"And this... It seemed important."
The shrine maiden set a ring case on the floor and slid it over gently.
The ring Cheon-do from my childhood had given me.
A fond dad smile burst out the moment I saw it.
I pocketed the ring case.
"Thanks."
Saying that, I took a deep breath.
"Hoo, haa."
My mana capacity had doubled. Thanks to learning from the old man how to conceal my power, I could hide the abnormal growth.
How weak had I been before?
Adjusting my dantian, I regulated the mana leaking from my body.
It didn't take long to revert to how I'd been a few days ago.
"Are you heading back right away?"
"Gotta."
I'd slipped into informal speech somehow, but since I'd only see her today, whatever.
As I stood, the shrine maiden brought modern clothes.
"Please wear these."
I changed into them neatly, as instructed.
Light early summer attire, no different from what I'd worn arriving at the training camp.
A bit chilly in the past. Weather changed in a flash.
-Creak.
Stepping out of the shrine, I took in the outside scenery.
So much to do ahead, it felt heavy, but this moment felt incredibly refreshing.
As I stepped one foot forward, the shrine maiden following behind said,
"May the World Tree's blessing be with you."
World Tree's blessing... Yeah right.
Still, polite words, so I nodded in courtesy.
I set foot on the stairs descending the shrine.
There was someone I needed to see first.
*****
"He didn't come today either?"
"...Yes."
"That kid... Where the hell did he go."
32 missed calls during absence.
"He didn't pick up your calls either?"
Azalea nodded with a gloomy expression.
The training camp should have been fun, but she looked full of regret.
"...Alright, go on in. Training schedule?"
"It's over for today. Good work."
-Thud.
It had been less than a few days—a short time—but Lee Si-heon had vanished.
Ignoring everyone's contacts.
Maybe with Cheon-do or Baek-do...? But asking them felt like overreacting, so she stayed silent.
'......Did what I say burden him too much?'
In the end, nights of deepening worry without resolution. Azalea regretted confessing. And she felt the same.
Lee Se-young sat on the dorm bed, hugging her knees.
On her ring finger, a silver ring gleamed tightly.
-Can't do this. Gotta take it back.
-I like guys with lots of women.
Words she'd said because he seemed so indecisive.
Why did I say that crap?
"Ugh, you idiot Lee Se-young.... No wonder he lost interest."
A slip of the tongue.
Looking back, it was selfish.
She tended to speak bluntly... But even accounting for that, it must have burdened Lee Si-heon.
She was happy he liked her that much.
But ignoring contacts like this meant he was really pissed.
'He said he had business...'
Contact from the shrine maiden.
Lee Si-heon wouldn't attend training camp for a while due to personal matters.
Academy contacts followed; effectively, he wasn't participating.
Business was fine.
That guy gets dragged into dungeons or whatever suddenly.
The problem was vanishing right after rejecting Azalea's confession and talking with her.
'He used to pick up even if asleep.'
Worry half. Pout half. A spoonful of hurt.
Lee Se-young pouted childishly despite her age.
A thought bubbled in her chest.
'Maybe it's for the best.'
Her plan was progressing smoothly anyway.
Tracking Flower's tail was going steadily without issues.
If Lee Si-heon detached from her now...... She could focus solely on saving him properly.
Crush Flower with her own power.
'Hoo...'
Her thoughts reached there, then she shook her head to dismiss them.
When did I become like this?
'Turned into a lovesick fool.'
She could lightly toss away her life. She'd even planned assuming she'd die.
Destroy Flower targeting Lee Si-heon.
Sounds good. In words.
...Objectively, clinging to a guy met months ago.
Lee Se-young buried her face in her knees and closed her eyes.
Then—flash—opened them and headed to the fridge.
Grabbed a bottle of soju and took a swig.
-Gulp, gulp.
Chilled soju from the freezer.
As tipsiness hit, dizziness faded. Anxious over days without contact.
No good.
Pulled out soju bottles galore, lined them on the table, ripped open dry snack bags, and displayed them.
Get blackout drunk and sleep.
Tilting her glass from unease—that moment.
-Knock, knock, knock.
A knock sounded.
Maybe Azalea left something.
Lee Se-young and Azalea had kept meeting since Lee Si-heon vanished, growing somewhat close.
Without thinking, she went to the door and opened it.
-Click.
"What'd you leave behi—"
Her eyes met Lee Si-heon's through the door crack.
"—nd."
His face had calmed.
The aura after days was different.
Lee Si-heon stared at Lee Se-young, mouth shut for a while, saying nothing.
His lips trembled with regret, as if regretting something. His gaze wandered occasionally.
As if a corpse lay somewhere in the room.
-Thump.
Lee Se-young's heart sank.
Should she curse refreshingly? Or apologize?
I was too harsh then. Yeah, well, collecting women... Even I think that was much. Let's go at your pace.
People's values don't change easily.
About to say that, she forced a bright voice.
"...Finally here? Why so late?"
Se-young's words flipped Si-heon's face.
No chance to ask what happened before he changed. Casually flashing his usual sly smile.
He stepped inside, arms outstretched.
"Hey, wait a sec. Mmph—"
A light kiss followed.
Strong arms wrapped around her, flooding her with happiness.
Days apart felt like months.
Se-young pulled away, glaring.
"What, drinking alone?"
"Who do you think I drank for.... Why ignore my calls, punk."
"We used to drink lots at the grill place."
"Don't change the subject."
Like new lovers at the entrance, clinging.
Exchanging playful banter, Lee Si-heon entered casually.
Glancing at the intruding Si-heon, Se-young sighed.
"So... What happened?"
"Just business. Wasn't like this before?"
"What kind?"
"Helped the World Tree a bit. When she says jump, I jump. Couldn't use my phone."
Made sense.
No matter his grudge against the World Tree, current Lee Si-heon couldn't face her.
"......You could've at least said something."
Hearing Se-young's jab, Si-heon smiled and sat on the sofa.
Naturally joining the drinking session.
"It was urgent."
"Still, leave a message.... Hey, I really thought you were mad."
"At you, teacher?"
Seeing his beaming smile made her anger melt again.
Se-young sighed deeply and sat across from Si-heon.
Normally she'd plaster herself to him drinking.
Not sitting beside was petty revenge.
"...So. Not hurt? Take a glass. Worked, so drink up."
"I'm fine."
Filled his soju glass full, set it down, then she poured for herself.
Digging might find fancy wine or ham, but for them, cheap soju was better.
"...Azalea."
"Later."
-Sip.
Downed a glass.
"Planned to see only you first."
"......What about her confession."
Si-heon's eyes turned to Se-young.
Indecisive. Progressive, valuing monogamy.
Se-young sipped while awaiting his answer.
Ignoring contacts? Anger long gone.
Reason explained.
And he didn't seem mad.
Si-heon downed another. Now self-serving bottles each.
"Accept it."
"......Yeah?"
Casual tone, like decided long ago. No torment.
As she'd asked.
But couldn't hide inner disappointment.
Se-young laughed exaggeratedly.
"Kuhaha, grown up, huh. When'd you say you wanted only me."
"I like you too, teacher."
Straight talk startled Se-young, face flushing.
"Hey... Why say that suddenly?"
"Lots to thank you for.... Wouldn't be alive without you. That's why I like you."
"...M-me too. Yeah. Uh, hot in here. AC?"
Was he always this honest with feelings?
His suddenly mature face made her heart skip.
Lee Se-young hurriedly turned up the AC and returned.
The burning heat subsided a bit.
Lee Si-heon smiled, setting down his glass.
"But, teacher."
"Y-yeah?"
His serious gaze made Se-young hold her breath unwittingly.
A deep male voice filled the room softly.
"You aren't plotting some weird plan, are you?"
Lee Se-young swallowed dryly.
He stared unmoving, unblinking.
His black pupils brimmed with affection, yet edged sharp somewhere.