Yurika's Truth, Read as Washing Machine (2)
Yurika cracked open just one eye slyly. Opening both felt too risky—the guy was way too sharp; she'd get caught for sure. It was a ridiculous move, but for someone with zero experience or know-how in this kind of thing, it was her best shot.
She spotted the boy spinning his pen with a bored expression. His neatly combed black hair framed eyes so deep you could get lost in them. The slightly fierce shape of those eyes created a unique vibe. Purely from an aesthetic standpoint, it was beauty anyone would acknowledge.
The kind of look that could make any woman glance twice. It only confirmed her suspicions.
He's a really dangerous guy.
No wonder the Hero harbored such desperate feelings for him. At first, she'd wondered what kind of shady spell he'd cast... but thinking about Erina's airheaded personality, she realized he probably didn't need any tricks—just that face alone would do it.
Compared to him, the rumors are the worst...
Word was he'd used and dumped Instructor Yoon Jiye. And he didn't hesitate to do cruel things... Though, honestly, that part puzzled her.
He doesn't seem like a bad person at all...
Yurika was a Saintess. The real deal, chosen by the three major gods of Irelua, marked on the back of her hand from the start. Naturally, she wielded divine power, and her ability to sense evil was exceptional. It started simple—distinguishing demonic energy and demons—but over time, it grew stronger.
For example, just facing someone let her glimpse their true intentions, the evil buried in their heart. Sometimes, she could even understand their entire life story like a novel.
...What an incredible person.
The first time their eyes met, she'd been shocked. A blazing volcano of fire coexisted with icy, ruthless cold, scarred by countless wounds. In all her years meeting countless people, she'd never encountered an inner world so overwhelming. No one with that many scars.
What kind of life had he lived? How many trials had he overcome to make that possible? Was he even the same age as them?
...And even more surprising.
Deeper still lay thick darkness. The shade people called "evil," but unlike the repulsive filth from demons, this was different. A conviction, maybe?
But that doesn't make him particularly good, either...
She couldn't figure him out. The more they talked, the murkier he became. Especially his attitude from the start—like they'd known each other for years, radiating easy comfort. Her true personality slipped out naturally, and before she knew it, they were bantering like friends, trading insults.
As she pondered, their eyes met. She hadn't meant to stare. It was just a coincidence. Really.
"...Tch."
He grimaced like he'd seen street filth, making a retching gesture. Finally, he clicked his tongue and whipped his head away.
Eek!
Correction: He was a bad person. She couldn't bring herself to curse as a Saintess, but he was a total shithead dumbass dickweed.
Her thoughts reached that point, and she slapped her cheeks.
Get it together, Yurika!
She wasn't here to mess around. She'd sacrificed her golden weekend, dragged herself out of bed after barely mustering the will to wash up and haul her heavy feet here. Skipped that sweet, sweet lie-in just to extract vital info from this guy.
After lunch, she'd used her Saintess status to investigate Erina's past. And she'd been stunned. Humans leave traces, records of their lives. But Erina? Nothing. Like someone had deliberately erased it all.
Born in a normal rural village, received a divine oracle one day and became the Hero. Later adopted by the Yulis family for training, leading to now...
The church's intel gatherers could only scrape that much together? It meant Erina's backing was even bigger than she'd imagined.
A past so heavily redacted. Even finding out she was originally an orphan had taken digging. So who the hell raised her before she became the Hero?
And Choi Siwoo was the same.
His records were wiped clean too.
His past was a total fog. The only scrap: childhood friends with Erina, lived together for years.
Yurika was certain. The same hand had erased both their backgrounds. And they hid a crucial secret no one else could know.
That's why she'd approached him.
No one knows the clues to the truth better than the man himself.
Choi Siwoo. Erina the Hero's childhood friend and family.
It was a slim lead, but she'd bet everything on it. He was a tough nut, she knew. But she had confidence she could crack him somehow.
"So stop staring already."
"Making me repeat myself? I wasn't."
"I can feel your eyes all over me. Why pretend? Just say what you want."
"...! Y-You'd tell me if I asked...? For real?"
"Nah? You crazy? You spill secrets to random strangers?"
"Then why ask!"
"Just did? What, you mad? So what."
This damn guy! She barely kept her face from flushing. Couldn't let him drag her into his pace. What a sly fox.
His smug chuckle, like he was savoring it, boiled her blood. Why torment her like this? She had to remind herself of her goal and play it cool.
"Even if we're meeting today for the first time, they say time isn't everything in relationships."
"...Saintess. You said that exact line five minutes ago."
"Shu— I mean, anyway, hear me out. I'm the church-appointed Saintess. Bearer of unspeakable pasts and truths. Impressed?"
"What the hell are you on about."
"So, as a Saintess? Listening to believers' woes and guiding them right is my duty. How about confessing honestly, like in the confessional?"
"...My past?"
"Yes! Especially your childhood..."
"Figures a churchie would spin bullshit so smoothly."
"Can I take that as blasphemy?"
"If that's how you heard it, tough luck. Exercising my right to silence."
"J-Joking! Anyway, about what you said earlier..."
"Don't remember my past. Nothing to tell you, no matter how much you pry."
"Eek..."
Not easy. Really not.
Why's his guard so ironclad?
Tougher than she'd dreamed. Look at that attitude—chin propped, eyeing her like roadside trash. Zero respect for a Saintess.
Begging this much and he wouldn't even pretend to listen? Maybe some grudge fueling it.
Then a hunch flashed.
...Bad blood with the church?
Possible. Not like the church was all purity and justice—speaking as a Saintess. Maybe a descendant of religious trial victims or holy war casualties. That'd explain the hostility.
She checked her wristwatch. Class ending soon. Intel said this was his last one; he'd be free after.
Lure him to a nice spot first.
Common sense screamed quit, but no way. For her Saintess duty, for the future, she'd get his cooperation by hook or crook. If lucky, recruit him for the Hero party down the line. His skills were legit.
I can do this.
Old saying: No tree survives ten strikes. Prime location, and embarrassing as it was to admit, her looks rivaled Erina the Hero's.
Rebound all he wants; he's still a man. As the Pope said, males are ruled by their dicks—easy to handle.
Vulgar, but... pretty solves everything.
Alright. Fighting!
Right then, the bell rang, signaling class end.
"Choi Siwoo! Let's hear that honest story—"
She couldn't finish. In seconds, he'd ghosted his stuff like a ninja and spun to bolt.
—N-No!
She lunged, grabbing his pant leg. Clumsy with her body as always.
He looked down, baffled.
"What the fuck. What're you doing."
"Uh, I, well... Sorry. But you were running, right? Just now?"
"Obviously 'cause you're being a pain."
"Just a little talk! Please!"
A tug-of-war ensued: Siwoo trying to shake free, Yurika clinging.
Finally, she held on long enough to chat.
"Ahem. Choi Siwoo."
"...Yeah, what."
"Class is over. Got time?"
"...Why me?"
Now or never. Time for the killer move!
"I know this teahouse. Great vibe. Thought we could chat more intimately there."
She yanked his hand to her chest level. Perfectly calculated spot. Any guy's heart would race.
Surrounding dudes' stares burned hot.
-Whoa, that Saintess hitting on him herself?!-
-Fuck!! Looks really are everything...-
Yurika was sure.
It worked.
Look at that flushed face, shaky eyes, reddening ears. Major inner turmoil. Time to seal it, melt him down...
"Wh-What the fuck! Hands off!"
"...Huh?"
She blurted dumbly. He glared disgustedly, whipping out a handkerchief to scrub her hand off his.
"Tried being nice, but you...
"D-Damn...?"
"Why waste time on you. Cut the crap."
"Wh-What... If it's bad feelings toward the church, I can apologize for—"
"Shut up. Church sucks, but something worse."
He pointed at her... no, precisely her ample holy power pouch.
"Wh-What!"
"Gross as hell. Warning you: zero interest in flab and fat. Ugh, look at that blubber."
"F-Fat...? Flab?!"
"Yeah. Fat! All lumpy and gross... Always grabbing ankles in crises... Hit the gym, seriously. Quit rotting in your room."
"......"
Yurika was speechless. First time ever. Born and raised, never heard such an insult. Couldn't process what this guy was saying.
Siwoo kept venting awhile, then grumbled and shoved past like he'd seen something nasty.
"......"
Yurika stood dazed. A tear trickled down her cheek.
She didn't know why she cried. Couldn't tell if the rising chest pain was anger or sadness.
But one thing was clear: she was pissed.
The next day, Sunday. Class for achievements. Half-expected that pig Saintess, but luckily no. Instead, awkward company arrived.
A girl with platinum blonde tied in a ponytail, swaying as she walked. Hero Erina.
"S-Siwoo, hi?"
"...Why're you here?"
"Uh, s-saw a community post saying you take weekend classes... Hehe."
"...Sigh."
She sat cautiously beside him.
"Um... by any chance..."
"What now."
"Did you... say something to Yurika?"
"Nah, me and the Saintess ain't close."
"R-Really? She asked me to pass a message."
"What?"
Erina handed over a small memo from her pocket.
『You'll see. I'll make you regret it!』
"Hmm..."
"Up early in gym clothes, jogging. Saintesses don't need training, right? Figured some change of heart."
"Hmm..."
He crumpled the memo and chucked it in the trash. Erina looked flustered, but he ignored it.
Whatever...
No need to sweat it.