Chapter 32
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Translator: Xrecker
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Men Become Friends Through Fighting (3)
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"You're... Shu Yeon-hwa."
"Oh my, you know me? Well, we have been in the same class twice... and my beauty is not easily forgotten, so it's only natural that you remember! Oh ho ho ho ho!"
A high-pitched, confident laugh, like that of a villainess.
A lively smile that even made the viewer feel refreshed.
However, her eyebrows curved slightly downwards, adding a touch of a villainous flavor, a "cheeky brat."
In subculture terminology, a face with a hint of a "mesugaki" style.
It was the face of Shu Yeon-hwa, which I had seen every day since her pickup, both in the game and in community images.
Shu Yeon-hwa was from Ruong, a fire country based on a Chinese style.
She was the precious only daughter of the Shu family, a prestigious family in Ruong.
Always full of confidence, she showed a merciless side to her enemies, provoking and mocking them, but she also had a deeply affectionate personality, treating her allies with a certain level of respect and kindness.
She was playful in a different way from Shasha, and had a rich curiosity, which made her wonder about the skills of the player who was constantly building up their fame. In her affinity quest, she would even say, "I'll acknowledge you as my great friend! Oh ho ho ho ho!"
Her weapon was a talisman.
When she threw a talisman, it had a basic attack motion that caused a small explosion upon hitting an enemy.
Among her skills, there was one that acted as a landmine by attaching a talisman to the ground, so if too many enemies gathered around, she could detonate it to knock them back.
Even though she was a long-range talisman user, her sturdy thighs were not just for show, as she also had a close-range attack skill, where she would shout "Hii-yat!" and deliver a roundhouse kick.
But her best feature was not her long-range attacks, her landmine skill, or her high-damage kick.
It was her shield.
A translucent shield called a protective barrier that blocked the enemy's attack power in proportion to her defense.
The moment the shield was applied, the character would not be knocked back by enemy attacks.
Until the shield disappeared, their health would not decrease from enemy attacks.
And since the shield amount was large, unless it was an exceptional case, you could use it continuously if you calculated the next skill's cooldown properly.
And the shield was also automatically activated when she used her ultimate skill.
In other words, as long as you had Shu Yeon-hwa, you could attack with peace of mind.
Whether it was a wide-range field boss's attack.
Or the attack of a new type of monster you were seeing for the first time.
Or a specific attack from a boss with a very strong one-shot damage.
As long as you had Shu Yeon-hwa, you were safe.
That was why she was given the nickname.
The Queen of Shields.
Shielqueenqueeen.
The word "Queen" alone could not fully express her majesty, so two more "queens" were added to her nickname.
Separately, the shield she cast, not Shu Yeon-hwa herself, was also called the "Reliable Friend Shield," in connection with the title "great friend" from her affinity quest.
For her to have come to me on her own could be called a stroke of luck.
First, let's say something that she would like, along with my honest feelings.
"I didn't forget your name from the self-introduction. But even if that wasn't the case, your beauty is certainly not easily forgotten."
"You know me well! Oh ho ho ho ho!"
Just like Arsvald, who was confident and had a strong desire for self-display, Yeon-hwa also liked to be praised.
The fact that the notification sound saying I had pierced her praise resistance didn't appear was proof of that.
'In the first place, who would dislike being praised?'
"But about talking... will it take long? I have a promise to have lunch with a friend."
"It won't take long, so don't worry. And if it does? Wouldn't it be fine for your friend and I to continue our conversation over a meal? Or would your friend be uncomfortable if I was there?"
If that happened, Pamela would....
-I-it's fine! D-don't mind someone like me and have your conversation! Just pretend I'm not here...!
"She wouldn't refuse."
"Then there's no problem. Follow me."
"Understood."
The place Yeon-hwa took me to was a Ruong-style cafe within the academy.
In other words, a Chinese-style cafe.
"It's green tea."
"Please drink. I've had the green tea here before, and it was quite delicious! Ah, it's my treat."
"I'll gladly accept."
Not long after ordering, the green tea was served, and I drank it.
Hmm~ it's bitter.
Well, all green tea is like this.
But its unique, subtle aroma seemed to calm my mind.
"It's a good tea."
Even though it's not delicious.
"Oh ho ho ho! As expected of a hero, you also know your tea!"
"A hero?"
Yeon-hwa clapped her hands lightly and said.
"Yes. A hero. The hero of the citizens who defeated the troublesome bandit, the Belken Gang, in Valendia. The rising star of the academy. Mr. Ishihan. I'm talking about you."
"Hmm, it doesn't feel real."
"The fame has only been spreading for less than a day, so that's probably why. But you'll get used to it in the end. The praise, respect, and a little bit of jealousy from others. I'm already used to it, oh ho ho ho ho!"
"So? What's your business with me?"
"I'm here to express my gratitude for the favor you've done for me, even if you didn't intend to."
Yeon-hwa, not with the wide-mouthed villainess laugh, but with her mouth closed and the corners of her lips raised.
She said, with a smile like that of a young lady from a prestigious family.
"Thank you, Mr. Ishihan. Thanks to you, our family's troubles have also been reduced."
"What do you mean?"
"The Shu family distributes talismans to various countries. And we also distribute them to Valendia and, of course, the academy. And the Belken Gang... would sometimes attack our family's carriages heading to Valendia.
Of course, we didn't lose our goods every time we were attacked, but the fact that it happened at all was a very troublesome problem. It greatly affected the trust in our business. That's why."
Yeon-hwa crossed her legs and placed her hands on her knees.
"Thanks to you, Mr. Ishihan, for annihilating the Belken Gang, that troublesome problem has disappeared."
"I see."
I knew the setting that the Shu family dealt with talismans, but this was the first time I was hearing that they also distributed them to Valendia and the Lucadia Academy.
It was interesting, as if I had learned a hidden backstory.
I knew the reason why Yeon-hwa had called me over.
I had also received her gratitude.
But it was a shame to end the conversation here, so even though I already knew, I asked a question to continue the conversation.
"But if it's for Valendia or the academy, couldn't you just use a warp stone?"
"That's impossible."
"Why?"
"It would be a different story if it were talismans for my personal use... but there's a rule that items for large-scale commercial use cannot be transported using warp stones. It would mess up the distribution system.
Even if you tried to do it secretly, all the countries investigate this kind of thing thoroughly, so the moment you're caught, your reputation and trust will fall to the ground.
Well, if it's just one or two items? They might turn a blind eye, thinking of it as a part-time job for an academy student who accepts a merchant's request using a warp stone."
"I see. So the reason you called me was just to thank me?"
Yeon-hwa smiled her villainess laugh again and said.
"Oh ho ho ho, of course not. Just ending it with a thank you for the favor my family has received would be no different from tarnishing the name of our Shu family. Therefore, I, Shu Yeon-hwa! On behalf of the Shu family, will grant your request, Mr. Ishihan."
"My request?"
"Yes! Of course, within a possible range. Even if you say you want me, it's impossible! Because my value is too great! Oh ho ho ho ho!"
"Hmm, that's a shame."
"Oh my? Perhaps? Don't tell me? Really...? Did you want me?"
Yeon-hwa, who had been blinking her eyes in surprise at my reaction, let out a high-pitched laugh again.
"Oh ho ho ho ho! My beauty is truly a sin! To have captured a man's heart so easily! But it's no good, Mr. Ishihan. My value is far from enough to be covered by just annihilating a bandit gang!
I'm happy and it's natural that you have such passionate feelings for me! But I am not a woman who can be won over so easily!"
"It's an undeniable fact that your beauty is outstanding."
"Yes! That's right!"
"But what I meant by 'wanting you' is different from what you've taken it to mean."
"Oh my, then what is it?"
This time, as if she really didn't understand, she rested her chin on her index finger and tilted her head.
"Is there any other meaning to a man wanting me besides wanting to date me?"
Such great confidence.
Of course, I also had a special affection for the character Shu Yeon-hwa, more so than for other characters.
It wasn't because she was a high-performance character or because I particularly liked her looks.
'Because every time I did a 10-pull, three of her came out at once.'
On top of that, I had also gotten the remaining two breakthrough copies with the 50/50.
Thanks to that, I was able to post a bragging post on the community with a very smug feeling.
Especially the comment reactions when I posted it were very good.
ㄴ Die, braggart
ㄴ Why don't I get her? Why don't I get her? Why don't I get her?
ㄴ That bastard stole my Yeon-hwa, ffs
ㄴ You're blocked
They were very sweet and pleasant comments.
Whether you were a free-to-play or a whale, bragging was a good feeling!
I told the answer to Yeon-hwa, who still couldn't find it.
"What I meant by 'wanting you' was... that I wanted you to join the group I'm going to create as a member."
"Ah! So that's what you meant. Hmm~ but that's a problem. I've already promised to join another group."
"What group is that?"
"It's a group called the Flame Dragon Society, which is mainly composed of the prestigious families of Ruong. I want to repay your favor, but... as a member of the Shu family, it's difficult to give up the connections with the prestigious families."
"You can join both."
"The Flame Dragon Society prohibits joining other groups. But it would be rude to refuse the request of a benefactor right away... so tell me."
"Tell you what?"
"The reason why you want me as a group member, Mr. Ishihan."
Yeon-hwa smiled sweetly.
"What about me attracted you and made you want me as a member? Please tell me the charms you see in me, Mr. Ishihan."
In other words, she was telling me to praise her to the point where she would feel like joining.
Finding her charm points.
It was a Shu Yeon-hwa fangirling test.