Chapter 38
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Translator: Xrecker
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Interior (2)
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'What in the world is going on? What's happening right now?'
Shu Yeon-hwa's ears couldn't properly register Ishihan's words.
And for good reason.
The protective talisman was the very pride of the Shu family.
The phenomenon of it being broken in a single blow was a sight that Shu Yeon-hwa had never, no, could never have imagined happening in reality.
But it had actually happened.
'To break the protective talisman with a single thrust....'
Even as she confirmed the result in her mind, she couldn't properly comprehend it; the event that had just occurred was that shocking to Shu Yeon-hwa.
"You bastard! What kind of trickery did you use!"
Kyeong-hu, who had come to her senses before the shocked Shu Yeon-hwa, glared at Ishihan and took out a talisman.
"Trickery? What are you talking about?"
"For Young Lady Yeon-hwa's protective talisman to be broken so easily! It's impossible! What kind of trick did you use!"
Watching Kyeong-hu, who was angrily lashing out at Ishihan, refusing to accept reality, Shu Yeon-hwa was able to regain her composure.
"Kyeong-hu."
"Young Lady Yeon-hwa! Don't worry! This Kyeong-hu will uncover this fellow's trick..."
"Kyeong-hu!"
"Hmph!"
"Please don't show such an unsightly appearance in front of my guest."
"But Young Lady Yeon-hwa!"
"Please stay still. I'll take care of it myself. Understood?"
"...Understood."
'I was able to calm down thanks to Kyeong-hu's excitement.'
Shu Yeon-hwa looked at Ishihan and spoke.
"Mr. Ishihan, how did you do that just now?"
"Even if you ask me how... I just thrust my spear, thinking I had to break through your protective barrier to get you into my group."
"I see."
Shu Yeon-hwa, who had nodded once, showed the demeanor of an heir to the Shu family and said to Ishihan.
"I'm sorry. Mr. Ishihan, if it's possible, could you do it one more time? I wasn't prepared to accept your feelings just now."
"Alright. I'll do it as many times as you like."
"Hmph...."
Shu Yeon-hwa let out a breath and then gathered as much magic power as she could and took out a talisman.
"Protective Talisman!"
Shu Yeon-hwa deployed the best protective talisman she could currently muster.
She had never deliberately lowered the power or deployed it carelessly when she usually cast a protective talisman.
But the protective talisman she had just cast was deployed with Shu Yeon-hwa's sincere heart and determination that it must not be broken.
"Now! Come on! Mr. Ishihan! This time, I'll properly accept the result you've created!"
"Understood."
Ishihan once again thrust his spear in the same direction, and.
Crack!
[You have pierced the protective talisman.]
This time, too, Ishihan broke through Shu Yeon-hwa's protective talisman with a single thrust.
At that moment.
For Shu Yeon-hwa, who had faced it with determination, there was no bewilderment.
Ishihan, the man who broke through the skills that the Shu family had accumulated until now.
Shu Yeon-hwa instinctively felt that his potential was enormous.
The connections with the prestigious families to be active in Ruong?
Of course, it was important.
But Ishihan was not a man who would be limited to just Ruong.
His influence would not be limited to one country but would extend to all seven.
He would grow further, build his fame, obtain strength, and walk the path of a hero.
If that happened, his value would be so great that even all the connections of the prestigious families of Ruong would not be enough.
Shu Yeon-hwa had thought that Ishihan had good eyes when he had proposed that she join him.
But now, she didn't feel that way.
'It was my luck that I caught Mr. Ishihan's eye.'
That was how strongly the possibility that Ishihan had shown by completely breaking through the protective talisman in a single blow had affected Shu Yeon-hwa.
Shu Yeon-hwa's heart pounded.
What kind of future awaited her if she were to join the same group as Ishihan.
The expectation of how much she would grow and shine by the side of Ishihan, who was sure to become a hero, made her heart beat fiercely.
"Are you satisfied now?"
"...Yes. It's enough. I! Shu Yeon-hwa will join the group you are creating, Mr. Ishihan!"
"Y-Young Lady Yeon-hwa! But then!"
"Kyeong-hu! I've already made a promise with Mr. Ishihan. And Mr. Ishihan has shown me a possibility that completely surpasses my imagination! Are you going to make me, the heir of the Shu family, go back on my own words?"
"Hmph!"
"Mr. Ishihan, you have the establishment application form, right?"
"Here it is."
Ishihan took out the application form from his inventory and handed it to Shu Yeon-hwa.
"Kyeong-hu! Bring me a pen!"
"Young Lady Yeon-hwa...."
"Hurry!"
"Understood."
Kyeong-hu brought a pen, and Shu Yeon-hwa wrote her name on the establishment application form.
"Here you go, Mr. Ishihan. Are you going to submit the establishment application tomorrow?"
"Yes. Around 10 o'clock tomorrow. I've already told Arsvald to come to the academy at that time to sign."
"Then I'll go with you at that time. It would be more trustworthy to go in person than to just sign."
"Thank you."
"No. This is only natural! Oh ho ho ho ho!"
Shu Yeon-hwa put the talisman away.
"Mr. Ishihan, I'm sorry, but would you please leave for today? Actually, if you had failed, I was planning to invite you for a light cup of tea and suggest you become my bodyguard... but since things have turned out this way, I need to change my schedule."
"What are you planning to do?"
"First, I have to go to Ruong and tell my father that I will be joining your group instead of the Flame Dragon Society! My father would be surprised if he just heard the news that I didn't join the Flame Dragon Society without any explanation!"
"I see. Then I'll be on my way. See you tomorrow, Shu Yeon-hwa."
"Oh ho ho ho ho! You've shown me a possibility, Mr. Ishihan! And from now on, we're in the same group! In the first place, we're students of the same academy, so don't be so formal! Just call me Yeon-hwa!"
"Understood. Then you can also call me Ishihan."
"Okay! Ishihan!"
Since Ishihan had succeeded in drawing Shu Yeon-hwa into his group, he turned around and was about to leave the Shu family's villa.
However, before he left, he stopped for a moment and looked back at Shu Yeon-hwa.
"Yeon-hwa."
"Yes. What is it, Mr. Ishihan?"
"I know I'm not one to talk, since I'm the one who broke your protective barrier, but I wanted to tell you this."
"Tell me what?"
"When you cast the protective barrier for the second time, you were... dignified and beautiful. My judgment in trying to draw you into my group was not wrong, after all."
"Oh, oh ho ho ho ho! Of course! I am always dignified and beautiful!"
"Yes, you are beautiful. I'm glad to be in the same group as a beautiful person like you."
"Of course you'd be happy! Because my beauty is something you'll never get tired of, no matter how many times you see it! Really! To suddenly praise me here! What are you thinking?"
"No, I was just saying what I was thinking. Excuse me."
After Ishihan left the villa, Kyeong-hu ground her teeth.
"Wh-what's with that man! Is he mocking us! Is he saying that since Young Lady Yeon-hwa will be joining his group anyway, he's just being generous! How rude!"
To Kyeong-hu, Ishihan's words just now had felt like he was throwing a worthless consolation after thoroughly toying with her.
"Kyeong-hu."
"Yes! Young Lady! If you just say the word, this Kyeong-hu will teach that man a lesson..."
"Ishihan is not such a flippant and rude man."
"Huh? But..."
"And... I thought I told you not to be rude to a guest I had invited?"
"Hmph... I-I'm sorry, Young Lady Yeon-hwa."
"I'm happy that you're thinking of me, Kyeong-hu. But I'm the one who lost the bet. And you saw it too, right? The possibility that Ishihan showed. I'm sure Mr. Ishihan is the material of a hero. I think that being by Ishihan's side will be more beneficial to the Shu family than joining the Flame Dragon Society."
"I-is that true?"
"Of course it is! My hunches are usually right! Oh ho ho ho ho! Oh, and I'll be going to Ruong in a little while, so please prepare, Kyeong-hu. I'll be resting in my room for a while."
"Y-yes! Please rest well! Young Lady Yeon-hwa!"
Shu Yeon-hwa immediately went into her own room inside the villa.
"..."
A room where there was no one but Shu Yeon-hwa.
In that room, Shu Yeon-hwa.
"Uuuuuugh~!"
She shut her eyes tight and quickly clenched and shook her fists.
"Really~ really~! That's cheating! Ishihan~!"
Shu Yeon-hwa recalled the words Ishihan had said to her before he had left, that she was dignified and beautiful.
The moment she had heard those words, Shu Yeon-hwa had laughed loudly and had been desperate to somehow alleviate her overwhelming joy and pride.
And now that she was alone, Shu Yeon-hwa was expressing the joy and pride she had felt with her body.
She didn't know why she felt so new and happy every time she was praised by Ishihan.
But the fact that she was happy remained unchanged.
"To suddenly praise me there! I almost showed a sloppy side of myself in front of Kyeong-hu!"
"Young Lady Yeon-hwa! Did you call!"
Kyeong-hu's voice came from outside the door.
"I didn't call! Go back and prepare!"
"Yes!"
As Kyeong-hu's presence faded, Shu Yeon-hwa recalled the fresh memory of Ishihan's praise to relive the joy and pride that had cooled down.
-You were... dignified and beautiful. My judgment in trying to draw you into my group was not wrong, after all.
"Uuuuuugh~!"
Savoring the praise, Shu Yeon-hwa thought.
From now on, she was in the same group as Ishihan.
If they were in the same group, it was highly likely that they would see each other every day, either after class or in the club room during their free time.
And every time, Ishihan would say the very obvious fact.
That she was beautiful.
She would hear that praise every day.
She would be able to taste a fresh, new, and proud joy every day.
From Shu Yeon-hwa's personal standpoint, it was a situation where she could taste happiness every day, rather than the Flame Dragon Society, where she had to grasp the intentions of the other families and engage in a battle of wits every day.
That was why Shu Yeon-hwa thought.
That she was not only beautiful but also a lucky woman.