Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: A Renewed Daily Life (2)
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"Yu-jeong senior. What are you thinking about so deeply?"
It was the start of the second week. Yu-jeong senior sat a bit closer than before, sipping her drink. If I stretched out my hand just a little, our arms would touch. If I spread my legs even slightly, our knees would bump, so I had to sit more primly instead. She stared blankly while drinking her coffee, then looked at me and flashed a grin.
"How was training? I heard you leveled up. Is it called leveling up? Or... advanced to the next training stage? Something like that, right?"
"Yeah. I moved from below 10 to between 10 and 15. Whew, it was tough."
I nodded and brushed the sweat from the nape of my neck. The intensity between training below 10 and between 10 and 15 was on another level entirely. My workout volume had nearly doubled all of a sudden. Becoming aware of the heat rising from my body, I carefully put some distance between me and Yu-jeong senior.
"It's rough, huh? It'll get even harder once you pass 15. The workload ramps up another notch there."
My body already felt like it couldn't keep up, and it was going to increase even more? I let out a hollow laugh. Smiling, I glanced at Yu-jeong senior's body. She was slim yet defined with subtle muscle outlines. Especially her thighs and the firm line running down from them—they rivaled those of a professional model or athlete.
Yu-jeong senior suddenly stretched, raising her arms high overhead. She crossed her legs once and shot me a sidelong glance. As her chest became more prominent with her arms up, I embarrassingly turned my head away. The moment I did, she hesitated and lowered her arms. Then she spoke.
"Ichigaya Ichie, right? She's coming tomorrow?"
"Yeah. That's what I heard."
We both nodded. She was finally arriving. My partner and the Black Dragon Clan's top recruitment target was about to show her face. I asked Yu-jeong senior,
"By the way, why does the Black Dragon Clan want to recruit Ichigaya Ichie? I mean... the Black Dragon Clan has this whole wuxia vibe, and she's Japanese."
Yu-jeong senior paused at the question before opening her mouth.
"Ichigaya Ichie uses a sword, doesn't she?"
"Oh, really?"
It was news to me. The Black Dragon Clan seemed to have all the intel on Ichigaya Ichie. Yu-jeong senior nodded and continued.
"The clan leader said it'd be great to have a samurai or ninja in our guild. He told us to bring her in no matter what."
"I see."
To show maximum respect to the unnamed Black Dragon Clan leader, I held my silence. It felt like the right thing to do. Yu-jeong senior chuckled lightly at her own words, letting out a soft snicker. She said,
"He was super excited about giving her the nickname 'Miyamoto Musashi' too."
"I see."
Whether Ichigaya Ichie would like that nickname was anyone's guess, so I decided not to comment. The moment I'd been saddled with "Ada Bomber," I'd lost any right to opine on others' nicknames.
I asked,
"So, what kind of person is Ichie?"
"Hmm. I've only seen a basic profile, so I don't know much. But from the photo, she looks pretty beautiful."
I couldn't help but feel a strange anticipation at the word "beautiful." I forced my softening expression back to neutral and said,
"Beautiful, huh? Now I'm getting nervous for no reason."
"Do you get nervous around me too, by any chance?"
Yu-jeong senior asked out of the blue. Her face was slightly flushed as she looked at me. We were sitting fairly close, and I'd never talked to a girl like this before. I jolted in surprise and pulled back. Yu-jeong senior tilted her head, scratched the back of her neck, and looked away. Then she said,
"Oh, just kidding. Was that too princess-like?"
"N-no. I... I think you're beautiful too, Yu-jeong senior."
Yu-jeong senior grinned at that. It was a genuinely happy smile. Her earlobes were bright red. She said,
"Su-hyeon."
"Yes."
"I want to keep hanging out with you like this. Being a hunter isn't just about roaming gates and fighting well. You inevitably clash with people, and sometimes you have to force a smile."
With that, she stood up. Her car was parked right next to the bench. She pressed the key fob, and the trunk lights flashed as the doors unlocked. Yu-jeong senior said,
"Funny, right? A D-Rank Hunter sounding all jaded about social life. Hop in. I'll give you a ride."
She opened the passenger door for me. I said,
"No, it's fine. I sweated a lot today."
"Not that again. It's okay, get in."
Yu-jeong senior made a disappointed face when I refused, urging me to get in the car. Pretending to give in, I peeled my sticky shirt off my back and climbed in. As soon as I buckled up, I said,
"Thanks as always, senior. For the rides."
Yu-jeong senior smiled at me, dramatically tossing her hair behind her ear before shifting gears. Not understanding the gesture, I stared at her wide-eyed. She smoothly turned the wheel to exit the parking lot in one go, then eased the car onto the road.
The ride felt as smooth as gliding on ice. I said,
"You drive really well, senior. Impressive. I still can't do it like that."
Yu-jeong senior replied in an excited, childlike voice.
"Right? Cool, huh? I practiced with a V-Tube driving seminar recently. Essential for long-distance raids."
The words "driving seminar" caught my ear. I'd gotten a decent insurance payout lately and was thinking of buying a car for commuting to school. But my dad, knowing my license was just gathering dust, scolded me to practice more on his car first before buying my own.
"Oh, a driving seminar? Mine's a closet license too, so I've been wanting to learn from one. Which one do you do? There are even V-Tubers teaching that stuff now?"
"Can you grab my electronic pad from the bag real quick?"
Yu-jeong senior pointed to the bag between us. I pulled out the pad and handed it to her. She pulled over to the shoulder, opened V-Tube on the pad. The moment she started it, a lecturer appeared in front of a whiteboard.
"So, how should romance newbies approach dating? Be proactive! Show off your cool side to sweep them off their feet. Highlight your charms and..." Yu-jeong senior's face turned redder than a traffic light, then rapidly cooled. She fumbled with the pad to shut off the video. Shoving it back into the bag, she said,
"I-I'll show you later. Weird video popped up. D-did it catch a virus?"
Watching her fluster snapped me out of it too. She pursed her lips, glanced at me, and started driving in silence. The atmosphere was too awkward to speak, so I just gripped the seatbelt tight while stealing glances at her.
The car stopped near Gongdeok Station at a four-way intersection. Yu-jeong senior said without turning her head.
"We're here. G-good night."
"Ah, yeah! Thanks!"
I gave an awkward goodbye and got out. My head was a mess. Why was Yu-jeong senior watching a dating seminar? Who was she trying to date? Who? No matter how I thought about it, it wasn't me. No one would want to date someone whose business card said "Ada Bomber."
*****
The next day, we all gathered in the classroom instead of the training grounds. To meet the new transfer student, Ichigaya Ichie, face-to-face. Since we usually spent most of our time training in the gym, seeing students from other groups felt unfamiliar.
The students had grown used to the name Ada Bomber, so they ignored me with bored expressions. I ignored the ones snubbing me and just waited for Ichie. As teammates, I needed to get along with her.
A bit away, Kim Ju-seong and Kim Chun-bae were talking in low voices. Too far to hear, but Ju-seong was asking Chun-bae for something, and Chun-bae was grimacing as he refused.
Seeing Chun-bae apologize was novel. He was doing it in that exaggerated anime bow style. Kim Ju-seong looked uncomfortable peering down at him, sighed deeply, and turned back to his desk. His hand patted Chun-bae's shoulder lightly.
"Good morning, everyone."
Then Lee Jeong-ah teacher entered through the front door with her usual dignified poise. We all bowed lightly in greeting. Jeong-ah teacher eyeballed to check if we were all there, then looked down the hallway.
Beyond the closed door was the silhouette of a woman. The students whispered, staring at the shadow. Jeong-ah teacher waited for the murmurs to die down and spoke.
"Yes. Today, student Ichigaya Ichie has arrived. She's transferring from Japan, so her Korean might be rough. Her teammates, please take good care of her."
At "teammates," all eyes turned to me. One blew a whistle while looking my way, and a few snickered. Jeong-ah teacher glanced at the whistler. His face seemed familiar.
Jeong-ah teacher stared at him and asked,
"'Drum Maniac' Kim Jeong-pyo. Why the whistle?"
"Huh? J-just whistled, that's all."
Kim Jeong-pyo stammered awkwardly. Jeong-ah teacher said,
"I said this was introduction time, and you made noise. Like last time too—are you doing that because I seem like a joke?"
"N-no, sorry."
Kim Jeong-pyo apologized immediately. Jeong-ah teacher nodded and said,
"After class, come see me to submit your penalty points. I'll explain in detail."
He grimaced, twitching his mouth, then glared at me. I shook my head with a grin. His eyes twitched, and he looked forward again.
Jeong-ah teacher looked at the door. Sensing the chilly vibe inside, the silhouette hesitated. Jeong-ah teacher said,
"Come on in."
The door opened. Black bobbed hair and red eyes caught my eye first. She wore a white dress shirt and long jeans. Standing by the podium, she scanned us once. Her pursed lips gave off a cold aura.
"Ichigaya Ichie desu. Dozo yoroshiku onegaishimasu."
Her voice was softer than expected.