Chapter 35

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 35

Chapter Title: Gifts Shouldn't Be Too Excessive

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30 minutes after the start of the spar with Wol Ha-yeon.

"Ugh... Th-that's enough. I can't go on anymore. Someone's gonna get hurt at this rate."

"...Good work."

Having barely survived the hellish spar, I collapsed flat on the floor.

Wol Ha-yeon looked down at me for a moment like that.

Then she walked over to Yoon Seo-rin, who had silently watched the entire spar from start to finish.

"So, what is it you wanted to say?"

"......"

Yoon Seo-rin stared intently into Wol Ha-yeon's eyes for a moment before slowly opening her mouth.

"Lately, the Wol family has been pressuring the Association nonstop for information on Kang Hyun-sol. How about dialing it back a bit?"

"...Hmm? What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb. I've already been fully briefed.

We know there's something suspicious about Kang Hyun-sol too.

But isn't this crossing the line, moving like this without any evidence or circumstances?"

In response to Yoon Seo-rin's words, Wol Ha-yeon scratched her cheek with a face like she truly knew nothing.

"Hmm, that's strange? I definitely ordered them to stop investigating Hyun-sol.

Yet the main family is still digging for info on him?

Could you tell me when the Wol family last contacted the Association?"

"...Four days ago. Wait, really? It wasn't on your orders?"

"That's what I've been saying. Without evidence or circumstances, why would I stir up a hornet's nest? Besides, I actually like Hyun-sol quite a bit."

"...."

From the looks of Wol Ha-yeon's explanation, she seemed sincere.

In that case, the only one in the Wol family who could issue orders bypassing her, ignoring her opinion entirely, was one person.

"...So that means Wol Cheon-mu has taken an interest in Kang Hyun-sol."

"Seems like it. Wonder what he saw in him?"

Wol Cheon-mu.

One of Korea's S-Rank Hunters, the first to simultaneously awaken two S-Rank unique traits, and currently one of the strongest hunters alive.

And a man more serious about hunting demons and demonkin than anyone.

The fact that he had started seeking information on Kang Hyun-sol was not good news at all.

"...."

Wol Ha-yeon, lost in thought staring into space for a moment, snapped back and spoke to Yoon Seo-rin, who wore a serious expression.

"Hmm... Anyway, I have to head to the main family next week, so I'll ask around. See why he's interested in Hyun-sol. That settles that, then—what's the other thing you wanted to ask?"

"Well......"

Yoon Seo-rin trailed off without answering, fidgeting with her fingers shyly.

"...? What's with that? Something serious? Or embarrassing?"

"Um... This is purely a personal question, but......"

"Go ahead! I'll listen."

Seeing Wol Ha-yeon ready to hear her out seriously, Yoon Seo-rin took a deep breath and began her explanation.

"First off, don't get the wrong idea. I just think Kang Hyun-sol is commendable and admirable for practicing mana bullets so diligently, so I want to gift him a dedicated mana bullet pistol. But will he feel burdened? He won't, right? I know friends can exchange gifts like this. And even though it's a gift, I'm thinking of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠giving him one of P Company's top-performance latest-model pistols. It only costs about 1 billion won, so it won't be too burdensome, and since he doesn't use a staff, he'll make good use of a pistol, right??"

"...Huh?"

Caught completely off guard by the unexpected question, Wol Ha-yeon stood there dumbfounded, unable to respond.

But Yoon Seo-rin continued her explanation, face flushing red.

"So... basically, since Hyun-sol is more serious and hardworking with mana bullets than I expected, I want to give it to him as encouragement and a gift. No other intentions at all. For real."

"......"

Wol Ha-yeon barely regained her composure, closed her eyes briefly, then opened them with an amused smile—lifting the corners of her mouth more than usual, uncharacteristically—and began offering advice.

"Hmm~ A 1-billion-won pistol... That's a perfectly fitting price for us, but won't it be too much for Hyun-sol?"

"I-Is that so? But......"

Yoon Seo-rin flailed her hands and shouted.

"Don't I need to give him something high-performance so he can do even better than now? He'll practice even harder too!"

"If we're just talking value and performance, sure. But handling a gun is way more complicated than that.

Safety management, storage, usage permits—even academy regulations need checking.

You've already handled all that through the Association, but Hyun-sol hasn't."

"Ah......"

Yoon Seo-rin finally realized something, her face stiffening as she nodded.

"R-Right, burden aside, giving it directly might be too much. So what should I do?"

"And anyway, Hyun-sol would diligently practice mana bullets whether you give him a pistol or not, right?

Is there really a need to express gratitude ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like that?

Wait, even if you're grateful, repaying with a 1-billion-won pistol?"

"I-I heard on YouTube that when expressing gratitude, nothing beats money......"

"Good grief."

Wol Ha-yeon clutched her forehead with one hand and shook her head at the absurd remark.

"I'm not exactly a social butterfly myself, so I have no room to talk, but you're really something else.

Just get a beginner-friendly pistol, don't mention the price, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and hand it over naturally."

"...How do I hand it over naturally?"

"Hmm... Like this?"

With that, Wol Ha-yeon shouted toward Kang Hyun-sol, who was still lying half-dead on the opposite side of the training hall.

"Hyun-sol! I have an old C-Rank sword I used to use. Want it? As a reward for your hard training."

"...For real? I'd gratefully accept it."

"Good, take it!"

Wol Ha-yeon pulled out a sword she had used in her childhood from her subspace pouch and tossed it to Kang Hyun-sol sprawled on the floor.

Then she turned to Yoon Seo-rin, who had been blankly watching, and spoke confidently.

"Something like that should work. Get a pistol and try it yourself."

"...Thanks for the serious advice. I'll repay you separately later."

"Sure~ By the way, we seem to click pretty well. Wanna stay friends going forward?"

"Not a bad proposal."

And so, the two women unexpectedly became friends through... well, some rather odd consulting session.

Meanwhile, having lucked into Wol Ha-yeon's sword as a bystander benefit, I felt my energy return and got up.

"...What kind of situation is this?"

I couldn't help tilting my head at the sight of the two female students earnestly shaking hands and nodding from afar.

Wol Ha-yeon, who shows no interest in Kim Do-yoon anymore, and Yoon Seo-rin, who generally has no interest in others, becoming friends? Some kind of cognitive dissonance? That's the vibe.

Of course, I wasn't too concerned.

Girls can bond over something random.

And it wasn't a bad thing if they got close.

"Let's check the sword's performance. Item info."

I examined the info on the sword Wol Ha-yeon had given me.

"Whoa... Quite the detailed description."

It was somewhat abstract—maybe too poetic to really want to read.

Still, skimming it, the overall effects seemed pretty good.

'I was just thinking my crude iron sword was getting annoying and I needed a proper one. Perfect timing.'

I didn't have scholarships or dignity maintenance funds yet, so I planned to buy a weapon from the system shop using SP.

Normally, I'd tough it out with the iron sword until money came in and push the main story.

But ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this was reality now, where death was game over.

Plus, thanks to Yoo Ji-an, I had plenty of SP secured, so it wouldn't be a strain.

And right on cue, a weapon drops.

A C+ rank sword for free, no less. Guess I really do have good luck.

"Luck's on my side, and the story's flowing smoothly so far... Not bad."

I muttered to myself and carefully gripped the sword.

As expected, infused with Wol Ha-yeon's mana, Silver Moon felt oddly comfortable in my hand, unlike a normal sword.

Great weight balance, soft grip texture—like it was always mine.

"......"

After admiring the sword for a while, I looked up at the two women again.

Wol Ha-yeon and Yoon Seo-rin were still quietly chatting and laughing in one corner of the training hall.

"That combo still feels off."

"...?"

Sensing my gaze, Wol Ha-yeon glanced over and waved.

"Hyun-sol! Treat that thing precious, okay? I'll check its condition next time, so don't break it!"

"Haha... Got it! Thanks so much! I'll take good care of it."

I waved back, sword at my waist.

Yoon Seo-rin gave a slight nod with her somewhat expressionless face,

while Wol Ha-yeon pointed at the sword with her fingertips, flashing her usual relaxed smile.

"I wondered if I should've given you something else at first, but it suits your hand pretty well."

"I think so too. Thanks again!"

With that, I prepared to leave the training hall first and glanced at Silver Moon in its sheath.

"So radiant... Getting a C-Rank weapon for free—guess that's why they say good things come to good people?"

Muttering that, I quietly exited the training room door.

Behind me, Wol Ha-yeon and Yoon Seo-rin's conversation continued.

Their laughter faded, leaving only peaceful silence in the corridor.

As expected, good vibes from the morning—today should pass without incident.

"Hmm hmm... Time to wash up quick and head to class."

I hummed heading back to the dorm.

And my thought that it would be a peaceful day shattered completely after just four hours.

"Junior Hyun-sol, if you have time after class this afternoon, could you help with my alchemy research?"

"...Pardon? Uh, what do you......"

"Senior Ji-an? Sorry, but Hyun-sol is working on separate magic research with me, so he probably doesn't have time."

"Sophia? Didn't you just say we could take the research a bit slower? Why the sudden change......"

Why is my intuition always wrong? Truly unknowable.