Chapter 51
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Have a Good Time
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I might have agonized even more deeply than the night before the artificial dungeon evaluation, barely getting any sleep at all.
Having stayed up almost the entire night, I left the dormitory and headed to the mana training hall.
And as always, I spotted Yoon Seo-rin, who had arrived first and was maintaining her pistol. I gave her a light greeting.
"Good morning. You're early again today."
"...Yeah, good morning. But..."
Yoon Seo-rin swept her gaze over my face before tilting her head and asking.
"Didn't sleep again today? You look even more exhausted than yesterday."
"Well... a man's worries don't end in just one day. More importantly, you look a bit tired too. Something going on?"
"...Just some nagging issue came up. No need to worry."
"Hmm... Not sure what it is, but hang in there."
If it was something nagging her, it was probably because she'd heard about the demon descent from yesterday.
"Alright, then. Let's warm up lightly like usual and start mana bullet training."
Yoon Seo-rin spoke plainly as always, setting down the pistol in her hand.
She began preparing to stretch, and after watching her for a moment, I cleared my throat awkwardly.
"Ahem. Uh... before we start, hold on a sec."
"Hm? What's up?"
I rummaged through my pocket on purpose, hesitating three times over whether to take it out, before carefully placing a small ring on my palm.
"...This."
"Isn't that... a ring?"
Yoon Seo-rin's gaze dropped to my hand.
I avoided her eyes, scratching the back of my neck for no reason.
"Yeah, uh... it's nothing much. Last weekend, when I went out past the academy, I happened to see it.
It seemed like it'd suit you. Yeah, so I bought it.
It's a C-rank item, but the buffs are pretty good? I thought it'd be useful for you since you shoot guns.
Ah, and don't get the wrong idea. It's just a thank-you gift. No special meaning."
The more I explained, the more suspicious it sounded even to me, but it was too late for regrets.
At least I'd hidden that it was actually A-rank, so it'd be fine somehow.
Of course, it'd come out eventually.
I held the ring out to Seo-rin, forcing a nonchalant tone.
"Anyway... I just thought of it while wandering around, so here. It's also to say thanks for helping with mana bullet training all this time."
"......"
Yoon Seo-rin was silent for a long while.
To check her reaction, I slowly turned my head to look at her face, and froze the moment our eyes met.
She was making an expression I'd never seen before—or even imagined possible.
Not wary, not cold...
Just, blankly.
"......"
"Why... that face? Don't like it? Is the design kinda off maybe?"
"Ah, no. It's not that."
Seo-rin cut me off hurriedly, finally averting her gaze.
The tips of her ears were faintly red.
"Uh, well, I've never gotten something like this before. Yeah, I just panicked for a second and didn't know how to react."
"Oh, yeah? Makes sense."
Seo-rin slowly reached for the ring on my palm and lifted it ever so carefully.
Like she was holding something incredibly precious, fiddling with it delicately with her fingertips.
"...Thanks."
It was an unfamiliar voice.
Low and subdued like always, yet soft.
Caught in the awkwardness, I could only nod without responding.
"Yeah. Use it well."
"......"
A brief silence flowed between us, wordless.
It would've felt normal any other day, but today it dragged on strangely long.
Yoon Seo-rin stared at the ring in her hand for a moment, took a small breath, and returned to her usual voice.
"...Hurry and warm up. We'll start training. Today, I'll teach you how to get an acceleration effect without engraving. But first."
"Ah, yeah. Let's do that."
The sudden gift-giving seemed to end without much issue, surprisingly.
I didn't see Yoon Seo-rin's face as she turned away to cool her flushed cheeks, heading to where her bag was.
After finishing about an hour of intense mana bullet practice, I packed up right away to leave the mana training hall.
I had swordsmanship training with Wol Ha-yeon too.
But Yoon Seo-rin glanced at me and silently packed her bag, rifle, and pistol, preparing to leave with me.
"...? No more training? Got plans?"
"Got something to discuss with Wol Ha-yeon briefly. You're heading out for sword training with her like usual, right?"
"Yeah, but... no, got it. Let's go together."
If she had something to say, it was obviously about the artificial dungeon incident, and she wouldn't tell me more even if I asked.
They'd seemed pretty friendly at their last meeting, so I figured it was fine.
And so, Yoon Seo-rin and I hurried to the sparring room where Wol Ha-yeon would be waiting.
After walking for about five minutes, we arrived and opened the door.
Clang—! Slash!
The first thing we noticed was Wol Ha-yeon standing quietly in the center, her moonlight aura shining brightly.
She had sliced through all five training golems.
A soft blue mana like moonlight flowed along her twin swords, with golem fragments scattered around.
We spoke at the same time.
"She's always impressive, no matter how many times I see it..."
"Tell me about it. Even decent fourth-years struggle with one of those golems... and they're super expensive too."
At that moment, Wol Ha-yeon destroyed the core of the last golem and sheathed her swords.
Confirming the dense mana afterglow fully dissipate, she slowly turned toward us.
"Hyun-sol, you're here? Seo-rin's with you today?"
"Destroying five of these pricey golems first thing in the morning. The dean's gonna shed some tears."
"Well, our main house sponsors a lot, so this much is fine. But..."
As I grinned and greeted her, Wol Ha-yeon looked at me briefly before naturally shifting her gaze to Seo-rin.
"You came along to wrap up that 'talk' from yesterday, right?"
"Yeah. Mind if we chat briefly?"
"Sure. Hyun-sol, stretch or something for a bit. It'll be quick."
"Huh? Oh, got it."
I nodded and stepped back to a corner of the sparring room.
Confirming Kang Hyun-sol was far away, the two female students began their serious conversation.
"So? What happened to that bastard Park Si-hoon?"
"As you predicted, he is a demon contractor. A lord-grade one at that. He's restrained with binding seals in the association's deepest underground level right now."
"Hmm, figures..."
After hearing Yoon Seo-rin's full explanation, Wol Ha-yeon poked her cheek with a finger, then tilted her head slightly and asked.
"Think we could get him handed over to us? A demon contractor with a lord-grade or higher pact would be super useful for testing stuff out, y'know?"
"You know that's not happening, right?"
"Aw~ We're friends, aren't we? Can't you make an exception just once? You know lord-grade contractors aren't easy to come by."
"......"
Yoon Seo-rin grimaced at Wol Ha-yeon's uncharacteristically coquettish plea.
After a moment's thought, she slowly replied.
"Even without you asking, the association was planning to hand him over anyway. No point keeping trash like that around."
"...Really? But kinda weird to say after asking—still, wouldn't the association want to test their new stuff on a lord-grade contractor?"
"That? Oh, you mean the upgraded demon detector the association just got? Yeah, it'd boost accuracy for sure."
"Exactly. So why hand him over so easily?"
"The association doesn't have the luxury to hold onto him long-term right now. The Wol family probably already knows, but..."
Yoon Seo-rin paused, glancing around.
The sparring room was empty, and Hyun-sol was stretching pretty far off.
She lowered her voice.
"Rats have been popping up all over the association lately. They're pouring everything into cleaning house—no room for a lord-grade contractor too. They're not that leisurely."
"I heard rumors, but it's real? Makes sense they'd hand over Park Si-hoon then. Short on manpower elsewhere too."
"...Yeah. They need to handle it quietly without leaking out. Just share any intel you squeeze from Park Si-hoon with the association."
Wol Ha-yeon rested her chin on her hand and nodded slowly.
"Obviously. I'll run a few tests and wring every last bit of info out before he dies, then pass it all on."
"Thanks."
The two exchanged brief nods.
Then, Wol Ha-yeon's gaze drifted a bit lower to the matte black ring on Yoon Seo-rin's finger.
"...But, Seo-rin."
"Yeah?"
"Sorry to ask out of nowhere, but what's with the ring? Didn't see it yesterday."
"......"
Yoon Seo-rin flinched, instinctively pulling her hand behind her.
Wol Ha-yeon approached slowly with a playful smile.
"It's been sparkling since earlier. Cute design too... Who gave it to you?"
"......"
Yoon Seo-rin breathed shallowly a few times, her face flushing as much as possible, avoiding eye contact, and muttered softly.
"Well... actually, Kang Hyun-sol gave it to me this morning. As... thanks for helping with mana bullet training so far."
"...Huh? Wait, what?"
After hearing the full explanation, Wol Ha-yeon froze solid.
She couldn't comprehend the situation at all.
No—a ring as thanks for mana bullet training? Why? Why only to Yoon Seo-rin?
What about me? I'd been teaching swordsmanship hard too? I even gave him a sword!
"......"
Deep in thought for a while, Wol Ha-yeon bowed her head and murmured very quietly.
"So that's why they say you shouldn't take in black-haired beasts...? How could he...?"
"Wh... why are you like that?"
Yoon Seo-rin, even less socially aware than Wol Ha-yeon, had no clue why she was reacting this way.
Or what mistake she'd made.
All she picked up on was that Wol Ha-yeon's gaze at the ring was ominous.
Sensing thick killing intent, Yoon Seo-rin slowly picked up her pistol and bag from the floor.
"Uh... then, have a good sword training session with Kang Hyun-sol. I'm out."
She slipped away quietly, dodging the still-muttering Wol Ha-yeon.