Chapter 73
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Seol Yu-bin of the Ice Castle (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After morning classes ended, I checked my status window as usual and felt satisfied with how much I'd grown since yesterday.
I picked up a piece of spicy stir-fried pork and popped it in my mouth, gazing at Sophia across from me as she nibbled away at her sandwich.
'Hmm... I've gotten way too used to this now.'
Every time, I reminded myself in my head about the constraints, trying to keep things from feeling off even just a little.
I told myself to slowly create some distance so our relationship wouldn't crack, but it never worked out like I planned.
No, how could I turn down eating with such a pretty girl?
If I just turned my head slightly and glanced at the table right next to us, there were four random extra guys I didn't even know shooting me envious stares and death glares in turns.
In a situation like this, where I felt like the real protagonist...
Was I supposed to nobly rejoice and accept it all while constantly reminding myself that I had to save the world and see the end of this world I'd never witnessed before?
Overcoming all this through sheer willpower? No way that was possible.
"...Why are guys such simple creatures?"
"...Huh? What'd you say?"
I'd muttered it so softly, but Sophia tilted her head and asked anyway.
I grabbed the last piece of meat, ate it, and answered nonchalantly.
"Nah, just thinking out loud to myself."
"Hmm... Got it."
Sophia finished her sandwich too, but for some reason, she didn't get up like usual. She just set her trash aside on the table and stared straight at me.
"...What? Got something to say?"
"Yeah, but I'm debating whether to say it or not. Feels like I'd be really hurt if you turned me down."
"Really? Well, we've got some time before afternoon classes, so wanna head to the library and chat more?"
The stares from around us were seriously overwhelming.
There were way more guys fixating on us today than usual.
'Oof... Did she change her makeup? Her face looks even prettier somehow?'
True to her status as this world's main heroine, Sophia's natural beauty was already top-tier, so she hardly ever wore makeup.
Just sunscreen on hot sunny days and some tinted lip balm at most?
But today, for whatever reason, she'd gone full makeup—intense stuff.
Of course, I had no idea why I'd only noticed it after we finished eating...
I kept my eyes locked on hers, waiting for an answer. Sophia's face flushed a bit, and she looked away.
She cleared her throat and spoke.
"Ahem, we can do it here. It's quick."
"...Yeah? What's up?"
"Well, you know..."
She started to get to the point, then suddenly fidgeted with her hands and averted her gaze again.
What could she want to say?
Now I was the curious one.
"Yeah, come on, I'm dying to know."
"It's... "
"Yeah?"
"This guild experience thing coming up... Wanna be in the same group?"
"...Huh?"
I wondered if I'd misheard and rubbed my ear, but her answer was the same.
"For the guild experience, we're doing five-person teams for gate exploration... Let's be together!"
"...I heard right."
I couldn't figure out why she was being so serious about this request.
But my top priority for this main story was getting into the same group as Amelia no matter what, so I accepted readily.
Having Sophia there might make Amelia feel more at ease about joining us.
"Sure, no problem. You were hesitating so much, I thought it was something huge, but it's simple."
I chuckled lightly as I replied, and Sophia's lips curved up.
Just the tiniest bit.
But that smile... it wasn't her usual playful one.
It was a relieved, happy expression.
It was weird how strange it felt that it didn't linger longer than it did.
But that was fleeting.
Soon, she pressed her lips together like she had more to say.
"...That was part of it, yeah."
"Huh?"
"The real request is something else."
"Real request? What is it?"
I set down my water glass and raised an eyebrow.
Sophia slowly tapped one spot on the table with her finger.
Tap, tap, tap.
Then she said very softly,
"Just the two of us in the group."
"...What?"
This time, I was sure I'd misheard.
"Wait, guild experiences are strictly five-person teams."
"I know."
"Then how could we just—"
"Just apply right."
"Apply...?"
"Pick the independent investigation team option. It's riskier, but you get more freedom.
And since your descent-type gate clear got partial recognition, Hyun-sol, they'll probably deem you capable of independent ops."
"You... looked all this up one by one? Just to team up with me alone?"
"Yeah. I like organizing data."
What was this genius saying?
My head was spinning for real.
"But that's kinda..."
I racked my brain.
The one essential for this main story was Saintess Amelia.
Without her buffs and sanctuary against the undead, we'd get totally wiped out.
Of course, if things followed the original story, Ice Castle Guild Master Seol Yu-bin alone would handle it fine.
But I was worried about a possible Dullahan showing up due to some bullshit RNG.
So I had to get Amelia in our group no matter what.
"Um... I was actually planning to group with Amelia too."
I said it super carefully, and I saw Sophia's face twist for a split second.
Somehow, that made me scared to keep talking, but I had no choice.
I needed to convince her and get Amelia in the group.
"I'm seriously grateful you researched the conditions and prepped just to team with me alone... It's really touching, I don't even know what to say..."
But now that I was actually saying it, I had no clue how to persuade Sophia.
That our simple D-Rank field gate turns into an S-Rank due to mana overload?
And the monsters are undead, with even a tiny chance of a Dullahan showing up?
So I absolutely need Amelia in the group to enter the multi-gate dungeon with Seol Yu-bin?
No way she'd believe that.
I couldn't spill everything honestly anyway.
"I'm really thankful, but..."
I started again carefully, and Sophia's finger stopped on the table.
A hint of unease in her eyes.
This was a moment where prodding too hard could turn it into a wound.
So I had to speak very slowly and carefully.
"...Look, Sophia. You know this field gate is D-Rank difficulty."
"...Yeah."
"But 'D-Rank' doesn't mean it's safe."
I deliberately stuck to facts everyone knew.
"In real combat, D-Rank is where most newbie hunters die. It's where the most beginners flock to anyway."
Sophia's expression slowly hardened.
Not like she was going to argue, but like she was thinking.
I continued.
"And with team rules... going in just the two of us means assuming pure 'combat' scenarios."
"What's... the problem with that?"
"No support—or not enough."
Just one line.
"Even if it's a guild experience, they evaluate like real ops, right? Fighting actual monsters means way more stamina drain than artificial dungeons."
"..."
"But Amelia can do basic healing. Not just HP recovery—sustained exploration endurance."
Tap— I tapped my tray with a finger.
"Two of us could win fights. But not keep it up.
Exploration's all about endurance time, though?"
"......"
A brief silence.
Sophia stared straight at me, like she was checking if I was lying.
I met her gaze without flinching.
"...I see."
Her voice was tiny.
Impossible not to notice how deflated she sounded.
A beat later—
"...Fine."
Sophia nodded very slowly.
"Got it... Let's include Amelia too... She'll be okay with it, right."
'She'll be okay with it? No idea what that means.'
"...Thanks."
"But."
Sophia looked me dead in the eye.
"I yielded this time, so next time, grant my request no questions asked."
"Deal."
I answered without hesitation, and only then did Sophia smile quietly.
A smile without pressure.
"...Good. It bummed me out a bit, but seeing your face, you look worried about something, so I'll stop here."
"...Thanks."
And just like that, the sudden hellish? balance game resolved peacefully.
Two days later, Wednesday.
In front of the Ice Castle Guild building—one of Korea's seven major guilds in Gangnam, Seoul.
Nearly all academy cadets had gathered, minus a tiny few lucky ones skipping for personal reasons.
Everyone wore expressions mixing anticipation, excitement, and a touch of fear at finally acting like real hunters.
"Let's see... Sophia and Amelia are over there fine..."
Getting Amelia in our group had been a breeze.
I'd casually brought it up, and before I could even pitch it, she'd agreed without a second thought.
Thanks to that, I'd wrapped up pretty much all prep before the fifth main story kicked off.
Now, just meet Ice Castle Guild Master Seol Yu-bin, do a quick guild building tour,
head into the dungeon with her, and pray nothing goes wrong—that the gate I entered turns into a multi-gate.
If some other dungeon mutated instead? That'd suck, but nothing I could do.
Once it becomes a multi-gate, the entrance seals completely.
'...No, don't jinx it with bad thoughts.'
I recalled reading somewhere that worrying too much raises the odds of it happening.
So I shook my head hard, cleared the nonsense, and scanned around for Seol Yu-bin.
Soon enough, I spotted her emerging from the main entrance, walking slowly toward us with a blank expression.
Her pure white and sky-blue outfit fit the world's aesthetic perfectly.
But...
"Huh...? Huh?"
'Wait, why's she heading my way?'
Maybe it was my imagination, but the distance between Seol Yu-bin and me kept shrinking.
"Hey, wait—"
Nope, not imagination.
She came right up to me, stared at my face for a sec, then suddenly pulled me into a tight hug and yelled,
"Hyun-sol!! It's been forever!! You really joined the academy like we promised? Good boy, good boy!!"