Chapter 263
Chapter 263
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter Title: New Year's Eve (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"That's a relief. I'm glad you like it."
"I happened to have something I wanted to give you too, so this works out perfectly."
He pulled a silver hairpin from his sleeve, and Jin Seol-hyang's eyes widened.
"I picked it up on my way back from a mission."
"It, it looks expensive."
"It's not that pricey. Here, take a look."
In front of her wary eyes, he twisted the bottom of the hairpin, and with a click, a blade sprang out.
"Perfect for ambushes."
If he coated it with poison, even tough opponents would drop in one hit.
After enthusiastically explaining its features for a while, Jin Seol-hyang seemed much less burdened.
"I can't keep accepting gifts like this..."
"It's fine. I'm giving it because I want to. Use it in emergencies, as your instructor wishes."
Jin Seol-hyang fidgeted with her feet, then approached like a stray cat lured by snacks. He smiled as gently as possible to ease her guard, and soon her crown was right in front of him.
"Eek?"
While she was distracted by the functional hairpin, Chu Un-hwi reached out and grabbed the side of her hair.
"In, Instructor?"
"Hold still. You're not used to it."
"......"
As he gathered her hair, her jet-black locks parted, revealing the tips of her flushed ears.
The fine down growing below her ear kept stealing his gaze.
'Not good for my heart.'
He'd moved on instinct, and now he had her head cradled in his arms. His heart protested with frantic pounding from the overwork.
"I'll put it on for you."
She pinned the hairpin while he dangled a tassel on his sword like a newlywed bride adorning her husband's gear.
'Definitely not good for my health.'
Wasn't it obvious this strained his heart?
His trembling fingers fumbled the hairpin several times.
Fidget. Fidget.
Jin Seol-hyang was flustered too; her awkward hands struggled to tie the tassel and knot it.
"Sorry to Baek Ri-seol Student."
"Why's that?"
"For causing a misunderstanding."
Misunderstanding?
Thank you very much.
"No big deal. Must've been tough dealing with those pranksters, right?"
"It wasn't that bad."
Her hand, now wrapping the tassel confidently, finished a neat knot.
"Just... surprised me, that's all."
She stepped back, flashing a pouty smile.
The warmth and sweet scent fading from his arms left him feeling empty.
"Thank you so much for this past year."
A green light erupted noisily above her smiling head.
Boom!
The green fireworks exploded, painting her face in vibrant colors.
"Really, thank you."
Chu Un-hwi lost his words at the ethereal sight.
Boom!
Boom—boom!
Fireworks burst one after another, scattering red and blue lights in a dreamlike display.
"Wow, so pretty."
"It really is."
He murmured while gazing at her profile as she clapped at the sky.
"This year's fireworks were made by the Thunderclap Sect."
"Is that so?"
"Wow, this one burst five times."
Like a flower blooming, small fireworks rippled in concentric circles below the massive bloom.
It was a spectacle for the ages, but Chu Un-hwi could hardly look up.
He was too busy watching her face light up in every color with each burst.
Pop! Boom!
Endless fireworks echoed in the sky, their brilliant afterimages lingering.
Even after his second life, he'd never dreamed of such simple pleasures.
'Makes living again worthwhile.'
As he stared entranced, his eyes met Jin Seol-hyang's. She'd been silently clapping at the sky.
"......"
"......"
A ticklish silence filled the space.
'Perfect. This is the moment.'
As he instinctively moved to advance their relationship, lips parting—
Whoosh!
A fierce whoosh cut the air—something hurtling toward them at high speed.
"!"
The ticklish mood vanished instantly, alarm bells clanging in his mind.
Pop-pop-pop-pop!
A small girl appeared in the air amid the racket.
"Instructor spotted!"
Her shrill voice rang out.
Then came an overwhelming presence charging in.
'Baek Ri-seol?'
He wasn't sure, but instinct screamed that her intrusion here would lead to disaster.
'Damn Floating Flight Technique!'
He had to take down that wind-riding blur first.
"Hehe, looks like others arrived."
No.
"Right? You were waiting for them, Instructor?"
No, no!
Don't walk away like it's no big deal!
"I heard watching fireworks on New Year's Eve together makes for a long, happy bond!"
If you heard that, spare me!
Don't leave me behind!
He screamed inwardly, reaching out, but the aerial pest struck his back first.
Thud!
A headbutt accelerated by lightness skill slammed into his back.
"Gah!"
He crumpled like a sack, and Moyong So-hye nimbly climbed on.
"Sis! Got the Instructor!"
Pop-pop-pop-pop!
Baek Ri-seol charged in even more fiercely.
"It's Baek Ri-seol Student. Hehe, then I'll step aside as the third wheel."
He flailed at the retreating girl sticking out her tongue and scampering off.
"Capture complete!"
With the wicked flying squirrel pinning him from behind.
Whoosh!
A comet-like figure kicked up dust and rose slowly.
"In... struc... tor."
Her lips smiled, but her eyes terrified. Pupils shrunken to pinpoints, staring him down.
"My, where were you? Come on, the fireworks are starting."
I, I'm...
"We saved a spot for you, but you didn't come back. We were worried."
No. My dreams are here! My future!
She yanked him up forcibly, eyes narrowing at the side.
"Hurry."
Somehow, her grip felt immensely strong as she dragged him along.
Drag, drag, drag.
Thus, the brief rendezvous ended with him plowing furrows in the dirt on his feet.
Pop—boom!
At the Grand Training Ground, people waited with mats spread out.
"Oh, you're finally here?"
"......"
He nodded glumly, and immense force from both sides slammed his shoulders down.
"The grand finale fireworks are about to start."
Grand finale?
"The secret weapon to cap off the show?"
She beamed, but why did chills run down his spine?
"I wonder what keeps Instructor Chu so busy."
Yeo Mae-hong's usually gentle eyes pierced like daggers.
"Oh, it's starting."
"Looking forward to the grand fireworks."
Whiiiish—boom!
True to its name, it soared higher, exploding in truly breathtaking beauty.
Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop.
Small fireworks burst endlessly around the concentric rings, scattering white light.
A monumental spectacle worth commemorating.
"By the way, Instructor."
The pressure on his shoulder lifted, Baek Ri-seol's voice coming from beside him.
"...What?"
"You were doing something Jin Student hadn't seen?"
"......"
"Did you give it to her?"
I invoke the right to remain silent.
He wanted to claim, but her sidelong glare stung too much to meet her eyes.
"Hmm, a gift?"
Oh no, forgot about Yeo Mae-hong.
"First time seeing cheapskate Instructor Chu give a gift."
"Instructor! This is favoritism! Betrayal of your beloved assistant!"
Baek Ri-seol exploded in rage.
"Betrayal! Instructor's a traitor!"
Riding the momentum, Moyong So-hye chanted betrayal too, seeing a chance to pile on.
'I'm doomed.'
Tongue lolling in exhaustion, he caught Jegal Tan's eyes gleaming at the opportunity.
"That's right! Betrayal!"
"Tan, what's going on?"
"Dunno, but now's the time to yell betrayal."
Thwack, thwack.
It quieted him quickly, of course.
"Waaah, so hurt."
As Baek Ri-seol whined with a sniffle, Chu Un-hwi sighed deeply and pulled a small pouch from his bosom.
"Here, gift."
"What is it? Honestly, I'd love to kowtow for it."
So demanding.
Tsking, he shook the pouch to show inside. Baek Ri-seol's face changed.
"Had a craftsman engrave names, so no mix-ups. Pick one."
Necklace to Yeo Mae-hong.
"Oh, pretty necklace."
Ring to Baek Ri-seol.
"Yun-ho, drag Tan over here."
"Ours too?"
"Of course."
I'm incredibly fair and generous, after all.
As he distributed items smoothly, one person—the sole culprit who'd ruined his rendezvous—grimaced while clutching her gift and downing medicine.
"Instructor. Instructor."
"What?"
"Why's mine the only non-jewelry?"
"Picked it with special care."
Chu Un-hwi explained, pulling out the heaviest steel knuckles.
"Called knuckle guards. Slip 'em on your fingers, make a fist—fits perfect, right?"
Fist clenched, studs aligned perfectly on the striking surface.
"Smash a cheek or forehead, and it'll stamp a nice bat print."
"...Why not jewelry?"
"Watch. Curl fingers a bit?"
Click!
Studs protruded like needles from the plate, turning it into a steel hedgehog—super cool.
"Stamp the bat, then seal it with blood."
"Instructor! Idiot! Villain! What am I supposed to use this for?!"
"Might be your sole joy in this barren world."
"No way! What do you take me for?! Waaah!"
The flying squirrel who ruined his tryst burst into tears, easing his mind a bit with revenge.
"Why keep teasing So-hye?"
"Instructor Chu. Gross."
One smack from each side plunged him back into gloom.
"The final fireworks are rising."
At Nangong Yun-ho's shout, everyone fell silent and looked up together.
Whiiiiiish!
The massive firework dwarfed all before it, soaring skyward.
Pop! Pop-pop!
Red and blue lights wove a Milky Way of embers across the night sky.
Its intense blaze banished the darkness for a moment, drawing cheers from the Grand Training Ground.
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
Colorful flames blazed as if heralding the year's end.
Like stars twinkling, no?
"Fireworks, huh."
Just this unseen beauty made his second life worthwhile, didn't it?
As he watched sentimentally, the final burst thundered.
The last firework blazed like the sun, burning away all misfortune and calamity from the Divine Martial Academy.
Crackle...
As even that faded and darkness returned.
"See you next year!"
Someone's shout started it—everyone lamented the year's end and pledged bonds for the new one.
It was the final day of New Year's Eve.