Chapter 198: Love Triangle (7)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 198: Love Triangle (7)
The sudden offer made the air around our table freeze.
A recruitment offer.
To be honest, the offer itself wasn't a big deal.
My teammates were all attractive prospects, after all.
Even Elena, once considered the ugly duckling, was now being treated like a swan after we realized the negative effects of her trait on allies were steadily decreasing.
The problem, however, was that the guy in front of me didn't want Seo-yeon just for her performance.
It was obvious.
The reason he’d stayed at the academy instead of leaving for his fourth-year practical training, the reason he wanted Seo-yeon on his new team.
He'd been so obvious about his crush on her since they were kids, and he hadn't changed a bit, this punk.
Maybe I should have punched him a few more times back then.
“Hmm.”
I keep telling myself that Seo-yeon and I have no relationship anymore, but it seems I still haven't been able to throw away my fatherly heart.
I mean, just look at how hostility is bubbling up inside me simply because this guy, who's prime husband material by anyone's standards, likes my daughter.
If I had my way, I'd grab him by the collar and yell, ‘You can't have my daughter, you bastard!’ But…
“I don't think you need to ask me about that.”
I barely managed to change my tune, constantly reminding myself that I no longer had the right or the reason.
Could I, as the team leader, try to keep my team member?
That was also a no-go.
You see, our party was officially disbanded at the start of last winter break.
Right now, we're all effectively free agents. FA status, that is.
“You should know this, Sunbae. Official team formation doesn't start until after the first class.”
In short, everyone here, including Son Seo-yeon, was like a jewel lying on the ground.
Meaning, they were all people who could be won over by anyone who presented a great and clear vision.
“If you want to recruit Seo-yeon-sunbae, I think you might be barking up the wrong tree.”
To put it bluntly:
Don't talk to me; go and make your offer directly to Seo-yeon.
That's how it should be.
Just because we're sitting together for drinks doesn't mean our team is set in stone.
So, could he poach the others too?
Of course, he could.
But only if he could beat me in a fight.
If he can't, he should just stay in his corner.
Park Jin-woo gave a faint smile at my dry tone, which I delivered while suppressing my emotions as much as possible.
“Haha… Of course, I plan to make a formal offer to Seo-yeon. But before that, I wanted to hear your thoughts, Do-jin-hubae.”
“…My thoughts.”
“That's right. I thought it wouldn't look good for a senior and a junior to get into a fierce recruitment battle over one person.”
So… he wanted to know before making his offer to Seo-yeon.
Whether he should see me as a competitor or not.
Like father, like son, they say.
This guy was a spitting image of his father in both speech and action.
Whenever our guilds clashed, Jeong-pal… no, that bastard Jeong-min, would always come and sound me out just like this.
And every time, I would ask him back the same way.
“If I say I won't back down from recruiting Seo-yeon-sunbae, are you going to give up?”
He laughed as if in a tight spot, then cleanly drained his refilled glass and shook his head.
“Hmm… Normally, I'd think it's best for a senior to yield to a junior, but I don't think that'll be possible this time.”
Such a long-winded way of saying he had no intention of backing down.
Well, whatever.
As I said before, I have no right or reason to force Seo-yeon's hand.
“My stance hasn't changed. Whether Seo-yeon-sunbae joins your team, Jin-woo-sunbae, or stays with ours, I'll respect her decision either way.”
I could feel a gaze from my right, staring intently at my face.
It felt heavy, persistent.
I deliberately ignored the gaze, knowing who it belonged to without even turning my head, and finished speaking.
“Shouldn't a person decide their own path?”
At that, Park Jin-woo smiled.
“Those are good words.”
Just as the conversation was winding down…
Screech!
With the harsh sound of chair legs dragging against the floor, Seo-yeon, who had been sitting at the end of the table, shot to her feet.
She stared down at us with wide, disbelieving eyes.
…Why is she suddenly acting like that?
While I was completely bewildered, Park Jin-woo seized the opportunity to speak.
“Seo-yeon, want to step outside and talk for a minute?”
I thought Seo-yeon would follow him right out.
“…No. There's no need to go outside, Sunbae.”
But she refused in a surprisingly firm tone.
Then, looking back and forth between me and Park Jin-woo, she parted her lips.
“I'm sorry, Sunbae, but I have no intention of leaving this team.”
“What…?”
For Park Jin-woo, her words were like a bolt from the blue.
Judging by his completely frozen expression, he hadn't expected this in the slightest.
Of course, he’d known her since they were kids, while she’d only spent a good three months with me and the others. He must have thought she would naturally accept his offer.
Barely regaining his composure, Park Jin-woo asked again in a calm tone.
“May I ask why?”
“There's no particular reason. It's just…”
Her gaze, which had been on Park Jin-woo, flickered toward me before she continued.
“I'm comfortable here. The team members here… they don't make me think of unnecessary things.”
“……”
“……”
What could they be?
These ‘unnecessary things’ she mentioned.
“I see.”
While I couldn't understand her words at all, Park Jin-woo nodded as if he did.
Does that mean he knows something that even I, her father, don't?
How should I put it… It feels a little bitter.
She said she's staying on my team, so I should feel like a victor, but instead, I feel like I've lost.
Hiding his bitter expression, Park Jin-woo stood up, looked around at us, and spoke.
“It was fun, even if it was brief. Thanks for putting up with your drunk senior. Let's meet again if we get the chance.”
With that, he left, maintaining a bright expression as he moved to another table, as if nothing had happened.
He probably wasn't really okay, but was just being considerate to maintain the atmosphere.
Seeing him like that, he's definitely a decent guy, but… hmm.
I don't know.
If they're fated to be, it'll happen. If not, it won't.
Like I said just a moment ago, a person has to choose their own path.
“Wow, the mood suddenly got chilly.”
The one who broke the heavy silence that had settled uniquely over our table was none other than Shin Yu-jeong.
With her face flushed red, she stood up, scanned the other team members, and asked.
“Hey, seriously. Say it right here, right now. Is anyone here gonna ditch us for another team or not?”
The first to answer her sudden question was Im Na-eun.
“I'm not going anywhere. There's still a lot I need to learn from Do-jin's side.”
As she said that, she subtly reached out and stroked my thigh.
Was this what you needed to learn…?
The next person to speak was Elena.
Elena, who had been eating and drinking an amount that seemed impossible for her slender waist to contain, set down the beer mug she was clutching and rambled with a slurred tongue.
“Hic…! I'm from Bulgaria! We live and die by loyalty! Got it? Do-jin excavated me when I was buried in the ground! So Elena is staying with you forever!”
Since when were Bulgarians a people who live and die by loyalty? And what's this about excavation…?
There were one too many things to pick apart, but I got the gist of it, so I let it slide.
Even Seo-yeon, who usually didn't chime in at times like this, stated her intention once more.
“Like I said before… I want to stay here too.”
Then she suddenly became timid and added an unnecessary comment.
“…That is, if you'll all have me.”
Sigh.
When on earth will her communication skills improve?
It's tragic to think that this is an improvement from getting closer to Elena.
Watching them, the Oath of the Peach Garden between the three brothers Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei suddenly came to mind.
But we're not under a peach tree. What should I call this?
The gazes of the girls, their eyes sparkling, suddenly focused on me.
What? Why? What is it?
Shin Yu-jeong grinned and said,
“Must be nice, huh? Being the only guy surrounded by all these pretty girls.”
“Oh, my. Yes, I am truly honored.”
Honestly, it is pretty nice.
Wherever I go, I'm surrounded by pretty girls giving off sweet scents. Sometimes, a dungeon doesn't even feel like a dungeon. Hmm.
“Alright, cheers!”
“Cheers~!”
Following Shin Yu-jeong's lead, I clinked glasses and downed the somaek she had mixed for me.
“Ugh.”
She must have poured in so much soju; I can't taste the beer at all.
To cool my flushed face and leave the team to their now even more cheerful and tight-knit atmosphere, I quietly slipped out of the pub.
The still-chilly night air seeped deep into my lungs, slowly sobering me up with each breath.
“Honestly.”
Ah, I shouldn't be feeling this way, but I can't help but feel pleased.
Having comrades—comrades who trust and follow you implicitly—is always a joyous thing.
Their existence and the trust they place in me always make me a stronger person.
“Cute kids.”
As I was secretly savoring the moment, recalling the earlier scene with a pleased smile, I suddenly sensed a presence behind me.
I quickly wiped the soft expression from my face and turned around.
Seo-yeon was standing there, her weight on one hip, staring intently at me.
“…What are you doing out here?”
Wondering if she'd seen my expression, I asked bluntly. She raised her index finger, pointed at me, and parted her lips.
“You're like a dad.”
At those words, my heart sank.