Chapter 136: Si-ho and Ji-eun
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 136: Si-ho and Ji-eun
11
An unfamiliar ceiling came into view for the first time in a while.
My head throbbed slightly as I sat up.
“You awake?”
Baeksan was next to me, watching with an indifferent expression.
I had used up nearly all my aura, then borrowed Ji-eun's power to fire again.
My body, having reached its limit after every last drop of aura was drained, had forcibly shut me down.
I let out a dry laugh, thinking about how I'd acted all high and mighty in front of Ji-eun only to pass out.
Embarrassing.
“What happened?”
“It's been handled. The Icelandic hunters showed up, and that Ryeongju girl explained everything for you.”
Listening to Baeksan, I looked outside and saw the snowy landscape of Iceland.
It seemed I was in a hospital in Iceland.
Thankfully, I hadn't needed any special treatment, since I'd only collapsed from exhaustion.
“And that Spirit Mage, Zeroni, also came by.”
“Ah, because of Saran.”
He must have come after realizing his disciple had disappeared.
He was contracted to a Spirit King, they said.
Since Ji-eun was now bound to Geumjok, the next Spirit King, I thought it might be a good idea to talk to him.
“More importantly, that charger.”
“Don’t call her a charger.”
I shot Baeksan a glare for calling Ji-eun a charger, but he just shrugged and continued.
“Fine, that Ji-eun kid. I've been thinking about it. I don't think this incident is unrelated to your sister's business either.”
“What? Ji-eun?”
I stared at Baeksan, my eyes wide with surprise.
“But Ji-eun is…”
“Ryeongju confirmed it herself. The kid's very soul has merged with the next Spirit King. Her hunter rank will soon be meaningless.”
Hearing that, I was speechless.
Of course, I welcomed Ji-eun's growth, but I couldn't help but worry.
“Isn't it better this way? Considering what's to come, it's much better for her to get stronger.”
Baeksan spoke as if recalling his own world, implying that any power was better than none, and I reluctantly nodded.
“When you say it's related to my sister, do you mean Ji-eun is also a piece of that puzzle?”
“It's just a guess, but there is one thing that seems connected.”
Baeksan's gaze fell on the view outside the window.
There, soaring high in the sky, was the Tower of Revelation.
“With you, that Ji-eun kid, and Kang Ma-ri, maybe…”
Muttering to himself, Baeksan finally turned back to me.
“Maybe it's best we find that Kang Ma-ri after all. Her scheming is starting to frustrate even me.”
Hearing that, I scratched my head.
“I'd like to, but…”
Even Seol-hyang, who should be an expert at this kind of search, hadn't found her yet.
“Well, more importantly, you have something you need to deal with first.”
At that moment, as Baeksan looked toward the door, I felt a chilling aura.
Following his gaze, I turned my head and saw the girls peeking through the slightly open door.
Si-ho was at the bottom, followed by Ji-eun, Yu U-jeong, and even Eva-noona.
They had been watching me quietly.
Hmm, is it time for a scolding?
I decided to quietly accept my fate.
9
After they all scolded Ha-chan for being reckless, Si-ho and Ji-eun were walking on the snow.
Ha-chan had woken up, but he needed to rest for the day, so he was staying in his hospital room.
An awkward atmosphere hung between the two of them.
And they both knew exactly why.
“Si-ho.”
It was Ji-eun who broke the awkward silence first.
The reason they were out here was because Si-ho had asked to speak with Ji-eun.
So, when Ji-eun called her name, Si-ho turned to look at her.
As Ji-eun gazed at the girl, who was as pretty as a doll, Si-ho stopped walking.
“Why did you want to talk, just the two of us?”
At Ji-eun's question, Si-ho remained silent for a moment before parting her cherry-like lips.
“Ji-eun, you like Manager-nim.”
It was something they both knew very well.
The two of them were in love with the same person.
Even if their feelings hadn't developed through the same process, the fact that they loved him was certain for both of them.
So, when Si-ho asked, Ji-eun nodded.
She had acknowledged her feelings long ago.
“You like Ha-chan-oppa too, Si-ho.”
“Yes, more than anyone in the world. Manager-nim is Si-ho's prince.”
Hearing Si-ho's firm declaration, Ji-eun thought, So this is what a girl in love looks like.
Si-ho, in love, was prettier than anyone.
That must be why Ha-chan was gradually letting his guard down around her.
“…If you came here to tell me to give up because you like Ha-chan-oppa…”
Ji-eun began hesitantly, but Si-ho shook her head.
“I'm not going to say that.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. For Si-ho, Manager-nim comes first.”
Si-ho's world revolved around Ha-chan.
As Ji-eun, sensing this, chose her words, Si-ho spoke.
“You have no intention of giving up on Manager-nim either, do you, Ji-eun?”
“…That's right. I really like Ha-chan-oppa.”
Ji-eun confessed her feelings honestly, her face flushing red.
This heart-pounding feeling she got just from thinking of Ha-chan was a precious emotion she knew she would never find again.
So she couldn't give up.
Even though she'd been rejected once, the flame of Ji-eun's feelings was no longer so shallow that it could be extinguished by something like that.
Ha-chan-oppa said he would think about my confession more seriously, but…
Ha-chan had always taken her feelings seriously from the very beginning.
Ji-eun knew that, which made her like him even more.
And the way he had saved her today was a memory so happy that Ji-eun would never forget it for the rest of her life.
So much so that she kept thinking about being in his arms.
“That's why I came out here to tell you, Ji-eun.”
At that moment, Si-ho spoke.
When Ji-eun looked up at Si-ho again, she found her gazing at the sky.
The aurora danced beside the winter moon.
Taking in the beautiful sight, Si-ho said, “There are others who like Manager-nim, besides you and me.”
Hearing this, Ji-eun spoke.
“U-jeong-unni?”
At first, Ji-eun hadn't paid her much mind, seeing her advances on Ha-chan as something done out of spite.
After all, even Ha-chan was always indifferent to her advances.
But lately, Ji-eun knew that she had become serious.
Her words and actions were getting more intense, but Yu U-jeong truly liked Ha-chan.
“I was talking about people.”
And Si-ho didn't even consider Yu U-jeong a person.
It was a little harsh, but knowing how cold Si-ho could be to anyone other than Ha-chan, Ji-eun didn't say anything.
“…Then Se-hee-unni?”
Ji-eun thought of Se-hee, whom she had just met.
She was so beautiful that even Ji-eun was taken aback.
Her natural blonde hair, blue eyes, and the long limbs characteristic of a foreigner were things Ji-eun envied as a fellow woman.
And the way Se-hee looked at Ha-chan felt incredibly fond.
She didn't reveal her feelings to Ha-chan, but Ji-eun knew that she often gazed at him with longing.
Plus, she was an adult.
She was old enough for Ha-chan to call her noona.
The allure of an adult was something she didn't have yet.
“There's her, too, but.”
But Si-ho shook her head at that as well.
“There are two unnis who are truly dangerous.”
And Si-ho's small fists clenched tightly.
Ji-eun looked surprised; it was the first time she had seen Si-ho's eyes burn with such intensity.
“Two unnis?”
“Shin So-ra-unni and Baek Seol-hyang-unni.”
Si-ho explained about Seol-hyang and Ahyu.
After hearing everything, the color drained from Ji-eun's face.
The Strongest Under Heaven, the Heavenly Demon, Cheon Hong-ryeon.
The Chairperson of the World Returnee Association, the Iron-Blooded Empress, Baek Seol-hyang.
The fact that these two—the strongest in martial power and the strongest in status—were passionately in love with Ha-chan left Ji-eun speechless.
Why would people like that be in love with Ha-chan?
No, it's because he's Ha-chan-oppa.
They must have gotten involved with him in some way.
The person she liked most was the most wonderful person in the world, so of course no one could resist falling for him.
Ji-eun, who was so blinded by love she had practically become the rose-tinted glasses herself, was already convinced.
At the same time, however, she sighed, fidgeting with her hands.
“…I don't have anything to be proud of, other than learning how to cook and do housework.”
Hoping to look good in Ha-chan's eyes, Ji-eun had recently been diligently learning chores from her mother, trying to become a good wife and wise mother.
So when Ji-eun, who couldn't think of any other strengths, grew timid, Si-ho gently pressed her own lips.
“Housework…”
I should study that.
Si-ho made a silent vow to herself and then continued speaking.
“And they've both probably confessed.”
“Ugh.”
Disappointment was written all over Ji-eun's face.
Did he reject my confession because those two had confessed to him?
Suddenly, her heart began to ache.
“…Are you okay with it, Si-ho?”
She'd just been told that such incredible people were confessing to Ha-chan and pursuing him.
Worried about Si-ho, Ji-eun asked, and Si-ho nodded.
“Yes. We've already reached a compromise.”
“A compromise?”
Hearing that, Ji-eun's eyes went wide.
She couldn't understand what kind of compromise they could have made.
“We agreed not to make it an issue if we all become Manager-nim's wives.”
“W-Whaaat?”
Ji-eun couldn't believe her ears.
She wore an expression of complete confusion, unable to process what the little doll-like girl in front of her was saying.
Seeing Ji-eun's dumbfounded look, Si-ho continued.
“As long as Manager-nim is okay with it, the two unnis and I don't mind.”
“I-Is that really okay? Did Ha-chan-oppa agree to that?”
Ji-eun asked, unable to accept it by any common-sense standard.
“The two unnis have probably already pushed it on him.”
Si-ho said, having already guessed as much from Ha-chan's recent behavior.
They must have both already told Ha-chan what they decided.
Knowing Ha-chan's personality, he must have reluctantly accepted it.
With them liking him so much that they even compromised with each other, Ha-chan was in a position where he couldn't really refuse.
“…Ha-chan-oppa, you've been through a lot.”
Ji-eun started to feel a little sorry for Ha-chan.
“Why are you telling me this, Si-ho?”
Ji-eun then asked, full of questions.
Si-ho looked at Ji-eun and told her the reason she had shared this story today.
“You said you wouldn't give up either, Ji-eun.”
“…Yeah.”
“Si-ho thinks it's okay if it's you, Ji-eun.”
Ji-eun blinked.
And she soon realized that Si-ho was seeing her as one of them, on the same level as the two unnis.
Is it strange to feel happy about that?
At the same time, a hopeful thought was secretly budding in Ji-eun's mind.
If I can't be chosen at all, wouldn't it be better to stay by Ha-chan's side in any way possible?
Knowing Ha-chan's personality, he would surely love each of them with all his heart.
Putting the two unnis aside for a moment, Ji-eun imagined a scene of herself living with Ha-chan and Si-ho.
Waking up in the morning, seeing Ha-chan's face, and being held in his arms… he would surely stroke her hair.
Then a morning kiss, and even though it's the morning, maybe… maybe also…
“Hnnngh.”
Ji-eun covered her beet-red face with her hands.
Even the cold Icelandic air couldn't cool the heat radiating from her face.
As Si-ho watched her intently, Ji-eun tried to hide her cheeks and said quietly, “…I think that sounds nice.”
In the end, Ji-eun was won over.