Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Setting Sun (2)
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When I came to my senses, I had left the café and was holding Han Cheong-ah's hand as we headed somewhere.
Her small, delicate hand gripped my wrist. She was leading the way, one step ahead of me.
I blinked and gazed at Han Cheong-ah's back.
Her glossy pink hair sparkled in the sunlight, reflecting it brilliantly.
"I worked hard at my part-time job all weekend just for today."
Han Cheong-ah declared proudly.
Come to think of it, when I once tried to draw her picture, she had said something like that.
Weekends were no good... so weekdays would be better.
"Did you really take on a part-time job just to pay for the painting?"
"I didn't start it for that reason, but it ended up lasting because of the painting fee. So about half, yeah."
This was troubling.
The painting of Han Cheong-ah I'd drawn was probably destroyed in the fight between Aria and Lee Gyeo-ul.
Wasn't this completely putting the cart before the horse?
"The school got wrecked, so all the paintings I've done so far..."
Han Cheong-ah pulled out a sheet of watercolor paper carefully preserved in plastic from the backpack on her back and thrust it toward me.
"Who do you think I am, Do-hyun? Sneaking into the collapsed school to retrieve the paintings is a piece of cake for me."
She said it boastfully.
It definitely wasn't easy. The art room had collapsed in the first place, so finding the storage box with the paintings would have been like reaching for the stars.
No matter how much she liked it, why treasure a painting I'd done so much?
"Haha..."
Seeing Han Cheong-ah so purely fond of my paintings made my chest tighten with emotion, yet it also felt off.
To such a devoted collector and model as her, I was...
"Do-hyun."
"Yeah."
"We're about to enjoy the privilege of a date with a beautiful girl, so why the long face?"
As guilt darkened my expression, Han Cheong-ah painted over me with her bright colors.
Unlike the forced smile I'd managed moments ago under that intense, beautiful hue, now I could smile for real.
"Yes, that's the one."
Han Cheong-ah quickened her pace.
I matched her step for step.
Under the pretext of paying for the painting, she clearly planned to drag me around and have fun all day.
I quietly followed, letting Han Cheong-ah escort me.
"Even the Diamond Mountains are best after a meal," Han Cheong-ah said.
She led me to a restaurant that looked expensive at first glance.
These places were called fine dining, right? Where they meticulously prepare pricey ingredients and serve them as courses to guests.
Lunch was 200,000 won—a spot no student could afford, no matter how you sliced it.
She must have prepared thoroughly, as she handed the reservation slip to the staff, took her seat, and we began savoring each dish while the chef kindly explained them.
I'd never been to fine dining even before possessing Baek Do-hyun's body... Thanks to Han Cheong-ah, I got to experience something rare.
Vampires might lack appetite, but taste buds still worked.
So even with this vampire body, I'd occasionally order delivery like chicken, but the dramatic change in flavor compared to regular takeout wasn't there.
Still, the quiet ambiance, luxurious interior, chatting with Han Cheong-ah across from me—it made for a pretty good restaurant.
"Ha, this is 200,000 won...?"
Han Cheong-ah, who had dragged me here, looked disappointed.
Her slicing into the steak, taking a bite, and sighing was straight out of a comedy.
Expectations set high lead to big letdowns, as they say.
"It's fine by me."
"Even though Miyuki has money to burn, there's a reason she doesn't come to places like this."
"Yeah, it's way too pricey for students. Some cost-effective spot would've been fine."
Han Cheong-ah shook her head firmly.
"I have to treat you lavishly like this so you'll draw even harder next time."
"I said I'd draw as much as you want. It's not like that'll make me work harder..."
For reference, Baek Do-hyun's bank account had about 50 million won in cash.
I hadn't needed money much yet, so I hadn't checked other assets, but if there were real estate or stocks, I'd sell them and move.
The basement was cramped and dim. Encountering cockroaches occasionally gave me chills, and listing the downsides could go on forever, but the biggest was how damn humid and hot it was.
It'd worsen in summer. Now evolved to Noble Blood, no longer fearing the sun, I dreamed of someday living aboveground.
Anyway.
"You never know people's hearts. If you don't get it, just eat."
To Han Cheong-ah's grumbling voice—even if I'd draw for free—I quietly nodded and continued my meal.
Thus, I finished a satisfying lunch and left the restaurant.
"Where to next?"
"The arcade."
The course suddenly went casual. I couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Are you looking down on arcades right now?"
"No, it's not that, pfft..."
"No way. I'll give you a proper Tekken lesson. I'll show you hell."
And so, Han Cheong-ah and I wandered Academy City until the sunset faded, playing to our hearts' content.
It felt like high school days again after so long.
I recalled those happy school years, pondering futures and hanging with friends.
After possessing Baek Do-hyun, I'd been so caught up with the 21st Century Secret Society and fateful turning points that I savored this time even more.
Before I knew it, it was 6 p.m.
With stamina fully drained, we sat on a bench in a quiet park for a break.
I exhaled, wearing a refreshed expression.
"Had a blast after ages."
"Next time, no restaurant—let's hit a noodle joint."
Han Cheong-ah gazed sadly at her now-empty wallet. Still regretting that 200,000 won, apparently.
I looked up at the sky.
The slanting sunlight at dusk is called the setting sun.
It dazzled, dyeing everything in the world with its hue.
"Cheong-ah."
"Yes."
"I'm sorry."
I needed to apologize to Han Cheong-ah about that incident.
Even without Lee Gyeo-ul's advice, I'd thought I should someday.
I might not treat her as delicately as a flower or butterfly, but if I saw her as a person, I couldn't use her like a tool.
Han Cheong-ah stared at me blankly at the sudden apology. Under her burdensome gaze, I fidgeted with my lips before speaking.
"Actually."
"It's fine."
Han Cheong-ah cut off my confession in one stroke.
Did she know what I wanted to say?
Her emotions, held in those blue eyes, were unreadable, leaving me at a loss.
"If it's about what happened on the day you returned home, it's okay. You put on a mask and rushed to the school that day, right?"
I turned my head, avoiding Han Cheong-ah's gaze.
"Oh, that reminds me—I have a question. The video of the masked person beating those weird monsters. It looked exactly like you back then. Was that you, Do-hyun?"
If she'd known from the start, why wasn't she mad?
From her perspective, it was no different from me shoving her into danger.
As I stayed silent, Han Cheong-ah continued alone.
"Anyway, when's the next painting? I'm dying to see one with colors. If the art room's gone and that's the issue, I still have money left, so..."
"..."
"Do-hyun."
On the bench between us, our fingertips brushed lightly.
Even knowing everything from the beginning, Han Cheong-ah treated me the same as always.
I followed the direction of her voice calling me.
There she was, half-shrouded in shadow by the setting sun yet faintly sparkling.
"Do-hyun is a good person."
"Good person"—that suited the Han Cheong-ah right in front of me.
I broke the silence and countered her.
"I'm not that good of a person."
"You might think so, but at least to me, you are."
"Not to you either. You almost got hurt because of me."
At that, Han Cheong-ah gave a gentle smile.
"Do-hyun wouldn't act like that without reason. If you used me to achieve what you wanted, I'd actually be satisfied with that."
"..."
"You knew about Miyuki's identity too, right? You didn't truly leave me in mortal danger. Of course, even if you'd told me straight up, I'd have helped gladly—but I'm a little miffed about that part."
I was puzzled.
Why did she think so positively of me? How could she be so sure?
I asked her.
Han Cheong-ah tapped her chin with her index finger, pondering deeply before answering with a smile.
Her response reminded me of what Seo-ah had once said at the art gallery.
'From a painting alone, you can tell what the artist was thinking, what life they lived, what knowledge they have, what skill they possess—so many things.'
Han Cheong-ah pulled out the painting from her bag again and held it out to me.
It was an unfinished sketch with her as the model.
Like an art critic expounding on a masterpiece, she delivered a clear answer.
"Because you see me as this beautiful."
What a strange girl.
But that answer truly fit her otherworldly nature.
The setting sun had fully vanished, plunging the sky into darkness.
Yet the warmth where the sun had lingered still remained in the park.