The Banquet (2)
Yusoha surveyed the banquet hall. Her gaze captured the faces of many people. Jang Dae-hyeon, the President of the Korean Awakeners Association, was racking his brain to mediate between the Hwanryeong and Myeolma guilds. Han Jae-ho, the leader of the Red Moon, was striking up a conversation with her grandfather, Yu Hyeok. A group of men were desperately trying to catch Yu Danha's attention. And then there were the glances cast her way.
If this had been in the past, those eyes would have held mockery. But today was different. After the recent Hwanryeong tournament, where she had summoned the extraordinary Guardian Star known as Eclipse, every mocking gaze had vanished without a trace. What filled the eyes watching her now was... clearly envy, or perhaps something that could be called admiration.
Yusoha met the eyes of those who had once ridiculed her. They hastily looked away, as if they wanted nothing to do with her. She let out a scoff and turned her gaze from them, beginning to search for someone.
“Are you looking for someone?”
“Hmm? You came too, Shin Seongmin?”
“Well, I am part of Hwanryeong, after all... That aside, it's a bit of a shame.”
“What? What is?”
“If it weren't for this banquet, I would've been swinging my sword around...”
“Ah. You mentioned making progress recently, right?”
“Yes. Thanks to Lord Eclipse.”
Ever since getting thoroughly beaten by Eclipse, Shin Seongmin had always looked up to him with reverence. Yusoha nodded absentmindedly, as she could guess why he was acting that way.
“But you've been looking for someone since earlier... Are you looking for someone in particular?”
“Yes. There's someone I really want to find.”
The moment he saw the wicked smile that flashed across her face, Shin Seongmin immediately realized who she was searching for.
“Ah. You don't mean...”
“That guess is probably correct. Now, let's see... The people from Taehwa should be over there.”
“...Please don't cause too much trouble.”
“That might be difficult. I suffered quite a lot from them when I was young. And besides.”
“Besides?”
“Grandmother gave me permission. So I have no intention of holding back today.”
“What does Lord Eclipse say?”
“He's watching with great interest, apparently?”
“......”
Shin Seongmin was at a loss for words.
Indeed, Eclipse was filled with the intention of watching the events unfolding around Yusoha with great interest.
[How do you plan to pick a fight?]
Yusoha lowered her voice as she answered Eclipse.
“I’m just going to irritate her a bit. Seo Eun-ah has a personality similar to mine.”
[Similar personality? Then is Seo Eun-ah arrogant as well?]
Eclipse asked with clear interest. Yusoha began to recall Seo Eun-ah in detail. The way she had stubbornly insisted that no one her age could surpass her just because she had summoned a Guardian Star. The way she had sneered that a half-baked Awakened without a Guardian Star had no business being here. The more she thought about it, the more her blood boiled, but Yusoha forced herself to endure. After all, she would soon be settling the score in a big way.
“She’s arrogant. Yeah. If I had to describe her, she’s like a slightly more vicious version of me...? No, in some ways she’s even worse than me. She has a serious inferiority complex and lacks the ability to back it up.”
[I see.]
“Wait, is it fair to say she lacks ability? She is still an A-class Awakened, after all. Though she’s pretty much at the bottom of A-class.”
[Isn’t A-class still quite capable?]
“It is. But even so, compared to other A-class Awakened, she’s nothing special.”
[And compared to you, Sohа?]
“Hah, you think she’s even worth comparing? Absolutely not. I could probably beat her even without you, you know?”
[That much?]
“If I had fought her a month ago, I couldn’t have guaranteed victory. But now it’s different. I’ve learned the sword from you... and I’ve also learned from Grandmother.”
[Hmm. I understand.]
“Today, all that’s left is to repay every insult I’ve ever received.”
Yusoha smiled viciously. As Eclipse looked at her, a strange emotion stirred within him. In his previous world, trampling over others was something he would never have allowed. Even if that person had mocked and insulted him.
But what about now? Watching Yusoha speak so boldly about crushing someone else didn’t stir any negative feelings in him. If anything, it felt intriguing. He definitely felt that he had changed a little.
Come to think of it... Not showing her my face right now is also a form of deception toward her. Have I truly changed?
After being taken in by his master in his previous world, he had never once lied or deceived anyone. He had always pursued nobility, and he had been noble. But now... it was different. He shook his head. The current him was far too different from who he had been back then.
Why?
No matter how much he had resolved to learn arrogance... people could not easily abandon their original habits. Hadn’t he been the kind of person who would feel his entire body twist just from hearing someone else’s lies or watching them deceive another? He had fought for the values his master had always pursued.
Arrogance, lust, sloth, envy, wrath, gluttony, greed. The seven sins that were commonly spoken of in the world he once lived in. Hadn’t he lived with the mindset to guard against such things and punish those who embodied them? He had strictly followed his master’s guidance. He had never treated others carelessly, nor had he ever put himself forward. Even in battle, he had never let his guard down, and no matter how weak his opponent was, he had never considered himself strong. He had never lusted after women, had never been lazy, had never envied others’ success, and had never easily given in to anger. He had eaten only to train his body and had never coveted material wealth.
And yet...
It had only been about a month and a half since he met Yusoha. In such a short time, he had realized just how much he had changed. It was strange. No matter how he thought about it, it could only be strange. He recalled the seven sins he had once been so wary of.
...The repulsion isn’t as strong as it used to be.
He couldn’t help but think that one axis of his thinking had shifted. Was it because he had become a Guardian Star? Or because he had stopped striving to be noble? Even right after being summoned, the aversion to sin that remained in his heart had felt greatly diluted.
I don’t know.
The change had been so dramatic that he couldn’t help but feel confused. Still, there was at least one thing he could understand.
I can no longer call myself noble. Master would surely be angry if he saw me now.
As he was lost in his anguish, Yusoha’s voice pierced through his thoughts.
“Eclipse? Why did you suddenly go quiet?”
[...Ah, I’m sorry. I was thinking for a moment.]
“What were you thinking about?”
[It’s nothing.]
Another lie. Somehow, it was starting to feel more and more natural to lie.
“Hmm. If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine.”
Yusoha spoke casually and refocused on her original goal. Finding Seo Eun-ah. With that purpose in mind, she turned her sharp gaze toward where the members of the Taehwa Guild were gathered.
“...Found her.”
Seo Eun-ah wasn’t hard to spot. Her face was twisted with clear displeasure. Looking at that expression, Yusoha bared her teeth in a crooked smile.
The sounds coming from her surroundings forced Seo Eun-ah to keep frowning. The talk of how impressive Yusoha’s Guardian Star was, the gazes filled with admiration directed at her. Seo Eun-ah hated all of it. She could not accept it. Yusoha was someone who was supposed to remain beneath her. That was the absolute rule Seo Eun-ah had decided on.
As she tried to somehow calm her twisted inner thoughts, a voice reached her ears.
“...Eun-ah.”
Seo Eun-ah looked at her father, who was watching her. Seo Dohyeon, the leader of the Taehwa Guild, spoke to his daughter with a stern expression.
“Yes.”
“Don’t do anything reckless.”
“...I understand.”
“And don’t pick a fight with Yusoha for no reason. She is now clearly above you.”
“...No. She is not above me.”
As Seo Eun-ah’s expression grew increasingly distorted, Seo Dohyeon shook his head.
“Yusoha is the one who even defeated Shin Seongmin. It wouldn’t be strange to place her on the same level as an S-class Awakened now.”
“If Yusoha didn’t have a Guardian Star, I could win.”
“Think about all the things you’ve said to Yusoha until now.”
At those words, Seo Eun-ah had no choice but to close her mouth. Half-baked without a Guardian Star. It was something she had repeated whenever she had the chance.
“Don’t give them any reason to fight. Yu Hyeok and Rumeorn are here today as well. If a conflict breaks out, only we will suffer. Don’t forget that there is still no guild capable of withstanding their wrath.”
“......”
Seo Eun-ah silently nodded. Of course, her lowered face was twisted like that of a vengeful demon.
Seo Dohyeon knew his daughter’s true feelings, but he also knew that words would be useless. He simply shot her one sharp look before walking away.
The moment she confirmed Seo Eun-ah’s location, Yusoha headed straight for her. The atmosphere was perfect. The adults were starting to talk among themselves, and it was time for the successors to have their own conversations. In other words... it was the perfect time to pick a fight.
Among the people in evening dresses, Yusoha’s black suit stood out sharply. The surrounding gazes naturally turned toward her. Those eyes were filled with admiration. A completely different reaction from before. She savored every single one of those looks as she stared at Seo Eun-ah, who was desperately trying to maintain a smile in front of her.
“Hello.”
To Yusoha’s bright smile, Seo Eun-ah replied a beat late. It was obvious from a glance that her voice was heavily suppressed.
“...Hello.”
“Oh my, why does your voice sound so down today? Just a little while ago, you were definitely not like this.”
Yusoha clearly remembered the attitude Seo Eun-ah had shown at a banquet a few years ago. Not this suppressed, twisted smile, but a face that had mocked her more cheerfully than anyone else. How unsightly.
“...Me?”
“Of course. Your complexion looks much darker than last time. Did something bad happen?”
On the surface, it sounded like a concerned greeting, but everyone present knew that wasn’t the case. After all, a bright smile was blooming on Yusoha’s face. Who would worry about someone with an expression like that?
Seo Eun-ah’s mood plummeted even further at the question.
“No, not really.”
“Oh dear... It must have been something really bad.”
“There wasn’t anything bad.”
“No, looking at your face, something bad definitely happened. So tell me.”
“I said no.”
“Why not? You’re good at it. Babbling on and on about things that don’t even concern you to other people. It feels awkward when someone as chatty as you suddenly goes quiet like this.”
A twisted laugh slipped from Yusoha’s lips. At the same time, the atmosphere around them grew heavy.
“You.”
The moment Seo Eun-ah’s eyes filled with venom, Yusoha spoke with immense satisfaction.
“Why? Are you that upset that this half-baked girl summoned a Guardian Star and is no longer half-baked?”
“Do I have any reason to be angry just because you summoned a Guardian Star?”
“Reason? Of course I do. Obviously.”
“...What?”
“Now that you can’t indulge in that pathetic mental victory anymore, you have no choice but to be angry. Don’t you think?”
Her eyes curved beautifully, and the corners of her mouth lifted in delight. What lay within them was all the mockery she had endured until now. At her sneer, Seo Eun-ah’s expression twisted so deeply that it could twist no further.