Chapter 64
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Continuing Relationship (2)
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"You... no way..."
"W-Wait, hear me out first!"
I couldn't fathom why Irina was here.
She hadn't even sorted out her awkward relationship with Yoon Seo-hyun yet.
I never dreamed that Irina was one of the friends Yoon Ah-young had mentioned arriving just moments ago.
"You... you, you..."
"So, here's what happened. Uh, well..."
"You... a White Cafe member?"
"What?"
I frowned.
White Cafe? What nonsense was she spouting out of nowhere?
She beamed at me and sidled closer, inch by inch.
"Hehe~ I see. So the great Kang Tae-hyun~ is a White member after all~ Who knew~"
Irina circled around me teasingly.
Her long blonde hair fluttered with every turn.
I had no idea what her game was, but it was getting on my nerves.
"Ugh... fine, whatever."
I felt the fight drain out of me.
Of course this airhead wouldn't have figured out who I really was.
"Who knew you were a fan of White Mask too? I'm thrilled to have a fellow comrade."
"A fan?"
"Yep. The one and only fan club for White Mask, boasting a million members worldwide centered around yours truly."
Irina proudly thumped her chest.
"And that White Mask... it's definitely our cafe merch, right?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Sure."
I tried my best to play along with her.
Who would've thought Irina had started a White Mask fan club?
And with a million members across the globe, no less.
I'd have to be careful about whipping out that mask in public from now on.
"Sigh~ I still remember it vividly. That subway where I met White Mask in person."
...Fond memories for you, maybe. For me, it was a heart-stopping ordeal.
The Pigman attack at Anyang Station.
Thanks to Irina's help, we took it down without much trouble.
But if we'd been even a second slower, she wouldn't be standing here today.
"I wonder who it could be. Rumors say it's a woman... or an old man... or even a military cadet... or an S-Rank ranker."
Thank goodness the rumors were all over the place.
At least none of those guesses pointed to a guy like me.
"Hey."
Irina suddenly leaned in close.
Out of nowhere, the fresh scent of her shampoo filled my nose.
"I'm letting you in on a little secret... and it's huge."
"Uh... do you have to?"
I swallowed hard.
"White Mask... he's a guy. And around my age!"
...The net was closing in fast.
I desperately mounted a defense.
"It could be wrong, right...? How could a guy our age take down monsters like that???"
"No way, no way! I saw it clear as day. Those muscular forearms that hugged me so gently. No way that's a woman. And his skin was flawless too."
Next time, I'd have to wear full-body tights or something.
"Anyway, a total stud way out of a commoner's league like you."
This was getting real...
Irina clasped her hands together and let out a wistful sigh.
"If I ever get married, I want it to be someone like White Mask..."
Her words sent chills down my spine.
"Pfft, White Mask would freak if he heard that."
"Huh?!"
Thwack!
She pettily kicked my shin.
"Ow, why'd you kick me? That hurts."
"You deserved it, commoner."
"Ugh, enough with the commoner this, commoner that. Keep it up and White Mask'll hate you too."
"As if. Be-"
Irina stuck out her tongue provocatively.
I wanted to yank it out.
If I hadn't taken her card, I might've flicked her forehead.
Rubbing my shin, I asked,
"So, why'd you come to the Yoon Family?"
"Huh? To visit Ah-young in the hospital, obviously."
"That's really it?"
"Is that really all? Hmm... no, one more thing."
She pulled a bottle of soju from her pocket.
Then grinned and shook it.
"Boose time~"
"Sigh. Don't you have anything better to do?"
"What? It's not like I'm bored... This is for camaraderie! Comradeship!"
I glanced over and saw familiar faces enjoying the sights in the courtyard.
Even at night, their rowdiness screamed Class C cadets.
"No way... all of them came?"
"Yup. We were supposed to gather here anyway."
"Haha..."
Was I the only one left out?
How did I not know?
Mitsuda spotted me from afar and waved.
I gave an awkward wave back.
Then Irina's secretary approached her.
"Miss Irina. Yoon Ah-young has awakened."
"For real?"
"Hey, commoners!!!! Ah-young's awake!!!"
"Wooo!!!"
"Ooo!!"
Irina waved, and the Class C cadets cheered in unison.
I let out a short sigh.
'These idiots...'
Seo-hyun took the towel from Ah-young and dipped it in the basin.
"Feeling better now?"
"Yeah, still a bit dizzy, but I'm okay."
"Still, lie down. Rest up properly today."
Yoon Seo-hyun stayed by her side, worry etched on her face.
With this, the two had safely wrapped up the Yoon Family Magic Tournament.
Ah-young sipped the cocoa Seo-hyun had made for her.
It was insanely sweet.
Even so, Ah-young smiled and thanked her.
"It's good. Thanks."
"N-No, no. Anything else you need?"
Everything felt so foreign to Seo-hyun, who was nursing for the first time.
She'd barely managed to ask Tae-hyun what was needed for caregiving.
Ah-young grasped Seo-hyun's hand tightly.
She spoke softly.
"I'm fine. Thank you."
A month ago, their relationship had been strained, but now it was solid.
After all, they were sisters, no matter what anyone said.
Seo-hyun smiled, then her lips drooped again.
She fidgeted, then finally spoke.
She clearly had something on her mind.
"Um, sis. About..."
"Yeah?"
"Leaving the family..."
One unresolved issue remained.
Yoon Ah-young had planned to leave the family after this tournament.
She just wanted to prove herself, one way or another.
That she wasn't trash.
And that she was a proud daughter of the Yoon Family, to everyone.
Including Seo-hyun.
The little sister she'd always had to chase after sometimes irked her.
It hurt that she never once looked back while surging ahead.
But now, that sister had turned around and come back to where she was.
Now it was time to walk side by side.
Ah-young still held Seo-hyun's hand and spoke.
Ah-young's smiling face, shadowed by the moonlight in Seo-hyun's eyes, was breathtakingly beautiful.
"I won't leave. I'll always be by your side from now on."
It was a moment Seo-hyun would cherish forever.
Seo-hyun's eyes welled up.
She nodded, tears brimming.
"...Yeah...!"
With that, the rift between them that had lasted ten years mended.
There was no awkwardness; they'd always been one.
Yoon Seo-hyun felt happier than anyone in the world right now.
Seo-hyun opened her arms to hug Ah-young.
That instant.
BAM-!!!!
Mitsuda kicked the door open and barged in.
The tender atmosphere shattered instantly.
"Hey!!! Yoon Ah-young, you're up?"
"Whoa! Long time no see!!"
"Hello... excuse me."
"We've got some honored guests in our humble abode."
Not just Tae-hyun, but Olivia, Mitsuda, Lee Jae-yeol, and a horde of Class C cadets poured in.
Tae-hyun strode over and rested his elbow on Seo-hyun's head.
He asked Ah-young,
"Looking lively. You okay?"
"Y-Yeah... you all came."
"Yo! Brought gifts."
"Are you feeling better...? Saw you on TV..."
The room turned chaotic in seconds.
Seo-hyun barely calmed her trembling hands and yelled,
"Ah!!! Read the room, you idiots!!!!!!"
Her piercing cry echoed through the Yoon Family estate.
Yoon Ah-young's room erupted into lively chaos in no time.
With 32 people crammed in, even the spacious room felt cramped.
"Hey, hit the gym, you twig."
"Says the guy who needs to crack a book. Blockhead."
"Yo, where's the booze?"
"Can I have this juice? Oh, melon."
Not a shred of order anywhere.
In the midst of it, Mitsuda sidled up to Yoon Seo-hyun with a smirk.
"Oh, if it isn't Class V President. Still a brat as ever?"
"Shut it, gorilla."
"What? Gorilla? This punk."
"Hold on, hold on."
Lee Jae-yeol desperately held him back.
Mitsuda, who'd bulked up even more over break, was beyond gorilla—straight-up King Kong territory.
He was showing true tanker vibes.
"..."
Irina hid firmly behind Tae-hyun, peeking at Ah-young.
"What're you doing?"
"Huh."
Still awkward with Yoon Seo-hyun, Irina was hyper-aware of her gaze.
Tae-hyun, fed up, called out,
"Hey, Yoon Seo-hyun."
Seo-hyun whipped around and marched over briskly.
Unlike with Mitsuda, she obeyed Tae-hyun meekly.
Mitsuda, fuming at the sight, pounded his chest wildly.
Tae-hyun stepped aside one pace.
Putting Irina and Seo-hyun face-to-face.
"Do what you practiced."
Irina panicked, but Tae-hyun stood firm.
Yoon Seo-hyun mumbled softly,
"...Sorry."
"With feeling."
"I'm truly sorry!"
Then she hurried back to Ah-young's side.
Irina stared at Tae-hyun, utterly baffled.
"Good now? So quit worrying about it."
Tap!
Tae-hyun patted Irina's back.
'Eek???'
Irina had never been touched by anyone in her life.
Even Tae-hyun's playful tap made her freeze on the spot.
"Doing well?"
"Yeah, totally. Treated like royalty."
As Lucy and Ah-young chatted happily, Seo-hyun diligently peeled apples nearby.
"So where we drinking?"
Tae-hyun asked, and Irina replied confidently.
"Where else? Right here."
"What? Suddenly?"
"We were always gonna meet at the Yoon Family. Ah-young couldn't leave during break."
"R-Really?"
Tae-hyun scratched his head at the news.
"Yup, so yours truly prepared everything."
"What'd you do?"
"Just watch."
Rattle-!
The door opened, and Irina's attendants filed in precisely.
They reported to her.
"Miss, everything's ready."
"Good."
Ah-young sat up on the bed and slipped on her slippers.
Her face lit up with excitement.
"You might not know at school, but watch how I roll in the real world."
Rattle-!
The grand doors to Ah-young's room swung open, revealing an astonishing sight.
The Yoon Family garden had transformed into a full-blown party venue.
"Whoa-."
"Wow..."
"Insane!"
It was a scene that demanded awe.
Sonic Group's staff bustled about setting up the party.
Professional chefs and servers.
A casual drink bar, a jazz band setting the mood, even a pool.
No clue whose idea it was, but every party essential was there.
"What do ya think? Epic, right?"
Irina puffed up proudly, arms crossed.
"You... really got money to burn, huh?"
"Argh!!! Can't take it anymore! F***!"
"Let's drink already."
"Pass the glass. Glass."
Led by Mitsuda, the Class C cadets bolted to the courtyard.
They poured drinks, chugged, and partied noisily.
Burning their final day of break.
Irina and Olivia joined them in the yard, diving into the fun.
Ah-young threw on an outer layer and sidled up to Tae-hyun.
She watched the kids frolicking wildly and said,
"Tomorrow's finally here."
"Yeah."
Tomorrow was the first day back.
The second semester of Hunter Cadet Academy's freshman year began.
A break that felt short yet long had ended.
We'd gained much and learned even more.
Ah-young looked at Tae-hyun and said,
"Take care of me this semester too."
Tae-hyun paused, then smiled.
"Yeah. You too."
(To be continued in the next episode)