Chapter 229
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 229
Chapter Title: Lesson 45. Preparations for the Founding Festival - 4
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"To think you'd eat something this greasy."
Dokgo Yeon stared at the croquette in her hand with utter disbelief, muttering to herself.
For some reason, the two of them were standing in front of the street stall that Ban Yu-won always seemed to end up at whenever he visited Ronica, each holding a croquette amicably.
"That's why it's delicious."
"Ah――!"
Ban Yu-won shoved the croquette from his hand toward Dokgo Yeon's mouth.
Her eyes widened at the bold and rude act that he would never normally dare attempt, but the moment her lips parted in surprise, he slipped the croquette right in, and she ended up biting down naturally.
"Delicious, right?"
"Mmph mmph... Nom nom...."
Dokgo Yeon chewed and swallowed the croquette in her mouth, her cross-shaped pupils spinning sharply all the while.
Even the way she clenched her fist as if steeling herself while working her mouth was adorable.
"Eek."
"Hm?"
He turned at the sound and caught the stall owner—who had a reputation for peeking at customers—staring at them before ducking under the counter.
Dokgo Yeon, ever sensitive to presences, wouldn't miss that. She glared at him once before leaving the stall behind.
As Ban Yu-won hurried after her, Dokgo Yeon—who had already devoured her own croquette and even his share—frowned and spoke up.
"This puts me in a bad mood."
"You've been saying that all day. Was it not tasty?"
"It was tasty, but..."
Her straightforward refusal to lie about her bad mood was so very her.
"All of this feels like a joke, and I just can't stand it. You saw how that man flinched just now, right? Even if he tries to act like a woman in that ridiculous way, he can't hide his true nature. You don't have to put on this farce..."
Anyone would be scared if those cross-shaped pupils started spinning.
No, to Ban Yu-won, who had already grown used to it, they even seemed cute...
Dokgo Yeon probably didn't realize that, so he chose not to point it out.
Instead, he asked her.
"So, what's your true nature?"
"Turn off that recorder, and I'll tell you. If not, I'll teach you directly with my body."
Ban Yu-won regretfully switched off the recorder.
And grabbed her hand again.
"Eek."
Her fingers straightened in surprise, then tentatively gripped his back—whether from growing accustomed or resignation—which felt a bit ticklish.
"I get the gist. And what kind of misunderstanding you're having."
"It's not a misunderstanding――."
"Ah, the flower garden attached to the Temple of the Spring God was pretty. Want to go check it out?"
"...Flower garden?"
Dokgo Yeon glared at him for changing the subject every time she tried to speak, but she had no choice but to go along with it.
Come to think of it, she'd always been like this, except for their first meeting.
No matter how curt or cold she tried to act, she couldn't hide her innate thoughtfulness.
"What's with that look? It feels like you're thinking I'm having some absurd misunderstanding."
"It's not that. The flower garden? Actually, the Temple of the Spring God... it's kind of like a monastery, and they're famous for their flower-infused liquor here."
"You're dodging again. ...Wait a minute. If they're brewing liquor with flowers, isn't that a farm, not a flower garden?"
"You'll like it when you see it."
"I don't like flowers that much. Really..."
Union Academy had a flower garden too.
One that dwarfed the Temple of the Spring God's in both scale and variety, but the difference was that it was always crowded with people.
The Temple of the Spring God, on the other hand, strictly controlled access and was originally managed only by a specific race... like Yumina's kind.
Ban Yu-won thought that difference would be quite significant for Dokgo Yeon.
―Swoooosh
As the wind brushed past, the flowers blooming all around swayed in unison.
"Ah..."
"See? Not bad, right?"
Against the backdrop of the beautiful white-brick temple in the distance, Dokgo Yeon standing in the center of the vibrant flower garden looked perfectly suited—thanks in part to her outfit.
He was grateful to Yumina's gem brooch for letting them enter without issue, but he hadn't anticipated that she wouldn't be thrilled if she found out.
"Ah... This isn't because the flowers make me feel good. It's because those things that were sneakily peeking at us from earlier are gone now."
Dokgo Yeon, who had been standing dazed amid the blooming flowers, felt Ban Yu-won's gaze and hurriedly made an excuse.
Ban Yu-won nodded without denying it.
"Yeah, that was part of the intent."
With the news spreading across all of Union Academy, Ban Yu-won and Dokgo Yeon's date stood out terribly.
No one openly interfered—likely fearing Dokgo Yeon—but a martial artist of her caliber wouldn't miss the stares.
Coming to the secluded Ronica monastery was definitely meant to buy some time away from those eyes.
"But the flowers are pretty, aren't they?"
"Let me ask you instead. What would you think if you saw me happy over flowers?"
"I'd first suspect it was a dream."
That's why, from earlier, he'd been confusing reality with dream.
Honestly, ever since meeting Dokgo Yeon dressed like that from Earth clothes.
He even felt grateful to Ortima for unwittingly creating this chance.
No, that guy was probably tailing their date anyway.
...Though he hadn't thought about it until now, what must Ortima be thinking, seeing Dokgo Yeon on a date with another man the day after betting a date as the special match's victory condition?
What mood was he in?
"Ban Yu-won, if you're picking a fight, just say it straight. I'll take it on."
"No, I was picking a fight with someone else just now."
"?"
"Meaning you're not honest most of the time."
Whether flowers, clothes, or makeup, Dokgo Yeon usually shunned anything feminine.
Ban Yu-won had no intention of meddling in tastes, but with her, it felt overly blatant and unnatural.
As if she'd defined a specific image of herself and rejected anything that didn't fit outright.
Whether from her innate position or experiences, it was clear that was why she was misreading Ortima's affection.
"You've been too awkward and tense from the start. Let's take a breather here and relax."
"I admit to being awkward, but I'm not tense. Why would I be, with no life-threatening enemies around?"
"Want to sit?"
"Ignoring me again...!"
The monastery folk, who revered Yumina like a goddess, extended all monastery amenities to Ban Yu-won too, thanks to her proxy badge.
So picnicking on a mat amid the flower garden was no issue.
"Come sit."
"...You're really weird today."
"Of course. I'm on a date with you."
At "date," Dokgo Yeon shuddered again before slumping her shoulders in resignation and sitting beside him.
Ban Yu-won poured her a cup from the thermos—the magic elixir to soothe her turmoil.
Hot chocolate, that is.
"Do you think sweet treats alone will shut me up, like some simpleton?"
Dokgo Yeon narrowed her eyes and glared.
Even that was cute right now.
Ban Yu-won felt like he'd truly grasped the meaning of gap moe today.
Anyway, it was dangerous.
This date, started to correct her misunderstanding and ease her mind a bit, threatened to drain all his resources.
"There are sweet cookies too. Made right here at the monastery."
"...Fine, I'll take them."
Only after clutching both sweets did Dokgo Yeon regain her composure. She bit into a cookie, a smile flickering on her lips—then frantically hid her face with her teacup upon realizing it.
"This is truly strange."
"That again."
"It's not just you; I'm strange too. Wearing this cursed outfit... Yeah."
After sipping her hot chocolate, she sighed again and finally acknowledged her state.
"You're right, I'm tense. This isn't an outfit for me. It feels like I'm imitating something else, and I can't calm down. I said it from the start: this doesn't suit me..."
"Dokgo Yeon, you're usually confident, but you're hyper-aware of stares in weird places."
"Me? That's ridiculous."
Ah, back to her usual self completely.
"I'm proud of myself and lack nothing. Why would I care about others' gazes? I never back down before anyone."
"But not today."
"That's because! I'm wearing this weird outfit..."
"You said you don't care about stares?"
If Dokgo Yeon had her sword, a fierce duel might have erupted right then.
No, seeing her glare so sharply, she might have actually lunged for his throat. Instead, Ban Yu-won decided to voice his honest impression.
"Scared of being seen as a woman?"
"...Ban Yu-won, some truths shouldn't be spoken, even if true."
Feeling her aura intensify, Ban Yu-won smiled.
Sorry as he felt for her, with her emotions shaken and self-control slipping, he could now read her inner thoughts.
"Sorry. But we need to address this. Being objective about yourself is important."
"Objective? Objectively, I――."
"Objectively, you're a beauty."
Defining beauty objectively was foolish to begin with, so a somewhat corny line slipped out.
"Ban Yu-won, that's not objective."
"Sorry, you're right. Let's rephrase: let's objectively assess your situation. Ortima."
"Are you saying that man truly has feelings for me?"
"I'm not denying your martial arts. I don't know your world's secrets, and I won't pry. ...But that's not all there is to it."
Lucelle Ortima was the heir to one of the Ten Great Families.
He wouldn't deny she and her dimension held deep secrets worth his schemes...
But if that were all, his approach would have been entirely different.
Above all―― he could clearly see it in the man's eyes.
"He really likes you. Not a lie—he sees you as pretty."
"Impossible."
"Dokgo Yeon, that's not very objective. Beauty is subjective to begin with."
"But!"
"And."
Should he say it?
He should.
It might be too aggressive―― but he couldn't miss this timing.
"I think you're pretty too."
"No way..."
"Think I'm lying?"
Ban Yu-won met her gaze seriously.
She tried to look away but failed, clenching her fists tight.
Pretending anger to hide her embarrassment, unfortunately, but Ban Yu-won saw right through it.
Dokgo Yeon mumbled without lifting her head.
"You're such a pervert."
"Huh, weird conclusion..."
"Anyway, fine. If you insist, whatever."
"It's true."
"Still... honestly."
She barely raised her head, then hid her face behind her teacup the moment their eyes met.
"I can't talk more now. My head's a mess... so."
"Yeah, that's enough. Just didn't want you falling for Ortima's ploy."
"As if... really."
Dokgo Yeon said no more, but Ban Yu-won could guess what she meant.
After finishing her tea, she punched him hard—several times.