Chapter 145
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“Um, uh…”
An oppressive silence flows.
Kang Juyeon, who I ran into suddenly in the mixed bath.
After seeing her, my pupils lost their way.
Although we covered our bodies with large towels, still, these are hot spring outfits.
My upper body was completely exposed, and Kang Juyeon’s slim, curvaceous figure caught my eye.
Splash, splash –
Feeling embarrassed, I suddenly stood up.
I felt like I shouldn’t stay like this.
“Ah, uh… I, I’m done bathing already?”
…So you wanna use it alone?
It was a question implying that meaning.
For some reason, I couldn’t express my thoughts as cleanly and clearly as usual.
That’s not all.
My gaze was still turned to the sky, not looking at Kang Juyeon, and I was desperately holding my towel around my waist, worried that it might slip down.
‘Am I crazy?’
It was a truly uncharacteristic appearance.
I want to tear at this idiot’s head.
My extreme embarrassment was felt in my words and actions.
Somehow, the current situation must have been quite embarrassing.
“Kang Juyeon…”
“…It’s okay.”
“Huh?”
Just as I was about to call out to her again since she didn’t answer.
An unexpected response came from Kang Juyeon.
And thump, thump –
She slowly approached the bath.
Although it doesn’t look like her gaze is turned to the air, I could feel her coming this way from just the sound.
And….
Splash –
“Hup -.”
I heard the sound of her stepping into the bath.
At that, I unconsciously held my breath for a moment.
I could feel Kang Juyeon’s presence right next to me, and the warmth of the bath kept stabbing me all over, giving me a strange feeling.
And once again.
Kang Juyeon spoke.
“…It’s okay.”
No, crazy.
What do you mean it’s okay over and over?
My face flushes at her words with no object.
But Kang Juyeon added to her words, resolving the misunderstanding.
“…Anyway, I’ll be leaving soon. And tomorrow, we have to talk about where to investigate…”
“Ah.”
I immediately nodded at her persuasive words.
Come to think of it, that’s right.
Since tomorrow I have to team up with Kang Juyeon to investigate, we’ll also need time to discuss it, and also, there’s no need to avoid the mixed bath that was made for us to use together…
Splash – splash –
Just as my head was getting completely complicated.
Kang Juyeon made splashing sounds as she leaned back against the large rock.
Seeing her relaxed appearance, my tension also loosened.
‘What am I thinking?’
Truthfully, although it’s a bit embarrassing, it wasn’t a situation where anything big would happen.
We just have to use the mixed bath together, talk, and…
Naturally leave.
Feeling silly for the fuss I made to myself, I went and sat next to Kang Juyeon.
Splash –
“Where do you think we should start investigating tomorrow?”
“…Huh?”
But this time, Kang Juyeon’s voice shook.
I tilted my head and asked.
“Why do you look so surprised?”
“…It’s nothing.”
It doesn’t seem like nothing.
Seeing Kang Juyeon awkwardly avoiding my eyes, I tried to pry more, but the moment my gaze touched her body soaked in the water…
I unconsciously shut my mouth.
I calmed myself internally.
‘Good thoughts, good thoughts.’
I’ve been feeling like my head is getting more and more stupid.
With her smooth, snow-white skin filling my vision, my brain wasn’t working properly.
Besides, Kang Juyeon is pretty.
Not just pretty, but overwhelmingly pretty.
She’s one of the most popular Holders at the academy, and one of the top beauties of the freshman year along with Kim Chae-eun and Moon Ga-eun.
No matter how close we’ve gotten, being in a mixed bath with a girl like that… I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.
“Ahem, hmm. Anyway, let’s decide in advance where we’ll start investigating tomorrow. Since we agreed to take the southern part of western Nagoya, I was thinking of starting with the Nagoya Port Aquarium area, what do you think?”
“…Okay.”
…Again, again.
Everything’s okay with you.
But still, starting work talk helped a lot.
The awkward atmosphere that had persisted was gradually disappearing.
Kang Juyeon and I leaned against the same rock, exchanging all kinds of words.
Where to start, what route to take, what parts to focus our search on, how to set up our base in terms of combat formations…
They were talks I used to break the ice, but before I knew it, time flew by.
After talking for about 20 minutes, I think.
We were able to completely set the direction for tomorrow’s investigation.
“Then… after breakfast tomorrow, let’s head straight to Nagoya Port Aquarium at 8?”
“…Yeah.”
“Okay.”
The work talk was over.
Another silence, this time more natural.
None of the embarrassing atmosphere from earlier remained.
The bath was cozy and the temperature just right, so I soon forgot about saying I’d leave soon.
Splash – splash –
Kang Juyeon moved her hands and made splashing sounds again.
Following that, I also made splashing sounds with my hands.
The splashing sounds naturally overlapped…
Our playful eyes also met.
“Pfft -.”
“…Heh.”
Kang Juyeon’s laughter, rarely heard, rang out.
I also smiled involuntarily.
Doing childish tricks that only elementary school kids would do…
In the beautiful nature and comfortable atmosphere, people become childish, it seems.
“Is the vice president not coming?”
Suddenly remembering that I didn’t see Yoon Ji-ah and that Kang Juyeon had come alone, I brought it up.
But at this question, Kang Juyeon’s eyes somehow sharpened.
…What is it?
Did I say something wrong?
“…She’s tired.”
“Ah, is that so? Ha, haha. Park Jin-woo said the same, that he didn’t want to come because he was annoyed and tired. I persuaded him so much, but he refused to come no matter what. When this relieves fatigue so well.”
“Yeah.”
She’s cold.
This is almost the same chilly aura I saw in the clubroom last time.
Although I babbled meaningless words like rapping, it didn’t seem effective.
“…It does relieve fatigue.”
Fortunately, that mood didn’t last long.
Realizing from my thoughtless question that I didn’t have any other intentions, Kang Juyeon quietly responded.
And the bubbling hot spring atmosphere also helped.
Is this why people go to hot springs?
” … So only 5 new clan members will be selected this time?”
“Yeah. We have to recruit selectively, even if we’re short on manpower.”
“Wow… Big clans really are different.”
Anyway, with the work talk over, we exchanged trivial chatter.
Mostly academy talk and <Judgment of Fire> clan talk, but since we were born Holders, these topics weren’t boring at all.
On the contrary, hearing these talks from Kang Juyeon was refreshing and fun.
Splash – splash –
When the conversation ended and it became quiet, I could always hear the sound of water.
In that pleasant silence, I quietly spoke.
“Kang Juyeon.”
“Yeah.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“…Yeah.”
As Kang Juyeon nodded, I asked without hesitation.
“Why did you help me back then?”
“…Back then?”
“Yeah. The first time we went to clear the underground dungeon together. We didn’t know each other at all then.”
In the first semester after entering the academy.
The first time I cleared the academy’s underground dungeon.
Truthfully, without Kang Juyeon and Moon Ga-eun’s help then, clearing the dungeon would have been nearly impossible with my abilities and rune level.
With the dungeon’s difficulty at the time beyond what I could handle with my stats and runes, I would have sorely lacked the deal to take down the monsters without the firepower the two showed, after all.
The dungeon clear rewards, related growth paths, new runes…
From that clear, I was able to achieve explosive growth.
But I had been curious all along.
About her reason for accepting my out-of-the-blue proposal, when Kang Juyeon and I hadn’t even been acquainted.
Only now, after getting quite close with her and becoming much more comfortable…
Could I ask that question?
“You just… stood out.”
“Stood out?”
“Yeah.”
And to my question.
Kang Juyeon answered without hesitating much.
“On the day of the entrance exam… you stood out the most. Your skills were lacking but you were calm, and though you fought for a long time and grew tired, you had perseverance.”
Splash –
Kang Juyeon made an awkward splash sound and continued.
“So the person who stood out approached first… That’s why I went along without hesitating, I think.
The uncharacteristically long sentence.
But I could feel the sincerity in her words, so I nodded.
“I see.”
Until now…
I think I had a kind of preconception about Kang Juyeon.
A major character from the original work, female lead, someone I’d seen for a long time.
I had always judged her with my own standards, blindly believing the paper information I knew about her.
“….”
But the Kang Juyeon I met face-to-face was a much more human person than I thought.
I only knew she was cold and curt, but she had affection and warmth inside.
I only knew she was always strong and confident, but she had a vulnerable side in her heart.
Hunting together, living clan life together, our relationship continuing until now when we’re in the same circle…
Over time seeing her and growing close, the biases I had about Kang Juyeon have peeled away a lot from within me, I feel.
So…
“…Jae-hyun.”
“Huh?”
“I… took some time to call you by name… But I wanted you to call me like that from now on….”
So at this appearance of Kang Juyeon, unable to finish her words.
At these words she was delivering, what she was trying to say, the sincerity she felt…
I could feel it all now.
Splash –
Kang Juyeon’s awkward splash sounded again as she lowered her head.
I smiled and replied.
“Sure, Juyeon.”
The end of today.
Although we unexpectedly met in the mixed bath…
I somehow felt much closer to her.
Tl/n: I am not dropping the novel, this is a hobby and I do not expect to make funds on this but there is literally only one supporter for this novel and the cost of the site and editor per month cost more than what 1 supporter can do. Thanks to them though, I can support site and this novel for a while and that is why the chapters per week will be reducing and that alone is not enough cause cost of site.
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