Chapter 190
Chapter 190
There’s not really a specific thing that Bang Yoonseob wants to be.
Just one day when he woke up, a skill was suddenly available to him.
From that day on, Bang Yoonseob’s life goal was to enter Korea’s best prestigious high school.
— You can make lots of friends in Eungwang High.
— You could just enter Eungwang High and have fun there.
Bang Yoonseb’s parents were enthusiastic about his education, and they cheered him on quite well.
Thanks to his parents’ full support, Yoonseob took review classes to prepare for the top-tier Korean High School Entrance Examination. He studied so hard that he had cramps in his head. Thankfully, he successfully passed the entrance exam of Eungwang High.
But some problems arise after he passed.
Bang Yoonseob had achieved his life goal. And he doesn’t know what’s ‘next’.
He was just a foolish middle school student in a prestigious high school.
On the day of his middle school graduation, Yoonseob looked very much out of it. He didn’t take pictures with friends, and he didn’t bother leaving some good memories. Someone from the royal lineage saw this image.
— He really looks like some kind of fool. But I think that’s his charm.
— If he receives my order, he could beat up every kid in that school.
When Yoonseob saw the snake-like royal lineage laughing, he nodded his head a few times.
As promised, that’s exactly what he did.
Just like that, Bang Yoonseob received an order from the snake clan.
— It turned out well that I gave my order to a student from Eungwang High! Should I come visit you from time to time?
— Uh… I’m just a small kid so I guess giving a huge part of your order wasn’t good. I guess we have different perspectives. Ah I want to look around and visit too, but I think it won’t work.
— Hmm… What should we do? If things get out of hand for you, I can lend you a hand. If you make a strong wish, it would connect with me.
The royal lineage people left after saying that.
Since then, Bang Yoonseob has tried to call out to the snake clan several times.
However, no matter how hard he asked for help, they didn’t respond.
He thought that he was lucky to receive an order from the snake clan, but he couldn’t use it anyway.
“Yoonseob, I peeled some melons! Come out here and eat!”
Yoonseob, who was spacing out in one corner, stood up.
Small Korean melons and a fork met him when he came out of the room.
The incident of the youth retreat was shown on a hologram displayed on the wall.
“That’s the only topic talked about on TV these days. Even our neighbors are all about that Eungwang High talk! How surprised would they be if they knew that our son was also a part of defending against the other world!”
Yoonseob’s mother handed over a piece of the melon.
On the screen was a report on the performance of Joo Soohyuk and Ahn Dain.
‘What did I contribute on that day?’
Bang Yoonseob knew it well.
He couldn’t do much.
He almost put his classmates in danger’s way, and even after Joo Soohyuk joined the battle, he kept making mistakes.
He thought that he would be worth something if he entered Korea’s best prestigious school, but in the end, he was still nothing but a fool.
Throughout his life, Yoonseob tried to imitate the people he was scared of, but nothing much changed for him.
As he felt very frustrated, a voice popped up in his mind.
— You’re really talentless, huh?
That’s what Tak Geosan said.
— But if you learn all about grit, you could be useful.
Tak Geosan laughed while letting Mang Hyodon win against him once.
The thought of Tak Geosan leaving the ring and patting his shoulder suddenly made him teary-eyed.
“Ah, why am I…”
“Yoonseob?”
When Tak Geosan kindly accepted him as his disciple, he felt like a fever suddenly hit his head.
He wants to get stronger now, so what should he do?
While thinking about that, he suddenly remembered something that Jo Euishin said.
— Think about it again when your head cools off. If your heart changes in the future, don’t hesitate and go right away.
Yoonseob sprung up and stood from his seat.
“I’ll be going out.”
“It’s so hot today, where are you going! Put on some sunscreen before you leave!”
“Y-yea, I will!”
Yoonseob answered his mother’s nagging before he ran outside.
‘Ah, I don’t know if he’s there or not.’
Just like that, Yoonseob arrived at Eungwang High.
He was dripping in sweat when he reached the first-year rooms.
He saw someone in the gym of the first-year students.
“Again! Faster!”
It was Tak Geosan’s voice.
In front of Tak Geosan was someone who was even sweatier than him, Maeng Hyodon.
Yoonseob clicked his tongue as he saw Hyodon successfully control his energy wave at Tak Geosan’s commands.
‘Oh, that little punk must’ve decided to be his student too!’
He thought about leaving.
He was contemplating for a bit, but the voice of the Class Zero vice president kept replaying in his mind.
— Don’t hesitate to grab the opportunity when it comes.
Players like Tak Geosan weren’t common.
And even if there were players like Tak Geosan, there’s no way that they’d accept him as their disciple.
This is the opportunity, the point of no return for Bang Yoonseob.
‘That old man already offered to take me in as his disciple before, so he better not take back his words!’
Yoonseob clenched his fist and took a step forward.
* * *
‘That person’s name is Hyejung?’
There’s one person that comes to mind.
Oh Hyejung, the sister of a third-year class president Oh Hyeji.
Both sisters were players, but Oh Hyejung was rarely known to the public, unlike her sister.
She was currently lost, trying to find something.
When it was decided that Joo Soogyeom was part of the engagement, she carved in the walls of the waiting room of the engagement ceremony with a blade, and left a message saying ‘go to hell.’
With that, Oh Hyejung was never seen in the game again.
“‘Hyejung’ is a common name in Korea, so it’s hard to be sure.”
I can’t jump to any conclusion yet as I’m not sure who this woman standing in front of Semin of April was.
“Hyejung… It makes it more difficult for us to part when you say that.”
“Then let’s not.”
“Are you willing to stay in this stuffy place?”
“That ‘stuffy place’ is where you are, Semin.”
As I heard her voice, the more I started to remember.
It was the voice of someone I met at the convention center in Yeouido, where the Hwanmong auction was held.
‘No wonder I thought they seem to like each other.’
I initially thought that their conversation seemed one-sided, but my mind changed when I saw Semin of April’s desperate eyes.
Semin spoke to her with an affectionate voice.
“We looked into your origin, Hyejung.”
“That’s understandable since I’ve been staying in the April Clan’s mansion for a while now. So?”
“We found that a lot of your relatives are part of the board of directors and financial affiliates of the Joo Group.”
“And so?”
“Hyejung, you are a daughter of a prestigious family. So… I know that compared to Joo Soogyeom, who you were supposed to be wed to in the past, I’m just…”
Hearing Joo Soogyeom’s name made it clear.
I’m sure that that woman is Oh Hyejung.
At that time, I couldn’t recognize her because of the injuries on her face, but now that I see her, she still looks awfully similar to Oh Hyeji.
“I see you’ve found that out. So what?”
“I think there’s a different person that suits you more.”
“Who?”
Oh Hyejung stepped closer to Semin.
Semin didn’t flinch nor take a step back. He only stared at Hyejung with mournful eyes.
“Are you going to send me off to Joo Soogyeom to be his worker bee with no remorse? The only time that I finally felt human was when I ran off from that ceremony.”
“Maybe there’s a different person who would suit you more…”
“Or you’re telling me to go off to those jerks from the TC? The only sane, unmarried people from that family are the teenagers. Or maybe you’re telling me to go to the Hwanmong family as if you don’t know my history? You’re not telling me to marry off to the Namgung group are you?”
Hyejung dissed all 4 of Korea’s biggest conglomerate families in one breath. She stepped closer to Semin.
As the distance between the two of them narrowed, Oh Hyejung rest her head on Semin’s shoulder.
“Hyejung…”
Semin flinched, his hand raised mid-air.
He seemed unsure whether to push off Hyejung or hold her tightly in his arms.
He didn’t know what to do. He spoke with a stuttering voice.
“…I-it doesn’t have to be someone from those families. Hyejung, I hope you meet someone much better than me and live your life freely.”
“Someone better than you? Where is that person? I’m sure there’s no one much better or much loveable than you, Semin.”
“That’s….”
Oh Hyejung was very warm towards Semin.
After hearing her words, Semin became even more flustered.
He blushed upon hearing those sweet words.
“I received permission from the elders of the April clan. And there’s no need to ask permission from my side. But if they go against us, I won’t hesitate to destroy everything. Even those elders know to shut their mouths and let me be. They know that everything would be ruined when that happens.”
“That’s a bit…”
Semin of April was worried about Hyejung’s brutal remarks.
Hyejung also realized it, and she continued to talk with a shy face.
“I only need my younger sibling to be the only guest. So, if you agree, then everything would be set, Semin.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Our marriage.”
Semin stumbled back as soon as he heard the word ‘marriage’.
If he hadn’t leaned back on the fence, he would’ve rolled unexpectedly.
“W-what do you mean marriage?!”
“Everything in this family is very nice, and I see that Confucian ideas are deeply rooted. When I visited the elders, they told me that the relationship is not very important and just get married right away. I thought about it carefully, and I think I’m okay with it. I’ve seen the traditional wedding clothes and the colors were bright and pretty. Still, I want to throw a bouquet and see you in a tuxedo, so let’s have another wedding in western-style someday.”
“Hyejung! Don’t joke like that!”
“Do I look like I’m joking about getting married? The only joke of a marriage that I know of is that arranged engagement they set me up for.”
Hyejung rest her hand on Semin’s cheek and pulled him a little closer.
Semin didn’t resist.
“I know you’re unsure and worried. Even so, please trust me.”
“Hyejung…”
Hyejung pulled him in some more.
We shouldn’t be watching this in the first place.
I tried to hide with Saeum.
“Boom!”
“Ahk!”
Saeum of April hit his head on the wall when we turned around.
I caught him before he fell on the floor, but the two seemed to notice.
“Oh, the young master is here? Who’s that beside you?”
“A-auntie, hello!”
“Hi.”
Hyejung spoke confidently as she locked arms with Semin.
Semin blushed so hard, as it seems like he realized that we had been watching their conversation.
“W-what do you mean ‘young master’?! What do you mean ‘auntie’…?!”
“Saeum is your nephew, so I figured that’s the right word for me. Also, you’re more like an older brother for him right? So I decided to call him young master.”
“That’s not my problem with it…”
“Then what is it?”
Semin couldn’t say anything.
Saeum, who noticed the atmosphere between them, hurriedly showed off the shopping bag he was holding.
“Ah, uncle! I brought some presents. I went to the store you told me about last time and picked out some cosmetic set for auntie—“
“Saeum! Why are you mentioning that here!”
“Semin, you asked the young master to bring me some presents?”
It had an adverse effect.
The atmosphere was ruined, and Semin grabbed Saeum to preach to him about some things.
I think it was something like ‘Don’t call Hyejung your auntie!’ or whatever.
“You were the one who imitated Yeom Junyeol that night, aren’t you? I have something to tell you.”
While Saeum and Semin moved a bit further from us, Hyejung grabbed me and said…
“It’s about the order that Saeum has.”