[Chapter 134]
[Tangled Relationships (5)]
"—It might be better to just walk directly at this point."
Though rush hour had already passed.
The roads were still congested.
Choi Jung-hoon in the car finally clicked his tongue.
The players who came along to guard him straightened their backs.
Soon he turned his eyes away from them and looked out the car window.
'You should definitely come see that day. You might regret it if you don't.'
He could see Player Academy.
Choi Jung-hoon recalled the contact he received from Choi Ga-in a few days ago, as he looked towards the academy glimpsed between buildings.
Siblings born to different mothers, though inheriting their father's blood.
There was no way they could get along well.
From the start, Choi Ga-in's existence was outside his range of interest.
He always ignored her, or it would be more correct to say she unilaterally disliked him.
But—
—What on earth is she thinking?
The people who possessed succession rights to Galaxy Group did not welcome him.
No, they feared him.
Choi Ga-in was the same.
But this time Choi Ga-in suddenly invited him to the academy cultural festival.
Even attaching the phrase "To my dear brother" at the beginning of the invitation.
He couldn't understand.
"Stop the car at that traffic light ahead. I might as well get off there since we're almost there anyway."
"Yes, understood."
Has some wind blown through my half-sister?
He was curious what Choi Ga-in, who had been wary of him, was plotting.
At the same time, an authoritarian feeling sprouted.
Is she trying to step on me?
The reason he left alone the successors who didn't approve of him was simple.
Because they understood their position and didn't try to defy him.
That was all.
If a successor appeared who tried to challenge his authority, he would never forgive them even if they were bound by blood relations.
When he stepped on someone, he thoroughly crushed them.
That was why they feared him.
Or are you trying to prove your usefulness to me?
The road was still blocked.
Choi Jung-hoon who got out of the car walked directly and arrived at the academy main gate.
The main gate that would normally be closed to outsiders was wide open.
Standing at the gate, he looked around and moved his feet.
Soon the guarding players made a path for him.
"Tonight, was it?"
It seems I came too early.
Nevertheless, he spoke calmly while taking in the scenery of the academy.
"—Alright, I'll watch closely."
Choi Jung-hoon muttered softly.
Waiting for something to happen at the academy tonight.
On the other hand, he only hoped for Choi Ga-in's wise choice.
"Let's see what you show me."
Whether she kneels and proves her usefulness.
Or pays the price for defying him.
Today, her fate would be decided.
☆
Comprehensive division competition main tournament 4th round finals.
With the semifinals ending in the morning, and the 3rd place match just ending moments ago, the only match left was to determine the winner.
That's how many people were filling the spectator seats.
[—Players enter.]
Soon the whistle blew.
The murmuring people stopped talking and turned their gazes to the students coming up to the arena.
But the two students seemed to be looking only at each other as if the gazes of others didn't matter.
"Did you warm up?"
"...If you mean my body, I already warmed up plenty in the morning matches. Did you eat?"
"I ate moderately."
The conversation meshed awkwardly.
That's how tense the two people standing here were.
Almost 4 years.
The two who had spent nearly 4 years rubbing against each other knew each other too well.
Of course, each other's skills as well.
They couldn't let their guard down.
"You seem to have gotten much stronger. I thought that watching you fight On Tae-yang yesterday."
"Thanks. But you're the same, aren't you? Watching you fight Soo-bin, it seemed like you got stronger again in that time?"
They acknowledged each other's skills.
The two carefully continued the conversation, as if walking on knife's edge, without offending each other's mood.
Then the checks began.
"—Do you remember?"
"What?"
"When we fought in the dealer division competition finals."
"..."
"No matter how much stronger you've gotten, the result will be the same as then."
Mok Min-ho draws his sword from his waist.
Choi Eun-hyuk's face hardened.
Two years ago, he had lost to Mok Min-ho in the dealer division competition.
That duel was a trigger that hurt Choi Eun-hyuk's pride.
And because Mok Min-ho knew that, he provoked him right before the duel.
"—Master said."
"...?"
He almost fell for the provocation.
But Eun-hyuk found his composure and regulated his breathing.
He who gripped his sword with both hands opened his mouth confidently.
"That you can't move forward if you're bound by the past."
"..."
"Ah, he also said this. You might lose your life later if you become arrogant after winning once."
"..."
"Also, always with the mindset of fighting for the first time..."
"Why are you talking so much?"
"Don't think you've won before we've even fought."
"...Hah..."
Choi Eun-hyuk laid out his argument as if he had been waiting.
Mok Min-ho who suddenly became overconfident in his victory sighed with a dumbfounded face.
His face turned slightly red.
Eun-hyuk who noticed that giggled.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Wouldn't you laugh if it was you?"
"Don't laugh. It's annoying."
Mok Min-ho spoke gritting his teeth.
Eun-hyuk laughed loudly on purpose trying to shake his composure.
Eventually—
————!!
The buzzer sounded.
The match started.
The two who instantly changed their faces drew out their internal mana.
""...!!""
The two moved almost simultaneously.
They rushed out narrowing the distance without anyone going first.
When there wasn't much distance left.
They swung their swords as if gauging each other's skills.
Blade Sound
Mana Crusher
Min-ho's sword strike that spread like ripples.
Eun-hyuk's sword strike that flew in a straight line.
The different wavelengths resonated in space and entered a contest of strength.
But there was no winner.
The wavelengths collided and offset each other.
And in that interval, the two who ran to the side clashed swords.
Langbo
Flow Speed
With just one sword clash.
The two realized their strengths were almost at the same level.
Their judgment was quick.
If their strengths are similar, they just need to make a difference in speed.
"...Ugh...!"
Mok Min-ho lowered his body and moved his feet like a wolf.
His movements were rough, but his momentum was fierce.
"...Kuk...!"
In contrast, Choi Eun-hyuk ran with graceful steps like flowing water.
His movements were graceful, and his momentum was that quiet.
And once again—
—Blade Sound
Mana Crusher
Sword and sword collided.
☆
Almost evenly matched.
They are fighting with all their might without giving an inch to each other.
The mana rising from the center of the arena floats around like a heat haze, occasionally writhing as if alive.
They're both doing well.
Galaxy Group VIP viewing room.
Eunha who was watching the match alone with Choi Ga-in was inwardly satisfied.
Choi Eun-hyuk and Mok Min-ho.
The two are fighting in the finals.
Both students who advanced to the finals are 1st years.
It was a moment rewriting academy history.
That's how much Eunha was happy about his friends' growth.
"...Amazing. I didn't know Min-ho was that strong."
"He got that strong this time."
"Tae-yang can't compare to those two. I thought that was Choi Eun-hyuk's full power watching him fight yesterday, but to think he was hiding his strength. It's really chilling. Is this all your strategy, Eunha?"
"I didn't do anything."
That's when Choi Ga-in spoke up.
Until this morning, she had been wearing a sullen face all along.
Because she was just beaten by Eun-a the day before without being able to say a word.
Thanks to that, Eunha had to exhaust himself trying to appease her anger.
Her anger seemed to have disappeared without a trace as the finals started.
Choi Ga-in was looking down at the arena as if entranced by something.
"Who do you think will win? Min-ho? Choi Eun-hyuk?"
Choi Ga-in who approached close to the glass window.
She asked with her face almost pressed against it.
Eunha quietly closed his mouth.
The answer he gave after thinking was—
"—I don't know either."
"Aw come on, how can that be? You have insight into swordsmanship so you should know who will win, right? Tell me even a little."
"...I don't know. I really don't know. Their skills are about even."
Choi Ga-in acted cute.
Eunha spoke with annoyance.
His gaze returned to the arena again.
They've both really grown a lot.
I didn't help much since entering high school academy...
Though he didn't tell her.
Eunha was actually admiring the current skills of the two.
The stubborn Mok Min-ho surprisingly accepted a flexible way of thinking.
Moreover, he seemed to understand what his gift was.
His physique was already perfected long ago, but it seemed he only now realized what to mix into it.
Was it thanks to
I might be confident in manipulating...
And Eun-hyuk...
Soon Eunha's keen eyes turned to Eun-hyuk.
His movements are graceful.
He shows a posture of calmly waiting until a definite moment comes, rather than attacking recklessly.
Though he still didn't seem used to
His growth was only amazing.
"Hmm... I'd like our group's sponsored Min-ho to win, but... Well, whatever!"
Meanwhile, Choi Ga-in made a "hmph" sound and folded her arms.
She didn't seem to like Choi Eun-hyuk who was sponsored by Alice Group.
But she raised the corners of her mouth as if it didn't matter.
"—Those two will enter your party anyway, right?"
"..."
No Eunha is trying to form a party.
It was a fact openly known in the academy.
Choi Ga-in mentioned his goal and turned to Eunha.
"So if only you become my side, doesn't that mean all the kids who will enter your party will become my side too?"
An extreme idea.
Eunha looked at her with narrowed eyes.
In this situation, Eunha's answer could be said to be obvious now.
"—What a load of bullshit."
"...What?"
"What is Meju muttering? And I've been wanting to say this all along, can't you stop with the hair that looks like a roll?"
Today he was supposed to spend time alone with Choi Ga-in.
So she sent away all the people following her today.
In other words, there were only two people in the VIP viewing room.
Eunha who had been waiting for this moment all along giggled.
"U-Eunha, what are you..."
"Ah, that feels good."
How much did he have to watch Choi Ga-in's mood all this time?
Eunha burst out laughing while spewing words he had wanted to say to her.
"Y-You, why are you...?"
As the atmosphere suddenly changed like that.
Choi Ga-in unconsciously stepped back with a flustered face.
Eunha interestingly watched her who was visibly flustered.
He takes a step forward.
"Eek...!"
Even though he didn't do anything.
Choi Ga-in is terrified.
The corners of Eunha's mouth rise.
Choi Ga-in's pupils shake greatly.
"D-Don't come!"
"I don't want to, I'm going to? You kept asking me to come to you in texts, so why are you trying to avoid me now?"
"W-Wait a moment. Can't you talk while standing there?"
"Hmm, that makes me want to do it more. Then I should, right?"
As if he could kill her anytime if he wanted to.
Eunha giggled playfully.
"Kyaaaaaah—!!!!"
"It's no use screaming like that. The soundproofing in this viewing room is top-notch. So bark to your heart's content. Go woof woof."
"...You... you... what on earth..."
"Why are you like this? What did I do?"
When he playfully manifested mana, Choi Ga-in screamed.
Eunha openly cackled.
How much had he wanted to see her scared face all this time?
"...Ah..."
"Now you have nowhere to run?"
Choi Ga-in whose back finally touched the wall.
Eunha spoke nonchalantly to her who had a pale face.
Choi Ga-in who had nowhere left to run finally had to look up at him from up close.
"...Eek...!"
"This hair. How much I hated seeing this hair."
"U-Eunha..."
"Stay still. Unless you want your neck to fall off too."
Winter Crawling Through Snowflakes in one hand.
And Choi Ga-in's hair in the other hand.
Eunha grabbed her hair rolled up like a roll with all his might.
Naturally Choi Ga-in screamed and collapsed to the floor.
"How annoyed I was by your hair that kept bouncing whenever you laughed..."
"W-Why are you doing this..."
"But I had to keep looking at that. Because back then, you were someone I couldn't touch."
"..."
"But now you're not? There's not a single person who can say anything no matter what I do to this? Though you probably don't understand what I'm saying now anyway... Whatever."
Choi Ga-in trembles.
Regardless.
Eunha spoke self-deprecatingly as if recalling a long past.
He puts strength into the hand gripping her hair.
He cuts off a handful of hair with Winter Crawling Through Snowflakes.
"Kyaaaaaah!! My hair, my hair! My hair...!!"
"How can you scream over just cutting a few strands? That child was forced to smile even when you ruined her hair."
Snip.
Black hair falls to the floor.
She tried to pick up the fallen hair in terror.
At that moment, Eunha gripped the hair on the other side that he hadn't cut yet.
For a moment her actions stopped.
She slowly raises her head.
Meeting his eyes.
She froze like that.
"..."
Sharp eyes are looking at her.
The sensation of dozens of blades about to fly at her face at any moment.
The moment she looked into those eyes, Choi Ga-in couldn't think of anything.
"—Now you should experience it once too?"
"...Ah..."
"Because of you, she had to wear a hat whenever she went outside."
"...Uh..."
"What? White hair is disgusting like a rat so dye it?"
"..."
"Is that something to say to a child who had to watch the scene of the bodyguard she followed like an uncle have his neck cut off?"
It's venting.
Eunha asserted.
A revenge that wasn't revenge, which he could never have done in his previous life and would have no meaning in this life.
Eunha put strength in his eyes recalling Ha Baek-ryeon who had to be dragged around by her.
'Oh my, Fairy! Your hair looks messy, shall I cut it for you?'
'...Pardon? No, I'm fine...'
'Don't worry. I cut hair quite well. I even cut the hair of the dog we raise at home, you know?'
'...'
'Come here. You can do work later, right? Now... how is it? I think a boyish style suits you too, Fairy.'
'...Ah...'
'How is it? Pretty, right?'
'...'
'Hm, strange? It's not pretty?'
'...No.'
'It can't not be pretty. It's pretty, right?'
'...Yes. It's pretty.'
'I'll cut it for you from now on.'
In the previous life.
Choi Ga-in was a person who fit the phrase "arrogant and rude".
With Galaxy Group and On Tae-yang behind her, she volunteered herself as Ha Baek-ryeon's advisor.
No one could stop her.
So Ha Baek-ryeon had to be caught up in Choi Ga-in's unreasonable demands.
'Fairy, why are you crying? I'm here beside you.'
'...'
'Everything will be okay now. The bodyguard, what was his name? Lee Jung-hyun? That person was actually deceiving you. If things had gone wrong, you might have become like that villainess Lim Ga-eul.'
'...'
'Oh my, our poor Fairy. It's okay now. We're here, right?'
'...'
'But why aren't you answering? Geez, if you're going to cut, cut cleanly, why did blood have to fly all the way here? Blood splattered on Fairy's hair. But I've been thinking...'
'...'
'Your hair is white like a lab rat. It's so gross. Shall we go dye it after this is over? I know a shop I go to often. Let's go together.'
'...'
'Come on, stop crying... No, why are you crying so much on this good day?'
'...No. I'm not... crying.'
'Our Fairy, your heart must have hurt so much from being betrayed. Well, how much must your heart have hurt when you heard the story of two bodyguards forcibly kidnapping Lim Ga-eul. To think bodyguards protecting a fairy would do such a thing...'
'...'
'No matter how I think about it, this isn't right. I'll suggest it to those above. The other person should have their neck cut too...'
'Ah, no! There's no need for that! Let's hurry and go do my hair!'
At the age of 17.
She realized at too young an age how futilely people can die.
At that time, Eunha could only stay by Ha Baek-ryeon's side.
That memory was strangely replaying clearly in his mind.
"Should I just shave all the hair off while I'm at it?"
Eunha who cut off Choi Ga-in's hair sighed as if regretful.
It seemed this was as far as it would go.
"She's completely out."
Choi Ga-in had fainted as if dead.
Actually, she hadn't fainted.
When the finals started, she had unknowingly consumed the drug he had slipped into her drink.
A drug that brings one to the brink of death.
It was a drug that stops a living being's heart for a certain time, putting them in a state of suspended animation.
"...Alright, just sleep like that."
Twenty-five is nearby.
Eunha called him on his smartphone as he slumped down on the sofa.
He tilts his head back.
He covers his eyes with his hand.
People's cheers can be heard.
"—When you wake up, the world will have changed, completely."
Eunha's shoulders shook.
Then he let his hand covering his eyes drop and looked up at the ceiling.
"...But why am I like this?"
The happiness was only momentary.
He's not happy at all.
As he fidgets with his hand, it feels like the sensation of gripping Choi Ga-in's hair just moments ago remains.
"...Is this okay."
Not a very good feeling.
Eunha felt a stuffiness settled in one corner of his chest and an emptiness as if somewhere was hollow.
"..."
That's a little scary.
Afraid of becoming weak.
Whether in heart or body.