NOVEL NEXT Chapter 130
Chapter 130
“I’ll return it.”
Lee Si-hyun raised his head at Lin Xue’s voice.
In her hand was the Acureruts.
No matter how many times you looked at it, it was a sword sheath that exuded elegant beauty.
“Oh.”
In an instant, Si-hyun’s expression shook, revealing his thoughts.
He had been so distracted that he hadn’t considered the deadly phrase in the item description of Acureruts.
‘An item possessed by a close friend who was executed by Po-ahim, now kept by Po-ahim as a keepsake.’
Seeing that, there was no way he could remain oblivious to his own identity.
Cold sweat began to bead down his forehead in this unexpected tense situation.
“What’s wrong?”
There was no way Lin Xue could miss such a change in Si-hyun’s expression.
With a curious look, she gazed at him.
…Did she read the description?
Si-hyun inwardly posed an anxious question.
No way.
That can’t be it.
If she had read it, there’s no way she would treat him with this demeanor until now.
He desperately tried to cast aside his uneasy thoughts.
Then, he calmly replied again.
“No, seeing that just reminded me of something I had forgotten.”
“What is it?”
“That you saved me.”
Si-hyun tried to express his gratitude as he continued.
“Thank you. Fruit of the World Tree.”
“You knew?”
“I heard you calling my name before I lost consciousness.”
“I see.”
Lin Xue, while holding the Acureruts, seemed to be contemplating something for a moment.
…No, can you just give me Acureruts quickly?
Si-hyun awkwardly fidgeted with his fingers.
“Was your opponent that strong?”
Lin Xue asked.
Si-hyun took a brief moment to ponder how to respond.
However, there was only one answer.
The media had already fully revealed his D-rank Hunter status.
He wasn’t in a position to act tough.
The only issue was how to explain why an S-Class was measured as a D-Class.
It needed to be as natural and nonsuspect as possible.
Si-hyun organized his thoughts and spoke.
“Given my current situation…”
“I figured as much.”
Lin Xue responded while gracefully toying with the Acureruts.
“If you were normal, you wouldn’t fall to such a guy.”
Fortunately, she didn’t seem to have any particular doubts about his answer.
Could it be?
“…How many cases like mine exist? It’s a bit frustrating.”
“Well, from what I’ve heard, there seem to be a few. Don’t rush your feelings. Over time, your abilities will fully blossom.”
It seemed like cases like this were not common.
However, even if there were a few, they must be a very small number.
“By any chance, what about the quests…?”
“Huh? Quests? What do you mean?”
“Never mind, I was mistaken.”
Indeed, Po-ahim’s case seemed to be special even here.
“I’m going to call my mother.”
Si-hyun quickly changed the subject.
While he turned to make the call, Lin Xue pulled out a menthol cigarette as a habit.
And just as she was about to light one up, she realized it was right in front of him.
She paused for a moment.
Meanwhile, Si-hyun finished his short call and turned back.
His gaze lingered for a moment on the slender cigarette caught between her fingers before shifting toward her face.
“Are you smoking?”
“Uh… yeah.”
Lin Xue replied with a somewhat reluctant expression.
“Why?”
“I thought you might not like the smell of the smoke.”
“I do dislike it.”
“Then I won’t smoke.”
Lin Xue obediently put the cigarette away.
She was the type to smoke openly without care, even in front of high-ranking officials of a communist party.
Those who knew her would first find it absurd and then be curious about who was receiving such special treatment from her.
That much, her behavior was unusual.
The person receiving such special treatment, Si-hyun, had no particular thoughts about it.
He simply thought, ‘At least she’s a considerate smoker.’
“Oh, here.”
Lin Xue finally handed the Acureruts back to Si-hyun.
“Thank you.”
“It was originally yours, so why the formality?”
“I heard.”
“Heard what?”
“That you avenged me with this.”
“Oh, that? But I feel sorry about that.”
Lin Xue’s response drew a bewildered look from Si-hyun.
She continued speaking.
“I made a big deal about killing you but couldn’t do it… It was clumsy in many ways. I stained my name.”
“Don’t think that way. I’m just grateful.”
“Hehe, that’s quite you.”
“What do you mean?”
“You barely ever say anything rude to me.”
Indeed, when he saw her in his memories or in his spirit, the Sword Master seemed to be a rather gentle man.
He didn’t seem like the type to treat anyone other than his loved ones carelessly.
Lin Xue rose to her feet.
“What do you want to drink?”
“Water.”
She walked over to the fridge and pulled out two bottles of spring water.
During that time, Si-hyun placed the Acureruts back into his inventory.
Having the item that had saved his life return to his inventory provided a sense of stability.
“Here.”
“Thanks.”
Lin Xue handed him a bottle of spring water and sat back down across from him.
She also unscrewed the cap and took a few sips.
Si-hyun stared at her with a blank expression.
For some reason, just watching her drink water seemed strangely captivating, perhaps because she was beautiful.
“What are you staring at?”
Lin Xue asked with wide eyes.
“Just, you look pretty.”
Unintentionally, his thoughts slipped out.
“Cough, cough….”
The water that was going down got stuck upon hearing that remark.
After a few coughs, her face flushed as she shot Si-hyun a glare mixed with resentment.
“Wow… you really got me with that earlier joke, huh? Your timing for throwing it in was just perfect. Good shot!”
“I was waiting for the right moment.”
Si-hyun lightly responded, picking up on the shift in atmosphere.
That could have turned into an embarrassing slip-up, but thankfully it hadn’t.
“Alright, it’s a tie now.”
Lin Xue wiggled her fingers.
Si-hyun chuckled and took a sip of water.
At that moment.
Her face suddenly drew near.
Those cat-like black eyes were playfully staring at him just inches away.
Then those soft, pink lips…
Si-hyun quickly pushed her away and started coughing.
“Cough, cough!”
This time, it was Si-hyun experiencing the coughing fit.
He had been unexpectedly caught off guard.
Seeing him with a flushed face, Lin Xue wore a satisfied smile.
“How’s that? I got another point, right?”
“Cough….”
After a few more coughs, Si-hyun finally calmed down, only for a message to appear in front of him.
[Po-ahim says to you: You seem to be having fun.]
“….”
Sorry, Po-ahim.
This time, I have nothing to say…
Now that I think about it, I have no idea what I’m doing.
In a moment when I should be completely focused, I’m engaging in some sort of romantic game with her.
Was I sucked into her pace, or was it simply that being alone in a hotel room talking to a pretty girl led to this situation?
The saying that beautiful women are temptresses is certainly not wrong.
Plus, when she looks at him with that expression reserved for someone she loves, it becomes nearly impossible to resist.
An expression she would never show to anyone else.
Si-hyun desperately tried to recall the image of Hyris from his memories.
With eyes as cold as ice, exuding deadly aura.
At that moment, she was the embodiment of a ruthless reaper.
If he had been the target, he would have been so suppressed by her presence that he couldn’t even breathe properly.
Right.
Even now, she was showing him smiles with those eyes, but the moment her true identity was revealed, her face would instantly reflect deadly malice.
He must not forget.
His relationship with her was like walking on thin ice.
Si-hyun’s mind quickly regained composure.
“Hyris.”
“Yes?”
“I want to know your feelings.”
When Si-hyun spoke with a serious face, the smile disappeared from her expression.
“What do you mean?”
“I said it in the hospital. I can’t read your feelings.”
“Uh-huh.”
“You used the Fruit of the World Tree to save me. I know it’s a very precious item to you. The fact that you saved me using such a treasure means your feelings for me are still…”
“Yeah, they exist.”
Lin Xue admitted honestly.
She was not the type to play push and pull with her feelings.
“It’s true that I loved you to death, and it’s also true that I hated you to death. That’s why I’ve been constantly thinking about how to act when I meet you.”
“….”
“But the moment I saw you bleeding, my mind just went blank, and I couldn’t think of anything else. No, all I could think about was that I had to save you. That one thought consumed me.”
“….”
“That’s when I realized it. Oh, this crazy woman. Even after all this, I still love him. I love him madly. This crazy woman is truly beyond redemption.”
A wry smile formed on her lips.
That smile felt more poignant than any cry.
Si-hyun found it hard to open his mouth.
He could sense the weight of the raw emotions she had openly expressed.
Moreover, being in a position to respond to that was seriously overwhelming.
However, there was no other choice.
“Thank you for telling me your true feelings.”
Si-hyun said it for now.
“I want to know your feelings now.”
Lin Xue’s gaze locked onto Si-hyun’s eyes.
“I… abandoned you. Because I realized I don’t love you.”
“That’s what I wanted to ask again. Is that truly the reason?”
“Yeah.”
“I see.”
Si-hyun took a moment to breathe and then spoke again.
“I currently have no feelings of love for you.”
“…Yeah, I figured as much.”
Lin Xue said, attempting to maintain her composure.
However, he could see her fingertips trembling slightly.
When she had said she wanted to know, she had already been prepared to endure whatever answer he might give.
And she had guessed what he would say.
Considering how their relationship had fallen apart, it was an expected answer.
But hearing it was still painfully difficult.
Excruciatingly so.
“Was that your answer?”
“Do you still… love her? El?”
“That… I’m not sure.”
Oh boy.
After letting that response slip, Si-hyun gently bit his lip.
He hadn’t intended to say it, but now he was starting to reconsider whether he had misspoken.
He felt Lin Xue’s expression shifting.
She averted her gaze, lost in thought for a moment.
Then, she looked back at Si-hyun directly.
“Exchange contact information.”
“Uh?”
“Let’s exchange contact numbers.”
“Oh, sure.”
Si-hyun and Lin Xue exchanged contact numbers.
It was a strange feeling.
When he first met her, he was just a low-ranking correctional officer and a low-tier Hunter.
Yet here he was, exchanging personal contact information with Hyris of all people.
Not to mention sharing this kind of intimate interaction…
Life is truly unpredictable.
“So the Korean government doesn’t know about you?”
After they finished exchanging contact information, Lin Xue asked.
“Right, considering my current state…”
“Keep hiding well and take care of yourself. I won’t say a word either. Given that you’ve spilled a lot of blood on the battlefield, there are bound to be plenty of people who hold grudges against you. If they find out your situation…”
“I’ll keep your advice in mind.”
“I’ll visit you once more before heading to China.”
“Do that.”
“I’m not giving up on you, you know?”
“Uh… yeah.”
“I’m glad. Take care.”
Lin Xue snapped her fingers.
Then, the surroundings began to change again.
“What… where is this?”
Si-hyun’s expression turned dumbfounded.
The words ‘Busan Station’ jumped out at him.
Busan?
Busan, really?
“What kind of play is this….”
Si-hyun muttered in disbelief.
◈ ◈ ◈
“Tsk, how could you hurt a woman’s heart like that? Bad person. Have a bit of hardship.”
Lin Xue muttered after downing a gulp of cold water.