NOVEL NEXT Chapter 135
Chapter 135
‘Nope.’
There was no need to stoop to their level and play along. It wasn’t exactly the carefree days of our school years anymore.
Just let it slide.
“Right now, it doesn’t matter, does it?”
Si-hyun casually replied.
For a moment, I caught a glimpse of a smug smile on Woong-jae’s face, but I chose to ignore it.
“Oh, really? That’s surprising. You’re a Section Chief, after all. You must get plenty of introductions around you.”
“Well, not really… I’m not dissatisfied with my current lifestyle, so I’m not in any rush. I’m only in my mid-thirties, so I’m just taking my time to think it over.”
“I see. These days, there are plenty of things to enjoy alone, so I can understand that.”
Woong-jae smiled as he poured the drink for Si-hyun for the first time.
‘So easy to read. Too easy.’
Si-hyun muttered to himself, finding it amusing.
Not that he had any great malice behind his actions; it was just behavior stemming from his reluctance to lose and sensitivity about his self-esteem.
I knew he had been like this since college.
It was bothersome, but I let it go, thinking he was just a different kind of person.
Keeping my distance was sufficient.
Si-hyun poured a drink into Woong-jae’s empty glass.
After a customary toast, Woong-jae spoke up again.
“By the way, Si-hyun, as a friend, I want to tell you this.”
“What is it?”
“The older you get, the harder it is to find decent women. It’d be lucky to meet someone in their twenties, but it’s tough to meet women in their late thirties, right?”
“That’s true.”
Si-hyun nodded in agreement without denying it.
Seeing that, Woong-jae seemed to gain more momentum and began to elaborate passionately.
“Therefore, you should be dating women in their thirties… But, just to clarify, I’m not criticizing older women as a whole. What I’m saying is a matter of probability. It’s a simple mathematical probability.”
Si-hyun looked at Woong-jae as if to encourage him to continue.
Woong-jae continued, “Typically, women who haven’t married by this age have some kind of flaw. The good ones have already settled down and wouldn’t remain unmarried at this age.”
“Hey, man. Are you calling us weirdos?”
Jong-hyuk interjected.
“What do you mean by that?”
Woong-jae looked at Jong-hyuk, confused.
“It means being single at this age is strange!”
“No, I was referring to women.”
“What’s the difference between women and men?”
“There is definitely a difference.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
“Hey, hey! We’re the weird ones, so just drink.”
Seung-min cut in to stop Jong-hyuk.
Jong-hyuk looked at Seung-min with disbelief.
“Why are you being weird about it too?”
“Hehe, if you’re feeling wronged, go find a girl tomorrow.”
Seung-min smirked like he had just attained enlightenment and gulped down his drink.
‘Good grief…’
Si-hyun forced a smile.
The atmosphere had turned awkward.
All because the topic of women came up.
If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have brought up what happened at the café.
“I think you’ve gone too far, Woong-jae. There are women who have their reasons for being single at this age, and some might not be in the mindset to date yet. Everyone has their own reasons. It’s not right to make such blanket statements.”
Si-hyun spoke up.
Hearing that, Woong-jae had a hard time containing his laughter.
“Wow, you really see the world with rose-colored glasses.”
Just as Si-hyun was about to respond, the vibration of his phone caught his attention.
The name displayed on the phone was not a person’s name.
– Strange Great Sorceress.
Woong-jae, glancing at that, wore an expression that was hard to describe.
What the heck?
Why would someone register me with such a bizarre title?
…What is this, some kind of otaku?
Could it be… that’s why until now?
With a look like he might figure something out, Woong-jae fell deep into thought.
Now that I think about it, I think I’ve heard stories about otakus enjoying their own roleplay scenarios on the news.
“I’ll take a quick call.”
Si-hyun stood up and stepped outside the pub.
◈ ◈ ◈
“Great Sorceress, what’s up?”
– I told you not to call me that weird name.
The voice of Lin Xue came through the phone.
“Why not? It fits.”
– Whether it fits or not, hearing that from you feels strange. It makes me feel like I’m being teased.
“Got it. I’ll try to hold back.”
Si-hyun replied with a smirk.
Three years isn’t a short amount of time.
During that time, I’ve experienced her personality enough to have a good grasp of it.
At first, it was honestly awkward and uncomfortable, but that was a phase.
As I got more used to it, we started treating each other like close friends.
We bickered and joked around.
Sometimes I felt I shouldn’t be like this, but there were no clear answers, and now, I just went with the flow.
At a point where I couldn’t reveal my feelings towards Po-ahim, I had already lost the chance.
At this point, it seemed best to tell her later, once I regained my strength, that I couldn’t speak about Po-ahim because I actually felt like I was going to die.
And I had discovered one thing during that time.
It was what I heard from the Sword Master’s spirit.
The magic inscribed in Acureruts couldn’t be used by just anyone.
Hyris had done the final touches using the Sword Master’s blood, making it usable only by him.
The reason I, an Awakened Being, was able to use it freely was that the heart of the Sword Master resided within Po-ahim.
So, Hyris, who was unaware of that fact, could only misunderstand me as the Sword Master.
She had clearly witnessed me using Hellfire in the Detention Center with her own eyes.
“So, why did you call?”
Si-hyun continued the conversation.
– Are you not coming to China for training?
“Well, I can’t say for sure. I’ll let you know in advance when it’s scheduled.”
– Got it. By the way…
“Yeah?”
– I’m in Korea.
Si-hyun couldn’t help but chuckle in disbelief.
“…How do you come to Korea so often? Aren’t you supposed to be working? The money you’re making must be insane. The taxes of the Chinese people are melting away.”
– I work, you know. I work really hard.
“Uh-huh….”
– Anyway, that’s not for you to worry about. Where are you now? You weren’t home.
She actually came all the way to my house again.
I remembered the shock I felt when I unexpectedly saw her at home after getting off work.
“I’m at an Alumni Gathering.”
– Alumni Gathering? Where’s that?
“Um, it’s around Ingyedong in Suwon….”
Si-hyun began explaining the location simply.
If I didn’t explain, she would keep calling and bugging me.
If I ignored her call, I would surely hear about it later.
– Alright, got it. You said it was an Alumni Gathering? I’ll give you a little motivation to perk you up.
“What?”
– What’s with you? I’m a woman with that much sense. I’m not clueless.
“….”
What kind of big entrance is she planning?
At this rate, I should hope the gathering breaks up before she arrives.
– I’ll see you later.
She hung up the phone.
◈ ◈ ◈
Returning to the pub and sitting down, I felt Woong-jae’s peculiar gaze on me.
It was a type of gaze I hadn’t felt since coming here today.
That look clearly seemed pitying.
‘What’s up with him all of a sudden?’
Si-hyun wore an expression of total confusion.
And how could he not? He had barely just received a phone call and returned, yet now he was being looked at like that.
“Drink up and head out.”
Woong-jae patted his left arm.
“Uh, yeah. You too.”
“Si-hyun.”
“What?”
“Enjoy your hobbies.”
“….”
What kind of weird comment is that now?
Si-hyun stared at Woong-jae in disbelief, who suddenly lowered his head and slyly smiled.
It was a victorious smile.
In utter disbelief, Si-hyun decided to ignore Woong-jae.
He turned to Jong-hyuk and Seung-min seated beside him.
“Hey, let’s have a drink.”
◈ ◈ ◈
“Let’s go for a second round.”
As we were stepping out after breaking up the Alumni Gathering, Jong-hyuk held up two fingers.
“No more drinks for me.”
Si-hyun waved his hand.
He didn’t really like drinking.
If not for the gathering, he wouldn’t have even drunk this much.
“Hey, is it necessary to drink more? Let’s go to karaoke instead.”
“Um….”
Si-hyun looked a bit torn.
Since Lin Xue was coming, he thought he would wait for her here.
But he also wanted to go to karaoke with his friends after a long time.
Should he call her?
As he pondered, Jong-hyuk spoke as if there was no need for an answer.
“Forget it. You’re going, no exceptions, okay?”
Jong-hyuk’s gaze turned to Seung-min.
“What about you?”
“I’m definitely in.”
“Cool, and you?”
Jong-hyuk’s question now turned to Woong-jae.
“You guys have fun. I called for a taxi earlier. It should be here in 10 minutes.”
Woong-jae waved his hand with a smile on his face.
Unlike at the beginning, he seemed to be in a good mood halfway through the drinking session.
The others didn’t know the reason, but at least the gathering atmosphere had brightened, so it was a good thing.
“Alright, I got it.”
Jong-hyuk waved a hand signaling them to go.
Woong-jae subtly glanced at the luxury sedan parked nearby.
It was a car worth over 60 million won.
It was somewhat of a stretch for someone on a public servant’s salary as a D-rank Hunter, but his family was wealthy enough to assist him in purchasing it.
Just as he was about to turn the key with a look on his face that showed off pride to Si-hyun.
Vroom!
The loud sound of the engine reverberated.
Along with that, a white Ferrari drove into the area where the pub was located.
Coincidentally, that Ferrari parked adjacent to Woong-jae’s car.
‘Damn it.’
As a car enthusiast, Woong-jae recognized that it was one of the finer models among Ferraris.
It likely cost over 500 million won.
‘What kind of rich kid drives a car like that?’
He cursed inwardly and slyly put the key back into his pocket.
His own car felt too shabby for a subtle bragging match.
Curious eyes of nearby alumni and people fell upon the sporty car, which was a rare sight even in Korea, where foreign cars were rampant.
Si-hyun gazed at the white Ferrari.
But unlike the other alumni, his expression was one of apprehension.
Soon, the door of the Ferrari opened upward, and to everyone’s surprise, it was not a man who emerged, but a woman.
It was commonly assumed that a sports car would be driven by a man, so people stared at the woman in astonishment.
She was tall and slender, like a model.
Wearing a striking red dress, her curves were perfectly accentuated by the tight fabric.
The men gulped at the sight—not just for her figure.
Her fair skin complemented her striking features, giving her a small but beautiful face.
Her cat-like eyes, long with a slight upward tilt, were alluring and charming.
She exuded a unique appeal that felt like she was crafted in the hands of a master surgeon.
“Wow, damn… she’s gorgeous.”
Jong-hyuk, standing next to Si-hyun, mumbled.
“Isn’t she a celebrity?”
Seung-min stared at the woman, captivated.
She was indeed stunning enough to warrant such a thought.
Woong-jae also stared at her, spellbound.
“Wow, if I could date a girl like that for just one day, I’d have no other wishes.”
I heard someone among the alumni mutter that.
All the nearby men were gazing at her, as if they had made a vow together.
Only Si-hyun stood with a somewhat sour expression.
The woman’s gaze shifted towards them.
“Hey, hey, she’s looking this way?”
“What’s going on? What’s going on?”
Jong-hyuk and Seung-min whispered.
Indeed, she was looking right at them.
With a playful smile, she pointed a finger at Si-hyun.
Then, winking with one eye, she sweetly said, “What’s up, darling? Hop in.”