I Have a Fiancee in a Parallel World

8 – I Don’t Like Anything Too Boring Either

High School 2nd Year

It was the first day back to school after the summer vacation ended.

Jihoon, who had spent the entire summer break delivering heavy water bottles to replenish his bank account, was now making his way back to school. His steps were light.

Studying wasn’t really his thing, and he didn’t have many friends to hang out with at school. But during the summer, working and saving money became a necessity.

Although he had converted the lump sum deposit into a monthly rental deposit, he still needed to work during the vacation to build up his balance when considering monthly rent and living expenses.

But during the school semester, he could save and save, focusing solely on school life without having to work part-time.

Of course, he didn’t really want to study or go to college. He just wanted to graduate from high school, like everyone else.

There was a way to drop out and work while preparing for the GED exam, but Jihoon wanted to follow the path that most people tread at least until high school.

He knew that many things he would have to give up were waiting for him in the future, but just this once, he had the stubborn determination to spend his high school life like everyone else, at least until graduation.

Sitting comfortably to study and socializing with friends were things he could only do this time. For Jihoon, who would have to jump into the battle of life right after graduation, these two years could be his last peaceful routine.

However, even this ordinary high school life couldn’t go as Jihoon had hoped.

“Thud.”

Jihoon, who had been walking well, suddenly stumbled forward.

“Ugh… ugh.”

Without even turning around, Jihoon could tell what had happened due to the painful groans.

“Kang Jihoon~ Did you miss your big brother during the vacation? You little brat, kekeke.”

As soon as Jihoon’s figure was seen in the distance, Seong Changhoon rushed over and kicked him in the rear.

“Oh, my back! What’s this? Annoying.”

Jinhee’s bag, which had been on Jihoon’s back, lay on the ground, covered in dirt.

Jihoon had his own bag on his back and was carrying Jinhee’s bag in front of him on his way to school.

“Ah… Jin… Jinhee, I’m sorry.”

“Even though Changhoon fell to the ground in one go with a flying kick, Jihun was more concerned about Jinhee’s crumpled expression, not knowing what to do like a fool.

“What’s that? Is that your bag? It’s so dirty now. What should I do to make up for it?”

“Oh… no, Changhoon, it’s okay, hehehe… Did you come this way too?”

Even though Changhoon’s apology was not much of an apology, Jinhee continued to sulk.

In front of both of them, Jihun was still lying on the ground.

Changhoon threw a casual response at Jinhee and then approached Jihun.

“Hey, during the break, you worked your ass off, huh? If you made some money, you should buy cigarettes for me and stuff like that. This guy…”

While continuously hitting the back of Jihun, who was still groaning on the ground, Changhoon spoke.

“It’s not for living expenses… Sorry.”

Jihun was foolishly apologizing, wrapping his head with his arms to protect it from Changhoon’s palm.

“Anyway, this beggar can say all the (expletive) he wants, but if you skip a meal, everyone will be happy, you (expletive).”

Changhoon, whose household was quite wealthy, didn’t lack money for cigarettes. He was simply releasing the stress he hadn’t been able to release for the past two months by tormenting Jihun.

Jihun had started to be harassed by Changhoon’s gang from the first semester. It started when Jinhee spread the rumor that Jihun had a crush on Seol Yoojeong. For some reason, from that time, Changhoon began to torment Jihun, catching any excuse to do so.

Since Jihun’s parents were both absent, and there was no one to protect him, Changhoon’s harassment became more overt once he learned this. And at some point, it became too bothersome to come up with different excuses, so one repetitive pattern continued.

When Changhoon tried to extort money from Jihun, and Jihun refused, Changhoon’s physical assault would begin.

“Damn frustrating guy. If you don’t have money, why do you go to school? If you’re that much of a beggar, drop out and get a job.”

Changhoon, his hand hurting from hitting so much, soon left Jihun behind and headed back to school.

“Hey, give me the bag now. What will you do about this getting all dirty for real? Annoying.”

Now that Jihun had just managed to stand up with great effort and was brushing off the dirt and dust on her bag, Jinhee snatched it away from him and ran hard in the direction Changhoon was heading.

***

“Changhoon… yeah, I did let life get the best of me, and I almost forgot about you.”

“What are you saying, you (expletive)? Are you delusional? Forgot? Did the guy who got beaten up until last year forget everything?”

Changhoon, who had devoured his hotdog, was now in a very bad mood.

Because Kang Jihun, that (expletive), not only avoided his attacks but was also looking at him with wide-open eyes.

“Wow, you really grew up, huh? You’re looking me right in the eyes?”

Until last year, Jihoon had been so beaten down that he would sneak around, trying to avoid attention.

Since entering the academy, they hadn’t crossed paths much due to the significant class difference.

However, it was truly impossible to see someone standing confidently before him in less than a year.

“Hey, just because you go to the academy, you’ve become a damn Hunter? And that’s an 11th-class theme, looking all cocky like that?”

Despite Changhoon’s continuous mocking, Jihoon was smiling while talking to Jiinhee next to him.

It seemed like a continuation of the strange statement he had uttered a while ago.

What, am I supposed to be by your side when you’re in pain? Take care of you? What is he talking about…

“-So, pick her up by the leg he just cut, and take her to a Healing-type Hunter. And when she’s whining while getting treatment, hold her hand, and right there, you become lovers instantly.”

The one with the puzzled expression was not just Changhoon.

Jiinhee, who was listening to his words next to Jihoon, was equally clueless about what he was saying.

Their gazes met shortly after. They could tell from each other’s eyes that they were thinking the same thing.

“What is this guy saying?”

“What is this guy saying?”

Their thoughts overlapped at that very moment.

Splat!

Changhoon’s head lowered, and his gaze immediately fell on the hole in his stomach.

From the hole in his stomach, blood started pouring out belatedly.

“Ugh… What the hell is this… an ice gun?”

Changhoon, in excruciating agony, managed to groan but expressed an even greater sense of wonderment than pain.

“Ice gun? Mine’s just a bullet. I said I can control my power, but I didn’t know it could pierce my belly.”

Changhoon quickly raised his right hand and applied his mana to the bleeding area on his stomach.

Immediately, the injured area froze and the bleeding stopped.

C-rank Hunter Seong Changhoon.

As an Ice Magic Hunter, he had received practical combat training of a level that could be used at any time at the academy.

The attack he had sent flying at Jihoon while she was eating a hot dog was his pride and joy, the Ice Gun, a skill of the Ice Magic category.

Using gathered mana to create a condensed ice projectile and shooting it out was the skill of the Ice Gun.

However, Changhoon currently mistook his own skill, the Ice Gun, for having pierced his own stomach.

“Heeuk… Heeook… What are you? You son of a b***h.”

After quickly stopping the bleeding and regaining his composure, Changhoon glared at Jihoon.

As a C-rank Hunter who had received practical training at the 6th class of the academy and completed missions to subdue various Gates, Changhoon was remarkably composed.

Barely holding on in the ship he had painstakingly managed to secure, a dreadful pain coursed through Changhun, but he managed to endure it somehow.

“Hey, how did you use the Ice Gun?”

“Ice Gun? You mean my Tangeegong. Anyway, it’s nice to see you. We exchanged greetings with this, right?”

Gritting his teeth in pain, Changhun took a combat stance that made it easier for him to use his magic skills and muttered softly.

“Whether it’s Tangeegong or whatever, what the hell have you done, you bastard? Do you really want to die?”

“You’re the one with a hole in your belly. Why should I die?”

Jihun’s face was full of mischief.

Looking at him, Changhun felt a massive anger boiling up, enough to make him forget the pain.

“Have you… awoken? You bastard.”

“Hotdog for the boss!”

Whether Changhun’s words went unheard or not, Jihun shouted towards the food truck, confirming whether the boss heard his words before turning to Changhun again.

“You son of a b*tch! Can’t you hear me? Have you awakened?”

“No.”

“Well… then, what the hell is this?”

“Right leg. I’m going to cut it. I hope you try to stop me. I don’t like it being too easy.”

Jihun’s expression suddenly became serious.

As his words left his lips and reached Changhun’s ears, Jihun’s silhouette disappeared from sight in the blink of an eye.