I Picked Up the Hero and the Demon King

48 – The Past (1)

I hung up the phone, but why is it that the shame remains on my face?

I kept washing my face with the palm of my hand, and kept checking my eyes even though no one was looking around.

The door is tightly closed, so if there’s no commotion, no one will know what I’m doing.

Carefully, I sighed deeply so as not to leak outside.

“Haaa…”

What should I do?

What should I do?

My head is full of questions, but I can’t come to a conclusion.

However, shouldn’t we come to a conclusion somehow?

T-ring—!

“…Hmm?”

At that moment when you are about to sink into your thoughts.

When I checked the notification sound on my phone, I received a text message.

A message from Han Soo-jung.

And when I checked the contents, my embarrassment grew even more.

[See you next Sunday at 1pm in front of □□ Street! Of course, if you have enough time… It’s okay if you don’t come!]

I wonder if the problem was right in front of me.

I was nervous about not being able to spread the distance even if I wanted to. The message didn’t end there.

[By the way, it would be nice if you could come… ]

“… Ha.”

A short laugh came out.

How much shame did you have to endure to complete that sentence?

There was no way I didn’t know about Han Soo-jung’s personality that I had seen so far, so I vaguely guessed.

“…Now is not the time to think like this.”

I’m too shy right now so I can’t raise my face properly, so who should I worry about?

Things to think about now… What to do. What should i do

And it was time to think about what answer to give.

※

As soon as she calmed down her shyness and came out, she ran into Yoo Soo-ah right away.

But maybe it was because of what happened before?

I remember Yoo Seo-eun’s words, so when I looked up, Yoo Soo-ah hesitated for a moment, and then she stared at me.

“Ah…”

She seemed to have something to say, but only her lips moved, swallowing her words, Yushua turned her body away.

She caught on to that figure and wanted to ask why and what happened, but…

For some reason, I thought it wouldn’t work.

I think it would be good to keep this relationship for a while.

I had such a premonition that if I forcibly approached him without a proper understanding, it would only have the opposite effect.

So, I just watched her as she turned around, but Suah Yoo suddenly turned around and met her eyes with mine, and she whispered to her.

“…Older brother, can I ask you something?”

“Huh?”

“…If I hadn’t met my older brother like now… Would my answer have been different then?”

A serious question.

If we hadn’t met like now… Ira…

Those words reminded me of my previous life.

When war broke out and we met on the battlefield as allies.

We fought on the battlefield without knowing each other.

It was a relationship that deepened after having a few conversations.

I wonder if something would have changed if I had come and watched it now.

But since that was in the past, I know very well that it means nothing when you put it into the present.

I kept substituting, imagining, and assuming the current situation in my head.

So my answer came out.

“…Well, maybe.”

It was positive.

If only there was one more warrior who was by my side at that time.

If Han Su-jeong and Ho-yeon were the only ones left after they died.

At that time, if you had a crush on me and expressed it…

I gave an answer with meaningless assumptions that I probably would have accepted.

“…Is that so?”

Yoo Soo-ah smiled at my answer.

I didn’t know what he was thinking.

Something that is so tightly packed that even analogies are impossible.

I just smiled and nodded softly.

“But I have no intention of giving up. Brother, will you continue to be nervous?”

“Hmm. It’s a bit scary to say that, is it Sua?”

“Because those words were not empty words. It was a declaration of war… It will never end easily.”

Yusua once again entered her room with a smile on her lips.

The last words I said then.

Even if you eat me, I’m innocent… What did it mean?

I wasn’t sure if it contained a lot of meaning or if I should just look at it literally, but I could tell for sure.

There are two very complex problems that must be solved.

Relationship with Han Soo-jung.

And Yoo Soo-ah’s relationship.

The fortunate thing is that Yoo Seo-eun has recently become calmer and doesn’t approach me like before.

“…So many things have changed…”

I wonder if Yoo Seo-eun had feelings for me just like Yoo Soo-ah did.

If so… She wondered if she had folded her mind now.

Or did her attitude change because she had a different idea?

After she thought again and muttered softly, she decided to think about a relationship with Han Soo-jung.

※

Time passes and next weekend.

The time I promised with Han Soo-jung has arrived.

The day that could be called a first date.

No. Maybe the second one.

When we met before, I had a feeling that it was a little discontinued because of her sisters, but in a way, it was because the two of us met.

Thinking about that, she was worried that maybe she wasn’t following her this time too…

Fortunately, there was no sign of being followed.

What. If I had followed you, I was going to say it really sternly this time.

“After…”

I came out 30 minutes earlier than I promised, and I stood on the street and looked around.

Tension about what to do when it comes, not waiting for when it comes.

I’ve been thinking about it ever since, but I couldn’t come to a clear conclusion, and in the end, I was only able to come up with an ambiguous idea that I would know if I met him.

At the time I even thought it would be better if it was late and the appointment was canceled.

“…Senior?”

As soon as I thought about it, I heard a sadly familiar voice.

When I slowly turned my head, there was Han Soo-jung.

But at the moment… I thought it wasn’t Han Soo-jung.

Unlike before, this time he came out dressed up.

I was almost stunned by the outfit and appearance that would have fit me in any Miss Korea competition, but I made an effort to come to my senses and say hello.

“Uh… uh. Sujeong-ah. It’s been a while.”

“Ah. Um… That’s right.”

Awkward atmosphere.

Anyway, it felt strange because we had such conversations a few times and it ended without any proper progress.

If you have dated or liked anyone in your past life, it would be easier for you to understand or think about this situation.

In my previous life, I was a crazy guy who only cared about getting stronger…

The more I look back on how I really lived, the more questions I had.

“Um… that… you know, senpai.”

“Uh… Huh?”

As I was lost in thought, Sujeong Han hesitated and softly spoke to me.

Then I looked at it nervously for some reason and continued slowly.

“That… if what I said earlier bothered you… you. I hope you don’t mind too much.”

“… Huh?”

“That. That’s because I was a little too preoccupied at the time…”

Sujeong Han, who was distracted as if talking gibberish, was embarrassed and suddenly cut off his words.

Then he turned around and lowered his head and muttered inaudibly.

Suddenly, he banged his head! He picked up and slapped his cheek hard.

“Whoa! Ha! Umm! Come to your senses!”

I couldn’t say anything at that appearance and just stared at it.

But it was fortunate.

When I turned around and looked at me, I was back to the old Han Soo-jeong.

“Ah. Oh, you looked so rude. I’m sorry, senior.”

“Huh? No… well. It could be.”

“Whoops. As expected, seniors are very considerate.”

He looked pretty when he smiled with an eye smile.

It was not an illusion.

As a person who had never seen her dressed up before, I could definitely say that Han Soo-jung is pretty.

… But I don’t know why you say you have a crush on me when you’re so pretty.

“Um. By the way… Why did you ask me to meet you here?”

“Ah. That’s it. There’s a lot to do here.”

“What to do?”

“Yes. At first glance, there are not many people, right?”

There were definitely a lot of people.

While waiting.

And during the meeting, I was distracted and couldn’t pay attention.

“Yes. There are many. Is this a popular spot?”

“That’s right. A perfect place for a date today, isn’t it?”

“Huh? Having a date?”

I looked at Han Soo-jung, puzzled by the unfamiliar word.

Then she pouted her lips a little and put on a grim expression.

“What? Did you forget what I said before?”

“Uh… um… no, that’s not…”

Her head was spinning.

What did you say before?

Dating… What do you think you said?

I think he said he had a crush on me… Uh… hmm…

“Chi…”

As she stared blankly at me, Sujeong Han approached me before I knew it.

Then she suddenly crossed her arms and started leading me.

“Let’s go! It’s like standing still!”

“Uh… Huh?”

That’s how I started to spend a hectic day being dragged around the Hansujeong.

The beginning was a movie theater.

It’s not a melodrama, it’s an action movie.

I’ve been wanting to see a sequel to a popular series lately.

After that, the game room was next.

Noisily, many people gathered and various games were placed.

We play team play games together, shoot, play basketball…

I was especially impressed with the doll picking, and I really liked it when I picked out the doll I wanted.

After that, I went around and enjoyed it repeatedly.

As the sun went down and the time for dinner approached, Sujeong Han said.

“There’s a place I’ve recognized. Let’s go there.”

The place I followed those words… It was a very upscale restaurant.

Eating in a place like this is quite burdensome, so I said let’s go somewhere else.

“Don’t you know I’m the daughter of a rich family? Senior. Don’t worry and go!”

On the contrary, he vigorously pulled my arm and came inside.

I was able to take a breather only after I finished ordering after sitting at a window seat with a nice view.

“Whoa… You’ve been busy all day.”

“Hey, senpai. Are you tired?”

“A little bit. You seem lively?”

To my question, Han Soo-jung answered with a bright smile.

“hehehe. I’m having fun so I don’t get tired~”

“He has good stamina. He’s like a hero on the field.”

“Senpai like that was also a hero.”

“I’m retired. Now I’m just one of the academy applicants.”

“Is that so? Well, seniors are always welcome to come back, so think about reinstatement.”

I shook my head at those words and replied with a smile.

“It’s okay. I have no intention of going back and promoting like I used to.”

“Uhm~ Actually, in the past, the sunbaenim really jumped a lot.”

“That’s right. In the past, I really… uh huh… I don’t know how I lived.”

After joining the Hero Association at the age of 20, I worked hard to death.

I trained to become stronger and gained experience while fighting villains.

When others rest, when others play, when others sleep.

I was awake and training.

I’ve made countless achievements by catching villains… When I looked back, I was a half dog.

Even when I go on a strategy with my teammates, sometimes I’m forced to go to a dinner party, when I go out to support, or during mealtimes or breaks.

I met many people, and many people talked to me, but I never treated anyone kindly.

… Ah. Excluding Han Soo-jung and Ho-yeon hyung.

But Hoyeon-hyung is like that… If you think about it, the relationship with Han Soo-jung at first was not very good.

That’s why I was curious.

Why did you have such a crush on me?

I didn’t have a crush on me before, and even if I developed a crush after I changed, I needed to know.

“So I’m curious… Sujeong Han. I want to ask you something.”

“What is it?”

“…It might be a bit awkward, but is it okay?”

Then, Han Soo-jung smiled softly as if it was okay and nodded his head.

“Yes.”

After taking a few deep breaths at those words.

I asked Han Soo-jung slowly.

“Why do you like me?”

“…What is it. That.”

“It’s just… A guy like me isn’t very nice… I don’t know why he likes me.”

Then Han Soo-jung stared at me and asked.

“Um… Are you curious since when did you start liking it?”

“…That’s how it is. Even if you’ve developed a crush on him since he changed… I want to hear it.”

What thoughts came to your mind when you said that?

Han Soo-jung, who had dim eyes, looked at me intently.

Thinking, laughing, thinking.

She showed various expressions, and eventually Han Soo-jung answered in a low voice.

“…Senior. Three years ago. Do you remember?”