Chapter 145

Chapter 145

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“Um, uh...”

An oppressive silence flows.

Kang Juyeon, who I ran into suddenly in the mixed bath.

After seeing her, my pupils lost their way.

Although we covered our bodies with large towels, still, these are hot spring outfits.

My upper body was completely exposed, and Kang Juyeon’s slim, curvaceous figure caught my eye.

Splash, splash –

Feeling embarrassed, I suddenly stood up.

I felt like I shouldn’t stay like this.

“Ah, uh... I, I’m done bathing already?”

...So you wanna use it alone?

It was a question implying that meaning.

For some reason, I couldn’t express my thoughts as cleanly and clearly as usual.

That’s not all.

My gaze was still turned to the sky, not looking at Kang Juyeon, and I was desperately holding my towel around my waist, worried that it might slip down.

‘Am I crazy?’

It was a truly uncharacteristic appearance.

I want to tear at this idiot’s head.

My extreme embarrassment was felt in my words and actions.

Somehow, the current situation must have been quite embarrassing.

“Kang Juyeon...”

“...It’s okay.”

“Huh?”

Just as I was about to call out to her again since she didn’t answer.

An unexpected response came from Kang Juyeon.

And thump, thump –

She slowly approached the bath.

Although it doesn’t look like her gaze is turned to the air, I could feel her coming this way from just the sound.

And....

Splash –

“Hup -.”

I heard the sound of her stepping into the bath.

At that, I unconsciously held my breath for a moment.

I could feel Kang Juyeon’s presence right next to me, and the warmth of the bath kept stabbing me all over, giving me a strange feeling.

And once again.

Kang Juyeon spoke.

“...It’s okay.”

No, crazy.

What do you mean it’s okay over and over?

My face flushes at her words with no object.

But Kang Juyeon added to her words, resolving the misunderstanding.

“...Anyway, I’ll be leaving soon. And tomorrow, we have to talk about where to investigate...”

“Ah.”

I immediately nodded at her persuasive words.

Come to think of it, that’s right.

Since tomorrow I have to team up with Kang Juyeon to investigate, we’ll also need time to discuss it, and also, there’s no need to avoid the mixed bath that was made for us to use together...

Splash – splash –

Just as my head was getting completely complicated.

Kang Juyeon made splashing sounds as she leaned back against the large rock.

Seeing her relaxed appearance, my tension also loosened.

‘What am I thinking?’

Truthfully, although it’s a bit embarrassing, it wasn’t a situation where anything big would happen.

We just have to use the mixed bath together, talk, and...

Naturally leave.

Feeling silly for the fuss I made to myself, I went and sat next to Kang Juyeon.

Splash –

“Where do you think we should start investigating tomorrow?”

“...Huh?”

But this time, Kang Juyeon’s voice shook.

I tilted my head and asked.

On the contrary, hearing these talks from Kang Juyeon was refreshing and fun.

Splash – splash –

When the conversation ended and it became quiet, I could always hear the sound of water.

In that pleasant silence, I quietly spoke.

“Kang Juyeon.”

“Yeah.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“...Yeah.”

As Kang Juyeon nodded, I asked without hesitation.

“Why did you help me back then?”

“...Back then?”

“Yeah. The first time we went to clear the underground dungeon together. We didn’t know each other at all then.”

In the first semester after entering the academy.

The first time I cleared the academy’s underground dungeon.

Truthfully, without Kang Juyeon and Moon Ga-eun’s help then, clearing the dungeon would have been nearly impossible with my abilities and rune level.

With the dungeon’s difficulty at the time beyond what I could handle with my stats and runes, I would have sorely lacked the deal to take down the monsters without the firepower the two showed, after all.

The dungeon clear rewards, related growth paths, new runes...

From that clear, I was able to achieve explosive growth.

But I had been curious all along.

About her reason for accepting my out-of-the-blue proposal, when Kang Juyeon and I hadn’t even been acquainted.

Only now, after getting quite close with her and becoming much more comfortable...

Could I ask that question?

“You just... stood out.”

“Stood out?”

“Yeah.”

And to my question.

Kang Juyeon answered without hesitating much.

“On the day of the entrance exam... you stood out the most. Your skills were lacking but you were calm, and though you fought for a long time and grew tired, you had perseverance.”

Splash –

Kang Juyeon made an awkward splash sound and continued.

“So the person who stood out approached first... That’s why I went along without hesitating, I think.

The uncharacteristically long sentence.

But I could feel the sincerity in her words, so I nodded.

“I see.”

Until now...

I think I had a kind of preconception about Kang Juyeon.

A major character from the original work, female lead, someone I’d seen for a long time.

I had always judged her with my own standards, blindly believing the paper information I knew about her.

“....”

But the Kang Juyeon I met face-to-face was a much more human person than I thought.

I only knew she was cold and curt, but she had affection and warmth inside.

I only knew she was always strong and confident, but she had a vulnerable side in her heart.

Hunting together, living clan life together, our relationship continuing until now when we’re in the same circle...

Over time seeing her and growing close, the biases I had about Kang Juyeon have peeled away a lot from within me, I feel.

So...

“...Jae-hyun.”

“Huh?”

“I... took some time to call you by name... But I wanted you to call me like that from now on....”

So at this appearance of Kang Juyeon, unable to finish her words.

At these words she was delivering, what she was trying to say, the sincerity she felt...

I could feel it all now.

Splash –

Kang Juyeon’s awkward splash sounded again as she lowered her head.

I smiled and replied.

“Sure, Juyeon.”

The end of today.

Although we unexpectedly met in the mixed bath...

I somehow felt much closer to her.

Tl/n: I am not dropping the novel, this is a hobby and I do not expect to make funds on this but there is literally only one supporter for this novel and the cost of the site and editor per month cost more than what 1 supporter can do. Thanks to them though, I can support site and this novel for a while and that is why the chapters per week will be reducing and that alone is not enough cause cost of site.

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