Chapter 39: 453
[Chapter 129]
[Nothing is Impossible to Achieve]
It's a world where exchanges between countries have been cut off.
All countries had no choice but to become closed off due to the existence of monsters, and had to become closed off by the necessity of controlling their internal affairs.
In such a situation, how many players would actually transfer to other countries?
Even in Europe where politics and economy are integrated, it doesn't happen often though it's not rare.
In Europe, recruitment competitions happen occasionally because countries are next to each other.
Our country is different. Since there are virtually no adjacent countries, we wouldn't normally receive scouting offers...
It would be the same for any country.
In Korea, the Mana Management Agency always kept a watchful eye on scouting offers from other countries.
Players are a country's capital.
Therefore, players transferring overseas was no different from national capital outflow.
If handled poorly, it could lead to international disputes.
Especially in a world where exchanges between countries have been almost cut off, Korea, China and Japan had to maintain a special relationship.
It wasn't beneficial to either side.
"Oh, is that so? That's too bad."
Kaguya couldn't not know that.
Sure enough.
Though she showed signs of regret, she didn't try to persuade him further.
"But won't you at least tell me the reason for refusing?"
"Because harems are crazy."
Instead, she playfully asked a question.
Eun-ha answered bluntly.
Then Kaguya giggled saying it was interesting how he answered calmly without being flustered even towards her.
"Ah... it's funny. Right, as you said, harems aren't something people with normal thinking would do. It's hard enough to protect one family, how many families could you protect?"
As if speaking from experience.
Kaguya speaks self-deprecatingly.
Eun-ha just listened to her words without giving any particular answer.
"But besides harems? I said I could give you a reward you'd be satisfied with, but you weren't tempted at all? Do you have no greed..."
Soon Kaguya tilted her head.
She seemed to find it strange that Eun-ha didn't budge at all despite her offering such compensation.
Well, of course.
Yoo-jung and Baek-ryeon aren't in Japan.
The country Baek-ryeon wanted to protect wasn't Japan but Korea.
Eun-ha smiled bitterly.
The reason Eun-ha showed no interest in Kaguya's scouting offer was because there was no one he needed to protect in Japan.
He's not just seeking compensation unconditionally.
He just wants to protect.
Eun-ha's heart was constant.
"Because my family is in Korea."
"Hmm... That's true. Then I guess it can't be helped."
Eun-ha summarized his feelings and conveyed them to Kaguya.
Kaguya accepted it readily.
After that, she didn't show interest in scouting Eun-ha.
"But what were you two doing here? A date?"
"No."
"It's not."
Kaguya changed the topic.
In a teasing tone.
And Eun-ha and Seo-hyun's answers came out almost simultaneously.
It was an immediate answer.
The two looked at each other.
""...""
Faces that seemed somewhat displeased.
Han Seo-hyun was glaring, and Eun-ha responded with a blank gaze.
Kaguya didn't show signs of being upset seeing the two having a staring contest in front of her.
Rather, she giggled.
Her voice is too loud.
Soon the two turned their gazes away and stopped the staring contest.
"I hired Eun-ha as my exclusive while he's in Japan."
"Yes, that's right."
Han Seo-hyun explained the circumstances.
Only then did Eun-ha nod too.
Kaguya looked up at the two with a face that seemed to understand everything. Then she seemed lost in thought.
"Come to think of it... Since the exchange meeting was canceled, Korean academy students might not have anything else to do..."
She tilts her head back and forth like a metronome.
Soon she exclaimed "Ah!" and─.
"─Then an exchange meeting might be difficult, but since you came all the way to Japan, why don't you tour Yokohama Academy?"
"...What?"
It would be the same for any country.
Sometimes people in high positions forget how to consider those below.
Korean academy students who were each trying to spend their free time ended up touring Japan's academy due to Kaguya's sudden consideration.
☆
Mara Island didn't properly fulfill the conditions necessary for living.
Students had to endure inconveniences while staying at temporary restaurants.
Even so, there was nothing they could do about the poor environment.
In the end, the students got angry.
"Sigh, they should have done this from the start... How could they use the public bath themselves while completely excluding just us."
"I know right. It was really too much."
Meanwhile, circumstances were caught of instructors and players secretly using the public bath without the students knowing.
Pa-rang who ran around Mara Island discovered it.
To this, students led by Bae Su-bin and Jin Pa-rang rose up.
This time, even Mok Min-ho didn't try to stop them.
As a result, students were able to wage a holy war and gain the right to use the public bath.
"Wow... The warm water feels good."
"I know. It feels like fatigue is melting away."
Women's public bath.
Bae Su-bin and Jin Seo-na who had to make do with just showers until now showed relaxed faces after entering the water.
Su-bin who took off her glasses leaned back on a rock and tilted her head back, while Seo-na wiggled her triangular ears and stretched her body like an old person.
"Aren't you two too carefree? What if we get caught by the instructors? It's not even our usage time..."
Compared to the two, Jo A-ra was restless even after entering the water.
In fact, the three had snuck out of their lodgings during bedtime and were enjoying a bath in the middle of the night.
In other words, it was a rule violation.
It was understandable for her to be anxious.
"Don't worry. I may not look it, but I'm constantly deploying detection nets."
"Me too."
"So stop being like that and enjoy leisurely. Earlier there were so many people we were busy just washing."
Seo-na replied nonchalantly.
Su-bin was calm too.
In the end, A-ra soaked her body while feeling uneasy.
Before they knew it, time passed and she raised the corners of her mouth with a relaxed face.
"How is it? Isn't it the best?"
"Yes. It really is the best."
Seo-na asked.
A-ra agreed vigorously.
Seo-na cleared her throat and wiggled her triangular ears.
"Eun-ha told me once. Bathing while looking at the night view outside is indescribably good."
"Really... When you listen to that kid's stories, it seems like there's nothing he hasn't done."
Jo A-ra stuck out her tongue.
Sometimes when she heard stories about No Eun-ha from his group of friends, she found it amazing and also dumbfounding.
Then at some point, she started thinking they were enviable.
They seemed to be having fun.
...I wish I could.
I wish I could have experiences like that too.
Her life hadn't changed before or after entering the high academy.
She's taking care of her childhood friend On Tae-yang.
Though she doesn't have complaints, sometimes she wanted to have special experiences away from her diligent life.
It was then that Seo-na and Su-bin invited her, as if knowing her feelings.
"By the way, I wonder if Eun-ha and the others are doing well. They're in Japan, will they be okay?"
"It's No Eun-ha so he'll be fine. There's nothing as useless as worrying about that guy in the world. The kids with him should be doing well too."
Even today it was like that.
She who had no choice but to follow On Tae-yang who said he didn't want to be with Mok Min-ho and chose a different temporary restaurant had to suffer from Choi Ga-in's faction all day.
She couldn't help but be conscious of them.
Especially when Tae-yang wasn't around, they would directly rebuke her.
No matter what I say to Tae-yang, he just says I misunderstood...
Honestly, there were more than one or two things she was disappointed in On Tae-yang for during this comprehensive evaluation.
Nevertheless, Jo A-ra endured firmly.
No, if Seo-na hadn't come to find her, she would have kept enduring her anger.
A-ra was so grateful that Seo-na came to find her whenever there was a gap during the comprehensive evaluation and gave advice or made proposals like this.
"Ah, right. Su-bin, you're going to buy something from the souvenir shop on the way too right?"
"Of course. When we return to the academy, that No Eun-ha bastard will shamelessly demand something for sure."
"Right. There's no way he wouldn't... I think we'll all gather and have a party, so let's buy things without overlapping."
"Okay. Let's check when the time comes."
Seo-na and Su-bin continue talking about Eun-ha.
A-ra thought of On Tae-yang while listening to the two's conversation.
If it's Tae-yang... He'll probably not understand buying things saying he has no money or food is a waste of money.
Thinking that makes her depressed.
She sighed imagining the situation that would happen in a few days.
Though On Tae-yang says not to mind spending money because of him, how could a person not mind?
She also became conscious and refrained from opening her wallet.
But those belonging to No Eun-ha's group didn't hesitate to spend money.
It's not that they spent extravagantly either.
They knew how to spend moderately, and didn't hesitate when they needed to spend.
"Enjoy when you can enjoy. It's something Eun-ha often says."
Seo-na says as if remembering.
A-ra knew too.
It was something he often said when she occasionally chatted with No Eun-ha.
So she committed small deviations without On Tae-yang knowing.
Some deviations became habits.
Now I go to the convenience store in the middle of the night for no reason and look around wondering if there's anything to buy even though there's nothing to buy...
On Tae-yang would be shocked if he knew.
Inwardly, Jo A-ra also wanted to be caught by On Tae-yang once.
Just somehow, it seemed thrilling.
Letting him know this is the kind of person I am that you don't know.
It's all because of that No Eun-ha.
No Eun-ha made me like this.
Why did he make her who lived normally commit such deviations.
Jo A-ra blamed the innocent Eun-ha.
"By the way, will that No Eun-ha buy souvenirs for us?"
"Hmm... He probably won't not buy them. Ha-yang and Eun-woo and Min-ji are there too, so he'll probably buy them even if pushed by their nagging."
"If he only receives what we bought, let's just trample him."
"Yeah, good. I agree. If that happens, I really won't stay still either."
The conversation of the two planning how to torment No Eun-ha is fun.
Jo A-ra laughed along with them and carefully joined in.
"Um, can I come to the party you're talking about too?"
"Of course you can! We welcome you."
"Right. There's no reason you can't."
Seo-na welcomes her enthusiastically, and Su-bin answers as if it's obvious.
Jo A-ra's face brightens.
"But... He probably won't buy my share too right?"
On the other hand, she becomes gloomy.
Thinking No Eun-ha currently in Japan would surely only have people belonging to his group in mind.
It was then.
"That's strange? From what I heard from Eun-ha, didn't you receive a brooch too A-ra?"
"Huh? Oh... that's right?"
"Then Eun-ha will buy it. Eun-ha might forget everyone, but he never forgets just one person."
"R-really?"
"Well, No Eun-ha does do that."
Seo-na defended him, and Su-bin affirmed.
Jo A-ra fell for the two's words and gave an embarrassed smile.
She didn't know why her heart was fluttering over just one question like this.
"Ah, but doesn't he forget Lee Cheon-seo well these days too?"
"Come to think of it, where did that Cheon-seo guy go? Well, he's probably living well somewhere here. Eun-ha will be annoyed if he finds out that guy lost his brooch this time."
"Huh? He lost his brooch? Serves him right."
"I just heard about it too. Maybe he's not showing his face in front of us because his pride is hurt."
Meanwhile, Seo-na and Su-bin didn't show much interest in Lee Cheon-seo who wasn't here.
☆
A Yokohama Academy tour schedule was suddenly set.
The next day, Korean academy students had to move to Yokohama Academy following the instructors' guidance.
Fortunately, Kaguya prepared buses so they were spared the trouble of finding their way there.
"...Why is it so big?"
Yokohama Naka Ward.
The academy that seemed to occupy a third of the city with its back to the sea drew exclamations from students.
Eun-ha was the same.
He who got off the bus opened his mouth wide looking around the vast grounds.
"Well, it's an academy city. All academies in Japan are like this."
Of course, Han Seo-hyun's exclusive player had to stop for today.
But Han Seo-hyun volunteered as an interpreter and followed Eun-ha.
She who came to his side spoke as if it wasn't a big deal.
"Are you perhaps feeling inferior?"
"Who? Me?"
"Do I have anyone besides you?"
Just then she teased him.
Eun-ha snorted finding it ridiculous.
Though he was impressed by the vast grounds, he wasn't feeling inferior.
"And don't leave my side at all here."
Meanwhile she added.
Eun-ha nodded.
Of course, the moment they enter the grounds, they'll meet Japanese academy students as well as Korean academy students.
They're people who handle mana.
You never know what will happen.
He needed to escort her even for just in case.
Naturally, the exclusive player continued as Han Seo-hyun followed all the way to Yokohama Academy.
"Looks like we're going in now. Let's go."
"Okay."
Before they knew it, the front line moved.
Eun-ha guarded Han Seo-hyun's side in a form of escorting her.
He walks matching her steps.
While doing so, he looked around Yokohama Academy's grounds.
It really is big.
It must be good for training.
There are training grounds for each type.
The Korean academy located in Jongno-gu felt too small in comparison.
Of course, Eun-ha knew that just because facilities are good doesn't necessarily mean players' skills are good too.
It was then.
─Huh?
Eun-ha stopped walking.
Not long after, other students also stopped walking as if by agreement.
They sensed presences approaching from the front.
It was several people.
It seemed to be people who came out from Yokohama Academy for guidance.
Soon after, several people appeared before their eyes making noisy presences.
"Nice to meet you."
It seemed to be a mix of students and instructors.
Eun-ha watched the instructor standing at the front speak as a representative.
Just as he was trying to grasp information on those around starting with him─.
"─Seo-hyun-san!"
Someone among them suddenly shouted loudly.
Then a Japanese male student forgot about formalities and strode over.
What's with him?
The man is smiling brightly.
He's approaching with his arms spread as if
He's approaching with his arms spread as if trying to hug Han Seo-hyun.
She also seems to know him somehow.
Even so─.
"─Wh-what?"
As her exclusive player, dangers had to be blocked in advance.
Eun-ha stepped in front of Han Seo-hyun and blocked the male student's hug.
The male student frowned.
"Do you know him?"
"...Someone who occasionally provided security for me."
"Then why is he acting so friendly?"
"I know... I'll leave it to you. Do as you see fit."
Regardless, Eun-ha asked for her opinion.
Han Seo-hyun answered after a pause.
Then she told him, her exclusive player, to handle it as he sees fit.
Eun-ha nodded.
In that case, he had no intention of backing down.
"Get lost. I said get lost."
Eun-ha doesn't know Japanese.
So he waved his hand shooing him away while gesturing for him to leave.
The male student's face immediately crumpled.
Soon he opened his mouth.
"─Isn't that too harsh?"
"Huh? What. You can speak Korean?"
Korean flowed from the male student's mouth.
Eun-ha widened his eyes hearing the fluent Korean.
Soon Eun-ha raised the corners of his mouth.
"It's fortunate if we can communicate. Then hurry up and get lost. What are you trying to do without any manners? If you came out as a guide, just guide like a guide should instead of pretending to know her when you're not even that close..."
It's fortunate Korean works.
Eun-ha waved his hand again while expressing his opinion.
The male student made a dumbfounded expression after hearing the long speech.
As if saying he never expected to receive such treatment.
Soon, perhaps thinking his words wouldn't get through, he raised his voice and shouted to Han Seo-hyun behind:
"Seo-hyun-san! I've been worried until now! Are you alright!?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"That's good then! But who on earth is this man?"
Eun-ha frowned.
Because he couldn't understand what the two were saying.
But he could tell this one thing.
Just the situation that the male student was ignoring him.
"─My exclusive, mine."
"...!"
Meanwhile, Han Seo-hyun seemed to be thoroughly enjoying teasing the male student from behind.
Because the male student was making a ridiculous face right now.
"He's someone I'm interested in getting to know, got a problem?"
When she said something decisively, the male student's mouth fell open.
Eun-ha snickered.
He knows from experiencing it himself with Han Seo-hyun.
She's good at hitting people's sore spots.
Eun-ha also got excited and decided to add one more.
Probably no, surely she praised him while mocking the other guy.
So he puffed out his chest.
"You heard? This is the kind of person I am."
No Eun-ha boasted arrogantly.
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