Chapter 43

I shook Yumina, who was asleep at the classroom when I arrived.

“Since it’s morning, why are you sleeping? Wake up.”

“Ugh…”

Yumina curled her body restlessly.

“I’m sleepy. Don’t wake me up.”

“But wake up. Do you know what happened earlier? When I was coming to school, Do Yugeon told me to wake you up.”

Yumina slowly rose her body in a half-dream state.

“When you’re at school, don’t sleep.”

“I was up all night…”

“With your boyfriend?”

“I’ve sorted everything with my boyfriends. Since I’ve also moved on to the second year, I was up all night working.”

Working at midnight? Hmm, I guess you’ll take care of it yourself.

“That’s right. But, while I was coming to school earlier, Do Yugeon asked me if I had something hidden from him. He says he’s not hiding anything.”

“I lost the thread. What was he hiding?”

“Ah, yeah. I should’ve mentioned that first. When Do Yugeon didn’t contact me during the school suspension, I went to his house but we happened to meet on the way.”

“So, it wasn’t really a coincidence.”

“Anyway, he said he had a different appointment. But when I saw it, it felt suspicious, so I secretly followed him.”

“You mean you stalked him? Hmm…”

“That, well, anyway.”

I gave a rough explanation of what happened then.

“The Rift exploration?”

Yumina seemed to be deep in thought.

“Yeah. I don’t know why he’s doing such dangerous things. Is he short on allowance? If that’s so, he can just tell me.”

“I understand it. He does this because he likes it.”

“What are you talking about? What does that have to do with anything?”

“Just confessing would be simpler, but it’s kind of unnecessary.”

“He doesn’t love me in the first place.”

“There’s no way! Your face turns red when you’re beside him, right? So, it fits!”

Yumina said while gesturing. She suddenly got excited and made a scene.

“That’s your experience, but the world feels different to me.”

Her reaction was strange. Hmm, she doesn’t understand. How should I explain it? Let her experience it herself?

I combed my hair, slightly smiled, and met Yumina’s eyes. While staring silently at each other, Yumina averted her eyes and stumbled over her words.

“Why, why?”

Her face was red.

“Look, everyone’s like this. You become this way just by showing a little interest. You’re deluding yourself.”

“No, it’s…”

Yumina looked extremely wronged.

“Ah, that’s right. It could be a case of mistaken feelings, right? Do Yugeon has no experience with love, so he might be mistaken too.”

“That’s because you’re overcomplicating love. Even mistaken feelings are feelings.”

A good idea came to me.

“You’re not currently dating anyone, right? So, would you like to try dating Do Yugeon for a bit? If it’s just for a little while, I can permit it.”

“Hey, you’re saying something absurd again!”

She was startled. Her voice was loud enough to draw attention from inside and outside the classroom. When I glanced around the classroom, the gazes disappeared.

“Why? Earlier, you said Do Yugeon is a decent partner among the many boys, didn’t you?”

“You shouldn’t interpret that literally!”

Yumina grabbed my shoulder and shook me. Ah, why are you doing this?

“My head is shaking.”

“Yes, it is! Miss, think! Think!”

“What do you want me to do?”

For now, I should try to talk some sense into Do Yugeon.

—

“So, you press the button and then release it at the right moment, and the arrow hits, right?”

Following the instructions, I firmly pressed the button and released it when the target came into view. An arrow whizzed through and hit the target. The arrow struck the ground.

“Is this not working?”

“Stop rushing me. Why is this level design like this?”

I went to the settings to adjust the sensitivity and tried again. The target quickly passed, but this time it worked.

“This time I couldn’t even shoot.”

“Just wait.”

As the next target came, I shot the arrow. The target accelerated and avoided the arrow. Not this! My hands holding the gamepad trembled.

“If this keeps up, the game can’t continue.”

“No, they made this game a disaster. Let’s do something else.”

The kid seemed to agree with a casual nod and turned off the game by flicking his head. Ugh, it makes me even angrier.

“You also only hit once, yet you’re boasting. Isn’t that embarrassing?”

“I wasn’t boasting, but there’s a big difference between one hit and none.”

“Then try to hit it again.”

“The game is already off.”

“Then turn it back on.”

“I thought this game was boring.”

I kindly turned the game back on with the gamepad. Do Yugeon shook his head and shot the target. The target slowed down and avoided the arrow, but because it slowed, the arrow that had missed earlier ended up hitting it. Why?

“Oh.”

Do Yugeon’s eyes were wide, clearly not having anticipated hitting it.

“Try it again.”

“No, no. There’s an enormous difference between two hits and none. There’s no need to show more. Let’s play a different game.”

Do Yugeon turned off the game and began flipping through the list.

“What to play?”

“Guess.”

Time passed silently.

“Earlier, when we met, remember?”

“Earlier? Ah, during the school suspension?”

“Right. Then. When you said you were going to the café, I felt like having coffee and went to the café too.”

“You drink too much coffee. If you do, you won’t grow taller. We already have a height gap.”

“That’s not your business. Nonetheless, I went. And coincidentally, you were at the café I visited?”

He turned to look at me while looking over the game list on the screen.

“I didn’t know you were there.”

“That’s because I didn’t approach you. You looked involved in a serious conversation, so I didn’t interfere.”

“Serious conversation?”

“Right. I only caught bits and pieces when I passed by, but I got the gist.”

“Ah, wait, I understand what you’re trying to say.”

“What is it?”

He turned his gaze back to the screen and manipulated the gamepad. The game list quickly scrolled by.

“Don’t do it because it’s dangerous?”

“You know well enough. Act according to your knowledge.”

“I know it’s dangerous, yet I’m going to do it.”

“Why?”

Do Yugeon blinked a few times and then smiled faintly.

“Because I need to prepare equipment to conquer?”

I’m not in the mood for jokes.

“Come on, don’t take this too seriously. You’re not trying to die here, right?”

“It’s still dangerous, whether I die or not.”

“I know, so stop it. If you keep dissuading me, I’ll ignore it.”

I almost spoke but closed my mouth. That’s so frustrating. He used to listen well when he was younger, but now he doesn’t listen just because he’s grown a bit.

I selected chess from the game list and turned it on. The kid showed signs of reluctance.

“I don’t know the rules of chess well.”

“Just play.”

We played a game.

“Castling.”

“What’s castling?”

“You lose if you don’t know. Check.”

“What is castling?”

“Never mind. Check.”

“Wait a minute!”

“Checkmate. You’re really bad.”

—

“Firstly, as I mentioned earlier, today’s a test. We’ll check for potential issues along the way while assessing our levels. If it seems too dangerous, we’ll pull out immediately. So, the important thing is that when you feel something is off, you must speak up immediately. Communication between us is key.”

Peeking over the edge of the rooftop, I could see down the alley where Do Yugeon was listening to the Fire Mage’s precautions. There was a Rift in front of him.

Since the Flame Mage is an adult, it seems like he’s not someone who would recklessly charge in, thinking it’s life or death. Should I be relieved about that, or is that just the norm?

“Are we really not going to harvest the herbs?”

On that note, the Necromancer muttered gloomily.

“Herbs… still, even though they look like weeds, we should have affection for them since they’re our livelihood.”

“True, they do look like weeds, haha! I’m planning to dig up some depending on the situation. If it’s today, we might be able to collect them, but according to the plan, after we clean out the mobs in the Rift, designated personnel will enter to harvest, so for now, we don’t need to worry too much.”

The explanation ended, and a moment of silence followed. Due to the situation, Do Yugeon began to pace around the Rift. There used to be a system where if you approached a Rift, you would go through the system’s procedure and could enter immediately, but currently, it seems the Magic Girl must intervene since the system is gone and hasn’t been restored.

A Magic Girl appeared from one side of the alley with an ice cream in her mouth. Yumina, who was next to her also munching on an ice cream, walked out. What are you doing here?

Do Yugeon seemed startled too as he stared at Yumina intently. Yumina casually waved her hand.

“Let me remind you, there are some high-level puppies inside, so don’t be complacent and keep your guard up. It shouldn’t be that difficult, but it’s not entirely safe either. And if you get hurt, don’t take it out on us. Do you have any other questions?”

“Can we go in now?”

“Just a moment, I’ll prepare.”

The Magic Girl approached the Rift to make some preparations as Yumina subtly approached Do Yugeon. They were talking, but since they subdued their voices, I couldn’t hear them.

I’ve come prepared for this. I pulled out a small bug from my bosom and threw it somewhere below. Plugging the earphones in, I launched the app on my phone. How exactly does this work again… The head of security explained it to me once, but it feels unfamiliar. I should’ve practiced it first, huh? I felt a bit confused as I examined the app.

“Miss is worried about you.”

Oh, never mind.

“Sky Cha is usually a worrier.”

What does ‘usually’ mean? Whose fault is this? This is something I should be angry about, right?

“That said, if you keep causing worry, Miss might cross the line and do something.”

Yumina, are you saying some strange things?

“That’s scary.”

And you agreeing is wrong.

“Okay, it’s all set!”

“Shall we start then?”

Do Yugeon, along with the others, entered the Rift.

The Magic Girl said to Yumina.

“The new ice cream flavor is tasty. I should’ve bought another one.”

“It would’ve melted by now.”

“Even if it melted, wouldn’t it still taste good?”

A magic circle appeared on the stick after eating the ice cream, and the stick disappeared. It seems like the same space-time magic I saw before. Yumina furrowed her brows.

“Don’t overuse magic.”

“So what?”

The girl giggled.

Great. I guess you two are friends. Then, shall I proceed without hesitation?

I picked up the money bag placed beside me and jumped down the alleyway. Thanks to the magic, I softly landed on the alley floor.

The Magic Girl blinked in surprise.

“Who are you?”

“I’m a friend of hers.”

Pointing at Yumina, the girl alternated her gaze between the two of us before nodding.

“That young lady? She definitely looks like a young lady.”

“Did I say something about our young lady?”

“Probably? I’ll be back from the convenience store shortly. You two chat.”

A magic circle flashed, and the girl disappeared. I eyed Yumina warily.

“So, you were up all night for this?”

“Hehe?”

“Whatever. Since things have become convenient for me, I’ll enter too. Can you assist me?”

“Is that implying it’s obvious that I should help?”

Um? I tilted my head.

“Isn’t it?”

“Yeah. Who wouldn’t help our dear young lady?”

“Then I’ll enter. Would you help me? Or should I just go in?”

“You shouldn’t enter like that. Just a moment.”

Yumina began working in front of the Rift.

“It’s done.”

We approached the Rift.

“If we enter now, we’ll meet them.”

“Ah, that’s right. That would’ve been a big problem.”

We chatted a little while as we waited.

“I don’t like too much interference.”

“So, you’re suggesting to leave the danger be?”

“Meaning, in such situations, you should tell Do Yugeon’s parents. You should not be the one to stop him.”

“That’s because Do Yugeon doesn’t like it.”

“Really, you’re too lenient with Do Yugeon. If our young lady treated everyone this way, she would’ve been quite popular.”

“I’m still quite popular.”

Yumina lost her words.

I glanced at the time. After waiting like this, it’s about time to go in. Waiting any longer might even risk meeting them returning from the Rift. Oh, based on that, I shouldn’t have been waiting here.

I casually threw the bag at Yumina, who fumbled as she caught it.

“What is this?”

“Originally, I planned to entrust this to the Magic Girl I don’t know, so I prepared this. But it’s no longer necessary. You can just have it.”

I entered the Rift.

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