Chapter 04
Partner (4)Partner (4)
After synchronizing our moves a few more times, we finished our autonomous training.
After training, Min So-yeon, realizing too late that she had been deceived, glared at me and then disappeared.
She might have developed a grudge against me, but today's achievements were worth it.
The difference between my wife, Joo Yeon-hee's talent, and Min So-yeon's talent.
It's not that one is lacking; it's that they're different, and that's what's important.
Although she is now retired, Joo Yeonhee, who was once called the "Sword Queen," had overwhelming talent.
Especially her skill in handling a sword was exceptional.
When she first held a sword, she created a technique that perfectly returned her opponent's attack, mimicking a martial arts movie she watched as a child.
No matter how you think about it, it was incredible.
If it was human versus human or hunter versus hunter, it would be one thing, but Joo Yeonhee, an S-rank, fought against monsters from gates.
Countering monsters that are like natural disasters is an amazing feat.
How about Min So-yeon, who inherited Joo Yeonhee's talent completely?
Despite never having received professional training, her swordsmanship was excellent, though the feeling it conveyed was different from Joo Yeonhee's.
If Joo Yeonhee's swordsmanship is art, Min So-yeon's swordsmanship is a trick.
A trick for victory.
Generally, battles can be compared to games.
When my turn ends, it's the opponent's turn, and when their turn ends, it's my turn, so it's not incorrect.
But Min So-yeon's case is different.
Through instantaneous movement, she brings her turn back again.
She doesn't give her opponent a chance to act.
Being able to seize the initiative in any situation is a huge advantage.
Though she has just begun and lacks in many areas, with a little polishing, she will grow quickly.
“...”
When I first saw the message to make Min So-yeon the world's strongest, I thought it was an absurd goal.
Knowing better than anyone what effort Joo Yeonhee went through to reach the top.
But after facing her, my thoughts changed to thinking it might be easier than expected.
A talent bestowed by the heavens and a blessed environment that feels fated.
I can assure you that there are no better conditions than this.
The world's end is nonsense.
I've already practically saved the world.
*
The joint training time continued.
“...Huh?”
I was taken aback by Min So-yeon's words and let out a stupid sound.
“I'm leaving early.”
Leaving early all of a sudden? What's this...
Startled, I hurriedly spoke to her.
“...Are you not feeling well? Maybe you overdid it earlier...”
But before I could finish, she left me and walked away.
...
Watching her leave, countless thoughts filled my head.
During joint training with my partner, there was nothing I could do, left alone.
I could only sit in a corner and watch the students train.
“...”
Among them, some students were already standing out.
...But of course, none of them as much as our So-yeon.
I spent a lonely amount of time like that until it was time to go home.
As I quietly prepared to leave school and was about to exit the classroom...
“Ji, Ji Hwan, see you tomorrow...!”
A female student greeted me.
She was the one who had previously given me muffins, cheering me on.
As I returned the greeting, she looked very happy.
...
On my way home.
...Ah.
While walking absentmindedly, I suddenly remembered that I needed to do some grocery shopping.
At home, I only had rice left.
Since it's unlikely I'll go out again, I might end up eating plain rice for a meal.
...Might as well stop by the market.
I immediately changed direction and headed towards the market.
The most important thing when living alone is food.
Since I have to take care of my meals myself, I often skip meals for trivial reasons, and when I do manage to prepare something, it's usually unhealthy.
Of course, I take good care of myself.
Having a habit of doing housework since I was alive, my studio apartment is quite tidy.
Who knew that going to cooking school to support my wife, who couldn't cook well, would be so helpful.
...Really, you never know how life will turn out.
I never imagined I'd be cooking just for myself, not for my wife, who used to praise my cooking as the best, or for my daughter, who said my cooking was the best in the world.
A heavy sigh escaped as I slowly recalled old memories.
“...Haa...”
Thinking depressing thoughts made me feel somewhat deflated.
...I should eat something delicious today.
Since I'm taking care of myself, a little indulgence should be fine.
With various thoughts in mind, I walked slowly and eventually arrived at the market.
“...”
I grabbed a plastic basket from the entrance and walked into the market.
Since there weren't many people, I could leisurely browse around.
I naturally headed towards the fresh produce section and glanced at the small price tags.
...Brutal.
Normally, I would choose the cheapest bean sprouts or mushrooms, but today, I wanted to eat fresh vegetables.
The dinner menu I decided on after much deliberation on the way to the market was pork.
Since it's a day of indulgence after a long time, I definitely needed vegetables to match.
But... faced with the price tags, I couldn't muster the courage to pick vegetables that cost more than three packs of bean sprouts.
...One pack of that can make six meals with bean sprouts...
After struggling in front of the high-priced vegetables for a while, I eventually chose a large amount of bean sprouts and mushrooms and fled.
The cost of living in Seoul is too strong to fight with the only lifeline, the subsidy.
...I have to eat and live this month too... I can't help it...
It was an honorable defeat.
After tasting the bitter defeat in the fresh produce section, I decided to vent my frustration at the meat section.
Today, I'm going to finish all the pork.
Arriving at the meat section with determination, I chose a large amount of pork leg and savored the sweet victory.
As if the heavens pitied me, there was even a discount on pork at that moment.
Despite my lightened wallet, the heavy basket gave me a peculiar sense of satisfaction.
With a light step, I passed through the meat section and headed straight to the processed food section.
Since today's budget was quite flexible, a sweet snack seemed permissible.
Passing by the instant and seasoning sections, I finally arrived at the snack section.
Colorful and flashy packaged snacks and desserts greeted me.
“...”
Having to choose within my budget, I naturally started a staring contest with the price tags.
This one is small but expensive, and that one is large but doesn't taste good...
While carefully examining the price per weight on the price tags and selecting snacks, a voice suddenly came from behind.
“...Excuse me, can I pass by?”
Startled, I quickly stood up.
“...Oh, sorry...”
As I hastily apologized and turned around...
“...Huh?”
I was slightly surprised.
“Ah.”
It was Min So-yeon, who had left me and left early.
...Why is she here?
So-yeon's house is not in this neighborhood.
There's no reason for her to be at this remote market.
Then, So-yeon glanced away and pretended not to know me.
My gaze naturally fell on her hands, and the basket full of items made me question my eyes.
Various types of instant foods and carbonated drinks. And even a bunch of ramen...
Everything in her basket was unhealthy.
Ignoring me, So-yeon nonchalantly picked up some snacks and tried to leave.
...Wait a minute?
In my confusion, I quickly grabbed her and spoke to her.
“...Wait, are you feeling okay?”
She looked at me with annoyance.
“I’m just worried. Will you be able to come to school tomorrow?”
As she stared at me silently, she let out a short sigh, shrugged off my arm, and said she was fine.
Even though she said she was fine, I couldn't help but worry.
I quietly followed her and cautiously spoke.
“...So-yeon, if you're having a hard time, it's okay to rest until tomorrow. Just rest well and the day after...”
At that moment, she suddenly stopped and glared at me, saying,
“...Stop nagging and just get lost.”
Na, nagging...?
I was deeply shocked by her words.
I had spoken out of concern, but she had taken it as nagging...
It hurt more that she considered my concern as nagging than her telling me to get lost.
So-yeon, seeing my shocked expression, bit her lip and walked away quickly.
...
Watching her walk towards a faraway checkout counter as if to avoid me, my heart felt heavy.
When So-yeon was young, whenever she was sick, my wife and I used to take care of her together.
Even for a simple cold, I would fuss, saying we needed to use an elixir immediately.
Looking back, those were all memories of the three of us together.
If So-yeon's health is really bad, my wife will take good care of her.
Since she's retired, she has plenty of time, and we don't lack money.
Though she's not good at housework, she was a devoted mother...
Despite knowing this better than anyone, I felt frustrated that I couldn't personally take care of her.
...
Feeling uncomfortable, I finished shopping and headed straight home.
As I unconsciously walked, feeling the weight of the plastic bags in my hands, I found myself at home before I knew it.
I nudged the half-closed green gate open with my foot.
The rusty hinges creaked, welcoming me home
.
Dragging my feet, I closed the gate casually and started climbing the chipped stairs.
Plod, plod.
Feeling somewhat exhausted, I dragged my feet up slowly, the plastic bags in my hands feeling especially heavy today.
Even though I didn't buy much.
One step at a time, I finally reached the second floor.
The red light filtering through the low fence dazzled my eyes.
“...”
The sun was setting already.
Avoiding the sunset disappearing beyond the high-rise buildings, I fished out the key from my jacket pocket.
In an age where we make electricity from magic stones, using a key feels archaic.
No matter how cheap the rent is, not installing an electronic lock seems excessive.
Placing the plastic bags down lightly, I nudged the front door open and inserted the key.
Clink.
The old lock groaned as it opened, and I picked up the key and bags, stepping inside.
“...I’m home.”
In the emptiness, the only thing that greeted me was the chill at my feet.
Living alone after being with three people, I've developed a habit of talking to myself.
Today, that lonely habit felt a bit pathetic.
“...”
After neatly taking off my school uniform, I started unpacking the groceries one by one.
While mindlessly placing items into the fridge, a heavy sigh escaped.
“...Haa...”
I felt pathetic, sinking into old memories and feeling down.
Where did my resolve to live as Yoo Ji Hwan, not Min Sung Jae, go? I was making myself miserable by weighing the past and present again.
This won't do.
Today is for me, that's why I indulged myself.
If you dig into the ground, you'll only see the ground.
Shaking off the gloomy thoughts, I quickly finished organizing the fridge and started preparing dinner.
...Eating something delicious should improve my mood a bit.
Today's menu was pork and bean sprout stir-fry.
It's similar to bean sprout bulgogi but with almost no meat.
There's not much to prepare, and the cooking method is simple, so I quickly set the dinner table.
I unfolded the table set in the corner of the room and brought out the side dishes and rice given by the landlord.
Oh... This looks quite lavish.
Once everything was set, it looked like a pretty decent feast.
“...Thank you for the meal.”
With the habitual words, I put a piece of pork and bean sprouts into my mouth and chewed.
“...”
It was really delicious.
Better than anything.