Chapter 07
Bet (3)Bet (3)
Min Soyeon’s name popped up on the screen.
Finally, a reply had come.
I immediately picked up my phone and opened the messenger app.
How long had it been since I last received a message? I hadn't used the messenger since getting side dishes from the landlord...
Feeling excited for no reason, I carefully checked Min Soyeon’s message.
[ Min Soyeon: ㅇ ]
The reply on the screen was just one character.
It was a sign of affirmation.
“...Huh?”
I was a bit taken aback by the unexpected response.
...Still, a reply is better than nothing, I suppose.
I consoled myself and pondered how to continue the conversation.
“Hmm...”
[ Did you eat something delicious? ]
Then I sent the message.
While waiting for Min Soyeon’s reply, I kept the chat open and waited.
“...”
How long did I wait? Finally, another reply came.
[ Min Soyeon: ㄴ ]
Another one-character response, this time indicating no. It wasn't a detailed answer, but at least she replied...
I consoled myself again, thinking at least I wasn’t being ignored.
From her message, it seemed she didn't like her dinner tonight. It couldn't have been my wife’s cooking, so maybe she didn't like the housekeeper’s food...
I wrote and deleted meaningless letters repeatedly, then decided to change the topic.
[ I see... What are you doing now? ]
This time, the reply came sooner than I expected.
[ Min Soyeon: playing a game ]
She was currently in the middle of a game.
“Oh.”
I felt a bit awkward, thinking my timing was bad.
But on the flip side, wasn’t she still replying despite being busy?
...Yes, she’s a good kid deep down.
Thinking she was playing a game, I sent a message apologizing for the disturbance and said I'd see her tomorrow.
Soon after, she replied.
[ Min Soyeon: ㅇㅋ ]
A surprisingly quick response.
*
The next day, during combat practice. Min Soyeon spoke with a determined expression.
“Let’s do what we did yesterday, again.”
She wanted to challenge me again, determined to get revenge for her loss. I had intended to suggest it first, but I didn't expect her to bring it up.
She must have been quite upset about losing yesterday. Seeing her eager to train made me feel pleased. Since it came to this, it would be good to motivate her.
I didn’t accept her proposal immediately, instead pretending to hesitate.
“Do it again? I was planning to rest today...”
She started glaring at me as I feigned disinterest.
“What?”
Her sharp gaze made my heart skip a beat. It felt just like seeing my wife when she was furious.
“...F-fine, let’s do it...”
Her cold eyes were exactly like her mother's. Some traits didn’t need to be inherited...
“Then, follow me quietly.”
I silently followed her, and we prepared for another game of ‘tag’. The rules were the same as before. Five-minute time limit, and we decide who’s 'it' with rock-paper-scissors.
I wanted to add some new rules, but at Min Soyeon’s request, we stuck with the old ones. Just before deciding who would be 'it', I began to have second thoughts.
Should I win or let her win?
The outcome wouldn’t change even if we played again today. Unless I deliberately let her win, the chances were high that I would win again. But if I won again today, would she be able to handle it?
A well-timed defeat can be motivating. But a one-sided defeat can crush her spirit. I could intentionally create a close match, but would she be satisfied with that?
Given her experience, she might quickly notice if I was holding back. That might make her feel underestimated, backfiring. I wanted to motivate her, not break her spirit.
...What should I do?
As I pondered, Min Soyeon urged me.
“...What are you doing? Aren’t we deciding who’s 'it'?”
I decided to think about it later and immediately started rock-paper-scissors.
“Rock... paper... scissors!”
The result was scissors versus rock; I won.
Once again, Min Soyeon was 'it'. She stared at her scissor hand with a subtle look, then glanced at me.
“...I’m 'it'.”
Her lips curled into a slight smile. She seemed pleased, perhaps anticipating revenge.
Seeing her look so expectant, my indecisiveness vanished, and I became certain. Min Soyeon wouldn’t break easily.
Her smile reminded me of my wife’s smile when she was young, giving me confidence. With the 'it' decided, all that was left was to start.
We distanced ourselves and readied our weapons, holding our breath for the timer.
A moment later.
Ring~
The timer signaled the start, and Min Soyeon quickly approached with her weapon drawn. She swung with the same pattern as yesterday. I quickly gathered my magic and blocked her sword.
Clang!!!!
The clash of metal echoed through the practice field, drawing everyone's attention.
“Ugh...”
Even though I blocked it perfectly, I felt a heavy impact on my skin. It was the same pattern and movement, but the weight behind the sword was different. She had infused magic into her attack from the start.
Seeing me slightly flustered, she smirked and moved. She adjusted her stance and twisted the sword’s tip towards me, swinging again.
Clang!!!!
Another loud clang echoed through the practice field. It wasn’t too difficult to block since my magic was still ample in the early stages.
But Min Soyeon’s attacks didn’t stop at one. With monstrous magic, she continuously attacked as if trying to crush me. No matter how solid an egg is, it will break if hit by a giant rock.
My small magic was beginning to waver under her powerful attacks.
After about a minute, my magic had already been halved, and I had to gather my magic into smaller clumps to block her attacks.
As I shrank my magic from the size of a fist to a finger, Min Soyeon’s sword came crashing down.
Clang!!!
Luckily, I blocked it, but if I had wavered even slightly, the sword might have slipped through. After only a few exchanges, my magic was being cut down significantly.
At this rate, I would lose.
Seeing my shaky stance, her smile deepened with confidence. A smile of certain victory. Seeing her smile brought up complicated feelings.
She had such a beautiful smile, yet why did she always have such a lonely face?
During the three years I was away, I thought Min Soyeon had completely changed. Growth and change are inevitable, so I accepted it. It was all my misconception.
With just a few training sessions and only one night passed, she had grown. She was smiling so joyfully, a smile she never showed me before.
I felt pathetic for assuming she had changed. Lost in thought at seeing my daughter’s smile after so long.
“Haa!”
She attacked again.
Clang!!!!
Her sword was noticeably slower, probably due to significant magic depletion, making it easier to block. Predicting my block, she smoothly adjusted her stance and thrust the sword at me.
Min Soyeon’s sword rushed toward my chest. This couldn’t be blocked.
Sensing defeat, I spread a thin layer of magic on my hand and deflected her sword gently.
Ping-!
Her sword tip lost strength and wobbled. If you can’t block it, deflect it. I never imagined I’d use the technique I learned from my wife to block my daughter’s sword.
Slightly surprised by the unexpected move, her smile faltered. Taking advantage of the moment, I widened the distance and smiled at her. Annoyed by my smile, she bit her lip and quickly approached again.
Just as her sword and my hand were about to collide.
Ring~ Ring~
The timer signaled the end. Her sword, stopping right before my palm, radiated sharp energy. Glancing at her, I saw her biting her lip and meeting my gaze.
In her eyes, I could see the frustration and anger clearly. In the end, it was my victory again. Glaring at me, she slowly withdrew her sword and muttered.
“...You jerk.”
From “bastard” to “jerk” is progress, right?
I smiled at her with the confidence of a winner, which made her glare at me even more intensely. Don’t look at me like that, you remind me of your mom.
As I caught my breath, still feeling the tension. I overheard murmurs from the surrounding students.
“What’s with them...? Are they really our classmates?”
“Was that a friendly match?”
“No, they looked like they were trying to kill each other...”
Looking around, I saw many students watching us. Our noisy battle had drawn attention. Ignoring their stares, I handed a water bottle to Min Soyeon.
“...”
She snatched it and aggressively opened it, gulping down the water.
“Phew...”
After drinking a large amount in one go, she handed the bottle back to me, looking satisfied.
Huh? She didn’t finish it?
She hadn’t finished all the water, as there was still quite a bit left.
Without thinking, I brought the bottle to my lips, and she snatched it back, looking horrified.
“...What? I wasn’t done yet.”
“You idiot, why are you drinking from my bottle!”
“Why does it matter whose bottle it is...?”
Her face was flushed, possibly from the lingering magic, and she cursed at me before storming off.
I didn’t expect to be cursed just for drinking water.
Young Soyeon used to share even a single bean, but now she wouldn't even share water.
...She has changed a bit.
There are some differences.
*
After all the classes ended, I approached Min Soyeon to claim my ‘winner’s right’.
“...What do you want?”
She asked, looking annoyed. I explained again.
“Let’s work out together.”
“...Do it yourself.”
She rejected me coldly. As she tried to leave, I hurriedly grabbed her and spoke.
“Wait, I won! You have to do what I say!”
I felt the judging stares of passing students.
“Get lost. I’m not doing it.”
She shook me off coldly and walked away, but I quickly caught up and spoke again.
“I’ll text you after dinner, you have to come out. Got it?”
“Whatever.”
“If you don’t work out, you’ll never beat me! Make me your water boy!”
“Please, just shut up...”
Ignoring the surrounding stares, I persistently followed her until she agreed to a workout session.