“Why, why are you crying?”
Suddenly, as I began to sob, I unconsciously looked around. Thankfully, since it was late evening, there were no students nearby.
“No, I’m—ugh, sorry…”
Hayun, perhaps understanding my ridiculous feelings, apologized. But even so, her tears kept flowing.
‘What should I do about this?’
Even if I wanted to help, I had no idea how. Not to brag, but the only woman I interacted with until I was 18 in my past life was Rin.
After that, I spent my time as a Sherpa in the Forest of the Demon Realm until I was 28, and only at the end did I finally notice Eris’s feelings when she proposed.
In a situation where dealing with a pesky magical beast felt much easier, Hayun, though unwillingly, presented me with a solution.
Growl.
“……”
“……”
Hayun’s tears suddenly stopped.
Even in the darkness, it was obvious her eyes were red, and with that sound earlier, her face blushed up.
“Are you hungry?”
Yeah.
Even when crying and feeling down, hunger doesn’t disappear.
I completely understand that feeling.
After getting expelled in my past life, I cried a river alone while taking a carriage. When evening came, I felt pitifully hungry. Even while living with a shameful label, I still had to eat, gorging myself.
“Ah, let’s go eat. Come with me.”
I couldn’t leave a crying girl behind; it felt uncomfortable, and as an adult, it was pitiful to see her starving like this.
Occasionally, I rescued people who ended up in the Forest of the Demon Realm in situations like this. Of course, I would later collect my dues.
“……”
Seeing her standing there indecisively made me let out a sigh.
“You know the cafeteria is closed at the dorm now, right? Are you going to have chocolate cake for dinner?”
The café was still open, but at this hour, the chances of dessert remaining were slim.
Upon hearing that, Hayun clenched her mouth shut and stood behind me.
“I’m going to eat soup.”
“Okay……”
“I’ll order it, so if you can’t eat something, let me know when I order.”
“Got it……”
She seemed cool and confident, but facing me like this made me think of Eve for some reason. That earlier tears and growl must have stomped all over her confidence.
‘She looks like she’s been swinging a sword all day after the exam.’
Her hands were rough from excessive training, and there were slight traces of blood along with wounds. She must’ve practiced so hard that her calluses didn’t even matter anymore.
“Do you have a wallet?”
“Yeah, I’ve got one.”
Hayun lifted a unique red pouch hanging from her waist.
“Is that a wallet?”
“I made it myself.”
Seeing her express a bit of pride made me snort and turn to go outside. Since it was a bit late, the better restaurants were closing down, so I turned around.
“Let’s go that way.”
“Huh?”
Hayun was startled by the place I pointed to—it was a tavern, not a regular restaurant.
Flustered, Hayun hesitated, but I didn’t care and walked in.
In the noisy tavern, our presence attracted a lot of attention. Seeing two people who looked like students come in seemed unusual, but I sat at an empty table while Hayun shyly took a seat across from me.
“Is it okay to come in here?”
“Why not? This is still a restaurant.”
“But it’s a tavern…”
“Are you going to drink?”
“Not really.”
“Then it doesn’t matter.”
It was classified as a restaurant even though it served alcohol and had long hours. Kids who venture outside, hungry at night, come to taverns to eat.
“This place is a gourmet spot.”
“……Have you been here before?”
“Once.”
I had eaten here once when I missed dinner.
After ordering a meat-filled stew, I also asked for a bandage.
“Wrap this around your hand.”
“Huh?”
“You can’t even hold the utensils properly with that hand. Don’t make a face while eating. Just wrap it and eat.”
She looked confused as to why a restaurant would have bandages.
In a tavern, where anything could happen, keeping supplies for first aid like this is a necessity.
“You’ll pay for the bandage.”
I obviously had no plans to pay, so Hayun took out a few coins from her little pouch for the owner holding out his hand.
Then, as she awkwardly tried to wrap the bandage around her hand using only one hand, she ended up struggling, so I took over.
“You’re good at this.”
“I used to help customers when they got hurt.”
“Customers?”
“Yeah, that’s how it is.”
In the Forest of the Demon Realm, you never know when or where you’d get hurt, so knowing how to bandage up was fundamental. I could say I knew most first aid techniques.
“……You seem really mature.”
‘Well, I’m 28 after all.’
Ordering food at a tavern and buying bandages wasn’t exactly student behavior.
“I’ll pay for the food, too.”
“No, I’m treating you with the extra money I got.”
“Extra money?”
Thank you, Dean!
I was grateful for the extra pocket money I got from the Dean yesterday, ensuring I could live in comfort for a while.
“So, can I ask why you were crying?”
While waiting for the food, with nothing to talk about, I rested my chin on my hand and asked Hayun, who instantly turned red and looked down.
‘Looks like she doesn’t want to talk about it.’
It seemed there was more to her crying than just the simple fact that she lost to me today.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but don’t swing your sword mindlessly like today. It just tires you out and doesn’t help at all. If your posture falls apart, that will create bad habits.”
“……”
Hayun nodded, acknowledging the truth in my words.
It seemed she already knew it, which hinted that there must have been a reason she couldn’t help but train like that.
Not wanting to press her, I let it slide.
“Have you gotten better at making pies?”
That was a random topic thrown out because the only connection I had with her was teaching her how to make apple pie, but her eyes lit up with a little proud smile as she nodded.
“Yeah, now I can make them.”
“Hmm?”
Hayun didn’t seem particularly skilled in cooking back then, so I raised an eyebrow, but she confidently puffed out her chest.
“I’m somewhat handy, so with a little practice, I got it pretty quickly.”
“Oh, you said that wallet-looking pouch was also made by you, right?”
It was a topic I threw out without thinking.
We would both feel awkward if we stayed silent until the food arrived, so I said that, and suddenly all dullness in Hayun’s eyes vanished, sparking with excitement.
“Right! In my mother’s hometown, they call it a lucky pouch. I made it based on that idea. Plus, I made this too.”
She showed me a thin bracelet she was wearing on her wrist. It was quite a pretty bracelet with mixed black and white strings.
“I made this too.”
“Wow.”
They looked like items that would definitely sell.
I had thought she was only talented in swordsmanship, but it seemed like she enjoyed crafting jewelry as well.
‘No, actually…’
In the middle of our chatting, a huge pot filled with bubbling stew was brought out.
Thinking about how this stew was treated by the Dean made it taste even better. Honestly, I almost ordered a draft beer without thinking but managed to hold back.
“Ah, that was good.”
“I’m really full.”
A satisfied smile appeared on my face as my insides felt warm and full. Hayun even said thank you for bringing her here, making it a bonus as a certified gourmet spot.
As we returned to the academy, Hayun cautiously asked,
“By the way, is there something going on with Ares?”
“Huh?”
“I mean, it seemed like you two suddenly weren’t acknowledging each other.”
“Isn’t that how it usually is in the academy?”
“That’s true, but it feels like you guys are even more estranged than before.”
Sharp observation.
Thinking there was no need to hide it, I confirmed her suspicion.
“I realized here that we’re not as close as I thought. I didn’t want to force myself to stay friends by begging.”
In my past life, Ares, who didn’t even acknowledge me in the academy, secretly came to my room at night to talk about things we couldn’t speak of.
How silly.
I didn’t want to cling to a friendship I couldn’t let go of due to pity, so I just let go.
“I see.”
Seeing Hayun not push further as if she understood somewhat made me chuckle.
“Hey, what’s so great about that guy? He’s handsome, but honestly, there are other girls all over him. Do you want to join that crowd?”
I was asking if she was head over heels in love, enough to compete with her friends and see who could win him over.
At just 18, it was that time when one could easily confuse love and different emotions.
“Well, if you really like him, I’ll support you, but think seriously about it. Being that we’ve known each other for a while, you might be the one with the best odds.”
Short hair like Rin but a slightly colder vibe and less expression.
“If you smiled a little more, it might change how people see you.”
At that, Hayun looked at me and raised the corners of her mouth. For a moment, I thought I heard a creak from her face.
“How’s that?”
“Hey, if you’re forcing a smile, it looks really awful. Just stick to your usual expression.”
“……”
Her expression was unchanged, but her eyes clearly shouted annoyance. Then, releasing a sigh, she quickly stepped up her pace to hide her expression.
“What am I doing?”
In the silent, dark night, the girl’s mumbles made smart little sounds in my ear.
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