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chapter 215 – Building a Castle (3)

Kang Shin-hyuk always thought it was best to be sincere when dealing with people. So, he tried to tell Oh Hye-na what happened in the fight with her father, but after, she began to cry again.
“Of course, you’llcry!”
“No, didn’t you want to talk using swords? So…”
“Without even taking out your sword…”
“Fist-to-fist communications is what I used this time around.”
“You haven’t even been hit once…” Oh Hye-na was extremely depressed as she used Baek In-ha as a shield and sipped the tea Claire gave her. Shin-hyuk had to wait for her to calm down to continue.
“Hye-na, this guy isn’t a bad guy,so…”
“I know.”
“You know?”
“Just…” Even after finishing the tea, she cradled the teacup in her hands. Claire poured her a new cup before pulling back behind the bar. Oh Hye-na looked at Kang Shin-hyuk, who was on the other side of Baek, and spoke without hesitation as if Baek wasn’t even there.
“I came because I had to know. How strong is the person who killed my dad? Is this really the person who killedhim?”
“… Didn’t you come to ask why he died?”
“That’s… I already knew that.” Oh Hye-na sipped her tea, her thoughts a mystery to KangShin-hyuk.
“…I don’t even know what I really wanted to learn.” Oh, she started crying again.
“Ah…”
“But you’ve become very strong. Your skill with the sword has increased.” Baek In-ha tried to praise her, but she responded angrily at him.
“You’re not a swordsman; how would youknow?”
“It’s clear even to me.” Kang Shin-hyuk looked back at Claire as the two in front of him began to quarrel.
“What do you think?”
“Yes, isn’t it okay? Those two go well together.”
“Then, can we surprise them and drive them out?” Kang Shin-hyuk hardened his heart and prepared to kick them out, but just before he could, Oh Hye-na urgently turned to him.
“Sword.”
“Ah, let’s fight with swords this time?” She nodded wordlessly. It wasn’t difficult; he decided to accept the request. However, this time it was concluded much faster than the previous battle. It was enough to swing his sword once and clash with the greatsword she wielded. There was no need to show off his status. His sword was able to lazily brush off the attack and jab at his foe’s vitals with perfect timing. Of course, the tip of the blade stopped right before her eyebrows.
“…” Oh Hye-na sat down on the spot with a blank expression. Kang Shin-hyuk waved his hand in front of her, but she was unresponsive. Now she seemed like a corpse.
“What do we do?” While Kang Shin-hyuk looked around in embarrassment, the body… no, Oh Hye-na suddenly raised her hand and beckoned to Baek. With a sigh, Baek approached her gently and helped her up. She quickly moved behind his back again.
“I want togo.”
“Are you satisfied now?”
“Let’s go.”
“Ah.” She stepped back until she reached the entrance using Baek as a shield. Then, after opening the door, she leaned her head out from behind Baek and slightly bowed to Kang Shin-hyuk.
“Thanks.” With that, she ran away, dragging Baek behind her. The door closed with a rattle. Kang Shin-hyuk tilted his head and looked at Claire, who was taking off hermask.
“What is she thanking me for?”
“You said you saved her from the gate, right? Didn’t she mean that?”
“…So, all this was just for you to be able to saythat?”
“Perhaps?” At this, Kang Shin-hyuk closed his mouth. Although she had been hostile to him from the start, she didn’t try to criticize him for her father’s death. That meant she already understood and accepted that her father had to die. The reason why she wanted to meet him was, of course, because she thought that there should be no resentment towards Kang Shin-hyuk and that she needed to thank him for saving her.
“But you can’t just bow your head to the person who killed your father. So, that’s what the dispute was about.”
“Did itwork?”
“I thought it would be a more intense battle.” Claire’s fantasies started coming out in full force.
“You know, pouring out your sincere feelings and screaming while your swords clash.”
“Oh, like when the main character and their rival, who was a friend, fight?”
“You both let out all the words inside of you and then feel relieved after.”
“Well, the misunderstandings were resolved, at least.” Unfortunately, there was a wall between them that could never be crossed.
“I’ll be very tired all my life.”
“Well, the whole world was my enemy at that age.”
“Yeah?” Still, he could see that she wasn’t a child with a bad personality. However, she did cry a lot.
“I’m glad it was resolved, anyway.”
“Don’t worry too much; Oh Joo-young had to be killed.”
“Yes, but his family is innocent. I’m glad it all worked out well.” Now he didn’t need to worry about her coming at him with a knife after entering Shinyoung next year. Seeing that she was a close acquaintance of Baek In-ha and a soon-to-be freshman at Shinyoung, it was a matter that needed to be addressed. However, she was more mature than expected.
‘The way she behaves is still a bit inexperienced, but that is the way for most.’ He could leave the rest to Baek. Relieved, Kang Shin-hyuk leaned onto the bar counter. Claire ran a hand through his hairidly.
“It went verywell.”
“Yeah, no thanks to Baek.”
“Is thatall?”
“Hm?” She joined him in a similar position, their eyes meeting. Kang Shin-hyuk felt the hair on the back of his neck raise.
“I don’t feel like it went well at all.”
“Are you such a kid? Not at all.”
“Wow, such confidence.” But despite her words, Claire had a faint smile. He wished that she could feel as secure being around him as Oh Hye-na did around Baek.
“Are you feeling insecure?” At his question, Claire thought quietly before nodding. It was hard for him to accept that someone as confident as she could also be anxious about anything. He knew that it was common when you valued another that much. Anvil’s memories were evidence of that.
“That’s why you shouldn’t go for someone better thanme.”
“How ridiculous.”
“Honestly, I felt a little nervous when I first saw Red Shoes.”
“I didn’t even know she was aiming for Eunah…”
“So, did you not find her attractive?”
“I thought shewas.”
“Hey.”
“I only like you, Claire. You’re the only one I want to date.” Kang Shin-hyuk spoke firmly.
“Huh… then, give me your hand.” He reached out with his hand. Slowly, she reached out with hers, then pulled his hand up to her mouth. Her lips parted, and she bit his ring finger, then reached out her hand for him to do the same. Once he complied, she had a look of satisfaction on herface.
“We’re datingnow.”
“Now?”
“Lovers.”
“How did you learnthat?”
“From Eunah.” But how did Shin Eunah knowthat?
“You have two years until you graduate.”
“Yeah.”
“I hope that time goes by quickly. Ahhh.” Claire, complaining mischievously, pulled her handback.
“Shall we go eat some chicken?”
“That’s what we normallyeat.”
“Then shall I make something? Oh… but should I open up first? Will you be okay waiting?”
“No, I’m so hungry I can’t stand it anymore.” Claire shook her head stubbornly then slowly stood up.
“No business today. Let’s have a party to commemorate you entering your secondyear.”
“It’s just going into the second year.”
“It’s special because you’re a senior now, right?”
“What are you planning…?” Claire giggled then hid herface.
“Well… we should keep the store door closed.”
***
Shinyoung freshmen originally had many tasks to do during their vacation. Most of them were practical tasks to enter guilds on a probationary basis and learn how to deal with actual gates. But this year, the vacation assignment came from the opposite direction as they had already been doing that. What they had missed out on learning was covered in video lectures provided by the school. The students cried out, asking what sort of vacation this was, but Shinyoung was silent. Kang Shin-hyuk completed all of his assignments in the week after vacation began and received a new dimensional quest.
-It’s a quest that really suits you. To build a big and dignified castle…
“How noisy.”
-Super Ultra Galaxy Fist’s whisper: Grandpa, where are you? Come on now?!
It was a quest to build a massive castle, unlike any seen on Earth.