novelraw Chapter 43 : Chapter 43
Chapter 43 : Chapter 43
Chapter 43. There Is No Absolute in the World (1)
After all the sparring matches ended, I had no choice but to be immediately caught in Shin Yu-hwan's grasp.
Because as soon as we exited the Sparring Arena, he stuck to me and started talking without giving me any chance to slip away.
"Boy. What are you going to do now?"
"Pardon? I do not really have any particular schedule..."
"Then that works out perfectly. Let us go get something to eat."
Shin Yu-hwan looked at me with a pleasant smile.
"Naturally, you have to fill your stomach after sweating. You must never skip a meal, you know? Let us go quickly then."
"...Let us do that."
It seemed my opinion was not very important anymore.
Shin Yu-hwan was already walking ahead of me.
I felt like even if I had a schedule, he would have dragged me along by force, claiming I had to eat first.
‘Well, this is actually not bad.’
I had a separate favor to ask Shin Yu-hwan regarding the aftermath of the Midterm Exams anyway, so bringing it up over a meal did not seem like a bad idea.
Has it not been said since ancient times that the success rate of a favor is high when you ask while eating something delicious and putting the other person in a good mood?
Truthfully, he would probably grant it even if I did not ask over a meal.
‘Because it is a problem related to Villains.’
Perhaps they would not cause minor issues because Shin Yu-hwan was here, but there were incidents that were bound to erupt unconditionally.
I could guarantee that this incident would have occurred even if a Hero-Rank Player came, let alone Shin Yu-hwan.
That was because the bastards who would cause this incident were no ordinary punks.
‘If it is those guys, they will absolutely cause trouble.’
Just as my face frowned slightly at the thought of the incident that would happen in the near future, Shin Yu-hwan turned his head and asked me a question.
"Boy, is there anything you cannot eat?"
"No. As long as it is not just a bunch of grass, I am fine."
"Hahaha! Yes, yes. I hate it when there is only grass too, so do not worry. Then I will go ahead and choose the restaurant."
"Yes."
With those words, I silently followed Shin Yu-hwan, and the place we arrived at was a slightly shabby-looking Gukbap restaurant.
I expressed a very slight surprise at the shabby-looking establishment.
‘There was a place like this in Glory?’
Even though half of it was said to be unusable land, Glory used the entirety of Jeju Island.
Because of that, it was a place that had everything—restaurants, entertainment facilities, parks, and so on. But I never imagined there would be a place like this.
After all, its exterior was completely unsuited for something situated within Glory.
As if he knew what I was thinking just from my expression, Shin Yu-hwan told me about the restaurant.
"It might be a bit shabby, but it is quite a historic place, you know? This place opened right when Glory was established."
"I see."
"Besides that, it is an incredible restaurant. Back in my Cadet days, I ate here every single day. Hahaha!"
"Ah..."
No matter how delicious it was, how could he attend for three years while only eating Gukbap?
I thought he was truly an amazing person in various aspects.
Anyway, that was how we entered the Gukbap restaurant with Shin Yu-hwan's enthusiastic recommendation.
It seemed his claim of only eating here was not a lie, as the middle-aged woman immediately made a welcoming face upon seeing Shin Yu-hwan.
"Oh my! Aren't you Yu-hwan? It's been so long~."
"Have you been well all this time?"
"Of course~ You have no idea how much sales dropped after you graduated, Yu-hwan."
"Hahaha! I did eat quite a bit."
Shin Yu-hwan and the restaurant lady caught up after meeting for the first time in a long while.
After having a long conversation like that, the lady headed back to the kitchen once Shin Yu-hwan ordered two bowls of Gukbap.
"Ah, goodness. I had not seen her in a long time, so I ended up talking a bit too much. Sorry about that, boy."
"No. You met her after a long time, so it is understandable."
"Hahaha! You are quite considerate, boy. Right, then shall we have our chat now?"
"Ah..."
"You do not need to be so hesitant. I already noticed that you have something you want to say to me, boy."
I was curious as to how he noticed at those words, but I did not ask.
Despite how he looked, Shin Yu-hwan was not an unobservant person.
Moreover, even if I asked, it was obvious he would say something like, 'Hahaha! I can tell just by looking into your eyes, boy.'
Thus, I immediately brought up the topic I had intended to discuss after the food arrived.
"Then I will get straight to the point. You will be staying at Glory until the last day of the Practical Exam, right?"
"Hmm? I suppose so. It is my alma mater that I am visiting after a long time, after all."
Visiting his alma mater after a long time, my foot.
Anyone could tell at a glance that he was planning to just stay here roughly because he would feel self-conscious about slacking off if he returned.
Still, I nodded appropriately as if I understood and continued speaking.
"Then, I have a favor to ask of you on the last day of the Practical Exam."
"The last day, you say?"
"Yes. It is a highly important favor."
"Hahaha. Well, if it is a favor from you, boy, I can certainly grant it."
Shin Yu-hwan spoke in a tone that sounded like he was being generous.
However, this probably would not be a bad favor from Shin Yu-hwan's perspective either.
Or rather, a favor Shin Yu-hwan would welcome?
That was to be expected, considering the favor I was about to ask was related to Villains.
"Villains will attack on the last day of the Practical Exam."
"...Is what I just heard the truth, boy?"
"Yes. I cannot be absolutely certain, but there is a very high probability."
In an instant, Shin Yu-hwan's face hardened.
To the point where I could feel the water in the cup he was holding trembling faintly.
However, even with Shin Yu-hwan actively supporting me, the next problem still remained.
"Is that so... But how did you know that, boy?"
That was the source of the information.
Back at the Artifact Exhibition Hall, I had somehow glossed over it by saying I overheard the Villains talking, but it was different now.
Because there was no Plausibility that could convince Shin Yu-hwan regarding how I obtained this information.
A mere Cadet suddenly claiming that Villains would appear?
Even if I had been Shin Yu-hwan, I would have naturally been suspicious.
Therefore, even though there was a possibility it would feel suspicious, I had no choice but to bring up a fabricated story to align with Plausibility as much as possible.
Of course, it was not an entirely fabricated story, but one with just a certain degree of lies added.
Because a truth mixed with an appropriate amount of lies is easier to say and more believable to the listener than a 100% lie.
So I brought up the matter of meeting Yu-hyeon at the coffee shop back then.
"You remember when I went to get the card last time, right?"
"Ah, the day you came to get the Gate Access Pass from me, boy? Of course I remember."
"Yes. I met a guy back then, and he claimed to be a member of the 'Reverse Heaven Sect'."
"Reverse Heaven Sect?"
It seemed Shin Yu-hwan did not know much about the Reverse Heaven Sect.
However, considering Yu-hyeon's reactions I had seen so far, it seemed like he had encountered Shin Yu-hwan before, so I continued speaking in a bit more detail.
"Yes. His appearance was that of a man in his twenties, but he kept using the word 'Brother' in his speech. And he was wearing an Inverted Cross around his neck."
"...Hold on. Say that again. Boy."
"A man in his twenties..."
"No, not that part. Did you say he used the word 'Brother' and wore an Inverted Cross around his neck?"
"Yes. It was an Artifact..."
CRACK-!
Before my words could even finish, the water cup in Shin Yu-hwan's hand shattered.
At the same time, I felt a ferocious murderous intent and mana.
Even I had no choice but to keep my mouth shut and stay still at that sight.
How much time had passed like that? Fortunately, Shin Yu-hwan, who had calmed down compared to when the cup shattered, spoke first.
"Ah, I am sorry. I unknowingly got agitated. I think I know who you are talking about, boy."
"...Is that so."
"Yeah. Did that bastard's Inverted Cross happen to turn into a shining sword by any chance?"
Before I knew it, Yu-hyeon had been reduced to the title of 'that bastard.'
Anyway, he had not used the Inverted Cross when we met that day, but since I had seen it before, I nodded at Shin Yu-hwan's question.
"I see. I think I know who you are talking about, boy. I have fought that bastard several times. I am certain."
"..."
"So, boy. What did that bastard say?"
I spaced out for a moment in panic before snapping back to my senses at Shin Yu-hwan's question.
I had expected them to have met before, but to think they had fought several times.
Moreover, the fact that Yu-hyeon was currently alive meant that all of those several fights had ended without a conclusion.
That meant Yu-hyeon was skilled enough to be on equal footing with Shin Yu-hwan.
I had thought he was strong, but I did not know it was to that extent.
Should I say that my evaluation of Yu-hyeon had jumped three levels in my mind just from Shin Yu-hwan's words?
‘But for a guy like that to have never appeared, it absolutely had to be an internal betrayal.’
Thanks to this, I could also be certain of the reason why Yu-hyeon had never appeared in the novel.
It made no sense that a character on par with Shin Yu-hwan had died without even taking on the role of a minor extra, right?
I thought I would have to talk to Yu-hyeon about this part separately later.
First of all, selling Yu-hyeon's name to Shin Yu-hwan to gain his trust regarding the Villain information came first.
"That guy told me that Villains would attack on the last day of the Practical Exam. I do not know why he told me either, but..."
"Ah, you do not need to worry about that, boy. I have a rough guess as to why he said that."
"Pardon?"
"I suppose it might be a turf war. For some reason, every time I ran into that bastard, he was killing Villains. The problem was that he also killed every single Civilian caught in the crossfire without exception."
"Ah..."
Upon hearing those words, I remembered a fact I had momentarily forgotten.
That the Reverse Heaven Sect was only friendly toward Ha Eun-ha, and because they held a chosen people ideology, they did not care in the slightest about the lives of Civilians.
Of course, it was a matter that had little relevance to me.
Because what mattered to me anyway were Heroes, not Civilians.
That was why I had joined hands with them even knowing what kind of group the Reverse Heaven Sect was.
‘But it is different from Shin Yu-hwan's perspective.’
To him, they were just Villains through and through, nothing more, nothing less.
Furthermore, judging from Shin Yu-hwan's reaction, there was one fact I could know for certain.
That I must absolutely not let him find out about my cooperative relationship with Yu-hyeon, no matter what.
‘It is obvious that I won't even have my bones left to recover if I get caught.’
Because his attitude toward him was clearly no different from how one would treat a mortal enemy.
I did not know the exact reason, but even if Shin Yu-hwan liked me, it would not end well if he found out about this fact.
As I internally resolved to never let my relationship with Yu-hyeon be discovered under any circumstances, Shin Yu-hwan spoke in a slightly displeased voice.
"I do not know why that bastard approached you, boy... but he probably approached you because you were the only one who went out. Under the circumstances, that is the most likely scenario."
"..."
"However, what you heard, boy, is probably true. So leave the last day to me."
"Thank you. Then I have one more minor favor..."
"Hmm?"
"Could you handle it in a flashy manner? So that it draws attention."
Shin Yu-hwan made an incomprehensible expression at my words.
However, this was an important matter when considering what was to come later.
Fortunately, Shin Yu-hwan nodded with a face indicating he understood.
"Well, it would probably turn out that way even if you did not ask. Since I am not the type to fight quietly."
"I thank you once again."
"Hahaha! Boy, what is there to thank me for? It is annoying to move according to a Villain bastard's words, but since this is also a job to catch Villains, it cannot be helped."
"Yes..."
"Besides, I also learned that that bastard moves in a group. Until now, I had only seen him operating alone."
For some reason, he seemed oblivious about the Reverse Heaven Sect.
I was worried if I had brought up the Reverse Heaven Sect unnecessarily, but it could not be helped.
Since they were bastards who revealed themselves to the world after some time passed in the novel anyway, I felt there would be no major issues.
After that, we talked a bit more about Yu-hyeon, and after a short while, the food we ordered came out.
Upon taking the first spoonful, it seemed his claim of it being a great restaurant was not a lie, as it was genuinely incredibly delicious.
It was shortly after we had started eating lunch like that.
The door to the restaurant, where it was only the two of us, opened, and several people entered.
"Fufu, I knew you would be here."
"Huh? Big Sister, what's this?"
"...Huh?"
Shin Yu-hwan and I had no choice but to stop eating and make flustered faces upon seeing the suddenly appearing Cha Yu-na and the guys behind her.