Kyoto Trip
Day 2 of the exchange meeting, late afternoon.
Jinhyuk, having tightly adjusted his backpack, let out an awkward smile.
"I'm not sure if it's okay for me to just up and leave like this."
"Of course it is. After all, your reason for visiting the exchange meeting was Muramasa, was it not? Now that you've obtained what you wanted, staying any longer would be a waste of time."
That morning, after eating until they were stuffed, Jintaegon had made the suggestion.
He said that if Jinhyuk wished, he could stay until the exchange meeting ended, but if not, he was free to leave early.
After about three seconds of contemplation, Jinhyuk had accepted the offer.
His goal was accomplished, and now he wanted to enjoy a bit of sightseeing in Kyoto.
"Thank you for bringing me to the exchange meeting. If the Chairman hadn't helped, I wouldn't have even gotten to see Muramasa."
"I should be the one thanking you. Thanks to you, our family was able to save face."
A brief moment of warm exchange of pleasantries between Jinhyuk and Jintaegon passed.
Jin Seo-hee, who had been standing behind, stepped forward.
"Check your phone once you leave the shrine. I've sent you vouchers for famous Kyoto hot spring inns and restaurants, as well as your return flight ticket. I also wrote down a few famous or personally recommended tourist spots."
Jinhyuk's eyes sparkled.
He was just feeling lost about where to book a hotel and where to start his sightseeing.
Jin Seo-hee had solved it all in one go.
"Thank you, Seo-hee. When I get back, I'll treat you to a nice dinner."
Jin Seo-hee, offering a faint smile, pointed to her bandaged forehead.
"No need to thank me. It's proper repayment for the favor. Of course, dinner separately is still on you."
"Pfft."
At the laughter coming from behind, Jin Seo-hee's brow furrowed.
She had been wondering why he was so quiet today.
"Grandfather. Just send Seo-hee off too. She seems to want to go to the inn together."
Seo-hee whirled around and growled at him.
Jin Seo-jun, who stepped forward to separate the two, offered a light greeting.
"Please visit Zenex when you have time. I'll prepare what you need."
"Thank you!"
Jin Seo-jun, who is slated to lead Zenex after Jintaegon.
Zenex is one of the world's top steel companies.
Since they produce the iron used in making weapons or armor, it seemed a day would come when he'd need their help.
"Then, I'll see you in Korea."
After saying goodbye to the Zenex people, he descended the stairs.
He had already said his goodbyes to Gaigen, Kyuto, and Sachika earlier.
Sachika had held Jinhyuk's hand and emphasized several times.
She said that when the cherry blossoms bloom, the shrine turns a beautiful pink, so he must come visit.
'I can't resist pink.'
To be honest, even without Sachika's request, he fully intended to visit.
The incredible kaiseki meal he had this morning was truly amazing.
"Hey, Yoo Jinhyuk!"
Hiyori, at the bottom of the stairs, waved her hand.
Hiyori called out to him as if they were childhood friends who'd known each other for decades.
"Why are you leaving so fast? At least have a meal and laze around a bit before you go."
That's probably what would have happened normally.
But right now, he had to go find the remaining swords.
"I'll come again later."
"Alright, alright. But answer me before you go. You're a Runner, right?"
"Yeah."
"Whoa. That's a straightforward answer. Thought you'd weasel out of it."
Hiyori, snickering, stretched out her hand.
"Nice to meet you, Runner. Let's climb hard from now on."
He smiled and shook her hand.
"But I'm surprised."
"About what?"
"I thought you'd ask for a fight before I left. That's why I was waiting."
"Puhahahaha!"
Hiyori held her stomach, laughing as if something was incredibly funny.
Contrary to her initial image, she was someone who laughed easily.
Finally getting her laughter under control, Hiyori shook her head.
"It's true I like fights, but I'm not so tactless as to point my spear at my benefactor. Even if it's a fight for mutual improvement. Well, even if I swung it, I probably wouldn't land a hit anyway."
Hiyori clenched both her fists.
"Of course, I'll properly smash your enemies for you, so just say the word anytime. I'll drop everything and go kill them."
Jinhyuk gave a thumbs up.
A ranker player who'd come running anytime.
He'd gained another reliable friend.
"See you later, then. Runner."
"Bye."
He waved until Hiyori climbed all the way up the stairs, then turned around.
And with light steps, he began his descent down the mountain.
Finally, the start of his free sightseeing in Kyoto.
An officetel located in Hannam-dong.
Chun Seyeon, having finished her shower, grabbed a beer and walked to the sofa.
The white foam rose with a pshh sound.
"Ahh!"
Seyeon let out a sigh of admiration after taking a sip.
Was there anything as delicious as a beer after finishing the day's work?
Seyeon, half-lying on the sofa, habitually opened Instagram.
Scrolling through absently, she was half-looking when—
Ding.
A notification appeared.
The news that Jin Seo-hee had posted a new story.
'Guess she's out playing somewhere again.'
Normally, she wouldn't have clicked.
She had no interest in whatever that Jin Seo-hee was doing.
But today, for some reason, she did.
Her finger clicked on Jin Seo-hee's Instagram.
And on the photo that appeared—
Crunch!
The beer can was instantly crushed.
The beer she had only taken one sip of.
Its contents spilled out, but she paid no mind.
Her eyes were glued to Jin Seo-hee's story.
'Why is she sitting there?'
She didn't know the reason.
The background was a first-class seat on a plane.
It was a photo of Jin Seo-hee sitting cozy next to Yoo Jinhyuk.
To Kyoto.
Only three words were written.
No reason was given for why they were going to Kyoto.
That only fueled more imagination.
'Why are the two of them going to Kyoto alone?'
The beer can, beyond being crushed, began to tear.
If the beer can had a voice, it would surely have said,
'What did I do wrong?'
After trembling like that for a while, Seyeon suddenly let out a snort.
'What am I doing? Of course they could be traveling together.'
She shrugged her shoulders and got up.
And walked to the trash can to throw away the shredded beer can.
"Of course they could what!! Men and women over seven shouldn't even sit together!!!"
Thinking she'd just toss it quietly, she instead spiked the beer can with a full swing.
Thanks to that, the perfectly fine upper half of the trash can flew far away.
"Hooooo."
She slowly controlled her breathing.
'Calm down.'
It would look too desperate to send a Katalk message asking right now.
'I have to hold back.'
Besides, she didn't even understand why she was reacting so explosively.
She needed to maintain her composure.
"Ugh, why am I holding back when I'm so frustrated!!"
Slapping the phone's touchpad, she sent a Katalk to Jinhyuk asking what he was up to.
And she stared at the stubborn, unread '1'.
Disappear. You have to disappear. Only after it disappears and he replies.
Only then could she sleep.
She waited like that for a moment.
Katalk!
A reply arrived from Jinhyuk.
Came to Kyoto for a trip.
Jinhyuk sent a photo taken at Kiyomizu-dera, a famous tourist spot.
Seyeon quickly straightened up and zoomed in on the photo to examine it.
No trace of anyone else was visible.
Wow, really? Are you traveling alone again?
She read it over two or three times, then pressed send.
Good. It felt natural.
I came to the exchange meeting with the Zenex people, but I wanted to do some sightseeing separately, so I came out on my own. If you know any good places to eat in Kyoto, please recommend them! I already have some recommendations, but I think even those won't be enough.
"Hoooooo."
Seyeon leaned back on the sofa and patted her chest.
Clenching her teeth, she checked Jin Seo-hee's story again.
Absolutely.
She posted that on purpose.
'I got played again today.'
She clenched her fist.
And firmly resolved.
Someday, she'd pay her back.
About Kyoto restaurants...
After that, she did her best to list restaurant names and reasons for recommendation.
So he wouldn't have to look at the restaurants someone else had recommended first.
Jinhyuk turned onto a walking path located beyond the temple.
Perhaps because it was away from the main tourist spots, it was a sparsely populated path.
His friends began to materialize one by one.
Jinhyuk and his friends, dressed in the kimono he had prepared in advance.
"Here, have one each."
He handed out the dango he had just bought.
It wasn't the taste he had imagined, but it was sweet and chewy, quite excellent.
They strolled side by side along the quiet walking path.
Jinhyuk looked over his friends one by one.
'Seira and Dark look like foreigners. Elia covered her ears with her hair, so that's fine. Momo is a child. Kancho...'
Kancho walked along, perking up her ears as if the dango was delicious.
Her bipedal walking was very unnatural, but from a distance, she would probably just look like a pet raccoon or something.
Of course, he couldn't help but be a bit nervous whenever people approached from the opposite side.
Without a single exception, all eyes were drawn their way.
'It's cheating.'
They say the clothes are less important than the person wearing them.
It was definitely her first time wearing a kimono, but the noble aura emanating from Seira was incredible.
It suited her so perfectly it was hard to believe it was possible.
She herself, however, was indifferent to such looks or attention and didn't care in the slightest.
Well, thanks to that, at least no eyes were on Kancho, so maybe it was for the best.
"It would be really beautiful when the cherry blossoms bloom."
Kyoto was full of cherry blossom trees everywhere.
As Sachika said, it would be spectacular if he came during the season.
"Chewwy bwossom? What's dat? Is it tasty?"
"It's a flower. It's pink and very pretty."
He showed her a photo on his phone, but since it wasn't edible, Kancho didn't seem very impressed.
"I would like to see it when the flowers are in full bloom."
Everyone's gaze turned.
It was unusual for Dark, who was usually indifferent to everything, to express her opinion so proactively.
And about flowers, of all things.
"You'll live long enough to see it."
"Cherry blossoms do not suit you."
"Puhyehehe! Did you drink alcohol since noon, or what?"
Despite the ensuing barrage of criticism, Dark did not argue.
She just reached out a hand toward a cherry blossom tree and raised the corner of her mouth.
"Everyone has at least one, they say. A memory related to flowers. Right?"
Dark asked back, looking at them.
Jinhyuk and the party became like honey-struck mutes, just staring at Dark.
'On the island of the one-eyed, the two-eyed are the abnormal ones.'
Jinhyuk nodded with sad eyes.
It wasn't that he didn't want to have such a memory.
What could he do when he never had the chance to make one?
"No answer, then."
Dark, leaving a one-line review of the party, shook her head.
Her expression said she didn't even want to talk.
Just as they were about to start walking again with a hint of bitterness—
"Huh? Where did Momo go?"
Momo wasn't visible.
Due to her Unique Trait 'Energy Suppression,' Momo's presence was below zero.
"It seems she has wun away! I will go catch her!"
Kancho made a solemn face, preparing to give chase.
At that moment.
KWA-BOOOOOOOM!!
A massive roar engulfed the area.
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T/N:
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