Chapter 188: Chapter 188

"Thought you'd come quickly, but what took so long?"

"Had some work, so it became like that. Did you wait long?"

Lee Hyunwoo waves his hands saying it didn't take very long.

Though briefly interrupted, it's still technically lunch time.

So I sat down again and resumed the stopped meal.

"There were quite many guests. Plus they were the Dean's guests."

"I see. But weren't you just going to guide them and come back?"

Right. I also thought I'd guide them to the dean's office and come back quickly.

At Lee Hyunwoo's question, I continued eating while conveying what happened earlier.

British students' advance visit and their supervisor Emily Shaw.

Who her father was, and finally the part about sparring with her.

"...Sparring, you say? With a British A-rank ability user?"

As expected, where Lee Hyunwoo reacted first was the sparring part.

Who else but another guy crazy about sparring would show it so obviously?

"Even that ability user is daughter of former British S-rank Bernard Shaw."

"Yes. Perhaps because of that, her base was very solid. Enough to potentially become Britain's S-rank."

Cases often occur where children tarnish heroic parents' names.

Parents died honorably in past battles, but children only cause trouble.

Or some exist who do terrible things relying on parents' prestige.

But Emily was a person befitting the position of 'Bernard Shaw's daughter.'

Though currently conflicted between revenge and duty,

Therefore placed before a wall unable to advance forward,

I also subtly showed the path, and she'll eventually realize too.

'And the moment she's free from that, she'll grow one more step.'

Having many S-ranks is good. Means comrades to struggle together.

Already tired of being dispatched to other regions, but that location becoming other countries?

Might desperately want to quit S-rank again.

While finishing lunch and clearing up, Lee Hyunwoo casually speaks.

I think I know why he's calling now. So I tried preempting.

"You're not asking if you could spar with Emily, are you?"

"Um... no, how did you know that?"

Know what? Your expression was different from when I mentioned sparring.

That Lee Hyunwoo who deals with everything clearly thinking about something seriously? ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by nοvelfire.net

One hundred percent. No, one thousand percent sparring-related topic.

"Didn't you say she didn't immediately return to Britain?"

"Right. Rather, from today until Joint Academy completion. So she'll stay in Korea until officially accepting students. Local adaptation or something."

Though wondering why with the cheat item called portals,

Considering astronomical money breaks with one portal use, it's understandable.

From Britain's perspective, students should be seen as unscratched lottery tickets.

Hope they achieve good results, though they were carefully selected and sent.

But other countries are the same and human affairs are unpredictable.

"Then Emily Shaw will continue staying in Korea."

When I nod, Lee Hyunwoo makes an excited expression.

"Since the Examiner called her an excellent skilled person, I became more curious. Plus she's not too overwhelming an opponent like the Examiner, so we might both be able to do our best?"

"You're not overconfident, are you? Emily's skills aren't ordinary either."

Excluding S-ranks like me, even if A-rank,

Receiving Lee Hyunwoo's sword head-on is very burdensome work.

Even last time, Kang Minseong proposed becoming his disciple.

But Lee Hyunwoo confused Kang Minseong with these words:

"Except for receiving examinations from the Examiner, I want to accomplish things alone!"

If weapon-type, should know the prestige Kang Minseong's sword holds.

Still refusing means having confidence in his own skills.

From my perspective, Lee Hyunwoo had sufficient reason for that.

However, being too careless relying on that is absolutely forbidden.

Belief in oneself can conversely become a wall blocking oneself.

So when I subtly gave warning, Lee Hyunwoo waved his hands.

"Absolutely not that. Overconfidence? I just want to experience that intensity where both me and opponent reveal everything and fight."

Opponent's intensity. Well, Lee Hyunwoo hasn't experienced much of that.

When sparring with me, no possibility of seeing such appearance.

Though Suhyeon has similar level, seems unsatisfied with just her.

"...Got it. Don't know if it'll work, but I'll try arranging a meeting once."

"Ooh! Thank you, Examiner! This is really exciting!"

Reason for accepting the proposal isn't just for Lee Hyunwoo.

Perhaps this sparring could help Emily too.

Since she swallowed pride and came first, should do this much.

"...Sparring, you say?"

Next day. I visited Emily who said she found lodging nearby.

Initially she welcomed me warmly, but shows troubled appearance when I mention the visit reason.

"Is there some problem?"

"Ah, that... actually I received a warning yesterday."

"Yes. The reason was sparring with another country's S-rank without permission. There's our military power exposure, and conversely could look like our country's intention to spy on Korea's military power. When small misunderstandings accumulate between countries, trust often crumbles, doesn't it?"

That's true, but when the parties involved said okay, why is the top causing trouble?

If Korea's side complained, I could at least go argue,

But unfortunately it's that country's affair, so nothing to say from this side.

"Then go report to superiors now. Say this time I'm the one proposing. And the target isn't S-rank but A-rank like you. Call it ability exchange and that side will accept."

A-rank requesting versus S-rank requesting are worlds apart.

Moreover, previously felt like visitor Emily's side committed rudeness,

But this time conversely I'm requesting, so nothing strange at all.

Did Emily think similarly to me?

Touching her chin pondering, she soon opens her lips.

"Certainly... saying that way, superiors would accept too. Understood. Since I received something, it's right to accept your request. Who did you say the opponent is?"

"Korea Ability User Academy first-year, called Lee Hyunwoo."

"But already A-rank?"

Emily's expression saying that was clearly 'Amazing.'

She herself must have reached A-rank through tremendous effort and continued advancing,

But some male student who's just first-year already has A-rank.

But from what I know, this woman also reached A-rank at similar age to Lee Hyunwoo?

Doesn't seem like reason to react amazed or surprised.

"Looking at him requesting sparring with me, he's not fuzzy rookie A-rank either."

"Probably so. He's a friend I continuously watch over."

"Is that so? Envious. Having S-rank continuously watching over consistently."

"Thanks to that, I'm very tired. You don't know how much he clings."

"That's curious too. A-rank who doesn't get exhausted and collapse from sparring with S-rank."

While having various conversations appreciating her coolly accepting this side's request,

The phone in my pocket started vibrating roughly.

Glancing at the screen, 'Irina's name was filling it largely.

Sighing, I parted with Emily to make the call.

Anyway it's vacation season and the Joint Academy isn't completed either.

From tomorrow she'll come to the Academy to spar with Lee Hyunwoo.

Thanks to that, Lee Hyunwoo's attention will turn from me to her for a while.

Seems I can focus solely on Bronze friends who show no signs of escaping.

Ah, wait. I'm answering.

[Who's that woman you were just meeting?]

...Huh? Wait. What did you just say? No, more than that?!

Not mishearing. Definitely Suhyeon's voice.

Wondering if I was mistaken, I hurriedly checked the phone screen.

...What? The call definitely came from Irina's phone?

"Suhyeon. Are you with Irina?"

[Please answer, you looked very close with the Examiner... Hey, give me some. No! It's my phone so I'll answer! Ah! Hello!? Seojin oppa. Honestly tell me. Are we not enough?]

Not enough what? Already overflowing and problematic.

More than that, seems like a big misunderstanding happened.

I'm not someone who ate awareness with rice soup either.

I expected why Suhyeon and Irina suddenly called saying such things.

Just one curious point - how exactly did they know?

"Absolutely not that. Forbid strange imaginations. More than that, where are you two now?"

[Turn your head left. No, not that left, my standard left. Yes, like that. And look up slightly.]

Following Irina's words, Suhyeon and Irina were really standing there.

Too clear an angle to call accidentally passing by coincidence.

Did these girls perhaps even tail me?

[Don't misunderstand. At least I'm not such a pathetic woman. Just happened to feel oppa's energy passing nearby. So I followed to surprise oppa, but saw oppa conversing with some strange woman.]

So you tailed me to surprise me.

[Anyway... Ah. Hey! Wait! I'm on the phone... Euk— ...Examiner. What Irina said is correct, right? You're not planning to keep another woman beside us two, are you?]

I feel it. Red Witch's energy rising somewhere.

Decided to quickly resolve this misunderstanding before receiving more.

[Ah, wait! It's my phone! ...Yes, oppa.]

"Bring Suhyeon and come right beside me."

They say misunderstandings and debts should be cleared immediately.