Chapter 45

Before heading back home, Jiyun and I finished our meal at a family restaurant.

Jiyun got the kid’s special and I got the regular pork cutlet set.

As expected, the family restaurant lived up to its setting as one of the hidden restaurants.

‘I didn’t recognize it from the game, but this is what it tastes like.’

The outside was crispy and crumbly, with just the right amount of crunch that wouldn’t hurt your mouth.

Juicy, flavorful meat that explodes like a bomb when you bite into it, with just a hint of grease and a brown sauce that cuts through the greasiness and turns it into a savory flavor.

The flavors were back-to-basics, but a few notches above. It was eye-opening.

Because I was like this too…….

Luckily, Jiyun really enjoyed the food she ordered.

Come to think of it, there were some hidden restaurants that served food with special effects, right?

I’ll have to check it out later.

“Jiyun is full…….”

Jiyun, who had eaten so much food that her tiny stomach was sticking out like a sore thumb, giggled happily as she patted her stomach with sleepy eyes.

I ended up holding the teddy bear that I had won as a prize earlier.

Jiyun, who was squirming and hugging the teddy bear, seemed to be having a hard time, so I took over.

As I walked out onto the sidewalk with Jiyun on my back, who was starting to doze off, I saw a sedan waiting for me.

Seeing me, a member of the organization got out of the driver’s seat and opened the back door.

Judging by their badges, they were the security team that had been protecting us for the day.

I set Jiyun down first and climb into the front seat to make sure she’s comfortable.

“You’ve had a long day Master.”

Han Seo-joon said as he got back into the driver’s seat.

“The hard work was done by the bodyguard team protecting us in the back.”

The bodyguard smirks at my comment.

“That certainly seems to be the case.”

The sedan moved slowly.

“By the way, what did you do with the suspects or people you subdued today?”

As Jiyun and I walked around the downtown area, there were only four people arrested by the security team, including the first one.

“All four have been transported to a nearby compound, and a technician will be digging for information tomorrow.”

“……There shouldn’t be any problems.”

The fact that we were targeted by four people, despite the fact that it was almost a surprise outing, meant that either they had been keeping an eye on us all along, or some inside information had leaked out.

Of course, as long as the technicians were out there, it wouldn’t matter.

Just like that, the sedan returned to the mansion.

After getting out I opened the door to take Jiyun to her room and saw her rubbing her eyes and stirring.

“Jiyun is sleepy…….”

I smile and pull Jiyun into my arms as she dozes off in my arms.

At the front door of the mansion, the maid in charge of Jiyun, Alessia, is waiting for us.

“Thank you for your service, Master and Lady.”

Alessia bows her head in greeting to me as I carefully lift Jiyun into her arms.

“Ugh……Alessia…….”

Jiyun rubs her face in Alessia’s arms and begins to doze off.

Alessia smiles at the sight.

“You must be very tired, young lady.”

“After all, we haven’t had much time to play outside. By the way, this doll is also Jiyun’s…….”

Alessia was already holding Jiyun with both arms.

“……I’ll leave it with another maid.”

“Thank you for your consideration. Then, may I take the young lady first, as I need to clean her up before she sleeps.”

“Please.”

“Miss, you’re welcome to sleep, but you’ll need to bathe.”

“Okay…….”

With that, Alessia, who had asked for my permission, left first, and I went back to my room, took a quick shower, and then got into bed and turned on my cell phone.

Today was supposed to be the day that Young-jae was supposed to go to the dungeon with the Ranger Club, so the result should be here.

I opened the messenger and saw a message from Young-jae.

[Young-jae: They said they’re coming to visit once on Monday. What should I do?]

Judging by the time it was sent, it was just a few minutes ago.

[Me: I think that’s enough for now. You don’t need to go there from tomorrow because it could be dangerous if you stay there and get exposed.]

[Young-jae: Really? Then I can train with the others?]

[Me: Probably]

According to Young-jae, they’re planning to come to our club on Monday to check our power.

If that’s the case, I just need to be more assertive and punch them in the nose.

The next day as I head to the dining room for breakfast as usual, I see my father already seated at the table, reading the newspaper.

“Did you have fun with Jiyun yesterday?”

I can’t see his expression through the newspaper, but his voice is much gentler than usual.

“Yes. Thanks to your consideration, I was able to play happily with Jiyun. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. That’s what siblings are supposed to do.”

I can see a smile tugging at the corners of my father’s mouth as he lowers the newspaper.

“As a member of the Corleone family, you must always put your family first and cherish them most, just as you did yesterday. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir…….I will keep that in mind.”

“By the way, I spoke with father-in-law. He wants to see you once in the near future, but he hasn’t contacted you?”

That’s right. I had forgotten that I had borrowed their name.

“…….As soon as I’m free, I’ll reach out to them and see if I can come visit.”

“Yes, the other side is family, after all. You’ll have to visit them sometime.”

“Yes dad.”

Hanwol Group, one of the largest conglomerates in Korea, was also the business family my mother grew up in.

I might be indebted to the Hanwol Group in my future life at the Academy, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to pay them a visit.

I was thinking about when I should go when I heard the sound of footsteps pounding down the hallway.

“Miss, you’ll hurt yourself if you run!”

“It’s okay! Big Brother will protect me!”

Jiyun’s voice came from the hallway.

Soon, Jiyun, hugging a large teddy bear, enters the dining room and smiles brightly.

“Papa, big brother, good morning!”

Today she had cute twintails and the sight brought a smile to my father’s and my lips.

“Okay, since the whole family is here, let’s eat breakfast.”

“Yes.”

“Yes!”

And so it began, a breakfast no different from any other family’s. After eating breakfast and talking about our daily lives and small things, we went back to our own lives.

He for his family.

I for my academy life.

And Jiyun for……homework.

Stepping out of the mansion and into the waiting sedan, I looked out the window at the scenery.

The weather seemed to be clearer than usual.

“You must be in a good mood today.”

Han Seo-jun’s voice suddenly came from the driver’s side.

“Hmm? Is that so?”

I ask, and he nods.

“Yes, sir. Your face looks brighter than usual. You must have enjoyed your weekend a lot.”

I had a great weekend: getting the Thousand Poisons Bead, hanging out with Jiyun, and making plans to mess with the Ranger Club guys.

I still smile when I think about the events I organized.

“……It was fun.”

“Glad to hear it.”

* * *

Today, we didn’t have any duels scheduled for the afternoon.

According to Ji-hyun, the homeroom teacher, there would be no duels during the second week, except for the duel for the first examination.

“Anyway, assholes these days. Kids need to fight to grow up healthy.”

The look on her face was one of disappointment, as she believed that cadets at the Academy only grow in skill through crisis, combat, and real-world experience.

But then she looked at me and smiled.

“Right?”

Ji-hyun is looking at me with a look of anticipation.

I only shrug my shoulders slightly so that the other kids don’t notice.

She’s an accomplice to today’s events and she was looking forward to the event in a few minutes.

“Well, have fun in class.”

Having said all she had to say, Ji-hyun walked out of the classroom, and it wasn’t long before the first period began.

The first period was Monsterology.

It wasn’t a class I was particularly interested in, as I already knew the characteristics and names of many of the monsters in the game.

Then, as usual, I was browsing the school community site through my smart lens.

“Eugene. Eugene Han.”

The teacher in front of me called out.

“Yes.”

I immediately closed the internet window and looked at the teacher.

“Is your class not interesting?”

“……I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

“You’ve been bashing it since the beginning. Maybe it’s not interesting because you already know the material?”

Apparently, they mistook my standing still while watching the community for bashing.

I glance over to check the board and shake my head in denial.

“That’s not true.”

“Ho-ho……then why don’t you explain what’s so unusual about the minotaurs that I just asked about?”

Minotaur…….

“It is an entity that appears in Grasslands dungeons as well, but usually in Labyrinth-type dungeons. Its characteristic is that if you wave a cloth-like object in front of it, it will charge in excitement, so it’s best to take advantage of that.”

The number of minotaurs I’ve killed in the game was in the triple digits. How could I not know about their characteristics?

In fact, when the instructor heard my explanation, he could only open his mouth in confusion.

However, the instructor shook his head again and regained his composure.

“Well, then. I assume you’re aware of the byproducts of hunting minotaurs?”

Byproducts…….

“The minotaur’s horns are usually used to make weapons. The hides are made into armor, and the axes are reprocessed into ingots called ‘labyrinth iron’.”

“Ha! If that’s all you know, you’re wrong! It’s not well known, but the most valuable of the minotaur’s byproducts is──”

“You mean the ‘Thread of Arachne’?”

No way, how could I not know that.

“The ‘Thread of Arachne’, which marks the dungeon’s escape route just by using it. Unlike the Return Stone, which allows you to leave the dungeon immediately, this item only marks the escape route.”

Apparently, the instructor was trying to get me to make a mistake……but given my playtime, I’d say he had the wrong opponent.

“It’s not a teleportation or magic item, so it’s a useful item for people who don’t have magic and in situations where they can’t use magic, that’s all.”

The instructor now stood completely still.

The eyes of the children turn to me, but at the same time, the bell rings, signaling the end of class, and their attention turns to the topic of lunch.

Yeah, why mess with someone who’s standing still?

It was lunchtime so I quickly grabbed a bite to eat and headed for the break room, but then…

Mr. Eugene, someone outside asked me to give this to you.”

“Huh?”

[挑戰狀]

“What kind of kanji is this, is it a love letter or something?”

“It’s……a battlefield challenge.”

“What?”

A battlefield challenge at this time of year…….

I guess this world won’t leave me alone.

chapter-45
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