#삐약삐약 | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

dbgdbw · 2 years

Text

215화

일본행 (3)

To Japan (3)

The schedule for the ‘Korea’s Bak Yerim VS Iwahata Gakuto’ match was roughly like this:

After conducting an interview at the hotel, there would be a dinner as well; and after resting for a day, we would move to the Shizuokaran area on the second day. We’d look over the arena in advance while staying at the Shizuokaran dorm for a day, and after being given some time to adjust, the actual match would take place on the third day.

‘Then we just need to go to the Black Forest, take the stamina potion ingredients and bring them out, then return to Korea.’

Though there was a sightseeing event scheduled for after the match, in the event that Japan lost, the atmosphere would be ruined, so to hell with sightseeing, we’d be best off leaving immediately. Of course, we were planning to only reveal the truth about the stamina potion ingredient once we had returned to Korea. Based on Shishio’s demeanor, it seemed likely that he’d throw a fit, but that was for the Seseung Guild Leader-nim to take care of, naturally.

The hotel room I was shown to was spacious. Three bedrooms and two bathrooms, as well as a wide living area and a kitchen. There was even a separate study. Though we’d been assigned a room per person, since I only had F-rank stats, it was decided that I’d be rooming with Yoohyunie. Yerimie was unhappy about the arrangement and expressed as much, but since it wasn’t like we were at home, it seemed inappropriate to be sharing the same room. Though the roominess was still approximately the same as home.

- 삐약!

After entering the hotel room, Chirpie immediately beelined towards the living room sofa. Velare followed as well. Curling her body into a loose coil, 퉁, she sprang her way on top of the sofa.

- 삐약삐약.

As though it was looking for the remote, Chirpie peered around at its surroundings. It wouldn’t be able to understand, because it’d be in Japanes… Well, actually, did it even know Korean? While Yoohyunie stepped into the bedroom with my luggage and I rifled through the drawers to look for the TV remote, the door burst open and Yerimie entered the room.

“Ahjussi!”

I’d thought the door had locked automatically. Had I been wrong.

“About the Ama Guild Leader.”

Grinning, Yerimie continued.

“I just heard from Hyuna unnie, that ‘Shishio’ means ‘lion king.’”

“...what?”

“King of lions. Ro-ar.”

Eh, hold on. Lion. That, the design on the guild uniforms, had seemed to resemble a lion.

“...not even a nickname, but he… introduced it as his name?”

“Yeah, apparently so.”

Pfft, an incredulous laugh leaked out, inadvertently. Oh, what the hell. I was the one getting secondhand embarrassment. For real? Really, it’s… Lion king? Not like an alias he used as a Hunter, but just? Really? ‘Lion King’?

When I recalled the obsessive attitude he’d had towards Peace at the airport, it became even harder to hold myself back. Ah, shit. How could I face mister Lion King’s face after this reveal. I felt like I might immediately burst into laughter the very next time I saw him. For real. Cough.

“B-but even so, mocking, ahem, someone’s name, isn’t……”

“The expression you’re making isn’t convincing at all, ahjussi.”

Ah, really. Fuck. Grabbing a cushion, I buried my face into it. Man, this was someone who was already old enough, that. He absolutely wasn’t in his teens, and handily hopped past the twenties with a face that’d looked as though he was nearing thirty. As I recollected mister Lion King’s face, the laughter began to creep up again.

Ah hell, and we still had to go to the dinner banquet later, too. Should I say that I had a stomachache.

“Hyung?”

Apparently having emerged to the living room, I could hear Yoohyunie’s questioning voice. Unable to vocalize a reply, I shook my hand instead to indicate that I was fine. It’s just ‘cause he’s laughing, Yerimie told him.

- 삐약뺙!

“H-hold on, Chirpie.”

I found the remote and turned the TV on for it. And then.

[ This is a photo of Hunter Han Yoohyun from when he was seventeen years old! ]

[ Oooh~ ]

…what? This was definitely a Japanese broadcast, so why was Yoohyunie, no wait, of course he would be shown. But why seventeen? Flustered, I quickly turned my eyes towards the TV. The picture that was being shown on-screen must have been taken from afar, because it was small and difficult to see. Crumbling buildings could be seen in the surroundings, as though a Dungeon break had occurred.

The Japanese people on TV chattered away while subtitles I couldn’t read appeared on the screen. What was that supposed to say. Soon after, other pictures and videos of Yoohyunie from before were shown as well. Those were… ones that I also recalled seeing, in Korea.

[ A highschooler S-rank Hunter, who controls flames! Back then, it was remarkable. ]

[ Because I completely fell for him as I laid eyes on him, I still like Yoohyun-goon sooo so much! ]

This time, it was a video that had been taken recently. Letting out the breath I’d momentarily been holding, I listened in on the twittering voices again.

It… Uh… It, seemed that the atmosphere was vastly different from the broadcasts happening in Korea. More importantly, my dongsaeng is a college student. He’s twenty. So why were they keep going on about highschooler this, highschooler that. And what was with those incredible words of praise. The dazzlingly radiant… gorgeous… young man of this generation… Ah, well, my dongsaeng was handsome, yes……

[ Ah, as for myself, it’s definitely Sung Hyunjae-nim. He has the air of an adult, and a dangerous appeal, should I say. He’s so cool. ]

[ That’s right, that’s right. He’s basically! Perfection itself! Like a god of thunder who descended from the heavens, right. ]

…at the continued praise, it felt like my hands and feet were going to curl up permanently from cringing. Even if Sung Hyunjae was a hotshot, wasn’t that a bit too much. Moreover, he was a different nation’s Hunter. Why were they acting like that? Especially when I’d expected them to be disparaging, since we’d come here for a fight.

[ Bak Yerim-yang! She’s so cute~! A young middle-school girl who’s an S-rank Hunter! Wielding control over ice with a cute face like that, the gap moe is so lovely! ]

Even Yerimie, who was lined up as the opposing fighter, was being showered with praise. Seeing them doggedly go on and on about young girl this and young girl that was enough to make me feel embarrassed for them. Similar things were discussed about Yoohyunie as well. Then, when I naturally started becoming mentioned as well, ack.

Unable to sit through it, I changed the channel.

[ Dragon! A golden dragon! ]

[ There’s no one else more suited to be called ‘beautiful’! And beside him is the owner of the Forge. An incredible master~ The owner of the golden hands(2) that’s capable of crafting S-rank weapons! ]

[ Ho, Hunter Han Yoohyun’s form can be seen there as well. What a cold expression. ]

[ A young man as cold as ice. Ah, looking at his hyung beside him— ]

Fuck, why, again. I changed the channel to something else, but even this time, it was still a program on the Hunters that had arrived from Korea. But at least this channel seemed to be calmly discussing both Sung Hyunjae and Moon Hyuna. Wow, for real. That they were popular, really was true.

“I thought I saw me on TV too, what did they say?”

Yerimie, who didn’t have a translation Item, asked. Because translation Items were so rare, Haeyeon only had two others besides the one I’d received, and one of them had been left behind as a precautionary measure. The remaining one was meant to be shared between Yoohyunie and Yerimie, but right now, Yoohyunie was in possession of it. Additionally, Noah was acting as an interpreter for Myungwoo.

“Um… That you’re cute, and pretty.”

Young middle-school girl… I couldn’t get those words out, after all. It was shocking, how much they could praise not only Yerimie, but also Yoohyunie, who would’ve been a complete unknown to them. I did go around talking about how great and amazing my dongsaeng was, sure, but to that extent…… And rather than keep it to themselves, they actually said out loud that he’s a beauti, ahem, uh, um.

How remarkable, these Japanese people. Though being praised was something to be thankful for.

Giving Chirpie the remote, I went far away from the TV. Yoohyunie would’ve understood all of that too, but his expression still remained unperturbed. Ice prince, indeed—wait, fuck, that wasn’t it, I’d already been infected.

“They said that the view from the rooftop pool here is really good. And that you can clearly see the rainbow bridge from there, too.”

Yerimie began trying to coax me into going swimming together. You’re overflowing with energy, huh.

“We still have the dinner, on top of the conference lined up for today. Let’s go tomorrow morning. They said that we’d be leaving for Shizuoka after first eating lunch.”

“In the morning? Then, should we go out tonight? Since we’re already here, I wanted to go sightseeing too!”

Since it was her first time in Japan, of course she’d want to look around. Though I preferred to just laze about in the hotel, myself.

“Do you want to go with Yoohyunie? I’ll lend you the translating Item. I can just go stay with Noah in the meanwhile.”

At my suggestion, both of their expressions twisted simultaneously.

“I don’t intend to go do something like sightseeing.”

“I’ll just go and come back with Hyuna unnie.”

I’d thought that they’d gotten a lot friendlier than when they’d first met, but kids were difficult after all. I wished I could see Yoohyunie, Yerimie, and Noah-ssi getting along and going here and there together while smiling, hand-in-hand. Even just imagining it for a moment was enough to warm my heart. What a lovely image.

Since I felt guilty about turning down Yerimie’s plans of going out, and because I felt that I shouldn’t just stay holed up in the hotel room after coming all this way, we decided to at least look around the hotel together. Leaving Chirpie in Velare’s care, and only holding Peace, we slipped out of the room. Every time we came across a hotel employee, they would politely greet us with a bow. The hotel staff in Hong Kong had been courteous as well, but over here, the excessive degree of scraping and bowing that went on was enough to make you feel awkward.

Making mention of a dessert specialist that had been specially brought in, a hotel staff member recommended a lounge to us, and so we headed off in that direction. It was supposedly a place that put out traditional desserts, yet the lounge interior appeared to be modeled after a western-style castle. I was barely able to suppress the laugh that bubbled up again, as soon as I saw the huge lion crest banner that hung stretched across one side.

Mister Lion King, hadn’t he built it as though it were his own personal castle. The guild building resembled a medieval fortress, too.

“This chair’s pretty! I should’ve brought a doll with me.”

Yerimie poked at an ornate chair, wistful. The table setting did seem like it would pair well with a large doll that wore a dress. I felt like Yerimie would enjoy traveling in Europe—was the Château de Versailles still around. It’d been half-destroyed pre-regression, but it should be fine so far, right.

“Hunter Bak Yerim.”

Before we could even take a seat, someone approached us. It was a man wearing Japanese clothes, with a sword strapped onto his person. He really clashed with the backdrop.

“I am that Iwahata Gakuto.”

“Yes, how d’you do.”

Bobbing her head in greeting, Yerimie resumed fiddling with the decorations on the table.

“Yerim-ah, this is the person you’ll be fighting.”

“I know.”

Ah, so you did know. Gakuto’s lips pressed into a flat line.

“To ignore your equal match opponent like this, impertinent you are.”

“Said hello, didn’t I. And why do all the Hunters here talk like that? Even Guild Leader-nim uses honorifics(3) with me when we’re outside.”

At least in mister Lion King’s case, he was both a guild leader and significantly older; but it seemed that, Gakuto, who only appeared to be in his early twenties or so, had gotten on her nerves with his banmal(3) yapping. Then again, even if Yerimie was young, she was an S-rank Hunter who was here on formal invitation. Particularly since she was guesting for a public occasion and not a private one, he really shouldn’t be conducting himself that way.

“Hey, Gakuto. If you don’t wanna change the match location to this hotel, just quietly keep walking.”

“A bratty wench like you, who’s barely been three months—”

쾅!

Gakuto disappeared from my view in an instant. When I reflexively turned towards the location the sound originated from, I could see Gakuto embedded into a wall, past a destroyed decorational pillar.

“Han Yoohyun! That one’s mine, you hear!”

With Yerimie’s shout, I was finally able to decipher what had happened. So Yoohyunie had taken care of it, huh. The sound of clattering could be heard as the Japanese people scattered here and there around the lounge all simultaneously rose from their seats. The corner of his lips quirking up, Yoohyunie turned his gaze upon them.

“As a guild leader, I can hardly be expected to stand idly by as some pest besmirches a precious guild member.”

“I said it was mine, you know.”

Yerimie grumbled, making an ugh sound and scrunching up her face at the use of ‘precious.’ Gakuto, straightening from where he’d been forcibly flung into the wall, dusted off the powdered rock clinging onto his person. Since he was an S-rank, still, it seemed that it hadn’t had any lasting effects. I turned to a hotel staff member who had frozen in place while en route to us.

“What would you recommend from here?”

I should at least pack up some snacks(5) before the lounge got destroyed. But Gakuto didn’t try anything further. After glowering fiercely at Yerimie and Yoohyunie, he merely retreated back into his herd.

“It was my turn this time, but he didn’t bite.”

Mourning the lost opportunity, Yerimie sat down in her seat. Yoohyunie wore a face that seemed to indicate his mood had improved somewhat, at least.

“What, did you get into some sort of trouble already?”

Apparently having heard the commotion, Moon Hyuna appeared in the lounge. Looking at the impression in the decor that Gakuto’s body had made, mumbling you should’ve done it when I was here too, she came over to our side and sat down.

“Han Yoohyun? Bak Yerim? Looking at your expression, it was Haeyeon’s Guild Leader-nim, huh.”

“It was supposed to be mine, but I got intercepted. Unnie, would you like to go shopping tonight? There should be a Hunter market here too, right. And there should be a lot of Items that can’t be found in Korea.”

At Yerimie’s words, Moon Hyuna shook her head and narrowed her eyes.

“The state of things here is about three times worse than in Korea. When Korea, too, talks up a load of shit about ‘Items that suit female Hunters,’ Japan’s like double, no, five times? Worse, in comparison. Those lunatics attach ribbons and lace to a perfectly fine piece of equipment, slap a colorful design on it too, and saying that it’s a special Item, just for female Hunters!, they hike up the price.”

“Whaa(6), really? Even though that would just make it cumbersome and easier for monsters to spot?”

“Super popular with female Hunters! is the bullshit they use to attempt to make an appeal, I thought I was going to lose my mind. And all of the useful Items are snatched up by the big guilds to begin with, too. At least in Korea, trade between guilds is reduced as much as possible so preference can be given to the market. There’s no such concept, here.”

So the market itself was lacking in vitality, she told us. That, though there might still be some merit for a mid-rank, a high-rank Hunter wouldn’t benefit at all from the experience.

Noah and Myungwoo came down to check on what had happened as well, and soon the long table was set with teas and snacks. Myungwoo, who had slept the whole flight here, gave a small yawn.

“Why don’t you sleep a bit more? It doesn’t seem like they’d be able to say anything to you, even if you skipped out on the scheduled events.”

“I was just going to go to the sauna later. It’s supposed to use hot spring water.”

“A sauna sounds good. Is Japan’s similar to Korea’s, I wonder.”

A soak taken in a public bath was the best, after all. Though I’d only been able to go very rarely, for a long while. Since there were only a few guests, the water should be clean, regardless of my timing. Maybe I should stop by the sauna tonight before going to sleep, too. As I began imagining the hot, humid atmosphere, it felt like my body was already starting to relax.

Yerimie and Moon Hyuna, saying that he should accompany them tonight, was coaxing Noah into going out with them. Nodding his head, Noah said that he would return with souvenirs for both myself and Myungwoo. It might be good for Yoohyunie to go, too. But then, there wouldn’t be anyone here to protect… well, there was Sung Hyunjae, but.

‘Now that I think about it, it’s been quiet.’

Though there was no way he wouldn’t have heard about the commotion in the lounge. I pulled out my phone despite myself, then put it back. Maybe I should send a text to Section Chief Song, that nothing much had happened yet.

A press conference had been arranged prior to the dinner banquet. When Sung Hyunjae appeared, it was with the Amaterasu Guild Leader. Had the two had a separate meeting of their own. They may have been discussing how to coordinate Dungeon maintenance for the future, or something.

When mister Lion King’s eyes and mine met, I hurried to put on a bright smile. I’m just smiling because I’m happy to see you, Shishio-ssi. Like this, it wouldn’t seem like I was deriding him, right. I’m just smiling, just smiling. Thankfully, apparently my expression wasn’t too weird, because mister Lion King reciprocated my smile.

Though Yoohyunie and Yerimie were both looking at me like I was acting kind of strange, well.

Now that I was looking closer, Shishio-ssi’s hairstyle had been curated to resemble a lion’s mane, huh. So cool, very complementary. But since he still had looks worthy of an S-class and had a western feel to his features, it seemed okay enough. Yes, it was fine. Very lion king-esque. Gotta make sure I don’t laugh.

At the press conference, Yerimie and Gakuto sat side-by-side at the center. Other than a reporter who spewed some deranged words about the two ‘suiting each other’ receiving an impromptu shower, it proceeded without much incident.

Then, at dinner, mister Lion King appeared while dressed up like some kind of emperor. That he didn’t show up with a fur-lined cloak was a relief. By this point, I was beginning to acknowledge that at least he seemed to be having fun with it. Peace being given his own separate seat and served specially obtained, fresh high-grade monster meat had appealed to me, at least.

‘Though the constant staring is uncomfortable.’

As Peace had refused the proffered seat in favor of perching on top of my lap, the intense gaze was burning on not only Peace, but also me by proximity. My dongsaeng’s expression was growing more and more chilling as it went on, too. Don’t push it too far. He’d even gone so far as to switch his seat to occupy the spot in front of me.

“The 3Ws, I’ve heard of as well. A pair of white wolves, very excellent. Haeyeon is truly blessed. It’s enough to make me envious.”

“As they number many, they will not be difficult to acquire.”

“Even so, a lion is still the best, after all.”

Ah, certainly, mister Lion King. It seemed that, using the horned flame lion Dungeon as bait, we might be able to reap another bountiful harvest. Thinking of it that way, a tiny little bit of goodwill towards the Amaterasu Guild Leader blossomed inside me. Since he was basically the king of Japan, he’d probably have a lot of nice things. Thank you very much for the Thunderbird’s Attire. Got any more SS-rank equipment.

After eating dinner and soaking in the water for a while, it was suddenly way past nine o’clock. Lights twinkled in the complete darkness that had fallen beyond the window. As it was still too early to sleep, I was wondering if I should watch some TV, when a text came in.

[ To my Partner. I request a one-on-one meeting. ]

It was Sung Hyunjae. The time of reckoning had arrived, it seemed.

-----

(1) 미소녀 / 미청년 → ‘young lady’ / ’young man’ respectively, but the primary implication is that they’re not yet legal (minor (미성년자))

(2) 황금의 손 → colloquially called 금손 also, basically slang for ‘golden hands’/’hands that have the gold touch,’ used to describe anyone who’s a ‘master of their craft’ (sees a lot of internet usage, like u’d call a rly famous fanartist/writer 금손님 lol

(3) ‘존댓말’ / ‘반말’ respectively; i was planning on releasing this doc w/ 216, but then i got to the confrontation scene here & realized the significance of what they’re discussing would fly right over everyone’s heads w/o an explanation abt those concepts, so i’m also dropping this here for now