The Main Characters That Only I Know

Chapter 202:

Chapter 202

“What do you think of the two people you saw?”

“Raw gems with great potential. That’s the only thing that comes to my mind.”

The ones who received the praise were Kang Hye-rim and Kwon Jia, but Yu-hyun felt proud as if it was his own.

“Hye-rim unni is literally born with talent. She knows how to swing her sword in the most ideal way, how to attack so that it works best on the opponent. It’s not like someone taught her, judging by how crude her swordsmanship is. She learned it instinctively by herself.”

“What about Jia unni?”

“Jia unni is… hmm. To be honest, she’s the hardest one to evaluate. She clearly has a perfected swordsmanship. But it feels strangely out of place. Unlike Hye-rim unni, she’s not born with talent. Rather, she’s closer to someone who has trained for a very long time, repeating the same thing over and over again.”

Yu-hyun secretly admired her sharp insight.

She proved that she didn’t become a transcendent for nothing. With her keen eye, Seo Sumin could clearly judge the level of the opponent.

When it came to pure martial arts, her eyes were much more accurate than Yu-hyun’s.

“One side is instinctively displaying their innate talent. The other side is dealing with the situation with experience and knowledge that they have hammered into their body for a long time. They are literally people who are extremely biased towards talent and effort.”

Seo Sumin corrected herself as she spoke.

“No. I’ll correct myself. Jia unni is not just at the level of effort. That’s not something you can get with simple effort. It’s much more intense and persistent than that. If I had to say it, yeah. It’s close to madness.”

Madness.

Seo Sumin’s evaluation was accurate. 

Yu-hyun sometimes had the same thought when he looked at Kwon Jia.

The word effort was too small and humble to describe Kwon Jia’s achievements.

Most people, when faced with a crisis situation, can cope on the spot depending on their innate sense.

But Kwon Jia didn’t have that talent. 

And yet she was able to get here because she repeated learning how to deal with any situation like a code embedded in a computer program.

“Then, from our Heavenly Demon-nim’s perspective, do you think they have more room for improvement?”

“Well, Hye-rim unni definitely has infinite potential for future development. I saw her fight briefly and it seemed like she used lightning energy when she fought. Lightning energy is fast and powerful. It suits her personality well. On the other hand, Jia unni is…”

“Jia unni is?”

“Hmm. I don’t know about this one. I’m having a hard time evaluating her too.”

Seo Sumin admitted that she didn’t know for the first time.

Kwon Jia was a being who had been polished for a very long time. 

From Seo Sumin’s point of view, she looked like someone in her twenties, but she had hundreds of years of experience in her. 

It was strange enough to feel weird.

She could figure that out, but the problem was the possibility after that.

“Jia unni is… well, this is hard to say, but she doesn’t seem to have any talent. Her ability to cope in the moment is lacking. She’s no different from someone who has no sense. And yet she fights on par with Hye-rim unni because she must have gone through an unbelievable amount of training. But there must be a limit to that.”

Kwon Jia’s strength was the result of countless efforts and repetitive actions that ordinary people couldn’t even imagine.

“Is it possible for Jia unni to overcome that limit?”

“It’s hard for most people. Most people.”

Seo Sumin trailed off and added.

“Unless Jia unni is not one of them, she can change enough. No, she’s already showing it. The fact that she reached that level with such an absurd talent is the result of an indescribable madness.”

Seo Sumin sat down next to Yu-hyun and snuggled up to him. 

The scent of her perfume tickled his nose.

“I can’t predict those kinds of people no matter how hard I try. They refuse the frame given to them and widen it by any means possible. Their potential is beyond my comprehension. That’s why I’m surprised. You too, and unni too. They’re all hard to predict.”

“I’m flattered by your praise, Lord Heavenly Demon.”

“Hmph. It’s only natural. I’m the manager of this management, after all. It would be more troublesome if I didn’t do this much for you.”

Just then, the two people who had finished their sparring came over to this side, wiping their sweat.

“Phew. That was tough.”

“So, how was the evaluation?”

They seemed quite curious, knowing that this side was going to evaluate them.

Yu-hyun answered for them.

“It wasn’t bad.”

“But, it’s still lacking.”

Seo Sumin added.

“You two are definitely strong, but you must have felt it from that fight. You’re still not enough.”

KangHye-rim and Kwonjia’s expressions darkened.

They had also felt their weakness after the fight with Chulapantaka.

The gloom of feeling like an insurmountable wall even if they used all their strength. A normal person would have broken their spirit at the sight of that, and had no choice but to worship them.

But, no one here.

Dared to bow their heads easily.

“That’s why, I’ll help you.”

Seo Sumin smiled slyly.

She had already thought of what to teach each of them.

“One week left. I’ll make sure you do well, so look forward to it.”

No one refused the teachings of a former transcendent.

***

Time flew by quickly and six days passed in a blink of an eye.

The next day, the Collector Academy’s admission ceremony would begin. 

That meant that Kangyura and Seo Sumin would enter the academy.

The hard training that started early in the morning ended only when the afternoon was fading away.

The members gathered in the living room to rest. Baekseoryeon and Sung Yu-chan, who had been busy lately and didn’t show their faces much, also joined them.

“Kang Yu-hyun Teller-nim. Why are we gathered here?”

Sung Yu-chan, who had been locked up in his room, asked curiously as he saw everyone together for a rare occasion.

“Tomorrow is Seo sumin-ssi’s academy entrance, so we should at least have a modest celebration party the day before. Besides, we didn’t properly congratulate Seo sumin-ssi when she joined our management.”

“Ah. That’s true.”

“Hmm. You don’t have to do that for me.”

Seo Sumin said that with a bit of embarrassment, but she didn’t look like she hated it.

Rather, she felt a little happy that they were celebrating for her like this.

“So, are these all the members?”

Baekseoryeon asked Yu-hyun, who shook his head.

“No. There are more people I called. Oh, they’re here just in time.”

“Huh?”

She didn’t even get to ask back.

Ding dong.

The sound of the bell and a light knock on the door rang out.

“Hm? What? You called more people?”

“If it’s just us, there will be someone who feels left out.”

Yu-hyun opened the door through the intercom, and soon two people entered the living room.

“Yay! Sumin, you’re here!”

“Huh, huh? Yura?”

Seo Sumin, who was buried in the sofa, hastily got up. 

She didn’t expect her friend Kang Yura to come, and she looked a bit flustered.

Seo Sumin didn’t want to show her sloppy appearance to her, but it was too late.

“Hehe. Sumin, you look so comfortable. You always dressed neatly at school.”

“Ah, no. It’s not that… But why are you here…?”

“Why? Of course I came to party! And I’m staying here tonight. Mom gave me permission. Didn’t you hear?”

“Th-that’s…”

Seo Sumin ran out of words and glared at Yu-hyun. 

It was a silent protest, asking why he didn’t warn her that Yura was coming.

Yu-hyun ignored her gaze lightly and turned his attention to another guest.

“Long time no see. Kyungseo.”

“Yes. Long time no see, Yu-hyun. You moved? How mean. You should have invited me when you had a housewarming party. You didn’t know I was waiting a lot?”

“I had to move in a hurry, so I didn’t have time to do that. That’s why I invited you today. You’re not upset, are you?”

“Nah, I was just kidding.”

Ju Kyungseo laughed and greeted the other people.

“Hello. Nice to meet you. I’m Ju Kyungseo. I’m the team leader of Collecting Magazine.”

Especially, her eyes toward Kwon Jia and Seo Sumin were sharp. 

She instinctively sensed that those two were not ordinary.

The good thing was that Ju Kyungseo was a person who knew how to separate work and personal matters.

She had a lot of questions, but she didn’t want to ruin the mood of the party that opened for the first time, so she joined the atmosphere lightly.

“Nice to meet you. How about you?”

“Huh? Me? Ah, I-I’m Sung Yu-chan.”

Sung Yu-chan was stunned by the bright and friendly appearance of Ju Kyungseo and introduced himself belatedly.

For Sung Yu-chan, who was a natural-born loner, it felt like a dream that this beauty was smiling and talking to him.

“You’re also from White Flower Management, right? What do you do?”

“Ah, yes. I’m a hacker, so…”

He unintentionally revealed his identity, but Ju Kyungseo thought it was a joke and laughed out loud.

“Hahaha. You’re very funny, Sung Yu-chan.”

“Yes, yes. Thank you.”

Yu-hyun smirked as he saw the two who seemed to get along well. He didn’t know when he came close, but Seo Sumin tapped him hard.

“…You coward. You took Yura hostage?”

“You should have teased me moderately as usual.”

“I won’t forget this grudge.”

“Yura~ Sumin has something to say to you~!”

“Huh? Sumin? What is it?”

“Huh? No, no Yura it’s not that…”

He couldn’t help laughing as he watched Seo Sumin being dragged away by Yura again.

The party was held modestly. 

Even though it was modest, there were seven people, so it inevitably became noisy.

“Kyahaha. No, I mean, do you know what he said? He said he’s so jealous of you!”

“Ah, sis. Are you drunk already?”

“No, Seoryeon. Do I look like someone who gets drunk easily?”

Especially, the one who led the mood was none other than Ju Kyungseo. She opened the bottle as soon as it started, and there were already empty bottles piled up around her. 

Yet, she didn’t seem to get tired and didn’t let go of her glass. It was enough for Baek Seoryeon to try to stop her.

Sung Yu-chan was weak in alcohol and passed out in the corner after drinking only one shot of soju.

‘Hmm. He retired from the start. Sung Yu-chan is kind of lame.’

Yu-hyun thought that while drinking lightly. Kang Hye-rim joined him from the side.

“Ah! Yu-hyun is drinking too!”

“…? Is there a problem with me drinking?”

“Yu-hyun is underage! A baby who’s not even one year old!”

“Not that again. Hye-rim, are you drunk?”

“Ehehe. How can I be drunk!”

She was obviously drunk. Yu-hyun’s eyes narrowed.

Usually, collectors have such superior metabolism that they don’t get drunk easily. Even if there is something called mood, if Kang Hye-rim gets drunk like this.

“Exactly, how much did you drink?”

A strong alcohol smell came out every time she spoke. It was not just soju, but she drank liquor like water.

“Yu-hyun is one year old? What? That sounds like an interesting story. Let me join!”

Even Ju Kyungseo, who didn’t miss any interesting news, joined in. 

She had a bottle of liquor in one hand. 

The culprit was here. Yu-hyun felt a headache.

“It’s not like that.”

“What do you mean it’s not like that? Kyungseo, do you know? Yu-hyun was born as a teller less than a year ago!”

“What? Kyahaha! What? Then we have to throw a first birthday party for Yu-hyun later?”

“Pffft! A f-first birthday party…! I had the same idea!”

Yu-hyun shook his head as he watched Kang Hye-rim and Ju Kyungseo cheering each other on. 

There was only one mood maker, but the atmosphere of the party was really hot.

Kang Yura, who was only drinking juice from the side, looked around and asked.

“Brother. Is the alcohol good? Can I try it once?”

“Nope. Yura, you’re underage. What alcohol? There’s juice. Drink that.”

“Aww. These days, everyone drinks if they want to. And what’s wrong with that? I have a guardian.”

“You’ll get in trouble if you drink. You have your entrance ceremony tomorrow. You should take care of your condition first.”

“That’s right, Yura. You shouldn’t drink that.”

“Sumin, what? Are you on brother’s side?”

“Huh, huh?”

Yura looked at Seo Sumin and smiled playfully.

“Wow. So disappointing~. Sumin, I thought you would be on my side.”

“No, no. It’s not that… But we’re underage. We have an entrance ceremony tomorrow, we can’t do that.”

“Yeah? Then just tell me this. Sumin, have you ever drank alcohol or not?”

“Huh, huh? No, I mean, in my previous life…”

“You drank! You drank! Only I haven’t drank here! Only I haven’t drank!”

Seo Sumin was flustered by Kang Yura’s playful shout.

Kwon Jia was also silently drinking and eating snacks, but Ju Kyungseo seemed to target her this time and asked her various things from the side. 

Kang Hye-rim cheered her on as if it was fun, and Baek Seoryeon desperately tried to stop her.

It was noisy but fun, frivolous but warm.

The sight of them enjoying and living peacefully made my heart ache.

It was a peace that I thought I could never have again, so maybe that’s why I felt that way.

That’s why.

Because I felt the preciousness of this daily life, I could remind myself of my purpose once more.

This time, I would not fail.

And, the next day, on a sunny morning.

I stood at the entrance of the academy.