The World’s Strongest Daughter.

Partner (2)

After the match with Jang Su-won was decided.

I returned home and immediately sat in front of the computer and opened the internet.

But once I was in front of the monitor, I had no idea how to search.

…Hmm, what should I search for?

As I pondered for a while, tapping on the keyboard, I thought I should just search for whatever came to mind first.

Tap- tap tap-

[My child is lethargic]

…Is this how I should search?

Click-

When I pressed search, a lot of information instantly popped up, but one article caught my eye.

[How to guide a lethargic child…]

“Oh…”

Scanning through the article, I found it was exactly the content I sought.

The internet is great.

Although it was a bit condensed, it was written in an easy-to-understand way.

“…I see, there’s a reason for everything. This is it…”

I leaned back deeply in my chair and compared the cases of other children with Min So-yeon’s situation.

There were many similarities in various aspects.

…Should I search a little more?

*

The next morning, on the way to school.

…I’m tired.

Yesterday, I stayed up a bit late searching for this and that for Min So-yeon.

It would have been fine if I had slept deeply, but I had a slightly draining dream and felt somewhat tired.

It was a dream about choosing partners during my school days, and some girl approached me asking to be partners.

At that time, I was flustered by the unexpected proposal, and my wife, Ju Yeon-hee, watching from the side, pulled me slightly and interrupted the conversation.

In the end, the girl, unable to hold back, got angry at my wife, and they fought. That was the content of the dream.

In reality, it ended with my wife’s one-sided assault, but in the dream, they were evenly matched. That was the difference.

Then and now, my wife was really strong.

“Yawn…”

Like that, I let out a languid yawn and slowly made my way to school.

As I was recalling the information I learned from the internet in my head,

“…Huh?”

Suddenly, a pungent smell brushed past the tip of my nose.

Coming to my senses and looking around, I was near the alley where I had first run into So-yeon.

…It can’t be.

With a hunch, I hurriedly approached the alley and…

“…”

As expected, she was leaning against the wall, smoking a cigarette.

It was Min So-yeon.

As I stared blankly, she seemed to sense my gaze and lowered the cigarette in her mouth, making eye contact with me.

The moment our gazes crossed, a heavy silence fell upon the narrow alley.

Although I flinched slightly at my daughter’s cold gaze, I quickly recalled what I had learned yesterday. I cautiously approached her, casually striking up a conversation.

“Hi.”

But there was no greeting in return.

Min So-yeon, who had been staring at me, brought the cigarette she had been holding between her fingers to her mouth and said in a low voice,

“…Get lost.”

…Ugh.

Cursing first thing in the morning, it seems like it will be a refreshing day today.

Ignoring Min So-yeon’s words, I leaned against the wall opposite her.

She seemed determined to ignore me completely, slightly turning her gaze and inhaling the smoke.

Inhale- Exhale-

The cigarette smoke that came out like a deep sigh filled the narrow alley.

The pungent cigarette smoke invaded my nostrils.

I unconsciously frowned.

Min So-yeon glanced at me and then turned her gaze away again, focusing on smoking.

I just quietly watched her.

I had the urge to rush over and extinguish that resentful cigarette.

But I shouldn’t do that.

I am neither Min So-yeon’s parent nor her friend now.

I’m just a stranger who knows her face.

“…”

As if calming my mind, I took a deep breath, and the acrid cigarette smell filled my lungs.

Okay.

Steeling my resolve once again, I slowly opened my mouth.

“…Is that… tasty?”

Even though I said it, it was a really strange thing to say.

No matter how flavorful it is, I don’t think the words cigarette and tasty go well together.

Min So-yeon, glancing at me after my words, silently threw the cigarette she had been smoking on the ground.

The usual disregard.

Recalling my determination, I casually spoke to her as if nothing happened.

“…I want to try smoking once, too. Can you lend me one?”

Then Min So-yeon, without even giving me a glance, stepped on the cigarette butt on the ground with her shoe and said,

“…It’s bad for you.”

After leaving that brief remark, she left the alley.

If she knows it’s bad for her health, why does she smoke so much?

It was a question I couldn’t understand as I am now.

*

After parting with Min So-yeon and heading to school again,

For some reason, I felt the gazes of numerous students looking at me.

“…Is that him?”

“I heard he’s fighting with a guy from Class B because of Min So-yeon, and that guy’s parents are A-rank…”

“…That handsome guy?”

They weren’t even trying to hide it, openly whispering remarks that could be heard.

…Did rumors already spread?

It hasn’t even been a full day, I didn’t expect to receive this much attention.

Is it because of Min So-yeon’s reputation?

Feeling strangely proud inwardly, I moved my steps confidently as if nothing happened.

I arrived at the classroom like that.

Sitting in an empty corner, I felt the sharp gazes of the surrounding students just like earlier.

As I quietly buried my gaze and tried to prepare for class, someone approached me.

…Huh?

Turning my head slightly, I saw a group of three girls looking down at me.

And the girl at the front cautiously spoke to me.

“…U-Um, Ji-hwan… You have a match today… I-I’ll be rooting for you…!”

Huh? Suddenly?

Unexpected cheering.

I never dreamed there would be a student cheering for me.

Thinking that kindness should be repaid with kindness, I smiled brightly at her and expressed my gratitude.

“Thank you.”

Then she blushed, looking extremely shy.

It was as if she was treating a boy she liked.

At that moment, she shoved something she had been hiding behind her back to me and shouted as if embarrassed.

“Th-This, I made this snack. Enjoy it!!”

And then she disappeared to the other side of the classroom, taking the other two girls with her.

…Cute.

I casually glanced at the small shopping bag cradled in my arms.

The dainty design seemed to have been carefully chosen.

Inside the shopping bag was a small paper box, and through the transparent lid, muffins the size of a bite could be seen.

Oh… it looks delicious?

It looked quite appetizing, as if made with care, and the slightly different sizes gave the impression that they were handmade.

I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve eaten a dessert made with such care.

When was the last time I had one…

In my past life, my wife wasn’t very good at cooking, so I usually made it or we bought it.

As I was immersed in the past, recalling old memories, the teacher’s voice came from the front of the classroom.

“Hello, everyone!”

The class seems to have started.

I quickly put the shopping bag aside and prepared for class, looking around.

And…

…You made it to school.

I saw Min So-yeon sitting in the opposite corner, staring at her desk with hazy eyes.

The morning classes were mainly theoretical subjects, so there was nothing special.

It was either content I already knew or really basic theory, so it wasn’t of much help to me.

As I spent the time recalling the materials I had seen on the internet yesterday, the morning classes ended before I knew it.

After having a light lunch, I tasted the muffins the unnamed girl had gifted me.

…It’s sweet.

Perhaps because it was my first dessert in a long time, it tasted a bit sweet to me.

After finishing them all, thinking of the sincerity put into them, I approached the girl and thanked her for the delicious treat.

Her bright smile and delight were really nice to see.

***

“Well, are both of you ready?”

Lim Cha-kyung, who took on the role of referee today, spoke to us.

“Yes! I’m ready!”

Jang Su-won, who had changed into a combat uniform, answered while gently rolling his shoulders.

I, who had also changed into a combat uniform, told Lim Cha-kyung that I was ready as well.

“…Good. As I mentioned before, there will be two buzzers.”

Lim Cha-kyung’s explanation of the rules continued.

Jang Su-won and I glared at each other and silently listened.

After confirming the rules once more, Lim Cha-kyung slightly stepped back and said to us,

“I hope both of you will do your best.”

After leaving those brief words of encouragement, she immediately left the arena.

The moment I tried to distance myself from Jang Su-won according to the rules of the match, Jang Su-won, who had been glaring at me, brushed back his curly blonde hair and casually spoke.

“Yoo Ji-hwan. I hope we have a good match.”

It would have been better if he was a jerk, but it was more uncomfortable that he had a vaguely good personality.

I gave an appropriate response and immediately turned my back, heading to the starting position.

After standing on the white dot marked on the ground, I looked at Jang Su-won far away.

The strange tension lingered in the arena.

At that moment, as we stared at each other, holding our breaths,

Beep-

The buzzer signaling the start of the battle rang throughout the arena.

At the same time, Jang Su-won quietly adjusted his posture.

He turned sideways, lowered his stance, raised both fists to eye level, and aimed one fist toward me.

It was a familiar pose I had seen somewhere.

…I wondered who his great parents were, but it was that woman?

Among the people who made a name for themselves as A-rank hunters in the past, there was a woman who used martial arts.

I had met her a few times because of work…

I wonder if Jang Su-won knows that when I was Min Sung-jae, she had made a pass at me.

“…”

I smiled faintly and took an appropriate stance.

Seeing Jang Su-won also intends to use martial arts, he probably has a “physical enhancement type ability” similar to his mother’s.

There’s nothing special about hunters’ battles.

They just quickly draw out mana, use their abilities, and quickly subdue the opponent.

For hunters accustomed to battle, giving them time is equivalent to showing a weakness.

The longer the time passes, the more disadvantageous it becomes, especially for hunters like me who fight from the rear.

Of course, this doesn’t apply to an opponent like Jang Su-won who has just awakened his ability.

At that moment, as if dissatisfied with my relaxed attitude, Jang Su-won immediately moved his body.

Drawing out mana and rushing forward as if bouncing, Jang Su-won.

“…Haa!”

He approached me in an instant and thrust out his fist.

He seemed to have practiced a lot in his own way. His form was clean.

But his speed was lacking.

I gauged where the fist would hit and quickly condensed mana to create a small shield.

Thud!

A dull sound echoed throughout the arena.

It’s been a while since I’ve done this, but it seems my skills haven’t rusted.

“Ugh…”

Jang Su-won seemed to have intended to end it in one strike, looking slightly flustered as his fist was blocked.

After slightly distancing myself, I lowered my posture and quickly drew out mana.

Shu-shuk-

The mana flowing through my body, surging.

Those mana quickly gathered and wrapped around my right hand.

And as if sucking in the surrounding air, with a pop! sound, the mana gathered in my right hand began to burn.

The magic So-yeon loved the most when she was young.

The one So-yeon and I created together.

Its name is…

Fire Punch!

As I shouted the technique name and thrust out my fist, the mana enveloping my hand burst out.

Fwoosh-!

Jang Su-won looked slightly flustered at the approaching flames but immediately moved his body to dodge the magic.

But it seemed he moved his body recklessly, his posture crumbled.

Now’s the chance!

Seizing this moment, I quickly gathered mana. I approached him, and Jang Su-won, whose posture was already ruined, easily allowed my approach.

Whack!

I swung my foot, aiming for Jang Su-won’s leg, which held his center of gravity.

“Ugh!”

Jang Su-won, who lost his balance after having his leg kicked, fell over with a thud.

I stood by the fallen Jang Su-won’s head and said in a low voice,

“…Sorry.”

Jang Su-won, who had been rolling on the floor with a dumbfounded expression, soon made a resigned face and tightly closed his eyes.

“…I lost.”

The moment Jang Su-won admitted defeat, the buzzer signaling the end of the battle rang.

Beep-

It’s my victory.

Now that the match was over, even though I won, I felt somewhat uneasy.

It’s a bit much to be happy about beating a kid.

It felt like I bullied a clueless kid.

At that moment, cheers from the students watching the match from outside could be heard.

Whoa-! Whoa-!

When I slightly turned my body and waved, the students cheered even more enthusiastically.

I quickly scanned the crowd and found Min So-yeon sitting among the students, and although it was quite a distance, our eyes definitely met.

…Huh?

Is it my imagination? Min So-yeon’s eyes as she looked at me seemed to hold an unfathomable emotion.

Translator’s Corner

*stare*

-Seraloves