The World’s Strongest Daughter.

After a few more sparring rounds, we finished our independent training.

After the training ended, Min So-yeon, who belatedly realized she had been tricked, glared at me before disappearing.

I may have earned her resentment, but today’s achievement was worth it.

The important thing is that Min So-yeon’s talent is not worse than Ju Yeon-hee’s, but that they are different.

Although retired now, Ju Yeon-hee’s talent, once known as “Sword Empress,” was truly overwhelming.

Especially when it came to wielding a sword, her skills were unrivaled.

When she first picked up a sword, she created a technique that fully reflected the opponent’s attack back at them, saying she imitated it from a martial arts movie she watched as a child.

No matter how I thought about it, it didn’t make sense.

Human vs human, hunter vs hunter is one thing, but Ju Yeon-hee’s opponents as an S-rank were the monsters from the gates.

Countering those monstrous creatures akin to natural disasters was an incredible feat.

What about Min So-yeon, who inherited Ju Yeon-hee’s talent as is?

Despite never receiving professional training, her swordsmanship was remarkably skilled, but the feeling she gave off was different from Ju Yeon-hee.

If Ju Yeon-hee’s swordsmanship was art, Min So-yeon’s was a trick.

A trick for victory.

Generally speaking, combat can be like a turn-based game.

When my turn ends, it’s the opponent’s turn, and when the opponent’s turn ends, it’s my turn again. It’s not wrong to say that.

But Min So-yeon’s case is different.

Through momentary movements, Min So-yeon takes another turn for herself.

She doesn’t give the opponent any chance to act.

Being able to seize the initiative in any situation is a tremendous advantage.

Although there are many shortcomings as she’s just starting out, with a little polishing, she’ll be able to grow quickly.

“…”

When I first saw the message telling me to make Min So-yeon the world’s strongest, I thought it was an absurd goal.

Because I know better than anyone the efforts Ju Yeon-hee went through to reach the top.

But now that I’ve actually faced her, I’m starting to think it might be easier than I thought.

A heaven-sent talent and an environment so blessed it feels destined.

I can confidently say there couldn’t be better conditions than this.

To hell with the world’s destruction.

I’ve practically saved the world already.

*

During the joint training session that followed.

“…What?”

I let out a dumbfounded sound at Min So-yeon’s words.

“I said I’m leaving early.”

Leaving early all of a sudden, what is this…?

Startled, I hurriedly spoke to her.

“…Are you not feeling well? D-Did I push you too hard earlier…?”

But before I could even finish my sentence, she abandoned me and swiftly left.

…

Left alone during the joint training time that I was supposed to spend with my partner, there was nothing I could do.

I sat desolately in a corner, merely watching the students train.

“…”

In the midst of that, I could already see some students standing out.

…Of course, not as much as our So-yeon.

I’m not sure how long I spent that lonely time, but soon it was time to go home as class ended.

As I quietly finished preparing to leave and was about to exit the classroom…

“J-Ji-hwan, see you tomorrow…!”

A female student greeted me.

The same girl had cheered me on and given me a muffin before.

When I casually returned her greeting, she looked extremely happy.

…

On the way home.

…Ah.

While absentmindedly walking, I suddenly remembered I needed to go grocery shopping.

The only ingredient left at home was rice.

Since I definitely won’t be going out again, at this rate, I might have to eat plain rice for meals.

…I should stop by the supermarket.

I immediately changed directions and headed towards the supermarket.

The most important thing about living alone is having food.

Since I have to take care of my own meals, I frequently skip them for trivial reasons, and on the rare occasions I do cook, it’s mostly food that’s not good for my health.

Of course, I make sure to eat well.

Perhaps because of my old habit of doing household chores, my studio is quite tidy.

I had no idea that attending cooking classes to support my wife, who was bad at cooking, would come in handy like this.

… Life is really unpredictable.

I never imagined that I would end up cooking only for myself rather than my wife, who used to make a fuss and say my cooking was the best in the world, or my daughter, who said Dad’s cooking was the most delicious.

A heavy sigh escaped as old memories suddenly surfaced.

“…Sigh…”

Gloomy thoughts made me feel somewhat dejected.

…I should eat something delicious today.

While treating myself, a bit of luxury should be okay, right?

With these thoughts in mind, I slowly walked and soon arrived at the supermarket.

“…”

I quietly picked up a plastic basket at the entrance and entered the mart.

There weren’t many people, so I could browse leisurely.

I naturally headed to the fresh produce section and carefully checked the small price tags.

… It’s brutal.

Normally, I would have chosen the cheapest bean sprouts or mushrooms, but I wanted to eat fresh vegetables today.

The menu I decided on after much deliberation on the way to the supermarket was pork.

Since it’s a day I’m splurging on myself, I naturally need vegetables to match.

However… facing the price tags, I couldn’t muster the courage to choose vegetables that cost more than the bean sprouts.

…I could eat bean sprouts for six meals with the price of one of those packs…

After agonizing for a long time in front of the vegetables, ignorant of the fear of heaven, I eventually ran away after picking a large quantity of bean sprouts and mushrooms.

It was an honorable defeat.

The powerful prices of Seoul were too much to fight against with my sole lifeline, the subsidy.

…I still need to survive this month… I have no choice…

Having tasted a bitter defeat in the fresh produce section, I was determined to vent my frustration in the meat section.

The pork is going down today.

As if on cue, the pork happened to be on sale the moment I arrived at the meat section, huffing and puffing. Isn’t this heaven taking pity on me?

I felt a strange sense of satisfaction from the heavy basket, regardless of my lightened wallet.

I passed the meat section with light steps and headed straight to the processed foods area.

A sweet snack should be fine since I have quite a bit of leeway in today’s budget.

After passing the instant food and seasoning sections, I finally arrived at the snack corner.

Colorfully packaged snacks and desserts welcomed me.

“…”

Having to choose based on my budget, I naturally began a staring contest with the price tags.

This one has a small quantity but is expensive, this one has a large quantity but tastes bad…

While carefully examining the price per weight written on the tags and selecting snacks, a voice suddenly came from behind me.

“…Excuse me, I need to get through.”

I hurriedly stood up and apologized.

“…Ah, I’m sor-”

The moment I turned around…

“…Huh?”

I was slightly startled.

“Ah.”

Min So-yeon, who had ditched me and left early, stood right before me.

…Why is she here?

Min So-yeon’s house is not in this neighborhood.

There’s no reason for her to be at this remote supermarket.

At that moment, Min So-yeon avoided my gaze and pretended not to know me.

My eyes naturally fell to her hands, and I couldn’t believe what I saw in her shopping basket.

Various types of instant foods and carbonated drinks. And even ramen filled to the brim…

Every single item was bad for health.

Min So-yeon stubbornly ignored me, picked up a snack, and tried to leave.

…W-What?

Flustered, I quickly grabbed her and spoke.

“…W-Wait… Are you okay?”

She looked at me as if I was bothersome.

“I’m worried. Will you be able to come to school tomorrow?”

After staring at me blankly, she let out a short sigh, brushed off my arm, and said she was fine.

No matter how much she says she’s okay, I can’t help but worry.

I carefully followed her as she left and carefully spoke.

“…So-yeon. If you’re struggling, it’s okay to rest tomorrow too. Get plenty of rest and come back the day after…”

Suddenly, she stopped and glared at me.

“…Stop nagging and get lost.”

N-Nagging…?

I was greatly shocked by her words.

I brought it up out of concern, but to think she would take it as nagging…

It hurt more that she described my worry as nagging than being told to get lost.

Min So-yeon seemed to realize her mistake after seeing me in shock. She bit her lip and swiftly left.

…

My heart sank heavily seeing Min So-yeon’s back as she avoided me and headed to a distant checkout counter.

When Min So-yeon was young, my wife and I would nurse her together whenever she was sick.

Even when she just caught a cold, I would make a fuss, insisting we use an elixir right away.

Looking back now, those were all memories the three of us shared together.

If Min So-yeon’s body is truly unwell, my wife will take good care of her.

She’s retired now, so she has plenty of time and won’t lack money.

Although she has no talent for housework, she is a terrible fool for her daughter.

Even though I knew that better than anyone, I regretted not being able to personally take care of her.

…

With that uncomfortable feeling, I finished shopping and headed straight home.

Feeling the weight of the plastic bag in my hand, I unconsciously walked and soon arrived home.

I lightly pushed open the loosely closed green gate with my foot.

The rusty hinges creaked, welcoming me.

I trudged up the stairs with my feet dragging, the damaged steps evident here and there.

Step. Step.

Wearily climbing with my toes as if exhausted, the plastic bag in my hand felt heavier than usual today.

I didn’t even buy much.

2nd floor, I laboriously reached one step at a time.

The crimson sunbeams shining beyond the knee-height railing dazzled my eyes.

“…”

The sun was setting before I knew it.

I ignored the sunset disappearing beyond the skyscraper forest, rummaged through my jacket pocket, and pulled out the key.

A key in an era where magic stones generate electricity.

No matter how cheap the rent was, isn’t it too much to not even install a digital door lock?

I gently put down the plastic bag, pushed the front door slightly, and inserted the key.

Click.

/The old lock screeched and opened the door, and I grabbed the key and plastic bag with a slow hand and entered the house.

“… I’m home.”

The only thing that greets me in response to my hollow greeting is the chill touching my toes.

After suddenly living alone after living with two others, I developed a habit of talking to myself as it felt somewhat lonely.

That lonely habit felt a little miserable today.

“…”

I neatly took off my school uniform and put it aside, then began organizing the groceries one by one.

While indifferently putting things in the refrigerator, a heavy sigh escaped from within.

“…Sigh…”

I felt pathetic being gloomy and reminiscing about the past.

Where did my resolve to live as Yoo Ji-hwan, not Min Sung-jae, go? I was once again weighing the past and present, making myself miserable.

This won’t do.

Today is a day for me. Isn’t that why I splurged?

You only see the ground if you keep staring at it.

I shook off the gloomy thoughts, quickly finished organizing the refrigerator, and immediately began preparing dinner.

… I’ll probably feel a bit better if I eat something delicious.

Today’s menu is pork and bean sprout stir-fry.

It’s similar to bulgogi with bean sprouts, but the difference is that very little meat is added.

There wasn’t much to prepare, and the cooking method was easy, so I was able to set the table in no time.

I unfolded the table that was standing in a corner of the room and placed the side dishes and rice provided by the landlord.

Oh… This looks quite hearty?

Now that it’s all laid out, it looked like quite a feast.

“…Thank you for the food.”

With those habitual words, I put a bean sprout and a piece of meat in my mouth and chewed.

“…”

It was really delicious.

Couldn’t be better.

Translator’s Corner

BEAN SPROUTS!

-Seraloves