Chapter 620: Resurrected Puppy |
Ruby Magic Tower.
Hong Ye-hwa strode forward with a deep frown on her face.
Before long, she stopped in front of her younger sister’s room.
Raising a fist, she pounded on the door as if she meant to break it down.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
“Hey! Hong Yeon-hwa! Open the door!”
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
“Hong Yeon-hwa! You’re not opening it?”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
With that much noise, there was no way it hadn’t been heard, yet no response came from inside.
As always, she was being ignored.
And Hong Ye-hwa’s response was, as always, the same.
She took a few steps back, then charged forward and kicked the door.
Crashh!
Burning fragments scattered across the floor.
But it didn’t matter.
A door could always be replaced.
Hong Ye-hwa snorted, then looked over and saw a lump of blankets curled up in one corner of the bed.
It rose and fell faintly as though breathing.
At least she’s alive.
Not only that, but she seemed to be mumbling complaints under her breath. No doubt it was the usual nonsense about knocking first or asking why someone would smash another person’s bedroom door.
After striding over, Hong Ye-hwa shouted,
“Hey, Hong Yeon-hwa! Why are you lying around like this?”
“Mumble mumble…”
“Speak clearly!”
She yanked the blanket away, revealing Hong Yeon-hwa underneath.
Still clutching a pillow, she continued to grumble.
“Just leave me alone. It’s winter break. What’s wrong with lounging around?”
“You’ve taken it way too far! How long has it been since you practiced magic? Since you did any research?”
“……”
Hong Yeon-hwa didn’t answer for a while.
Her productivity had been dropping steadily, and for the past few days she had done nothing but stay shut up in her room.
Eventually, she changed the subject and grumbled,
“…Why do you keep nagging me? You graduated, so go do whatever you’re supposed to do.”
“This is what I’m supposed to do! This is my Magic Tower!”
“Since when are you acting like the Tower Master?”
“I’m not the Tower Master. I’m the future Tower Master, since you said you don’t want the job.”
Originally, Hong Yeon-hwa had been the designated successor thanks to her overwhelmingly superior potential, but after she suddenly entered into a [Bond] with Kim Ho, the position had been passed on to Hong Ye-hwa instead.
Though, in Hong Ye-hwa’s view, it hadn’t really been passed to her so much as dumped on her.
Before long, Hong Ye-hwa spoke as though delivering an ultimatum.
“Anyway, if you’re going to keep this up, then just go back to school.”
“Oh, and who are you to tell me whether I can go or not?”
“I am! I have at least that much authority!”
“I don’t wannaaa……”
Throwing a full-blown tantrum, Hong Yeon-hwa rolled over and turned her back.
Hong Ye-hwa was about to deliver a molten-lava back smack but hesitated.
Her younger sister had looked unusually down ever since earlier.
Even her defiance seemed weaker than usual.
So Hong Ye-hwa asked, sounding a little concerned.
“What’s wrong with you? I can’t know unless you tell me.”
“……”
“Is this because of Kim Ho? Did you two have a fight?”
“Why does everything have to be about Kim Ho……”
“Then what is it?”
“Ugh, I don’t know……”
In truth, however, Hong Ye-hwa’s guess was surprisingly close to the mark.
It wasn’t that they had fought, but it had been quite a while since Hong Yeon-hwa had seen Kim Ho.
Summer break had gone fine, so she had assumed winter break would be the same. Contrary to her expectations, however, the feeling of missing him only kept growing stronger.
At least there had been one small consolation. Like rain after a drought, she and Kim Ho had exchanged messages every day or two.
But for some reason, even that had abruptly stopped about a week ago.
All kinds of unpleasant thoughts began sprouting in Hong Yeon-hwa’s mind.
Did he… throw me away…?
Maybe he was having such a wonderful time with Seo Ye-in and Senior Dang Gyu-young that he no longer cared about her at all.
Maybe that was why he had stopped messaging her.
Of course, people say that when bodies grow distant, hearts grow distant too. It was understandable that he might become a little neglectful while they were apart.
But what if it wasn’t temporary?
What if things stayed this way even after the semester started, not just during break?
In her imagination, Kim Ho spoke coldly.
– Hong Yeon-hwa, I’m sorry, but I think we’ll be fine without you.
– We’ll handle world peace ourselves.
– I’ll just dissolve the Bond too.
“Eek……”
Feeling tears welling up, Hong Yeon-hwa buried her face in her pillow.
Watching this, Hong Ye-hwa grew even more concerned.
In a rare display of gentleness, she tried to comfort her.
“I won’t say anything, so at least go eat something. If you keep starving yourself, you’re going to collapse.”
“I’m fine……”
“I even got something you like. Hellfire Spicy Chicken.”
“I said I’m fine……”
She wasn’t even tempted by her beloved Hellfire Spicy Chicken?
At this point, Hong Ye-hwa was starting to feel not only worried but also at a loss.
What am I supposed to do here? Call Mom and Dad?
Just then—
“!?”
Hong Yeon-hwa, who had been rubbing her face against the pillow, suddenly jerked her head up.
The reason was obvious.
A message had arrived.
[Kim Ho: (waving puppy emoji)]
[Kim Ho: What are you up to?]
The life instantly returned to Hong Yeon-hwa’s half-dead face.
Her hands moved so fast they were almost invisible as she fired off replies.
[Hong Yeon-hwa: (super excited puppy emoji)]
[Hong Yeon-hwa: (jumping puppy emoji)]
[Hong Yeon-hwa: (acrobat puppy emoji)]
[Hong Yeon-hwa: Just…]
[Hong Yeon-hwa: Hanging around!]
[Kim Ho: Want to talk face-to-face for a change?]
[Kim Ho: If you’re free]
[Hong Yeon-hwa: I’m free]
[Hong Yeon-hwa: Wait a second!]
Hong Yeon-hwa sprang to her feet.
She dashed all around the room.
Patter patter patter!
“The crystal orb, where’s my crystal orb?”
Thump thump thump thump!
“A mirror! A mirror! A brush! A brush! Damn it, why is everything missing when I actually need it?”
Hong Yeon-hwa hastily tidied up her messy, unkempt hair with her hands, then practiced a pretty, overly sweet smile in the mirror as she continued getting herself ready at lightning speed.
Watching this spectacle, Hong Ye-hwa became 200% certain.
It’s Kim Ho.
There was simply no other way to explain this bizarre behavior.
Then came a wave of self-loathing.
As if I had nothing better to worry about than that…
Somehow, she felt like she had been cheated.
At the same time, Hong Ye-hwa posed a philosophical question to herself.
What is love?
What on earth was it that could change that stubborn little mutt so completely?
While Hong Ye-hwa was lost in thought, Hong Yeon-hwa finished her preparations in no time and sat down in front of the communication crystal orb.
Still fussing with her hair until the very last second.
A few chimes later, Kim Ho’s image appeared.
– I haven’t been messaging much lately. Sorry about that.
“No! No! It’s fine! Really! If you’re busy, that happens!”
Hong Yeon-hwa waved both hands frantically.
Just moments ago, she had been wallowing in despair, thinking he had grown distant and abandoned her, yet now she acted as if none of that had ever happened.
Kim Ho studied her for a moment before asking,
– Did something happen? Your face looks like it’s gotten so much thinner.
“No, it’s just… um… my diet? I’ve been watching what I eat.”
It was an excuse she made up on the spot, but Kim Ho seemed willing to let it slide.
“Really? Just don’t overdo it. I’m a little worried.”
“Okay! I won’t!”
Ignoring her sister’s piercing stare, Hong Yeon-hwa nodded enthusiastically.
Then she carefully asked,
“Why… did you want to see me?”
– I wanted to check how you’ve been doing, and there’s something I wanted to ask you.
“Something you wanted to ask?”
– I’ve got some free time for the rest of break. I was thinking about coming over.
“To our… place? The Ruby Magic Tower?”
Kim Ho then went on to explain.
Once things at the Dang Clan had wrapped up, Dang Gyu-young was heading to Dungeon Island early, while Seo Ye-in planned to spend the rest of her break in Hye-seong.
As for him, he could have followed either of them, but he figured it might be better to visit the Ruby Magic Tower instead.
After all, he had never been there before.
– Even to me it feels pretty sudden, so I’m not sure if it’d be okay. If it’s not—
Before Kim Ho could change his mind, Hong Yeon-hwa hurriedly cut him off.
“No, it’s fine! You can come tomorrow! No, today! No, right now! You can come right now!”
– Thanks for welcoming me. If possible, though, I’d like to ask someone else too. Your father, for example.
That was only natural. They were still second-year students, and when visiting a friend’s home, it was only polite to get permission from their parents or family.
The next moment, a figurative lightbulb went off over Hong Yeon-hwa’s head.
“Unnie’s here right now! Unnie!”
– Can I ask your sister, then?
“Mhmm! If Unnie approves, that should be enough. She’s the future Ruby Tower Master, you know. She says she has that much authority!”
“……”
Hong Ye-hwa’s expression twisted.
The brat had taken her own words and thrown them right back at her.
Still, Hong Ye-hwa was the president of the Ruby Magic Tower’s student division and a former executive of the White Magic Club.
She knew how to separate personal matters from professional ones and had a fair amount of social skill.
Before long, she put on a polished business smile and greeted Kim Ho through the crystal orb.
“Long time no see.”
– Hello, Senior.
“I heard everything. I was nearby the whole time. So you want to come visit?”
– Sorry for bringing it up so suddenly.
“It is a little sudden, but—”
Hong Ye-hwa stopped mid-sentence and closed her mouth.
Her younger sister was staring at her with the most desperately pleading eyes imaginable.
If she were to say, “No. Don’t come,” right now…
The girl would undoubtedly lock herself in her room again and mope like before.
Maybe she would end up even worse.
Besides, Dad was the one who invited him in the first place.
The one who had invited Kim Ho was Hong Yeom-baek, the Ruby Tower Master and father of the two sisters.
Even if Hong Ye-hwa refused, Hong Yeon-hwa would simply run off with the crystal orb and ask him directly, and he would welcome Kim Ho with open arms.
No matter what she did, the outcome would be the same.
And if nothing else, he really is good at teaching.
The only reason her little sister had managed to pull ahead in the promising student and disciplinary committee competitions was entirely thanks to Kim Ho.
He had taken her through one dungeon after another and trained alongside her, which was why her skills had improved faster than those of her peers.
From that perspective, if they brought Kim Ho over for the remainder of the break, her little sister would probably train even harder.
With that in mind, Hong Ye-hwa came to a decision.
“—There’s no reason to say no. It’s not as if the Magic Tower is short on rooms. I’ll let Father know in advance.”
– Thank you, Senior.
“Alright, see you soon.”
The pleasant conversation came to an end.
As soon as the communication was cut off, the business smile vanished completely from Hong Ye-hwa’s face, and was replaced by a displeased expression.
Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa looked absolutely delighted.
She wore a huge grin from ear to ear.
“Hehehe.”
“Are you really that happy? About Kim Ho?”
“Oh, it’s not like that or anything… Hehe.”
Still chuckling to herself, Hong Yeon-hwa placed a hand on her stomach.
Then she stood up and asked,
“I suddenly got hungry. Do we still have that Hellfire Spicy Chicken?”
“…Hey, just go hungry.”
“Huh? Why again?”
“There’s none for you.”
“You’re really being petty over food.”
“Whatever. I’m eating all of it myself.”
For no particular reason, Hong Ye-hwa found herself feeling spiteful.
The two sisters soon exchanged competitive glances.
“…….”
“…….”
Then, with a loud clatter, they both took off running toward the dining hall.