Chapter 5 – Date with Ye-rin
“What is the area between the two curves y=x^2-3x and y=-x^2 x?”
‘8/3. Huh? Since when has integration of multiple polynomials been this easy?’ As befitting of the nation’s top high school, the first years had to learn second year math, in class. Math wasn’t hard for in the first place, but now the formulas were drawn out lickety-split in my mind, and I was able to reach the answer in 1 second. ‘Was I always this smart?’
No matter how much of a genius I was, I shouldn’t be able to solve an integration of multiple polynomials question in 1 second.
‘What in the world is inside my mind?’
It wasn’t just math. During English class, which was taught in English, and in physics, which went considerably into specifics, I was made to discover and be surprised by my own intelligence. I was able to tell that the English teacher’s drawling accent wasn’t the way Arican white people spoke, but the characteristic accent of black people, and I even discovered so enormous errors in the formulas of my physics textbook.
Then, math had followed the English and physics classes. Unlike the kids who were moving their pens to studiously solve the problem, I had co to the answer in 1 second through ntal arithtic. After solving it, my eyes settled on the teacher who was lovingly gazing at the kids who were solving the problem.
‘What a pretty teacher. Huhuhu.’
Wasn’t it said that forbidden love with a beautiful female teacher was among the romantic fantasies of a man?Lee Ji-hae; the math teacher possessed the best looks in the school— no, her beauty was on the level of the top celebrities in the nation. Her outfit, a sky-blue blouse over the pencil skirt she liked to wear, refreshed those who saw her. Moreover, her slim fingers holding a piece of chalk and her raised white collar matched all too well with her intelligent face.
‘Kyaa, if only I were just 3 years older.’
If I had been at least a college student, Ms. Lee Ji-hae would have been well worth trying for with my life on the line.
“Hyuk, is the pace okay?”
While I was enjoying so hazy imaginations as I stared at my teacher, Ms. Lee Ji-hae had gotten right in front of and worriedly asked a question.
“Of course! Listening to your thoughtful lesson makes every problem no problem at all. Haha!”
“Hoho! There was a rumor that you had a hard ti during the school excursion, but I see that was all a lie.”
Gleaming white teeth were revealed the mont she flashed a smile. The instant she approached, the beguiling fragrance of a woman ignited a fire in my spirit.
“There is a famous saying that the young invite hardship, after all. The recent Europe trip was a fruitful experience that gave many lessons and gifts.”
“Lessons and gifts? That’s right, there’s sothing to learn even in tis of hardship. Our Hyuk grew a lot while he was away, didn’t he.”
At the happiness of having found a student to be proud of, Ms. Lee Ji-hae brushed my hair with her slender hands. I thought that if I were to make an appearance on ‘TV is the Vehicle of Love’ later in my life, I would definitely seek Ms. Lee Ji-hae.
[T/N: That’s an actual Korean show that ran from 1993 to 2010 (there’s no official translation for the na). One of the programs was to find soone who was important to you in your past and share your feelings.]
‘But that little shit, why is he glaring so much?’
While I was enjoying Ms. Lee Ji-hae’s soul-calming warm hand, Hwang Sung-taek and his cronies were glowering at as if sothing didn’t sit well with them.
‘I oughta trash the brats with Magic Arrow!’
But now wasn’t the ti. A little later, after I reached the 3rd Circle, I would give them a hot rated R experience that they wouldn’t forget for the rest of their lives!Riiiiiiiiiiinngg!
‘It’s already over.’
With the noisy ringing of the 4th period ending bell, Ms. Lee Ji-hae returned to her lectern.
“Stand! Bow!”
“Thank you very much.”
“Alright, have a good lunch.”
Leaving behind a loving smile at the very end, the teacher left the room hugging the attendance log and her teaching materials with her delicate arms. My regrettable crush ended with that.
“Joong Hyun, let’s go!”
“Yeah!”
As always, we left the classroom in a hurry. It was the cafeteria of Daehan, a high school with the best facilities, but being late would only leave us standing in line.
‘What was the spell for Haste magic, again?’
I thought of Haste magic while running towards the cafeteria, and with the thought, the magic incantation naturally ca to mind.
‘Mana! I have to hurry and expand my circle!’
Because of the squirming magic knowledge in my head, the still insufficient circle and mana felt like enemies to .
* * *
“Father, Mother, are you not going on a vacation abroad this year?”
“A vacation? I want to go, but… the stock values are turbulent these days, you see.”
“It’s such a sha. Why is the stock market like this when I’m on sabbatical, really.”
As I ate my mom’s spicy and refreshing kimchi stew, I lightly brought up the topic of an overseas vacation.
‘I’ll be able to train magic without worries only if my parents are away.’
I was in a hurry due to the countless pieces of magic knowledge that popped out pell-ll in my mind. But because of my parents, who frequently opened my door unannounced, coming in to check for wholeso computer use, I couldn’t do any magic training.
“Honey, please quit being a fund manager now. You’ve earned enough up ’till now, and I also have a stable inco. So please stop the headache-inducing work and try finding another job.”
My mother was as sharp as a knife to her son, but to my father, she was an incredibly kind wife and friend.
“I want to, but… we still have to send Hyuk to college, and…”
“F-father! Haha! Your Kilimanjaro panther has grown up already. Please stop worrying about and enjoy your life together. There’s a saying like this— you who worked hard to raise your child, enjoy your middle years~!”
“Then shall we do that? After looking at only graphs for a year, my body and mind are getting tired.”
My father liked to eat and play as much as I did. Our combined encouragent roused his interest.
“Then where shall we go for a vacation this ti? Since we traveled around the Aricas last year…”
Ever the one to follow her husband’s wishes, as soon as my father’s words dropped from his mouth, Mother was frighteningly quick to start planning the vacation.
‘Nai~su!’ A cheer burst out inside of . Now, I had to hamr in the nail.
“How about a 6 week cruise? I heard that a luxury 7-star cruise ship touring the entire world, including Europe and Africa, is docking in Busan Harbor soon. Since you’re going on a vacation, you might as well make it a mory you won’t ever forget. Especially because Father and Mother have maintained the youth and love of 20 year old newly weds, this son of yours is actively recomnding this cruise.”
If I was going to send them off, then it was best to send them far away, and on an extensive cruise they couldn’t just co back from whenever they wanted, at that.
“Oh! Now that you bring it up, going on a cruise is an option, isn’t it?” For now, Mother made a expression of agreent.
“B-but I heard that the cost per person exceeds several thousand dollars… isn’t that too excessive for us?” He was tempted, but because he was aging, the poor, middle-aged head of the lion pride couldn’t help but worry.
“Please go! This son of yours will make it happen!”
“What? You will, Hyuk?”
As soon as I said it, my parents were extrely surprised.
They didn’t know. That the only unlimited withdrawal card in the world was in the hands of their son, a man as wealthy as an emperor.
“Here are the tickets. I’ve arranged for a suite in your nas. There, you’ll be able to see the broad ocean any ti you want. The departure date is Saturday of next week.”
I pushed the envelope holding the gilded tickets towards them.
“You…”
Having overco their confusion, my parents were looking at with serious expressions on their faces.
“Hyuk…” My father said my na quietly.
‘I hope it goes over well.’ My father’s low voice was worriso. It was reasonable, to be honest. What kind of parent would nonchalantly accept vacation tickets that cost thousands, no, ten thousand dollars, from their fledgling son?I gulped nervously. If they asked to be honest about where I had gotten the money, then I wouldn’t have anything to say. How could I say that I had beco the disciple of a crazy Mage; Bumdalf, who’d co here via dinsional travel, and that I had been gifted with an imnse fortune?But my father’s next words dispelled my worries.
“You don’t have any pocket money for us?”
‘Father…’
I sighed deeply as I looked at our family motto of ‘truth,’ which was displayed for all to see on the living room wall. I was reminded of one of the additional lines that were related to ‘truth.’
‘When you take, take it all. And be extrely thankful to the giver. That is truly a reflection of your true feelings.’
And my parents were all too truthful, even to their one and only son.
“You won the Lotto, right?”
“Since he begged in Europe, might it not be Superbowl or sothing like that?”
[T/N: Hyuk’s mom mistakenly thinks that the Superbowl is a European lottery. Obviously, it is not. Lotto is a South Korean lottery.]
“As expected of our son!”
“Hoho! Hyuk, give us lots.”
It was amazing that they could even co up with such things. Even if they were to et Master Bumdalf, they probably wouldn’t even be fazed. They were already busy checking the tickets I had handed over as they cheered happily.
* * *
‘Thank you, big sis Marisol.’
The aircraft crew, including big sis Marisol, was staying in Korea just because of . When I got off the plane, she had given a business card, telling to give her a call anyti if there was anything I needed.
‘Magician Group? That na is so like Master.’
Even Master couldn’t have avoided adjusting to this lawful world. He had told that his imasurable assets were cached all over the place in so tax free banks called ‘Archipelago,’ in the na of the Magician Group.
And today, I had gotten word from big sis Marisol that my parents had safely boarded the cruise ship. I also found out that the world’s top luxury cruise ship currently docked in Busan, was rely a part of Master’s overflowing assets.
‘My life was changed in three months. Kukuku. This is totally movie material.’
Besides the fact that I had been to hell and back, in just three months, I’d beco one of only two mages in the world, as well as an unheard of multi-billionaire!‘Paradise! For that grand goal!’
Dreams existed to beco true one day.
I dreamt my own dream. A kingdom just for , which I would live with the woman I loved while wielding absolute authority, like a dieval king. That was my dream, and it would definitely co true.
“Shall I try moving around a bit?”
Though I was apart from Master Bumdalf, I didn’t neglect my mana channeling for even a single day. Since I had beco a Mage, I would beco an Archmage at least as great as Master.
‘Enlightennt… what could be the enlightennt that breaks the 3rd Circle wall?’
I sat cross-legged in the middle of the living room and imrsed myself in contemplation about 3rd Circle magic. One would only be called a Mage once they reached the 3rd Circle, and at this stage one could use useful magic for daily life, as well as diverse and powerful attack magic. When I thought about the 3rd Circle, all the incantations related to the 3rd Circle naturally popped into my mind.
‘I’ll raise my circle first!’
Money was like poison if picked up by those without ambition or ability. Magic incantations were exactly the sa to Mages who couldn’t raise their circle.
Magic really did exist.
I would beco not a mage of dreams, but a true mage in the flesh.
‘Tch, was it a mistake to send them?’
The very next day after deciding to go, my father handed in his resignation letter and the two of them finished preparing for the vacation. They boarded the cruise ship with hardly a word of farewell and went on their vacation.
A week had already passed since then.
‘I want to eat the food Mom makes. Hnng.’
Learning magic was good, but food was important to as well. For the past few days, I had managed thanks to the side dishes my mother had prepared, but I was getting tired of them and wanted to eat my rice with warm soup instead.
‘But why doesn’t this bracelet co off?’ I thought, looking at the silver bracelet that had been Master’s bait.
‘A link that connects ti to ti and space to space?’ There was a sentence like that written in ancient runes on the outside. ‘Ti is ti and space is space, but why is it parasitizing my arm?!’
Since it was an ominous object given to by Master, I had tried cutting it with a saw and taking it off with soap, but the silver bracelet wouldn’t budge, as if it had beco a part of my arm. It was extrely worriso.
‘Surely nothing will happen, right? It’s just a bracelet.’
When I looked at the bracelet, so kind of figure ca to my mind. But the figure was too difficult for to understand at my level, so I tried to ignore it.
‘Tch! It’s Saturday but there’s no where to go, and that rascal Joong Hyun went on a vacation with his parents!’
Daehan High School’s teachers worked hard for five days a week. As a result, Saturday was a rest day, just like Sunday. But the problem was that I had nothing to do besides studying magic, and I had already acquired most of the knowledge related to the 2nd Circle. Because my unexpanded circle was already filled up with mana, I couldn’t accumulate any more mana.
‘Should I give her a call?’
Yesterday, there was a sudden downpour in the afternoon, even though it was September. Since I hadn’t brought an umbrella and didn’t have a driver waiting for outside like the other kids did, I was blankly staring at the falling rain.
As the raindrops splashed onto the school yard, I saw sothing that I hadn’t known of at all before— each trivial raindrop held clear and pure energy. Like the performance of an imnse orchestra, the raindrops were performing with mana.
Pitter, patter, pit-pat.
While looking at the falling rain, the mana inside of was also joyful and danced about.
Just then, she appeared.
“It’s refreshing, right? I like the rain.”
The girl endlessly staring at the falling rain by my side with her black eyes was Seo Ye-rin. A clear fragrance that reminded of yellow autumn chrysanthemums rode the misty air, and burrowed into my nose.
“Once in a while, I like to get rained on, a bit.”
Fwoosh! Without even asking for my opinion, Seo Ye-rin unfurled an umbrella that was as blue as the sky. Even though we were inside the school, she surreally took my arm. Caught up by her bold action, I was able to walk down the school road under the pouring rain. The rain fell on both of our shoulders at the edge of the umbrella, and I was receiving tons of jealousy from all the kids, at that.
‘You’re a man, Kang Hyuk! Don’t be so desperate for a phone number.’
After walking for a while like that, Ye-rin left her umbrella and cellphone number with .
010-99xx-1179.
I turned on the cutting-edge cell phone I’d gotten a few days ago and punched in the number Ye-rin had given .
Riiing, riiing, riiing.
‘She’s not picking up?’
The tone rang for a long ti, but I couldn’t hear anyone’s voice on the other side.
“Hello…” Just then, I heard the dreamlike voice of an angel from the other side of the receiver.
“Ye-rin, it’s , Hyuk.”
“Mm. Hi, Hyuk.” After telling her my na, Ye-rin replied brightly although it seed that she had just woken up.
“The weather’s good today and all, so do you want to et up?”
“Hoho. Are you asking for a date?”
‘Geh, a date.’
Her question was directed to ; soone who’d never had a date before in his life, thanks to the safari wilderness simulation ga.
“The man Kang Hyuk is sincerely asking Seo Ye-rin for a date. You’ll accept, right?”
I had a good feeling from Ye-rin’s voice.
“… If it’s you, Hyuk, then I’ll say yes any ti.”
After a brief silence, I heard her say yes. My heart thumped wildly as it began to race.
‘Ohh~!!’
Truly, my life had drastically changed the day I t Master Bumdalf. I put aside my bursting happiness and made an appointnt with her.
“Since it’s one o’clock right now, let’s et on Daehangno at three.”
[T/N: A famous street in Seoul. Literally ans College Street.]
“Daehangno? Okay. I’ll see you later.”
“Alright, see you later. Co all prettied up.”
“Haha, for whose benefit? I’m hanging up, okay?”
Beep, beep, beep.
I had no idea what kind of audacity made say sothing like ‘co all prettied up’ to Ye-rin.
‘D-date, a date! That’s right, a date!’ I grasped the hung up phone as my deeply moved feelings quaked within my body.
“Wait a sec? Now that I look at it, I don’t have anything to wear! Gaaaah!”
For the sake of growing up strong, besides two sets of my uniform, I had no newly purchased clothes. My parents were hyenas who had shown regret, despite stripping of a thousand dollars for pocket money while leaving for their cruise vacation. The only “clothes” I had received from such parents after entering high school was my own panther leather-like skin.
‘If the two of them appeared in fairy tales, they would definitely be Nolbu and his wife, who scorned Heungbu.’
[T/N: Very famous Korean folk tale. Look up ‘Heungbu and Nolbu’ on Wikipedia if you’re interested.]
Holding back my tears, I squeezed into so jeans that gave a wedgie because they were too small now, draped on the cotton t-shirt Father used as pajamas, and ran outside. As for the jeans, the trendy European shirt, and rest of the goods Marisol had prepared on the day I returned, my father had already packed them away with him.
I was on my way to et the angel Seo Ye-rin. I needed clothes befitting the angel. Today, I would make the angel happy as her knight.
“Please ring this up. This too.”
I chose jeans that were the safest option for a student and a long-sleeved sumr shirt that matched the season, late sumr. Furthermore, I ard myself with completely new items, from socks to shoes and even underwear.
“C-custor, your total so far cos to… over $400, but is it alright?”
I was in the Emperor Mall in Apgujeong, which only the most wealthy Koreans could afford to go to. I went into a store I liked and bought myself clothes.
‘Do I look so poor?’ Though I knew all too well that our material civilization valued the exterior over the interior, the doubtful look the shop lady was giving , Kang Hyuk, was regrettable.
“Please ring up.”
I was on the way to et an angel. I didn’t have ti to be resentful about the world’s heartlessness.
“Oh, my! It’s a platinum card. Hoho! This is my first ti seeing it, too.”
Without even any thoughts of ringing up, the shop lady held up the platinum card I had pushed towards her and made a fuss.
“This is the rumored platinum card?”
“I heard only billionaires and famous actors use it…”
The shop ladies who had gathered at the ntion of a platinum card looked at the card and with fascinated eyes.
‘Even though they were ignoring earlier…’
I pulled my eyes away from the all-too-transparent won.
There were only 30 minutes or so left now. If I got into a taxi, I would get there right on ti.
* * *
‘There’s so many people.’
We had chosen the university Marronier Park as the eting place of our date. Since it was the weekend, there were as many won who had co out for dates as there were grains of sand in the sea.
‘Huhu, this is a wonderful ti.’
Thanks to yesterday’s rain, the heat wave in Seoul had died down. Usually drenched in hot humidity, today, for the first ti in a while, the city was smiling brightly. Moreover, won were happily walking down the street holding hands or arm to arm with their boyfriends.
‘What a stunning body! A work of art, an art!’
It wasn’t just that there were won— there were a lot of won. They were all ladies several years older than , and just starting to bloom. Wearing the currently popular short skirts and cool tops, their figures as they walked with their hips swinging slightly made my heart tremble, as I watched them.
In order to get into Daehan High School, I had never taken a proper look since middle school— I was truly a Seoul bumpkin. For a person like , this September Saturday afternoon was like a blessing.
It was just like a dream. To the point where I couldn’t even rember how long ago the hellish magic training had been, ti helped recover from the painful tis that I had spent with Master Bumdalf.
“My!”
“Wow!”
“She’s pretty. Maybe she’s a celebrity?”
“What killer looks. Hot damn!”
‘Celebrity? Who?’ As I was admiring the pretty won and enjoying my ti off, I suddenly heard exclamations from so people behind . An incredible beauty must have appeared, because the n were drooling as they shouted and the won were making noise.
My head also turned. It was enjoyable free eye candy, after all. I would probably regret it if I missed out.
‘Oooh! So sexy!’
My gaze turned right onto her slender legs. Though it wasn’t as frivolous as the other won’s short mini skirts, she was wearing a denim skirt that was still definitely a mini skirt. Below the skirt were snow white, milky legs.
It was enough to make people marvel.
‘I don’t know who her boyfriend is, but he sure caught a big one.’
Even if her face was just average, that woman was most certainly qualified to receive people’s attention.
‘Huh?’
While I was in jealousy and awe, that woman’s white Nike sneakers approached .
“Hyuk.”
‘Geh!’
The beautiful girl wearing a denim mini skirt and a white sumr blouse that made her pearly skin shimr…That girl was my angel, Ye-rin.
‘Dammit! Then that ans everyone has been feasting their eyes on Ye-rin!’
Countless males were still dazedly raking their wicked gazes over Ye-rin. Rage suddenly surged within . After all, who but Buddha would like a thief that coveted his al?“The weather today is good. If not for you, Hyuk, I would have been taking a nap. Hoho, thanks. For asking for a date like this.” After looking up once, the angelic Ye-rin even thanked for asking for a date.
“If you’re thankful, then shall we start by watching a movie?”
“A movie is good! But you’ve gotta buy popcorn and a cola too, ‘kay?”
“Sure! I shall give you the full service, princess.”
‘Kuhaha! I get to watch a movie with a girl besides my mom for the first ti in my 17 years of life.’
Didn’t soone once say that good things happened if you lived for a long ti?
‘Hohshit!’
While I was lost in my happy imagination, I felt slender fingers wrap around my left hand. Ye-rin had nonchalantly grasped my hand. Just like yesterday, when she had grabbed my arm.
* * *
‘Silly.’
Ye-rin felt happy as she gazed at the pure Kang Hyuk, who was surprised just because she had grabbed his hand.
‘Guess he doesn’t rember .’
He wasn’t as good-looking as Jang Dong-gun or Jo In-sung, but Kang Hyuk had a refreshing face that automatically made you say that he was manly. With a sturdy physique that matched his height, he was already becoming the hot topic among the first year girls.
[T/N: Jang Dong-gun and Jo In-sung are Korean actors. Their faces… give off a manly feel. Kuhuhu!]
They had gotten into the prestigious Daehan High School, but high school was rely a stepping stone for college. Moreover, since everyone was outstandingly skilled, each one was future competition. Because of that, everyone was always tense as they talked amongst each other. Even their laughter was a pretense, and no one had friends they could really open their hearts to.
But Kang Hyuk was different.
He always had a smile as cool as the blue sky of autumn on his face, as he went about school life with his shoulders straight and proud. Kang Hyuk drew unseen popularity from the ntally drained students.
Furthermore, Kang Hyuk was the savior of Ye-rin’s life.
In her second year of middle school, she had studied at cram school until late in the night in order to get into Daehan High School. Though she studied until night fell, she was able to go to cram school without worries because she had a driver to take her ho.
But one day, her driver suddenly got into a car accident and Ye-rin was forced to go ho alone, late at night.
There wouldn’t have been any problem if she had gone by taxi, but she went ho on the bus that ran from the cram school.
And then, she ran into three delinquent high schoolers at the playground at the entrance of her neighborhood.
A chilly autumn breeze was blowing, so there were no people walking around late at night. The delinquents dragged Ye-rin to sowhere dark. She had wanted to scream, but she was so filled with horror that she couldn’t say a word. Even now, she couldn’t forget the sight of the delinquents who had looked at her lustfully as they dragged her along.
That night, when she was sure to have suffered an injury that could never be washed away, a knight like the ones in the movies appeared.
Wearing the uniform of the neighboring middle school, the male student was just over 5′ 6″. He t eyes with Ye-rin as she was dragged along like an animal, and in that mont, the boy jumped forward.
There was no warning or anything. He picked up a wooden stick from the street and beat the daylights out of the three delinquents, as if he were beating re animals.
Then, leaving the high schoolers who were bigger than him with the honest advice to live their lives properly, he had turned to leave.
That was when Ye-rin saw it. By the dim light of the streetlamp, she caught a glimpse of the na tag on the boy’s uniform.
The na she saw was Kang Hyuk.
* * *
“That was fun! Hyuk, what’s the next course?”
We ca out after watching a movie called Rotten, Filthy, Shitty Bastard. It had gotten good reviews for being fun on the Internet. The movie had been funny throughout and had combined aweso scenes with action to give us a thrilling ride.
After relieving our stress and coming out of the movie theater, it was already almost six o’clock.
“Ye-rin, do you like jazz?”
“Jazz? How did you know, that I like jazz?”
The unique Ye-rin was clearly different from normal kids. I rembered the jazz tunes that had flowed from her MP3 the other day.
“Let’s go. There’s a place that does live jazz on Daehangno.”
“Really? Impressive, Hyuk! But Hyuk, are you maybe…”
“What?”
Having cheered while praising my ticulousness, Ye-rin’s doubtful eyes sparkled. “Are you one of those playboys I’ve only heard about?”
“P-playboy?”
I heard the word ‘playboy’ on my first date ever.
“Ye-rin.”
“Yeah?” At my quiet call, the goddess-like girl’s large eyes glimred with playfulness.
“As the one who compelled to beco a playboy, you’re more likely to be one. And…” I trailed off as I gazed gently at Ye-rin’s black eyes. “For you, and only you, I want to beco your playboy, always.”
Tremble.
‘That’s right, she should be moved. Huhu.’
Words so naughty that they made want to go into a hardware shop and bang my head on a tal bar ca out of my mouth.
“Hyuk…” Her eyes trembling as if she had been touched a hundred tis over, Ye-rin called with trembling lips.
“Yes, Ye-rin.”
On so street corner of Daehangno, as the dusk wrapped the city in shadows, Ye-rin called my na warmly.
And I waited for Ye-rin’s next words.
“I’m cold.”
‘GEH!’
“Has winter co so suddenly? Why is it this cold? Hohoho! Hyuk, be careful. You were so corny you almost made fall over. Hohoho!”
“…”
‘Of course. I’m the idiot for having believed that dating was easier than studying.’
In middle school, in preparation for the upcoming world of love, I had thoroughly studied a $4 textbook on dating. It was sothing I always felt, but the truth was, theories and reality were really as different as night and day, and the price of an item showed in its effectiveness.
* * *
“Welco. Do you have a reservation?”
Though it was located on Daehangno, a street that targeted young people, the live jazz cafe Prius maintained a dignified air. I had found through the internet that it was a place with jazz performances of the highest caliber.
“I have a reservation under the na Kang Hyuk.”
“Please wait a mont. Ah, here you are. You’re in the top VIP room. Please follow .” The cordial waiter guided us to our table.
“Hyuk, isn’t this too much?” Ye-rin’s eyes had turned as big as saucers at the words ‘VIP room.’
“I spent all my allowance. It’s fine as long as you feed and keep alive for the next month, Ye-rin.”
“Ha, what? Well… you’re being cute, so I’ll think about it.” She was pouting slightly with her cherry red lips.
‘Those lips sure look cute.’ The strange warmth the sight of her lips gave made unable to look away.
“The VIP room does not take specific orders. In a short while, we will bring the chef’s special course al.”
‘Looks like we won’t be able to drink even a single glass, though so wine would be perfect.’
We were clearly still youngsters. The waiter didn’t even ask about alcoholic drinks and left with a nod.
“Looks like there’s a quintet here. Saxophone, drum, contrabass, trumpet, piano. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Ye-rin was making an expression filled with expectation as she looked at the instrunts on the dimly lit stage. She brushed back her long, glossy black hair with her right hand, as she made an exceedingly expectant expression.
“This place specializes in performing standard pieces in the fusion jazz literature. It’ll be pleasant to hear.”
“Hyuk, do you have a lot of interest in jazz, too?”
“No, well… a bit.”
I stuttered a response to Ye-rin’s query. At one point in my life, I hadn’t just been interested in it— I had thought about pursuing the path of a musician professionally. Now it was a dream of the past.
“For a car accident to have suddenly happened…”
“It’s no good if we don’t have the performance…”
“And at the ti when all the custors are in, too.”
‘A car accident?’
We could hear so shocked voices from behind the stage.
“Hyuk, looks like sothing happened.”
Having waited with anticipation for the perforrs to co onto stage with starry eyes, Ye-rin made an expression of disappointnt.
‘Argh, my perfect first date is—!’
I wondered if this was the shitty feeling a painter might experience if they drew a woman of unequaled beauty but were stopped before they could draw the eyes.
At this unforeseen situation, my heart fell. Today’s main date course, the jazz concert, was about to go down the drain.
‘We can’t go back like this.’
There must have been so news, because the waiters who had been serving the custors were running about in confusion. I was struck with the feeling that they would offer us a refund soon.
“Wait a mont.”
“You’re going sowhere?”
“Yeah. To the bathroom for a bit.”
“Alright.”
She must have really been looking forward to it, because Ye-rin’s pretty face was filled with heavy disappointnt.
‘For you, Ye-rin, no, for the monuntal first date of this man, Kang Hyuk!’
I resolved myself and went towards the person who looked like the manager.
To show her that nothing was impossible on the path walked by the man Kang Hyuk.
* * *
“Sighhh!”
Hyuk, who went to the bathroom, didn’t co back even after a long ti.
‘Even though it’s my first date with Hyuk…’
Ye-rin felt pained. This was the event that her prince charming, Hyuk, had prepared for her. The live jazz that she hadn’t even thought of had moved her in a way that couldn’t be expressed with words.
Even her considerate parents couldn’t pay attention to Ye-rin because of work. Moreover, it was her birthday today. Her father managed a small business, and sothing must have happened because he hadn’t co ho for the past few days and practically lived in his office. And her mom was busy lanting her woes to her relatives and friends on the phone. Ye-rin didn’t know the details, but from what she could gather, sothing bad had definitely happened to her father’s business.
The date with Kang Hyuk had found her while she was anxiously spending her birthday like that. Seeing Kang Hyuk’s pure and vigorous smile, a guy who was so considerate of her, allowed Ye-rin to brush aside her gloomy mood.
The only problem was, the live jazz that she had secretly looked forward to had been canceled.
“Everyone, we apologize for the wait. We will start the performance right away.”
A sudden announcent rang throughout the store by mic.
“…?”
Surprised, Ye-rin looked at the stage.
And walking forward to appear on the stage were five n and won. Most of them were wearing black attire that allowed free movent, but interestingly, one man was in comfortable jeans and a blue shirt.
“H-Hyuk…”
The short-haired man who ca up onto the stage with the perforrs was indeed Kang Hyuk. Not believing her eyes, Ye-rin looked at Hyuk again.
In that mont, Ye-rin saw him flash a confident and refreshing smile.
“We apologize for being a little late. We hope you’ll enjoy your night.”
The mild-looking saxophone player, who looked to be in his early 40’s, tilted his head in a brief bow.
Clap clap clap!
With the perforrs’ greeting, the audience naturally applauded, and Kang Hyuk went to sit at the piano.
Boom boom boom! The contrabass rang softly.
Ti-ring, ti-riiing, puuuuu! (piano and brass sounds)Then the harmony of several instrunts began weaving a smooth, jazzy lody.
“Hyuk…”
A piece Ye-rin knew well, called Fly to the Moon, began flowing out as jazz.
And touched by imasurable emotion, Ye-rin’s large eyes were wet with tears.
* * *
‘What a relief.’
I had never been so grateful for my safari breeding program. I had ended up learning the piano because of my mom’s opinion that even a panther struggling on Kilimanjaro needed to be able to play an instrunt or two in order to lure in a mate.
Thanks to my mom, who had beco an applied music professor, despite majoring in the classics, I was capable of performing all sorts of styles, including jazz.
Thus I was able to safely overco the crisis that had struck our first date.
Bada, boom boom, bada boom!
‘So this is an ensemble.’
Because jazz music was pleasant and comfortable to hear, I had often practiced standard jazz at ho.
Although I had started playing for Ye-rin, at so point I beca imrsed in the ensemble of jazz.
Jazz, a type of music that was said to be loved by free-spirited people.
I closed my eyes and fell deeper into that llow and harmonious world.
* * *
‘Impressive, Hyuk!’
At seventeen years, he was still a young boy. He didn’t fall behind even in the midst of professional players who made a living out of jazz. Rather, the piano had sohow beco the center of the jazz and Kang Hyuk had beco the leader.
The sight of Hyuk, who was gently swaying with his eyes closed and absorbed in the jazz, made Ye-rin’s heart race on and on.
Ever since he saved her from danger, she had truly looked forward to the day she could et Hyuk, and after coincidentally entering the sa school, she had been able to et him. She had hesitated so much before talking to him at the school field trip, too.
‘He’s beautiful.’
Ye-rin was vividly experiencing the fact that n could also be beautiful at tis.
Buoyed by a hazy feeling of intoxication, she had a taste of the illusion that she was flying towards the moon on the lody crafted by Hyuk.
* * *
‘That’s it! That’s what it was!’
Jazz could only be played well if the ensemble was one.
In the middle of doing my best to play the piano out of consideration for the other players, an enlightennt suddenly ca to .
I had discovered the key that could unlock the 3rd Circle that had been my wall.
‘3rd Circle magic starts from harmoniously combining magic up to the 2nd Circle. Just like how one plus one becos two and two plus two becos four, if I naturally combine them, I can break the wall in my magic. It’s like how more water can be held if the vessel increases in size.’
From what Master Bumdalf had said, from the 3rd Circle onwards, you would receive the title of ‘Mage’ and be able to go out into the world and make a living out of it. But he had said that most mages in training were unable to overco the wall and go from the 2nd Circle to the 3rd Circle for their entire lives.
And now, I felt like I would be able to make a living as a mage.
‘Thank you, Ye-rin.’
Ye-rin, who stood with on the starting point of a new life. There was no doubt that she was the goddess of good fortune who watched over .
Reviews
All reviews (0)