Chapter 33: Banquet(2)
Yoo Soha scanned the banquet hall.
Her gaze caught a variety of faces.
Jang Dae-hyun, the president of the Korea Awakener Association, was racking his brain to mediate between Yeon and Myeolma.
Han Jae-ho, the leader of Akwol, was speaking with her grandfather, Yoo Hyuk.
Men were making desperate attempts to strike up a conversation with Yoo Danha.
And then there were the glances directed at her.
In the past, those glances would have been filled with mockery, but today was different.
Thanks to her summoning of the remarkable guardian Eclipse at the last Hwanryeong Grand Tournament, the mocking looks had vanished.
Instead, the gazes directed at Yoo Soha today were filled with… envy, or perhaps admiration.
Yoo Soha locked eyes with those who used to mock her.
They hurriedly averted their gazes, clearly unwilling to get entangled with her.
Snorting, Yoo Soha turned her attention away from them and began searching for someone.
“Is there someone you’re looking for?”
“Hm? Shin Sungmin, you’re here too?”
“Well, I am part of Hwanryeong… By the way, it’s a bit of a shame.”
“What is?”
“If it weren’t for this banquet, I’d be swinging my sword right now…”
“Oh, you mentioned you’ve made some progress recently, right?”
“Yes, thanks to Eclipse.”
Ever since being thoroughly defeated by Eclipse, Shin Sungmin had looked up to him with reverence. Understanding why, Yoo Soha nodded absentmindedly.
“But you’ve been looking for someone since earlier… Is there someone specific?”
“Yes. There’s someone I absolutely need to find.”
Seeing the wicked smile that flashed across her face, Shin Sungmin instantly realized who she was looking for.
“Oh. Could it be…?”
“You’re probably right. Now, let’s see… Taehwa’s people should be over there.”
“…Don’t cause too much trouble.”
“That’ll be tough. I’ve got too many grudges from when I was younger. And…”
“And?”
“Grandma gave me the green light. So I’m not holding back today.”
“What does Eclipse say?”
“He’s watching with great interest.”
“…”
Shin Sungmin was at a loss for words.
Indeed, Eclipse was eagerly anticipating the events unfolding around Yoo Soha.
[How do you plan to pick a fight?]
Lowering her voice, Yoo Soha responded to Eclipse.
“I’ll just rile her up a bit. Seo Euna’s got a personality similar to mine.”
[Similar personality? So, is Seo Euna arrogant too?]
Eclipse asked with interest. Yoo Soha began to think about Seo Euna.
She recalled how Seo Euna had boasted that no one her age could surpass her because she had summoned a guardian.
And how she had called Yoo Soha a half-baked nobody without a guardian.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she felt, but Yoo Soha held it in. She’d have her chance to settle the score soon enough.
“She’s arrogant, yeah. A nastier version of me… would that describe it? No, in some ways, she’s worse. She’s got a huge inferiority complex and doesn’t even have the skills to back it up.”
[I see.]
“Well, she’s not exactly talentless. She’s still A-rank, after all. But she’s barely scraping by as an A-rank.”
[Isn’t A-rank quite impressive?]
“It is. But… even so, she’s nothing compared to other A-ranks.”
[And compared to you, Soha?]
“Hah, you think she’s on my level? No way. Even without you, I could probably take her.”
[That much of a gap?]
“A month ago, I might not have been sure of winning against her. But not now. I’ve learned swordsmanship from you… and things from Grandma.”
[Hm. Got it.]
“Today, I’m going to pay her back for all the humiliation I’ve endured.”
Yoo Soha grinned menacingly.
Watching her, Eclipse felt a strange emotion.
Crushing others was something he would never have condoned in his previous world. Even if someone mocked or insulted him.
But now? Seeing Yoo Soha boldly declare her intent to crush someone didn’t faze him. It even piqued his interest.
He realized he had changed.
‘Come to think of it… even hiding my face from Soha is a form of deception. Have I changed?’
In his previous world, after being taken in by his master, he had never lied or deceived anyone.
He had always pursued nobility and lived nobly.
But now… he wasn’t.
He shook his head. He was undeniably different from before.
‘Why?’
Even with his resolve to learn arrogance… people don’t easily shed their ingrained habits.
He used to feel his limbs twist just hearing lies or seeing someone deceive another.
He had fought for the values his master upheld.
Arrogance, lust, sloth, envy, wrath, gluttony, greed.
The seven sins, as they were called in his world.
He had guarded against them and fought to punish those who indulged in them.
He had followed his master’s guidance to the letter.
He never treated others carelessly, never boasted, never let his guard down in battle, and never assumed he was stronger, no matter how weak his opponent seemed.
He never indulged in women, never slacked off, never envied others’ success, and never gave in to anger easily.
He ate only to train his body and never coveted wealth.
But…
After meeting Yoo Soha, just a month and a half later, he realized how much he had changed.
It was strange.
No matter how he thought about it, it was strange. He recalled the seven sins he had once so fiercely guarded against.
‘…The aversion I felt toward them isn’t as strong anymore.’
He couldn’t help but feel that a cornerstone of his mindset had shifted.
Was it because he was a guardian now? Or because he had stopped striving for nobility?
Even right after being summoned, he had felt his aversion to those sins had significantly faded.
‘I don’t know.’
The change was so drastic that he couldn’t help but feel confused. But he could grasp one thing.
‘I can no longer call myself noble. My master would be furious if he saw me now.’
As he grappled with his thoughts, Yoo Soha’s voice cut through.
“Eclipse? Why’d you go quiet all of a sudden?”
[…Sorry. I was just thinking about something.]
“About what?”
[It’s nothing.]
Another lie.
Somehow, lying was starting to feel more natural.
“Hm. If you don’t want to talk about it, fine.”
Yoo Soha brushed it off and refocused on her original goal.
Finding Seo Euna. With fire in her eyes, she turned toward where Taehwa Guild’s members were.
“…Found her.”
Seo Euna wasn’t hard to spot. Her face was twisted with displeasure. Seeing this, Yoo Soha bared her teeth in a warped smile.
The murmurs around her made Seo Euna’s face twist further.
Talk of how impressive Yoo Soha’s guardian was and the admiring glances directed at her.
Seo Euna hated it all.
She couldn’t stand it.
Yoo Soha was supposed to stay beneath her.
That was the absolute rule Seo Euna had set.
As she tried to calm her twisted emotions, a voice reached her ears.
“…Euna.”
Seo Euna looked at her father, Taehwa Guild’s leader, Seo Do-hyun.
With a stern expression, he spoke to his daughter.
“Yes.”
“Don’t act recklessly.”
“…Understood.”
“And don’t pick a fight with Yoo Soha. She’s clearly above you now.”
“…No, she’s not.”
As Seo Euna’s expression grew more distorted, Seo Do-hyun shook his head.
“Yoo Soha defeated even Shin Sungmin. It wouldn’t be strange to put her on par with S-rank now.”
“If Yoo Soha didn’t have her guardian, I could beat her.”
“Think about the things you’ve said to her.”
Seo Euna fell silent. A half-baked nobody without a guardian.
It was something she had said about Yoo Soha at every opportunity.
“Don’t give her a reason to start trouble. Yoo Hyuk and Lumern are here today, so any conflict will only hurt us. Don’t forget there’s no guild that can withstand their wrath.”
“…”
Seo Euna nodded silently.
Of course, her bowed face was contorted like a demon’s.
Though Seo Do-hyun knew his daughter’s feelings, he also knew she wouldn’t listen, so he simply gave her a sharp look and walked away.
The moment she spotted Seo Euna, Yoo Soha headed toward her.
The timing was perfect.
The adults were starting to talk among themselves, and it was time for the heirs to have their own conversations.
In other words… the perfect time to pick a fight.
Among the evening dresses, Yoo Soha’s black suit stood out starkly.
All eyes turned to her. Their gazes were filled with admiration—a stark contrast to before.
Enjoying the attention, Yoo Soha looked at Seo Euna, who was forcing a smile.
“Hi.”
With a bright smile, Yoo Soha greeted her. Seo Euna responded a beat late, her voice clearly strained.
“…Hi.”
“Oh my, why’s your voice so down today? Not too long ago, you were anything but.”
Yoo Soha vividly remembered Seo Euna’s attitude at a banquet years ago.
Not this suppressed, contorted smile, but a face that mocked her more gleefully than anyone.
How pathetic.
“…Me?”
“Yeah. You look gloomier than last time. Did something bad happen?”
Her words sounded like concern on the surface, but everyone present knew better.
Yoo Soha’s face was beaming with a smile. Who worries about someone with a face like that?
Seo Euna’s mood plummeted further at the question.
“No, not really.”
“Oh dear… something bad must’ve happened.”
“Nothing bad happened.”
“No way. Your face says something bad definitely happened. Come on, spill.”
“I said no.”
“Why not? You’re good at that, aren’t you? Rambling on about things no one cares about. You’re usually so chatty, so it’s weird seeing you this quiet.”
A twisted smile emerged from Yoo Soha’s lips. The atmosphere around them sank.
“You.”
The moment Seo Euna’s eyes filled with venom, Yoo Soha spoke with unrestrained glee.
“What, are you so mad that this half-baked nobody summoned a guardian and isn’t half-baked anymore?”
“You think I’d be mad just because you summoned a guardian?”
“A reason? Oh, there’s a reason, alright.”
“…What?”
“Now that you can’t indulge in your pathetic little mental victories anymore, of course you’re mad. Right?”
Her eyes curved gracefully, her lips turned upward in delight.
Within them lay all the mockery she had endured.
At her taunts, Seo Euna’s expression twisted beyond recognition.