Chapter 122. The Four Heavenly Kings (2)
The girl in the black kimono began introducing herself in a clear, bright voice.
“My name is Yuuki Hina. Remember it.”
“Yuuki.”
After getting lectured by Matsushita, Kang Yujin properly used her family name this time.
“How rude. Calling me that casually without an honorific.”
“Fine, fine. Ms. Yuuki.”
Kang Yujin couldn’t be bothered arguing, so he simply went along with it.
Yuuki snickered.
“The man driving in front is Narukami Kaoru.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Kang Yujin.”
The driver lifted his left hand in greeting.
“And the old man in the passenger seat is Sakuma Hajime.”
“I would appreciate it if you didn’t call me an old man, young lady.”
The man in the passenger seat turned his head and smiled.
“But you are an old man. Don’t you think so, Sakuma?”
“My heart is still young.”
“So everything except your heart is middle-aged.”
After exchanging those words, Yuuki turned back toward Kang Yujin.
“Including Matsushita, who isn’t here right now, the four of us are the Tenka Four Heavenly Kings.”
“When I heard ‘Four Heavenly Kings,’ I expected scary-looking monsters. You’re nothing like that.”
Sakuma aside, Narukami was a fairly handsome young man.
And Yuuki was a petite girl.
“Scary-looking monsters? Ah, you mean the statues of the Four Heavenly Kings. That’s a funny joke.”
Yuuki covered her mouth and chuckled.
“Were you surprised that we didn’t match the image?”
“I’m more surprised that you suddenly approached me like this.”
“Hmm. I see.”
Yuuki turned to look out the window.
“This area is pretty lively. There aren’t many collapsed buildings either. If it weren’t raining, I imagine there’d be plenty of people walking around.”
"..."
“Ah, Narukami. Stop here for a moment.”
At Yuuki’s instruction, Narukami pulled the car over.
Sakuma got out from the passenger seat and opened the rear door for her.
“What are you doing?”
“Order something from that street stall for me.”
Taking the umbrella Sakuma opened for her, Yuuki pointed toward the street stalls lining Jongno.
“I’ve always wanted to try authentic Korean tteokbokki if I ever came to Korea.”
“You know what tteokbokki tastes like?”
“Don’t treat me like an idiot. You can eat food from almost anywhere in the world in Japan. Even in times like these.”
Yuuki snorted, then beckoned at Kang Yujin to hurry up.
“Come on. Order something for me. Pick the tastiest combination you can.”
“Hey...”
“Koreans are the kind of people who want to be as kind as possible whenever a foreigner says they want to try Korean food, aren’t they?”
"..."
That was difficult to deny.
“Spicy, sweet, and very satisfying.”
“Good for you...”
In the end, Kang Yujin had been forced to wait in front of the street stall until Yuuki finished eating her tteokbokki.
“Why do you look so unhappy? I bought some for you too.”
“If I wanted some, I could’ve bought it with my own money...”
“You ate it happily enough. Stop complaining.”
"..."
Kang Yujin felt irritation rising inside him, but he forced himself to endure it because of the elderly woman running the stall.
“It’s been ten years since I had a Japanese customer. Tourists used to come by sometimes in the old days, but you don’t see that anymore. It’s so nice.”
She had looked genuinely delighted.
“But you guys speak Korean pretty well.”
“You didn’t know? There are items that automatically translate languages.”
“Oh. Those exist?”
“I can speak Korean without an item, though.”
Yuuki wiped the corner of her mouth with a tissue.
“Keito spoke Korean well too, didn’t he?”
“Yeah.”
“I received similar education. Ever since I was little.”
“Sounds like both of you were born into good families.”
“Who knows...”
Just like Keito, Yuuki trailed off vaguely.
“What’s your relationship with Keito?”
“His fiancée.”
“Fiancée?”
“To be precise, former fiancée. The engagement was called off.”
An engagement in this day and age...
Maybe they really had both come from prestigious families.
While Kang Yujin was thinking that, Yuuki bowed politely toward the elderly stall owner.
“Thank you for the meal. It was delicious.”
Unlike the way she spoke to Kang Yujin, her voice was polite and gentle.
“Then let’s go, Kang Yujin.”
Yuuki opened her umbrella and left the street stall first.
Kang Yujin opened the umbrella Sakuma had handed him and followed.
“Where are you going?”
Yuuki was walking in a direction completely different from where the car was parked.
“I want to look around over there too.”
“Hey! Enough already!”
Kang Yujin shouted and grabbed her shoulder.
At that moment, Yuuki suddenly raised her head.
“With rain this heavy, no one can hear us. Not the Constellations. Not Sakuma or Narukami.”
“What?”
“Don’t make a scene. Just pretend you’re indulging one of my whims and follow me.”
Caught off guard, Kang Yujin listened as Yuuki spoke rapidly.
“We haven’t known each other long, but I could already tell what kind of person you are from how you treated me and how you treated that old woman at the stall.”
"..."
“I’m telling you this because I believe you’re fundamentally kind-hearted. Hear me out.”
With that, Yuuki resumed walking.
Still confused, Kang Yujin followed her.
“I know Keito is one of the Vessels meant for the Demon King’s return. I also know you’re the same.”
“What?”
“Sakuma and Narukami don’t know. Within the Tenka Restoration Association, other than Keito himself, I’m probably the only one who does.”
Yuuki continued speaking as they walked through the rain.
“Keito intends to obtain the Demon King’s power. He doesn’t believe it’s dangerous. Even if something goes wrong, he thinks he’ll be able to control it with his own strength.”
“Ha Mina isn’t going to let things work out that conveniently.”
“Keito doesn’t care. He believes everything will ultimately proceed according to his will.”
"..."
Well.
That certainly sounded like him.
“But I don’t believe that.”
Yuuki’s voice grew heavier.
“It’s too dangerous.”
"..."
“The others in the Tenka Restoration Association, people like Sakuma and Narukami, probably wouldn’t care much even if they learned the truth. They worship Keito’s strength. If Keito becomes stronger, they’ll welcome it.”
Yuuki paused.
“Of course, that’s assuming Keito remains the leader of the Tenka Restoration Association afterward.”
So that was why she had brought Kang Yujin somewhere Sakuma and Narukami couldn’t hear them.
“That’s why I want to ask you for something.”
“What exactly are you asking?”
Yuuki took a deep breath.
“Become Keito’s friend.”
Kang Yujin stared at her.
“And convince him to join you in destroying Ha Mina’s scheme.”
Her voice was completely serious.
“I can tell. Keito sees you as his destined rival, but separately from that, he also feels a certain closeness toward you.”
"..."
