The Villains I Taught Became Heroes - Chapter 77



76 – Vacation – 5

“We’re meeting right now, aren’t we?”

“…You know that’s not what I mean.”

With a soft smile, So-wol let out a small sigh towards Lee-hyun. It was always like this.

Her master always tried to slip away with that sly demeanor at crucial moments.

‘Not this time.’

“Look at me.”

“Okay.”

“Pretty, right?”

“Indeed.”

“My chest is big, isn’t it?”

“Of course.”

“You have no idea how slim my waist is.”

“Very smooth indeed.”

“And what about my hips? Can’t we say this is a figure meant for easy childbirth?”

“True.”

“I have a lot of money too. Do you know how much the Eastern Merchant Guild has grown? I’m the heir of that guild. Plus, I’ve gathered quite a bit of funds while playing the role of a saint.”

“A saint shouldn’t be so obsessed with money.”

“Oh really? There’s nothing in the church’s teachings that says not to accumulate wealth, you know? Wealth amassed through legitimate means is actually recognized as a result of hard work.”

“Right. Right.”

“My personality is as smooth as silk. There’s a saying that the Sword Saint is also called the Saint of Mercy.”

“Ah, I’ve heard of that. They say you run an orphanage, right? And when there’s no war, you operate a free meal service to take care of people.”

“You’ve heard well. That’s right. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I’m the best candidate for a priest in the continent.”

“Impressive. Truly my disciple.”

“And it’s me who’s saying I want to meet you. Consider it an honor.”

“It’s so honorable that it feels burdensome. Hey.”

“Hehe. Don’t worry. I’m also called the Saint of Mercy. There’s no need for you to feel burdened, Master.”

The hand that had been scratching her palm slowly moved.

Like a snake, So-wol intertwined her fingers with Lee-hyun’s and spoke without blinking.

“Just one word is enough. Master.”

“……”

“I like you. So, will you date me with the premise of marriage? That’s all it takes. The honor of being the husband of the Sword Saint, the wealth of a massive guild like the Eastern Merchant Guild. You can have it all—this beautiful appearance and figure too.”

“Ha. It feels like a demon lord is tempting me. Why not offer half the world while you’re at it?”

“Oh? You wanted half the world? Shall we give it a try? World domination?”

“No. I don’t need that.”

“Hehe. I thought so. So, Master.”

She tightened her grip on their intertwined hands.

Holding on tightly as if to prevent him from escaping, So-wol spoke earnestly.

“Please tell me.”

Lee-hyun released their intertwined hands. Then, gently holding her hand, he spoke in a kind tone.

“I’m very grateful that you like me. But you’re someone who can meet someone even better.”

“I just don’t want to miss the good person right in front of me.”

“You’re still young. What you’re doing to me now must be because of memories from the past.”

“Those memories from the past are more precious to me than anything else.”

“I don’t fit with you.”

“So, you should know it’s an honor. I’m reaching out my hand. I’ll help you rise to someone who suits me. Well, I don’t think it needs to be that much of a rise, though.”

It was a will as strong as steel.

As he gazed at the unwavering Sowol, Lee Hyun made a troubled expression before letting out a sigh.

Then, in a tone more serious than before, he spoke.

“I have only one thing to say to you, Sowol.”

“…..”

“What do you see in a man like me?”

Sowol’s delicate eyebrows twitched. She was no fool.

She understood what Lee Hyun was saying.

Rejection.

He was indirectly rejecting her.

“Ha… I guess this is it for today.”

“How about we end it today? Sowol.”

“…You’ve underestimated me.”

With a light flick of her hair, Sowol smiled brightly.

Then, slowly rising from her seat, she looked directly at Lee Hyun and said,

“I’m not the kind of woman who would cry and throw a fit just because I was rejected once.”

“That’s impressive.”

“Of course. Who’s my master?”

“My disciple.”

As Sowol stepped away from Lee Hyun, Lumina and Charlotte, who had been watching her, wore expressions of concern.

They couldn’t hear what was being said from afar.

But looking at Lee Hyun and Sowol, they felt they could guess the outcome.

“Saintess…”

“I’m fine.”

Sowol appeared completely unshaken.

What an impressive person. Lumina and Charlotte clapped lightly in admiration of her demeanor.

“Anyway, I’ve achieved my first goal. For my master to see me as a woman.”

“That’s amazing…”

“It’s nothing special. I never thought it would be accomplished in one go.”

Even as a woman, she could only think how wonderful she was.

This woman, as strong as steel, would not waver no matter what happened.

Then, she wouldn’t need comfort. Charlotte looked around and smiled as she said,

“There’s a place that serves cocktails over there. How about we have a drink there?”

From noble mtl dot com

“That sounds good. But I’ll go wash up first.”

“Sure. See you later.”

Sowol lightly waved goodbye to Lumina and Charlotte as she headed toward the shower room.

—

As Soonwol stepped into the one-person box and locked the door, she turned on the hot water and immediately covered her mouth.

“Ugh… Ugh… Huh…”

The emotions she had hidden burst forth.

No matter how strong she was, she had been rejected by the person she had loved her whole life.

How could that not be sad? How could it not be painful?

Yet, she could not reveal it.

Because she was Soonwol.

Because she was the proud Soonwol.

Unable to show her weakness, she had no choice but to endure the pain alone, crying silently.

“Huh… Huhuh… Master… Master…”

She felt resentment.

But at the same time, she felt love.

That’s why she wanted him even more.

As Soonwol sobbed with her mouth covered, the hot water cascading over her, she thought,

‘Still… I’m just glad.’

Because Lee Hyun had never once said he ‘disliked’ her.

That meant there was still hope.

As she washed her face, Soonwol bit her lip slightly.

It was no different from throwing an egg against a large rock.

But that was okay.

She could just cover it with the eggshell.

As the hot water poured over her, Soonwol steeled her resolve once more.

.

.

.

The place Lee Hyun headed to after leaving the swimming pool was the library.

The library, one of the facilities at the resort, had quite a number of books.

Among the rare volumes that are hard to find elsewhere, the Emerald Resort’s library was bustling with people.

Among the students who had come here to find those hard-to-find books, some were happily stacking and reading their selections.

Seeing a few students greet him, Lee Hyun made his way to a corner. There, he spotted a beautiful woman reading a book.

It was Lena.

With her silver long hair neatly braided, she turned the pages one by one, looking like a painting.

With a smile, Lee Hyun approached her.

“Ren.”

“Hi, Hiiieek?!”

As soon as she heard his voice, Lena quickly closed the book she was reading and hid it behind her.

Her ivory face had turned as red as a perfectly ripe apple.

What on earth was she reading that made her react like that?

Curious, Lee Hyun reached out his hand.

“Ah, ah, ah, no…”

—

“What’s going on?”

“Uh, um. Well, you see. Hehe. Did, did you come to look for a book too, Master?”

The awkwardness in her attempt to change the subject only raised more suspicion.

But it wasn’t like she was reading a forbidden spell, so it felt unnecessary to pry further. Hyun smiled and shook his head.

“I just came to see if you were having fun.”

“Oh, ah. I see. Y-yeah. Um, um. Would you like to go out for a cup of tea?”

“No, that’s alright. You seem to be having a good time, so I think I’ll…”

“No! Let’s go together.”

Lena gathered the book she had been holding.

As they stepped outside together, Hyun smiled at Lena, who quickly hid the book inside her robe.

“Isn’t it boring to come all the way to the resort and just stay in the library?”

“Oh, no. It’s fun. There are, um, a lot of books.”

“Really? What book have you been reading?”

Lena’s face flushed once again.

She turned her large eyes this way and that, thinking, before snapping her fingers.

“Um, Understanding Magic!”

“Really? It seems you’ve been studying from the basics. That’s excellent.”

“Hehe.”

“Right. Is it uncomfortable sharing a room with someone else?”

“Well, a little, um, it is, but… it’s okay.”

In that case, he felt reassured.

Hyun took a sip of his coffee, smiling comfortably at Lena.

As she observed him, Lena took a sip of the sweet apple tea he had ordered and asked, “Did something happen?”

Something happened?

If there was, he would have mentioned it. Hyun shook his head, recalling the earlier conversation with Sowol.

“I’m fine.”

“If, if there’s something difficult, please, um, let me know. I’m always on your side, Master…”

“Really?”

“Yes! Oh, oh right.”

Clapping her hands lightly, she rummaged through her pockets.

After searching for a while, she pulled out a golden card.

It was an item sold only at the library of the Emerald Resort.

“If you have this, they say good luck will come to you.”

She held the card with both hands and offered it to Hyun.

“Master, please take this.”

“Haha. Thank you. I’ll make good use of it.”

“And, um, that card has a sp-special function.”

A function?

There were no such functions in the game.

As Lee Hyun looked puzzled, Lena spoke in a shy, almost crawling tone.

“Um, if you could, um, return that card to me, I’ll grant you any wish, anything.”

Swallowing hard, as if to moisten her dry throat from the tension, Lena looked directly at Lee Hyun.

“…Ah. Well… if it’s something the, the master wants, anything.”