Chapter 187 – Will it Snow on Christmas? (2)
The day Kim Chae-eun asked about Christmas.
I got calls from other friends as if it was a lie.
Kang Juyeon on Christmas Eve, and Moon Ga-eun at Christmas lunch.
They each suggested different time slots and planned to meet with me.
‘Are they all matched…?’
Their schedules were so sharp, I wondered.
Thanks to them, as soon as the academy was over, I was booked with appointments with three friends.
Of course, it was a pleasant plan just thinking about it for me.
Although it’s nice to spend a vacation at home, I’m the type who gets energy when I go out and active.
Especially Christmas, considered one of the best long vacations.
Being able to spend it with someone was a pretty blessed thing.
It’s just a shame…
Everyone meets separately?
As it was the end of the year, I wanted to create an atmosphere where we all gathered together to wrap up the year and celebrate the new year a bit.
That’s why I suggested why don’t we all gather at my house and have a party, but…
At this, Moon Ga-eun got angry like fire.
-This idiot…!! You need appeal time too sometimes!
Saying that for no reason, she ignored my offer.
I don’t know exactly what the appeal time is at a Christmas party, but in any case, everyone’s opinions seemed similar about meeting separately.
In addition, Park Jin-woo also said he could not come, so meeting everyone naturally fell through.
The five members of the underground dungeon.
At first, they were just colleagues gathered to strategize the dungeon, but now they were becoming precious friends to me that could not compare to anyone else.
If even one of them was missing, the party would not have meant anything anyway.
“This way.”
Kang Juyeon lightly grabbed my arm and led me.
Kang Juyeon planned and prepared this appointment.
I said I would help her too, but…
The result goes without saying rejection.
Once Kang Juyeon made up her mind, no one could bend her stubbornness.
“Here we are.”
The place we arrived was Oksu-dong, Seongdong-gu.
After walking for a while near the station, the desired place appeared in no time.
Bustling people and decorations that fully set the mood.
And in the middle was a man helping guide.
“Hello. We are the clan Comfortable, which always strives to make citizens’ lives more comfortable. Due to the holiday rush and overcrowding, our clan’s Ice Garden Dungeon is currently not accepting on-site appointments. Are you a customer with a reservation by any chance?”
As the man rattled off like a manual, Kang Juyeon nodded her head.
“Yes.”
“May I check your ticket?”
“Here…”
After I came back from <The Nest Covered by Clouds> with Moon Ga-eun…
For some reason, I promised Kang Juyeon, who seemed angry, that we would go to a dungeon together later.
Although we did go hunting together when I was dispatched to Japan, that was just work and the promise was another matter.
While looking for a suitable dungeon…
Kang Juyeon suddenly brought me to a dungeon, saying let’s replace that promise today.
<Welcome to the Ice Garden – Comfortable>
A special dungeon located near Oksu Station.
<Ice Garden>.
A dungeon owned by the clan <Comfortable>, which studies the convenient life of citizens.
Unlike other common dungeons, this dungeon does not focus on ‘hunting’.
Due to the very low level of monsters appearing in the dungeon and the considerably low difficulty of the boss room, the rewards for clearing it were not very attractive.
Perhaps an inferior dungeon that ordinary Holders would avoid.
Yet <Ice Garden> was crowded with people who wanted to enter every weekend or annual anniversary.
“Can you just let me in once?”
“I’m sorry. As previously announced, only customers with reservations can enter.”
“Dear, let’s just go.”
“Ah, it’s so pretty here….”
A couple having an argument separate from us.
As they said, <Ice Garden> provided a remarkably beautiful scenery.
As soon as you enter, there is an ice path stretching out with ice sculptures placed here and there.
Mystical bushes composed of ice flowers.
Ice of beautiful colors proudly illuminates the surroundings.
It was a sight so pretty and beautiful that it would not be awkward to call it a tourist attraction.
That’s why <Ice Gardens> were often visited by ‘Holder Couples’, men and women who were both Rune Holders, and were the optimal date spots.
“Yes. Confirmed 2 people reservation. Please enter through this medium.”
The man in charge of us finished checking and allowed entry.
Then the couple next to us looked at us enviously.
“They’re going in.”
“Those people must have made a reservation.”
“Wow, it was so competitive I wonder how they got through?”
“Huh? But that guy, I’ve seen him a lot somewhere….”
At once, the woman of the couple tilted her head.
She seemed to recognize me right away.
So I pulled Kang Juyeon’s arm and hurried my steps.
“Let’s go quickly, Juyeon.”
“Huh? Uh….”
That’s why being famous is a headache.
Now I was really worried if I should wear a hat and mask.
***
Ippotranslation
***
Kang Juyeon barely held her pounding heart.
Today was a series of challenges for her.
Once in the morning, when she planned dinner with Do Jae-hyun herself.
Once at lunch, when she put on her outfit for today before going out.
Once in the evening, when she saw Do Jae-hyun at the academy.
Especially just before entering <Ice Garden>.
When he said let’s go quickly and grabbed her arm… She almost felt her heart burst.
‘…’
Kang Juyeon found herself strange.
In the 20 years she lived by age, she had never felt such intense waves of emotion.
Ordinary school life and excellent grades.
Familiar family background and clan work taught directly by her father.
Boring academy and competence as a Holder without inadequacy.
Although everything had its own meaning if she gave it, looking back, Kang Juyeon had just lived along as things flowed.
But lately, waves kept occurring in that calm water.
‘Everyone to Jae-hyun…’
And that…
On the day Kim Chae-eun said let’s have a countermeasure meeting.
The day everyone’s sincerity was subtly revealed.
Ironic as it felt even more intense.
As everyone subtly and honestly revealed their inner feelings, Kang Juyeon could finally admit it herself.
That she too has a rational interest in Do Jae-hyun.
Although it was the feeling she felt for the first time…
She could be more certain because it was the first time she felt it.
In her short life, Do Jae-hyun was the only one who made her feel this emotion.
After admitting that, the waves of emotion felt even more intense.
“Wow. It’s really worth making a reservation and coming. It’s so pretty here.”
After entering <Ice Garden>.
Do Jae-hyun, who was looking around the beautiful scenery around him, said.
Sculptures that seemed sufficiently valuable as decorations were placed here and there, and beautiful colored ice proudly illuminated the surroundings.
Blankly staring at it, it was a kind of live-action landscape painting.
The term ‘garden’ suited the scenery perfectly.
Do Jae-hyun looked around and soon came over to Kang Juyeon.
“With this, a white Christmas doesn’t exist separately. Right?”
A white Christmas.
A special and beautiful day when it snows on Christmas.
Although it wasn’t snowing, looking at the entirely white and clean scenery of <Ice Garden>…
It really felt like experiencing a white Christmas.
Of course, Kang Juyeon had no time to care about that now.
With Do Jae-hyun suddenly coming over, she grabbed her startled heart again and slowly nodded her head.
“…Yeah.”
“You okay? You look kind of out of it.”
“…I’m fine.”
In fact, whether she was fine or not was irrelevant.
It was a matter of tension, not condition.
“You look pretty today.”
“…What?”
But suddenly.
At Do Jae-hyun’s blurt…
Kang Juyeon was surprised and raised her head.
He then avoided eye contact with an embarrassed face and said,
“Oh, just that I felt like I didn’t get to say it earlier. The outfit suits you really well. It matches Christmas well with the chords and stuff.”
“….”
Do Jae-hyun awkwardly cleared his throat and walked ahead.
Watching him, Kang Juyeon thought.
‘His hand….’
I should hold his hand.
This is clearly an opportunity…
But when she tried to act on it, she couldn’t move to action smoothly.
I seemed more daring in the hot spring last time, but actually entering a standard date, even holding hands was difficult.
After all, the atmosphere was important.
‘But still…’
But still, today is special.
It’s only once a year, Christmas Eve.
It must be okay to be a little bolder.
With that in mind, Kang Juyeon matched his pace and tried to hold his hand… At that time.
Crash- rustle rustle-
Roar!
Heeheeng…!!
“Gak, gak aaak-!!”
“What, what is it!!”
“Run! It’s an irregular boss!”
Suddenly on one side of the broken dungeon interior.
And the nimble beast-shaped monster that appeared.
Oddly, the whole body of the monster was made of ice.
With that sudden attack, people panicked and fled.
Irregular Boss.
Refers to a boss monster that is of a level that does not match the rated level of the set dungeon, suddenly appearing in the middle of a dungeon… It was also called a ‘mutated monster’.
It had some similarities to a ‘mid boss’, but was named ‘irregular boss’ because a monster that had never appeared before suddenly appeared.
“…”
At that sight.
Kang Juyeon was at a loss for words and looked ahead.
Now, here.
An irregular boss appears at this timing?
It was an event with improbable probability.
‘…The whole world is on Chae-eun and Ga-eun’s side.’
It was a rare moment for Kang Juyeon…
To feel unfair.
