Academy Genius Craftsman

01. A sword for you (3)

I was perplexed as to why I did what I said, and she looked at me with her eyes wide open. Was looking

Since I couldn’t take back what I had already said, I endured my shame and continued.

“… I’m with support. My major is sword making. Therefore… “

“Really?! Really??!”

Yoon Seo-hee jumps up from her seat with her expression completely changed at the word “Sword making”. Courage! There was a loud noise as the chair fell backwards.

I could feel the eyes of the customers around me looking this way, wondering what was going on.

She thought she had overreacted, so she tidied up the chair with a shy expression and sat down.

“Do you know how to make a sword? Really??”

“Uh, roughly. But don’t expect too much….”

“Wow, wow… wow… Awesome, awesome… Actually, it was really helpless~ I thought that if I went wrong like this, I would fail….”

Huh? You too?

Honestly, Yoon Seo-hee is a transfer student. Since her midterm grades were skipped, there would be a possibility of failing if she skipped her final performance.

“We have about a week left until the practical training, right? If it’s a sword, I’ll make it until then. Like I said, don’t expect too much.”

“Thank you for just being there! I don’t want more than that.”

Yoon Seo-hee nodded her head and sent me an enthusiastic gaze as if she would do anything.

“What do I need to do to make a sword? Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Um… First you need to know which sword you want to use. Are there many types of supplies? Is it a single blade or two blades, a dagger or a greatsword or something like that? We need to discuss the details with each other in the future.”

“Really? As long as that’s enough! So, do you need contact information? Wait a minute….”

He took out his smartphone, unlocked it, and pointed it at me. As she stared at the numeric keypad under the white screen, Yoon Seo-hee continued her words with a smile.

“Could you take a number?”

I couldn’t answer right away because the accident stopped for a moment when I heard it for the first time in my life.

What did you say? Ah, number.

I hurriedly took her cell phone, took my number and returned it.

My smartphone in my pocket rang the default ringtone. When I took out my phone and checked the screen, I saw a number I did not know.

“I just called, did you check my number?”

I nodded at her wordlessly and she nodded her understanding as she hung up the phone. When the new phone number was saved under the name [Yoon Seo-hee], The number of saved contacts increased from one to two.

The first contact you received from someone other than your family. As I was staring at the LCD screen because it was somehow strange that this kind of thing happened after living, Yoon Seo-hee opened her mouth with some cautious notice.

“Yeah, you know.”

“… ? Do you have any questions?”

“No, that’s… I haven’t heard your name yet….”

Is that so?

Coming to think of it, I didn’t have a chance to introduce myself because I was choking in the classroom and busy talking at the cafe.

Still, I’ve been in the same class for two months, and I thought that he had no sense of me in his head.

“This is Kim Yi-jin. Jin Kim.”

“Jin Lee? Okay. I will definitely remember it from now on!”

After saving each other’s contact information, I pondered for a while about what to do next.

First of all, I have to prepare the materials and make the design, and considering the time to actually make the sword, a week is an instant. I’ll have to start working from tomorrow.

“It’s already late today, so go ahead and think about what kind of sword you want to make by tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I get it! Is it okay if I think about the sword I will use?”

“That way, you can decide what materials and how much you will need. After deciding on that, I will receive the materials from Jiwon and the teacher and make a sword out of them.”

“I see… Jin-i Lee, do you become very serious when you talk about swords?”

Serious. I haven’t even started yet, I haven’t even prepared.

It’s just burdensome to hear that already.

It was already dark outside when the two of us cleaned up empty drinks and trays and left the cafe.

“You can walk to my house from here, but what about Yoon Seo-hee?”

“I ride the shuttle bus, but the time is… Omg! The time for the last train is just around the corner, isn’t it? I need to go soon… !”

She checks her time, her complexion hardens, and she is perplexed. The bus to and from the nearest station to the academy, she said, cuts off at 8pm, so it was definitely breathtaking.

I saw her off as she hurriedly left with her hand stuck in the pocket of her school uniform.

“Come on in.”

“Oh, yes! Kim Yi-jin, see you tomorrow!”

Seohee Yoon waved her hand and left with her confident smile. I watched her back as she receded further and further through the night streets.

She’s a fighter. She won’t do anything dangerous just by walking alone at night. No one will touch an academy student just because she’s crazy, so it won’t be a big deal.

Anyway, see you tomorrow.

I never dreamed that I would be able to exchange such greetings with someone just this morning.

I headed home feeling a little lightheaded.

–

“Ahh, ahhh… ! aaagh!!”

I locked myself in bed and kicked off the covers. It was the first thing I did when my head became cold after entering the house.

Crazy! Why did you make such a promise! Why didn’t you think it through when you said it?

‘Lee Jin-ah. If this is the case, you are confirmed to fail. It’s confirmed confirmed… confirmed….’

In my head, Teacher Songha’s voice plays over and over like a broken radio.

“…… Ha.”

I can’t even take care of myself right now, but I’m going to make someone else’s sword….

I blankly looked up at the ceiling and put my hand on my forehead.

If I told you now that I couldn’t make it, I’d be disappointed.

What were you thinking when you promised to make me a sword? To the subject of a failed prospective student who failed to make a proper sword after entering school.

There’s no guarantee that I’ll be able to make a sword, and even if I did, it was fortunate that it didn’t come out with an F grade.

I thought of Yoon Seo-hee who was defeated by Lee Hyun-woo because of the sword I made.

The crudely made sword is broken without being able to withstand a single attack, and he looks at me with burning eyes while holding the mangled sword.

‘You say you’re making swords, but you’re making trash? I will kill you!’

“… ….”

As expected, wouldn’t it be better to buy a new sword now?

[Dirring ♪]

The default notification sound of a smartphone that rings suddenly. I’ve never been in contact with anyone at this time, maybe.

I checked the lighted screen, and as expected, it was a text message from Yoon Seo-hee.

[Lee Jin, did you go in well?]

What is going on at this hour? I was a little nervous, perhaps because of the imagination I had just had, and replied briefly with an unfamiliar typewriter.

[Uh. Is it your house.]

[Really? I just arrived.]

[Thank God. But what’s going on?]

I was startled after sending the message. I thought it might have sounded too interrogative.

It’s the first time I’ve had a conversation with someone other than my family, much less exchanging text messages like this. It was natural that he wasn’t used to it.

Fortunately, a reply from Yoon Seo-hee arrived quickly.

[Sorry for the sudden contact at such a late hour. Actually, I just wanted to say thank you one more time. ]

Her fingers stopped for a moment at the unexpected content.

Seeing that he insists on sending messages like this until he gets home, I wonder if he is a surprisingly sincere type.

[Not to that extent.]

[Isn’t it? Making a sword is never easy.]

That’s right.

Actually, she was thinking about giving up a little while ago. She hid half of her face in embarrassment as if she had found out her true feelings. Even though she couldn’t see my face right now.

[You know. It’s a bit funny to say this after being so happy earlier, but it’s okay not to make it if you’re having a hard time.]

“… ….”

I caught my breath.

[Why suddenly?]

[Coming to think of it, I think I’m putting too much pressure on you. This is my problem, so harming you is a nuisance.]

[It’s not a nuisance….]

[LOL Really? So anyway, don’t be too pressured. Even if I can’t make it, I won’t regret it.]

I was a little embarrassed.

Did you suddenly change your mind? Did it seem belatedly that my skills were not trustworthy?

If so, I honestly had nothing to say. Because everything is true.

I replied, thinking that maybe there was another alternative to entrusting the sword to me. If that was the case, I was willing to give up.

[Did you find another way?]

[No, it’s not like that….]

After waiting for a reply for a while, the following message arrived.

[Isn’t it kind of like a one-sided relationship between friends?]

“What.”

I sent a message in bewilderment.

[Friends?]

[Then isn’t it?]

Was it that easy to make friends?

I don’t know. Because I wasn’t interested in making friends yet. However, it was only sudden that I had an unreasonable relationship with Yoon Seo-hee and her friend without even knowing it.

[I already thought we were friends hahahaha So relax. I will be grateful for anything you make, and I will never resent you if I can’t make it.]

“… ….”

[How can I work hard for a week? Maybe I can buy a used one? I’m not sure.]

[Ah, it’s already late at night! I just need to sleep… Kim Ijin, you too, sleep well. Do not reply]

In a dark room, I blankly stared at the message on the dimly lit LCD screen.

I’m going crazy.

How do you tell me to stop after hearing this?

I replied briefly as an unfamiliar typewriter. It was to make up my mind.

[I will do my best.]

The reply was quick.

[Ah what the heck! I said you don’t have to reply hahahaha]

She looked at her flickering text cursor, trying to figure out what to send her reply, but the reply came faster to her.

[Thank you]

[Don’t you really reply? Because I’m ashamed]

[See you tomorrow Lee Jin-ah]

I waited for a while, but there were no more notifications coming.

Only then was I able to turn off the screen and close my eyes.