I Have a Fiancee in a Parallel World

30 – Both are healers?

“When we came out of the field, they told us to stay away because they were going to grab a bite to eat… They probably didn’t go towards the busy street over here, right?”

“Take the lead.”

“Can… Can I come along too?”

“I don’t know what their faces look like, how can you find them alone?”

Seungjoon’s irritated voice pricked Minhyuk once again, unable to make a single complaint, he headed towards the training field with him.

Seungjoon and Minhyuk went to find Jihoon together, and the other teammates were left to continue their training.

It was impossible for all the team members to waste time trying to confirm the truth of this insane nonsense…

In Seungjoon’s mind, there was only one thing occupying his thoughts: the final match against Yun Donghan’s team, his rivals from Class 4.

***

Walking through the bustling streets, Seungjoon followed Minhyuk, who was frantically searching for Jihoon.

“8 minutes? What nonsense… Clearing the gate in 8 minutes with just two people, and he’s in Class 11? This clueless guy must have seen something he shouldn’t have,” Seungjoon muttered, unable to shake off his suspicions, his gaze piercing into Minhyuk.

Perhaps sensing the intense scrutiny from behind, Minhyuk kept turning his head, desperately looking for Jihoon amidst the vast cityscape.

How could he find someone in this sprawling urban area, especially when they didn’t even know where to begin?

“He said he’s going to eat. I never heard him say he’s eating in the downtown area…,” Minhyuk berated himself for his slip of the tongue, fervently wishing for Jihoon to appear.

Seungjoon, ready to explode in anger at Minhyuk’s unnecessary chatter, recalled Seungjoon’s earlier display of power, feeling his own body tense.

That’s when it happened.

“Oh? Found him!! Seungjoon! There he is. That’s Kang Jihoon!” Minhyuk shouted with joy as if he had discovered a treasure.

Thank goodness. It was fortunate they were in the downtown area. It was fortunate Jihoon stood out so clearly. Minhyuk mentally thanked Jihoon, even though he had never properly mixed a sentence before.

“…What? That guy? Why is he surrounded by three girls? …Huh? Isn’t that Seol Yoojeong?”

Following Minhyuk’s guidance, Seungjoon approached the person pointed out as Jihoon.

***

Near the academy, there was a bustling downtown area.

Similar to the university district, the vicinity of the academy was well-developed, attracting not only academy students but also professors, hunter management staff, and guild officials.

Due to its nature, the area around the academy naturally drew crowds of people.

However, unlike the university district, the cost of living here was not the least bit affordable.

In fact, the prices here were much higher than in other ordinary downtown areas.

This was because the academy and its related professions were some of the highest-paying jobs in modern society.

Therefore, it was almost natural for the cost of living around the academy to be high.

“What? This costs 6,000 won??” Jihoon blinked his eyes, looking at the price tag again.

I couldn’t believe the fact that sticking four strawberries on a skewer, spreading sugar water, and hardening it would cost 6,000 won.

“Ah, student. How much is the rent here? We’re the only ones selling this for 6,000 won.”

An auntie who seemed to be the boss smiled kindly at Jihun as if her eyes were popping out.

“Is this your first time eating Tanghulu? Try it, it’s really delicious. Your girlfriends will like it too. Should I give you three?”

‘Hotdog uncle… Were you doing volunteer work… Oh no… are you showing me the rent? I hope you’re filing your taxes properly.”

Jihun’s mind was filled with strange thoughts.

“Please give me four. Here you go.”

Suddenly, Su Yoojeong appeared to calculate the cost of the Tanghulu instead.

“Hello?”

“Uh… hello… are you buying Tanghulu? Sojeong and Su Yeong’s too?”

Sojeong had an unpleasant expression upon seeing Su Yoojeong, while Su Yeong looked bewildered.

“Yeah… I wanted to try it too. I saw you earlier during the first exam… You did great… congratulations.”

Jihun was no longer the person he used to know.

The person who had chased after him for three years, thinking he was great, had disappeared.

Now Jihun no longer pays any attention to himself.

But what kind of twisted fate was this?

Yoojeong’s heart started to beat faster when she finally saw Jihun.

“Thanks, I’ll enjoy it.”

Jihun accepted Yoojeong’s offer without refusing.

Holding the Tanghulu, Jihun handed one to Su Yeong and Sojeong.

Forcibly handing it over to Sojeong, who didn’t want to accept it.

“Hey, why aren’t you eating it? Take it quickly.”

Sojeong reluctantly accepted the Tanghulu.

“Sorry for mistaking you for Changhun and attacking you before… Seonhee was rude to you because of me…”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Let’s just leave it at that. This is really delicious.”

Jihun casually replied to Yoojeong’s words and continued to eat the Tanghulu with enthusiasm.

“Hey… can you spare some time later? I’ll buy you a meal. We went to the same high school, remember? Let’s talk about the old days…”

“Hey! You’re asking for so much after I bought you Tanghulu? Even if I buy you a meal, I’ll owe you countless times—

Sojeong’s sharp voice interjected.

“Ugh, why are you so aggressive, this chicken wrap?”

“Why do you have so many demands after I bought you Tanghulu? Even if I buy you a meal, I’ll owe you countless times—”

Sojeong’s sharp voice interjected.

Jihoon covers his ear with one hand and smokes a cigarette, pretending not to hear.

“You know, the girls around you are all so weird. Remember that girl Jini? She’s like that, and this one too. What’s going on with your social life?”

“The weirdest one around me is you, Hansojeong. How do you manage to show up every time I’m eating? Did you put a tracking device on me or something?”

Sojeong puts a spoonful of tteokbokki into her mouth without responding to Jihoon’s words.

“Don’t worry about her too much. Food? Sounds good. I’m always ready if you’re buying.”

Upon Jihoon’s words, Yoojung’s face lights up as if she just received a big gift.

And soon, her heart starts racing again.

Yoojung was determined to find out why Jihoon’s thoughts kept coming back to her lately.

That’s when it happened.

“Kang Jihoon.”

“…?”

Two guys, Seungjun and Minhyuk, were walking towards the tteokbokki place.

“Are you Kang Jihoon?”

“Well, yeah. Who are you?”

“Minhyuk keeps saying that your team cleared the first round of the exam in the 8-minute range. Is it true?”

“Did you go deaf?”

“…What?”

“I asked if you went deaf. I mean, I asked you who you are.”

Seungjun felt puzzled by Jihoon’s nonchalant question.

“This guy is funny…”

“Choi Seungjun? Why are you looking for Jihoon?”

Standing next to him, So Yoojung recognized Seungjun from the same class.

“I’m just curious. So Yoojung, do you know him too?”

“Yeah. Since high school… Since high school…”

Yoojung pondered how to describe Jihoon.

“Hey.”

Jihoon’s voice seemed calmer than before.

Sojeong noticed and quietly pulled Yoojung away from them.

“…?”

Yoojung looked back with a puzzled expression as Sojeong’s hand slipped away.

“There was no way to just let those rude and vulgar guys go.”

Although Sojeong had not been with Jihun for long, she had experienced quite a lot, enough to understand Jihun to some extent.

“Who are you?”

“You heard it, right? Seol Yoojeong was talking about it.”

“I asked you. You came to me out of the blue.”

Seungjoon’s face scrunches up.

“You’re in 11th class, right? But how–“

“It seems like you have ears that don’t work.”

“…What?”

“What does it matter that you asked my name and that I’m in 11th class?”

“Ha…hey, is this the Kang Jihun you mentioned?”

Seungjoon, with a facial expression that shows he can’t communicate with Jihun, looks at Minhyeok next to him to confirm again.

“Uh…yeah…we’re in the same class, so I know his face.”

Jihun glances at Minhyeok who is casually speaking.

Minhyeok, who had witnessed Do Yeonghwan’s gang getting beaten up at the scene, now meets Jihun’s gaze.

When Jihun and Seungjoon’s eyes meet, naturally, he bows his head and looks only at the ground.

“Hey, if you really cleared the first round of the two-person team test in the 8th minute, you must be amazing, right? We’ll meet in the finals in the second round. Did you come to see my face?”

“Name.”

“What?”

“Name. If you came to find someone, it’s proper to introduce yourself before anything else.”

“You’re really insane, aren’t you?”

Seungjoon raises his magic power and takes a step towards Jihun.

“What will you do if I don’t say my name?”

“You’ll end up saying it.”

“Do you want to show off your strength or something? Are you confident, 11th class?”

Seungjoon’s contempt grows stronger.

Instead of just saying his name and confirming the purpose, Seungjoon also develops a strange stubbornness not to be defeated by Jihun, who is also in the 11th class.

Jihun takes the last remaining strawberry Tanghuru and puts it in his mouth, savoring it.

As a strange energy flows, Sooyoung, who was behind him, casually speaks up.

“Ji…Jihun, don’t do that. We haven’t finished the second round of the test yet. If we make anyone get hurt before that–“

“What? That crazy girl! Who are you trying to stop?”

Seungjun covers Sooyoung’s mouth, exclaiming in a loud voice.

“Did they all team up? All of you-“

“Soo Young and Yoo Jung, are both healers?”

A sudden question from Jihoon.

To this, both nod their heads without understanding the English.

“Yoo Jung seems to be quite skilled, considering that I saw Changhoon attach a leg to her before.”

“…?”

Jihoon’s calm voice settles in the noisy street.

Soon, Jihoon’s right hand, tightly holding a half-eaten Tanghulu skewer, catches Sojeong’s eye.