Chapter 65: Her Tears NO Longer Reach

Song Mina, to her, her father was like a massive boulder. An entity that pressed down on her, leaving her helpless. That was how she perceived her father. Song Minchul was the leader of a high-ranking guild called W, and his influence was quite formidable.

Above all, Song Minchul was her blood-related father. Due to the fear of her father deeply ingrained since childhood, it was hard for her to even imagine directly defying him.

She was told not to trust people, so she trusted no one. She was told that she had to step on others to survive, so she readily did so. At times, she felt a sense of self-loathing, but she did her best to suppress those feelings. After all, there were no other options.

However, after meeting Choi Juwon, her thoughts had changed.

-You did nothing wrong. You don’t need to feel guilty. From now on, do whatever you want. I’ll help you. Tell me if you’re having a hard time. I’ll listen to everything. I’m your instructor, right? It’s natural to help a student who’s struggling.

-Instructor, can I live like a normal person?

-Of course. I’ll help you.

Choi Juwon had told Song Mina that he would help her, that she should trust him.

“Sob…”

Tears welled up in Song Mina’s eyes. The more she recalled their conversations, the more she longed for his warm words.

After the day Choi Juwon promised to help Song Mina, the two quickly grew close.

Then one day, Choi Juwon had said to Song Mina,

-Mina, thank you for telling me about your father before. It must have taken a lot of time for you to decide to share your concerns. I believe you were able to talk about such things because you saw me as someone you could trust. So, I’m happy.

That day, Choi Juwon had shown a rare moment of vulnerability and said to Song Mina,

-Honestly, I’ve had a lot of struggles too. It might not seem like it, but I haven’t had many people I could trust or who trusted me. So, I’m grateful to you. Just knowing that someone trusts me is a great source of strength.

-Instructor… You’ve had a lot of struggles too…? If you want to talk about anything, please tell me. I’ll listen to anything!

-It’s okay. Later, much later, when your situation is better, I’ll tell you my story too.

-I… I can listen to you now…!

-Instead of listening to my story right now, just promise me one thing. No matter what, you’ll trust me. That’s enough.

Song Mina had asked in confusion,

-Trust you? Is there any reason to doubt someone as upright as you, Instructor?

-Well… You never know. I just wanted to say it, just in case. It’s just a vague wish of mine. That even if the whole world turns its back on me, there’s at least one person who believes in me. That kind of wish.

Song Mina had nodded and said,

-Of course, Instructor. No matter what happens, I’ll trust you. From what I’ve seen, you’re an outstanding person, both as a human being and as an instructor.

“Sob…”

Song Mina recalled the conversation she had with Choi Juwon. What Choi Juwon had wanted was trust and faith. He seemed to need someone to rely on.

Although Song Mina didn’t know it, Choi Juwon hadn’t had anyone he could truly trust and rely on since he was transmigrated into the game world.

Separated from his parents, acquaintances, and friends, to whom he had been as close as breathing, Song Mina’s words of trust resonated deeply within him.

‘There’s someone here… who needs me and relies on me, someone I can trust…’

Since his transmigration, Choi Juwon’s spirit had been considerably worn down, having to survive like a dog in a world where only overwhelming power held value.

Therefore, having someone who trusted and relied on him was a great comfort to Choi Juwon.

‘Someone who will trust me no matter what. Even if I have just one person like that, I can survive in this crazy world.’

After that, Choi Juwon had taught Song Mina with all his heart.

-Mina, your Mana becomes particularly unstable when you use water magic. I’ll give you an Artifact. Practice while holding this.

He generously provided Song Mina with expensive Artifacts without expecting anything in return.

-Mina, did anything happen with your father today? If anything happens, tell me. I’ll help you as much as I can.

He promised his support without regard for her father’s position in a high-ranking guild.

-Instructor… I’m… I’m having such a hard time…

When Song Mina was occasionally exhausted from various issues, Choi Juwon genuinely empathized with her situation and comforted her.

-Instructor, do you want to hang out today? I’m really down…

He willingly fulfilled her requests.

As time passed, Song Mina and Choi Juwon’s relationship grew stronger.

Her issues with her father also began to fade into the background. Her father was busy with many activities in the high-ranking guild, and he had less and less time to focus on her. It would be more accurate to say that the problem was put on hold.

Gradually, Song Mina and Choi Juwon formed a close bond that went beyond that of an instructor and student, becoming close on a personal level.

Although Song Mina might not have realized it, what Choi Juwon felt was not romantic love. Someone he could trust, someone he genuinely wanted to protect. That was who Song Mina had become to Choi Juwon.

However, everything crumbled on the day he left Helmunt Academy.

-I… It wasn’t me… I really didn’t do it… It’s a false accusation… It’s a false accusation…

During the moment Choi Juwon was being accused because of the false charges, he had looked into the eyes of many people, including Song Mina.

-Flick

But Song Mina had avoided his gaze.

Song Mina couldn’t meet Choi Juwon’s eyes. If she defended him here, if word spread that she had defended him, her father would surely find out about her relationship with Choi Juwon.

No, perhaps this was just an excuse. Song Mina wasn’t sure. A tiny part of her, 0.1% of her mind, had a lingering doubt.

‘What if… What if Choi Juwon really did access it?’

This doubt stemmed from the fact that Choi Juwon was too perfect. In this
world, she had often thought it was unrealistic for someone with such abilities to be so kind and live for others.

It was precisely because he was too perfect that she doubted him.

Of course, it was only for a brief moment. After Choi Juwon left, she had thought about their memories together and reassured herself that he couldn’t have done it. In the evening, she had even prepared to confront her father and was about to send a message in support of Choi Juwon.

But by then, it was already too late. Her father had seen the message, and she had been forced to send those harsh words to Choi Juwon.

She knew. She knew she was too late, that even a moment’s doubt towards someone who had been so good to her would be a deep wound.

If only she had been a little faster… If she hadn’t avoided his gaze when Choi Juwon looked into her eyes, she might have been by his side now… Thinking this, she cried endlessly.

-Flick

Song Mina still remembered. Choi Juwon, shouting at people, pleading his innocence.

-I… I really didn’t do it… Please… Please believe me…

She remembered when she avoided his desperate, tearful eyes, Choi Juwon had looked around, lost and in despair.

That day, Choi Juwon lost everyone he trusted.

“Sob…”

Song Mina regretted it. What if she had ignored her father’s watchful eyes and trusted Choi Juwon?

What if she had sent him the message without delay before the evening?

Or what if she had known in advance that Choi Juwon possessed such immense power?

Perhaps things would have been very different now.

“Sob…”

Song Mina wanted to run to him right now, to grab his pant leg. But her legs felt frozen, unable to move. Choi Juwon had said it. That they were strangers now, to please not act like they knew each other.

-Thud, Thud, Thud

All other sounds faded from Song Mina’s ears, and she could only hear the sound of Choi Juwon’s footsteps.

-Thud Thud

His footsteps echoed near her, leaving the fallen Song Minchul behind.

Song Mina was sorry to Choi Juwon. She regretted not immediately trusting him, making excuses, and hurting the person who had always done his best for her.

-Thud

Yet, she foolishly hoped. As the footsteps drew closer, she wished that Choi Juwon would forgive her, that he would smile as he always did, saying it was okay, telling her to trust him.

It was a foolish wish, but she desperately hoped for forgiveness, just this once.

Now, she was no longer bound by her father. He had lost his power, so she didn’t need to worry about him as before.

If she were given another chance, she would stand by his side no matter what, even if it cost her life. She repeated this to herself hundreds of times.

-Flick

But Choi Juwon simply walked past her.

As he had said before, he passed by as if she were a stranger.

“Sob…”

“Sob…”

Song Mina cried. She wept bitterly.

When she cried, Choi Juwon would often stroke her hair. He would pat her gently if she was okay with it. He would wipe away her tears and comfort her.

But now, her tears no longer reached Choi Juwon.

-Thud Thud

Choi Juwon walked away, leaving the fallen Song Minchul behind.

As he approached the gate, Min Hwayeon, who had been waiting, came to him, bowed her head, and said,

“I apologize. You may not believe me, but we were forced to accompany Song Minchul. We are no longer part of W. So, please, show mercy just this once.”

Choi Juwon tilted his head and asked,

“Do you not resent me even though I killed nearly a hundred of your comrades?”

Min Hwayeon bowed her head deeply and said,

“We tried to kill you, who had done nothing wrong. To resent you after that would be shameless. Please, if you spare us just this once, we will never forget this kindness.”

Min Hwayeon swallowed hard and approached Choi Juwon.

Choi Juwon thought for a moment and then smiled as he replied,

“It was unavoidable. That’s a nice excuse. But put yourself in my shoes. What do you think would have happened if I were weak or powerless?”

“…”

Min Hwayeon remained silent, her head bowed. She had no excuse, even if she had ten mouths. If Choi Juwon had been weak, he would be a corpse by now.

Choi Juwon said,

“I would be dead. The moment we entered the gate and you unleashed your spells, I would have been turned to dust. I wouldn’t even have been able to scream properly.”

“I’m… I’m truly… sorry…”

-Swoosh

Choi Juwon reached out towards Min Hwayeon.

“You tried to kill an innocent person, and now you say it was unavoidable, that you’re sorry? If I were weaker than you, I would have been trampled to death like a bug.”

[Blizzard]

-Whoooooosh

Choi Juwon instantly cast an S-rank spell. The surroundings were filled with a freezing chill.

-Flinch

The others tried to move, but Min Hwayeon raised her hand to stop them.

“Don’t move…”

Over a hundred mages near Min Hwayeon watched the scene, tense.

-Thud

Choi Juwon grabbed Min Hwayeon’s neck and lifted her, saying,

“You were the ones who tried to kill me first. The only reason I didn’t die is because I was stronger than you.”

Choi Juwon looked around at the mages and said coldly,

“Tell me why I should spare you.”

Next Chapter