Chapter 254 - Doubt
Rattle-
Ryu Min pushed open the door to the café and entered nervously.
Seeing Min Juri seated, he waved his hand lightly.
Ryu Min, sitting across from her, felt somewhat relieved to see Min Juri's firm gaze.
"Your expression seems alright luckily."
He didn't lower his head or avoid eye contact like before.
Instead, his gaze was steady, as if he was determined to sort things out this time.
"Did you already order my coffee? Thanks."
"I didn't."
"......"
"......"
The discomfort between them still lingered.
Though Ryu Min had suggested being friends first and turned down her confession, he didn't think it would be easy.
"Maybe things will improve over time if we see each other more often. Min Juri also seems not to want to leave things awkward between us."
So, shouldn't he have easily responded to her call?
"Min."
"Yes?"
He called her first, and Min Juri fell silent.
Seeing her bite her lip, she seemed to be wrestling internally.
He waited patiently, and soon she opened her mouth as if she had made a decision.
"Before, you suggested we be friends, right?"
"That's right."
"At that time, I was confused, but now I'm sure of my feelings."
Min Juri's gaze gleamed with determination.
"Let's be friends. But."
She lowered her gaze slightly, seeming a bit uncomfortable.
"Please forget the previous confession. Can you do that?"
"Of course. No problem."
Was he too quick to respond?
Min Juri's eyebrows furrowed.
An expression of wounded pride.
Before the misunderstanding worsened, Ryu Min spoke.
"Perhaps I responded a bit quickly, don't misunderstand. It doesn't mean your confession didn't matter to me. Erasing it from memory will be difficult. But if you want, I'll do my best..."
"No."
Min Juri's gaze suddenly blazed with pride.
"I've changed my mind."
"Eh?"
"Don't forget it. Don't erase that from your memory. I confessed to you, and you rejected me. That's a fact, right?"
Tremors could be felt in her voice.
It was as if she was speaking impulsively, wounded in her pride.
"I'll tell you this sincerely. I haven't given up yet. I don't want to lose the chance to be friends with you. Think about it. Do a person's emotions disappear so easily? I still like you... in a way."
Though uncomfortable saying it, she lowered her gaze in her final sentence.
"I won't give up. I'll make you like me. So let me continue being your friend. Give me the chance to go beyond friendship. That's what I really feel. Can you do that?"
"......"
Ryu Min didn't readily respond.
He wasn't thinking about what to say to reject her.
"I can't reject her. I can't afford to lose a buffer."
He simply felt a bit surprised hearing her sincerity.
"That's right."
"What?"
"It's fine however you want it."
"Really?"
"Anyway, we're friends."
"......"
It was a dividing line, but Min Juri didn't give up.
Following Black Scythe's advice to keep challenging.
"That's enough for me."
Finally, a smile formed on Min Juri's face.
"Is it okay like this?"
"Yes."
"Great. Now I'll show you how to conquer round 16."
To change the atmosphere, Ryu Min quickly explained how to face the round.
During that process, Min Juri's eyes widened in surprise.
"Do you really think the next round will be like that?"
"Yes. So we must be careful not to suffer too much. Black Scythe will probably soon summon the followers to explain the attack plan."
"Have you already told Black Scythe about the future?"
"Yes, I have."
"I was about to ask if you two were sharing information between each other..."
"We've been sharing information from the start."
"Then why does Black Scythe choose to get information about the next round as a reward? He could have received the prophecy from you."
"Because I can't see the future exactly at the moment he chooses. The rounds I haven't foreseen, Black Scythe fills them using the rewards."
Though it was a blatant lie, Min Juri nodded as if everything finally made sense.
"That's fortunate. I thought you two didn't get along..."
"We don't get along. But we are one and the same."
He still couldn't reveal his identity as Black Scythe to Min Juri.
It would be detrimental to reveal it at this moment.
"I'm sorry for earlier."
Min Juri suddenly apologized, causing Ryu Min to raise his eyebrows.
"Why?"
"For acting rashly before..."
"It doesn't matter. It wasn't a big deal..."
For Ryu Min, feeling like friends again with Min Juri was comforting.
"Well, technically..."
Actually, giving Min Juri another chance and postponing her confession was the same.
"By the way, did you join the Church of the Four Gods?"
"Hm? Yes, I did. Why do you ask?"
"I haven't seen you active lately."
"I only have my name registered there; I haven't been actively participating. It would be troublesome if my presence becomes apparent to others."
"I see. Being a Prophet, don't you think people will approach you all the time?"
"Probably."
Looking at Min Juri as she drank her coffee, she still seemed curious.
"If you have more questions, feel free to ask."
"Oh, it's nothing much... Did Black Scythe summon you in Round 15? Was your codename 'Lost Yak'?"
"Eh? Ah, yes, that's right."
"But why don't I remember hearing it?"
"Because he never called me that."
Ryu Min replied casually.
"I guess I didn't hear it then. Otherwise, how would I have survived until now?"
"Who knows? Well..."
Since she hadn't heard the 576 nicknames, Min Juri didn't suspect and simply let the matter pass.
"Well, if we're done, why don't we get up?"
"Yes, let's go."
As they exited the café, they bid each other farewell with a handshake.
"Thanks for sharing the strategy. See you next time."
"Yes. I'll keep in touch from time to time."
As Ryu Min walked away, he smiled to himself.
"What a relief. Min Juri seems to be in good shape."
She seemed to have taken Black Scythe's advice from her adventure in the other world well.
Though it remained a challenge to continue with her determination to defy...
"At least it's better than being stuck."
To advance in the remaining rounds, Min Juri had to be mentally prepared.
It would be troublesome if she was under pressure because of the confession.
"Especially in Round 16, she'll need to be fully alert."
That round could cause major trouble with just one mistake.
After Round 16 ends, the players' value will skyrocket even more. People's perspectives will also change.
The fame of the Church of the Four Gods is such that runes can even be obtained in real life.
"We should soon recruit more members for the Church of the Four Gods and teach them our strategy. But first, we need to clear up misunderstandings with Christine."
Though she might not know it, there is a high probability she has misunderstandings about having saved John Delgado.
Since Christine was as important as Min Juri, it was necessary to take care of her emotional well-being.
Russell called Christine on her cell phone.
"Christine."
"Oh, is this Black Scythe?"
"I'll get straight to the point. I would like to meet you to discuss our strategy for the next round."
"Ah, couldn't we talk over the phone?"
"Over the phone?"
So far, strategies have been shared in person, right?
"Unfortunately, for security reasons, we cannot do it over the phone."
"Really?"
"Why? Is there any reason you can't meet with me?"
"Oh, no, there isn't any. I just have some free time..."
"Then, I'll head over there. There's no quieter place to talk than at the church."
"Oh, it's not necessary, it would be an effort for you..."
"I plan to take a first-class flight, so don't worry. I'll call you when I arrive."
Ryu Min said he would go first in an attempt to show consideration.
Moving was more his style than passively waiting.
"I'll have to explain things properly when we meet."
Ryu Min was considering what to say as he searched for plane tickets to the United States.
After hanging up the phone, Christine stared into space for a moment with a dazed expression.
"Oh, Black Scythe... he's coming here after all..."
It wasn't the first time she had encountered Black Scythe in real life.
Therefore, what she felt now wasn't excitement.
It was anxiety.
Anxiety was written on Christine's face.
The anxiety that Black Scythe might notice her.
"No, everything will be fine. I've been hiding well for days. I haven't shown any signs even in this world."
Though she had tried not to show signs, she knew.
Or rather, it was still too early to say she knew.
It was more correct to call it a suspicion, a doubt.
"That the Prophet and Black Scythe are the same person..."
It was a dangerous assumption.
And a ridiculous one.
"Who would pair the Prophet, who seems weak to anyone, with Black Scythe?"
They were completely opposite images, so no one would relate them.
But Christine believed they were the same person.
It wasn't an unfounded assumption.
When the Prophet recently arrived in the United States, Christine witnessed a murder.
With the Prophet being held from behind.
"He killed the armed men using his skill."
At that moment, she wasn't too surprised.
She took it as a dream and went back to sleep.
"When I woke up, I was at the church."
The Prophet had disappeared without a trace.
Only afterwards did she start to wonder if it hadn't been a dream, but she wasn't sure.
There was no evidence when she returned to the location.
"I couldn't even imagine the connection with Black Scythe."
But after seeing Black Scythe using skills that seemed shadowy in the other world, she changed her mind.
Perhaps... what she saw then might not have been a dream.
Perhaps Black Scythe and the Prophet might be the same person.
Of course, this was simply a suspicion based on doubts and conjectures.
There was no evidence anywhere.
"No, it can't be. The same individual... just with similar abilities? Their images are completely different."
Christine murmured with a restless expression.
Without even realizing who had entered the detection range.
"What are you not saying?"
"Hyah!"
Christine's shoulders shuddered at Jeffrey's silent appearance.
"Why are you so startled? As if you've seen a ghost."
"Oh... it's nothing."
"It doesn't seem like you're okay. What's wrong?"
"Nothing, really... it's none of that."
Though Christine quickly cut off the conversation, Jeffrey seemed to grow even more suspicious.
"Well, there is something after all. What's wrong? If you have concerns, speak them out. If it's a problem, I'll be here to listen."
"There isn't."
"Are you still upset with me?"
"Upset? Who do you think you're talking to? I don't have concerns, so... that's it."
"Don't play hard to get. Spit it out. What's the matter?"
Christine sighed at his persistence.
Feeling like she had to say something, she revealed a bit.
"What would the Master do if he found out an apparently weak opponent has been hiding their strength?"
"Hiding their strength? Who?"
"No, I asked first. You must answer..."
"Hmm..."
Jeffrey, who had been pondering, finally spoke.
"I guess I would just stay quiet and pretend ignorance."
"Why?"
"It's a sign they want to keep their strength secret, right? If we respect our opponent, there's no need to let them know we know."
"I guess that makes sense..."
Christine's expression brightened a bit.
Feeling relieved to have someone with the same opinion.
"So, who's this 'nerd' hiding their strength?"
"Nerd? Watch what you say!"
"Eh? You seem quite worked up. Perhaps you have a certain fondness for him?"
"Oh, that's enough! I won't tell you. Don't ask me anymore. End of conversation!"
Christine said that and walked away hastily.
As if she were avoiding an uncomfortable situation.
"Hmm..."
Jeffrey, looking at her suspiciously, took out his phone and sent a message.
[Yamti, something strange is going on.]
Having received orders to report immediately if something went wrong.
---
(Up to '45' more ch4pt3rs)
Publication of up to 6 weekly ch4pters, thank you.
