The Trash Wants to Live

Chapter 52

I wondered if Jang Eui Yeol would be disappointed or dissatisfied that his pet kept following me, but he didn’t show any sign of that.

“Tell me if Cookie is bothering you. I’ll take him with me.”

“No, well… I’m all right.”

He didn’t bother me, although sometimes he would sniff me and lick me like crazy.

Should I say that I felt healed just by having such a soft and warm living thing beside me?

However, there were times when I wondered if I had deprived the protagonist of that healing object. It felt a little strange to have an object that the original Ki Yoon Jae had wanted so badly but was never able to have until he died.

Should I say that it was kind of unfortunate? Or maybe a shame? …Or should I say it was a little pitiful? It was such a subtle feeling that it was too difficult for me to define.

*** * ***

As I was picking up my bag to go home after school, Jang Eui Yeol said,

“You guys go first. I’m going to go see my grandmother today.”

His grandmother was discharged from the hospital and entered a retirement home that was run by Sungwoon. I told him that she could live in the mansion if she wanted to, as I felt it would be hard on him, but he never mentioned if she wanted to move. Perhaps she found it easier to live there.

Jang Eui Yeol told me that she had friends there and was having fun doing various activities.

But I guess she still misses her grandson.

I nodded and grabbed Jung Yi Joon’s arm. “Then we’ll go first. You know the driver’s number, right? Call it when you get back, and they’ll pick you up.”

“Yeah. Okay.”

Tomorrow was the weekend so he’d probably stay overnight and then come back, I thought lightly as I returned home with Jung Yi Joon. As I entered the house, I could see a bull lying in a corner of the yard in the garden—as well as one small ball of fur on its back.

『”You’re here! Ki Yoon Jae!”』

I still got confused on which side was Cookie’s head or his butt. Nevertheless, it was soon revealed when I saw his swinging butt. Despite the fact that the divine beast was wagging its butt, the bull was not interested. It remained peacefully lying down, swaying its tail to get rid of the flies.

After I entered the mansion, I changed clothes and headed for the gymnasium which was built by remodelling one of the houses. Kwon Jae Hyuk was waiting for me inside.

“You’re here, Yoon Jae-ya.”

“Yes.”

Kwon Jae Hyuk was warming up and holding something similar to a short wooden sword. Since that day, after being pledged to, I started to get fighting lessons from Kwon Jae-Hyuk. The way to used a weapon could be solved with abilities, but combat was different. When an opponent jumped at you, would you block or channel the attack? Or would you use your opponent’s own momentum to subdue him? Kwon Jae Hyuk’s lessons made it so that I could develop that sense.

Of course, I was a little selfish at first, but…

By using his ability, “Weapon Master,” he was naturally able to demonstrate how to use weapons efficiently, how to make a proper grip, and how to hold a better posture.

However, he fumbled through the first week, saying, “I’ll graciously teach you how to hold it,” and “I’ll also fix your poor posture.”

Hearing that I was going to practice alone with Kwon Jae Hyuk, Jung Yi Joon had come to observe with Jang Eui Yeol. Jung Yi Joon became greatly angered when he saw Kwon Jae-Hyuk in close contact with me, but Kwon Jae Hyuk just snorted.

“I’m just teaching, I don’t see what the problem is?”

“Is that so?”

At Kwon Jae Hyuk’s words, Jung Yi Joon said he would learn along with me. He also forced Jang Eui Yeol, who was dragged here in the first place, to join. Thus, Kwon Jae Hyuk ended up training the three of us.

In fact, there was combat training available to guild members which taught martial arts and how to use weapons.

Jung Yi Joon had said he was not a close combat fighter and refused to accept such training, so I thought it was a little strange for him to take Kwon Jae Hyuk’s class which was an extension of that training…

As expected…

“Hello, Kwon-ssi. Is this how you hold the sword?”

With eyes glaring fiercely, he provoked Kwon Jae Hyuk by holding the dagger clumsily using only his thumb and forefinger. After being dragged half-forcibly, Jang Eui Yeol took the class with passion and sincerity.

However, even though Kwon Jae Hyuk smiled every day and seemed to have a good personality, he was actually pretty tough. So if Jung Yi Joon acted like a dog, Kwon Jae Hyuk became a dog too. It was strange because there was only one dog in the house, and it wasn’t either of them.

“Am I holding right?”

“Well, you’re right.”

“Huh?”

“You’ve got it right, you put in a lot of effort for your level.”

Everyone, including me, blinked at him who had uttered those words with a friendly smile. I was wondering if I heard him correctly. His ability to provoke others was daunting, and Jung Yi Joon seemed to share that sentiment.

“What… the fuck?”

After pondering his words, Jung Yi Joon got angry, but Kwon Jae Hyuk neaty ignored it. Then, perhaps on purpose, he made a greater provocation.

“It’s been 20 minutes. You must have lost your ability.”

“That’s… hmp!”

From behind, I could hear Jung Yi Joon’s voice swearing, saying, “That bastard!” When I looked at Kwon Jae Hyuk, who held my face firmly and kissed me twice in a row, he smiled and nonchalantly asked why I was looking at him like that.

Well… what?

He clearly knew… I narrowed my eyes and stared at him, but Kwon Jae Hyuk calmly said, “Let’s continue the class.”

I hadn’t told anyone except Kwon Jae Hyuk, but… My ability had been upgraded. That night when Kwon Jae-Hyuk made the oath, a system message appeared.

[Congratulations! Your ability has been upgraded!]

What?

[It’s not easy to win someone’s trust! You’ve accomplished such a difficult task! The time limit will be greatly eased for those who trust you enough to risk their lives!]

Kwon Jae Hyuk’s ability was limited to 10 minutes at a time for up to 2 times, but this limitation had been reduced to one hour at a time.

It was a rapid development that no one would notice even if I pretended to be incompetent.

At first, I tried to hide it without revealing it to anyone, but I was concerned about what the system said.

Trust…

Trust enough to risk your life… Kwon Jae-Hyuk trusted me, and I held his life in my hands, yet I could not trust him. After realising this, I felt troubled and confided in him that my abilities had improved, but the look on Kwon Jae Hyuk’s face when he heard this was strange. It was… as if he had been deprived of something.

Something… it’s something he should be happy about, but it felt like he’d lost an excuse to kiss me.

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at Kwon Jae Hyuk’s words while laughing awkwardly.

“That’s too bad.”

“Huh?”

“Well, what does it matter if I can do it whenever I want to? Anyway, congratulations on your improvement.”

Wait? I thought I heard something wrong… You could do it whenever you wanted? What?

I tried to stop Kwon Jae Hyuk and ask him, but he just smiled meaningfully.

Anyways, I didn’t have to be kissed often for this…

Why do you have to kiss me?

I was forcibly kissed by someone who knew I had enough skill time left and involuntarily wiped my lips with my sleeve. Yet the party involved, Kwon Jae-hyuk, simply closed his eyes and smiled.

“You bastard!”

Jung Yi Joon’s fists clenched in anger due to the provocation. When Jung Yi Joon lobbed the training sword with his telekinesis, Kwon Jae Hyuk smoothly avoided it and smirked as if asking if that was all he could do. It was no wonder Jung Yi Joon was upset.

“Die!”

“Hey! Stop it!”

The two people who had already turned into crazy dogs1 did not listen to me. Obviously I was their employer… Why didn’t my employees listen to me? I didn’t know any more. As I was groaning with my hand on my forehead, I felt a gaze on me. The owner of that gaze was Jang Eui Yeol.

He was perplexed and looked at me with envious eyes. I thought about what I had done: I shouted at my two employees who didn’t even listen to me and was kissed by Kwon Jae Hyuk.

I don’t think he got jealous before… No way.

Oh, my! Did the genre change? I covered both hands over my mouth in astonishment. I cautiously asked Jang Eui Yeol who narrowed his eyes.

“Eui Yeol-ah…”

“Yes?”

“Are you…”

No way, right? I looked at him with earnest eyes. Jang Eui Yeol was perplexed by the strength of my stare and soon gulped nervously, waiting for the words to come out of my mouth.