Chapter 46

<Chapter 46: The Warrior Who Regressed to Level 2>

August 21st.

Seong Jihan, as usual, helped Yoon Seo-a get to school.

However, today they arrived earlier than usual, at 6 a.m., because tomorrow was Yoon Seo-a's 18th birthday.

"Then you'll be at the Gift Hall until midnight today, right?"

"Yeah! Of course. I need to get the best gift possible."

"Then I'll come to pick you up then."

"Okay. Uncle."

Since Yoon Seo-a rejected Kim Heesu's offer, she no longer rode in her car on the way home.

Kim Heesu said it was fine, but Yoon Seo-a felt like she was incurring an unnecessary debt.

"But you're a bit late today... Is it okay?"

"Yes, I have to go no matter what, out of curiosity for the gift."

"Hee~ I told you not to keep expecting, but you seem curious, don't you?"

"Of course I'm curious. I just don't want to have too high expectations because they can turn into disappointment."

"...Yeah. I understand what you mean."

Yoon Seo-a fell silent for a moment after that.

Her face looked complicated.

Seong Jihan, seeing this, thought to himself.

'Compared to last time, her expectations seem to have diminished a lot...'

Until recently, Yoon Seo-a seemed to think that she would receive a good gift.

After all, no one had parents with SSS and SS-grade gifts.

If the total of the parents' gifts were ranked, Yoon Seo-a would be the best in the world.

Even though gifts are random, it was strange that she didn't have any expectations.

However, due to Seong Jihan's continuous brainwashing through conversation, her expectations seemed to have waned.

Instead,

"Still, I... want a good gift."

A desire had arisen in Yoon Seo-a.

Expectation and desire.

They were similar but distinctly different.

If Yoon Seo-a's expectation was "I will definitely get a good gift," her desire was a deep longing, "I must get a good gift."

'...Even though the situation has changed a lot from my previous life.'

Thanks to Seong Jihan's efforts.

Compared to his previous life, the current situation is much better.

Instead of being seen as the daughter of a traitor, she was now seen as the biggest victim.

However, it wasn't a good situation for Yoon Seo-a compared to the first time.

After all, she was still abandoned by her father.

While expectations could be suppressed, the deep longing was beyond Seong Jihan's control.

"Seo-a."

"Yeah?"

"Did you see Uncle? Even F-grade is useful. So, it's fine to get anything."

Seong Jihan tried to change the mood with a light comment, and Yoon Seo-a's face brightened slightly.

"Really. You didn't show me the rest of the status screen."

"Are you curious? Since it's the day before your birthday, should I show you now?"

"No... It's fine for now. I want to focus on the Gift Hall today and not think about other things."

"Okay. I'll show you after it's over."

"Okay."

Vroom—

Arriving at the BattleNet Academy underground parking lot, Yoon Seo-a got out of the car with a smile.

"Thanks, Uncle. I'll go now!"

Her usual bright expression.

In contrast, Seong Jihan couldn't help but sigh in secret.

If the results come out tonight, it will be hard to see such a smiling face.

'I need to leave a bit earlier today.'

I need to wrap things up before unnecessary flies start buzzing around.

Seong Jihan thought this as he turned the steering wheel.

* * *

The Gift Hall, where red gemstones, Gift Gems, were embedded in the walls.

Yoon Seo-a was led to a solitary room, which was only allowed for students on the day before their birthday.

Sparkle. Sparkle.

As Yoon Seo-a entered the room, the Gift Gems embedded around her began to flicker.

This was a signal that the blessing of the Gift Gems was being activated.

Yoon Seo-a, sitting silently, recalled yesterday's events.

-You're still pretending to be friends with her?

A voice from inside the bathroom.

It was a familiar voice to Yoon Seo-a.

A friend she had known since her first year at the academy.

-Pretending to be friends... It's just to get an interview.

-Ugh. Are you a journalist? But Yoon Seo-a acts so high and mighty.

-That's why. She doesn't even know the strings have been cut... If she offers an interview, she should accept it gratefully.

Her best friend and closest companion, Kim Heesu, was talking badly about her.

-Anyway. She still thinks she's doing well. What a pain. She's nothing.

-Oh, this one. What if she gets an SSS-grade gift?

-Then I'll just stick to her again. That's why I haven't pushed for the interview yet.

-You really don't like her.

-I never liked her from the start. She's from a family with no roots. If it weren't for BattleNet, would we even breathe the same air as her?

Hearing her best friend's harsh words, Yoon Seo-a couldn't leave the bathroom.

'...I had a feeling.'

There was a sense of unease.

After returning to school, she noticed that her friends' attitudes had become stiff and distant.

At the time, she thought it was consideration.

She thought they were being considerate of her after the incident.

But.

'After the Korea-Japan War... I found out.'

After the Sword King trampled Korea in the Korea-Japan War, her friends' attitudes became even clearer.

Once it was confirmed that the Sword King would not return to Korea, the students at the academy began to look down on Yoon Seo-a.

Kim Heesu was a typical example.

No matter how many times Yoon Seo-a refused the interview, Kim Heesu persistently tried to change her mind and eventually insisted on getting her way.

An attitude she would never have dared to show when the Sword King was around.

'Even though I said I wouldn't do the interview... '

She didn't even pretend to listen.

When she left the Gift Hall after midnight, she would surely see the journalists from Kim Heesu's media company waiting outside.

Now that Yoon Seo-a was seen as nothing, her refusal couldn't change Kim Heesu's mind.

"Gifts are random..."

Yoon Seo-a quietly repeated what Seong Jihan had been saying recently.

She knew why he said this.

If expectations are high, disappointment will be greater.

He must have been worried about her.

"But I need a good gift..."

It wasn't because she wanted to see her former best friends pretend to be close again.

It wasn't because she was worried about the ridicule and criticism she would face if she didn't get a gift.

Compared to the wound she received when her father, whom she admired the most, abandoned her, these things were nothing.

Yoon Seo-a thought she had worked hard in her position.

She had been the student council president at BattleNet Academy and maintained the top rank in the school.

She had also maintained good relationships with her school friends.

But after her father left the country, all these efforts became meaningless.

Her life was thoroughly dependent on the Sword King.

It didn't matter whether she had been an excellent student or a troublemaker.

'I want to stand on my own... with my own strength.'

Actually, just living was enough with her current situation.

The money she received from the Sword King was a huge sum that ordinary people couldn't save in a lifetime.

But for her, true independence meant.

Removing the label of "the Sword King's daughter and victim."

'To do that...'

She needed ability.

Yes.

She wanted to show overwhelming ability in the league, like her uncle.

She wanted to live as a promising talent of BattleNet, not as "the daughter abandoned by the Sword King."

'To do that, I need a good gift...'

Yoon Seo-a wished desperately.

She wanted to be like her uncle!

At that moment.

Flash! Flash!

The light from the Gift Gems, which had been flickering, began to intensify.

This change in the Gift Gems was completely different from the usual blessing.

'This is...'

She had heard stories from senior students.

The stronger the light emitted from the Gift Gems, the higher the chance of getting a good gift.

'The senior who got an S-grade... didn't say it was this bright.'

According to the senior's experience, about half of the Gift Gems in the solitary room emitted strong light.

But now, what was happening?

Not half, but almost all of the Gift Gems were flashing brightly.

'...Can I have hope?'

Yoon Seo-a felt the expectations she had been suppressing resurface.

* * *

A coffee shop in Gangnam.

Kim Heesu, who was talking with her cousin, suddenly checked the time.

9:00 PM.

It was time to start preparing.

"Brother, wait a moment~ I need to make a call."

"Sure, go ahead."

Kim Heesu immediately picked up her phone.

"Mr. Kim? It's me."

[Yes, Miss.]

"Is the preparation for the Seo-a interview going well?"

[The interview with Yoon Seo-a? It's ready, but... are you really going to do it? How do you know what gift she'll get?]

"Hey, I'm her best friend. I got her permission."

Despite Yoon Seo-a's repeated refusals, Kim Heesu said this calmly.

[But at this time... outsiders can't enter, right?]

"Of course, I'll go with you."

[Oh, then where should I go?]

Kim Heesu told her the name of the cafe, and Mr. Kim said he understood, adding a comment.

[But I'm worried that Seong Jihan might interfere again.]

"Seong Jihan? Why him?"

[Last Liberation Day, when we went to the Sword Palace for reporting, he overpowered our journalists. I don't know what power he used, but he made them unable to move...]

"Hmm..."

[Anyway, I'll go there, Miss.]

"Okay, Mr. Kim."

After the call ended.

Kim In-sik, Kim Heesu's cousin, looked interested.

"An interview at this time?"

"Brother, do you know Yoon Seo-a?"

"Yoon Seo-a? Oh, the Sword King's daughter? Last time, when I asked you to set us up, you said I was overreaching."

"Yeah, that's her."

"Okay...?"

Seeing Kim Heesu's indifferent attitude, different from last time, Kim In-sik became curious.

"Does she have a boyfriend?"

"Probably never had one."

"Really? With that face?"

"She's just too good. There were no men who met her standards."

"What about me?"

Kim Heesu smiled at Kim In-sik.

After seeing photos of her with friends on social media