01. A sword for you (8)

“Go to sleep… ?”

I nodded calmly.

Yoon Seo-hee’s house is too far from here.

In that case, it was better to stay overnight in our house, which has a bathtub and a washing machine.

We were going to meet at the school gate tomorrow as well to collect sandalwood, and it was a suggestion that I came up with because I thought it would be much more comfortable to sleep at my house nearby from the beginning without having to come all the way here again.

“Of course, I can’t help it if your parents won’t allow it.”

The atmosphere at home could be strict for staying out overnight, so in that case, I was thinking of forcibly paying for a taxi ride and sending it off.

But after hearing my words, Yoon Seo-hee rolled her eyes here and there in embarrassment for a while.

The moment I thought about whether I should turn my head first at the unfamiliar gaze, a spleen fell over Yoon Seo-hee’s expression.

What the hell did he decide to do with such a grim expression?

“Okay. I’ll go.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Are you going?”

Of course, I suggested it first, but… Are you really okay?

Her grandfather would be very surprised if he suddenly took her friend home at this late hour.

Still, I can’t just leave Yoon Seo-hee on the sidewalk. I decided to take her to her house, saying that if I could explain her grandfather well, she would be convinced.

“Okay, let’s go. It’s about a 10-minute walk from here.”

She doesn’t know her way. For her sake, I led the way down the dark street at night.

“Come to think of it, you screamed earlier too. Are you okay?”

“Huh? Ah… I’m just surprised you got electrocuted. Electricity doesn’t work for me.”

“Then I’m glad.”

She definitely has immunity to her own skills. Then she won’t have any problems.

The Lightning series is one of the simple yet highly effective skills that cannot be compared with my own skill, which is so tough even after I work hard to develop it.

Considering Yoon Seo-hee’s melee stats, which have high potential, it was clear that if she developed her skills well, she would become much stronger than she is now.

“You are… Are you okay with your electrocuted body?”

“Since ancient times, being strong has been my strength. There is nothing wrong.”

“… I see.”

“Um.”

“… ….”

“… ….”

What is it? What’s going on.

Why did you suddenly become quiet?

Only the footsteps of the two resound in the dark street at night. I was caught up in the urge to break the silence by saying something.

“Uh… Is it a bit cold today?”

“Rice, not so much?”

“Yes… ?”

“… ….”

“… ….”

Failed.

I can’t. This kind of atmosphere is poison to an assah like me. I don’t even know what caused this atmosphere, but it was impossible for me to solve this.

There was only an awkward silence.

I don’t know why, but Yoon Seo-hee was in a strangely nervous atmosphere, and I had nothing to say to her. She just kept pace with her stride, hoping she would get home soon.

“I have arrived. It’s here.”

A country house with one basement floor and two floors above ground, located 10 minutes on foot from the academy.

This is our home that we miss and are familiar with.

“The house is quite… Is it big?”

“Is that so?”

I’ve never brought anyone home or gone to someone’s house to play, so I don’t really feel it.

I thought it was too big for just the two of us, but… I heard that my grandfather bought land and built a house here when the price of land in Seoul was high, so I think it was just luck.

“Let’s go in.”

I took the key, opened the front door, and entered the yard. Yoon Seo-hee silently and silently followed me from behind, and she passed through a not-so-wide garden, where she pressed the password to the front door and opened the door.

“I’m back-.”

“Is Lee Jin here?”

As I opened the door and stepped inside, I heard a familiar voice. There was no need to do that, but her grandfather had come to the front door to meet her, as if he had heard the front door open.

“You’re a little late today.”

“Yes. I’ve been digging up some iron sand.”

“Somehow, I thought I came in like a beggar again. Eh?”

Her grandfather seemed to greet me for a moment, then she opened her eyes wide in surprise when she saw Yoon Seo-hee behind her on my back.

“Lee Jin-ah. Who is the child behind you?”

“A friend. I brought it to stay overnight for a reason.”

Yes. The grandson brought home a friend for the first time.

As I live, there are days like this.

“Yoon Seo-hee. Greetings, my grandfather… Well?”

Looking back at her, Yoon Seo-hee, who had kept her mouth shut without saying a word, let out a long sigh.

She sighed in deep relief.

“My family… Was there? Haaa….”

“…… ?”

I couldn’t figure out why she did it at all.

–

I first explained her situation to her grandfather, taking the true Yoon Seo-hee belatedly.

For some reason, she decided to make her sword. That he missed the last train while collecting iron sand today. That’s why I want to let you stay at home for one day.

Her grandfather, who listened to her story to the end, gave her the guest’s room.

My house had two bathrooms, one on each floor, so while Yoon Seo-hee washed up on the 1st floor, I washed off the rough metal powder in the bathroom on the 2nd floor and changed into comfortable clothes.

Then, waiting for her in her living room, she chatted with her grandfather. A trivial story that asks about the recent school life.

I couldn’t bring myself to tell such a grandfather that her grandson might get a failing grade, so I glossed over with an awkward laugh. Ha ha ha.

“Excuse me….”

“Oh. Would you like to sit down, Seo-hee? Be as comfortable as at home.”

“Yes. Thanks Grandpa.”

She had just finished her bath, changed her clothes, and sat down next to me with her long hair wrapped in a towel.

Her sparse hair and an exposed white neckline. He seemed worried that he might catch a cold.

By the way, did you have clothes like that at home? The women’s pajamas worn by Yoon Seo-hee were the first I’d ever seen in my life.

“Heh heh. I took out my daughter-in-law’s clothes and luckily they fit well.”

It must have been my mother’s clothes. Somehow I had never seen it.

“Yes? Uh… Can I really wear this?”

“I’ve already worn it, what are you talking about? Don’t worry, just sit back and relax. I felt good when I took out the clothes after a long time.”

Her grandfather brewed her green tea and gave it to me and Yoon Seo-hee.

Hororok.

“Whoa….”

It’s warm.

My mind and body, exhausted from hard labor, were relaxed.

I’ve also tried tea a lot, but I can’t quite match her grandfather’s skills.

Not just the taste, but the gentle warmth that soothes the heart.

No matter how difficult and distressing things were, if I shared my thoughts over a cup of green tea with my grandfather, I was able to calmly let them go the next day.

Fortunately, her grandfather’s green tea seemed to have worked for Yoon Seo-hee as well, as she sipped her tea looking more relaxed than before.

The three of us sat around the living room without saying anything and drank tea.

Mysteriously, the silence at this moment wasn’t awkward at all.

“Yes. Hee Seo, are you a classmate of our Jini Lee?”

“Oh yes! I’m usually indebted to Jini Lee.”

“It’s the first time my grandson is bringing someone home, so it’s really strange. But he’s a good guy, so let’s be friends from now on.”

“Sure. I know. That he’s a good kid.”

Um. Yoon Seo-hee is good at talking empty words in front of her elders.

You didn’t even know my name until yesterday morning.

Still, her grandfather was overjoyed that I had brought her friend for the first time, so she continued her barrage of questions at her.

“Heh heh, that’s right. He’s my grandson, but he’s really a single-minded guy. It’s hard to get along with, right?”

“Ahahahaha… No, to that extent… ?”

“Jin Lee, how is her school life? Does she have many friends? I shouldn’t have told this old woman about her, so I should be able to find out.”

“Ah, well, so… ….”

Yoon Seo-hee couldn’t hide her difficulties and rolled her eyes. It was a conflicted look on whether it was good to be honest about this.

Yes. You can’t really say that your grandson doesn’t have many friends, and she’s on the verge of being bullied by the school gang.

“Grandpa. I am still here.”

“This guy? So, wouldn’t it be nice if you confided in her grandfather on a regular basis?”

“You are not even an elementary school student anymore. She is doing well in school. I have friends too.”

She’s only been together for a day, but it’s true that they’re friends, so I’m not lying.

I thought that if I waited longer, my grandfather, who was very interested in his grandson, would lose his money, so I got up and cleaned up my empty green tea cup.

“I’ll go up first.”

“Are you going to sleep already?”

“No, I have work to do.”

I plan to draw a blueprint for the sword before I go to sleep.

Now that we have the materials and concept, all we have to do is draw a blueprint on how to make it. Materials and drawings must be completed within the weekend so that the actual production can begin next week.

I really want to finish it properly this time. Only that thought filled my head.

“Grandpa, go to bed on time. Yoon Seo-hee, you worked hard today too.”

“Yes… Good job, Lee Jin-ah.”

“What? Tomorrow you will suffer more. Good night. Good night, Grandpa.”

“Come.”

I left the two of them behind and entered my room at the end of the corridor on the second floor.

Since it was a waste of time, I immediately spread a large piece of graph paper on the work table. I didn’t forget to take out my pencil and turn on the lamp for my work.

Click. Snug.

The situation was different from drawing the blueprints on my own as usual.

This time, instead of making a sword for my own satisfaction, I had to make a sword for Yoon Seo-hee.

Steel sand ingot has low strength due to the nature of the material. There is a possibility that it will break if you hit it properly with a hard sword.

So what is needed is elasticity. No matter how strong the impact is, it must have high elasticity to shed softly like a flexible willow tree.

Yoon Seo-hee’s strong point is her speed, which is based on her agility rank. She is not inclined towards slow blunt swords or heavy heavy swords.

Therefore, it is necessary to make the blade thin and light to maximize speed.

Does Yoon Seo-hee use stabbing often? Or do you prefer cutting?

What about the handle? What materials should I use? How much should I adjust the thickness to make the most of the grip?

How long? How much weight should I adjust? When you wield a sword, you shouldn’t be burdened with things like that.

Above all, in order to harmonize with her most important skill….

Sweet.

Suck….

“… ….”

No.

This isn’t it….

The line drawn without hesitation on the white graph paper stopped at some point and did not go any further.

No matter how hard I tried to draw, there was no line that looked like the correct answer.

“Ha.”

Again?

Why am I like this?

No matter how hard I try to make something right, my hair turns white at some point. I forgot what I wanted to make and what I should make.

“Damn….”

I am sick of my own patheticness.

Why am I so untalented?

I really wanted to complete it. At least, if there is something that can become a motif….

Smart-.

“!”

I looked at the door, startled by the sudden knock.

Who are you at this time. I tried to open the door, wondering if it was my grandfather.

“Kim Yi-jin, are you sleeping?”

What I heard outside was Yoon Seo-hee’s voice.

You must have been very tired today, why are you still awake?

What kind of business is this all of a sudden at this late hour?

“No, not yet.”

“… Then, can I come in?”

A nervous, trembling voice.

I couldn’t hide my doubts.