“I asked, what is going on in here?”

Jiyoung’s tone was ice cold. Her eyes glared at the woman.

“All I asking for was an apology, because that brat’s sister, bumped into my madam.” The man exclaimed.

His voice felt intimidating, but Jiyoung stood her ground and only gazed at the man with her cold eyes.

“Jiwoo, what happened here?”

Her gaze didn’t move an inch away from the man before us, as she asked.

“She was the one—”

“That bitch was the one who bumped into me and didn’t even apologise, and in return her brother started a fight with my guard!” She barked. Cutting me off before I could tell Jiyoung anything.

Slightly turning her head towards me, she took a look at me and Jihye, before speaking.

“I see, it’s best if you leave the premises of the Mall.”

That pig opened her mouth and once again spoke. “ Yeah, that’s right, you should lea—”

Inclining her head, Jiyoung put a sly smile on her face before speaking, “I meant those words for you, not them.”

Her words as sharp as a knife.

“Do you even know who I am, girl?” The lady shouted.

But Jiyoung didn’t care. She had the-- I don’t care whoever you may be?-- look over her face.

Her face harboured a look of repulsion, as he gazed at the women and her guard.

“How dare you talk me like that?” Again she barked.

I supported Jihye and sat her down on a nearby stool.

But I saw a man approach us. He wore an elegant blue suit, his black hair slicked back, and his blue eyes glaring at the lady and guard.

“What’s going on over here?”

“You are?” The lady turned to look at him.

“I’m the manager here!” He said, his tone solemn.

“Kick these insolent children out of here at once!” She exclaimed. “You really should consider doing your job well.”

“I see.” He simply gave her a nonchalant look before turning towards Jiyoung and Jihoon.

Standing close to them, he looked at them for a second before respectfully bowing his head.

“Young Miss, Young Master, how should I proceed?” He asked them as he held his bow.

“Kick them out and ban them from ever entering the Mall in the future.” Jiyoung said, her voice authoritative. Her beautiful black hair fluttered as she commanded.

“As the Young Miss wishes!” He said. Lifting his head, he turned around to look at the guard and the lady.

“I humbly ask you to leave the premises at once, dear customer!” He didn’t ask them, rather ordered.

I heard the inaudible whispers around us coming from the crowd.

“Do you even know who I am?”

Seriously, people really doing this—do you know who I am or I can get you fired on the spot—act!

It’s seriously cringe!

“I’ll ask you one last time, leave now.” His face turned solemn and voice cold as he demanded them to leave.

“Who is that bitch anyways?” She pointed her fat finger at Jiyoung as he questioned.

“Please watch your tongue, or I will be forced to rip it out.” He threatened in a calm manner, which looked even more threatening.

“She is the Young Miss of the prestigious Park Family, and also the daughter of Park Yujin!” The moment his words landed, a deafening silence descended over the store.

Wait what?

Even I was surprised after hearing his last words.

Park family! Park Yujin! That Park Yujin!

If I said I was not surprised, then that would be a lie.

The strongest hunter in Korea and also the guild master of Korea’s strongest guild.

‘The Shadow Guild’

His guild is ranked 5th strongest in the World Union (WU) ranking, and he is ranked 8th in the WU hunters ranking.

Even I heard about his exploits in my past life. If it had not been for him, then just when the second cataclysm came, Korea would have been lost. He brought down thousands upon thousands of monsters and fought off with many ranked demons. Emerging victorious in the end.

He really was one to be respected. A one man army!

The expression on the women’s face turned ugly after hearing his response.

“We are leaving!” She shouted before exiting the store along side her guard.

“Go back to what you all were doing. This is not a circus show.” He clapped his hands, bringing the attention of the crowd over to himself.

With another bow he addressed Jiyoung and Jihoon. “Forgive me Young Miss and Young Master. I was patrolling the other stores, please forgive me if that woman’s words offended you in anyway.”

He held his bow.

“It’s fine!” Jiyoung said.

“No Young Miss, the responsibility lies entirely on me.”

“I said it’s fine.” Jiyoung turned her head sideways and looked at me and Jihye over her shoulder. “Go back to your work!”

“Yes!” With another bow me went back to perform his duties.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Walking up to us, Jihoon asked.

“Is she okay, Jiwoo?”

I turned my head towards Jihoon and spoke. “Yeah, she just couldn’t handle the pressure which the guard released, I think she’s fine now, right Jihye?” I turned my head back and asked her.

Her breathing had become softer and she looked much better than a minute ago.

“Yeah, I’m fine nothing to worry about!”

But still, the way she reacted to his pressure... normally people who don't use Mana can do that, but, her reaction was much worse.

‘What if she has that...?’

‘No, no, what the hell am I thinking?’

“Are you really feeling better?” I was worried due the way she reacted and succumbed to the pressure that man released.

Lifting her head she spoke with a smile. “I told you I’m alright!” Getting up from the stool, she greeted Jiyoung and Jihoon and thanked them. “Thank you for helping us back there.”

“Please don’t worry about it.” Jihoon placed his hand on the back of his head and spoke, “I’m just glad that everything was resolved without any problem.”

“I think it’s best if we go somewhere more comfortable.” I said.

Everyone nodded their head in response.

***

We walked into a café close to the clothing store. Walking up to the booths, I sat down beside Jihye and Jihoon sat next to Jiyoung.

“Allow me to introduce, Jihye, Jiyoung and Jihoon my friends and Jiyoung and Jihoon, Jihye, my older sister.”

The first thing I did after sitting down was introduce them to each other.

“Nice to meet you Miss Jihye.” Jihoon respectfully said.

“Yes, nice to meet you.” So did Jiyoung.

“Yes, like wise!”.

“How come Jiyoung is here? I thought you were coming all by yourself?” leaning closer to Jihoon, I whispered to him.

“When I told here I was going to meet you she tagged along.”

“I see!” Then sitting back into my seat, I leaned back and took a hold of the tablet on the table.

“Oh yeah, are you both really Park Yujin’s children?” Jihye asked.

Nodding their head together, I pulled my gaze away from the tablet screen and asked.

“I really was surprised to learn that you both are 'that' Park Yujin’s children.” I didn’t hide the surprise in my tone.

But there was an air of awkwardness around them.

I think they didn't like talking about their Father in public.

“Will you both be going to the Lock’s tournament, Jihoon, Jiyoung?” Seeing this Jihye changed the subject and asked them a different question.

Well the Lock's tournament was one of the hottest subject around the world.

Everyone was excited to see the new rising stars of the world.

“Yes, I will going there. Jiyoung’s participating, so, I'm going there to root for her.” Jihoon enthusiastically said.

“Jiyoung goes to Lock?” Jihye asked.

“Yes, she’s a first year there.” Jihoon answered.

“Jiwoo also goes to the Lock, so I hope you will treat him good at Lock.”

Just as she said, Jiyoung turned her head and looked at me, but I was unbothered by their conversation and Jiyoung’s gaze. I just processed what I was doing.

“What do you guys want, I’ll order it for you?”

“Coffee!”

“Chocolate smoothie for me!”

“I'll have tea!”

Tapping on the tablet, a few times I placed the orders and put the tablet down before looking at Jiyoung.

“What’s with that sudden look of surprise, Jiyoung?” I said.

“I was just curious as to why I have never heard about you at the academy.” She emphasised on her last words, as she continued. “What is your rank anyway, Jiwoo?” She asked.

“2290, that’s my rank!” I said deadpan, as I comfortably leaned back into the booth.

“I see!" She questionably said as she looked at me with disbelief.

“What about you Jihoon? Are you also a student there?” Jihye asked Jihoon.

“I’m not! I will be applying next year." He continued. “I will turn Sixteen by the end of this year, so I will apply after I reach the appropriate age for applying.”

“I hope you get in.” Jihye exclaimed.

“Yes, thank you!”

Spending time like this was a really rare sight in my past life, but now, it feels if I don’t do anything, these happy moments will cease to exist.

That’s why I swore, I will take any action necessary to ensure that Humanity doesn’t perish.

This time I will protect their smiles. Everyones!

‘Master, Koeji...’ Suddenly I remembered about my Master and Koeji.

I really wanna see them both.

I want to know how they are doing?

Leaning my head backwards, I looked at the three enjoying there conversation.

‘But for now, my goal is to become stronger, stronger than anyone, so I can protect what’s precious to me.’

‘The new bonds that I will make and the old ones. I will do everything in my power to protect them!’

After a few more minutes passed, a waiter brought us our drinks.

Placing our beverages on the table he walked off.

Grabbing the handle of the cup, I took a sip of my latte.

Everyone was enjoying their drinks. Jiyoung, her coffee. Jihoon, his smoothie and Jihye, her tea.

Putting her cup down on the table, Jihye pursed her lips before addressing Jihoon and Jiyoung. “If you both are free after this, then why not come with us to do some shopping?”

They thought about it for a few seconds before nodding their head in agreement.

By the time I finished my latte, everyone else was also done with their own drinks.

Then standing up from the booth me walked up to the counter to pay.

“I’ll pay!” Jiyoung stood in front of me and handed the cashier her card.

After paying everyones bill, Jiyoung took her card back and placed it inside her dimensional storage, which was a ring on her ring finger.

“Shall we?” I asked before stepping out of the café.

Walking through the second floor of the mall, Jihoon walked beside me whilst, Jiyoung and Jihye walked in front of us.

Jihoon’s hands were in his hoodies pockets, as he walked behind them. “It’s really rare to see Jiyoung like this!”

“How so?” I asked.

“Well, all she does in her spare time is train and study. I really worry for her that she doesn’t go to these places often.” A smile harboured his face as he looked at Jiyoung from behind. “So it’s a relief seeing her enjoying herself like any other teenager.”

“Are you her Mom or something?” I teased.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“What are you both talking about? Let’s go!” Jihye looked over her shoulder and spoke.

“Coming! Let’s go!” I said to Jihoon as I stepped forward.

Grabbing Jiyoung by her hand she stepped inside a clothing store and started to select clothes.

Both of them tried on different kind of clothes on, and after an hour of selecting they decided to pay.

This time also, Jiyoung payed.

“I’ll pay for my own clothes, Jiyoung.” Jihye rebutted.

“Please, just take it as an apology for earlier.”

“But...” I placed my hand over her shoulder as I spoke.

“Why don’t you let here, Jihye?”

“Fine.” In the end she gave in and let Jiyoung buy her the clothes.

Shopping for another hour our so, Me and Jihoon sat down on a bench outside, while both of Jihye and Jiyoung went to the washroom.

“I never thought shopping could be this tiring?" I leaned back into the bench as I spoke to myself rather Jihoon.

“Yeah, you’re right.” Jihoon said.

“Oh right!.” Brining his left hand close to his right, he channelled Mana into the black ring on his finger and pulled Bleak Star out of his dimensional storage.

“Here!” Handing me my sword, he bowed his head whilst speaking.

“I didn’t say it properly in the hospital, but, thanks for saving Me and Jiyoung in the dungeon, Jiwoo.” He lifted his head and looked at me. “If you hadn’t defeated that demon, then we would have been done for.”

“It’s all thanks to you both that I was able to defeat him. Both of you bought me enough time, so that I could kill him.” I said.

Honestly, if the demon hadn’t been distracted by Jiyoung and Jihoon in the dungeon, and had finished me off first then... I don’t wanna think about it.

“That’s not true, we just—!” but I cut him off and spoke.

"No, you both were a big help, and in the end all that matters is that we are alive and well.”

I returned his smile with my own.

“Alright!”

Then quickly putting Bleak Star into the system inventory, I waited for Jiyoung and Jihye to return.

“Do your best at the tournament, Jiwoo!”

“Yeah I will.”

“Sorry to make you both wait.” I heard Jihye's voice. “Let’s go!”

Getting up from the bench, the tribulation of shopping commenced.

***

By the time we exited the Mall, the sun was setting and it was now evening.

“Then we will be leaving now. Thanks for tagging along with us for the entire day.” I thanked Jiyoung and Jihoon as we parted ways.

“Here!” Jiyoung handed me a small bag.

“What’s this?” I asked, taking the bag from her.

“Jihye told me, that she was here to buy you a birthday present...” She leaned an inch closer and whispered, “...so I thought I might as well give you something as a gift and to also thank you for saving us in the dungeon.”

“What are you two whispering about?” Jihye asked.

“Nothing much," I answered.

Taking the gift out of the bag, I unwrapped it and saw what it was.

“A watch?” I held the watch in my hand as I looked at Jiyoung.

“I don’t know what most guys like, so I bought this for you.” She said, keeping her cool.

Well honestly, she didn’t have to do this. I thought she was the type who always stayed serious in any situation. But, now that I saw here today, enjoying herself just like any other teenager would, I kinda had a complete 180 about her.

"Thanks!"

“Well see you both later.”

“Yeah goodbye!”

Then parting ways with them, Me and Jihye made our way to our house.

I just followed Jihye from behind. How the hell would I know where she and Jiwoo lived?”

***

We took a speed bus and reached an apartment complex.

It was a place reserved for the middle class.

Then walking into the building, we took the stairs and went to the third floor.

Skipping passed three apartment door, we stopped in front on the fourth.

Pulling the keys out Jihye unlocked the door and both of us stepped inside.