noveldrama
Chapter 165
Chapter 165
**Prime Minister of Japan, Nakano Watari Suguru.**
He had been devoting much of his attention recently to the making of katanas.
Of course, he wasn't making them himself but had asked famous artisans to craft them. Still, the effort was there.
The reason behind this sudden involvement was, of course, due to Yu-jin's request.
“Is the katana production coming along?”
“We’re currently in talks with Ninomiya's exclusive artisan.”
“Don’t hold back on the budget. This is a chance to promote the prestige of the Japanese sword worldwide.”
Naturally, he wasn’t doing this out of kindness.
An Awakener as powerful as Yu-jin was like a walking billboard.
For him to carry a katana made in Japan would undoubtedly serve as global product placement.
The Prime Minister was thinking of using this opportunity to rid the katana of its long-standing negative image.
The dishonorable reputation of being too flexible, too weak, and, in some circles, even called "Hyetana" in South Korea, a derogatory term that mocked the sword.
"Can we afford to allocate this much budget for it? It’s for the national prestige, but still..."
“Can’t be helped because of Ninomiya.”
“Excuse me?”
“If we make a cheap sword, and she ends up getting criticized by her disciple for carrying it, that would be a disaster…”
“Ah.”
Of course, it wasn’t just Yu-jin’s formidable backing that made the Prime Minister wary.
Ninomiya had pledged to prevent Seol Ha-yeon from being harmed, so it was only right to give this support.
Thanks to the arrangements, a sturdy, youthful katana was completed.
In just four weeks.
[Yu-jin: "Thank you so much, brother!! During election season, I'll visit Japan to provide some national psychiatric treatment!!"]
[Don’t waste time with nonsense. Just make sure to treat Ninomiya properly.]
‘Every Japanese citizen has the right to happiness. Ninomiya, be happy.’
A smile appeared on the Prime Minister’s face.
Aika, who was so strong she had never experienced happiness as a woman, was receiving this blessing.
[Yes!]
‘With this, our chances should rise to 80%. Wait for it, master! With the sword given by Suguru, I'll definitely defeat her!’
If he knew how his weapon would be used, even Yu-jin might have failed to hide his expression.
But, unfortunately, this was still unknown.
---
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister was busy overseeing the katana production.
At the academy, Yu-jin and Seol Ha-yeon were running the show, of course.
However, the students had suddenly found themselves in a position where they were about to face off in duels.
“It would be catastrophic if they messed up, so it was only natural to be on edge.”
“Shi-A, what’s your favorite tag?”
“Tag? What are you talking about?”
“You know, Shi-A, your hobby.”
“…? If you’re talking about novels, I prefer pure love.”
“Right. Pure love is the most hardcore, no hypnosis or anything, just mixing bodies. How revealing.”
“……?”
Though Shi-A and Alice were top students, their practice was more relaxed.
Meanwhile, the sudden preparations for the festival had thrown the academy into chaos.
No one was having a peaceful day—except for one person.
- **Rolling around.**
‘Today, my disciple said he’s coming back after dinner…’
In her room, Aika was lying around, feeling extreme boredom.
Yu-jin becoming busier meant she spent less time with him, so she was alone most of the time.
‘I’m bored, but there’s the culture festival. Guess it can’t be helped.’
Despite this neglect, Aika didn’t blame Yu-jin.
Unlike Korea, it was normal in Japan for schools to be busy preparing for festivals for about a month. To her, it was expected that Yu-jin would be busy.
[Seol Ha-yeon. I want to help my disciple too. If there’s anything involving physical work, I’ll do it.]
[We have plenty of labor, but we’re short on office staff.]
[Leave that to me! Even if it's just a blank sheet of paper, I'll do it together with my disciple...]
[Ninomiya. What’s 6 times 9 divided by 2?]
[Uh? Um... 24?]
[Just stay holed up in your room and scratch your belly. If you don’t want Yu-jin to call you an empty-headed woman.]
[…..che.]
There was only one complaint.
That she couldn’t help Yu-jin.
She’d been practicing kendo since elementary school, but office work was too difficult for her.
And thus, Aika lamented.
Ah, I wanted to spend a cozy day preparing for the festival with my disciple.
We could sit side by side, go over documents, eat lunch together, and maybe give him a knee pillow if he got tired.
Such heart-fluttering days were impossible now.
She sighed, wishing she had studied harder in school.
‘Ugh, I’m missing the disciple component…’
- **Struggling.**
['??? This transcendent of the world is wondering what would’ve happened without me.']
[Hypnosis-chan hums to herself, thinking it’ll be fine with her master, shrugging her shoulders.]
Her situation seemed pitiful, even from an objective standpoint, but in the end, she was still spending her day alone…
- **Ding.**
[Bbo: Ninomiya. With only a week left until the academy festival, how’s it going?]
“…?”
A message arrived as she was wallowing in loneliness.
Aika responded with a bored face, 180 degrees different from how she acted around Yu-jin.
[Just get to the point.]
[How are things going with Yu-jin? You even slept together at the hotel, but things haven’t changed, right?]
[Shut up. Stop annoying me. Die. Stop. ]
Her frustration was palpable as she lashed out at Bbo’s prying.
Her bitterness from the prolonged single life was apparent.
[Well, I guess you haven’t figured it out yet? The real purpose of the festival.]
[Purpose? Isn't it to lure Paimon?]
[Do you think someone like Yu-jin would make a big fuss just for that? Think carefully. Why did he suddenly create a festival that never existed before?]
“…?”
Aika was perplexed, not yet understanding the meaning.
Her brows furrowed as she tried to figure out what Bbo was talking about.
[Stop beating around the bush and explain properly.]
[Do you know about the festival? It’s a duel between students, broadcasted live.]
[I know.]
[But Yu-jin is a student too, right? So who will duel him? There are no students who can match him.]
[Exactly. Our disciple is strong!]
[So, if Yu-jin is going to duel, he needs an opponent of his rank, right? An S-Rank Awakener.]
“Eh?”
Aika’s eyes widened in realization.
She finally understood what was going on.
[Our disciple is going to fight Seol Ha-yeon?]
[She’s planning to be absent that day. If she’s there, Paimon wouldn’t get involved.]
[Then who will fight him? Not you, right? You can’t take on your disciple.]
[…I’m also an S-rank.]
[Let’s see if you can measure up.]
[….]
Aika now understood. Yu-jin was challenging her.
‘Our disciple wants to challenge me? …Is he underestimating me?’
Her initial response was disbelief.
She had spent her whole life as the strongest Awakener, seen as invincible. How could her disciple think he could defeat her?
‘He’s just getting cocky because he’s an S-rank now, but he doesn’t know what he’s up against…’
[Yu-jin wants to defeat you and get recognized, as a man.]
“……!!!”
‘My disciple, thinking like this?!’
For Aika, as a woman, this was overwhelming.
‘He wants to be recognized by me!’
To challenge the strongest in the world, in front of everyone, for her!
- **Grinning.**
‘If my disciple wants to do this, maybe I should ease up a little~? As his wife, it’s only natural to help him save face!’
She was so happy, imagining the whole scenario in her mind.
If Bbo had seen it, he would have sighed and thought, *Why Yu-jin, out of all the women in the world?*
But Bbo was in Vietnam, unaware of Aika’s plans.
Instead, he offered his serious advice.
[Don’t fight at full strength. Like the S-rank gate, hide some of your power.]
[Got it!]
[Pretend to ignore him at first, then gradually change your attitude. Afterward, act like you’re impressed and hand him the sword, signaling your acceptance.]
Aika listened intently, clutching her phone. She was so excited about the upcoming duel.
‘A public duel with my disciple—this is basically a public proposal, right? Defeat me, and you’ll win my heart!
Everyone will bless our relationship!’
The excitement was almost too much.
---
Suddenly, Yu-jin returned.
- **Freeze.**
“...A katana?”
Yu-jin had a katana-like sword case slung over his back.
“Oh, this is...”
“…?”
‘I’ve made him carry a cheap katana up until now, but he was planning to surprise me with something like this! What a fool!’
- **Bang!**
“Ugh!?”
Aika swiftly pushed Yu-jin down, her reaction dramatic.
"Wh-Why are you suddenly doing this?"
- **Grinning.**
“...Hmph. Hmph. Hmph!”
Aika’s childish reaction surprised even herself.
“......!!!!”
'Is this the reaction that came out when I forgot our wedding anniversary? She’s seriously upset, isn't she?!'
But now, from a married man's perspective, it was a bit terrifying.