The Curse of Being Hated Has Been Lifted - Chapter 47



47 – Deal

“Are you really going to drop out for real?”

Lately, Ara was troubled by one thing.

The worry that Logan, a senior he could now confidently call a friend, might suddenly drop out and disappear in front of his eyes.

Logan, who had been quite busy since the curse was lifted, was even busier these days.

He said he had to secure contracts, develop new products… and these days, he was contemplating how to build a facility to mass-produce a new alloy.

Of course, Logan dropping out wouldn’t be a life-ending event as it used to be, but it troubled Ara to think that he would see much less of him if he did.

“Frankly, I’m useless to Senior Logan.”

Even though he was almost always around, it was simply because he had built a friendship with Logan before the curse was lifted, not because he was useful to him.

For instance, Redrika had outstanding alchemy and magical abilities, and Anna was well-versed in various magical and general knowledge.

Even Ashit, who was focused on technological development as Logan’s confidant, found Arua to be useless, no matter how much she thought about it.

Her family’s influence was weaker than Anna’s, and though she had some martial prowess, it was no match for the tip of Gumsung’s blade.

Even Logan’s own martial prowess was overshadowed after he obtained the new sword.

“I really feel useless when I think like this.”

If Logan were to drop out of the academy, there would probably be no reason for her to meet him anymore.

“I want to be by his side a little longer…”

The curiosity she felt when she first saw Logan had grown significantly, taking root in her heart.

A strong spirit that never gave up despite growing up in despair.

A kind heart that sought to help others, even after living a harder life than anyone else.

And on top of that, a personality that captivated people with her decadent beauty.

If she stayed by his side for long, she would naturally become someone he couldn’t help but fall for.

Arua hadn’t admitted it to herself yet, but her feelings for Logan were undeniably a one-sided love.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

As she sat on the bench, gazing at the pond, endlessly repeating thoughts of Logan, she heard his voice for real.

“Oh, senior.”

“I’ve been looking for you for a while. You always used to stick to me like glue as soon as we got to school. Is something wrong?”

Looking at Logan with a slightly worried expression, Arua couldn’t shake the thought that he had changed a lot.

“He wasn’t this kind before.”

His tone wasn’t this gentle.

He was always tough and cold.

“No, it’s not… By the way, Senpai, you’ve become so much more gentle and kind.”

“Have I gained that much weight?”

“Well, you have put on some weight, but that’s not what I mean. It’s just that your way of speaking and your actions have become really kind and gentle.”

At Ara’s words, Logan smiled.

It wasn’t a warm and kind smile, but rather a smirk.

“You probably think that way because you’re the only one.”

“What are you talking about? If anyone else saw you now, they would say you’ve changed completely.”

“The premise is wrong from the start. I don’t show this side to anyone but you.”

-Thud!

It felt like his heart sank.

Of course, it wasn’t a bad thing.

It was not fear, but excitement.

“I have to maintain decorum in front of my master, and the others are not as close to me as you are.”

For Logan, Ara was almost the only woman he could call a friend.

While Ara was the closest person to him, Arna was like a god-like master, and Anna, despite showing remorse for her own mistakes, didn’t become close until after the curse was lifted.

But Ara, even before the curse was lifted, approached Logan and was almost the only presence he could call a friend, making their time together enjoyable.

Though he was getting along with Ashit, it was more of a relationship of rivalry than friendship, so talking to Ara was the most comfortable.

The soft and gentle tone of voice.

The kind and warm behavior that he only showed to Ara.

“W-What are you even talking about!”

Arua’s face turned bright red.

To the always confident Arua, Logan approached the uncommon occurrence with utmost rationality.

“Are you hurt somewhere?”

Logan was an exceedingly logical person.

If someone in front of him blushed, he was sure it was not because of excitement or embarrassment but because something hurt.

“Are you in pain? Or did I make you angry?”

No matter how much he thought about it, there was no reason for her to suddenly get angry. It must be that something hurts.

‘It’s rare for a detective to catch a cold.’

Even Logan, who had the worst nutritional status, had not caught a cold more than 30 times in his entire life.

A properly nourished and trained detective hardly ever fell ill.

“I’m not in pain! And, of course, I’m not angry either!”

“No wonder you look like you have no energy. It must be because you’re sick…”

Logan’s body tensed for a moment.

‘Why is she sitting alone all of a sudden… and today, she seems sensitive and lacks energy.’

In Logan’s mind, the magical day when women, once a month, pass by fleetingly, had just come and gone.

“…Sorry! I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“What?”

“Take care!”

No matter how much he was Logan, he still had enough sense not to ask if today was the day, so he immediately retreated from his spot.

‘…What’s going on.’

Suddenly appearing and stimulating only the heart, then fleeing…

Arha pressed around her heart.

-Thump, thump

Despite no separate exercise, her heart raced wildly.

******

“… You want me to teach you the sword?”

“Yes.”

Arna lightly teased at Arha’s serious tone.

“Haah… What sudden gust of wind blew over you?”

Arha’s gaze was earnest.

It might be odd to have a serious look regarding a request to learn the sword from Gomseong, but even considering that, Arha’s gaze was truly solemn.

“No matter how I think, Senior Logan wouldn’t have a reason to keep me by his side. So, I want to become someone more meaningful on my own.”

The jealousy of a woman might shout, ‘Then just step aside,’ but as a fellow inspector and as Logan’s mentor, it was quite a significant dialogue to consider.

Ultimately, wasn’t it about wanting to elevate the skills for the sake of one’s own disciple?

“You don’t think the chance to learn from Gomseong comes for free, do you?”

“Of course not.”

“What can you offer me, then?”

Arha was Logan’s prospective follower.

While he did consider giving Arha an appropriate test to enhance her abilities for Logan’s benefit, he was simply curious.

He wondered what this inexperienced youth could offer him, having nothing in possession thus far.

“There’s nothing meaningful that you can give me.”

He had asked out of sheer curiosity, not with the intention of gaining anything meaningful from her.

“As you know, I have been by Logan’s side for the longest time.”

That didn’t sit well with him.

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It was one thing for a friend to be by his side, but having a mentor follow him around all day was undeniably strange. Plus, Logan always seemed to keep his distance, so Arua had to give up her seat next to him.

“So what? You want to tell me the obvious story that Logan will be safer if you become stronger?”

Arua spoke, barely containing her anger.

“It’s true that Logan will be safer if I become stronger, but I don’t want to offer that as a trade.”

“Then what?”

If not that, he couldn’t think of anything else.

He couldn’t even fathom the reason she would claim to be the person closest to Logan.

“I can see various sides of Logan because I’m always by his side.”

“And?”

“I can tell you about those sides.”

It was a slightly tempting offer.

Her ability to gather information was impressive, but he didn’t want to keep his own disciple in the dark, even if she became a useful source of information.

“It’s tempting, but that alone might not be enough for me to teach you the sword, right?”

“I can also provide you with things that Logan has dropped.”

“Is there anything else you want to add?”

Since time was the only thing he had in abundance, teaching Arua wouldn’t be such a loss for her either.

If only he could add one more small price, Arna was full of thoughts to teach Ara.

“I’ll emphasize it to Senior Logan several times. Master Geomseong is truly a beautiful person, and we must be filial to Master Geomseong!”

This was a sufficient price.