—————————————
[ (Side story) Happy ending anyway]
One year since then after.
WHA’s public sparring venue.
There, two young men were engaged in a fierce battle.
-Pababababat!
Attacks exchanged so quickly that an afterimage remains.
However, as time passed, it seemed clear that one side was losing ground.
In the end, Professor Wang Gu-ho, who participated as a referee in the sparring match, declared one side’s victory.
“Sparring is over! “The winner is confident!”
As soon as the winner was declared, thunderous applause and cheers poured out from the audience.
“Wow!”
“Convinced! Convinced!”
Soshinhan blushed a little at the attention pouring in from all directions.
Even though some time had passed since he entered school and he had become a celebrity, he still had a timid personality.
On the other side, An Jun, the opponent who lost to So Shinhan, said with a wrinkled expression.
“shit. “It’s getting stronger.”
“You’ve become a lot stronger than last time, right? “If I had let my guard down, I would have lost.”
“It’s a sound I don’t even have in mind. Just wait and see. “I will definitely win next time.”
“haha. “I look forward to it.”
“…Wow, that’s unlucky.”
An Jun grumbled and went down from the sparring hall first, and So Xinhan bowed to the cheering students and then left the sparring hall.
But the real hardship started now.
His hearing, which was dozens of times better than others, caught the unfamiliar whispers of his classmates and juniors.
“Isn’t Shinhan really amazing?”
“My skills have suddenly improved since last year, and I’m competing for the top spot in my grade…”
“I’m already ranked 5th in the rankings? With this momentum….”
“Let’s not just be jealous, let’s work hard and follow Shinhan’s example!”
‘Please stop!’
So Shinhan blushed and quickly walked out of the sparring hall.
After showering in the shower room, changing his clothes and coming out, Wang Guho was waiting for him in the hallway.
“professor?”
“Shinhan-gun. “Today is the day, right?”
“…Ah yes. you’re right.”
“Do this for me.”
Wang Guhao handed the gift box he was holding to Xiao Xinhan and said.
“Say hello to them both. “I tell them to invite me to the housewarming party.”
Wang Guhao looked truly disappointed that he could not go with them.
he asked, lowering his voice.
“I wanted to see those two standing side by side… Can you secretly take a video and send it to me?”
“If I get caught, I’ll die…”
“…Well.”
Wang Gu-ho, who was feeling disappointed, subtly pressured him by saying, “Then what about the photo?”, but So Xin-han didn’t want to risk his life for something like that.
“Then see you tomorrow!”
“…okay. Bye.”
After a while, Soshinhan came out and raised his head and looked up at the sky.
“I can’t believe it’s already been a year…”
In the sky above Seoul, the statue of Lim Dae-in, an immortal hero and his teacher, was still shining brilliantly in the sunlight.
The person concerned was gnashing his teeth saying that he would someday remove that damn statue, but each time he did so, he was met with opposition from everyone and the project was canceled several times.
‘A lot has happened in the past year.’
After clearing out Redfinger’s stronghold, the Dimensional Allied Forces then searched for and destroyed all of their branches spread across dozens of dimensions.
Through surgery and magical rehabilitation, Soshinhan overcame the side effects of the reverse blood magic attack and completely recovered his severed limbs.
Lilith took the prophet-lessor, who had regained his memories, back to her world.
There were many other things that happened, but the most surprising event was definitely the event that took place today.
“…Those two are getting married.”
So Shin-han, who caught a glimpse of the landlord’s statue, quickened his pace so as not to be late for the wedding.
***
A choreography practice room with mirrors on all sides.
The three girls were sweating hard practicing their choreography to the fast beat of idol music.
However, the only one working hard was the girl in the center, and the girls on both sides had expressions that showed they had been forced out.
“Wendy! Anna! You’re wrong again! “You should do your hands like this there!”
“…….”
Lily demonstrated the choreography with spit flying from her mouth to her friends who had a sour expression on their faces.
However, Lily’s outfit was a sight to behold.
The top is a tight-fitting black crop tee and the bottoms are loose, ripped jeans.
And clumsy heavy makeup and ring earrings.
Yes.
Lily went through a turbulent period in just one year…
but her future aspirations have recently changed.
About a month ago.
“I’m going to become an idol!”
Lily declared so in front of everyone during dinner.
The great man shook his head with an expression as if asking if this was the beginning again.
“Last month, you said you were going to become a space scientist?”
“I gave up because science was too difficult!”
“I heard you’ll become president before that?”
“I will give up the presidency to Joo Sang-wook.”
“What did you say before that about becoming a veterinarian?”
“Animals are cute, but… I want to become an idol even more now!”
“…Ugh.”
Daein sighed and told him to do whatever he wanted and scolded him to just eat quietly.
That dismissive tone stimulated Lily’s competitive spirit.
“Mr. Ui! It’s real this time! “Just wait and see!”
From that day on, Lily came to the practice room every day after school and practiced dancing and singing to become an idol.
Today too, we were diligently practicing our choreography.
Even Wendy and Anna were forcibly brought to the practice room.
“Why are we…”
“Are we dancing together?”
In response to her friends’ questions, Lily looked back at the two girls with an expression as if she didn’t know.
“That’s because group dance is the life of an idol!”
“…….”
At this point, Lily was ready to come up with a name for a three-member girl group, but Wendy and Anna were desperately opposed to that.
And when the two girls calmly evaluate Lily…
‘How can she be so stupid and tone deaf?’
‘Lily. You’re the wrong idol…’
Unaware of her friends’ sad feelings, Lily danced the choreography like a robot to the off-beat beat.
While she was busy practicing her dance, Lily looked up at the clock and shouted in surprise.
“oh! Wedding ceremony!”
“Wedding ceremony?”
“Whose wedding?”
“Sigh!”
Lily quickly covered her mouth.
Their wedding was a secret and only those who received a wedding invitation could attend.
“Sorry guys! I’ll go first! “You guys can play some more and then go!”
“what? “You brought him here…”
“He said he’d buy me tteokbokki after it’s over!”
Before the two girls could catch her, Lily disappeared as quickly as the wind.
The two girls remaining in the empty practice room looked at the door Lily had kicked out with bewildered expressions.
“How is he so consistent?”
“It will be the same no matter how many years from now…”
The two girls shook their heads and turned to face each other.
“…Shall we dance a little more?”
“Because there’s nothing special to do.”
Neither of them seemed to have any interest in being an idol.
***
“Do we really have to do this?”
The man seemed uncomfortable and tried to loosen the tie that was constricting his neck.
“Again!”
slap!
Baek Young-hee, who hit the back of Daein’s hand, rolled his eyes and adjusted his tie.
“Just stay still. “Can’t you stand it even though the wedding is so expensive?”
“I really…”
The great man only frowned slightly in disapproval and left her to do what she did.
Baek Young-hee, who adjusted his clothes, smiled and asked.
“How does it feel to be a groom?”
“…Don’t tell weird jokes. Because it still feels weird. “Those guys are getting married…”
The great man looked at the wedding invitation in one hand with a complicated expression.
It simply listed the date, location, and photos of the bride and groom.
In the photo, a white-haired groom with an awkward expression and a red-haired bride with the happiest smile in the world were holding hands affectionately.
This was the reason why Daein’s feelings were complicated.
“…Hey you thief.”
“oh. “Isn’t that just lying down and spitting?”
Baek Younghee stood next to Daein and folded her arms affectionately.
In the past, he would have hated it and pushed it away, but Daein didn’t do that anymore.
A lot has happened between the two over the past year.
“Am I wrong? “How can you with a little boy…. It’s the end of the world.”
“Do you know that you look like a really old guy right now? “It’s okay if you two like each other.”
“No, no matter what…”
The two walked to the backyard where the dimensional gate was, linking arms and talking about various things.
“But why don’t these come like this?”
As Daein was checking his watch, Sosinhan and Lily also arrived there.
“president!”
“mister!”
So Shin-han, who received a lot of gifts from acquaintances to deliver on his way, and Lily, who flew in straight from the practice room.
When the great man saw Lily’s outfit, he covered his face and sighed.
“…kid. “You go and change your clothes first.”
“clothes? “Why my clothes?”
“Because no matter how open-minded a big kid is, he’s going to get angry when he sees a wedding guest wearing a crop top and ripped jeans.”
Lily pouted for a moment, saying, “I don’t even know much about fashion…” but when she saw Daein’s serious expression, she calmly went into her room, changed into a white dress, and came back.
“Is this enough?”
“good. “Then let’s go.”
The way to go through the gate and beyond the dimension.
Baek Young-hee, who was clinging closely to Dae-in, hummed into his ear and made a cute sound.
“I’m going to get a bouquet today. “Then do you know that you have to get married within six months?”
“…Oh, kinda. Moderately.”
After a while, the four arrived at the wedding venue.
A small villa built in a forest as beautiful as a fairy tale.
A wedding hall in nature decorated with all kinds of flowers in front of it.
There weren’t that many guests.
“Oh oh. “The landlord from the other world has arrived.”
“Cluck. “Looking at it like this, it looks exactly the same.”
“oh my god. “Lily here is still a kid, right?”
“now! “Stop talking and sit over here.”
Familiar but unfamiliar faces seemed familiar to the four people. The four people sat in a row in the back guest seating area.
“Shh. “It starts soon.”
Where everyone’s eyes were directed, the groom in a tuxedo was standing with a nervous look on his face.
“From now on, we will hold a wedding ceremony for the two of you.”
After a while, a dazzlingly beautiful bride started walking from the other side.
“The groom…”
The wedding ceremony was held informally in a quiet atmosphere.
Until the host said that.
“Today’s congratulatory song is….”
“Me! “I’ve prepared everything, including dancing and singing!”
“…what? hey!”
Lily got up and ran onto the stage.
Before Daein had time to stop her, Lily’s idol debut stage began and Daein covered her face with her hands until it ended.
“I’m really going crazy….”
“Puhahahaha!”
The guests, who had been serious the whole time, burst into laughter, and even the bride and groom couldn’t hold back their laughter and giggled.
The wedding ended with everyone’s blessings and laughter.
“Then the bride and groom march!”
The guests’ enthusiastic cheers and applause. The brilliant sunlight breaking through the leaves, the gentle wind tickling the cheeks, and the cheerful chirping of mountain birds blessed the path the couple walked.
The great man looked at the back of the two people and muttered quietly.
“I feel strange.”
“How is it strange?”
“I should say it feels like I saw a second ending that I didn’t know about…”
Baek Young-hee quietly rested her head on his shoulder. Holding a bouquet in one hand, she looked up at the man’s profile with a mischievous smile.
“Do you like the second ending better?”
The great man knew the wisest answer.
“That can’t be true. I like the first ending much better.”
The great man smiled, wrapping his arm gently around her shoulders.
-Retirement Life of a Returner (Side Story) Completed-
[(Side Story) Happy Ending Anyway] End
ⓒ Ganjjajang
