SWNOVELXO Chapter 204
“Uh, so…”
Originally, I had words lined up in my mind, but now I couldn’t remember a single one. I kept thinking about what might happen after this moment ends, and my focus was all over the place.
Thump, thump!
My face felt hot, and my heart raced. My mind felt blank, like a sheet of white paper.
Still, I resolved that I had to wrap up what was in front of me properly.
Otherwise, it really would be endless.
In front of me stood a group of students in red outfits. Well, I recognized them as students; otherwise, I’d think they were just a bunch of youngsters.
They were the ones I called.
I wasn’t sure how they’d think of me, but at least they must be aware that they were now part of my group because of this event. Of course, if any of them started acting up while mentioning my name, I’d have to deal with that appropriately, but for now, these kids were ‘on my side.’
We could only flex our muscles a little in school since we were still in our teens, but if these kids managed to keep their grades up and improve their individual skills to help me, we could continue being mutually supportive afterward.
I cleared my throat a few times to gather my thoughts and let out a breath. Thinking about this a little made my mind feel calmer.
“Everyone gathered here has received my invitation. However, I don’t know everyone’s faces and names yet. Some of you may have received the invitation directly from me, but others might have gotten them passed on to you.”
I looked around at the kids.
“So, I hope you keep those invitations instead of tossing them. I’m not telling you to carry them like ID cards, but at least you’d have a way to prove you attended my party. Some kids might find it troublesome to have their names spread because of this, but if you come to me with that invitation later, I’ll do my best to help you.”
At the very least, I could offer financial assistance. As long as they didn’t cross the line, I was willing to support them.
“Getting close to Ye Sara will definitely help. If you’re someone who can help her, you’d receive even more assistance.”
That was the phrase I wanted to attach to the name ‘Ye Sara’.
I was sure everyone understood what I meant. They were all smart kids. A few nodded seriously, their expressions slightly stiff, while others looked around nervously.
I couldn’t memorize all their names, but I tried to remember as many faces as possible and glanced back at them.
“Well then, if anyone wants to go home now, feel free to leave. You’ve fulfilled your part already. Your clothes will remain in the place you got changed. Please return the outfits you wore, and you can head home. I hope the memories you made today will last a long time.”
I wondered if anyone had successfully lined up with some high-ranking members of the Yujin Group among them. They were barely high school students after all, so I didn’t have high hopes…
But who knows? Those ‘red outfits’ might have had some effect.
Of course, if anyone thought just because they wore those clothes they were closer to me, it was just a misunderstanding for now.
“Now then, does anyone have something they’d like to say?”
Fully aware that other grades were mixed in, I asked politely until the end.
Everyone glanced around, but no one raised their hand.
Yeah, it wouldn’t be easy to throw questions at me in this atmosphere.
…Still, I wished someone would ask a question.
Feeling uneasy about returning to the room in this silence, I thought, yet no one raised their hand.
I shrugged my shoulders and started to say, “So, let’s wrap this up—”
When suddenly, someone hesitantly raised their hand.
As my gaze shifted toward that hand, everyone else turned to look at the kid as well.
I didn’t recognize that kid. They must have come with someone else who had received an extra invitation.
The kid beside them, who appeared to be sweating bullets, was someone I had seen before. It seemed they had come in response to that kid’s invitation.
“Do you have a question?”
Dressed in school uniform, I couldn’t tell if they were in my grade or another, so I asked politely.
“Um, yes, I…”
It seemed the kid didn’t expect me to answer so quickly, as they hesitated for a moment. Time passed, and the kids’ gazes were intensifying.
“Umm, this is a bit of a personal question…”
Gasp!
In that moment, I tensed up.
Well, okay. It was a kid I was seeing for the first time, after all. No matter what, I wouldn’t be getting another confession out of the blue. Unless there’s a setting where the protagonist radiates pheromones in harem web novels, extras on the street won’t just suddenly confess to me.
Yet it can be a bit nerve-wracking if I get proposed to three times in a single day without any breaks between.
Seeing them say it was a personal question, the kid beside them paled.
They probably thought it might touch on something sensitive.
“…Come over here.”
I said, and the kid cautiously came closer. Up close, they seemed even more timid. Their hair was long, and their bangs hung down past their eyebrows. Based on the slightly curled tips, they might have had a different hairstyle during the party, but right now, they radiated pure gloomy character vibes.
“What do you want to say?”
I thought we were far enough apart, so I asked in a small voice.
“Um, well…”
But the kid hesitated even after coming all the way to me.
It felt a bit frustrating, but perhaps thanks to this kid, I was making good use of my time. So I continued to wait nervously.
“Um, if there’s leftover food, can I take some with me?”
The kid hurriedly turned around as if someone might overhear her, and thankfully, it didn’t seem like anyone had.
“Leftover food…?”
“Yes, um, it’s embarrassing but…”
The kid struggled with each word, sounding like it was difficult to get out.
“I wanted to share the delicious food I had today with my younger siblings…”
“….”
Hearing that, I felt like someone gave me a smack on the head.
Ah, right.
I was living an incredibly rich life—no, it was more than just incredible. I had so much wealth that I couldn’t even express it simply. It hadn’t even been a year since I came into this world, but I was gradually getting used to this life of riches.
Eating all those delicious foods that I normally couldn’t afford without worry. I often had so much leftover that I ended up tossing it. Thinking back, Sohee and Ha Neul seemed shocked the first time they had a meal here.
So… it wasn’t strange for her to think that way.
“…Yang Hye-in.”
As I called her name in a soft voice, she looked like she thought she had offended me or something.
But what I was about to say was different.
“How about we prepare some gifts for the guests as they head back? There are still many dishes we haven’t served, right?”
“Yes, plenty.”
“…Let’s pack them into gift boxes and give them to those in red outfits.”
“Yes, understood.”
Well, it might take a bit of time to package them. If they end up leaving without receiving anything, then that’s just how it is.
As long as there’s an excuse to take it without feeling embarrassed.
“Will that be alright?”
“…Yes, yes, thank you…”
She nodded repeatedly, lowering her head several times.
I thought, so what’s the big deal… but it would be rude to think that.
If only I had thought about this in advance. I could have prepared proper gifts instead of just leftover food.
No, is it still a bit strange for the host of a birthday party to hand out gifts?
Well, whatever. It doesn’t matter. My words are law here.
*
And just when I was about to wrap things up and head to the afterparty—
“Sara!”
A voice called out to me.
It was Son Ah-reum.
Already changed into her school uniform, she handed me a small box.
“Here, a birthday present.”
I reflexively accepted the box, glanced at it in my hands, and then looked back at Son Ah-reum’s face.
“I didn’t get a chance to give you a present earlier. It’s not a big deal, but I hope you’ll accept it.”
“…”
I stared silently at Son Ah-reum, who was smiling at me.
Uh.
What is this?
“Why are you staring at my face like that?”
Handing me something and getting a bit flustered, Son Ah-reum asked.
“…Areum.”
“Yes?”
“Do you want to join the afterparty? I was thinking of pushing back the Surajang a little!”