Chapter 44: Confidence

I received some feedback before about how some people find Yujin “simp”. Guys, being a simp is a behavior some men exhibit of humiliating themselves to gain a woman’s attention/affection, and I assure you, Yujin has never done that.

The scenes in question always depict Yujin showing respect towards Tsunade or Mito, and for some reason, some readers see that as “simping”. Respect and simping are entirely different things, let’s be clear about that. Yujin doesn’t just show respect towards women, and he does it because he was raised that way, as well as it being part of his personality. Yujin is kind, charitable, gentle, attentive, and fair. If you like characters who disrespect women, this is not the story for you.

Yujin had a good training session, making progress in wall walking. However, he decided to take a break from training to settle a score with someone suspected of a serious crime.

Tsunade and Yujin were in front of the bookstore.

“It’s time to get some answers.”

The two entered and observed people browsing books to buy. The manager seemed to be further inside the store. As they walked in, Yujin looked around and commented.

“These people don’t know the danger they’re in by buying books here.”

Tsunade rolled her eyes at this. He had already told her about the origin of the book, so she knew that even if the manager hadn’t warned him, he was still at risk by picking up a book from that immoral shelf.

At the back of the store, the manager seemed to be unpacking a box when he heard the sound of a knock on the counter. As he stood up, he was met with Yujin’s cold gaze. Confused, the manager asked.

“Good morning, Yujin. Did you come to buy another book...?”

Suddenly, Yujin began to laugh out loud, startling the manager with his actions. Yujin had always been a polite and gentle person, so he didn’t understand why he suddenly seemed aggressive, almost furious.

“Manager ... I trusted you. After what you did to me, you still act clueless? The least I expected from you was respect, and now you’re not even giving me that.”

Yujin’s gaze was as cold as the wind from the Land of Snow; capable of freezing a person quickly. Under this gaze, the manager, an ordinary person, was having trouble breathing. He quickly said.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t do anything to you. What’s going on?”

The manager’s words quickly calmed Yujin, surprisingly. He could feel the manager’s sincerity, confusing him.

“How do you not know? You sold me that...”

Just the thought of the content made Yujin uncomfortable.

“ ... that cursed book. Without any warning. How could you do this to me? I trusted you.”

Yujin’s words again left the manager confused.

“What’s wrong with the book? It’s just the way you like it, a romance between two people, and with ... educational content.”

Tsunade, who was silently standing behind Yujin observing the conversation, rolled her eyes at this. ‘What can you learn from that kind of book?’ she thought, but didn’t say anything.

“It’s not just a romance. Ten pages from the end of the book, something happens.”

The manager looked even more confused, so he opened the box he was moving before and pulled out a book identical to the one Yujin had bought before. When he saw the unassuming and simple cover of the book in front of him, Yujin gritted his teeth, feeling an urge to set the book on fire.

‘The person who wrote this book is not a good person,’ he thought.

The manager flipped through the book to where Yujin had pointed earlier, and began to read attentively word by word. Gradually, the manager’s confused expression changed to one of dismay, and then to fury. Finally, he looked at Yujin with pity and sighed.

“I apologize, Yujin, I didn’t expect this...”

Yujin saw the manager’s reactions, so he believed him when he said he didn’t know, but that didn’t calm him.