episode_0022

Several days had passed since the gratitude event. During this time, I had been keeping an eye on Jegal Hwarin’s movements, and it seems like they are about to start moving in earnest.

“In the original work, Kim Noeul participated in the competition day.”

I glanced at the seat next to me. It was originally Kim Noeul’s seat, but she wasn’t here today as she went to another area of the academy for the competition.

I checked the last messages with Kim Noeul.

[Kim Noeul: Arrived.]

[Kim Noeul: Everyone looks so diligent in studying.]

[Me: Is that sarcasm?]

[Kim Noeul: No, not at all.]

[Kim Noeul: I’m quite nervous.]

[Kim Noeul: I feel like I could do better if someone cheered for me.]

[Me: Ask your teammates for encouragement.]

[Kim Noeul: Ah…]

[Kim Noeul: Are you doing this on purpose?]

[Me: Do well. It will elevate your reputation.]

[Kim Noeul: Thanks.]

Kim Noeul will soon take the written test, followed by the practical exam.

She won’t be present for today’s ambush. That’s why I’ve been running around like crazy.

“The closing ceremony is over. Don’t wander off and go straight home.”

As soon as the homeroom teacher’s languid words ended, I slung my bag over my shoulder and left the classroom. I descended to the lower floor and made my way to Na Yuna’s classroom.

Na Yuna’s class was still in the middle of the closing ceremony, and the classroom door was closed.

As I stood in front of her classroom, the eyes of third-year students leaving school were fixed on me. Most of them were girls.

“Is he the transfer student?”

“Wow, he’s handsome…”

“I heard he’s Kim Noeul’s boyfriend.”

As they made me the subject of their baseless gossip, a girl approached me.

“Hello, who are you looking for?”

She was a girl whose face I didn’t recognize. Since she was in the third-year corridor, she must have been a senior compared to me.

A natural smile, maintaining a proper distance, and even a subtle scent of perfume. Plus, the way she subtly looked up at me with beautiful eyes.

She seemed like the type who had probably captivated many guys.

I knew why she was approaching me. I was familiar with it from experiencing it repeatedly in this life.

“If you’re leaving with a senior from this class, let me know. I’ll bring you after the closing ceremony.”

“Really? No need. I already have plans anyway.”

She tried to take her down under the pretext of making an appointment. But she was persistent.

“Are your promises only with guys? I might know some of them….”

As she spoke, Nayuna quickly left the classroom, not forgetting our after-school appointment.

She looked at me and giggled, then stopped when she saw a girl clinging to her side.

“Oh, you, um, Maru…?”

“You’re here? Let’s go quickly, senior.”

As I approached Nayuna, the girl who had spoken to her narrowed her eyes.

“Oh, so the promise was with a girl.”

She scanned Nayuna up and down. It was clearly a condescending gaze. Nayuna shrank under that look and lowered her head deeply.

“Yes, it’s a girl. You don’t need to help me anymore, so please go.”

I took Nayuna’s arm and walked down the hallway. As the students’ gazes focused on us, Nayuna’s face was on the verge of exploding.

“Maru, you, you can let go of my hand.”

“Stop dawdling and come quickly. If you want to escape this gaze bombardment even for a moment, hurry up.”

“I, I don’t mind.”

“What?”

“Oh, no! I meant I don’t mind because of that girl from earlier. She seemed to suit you well, so I didn’t mind…. I might have just interrupted a good time.”

“Don’t get involved with that girl if it really annoys you.”

“Okay.”

“It’s more important to walk home with the senior than to talk to that girl.”

“Huh…?”

I whispered to the bewildered Nayuna.

“They might attack from Jegalhwarin today. It’s safer to go together.”

“Oh, right. Yeah, you’re right.”

Nayuna nodded helplessly with a relieved expression.

The two of us who left school naturally started walking along the route we had scouted in advance. It was a route that passed through the academy district on the outskirts of the rotary, not the way to the dormitory.

“Senior, since you need to improve your grades for the final exams, let’s stop by the academy and check it out.”

I winked as I delivered the rehearsed line, and Nayuna quickly caught on and responded.

“Thanks. It’s my first time going to check out an academy, so I wanted to ask you.”

“First, since my grades are a priority, a short-term intensive course is fine. Each school selects problems from past exams, so the accuracy rate is quite good.”

We pretended to have a typical senior-junior relationship as we went to check out the academy. There was a reason I started acting before we even arrived at the academy.

“…She’s really following us.”

It was because we saw female students from Hanguk High School trailing behind us. It followed the original plot. They were going to drive us to the academy.

Lost in thought, I observed Nayuna. I thought she was acting pretty naturally, but when I looked at her hands, her fingers were trembling.

She is a victim of Jin Hee-young’s bullying. I know how powerful the trauma of being ostracized can be.

Yet, here she was, joining me against girls even more malicious than Jin Hee-young.

No one has the right to mock her trembling hands.

I gently took her hand. If she gets too nervous, it could disrupt the plan.

Her hand stopped shaking.

“Maru…?”

“I’m okay.”

“……”

“There’s no problem. We have the student council, and if things get tough, I’m there too.”

Nayuna stared blankly at my face. Then, with some difficulty, she spoke.

“Oh, no. I’m a girl, I should protect you, Maru. I owe you for what you’ve done.”

“You know I’m good at fighting. You can trust me.”

Calming her down, I looked around and suddenly the signs of academies came into view. We had finally arrived at our workplace.

“Instructor, I’ll be back in a moment. There’s a commercial restroom down that alley.”

“Alright.”

Alleys are always a favorite place for delinquents. Nayuna and I went deep into the narrow alley between tall commercial buildings.

The number of students walking around with books gradually decreased, and the voices of people also diminished. Now only the sound of our breathing could be heard.

“We’re almost there now. Wait outside while I take care of things.”

As I said this to Nayuna, some female students appeared.

“Oh, going to the restroom? What should I do, I feel like I need to go in my pants.”

“Poor thing, let’s allow her to use the restroom~. There’s no need to bother with the guy, right?”

Two female students in Korean high school uniforms appeared in front of us. I turned around with a composed expression.

Behind us, five female students were blocking our path. One of the five stepped forward.

I instinctively knew who she was.

She was Jegal Hwaryun, the leader of this attack.

Her name was clearly written on her name tag.

Unlike Jegal Yeonhwa, her hair was not long, almost like a bob. And perhaps to emphasize her smooth angles, her skirt was excessively short.

Her short skirt was not only for appearance but also to facilitate the Jegal sisters’ specialty—swift movement.

“Are you guys from the heavens or the counseling department?”

Jegal Hwaryun looked at Nayuna and me with a displeased expression. Then she smacked the heads of the two female students beside her.

“These idiots let themselves be bullied by those losers and still have the nerve to walk around with their heads held high?”

The two female students who had been hit had a sense of resignation. They were the female students brought along when Jin Hee-young and Kim No-eul were targeted.

One had her hair rolled up in pink, the other had a messy bun. Both were memorable for their punches and kicks.

They didn’t resist Jegal Hwaryun’s actions and only grimaced silently. The power dynamics were clear.

“We are indeed from the counseling department. So, what brings you here?”

Nayuna was frozen, unable to speak, so I asked them instead. My question made the female students pull disgusted faces, especially Jegal Hwaryun.

“Oh, what’s this guy blabbering about? If the guy doesn’t want to get hit, he should stay quiet, and is that girl over there Kim No-eul?”

Jegal Hwaryun nodded towards Nayuna.

“But I heard Kim No-eul can fight, isn’t she just a damn pig?”

“She can’t even lift her head now, huh? Looks like she’s scared.”

The surrounding female students snickered and teased Nayuna. Despite trembling, Nayuna managed to lift her head and meet Jegal Hwaryun’s gaze.

“I’m not Kim No-eul.”

“Then who are you, milk boy?”

“I-I’m not a milk boy, I’m Nayuna, from the same counseling department.”

I continued my conversation with Jegal Hwarin, but it seemed he was uncomfortable and no longer willing to talk.

“Kim Noeul or what… Just a nobody, right? Why do you believe you can talk to me? There’s nothing to see, so annoying.”

Jegal Hwarin ordered the female students threateningly as they approached.

“Lyn, what about the guy?”

“Just keep him in check. If he causes trouble, it’ll be a hassle.”

Two female students blocked my path at Jegal Hwarin’s command. They looked closely at my face and body without considering me a threat.

“…So this is Kim Maru.”

“The real deal…”

They openly examined my face and body, unaware of the impending danger. Their carelessness allowed them to fall victim.

Without hesitation, I struck one of the girls in the throat with a clenched fist. She gasped and sank to the ground.

“Hey, crazy!”

The other girl, taken aback, tried to protect her neck with both arms, but I targeted her chest this time. With a solid blow, she collapsed.

Overwhelmed by the unexpected force, she clutched her chest in pain. I continued kicking her chest without stopping.

“Ahh! Damn it! This guy’s going nuts!”

“Ouch… My, my throat hurts…”

As the two girls quickly retreated, the surrounding girls who had surrounded me looked at me in astonishment. Jegal Hwarin crossed her arms and glanced at me.

“Oh… He’s a fighter, huh? Well, that’s why he acts so fearlessly.”

Leaving me behind, Jegal Hwarin approached me directly. She kicked the two fallen girls as she walked.

She maintained a distance and looked down at me.

“You said your name is Kim Maru. If you had just stayed still, you wouldn’t have been hurt. You’ve crossed the line. Take a few hits.”

“Are you prepared for the consequences of your actions?”

“What? Consequences? Ha!”

Jegal Hwarin covered her mouth and restrained her laughter. After chuckling, she spoke.

“Are you really poking your nose into this, and do you think you can handle the consequences? Just because of some mediocre high school student from the outskirts?”

“Your naming sense is something else. Did you guys form on July 7th by any chance? Are you guys star-crossed lovers? Where’s your cowherd?”

As I retorted, Jegal Hwarin sighed and raised her arm.

“Just because this damn guy is a man, you think you can…!”

Before her arm could reach me, I shouted with all my might.

“Help! There are gangsters here!”

“You’re making a fuss. I’ll start by hitting your mouth.”

Jegal Hwarin paused in her action at the sound of screams from female students coming from behind.

“What’s going on…?”

She couldn’t finish her sentence. It was because an extraordinary scene unfolded before her eyes.

One of the girls who had been threatening Yuna was being stepped on by a girl in a sky blue uniform.

Jegal Hwarin slowly opened her mouth as she looked at the girl in the sky blue uniform. Then she muttered quietly.

“Why are you here…?”

A ponytailed girl in a sky blue uniform, with a long sword at her waist and a badge reading ‘Patrol’ on her arm, glared at the Korean high school girls with fierce eyes.

“This is the patrol zone of the Sky High Student Council.”

Han Do-ah, the leader of the Sky High Student Council, pointed at Jegal Hwarin while brandishing her sword.

“Since you threatened Sky High students, the Patrol will take action from now on.”