Episode 389. Vacation Ceremony

Monday morning.

Finally, a new week begins.

‘What should I do during the vacation?’

I have a schedule to go to the Association in America, but other than that, there’s not much else to do.

Since there’s still about a week until the schedule, I should think about what to do until then.

‘Or maybe I should just rest for a change.’

I’ve been moving without a single day off, so I was tired.

Sometimes I just want to sleep without thinking about anything.

“About when will you be back?”

“Well. If nothing comes up, I think I’ll be back right away.”

“Then you’ll be back late.”

“….”

I quietly swallowed my coffee at Scarlet’s words.

Maybe it’s because I have a bad feeling today.

“Scarlet, what are you going to do?”

“Just in case, I’ll check on Dahee-yang’s condition and then look for a new job.”

“What, a new job already?”

I clapped my hands together, looking at Scarlet.

It’s admirable that you’re already trying to escape unemployment.

“Yes. It probably won’t be like the Iris Guild with a commute, but more like freelancing, but even that wouldn’t be bad.”

“Judging by how you talk, it sounds like a good job? Where is it?”

Just like the ace Scarlet.

To find such a good job already.

“It’s someone Hoyeon-nim knows. Dr. Kang Hyorin, who works as a professor at the Academy. Her main subject is probably Hunter Studies.”

“Dr. Kang Hyorin? Ah, the Korea branch manager of the Iris Guild?”

“Yes. The one who saved Dahee-yang.”

“Of course, I remember her. Such a kind person.”

She’s someone I’m very grateful to.

I paid her, but she provided a service far greater than that.

She told me to contact her if I ever needed anything later, but I didn’t have any specific needs, so I never reached out, and now she’s involved with Scarlet like this.

“I should probably visit her sometime later. But you quit the Iris Guild, so is it okay to work under Dr. Kang Hyorin?”

“It’s fine. I won’t be affiliated with the Korean branch; I’ll be a freelancer. Besides, Dr. Kang Hyorin and I already know each other.”

“Ah… then it’s fine.”

I stuffed the toast served for breakfast into my mouth, munching away.

I should head to school soon.

It’s the last day, so I need to put some energy into it.

“Do well with the job… and please take care of Daeun and Dahee.”

“Yes. I’ll keep an eye on them for the time being.”

Scarlet decided to stick close to Nam Daeun and Nam Dahee.

Even though we wiped out Pandemic, there are still lingering threats.

I said my goodbyes and left the house.

The cadets I saw on the way to the Academy were all in an excited mood.

It must be because the vacation is about to start.

There isn’t even a special event, yet they’re going wild.

‘- What are you going to do during the vacation?’

‘- Wouldn’t it be best to go see the sea?’

‘- The sea…? Why bother?’

‘Everyone’s just thinking about playing. I’m damn tired.’

Fucking bastards.

I wish I could go play by the sea too.

Lost in idle thoughts as I walked, I soon arrived at the Academy.

Inside Class A, it was still noisy, so I quickly sat down between Lucy and Lumi.

“Hey guys, good morning.”

“Yeah. Hi!”

“Good morning. Hoyeon-ssi.”

I looked at them familiarly and started a conversation, and Lumi continued, clenching her fist tightly.

“We’re starting a diet.”

“A diet?”

“Yeah. I’ve gained weight lately.”

“…You guys?”

They look like they’d die if they lost any more weight.

As expected, women seem to have a different perspective than men.

The conversation with Lucy and Lumi was pointless chatter, but it was comforting.

“Hi guys.”

“Daeun! You’re a bit late today?”

“Uh-huh. I had something to take care of.”

Nam Daeun arrived shortly after.

She probably warned Nam Dahee to be careful.

Creak-

“Alright, everyone quiet down.”

As soon as Nam Daeun entered, Professor Kim Jinhyuk also came in.

The cadets quietly began listening to Professor Kim Jinhyuk, but you could see their excitement couldn’t be hidden just by the way their shoulders were shaking.

“As you know, all events have been canceled due to the recent increase in terrorist activities. There’s said to be a power struggle among demons in the Seoul area, so absolutely do not engage in any dangerous behavior.”

“Yes!”

“The most important thing is your own growth. Rest is good, but don’t just play around; I hope you gain as much experience as possible in safe places. Don’t cause any trouble, as it will just increase my workload.”

He said the last part while looking at me.

I feel a bit sorry for the Professor.

It has nothing to do with me, yet it just increased his workload for no reason.

Professor Kim Jinhyuk sighed, looking at the cadets who weren’t paying any attention to his words, and continued.

“Anyway… I trust you’ll do well. Many professors will remain at the Academy during the vacation. If you have any questions for your development, feel free to visit anytime. Dismissed!”

“Thank you!”

As soon as Professor Kim Jinhyuk turned his back, the cadets started chattering excitedly.

I don’t think they were like this back in college.

They must be closer because they’re taking the same classes.

Lucy, who was next to me, also spoke to me.

“Should we have a party? A party!”

“A party, all of a sudden?”

“Yeah. A vacation celebration party! Let’s meet in the club room. Daeun, wanna come too?”

Lucy, whose energy levels were sky-high, grabbed Nam Daeun’s arm.

Nam Daeun, who hadn’t expected her name to be called, widened her eyes.

“…Me too?”

“Yes. It would be great if Daeun-yang could come too. It’ll definitely be fun.”

“Our club room has lots of board games too.”

“Ah! If Daeun-yang comes, we can play games for four people.”

Nam Daeun was flustered by the sudden invitation from Lucy and Lumi, then glanced at me.

I chuckled and shrugged my shoulders.

If you want to go, just go. Why are you looking at me?

“Sure. Daeun, you go too. Your sister will be done much later anyway.”

“Hmm, okay.”

“Great! I’ll show you our special place.”

“That’s right. It’s our secret base.”

“Secret base…? Wasn’t it the club room?”

Lucy and Lumi, sounding excited, grabbed Nam Daeun’s arm.

Four people gathering like this. That’s quite rare.

Come to think of it, it’s a party, but is there any food?

“Lucy, do you have anything like cake in the club room?”

“Ah. We didn’t prepare anything today.”

“Then I’ll buy one. That place was delicious last time.”

“Hoyeon-ssi. That place requires reservations.”

“If it’s not there, I’ll just buy one somewhere else.”

I volunteered to be in charge of the cake.

As a guy, I should at least do this much.

‘I hope Daeun fits in well.’

The three of them headed towards the club room, chatting.

It’s truly a joy to see them becoming friends like that.

I slowly walked out of the Academy.

It’s a good thing Daeun is making friends.

Dahee met new friends too, so Daeun should make some friends as well.

‘But Dahee seems to be doing really well?’

Honestly, I was very worried because of how she acted at home.

She still seemed mentally immature.

Still, it’s reassuring to see she seems to be doing well at school.

I walked the streets around the Academy, looking at my map.

Seeing the cadets milling about after the vacation ceremony, it seemed likely the cake shop would be fully booked with reservations.

“This is it, right?”

I entered the cake shop with the pretty signboard.

Inside, there were a few customers and staff.

They all seemed to be reservation customers, but I figured I should ask just in case.

“Hello. Is it possible to order a cake right now?”

“Ah, coincidentally, one reservation was just canceled. It’s a strawberry cake, would that be okay?”

“Yes. I’ll take that one.”

Strawberry cake.

It was probably the same one I ate last time.

It was lucky that a reservation slot just opened up.

“Mom! Buy me this!”

“Okay. But don’t buy any cookies.”

“Understood!”

Right next to me was a cute little boy, and he looked quite adorable asking his mother to buy him a cake.

I must have been that cute when I was little.

‘Would my child be like that?’

This feels strange.

Rebecca, Baek Ahyoung… they want to have my child, but I don’t really know what I’d do if I actually had one.

I need to figure out a plan for this too.

“First, I should hurry. They’ll be waiting.”

Plans are good, but the women waiting for me are more important right now.

I took the cake from the staff and walked out of the shop.

All that’s left is to return to the Academy.

Chills-

Just then.

Goosebumps erupted all over my body.

A chill ran down my spine, and I checked my surroundings.

“What the…”

A sudden sense of unknown dread and an ominous aura tightening around my body.

I tried to quickly gather my magic power, but realizing my combat sense wasn’t activating, I simply accepted the magic enveloping me.

If my combat sense isn’t activating, it means the opponent either hasn’t noticed me or has no hostile intent.

Naturally turning my head to survey the surroundings, I spotted a man standing out amidst the numerous crowd.

He was walking down the street as if nothing was wrong, but his face clearly caught my eye.

His drooping eyes, looking tired, and hollow pupils exuded a gloomy aura, yet the sharpness visible in his eyes created a strange dissonance.

I looked at the man’s face again.

Putting aside the restless aura emanating from him, he was showing his face with some kind of confidence.

And having played the original game, I knew his face better than anyone.

The only criminal in the world wanted by hunter associations worldwide.

The leader of Pandemic, the worst terrorist group in human history, and a demon with the highest bounty on his head.

“…Maestro?”

I doubted my eyes.

Why is that man here?

He wouldn’t be the type to show himself directly like this.

Is there going to be a terrorist attack here? No, even then, he wouldn’t come himself.

My heart pounded with a feeling different from combat sense.

Even though my special skill [Clear Mind] tried to calm my heart, the trembling wouldn’t stop.

‘Let’s avoid him.’

He’s not someone I can face alone.

Besides, there’s a high chance other demons might be hiding.

Swallowing hard, I watched his profile, when suddenly he turned his head.

Maestro looked in my direction.

I also turned my head as naturally as possible, but I couldn’t avoid our eyes meeting for a brief moment.

‘First, I need to get out of here…’

Tap-

I took a step towards the Academy.

And the moment I took that step, a voice whispered in my ear.

“Hello?”

“…”

“Excuse me. Could I ask for directions?”

“…”

I slowly turned my head.

Maestro, smiling slightly, was right next to me.

He was clearly over a hundred meters away, how did he get so close in an instant?

Even though a rune barrier was active, Maestro naturally passed through it and spoke to me.

“Hello?”

“…I’m sorry. I don’t know this area well either.”

“Ah… I see. Understood.”

Hiding my trembling, I barely managed to reply in his unnervingly sharp voice.

Maestro gave a slight nod and moved away from me.

“What the hell? Is that it?”

I blankly watched his retreating back.

His seemingly defenseless gait and lack of any defensive barriers.

I don’t know why he approached me, but there wouldn’t be a better opportunity than this.

‘Maybe now is possible.’

The time it takes to summon my Arc and unleash the strongest magic is less than 3 seconds.

I could kill him before he could even react.

Gulp.

“…”

However, magic wouldn’t flow into my body.

The suffocating pressure constricting my body made my knees buckle involuntarily.

The cake fell to the ground with a clatter, but I didn’t have the energy to care about that.

Only after his figure disappeared from sight could I finally move my body.

“Ah, fuck…”

I spat out a curse.

Is this what they call fate?

I could finally understand what Chiron said back in France.

That humans cannot defeat him.

That fate is on his side.

Seeing him exude that kind of presence, it makes sense he’d say such things.

It was a different kind of power… an aura that was hard to explain.

But it’s okay.

‘Next time, I’ll be able to move.’

I clearly remembered the sensation I felt today.

I don’t know why he showed me his face, but it was a mistake.

He definitely won’t make such a pathetic mistake the second time we meet.