episode_0117

The chairman’s office in Regis Academy.

Darkhan looked at the student in front of him with stern eyes.

“Why is that so?”

The gray-haired schoolgirl responded calmly to his words.

“I’m sorry. I accidentally touched it while I was taking a bath.”

“……”

Darkhan was the student in front of him. He couldn’t respond to Lily’s shameless words.

‘….It won’t explode if you touch it accidentally..?’

How much did he care about the safety of his students?

To prevent any accidents from happening, all dangerous magic tools are designed to be safe.

There’s absolutely no way it’ll explode just by touching it.

And the warrior who detonated the magic tool himself would know that.

“……”

“I’m sorry, Chairman. I will accept any punishment.”

Punish the warrior.

Darkhan’s head started to hurt at her words that she would accept the punishment calmly.

Finally, Darkhan let out a short sigh and spoke to Lily.

” It happened. You must have had a reason for doing that. ”

Darkhan thought.

‘Yes. Let’s not doubt him, he is the one chosen by the goddess.’

I concluded that it would be comforting to think that at least he is a good person and that he probably has no bad intentions.

In the end, Darkhan tried to send Lily back without any punishment, but Lily just stood there and looked at Darkhan.

“Hmm? Do you have something to say?”

“Chairman, you know a student named Sarah, right?”

“Uh..hmm?

“I heard you came in on the recommendation of the CEO.”

The eyes of Lily as she spoke were like those of a beast facing its prey.

It was infinitely calm and cold, yet paradoxically burning intensely at the same time.

Darkhan swallowed dryly at the indescribable pressure from her.

But, remembering Hera’s request to hide her identity, he answered Lily in the most calm voice possible.

“That…that’s right. I found that kid by chance, but I brought him here because I thought he had talent.”

“Really?”

“That’s right. But why are you asking about that child?”

After hearing Darkan’s words, Lily took a big step towards him.

“I was wondering if the chairman might know something. For example….”

As if to see a reaction, Lily looked straight into Darkhan’s eyes and asked.

“Are you hiding your identity?”

Darkhan’s heart sank at Lily’s words, which were sharper than a well-forged sword.

Darkhan thought to himself.

‘..Do you know that?’

No, that can’t be.

Hera had clearly said that only I knew.

If you had been confident from the beginning, you wouldn’t be asking me like this now.

This is definitely a testament to me.

I don’t know why the warrior is curious about Hera.

I had no intention of breaking my promise to keep her identity a secret.

“If you know anything, please tell me right now.”

Lily, who is pressuring Darkhan with her glaring eyes.

But Darkhan answered her with a calm expression on his face.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about?”

“…..”

Then, Lily’s burning eyes suddenly turned cold.

Soon, she looked at Darkan with dreary eyes for a long time, then decided that further questioning was pointless. She lowered her sharp aura and spoke.

“….Thank you for letting me know.”

“Okay. Let’s go back quickly.”

Finally, with Darkhan’s permission.

Lily walked out of the chairman’s office without saying anything.

In the chairman’s office, peace was restored once again.

“Oh…so scary..”

All that could be heard was the trembling voice of an old man.

* * *

There was an explosion in the bathroom.

The next day, when Ariel hit the ground and screamed.

I sneaked out through the back door of the academy, avoiding other people’s eyes.

And as we walked forward in that state for a while, a lively city came into view.

The weekend has come and gone so quickly.

The reason I sneaked out of the academy was to keep my promise to Iris.

After entering an alley where there seemed to be no one, I carefully took off my disguise after making sure there was no one around.

Then, a strange feeling spread through my entire body, and black hair as dark as ebony began to flutter around me.

“Whew..It’s been a while..This sight.”

Maybe it was because I returned to my original form. My body felt much lighter.

I wrapped my robe further around myself again to hide my appearance.

‘You promised to meet in front of the clock tower, right?’

When I lifted my head slightly, I saw a large tower clearly.

I took another step and walked towards it.

Arriving in front of the clock tower, I was able to find Iris more easily than expected.

‘…Iris is pretty.’

Unlike the school uniform I usually wear.

She is wearing a black skirt that reaches down to her knees and a flowing white blouse.

Her pure white hair came together to create a fresh and beautiful atmosphere.

By the way, I also came out 20 minutes early.

Iris seemed to have come out earlier than me and was waiting.

I walked up behind her and tapped her shoulder.

Iris turned around and looked at me, her eyes wide open.

“Hera..!! I missed you!!”

Soon she came running into my arms, smiling brightly and blushing slightly.

As I hugged her, Iris giggled and rubbed her face against my body.

“How have you been, Iris?”

Actually, I already knew how she was doing because I had been watching her from the side, but I still felt I had to ask out of courtesy.

“Yes!! Actually, it was a bit hard waiting for the weekend.. but when I see Hera like this, it all disappears!”

My heart started to beat a little faster at the sight of her bashful smile.

Because I too was once a man.

It tickled my heart that a girl as beautiful as Iris liked me this much.

“That’s fortunate.”

“Hehe..Uh..Should we go eat first? I found a place! It’s a famous restaurant, so I’m sure Hera-nim will like it too..!”

At the sight of Iris being so passionate.

Without realizing it, I instinctively started stroking her head.

“Ah…”

Then, Iris stared blankly at me for a moment and let out a muffled sound.

‘Oops… I didn’t realize I was doing this to Marie…’

It was rude.

I’ve heard it somewhere.

They say women don’t like having their hair stroked.

I unintentionally ended up doing the same habit to Iris that I developed because I liked Marie.

But I stopped right away because I was afraid she might hate it.

Iris seemed to want me to continue, holding onto my hand tightly so that it wouldn’t slip away.

“Can you touch me more…more…?”

.

.

.

Inside the restaurant, the atmosphere is lively and bustling.

Iris was looking at me, fidgeting.

“Does it suit your taste, Hera?

I said to her with a small smile.

“Yes. It’s really delicious here.”

Iris, who had been showing signs of tension for a long time.

Only after hearing my answer did he feel relieved and pick up the dishes.

While I was eating and chatting with her about this and that.

“Iris.”

I took a deep breath and called out to Iris.

“Huh?”

Then she answered with a big smile.

I felt a little sorry for her, but I still felt like I had to tell her what I had to say first.

“..I told you before. I can’t accept your feelings.”

“Ah…”

Iris’s eyes trembled for a moment, then soon became droopy.

“It’s not that I hate Iris at all. Rather, Iris is too much for me.”

“Ah..No..! That’s too much..Absolutely not!!”

“…It’s because I’m the problem. I don’t have the capacity to accept anyone right now.”

My heart that Athena tore through.

Although I have forgiven her to some extent now, that doesn’t mean the hurt from back then has gone away.

The pain from that time still remains as an aftereffect and always stays with me.

Whenever someone touched my body, my body would tremble continuously, and when I met new people, I couldn’t look them in the eye properly.

Of course, it was possible if I set my mind to it. But that was just an effort to suppress the feelings of rejection that were rising from my body. I was still afraid of people.

Naturally, I had no capacity left to accept someone’s heart.

My heart, which I had given everything to Athena, was completely burned, leaving no ashes behind.

I feel so sorry for Iris though.

I couldn’t accept the feelings she had.

“It may sound selfish, but…I still want to help Iris.”

“…..”

I found out last time when Iris harmed herself.

How much Iris was a child who longed for love.

Also, how much I usually suppressed that feeling.

“Until Iris can find her true match. I want to ease her worries.”

Although Iris in the novel doesn’t connect with anyone, I believe she will definitely find her match.

Well, she is such a lovely girl. Surely someone will overcome the barrier of same-sex marriage and accept her heart.

Of course, I will also help her find a match.

Still, there are quite a few women I know around me, so maybe someone might get along with Iris.

Anyway, I have no intention of just sitting back and watching Iris live a bitter and lonely life.

“..So you’re saying you’ll continue to meet me every weekend?”

There was still a sad look on her face, but her eyes still shone beautifully.

“Yes. As long as Iris wants it”

“….I want it.”

Iris blushes and speaks shyly.

I picked up a piece of meat from my plate and held it out to her.

“Then please take good care of me, Iris.”

Iris quickly put the meat I offered into her mouth.

A bright smile appeared on his face again.

“Yes..! Please take good care of me too, Hera-nim.”

* * *

Hera smiled at me.

At first, I was sad when she said she couldn’t accept my feelings.

Still, I was soon able to get over it by knowing that I would be able to see her every weekend.

I guess I still have a chance.

I won’t give up.

No, I can’t give up.

Just wait and see, Hera.

Even though you don’t have feelings for me right now.

Sure. So that you can like me.

I will work hard.