episode_0094

“…”

[Senior Seo Harin: Thanks for this time, Hyunjin. You went through a lot of trouble to humor me.]

[Senior Seo Harin: But don’t forget? I haven’t given up.]

Senior Seo Harin’s message, which arrived early in the morning with a notification sound.

I gazed at the bright screen with narrowed eyes before letting out a sigh.

‘…A real pang of conscience.’

An indescribable wave of guilt began to wash over me… The reason was nothing other than a simple matter of morality.

After all, while Senior Seo Harin was unconscious, hadn’t I engaged in relations with two other women in her private room and on her bed?

Even setting aside whether this was acceptable by common sense, even the worst scoundrel in history would feel guilt over this.

“…”

In other words, I did that. It was awkward to explain it in words, but it also bothered me to just let it go.

What was I supposed to do? Should I at least buy her a meal next time?

‘But if I did that, I’m afraid I’d get more deeply entangled with Ilseong Group.’

With a heavy heart, I rubbed my chest a few times. It felt as if something intangible was stuck, making it hard to breathe.

Of course, it was just my imagination.

“Ugh.”

I listlessly got out of bed. Anyway, since my eyes were open, I might as well start this damn day.

It just so happened that today could be considered almost the last day of the Cheongsong Festival.

There were still a few minor events and the closing ceremony left, but… In any case, the highlight was today, the final of the 8-person tournament held in the stadium, as always.

I subtly hardened my expression and checked the state of the mana in my body.

There were no noticeable problems with my circuits, and imbuing attributes also posed no significant hindrance.

It would be right to consider it an optimal state… Yet, I was still uneasy.

Was there any need to state the reason?

Because my opponent today was ‘him’.

The man who had defeated Disciplinary Committee Head Yoo Seonghyeon in the first round, and practically fried the third-year valedictorian with lightning in the second, to reach the finals.

A figure who could practically be considered the strongest student in Cheongsong Academy.

Student Council President. Fourth-year valedictorian, Cheon Woohyuk.

The person who would one day become my elder brother.

“Tsk.”

I clicked my tongue briefly, headed to the bathroom, quickly got ready, and came back out.

After changing into my uniform, I checked the time. About 30 minutes until my appointment.

I figured it was about time to head out, so I decided to move.

Because I had a lunch appointment with my parents before the afternoon matches began.

‘…Ah, Mother.’

I squeezed my eyes shut and tried hard to erase the frustrated expression on my face.

Truly… it was one mountain after another.

*****

“…”

Calm eyes, a gaze utterly cold. Fierce glints in her eyes revealed a will to pierce her opponent and skewer them entirely.

The owner of all these was none other than Yeon Seobaek. Lee Hyunjin’s mother.

Conversely, the target of that gaze was also Lee Hyunjin, and Lee Hyunjin, lacking the confidence to meet her eyes, turned his head aside.

But where he fled from one beast, there was merely another.

Opposite them, next to Yeon Seobaek, sat the girl who was Lee Hyunjin’s master.

Seol Hayeon followed the movement of Lee Hyunjin’s gaze with a displeased expression.

Lee Hyunjin broke out in a cold sweat.

‘Uncomfortable.’

It was literally that. Truly, it was utterly uncomfortable. It was so awkward, it made him wonder if a meal could even be this uncomfortable…

Lee Hyunjin, of course, knew the cause of Yeon Seobaek’s gaze. Needless to say, the incident from that day was the reason.

Thanks to Cheon Soyul’s self-sacrifice (?), he had miraculously avoided being torn into thirty pieces, but her displeasure probably remained.

Yeon Seobaek was a strict mother, and truly a nearly normal mother who wished for her son to have a conventional romance.

No matter how fast times changed, such notions didn’t easily disappear.

No, in fact, even in the current era, Lee Hyunjin’s impure relationships with multiple women were not easily accepted.

Ultimately, there was nothing he could do. In this situation, there was only one person Lee Hyunjin could rely on.

Lee Hyunjin turned his gaze to the seat beside him.

Just then, the man sitting there felt Lee Hyunjin’s gaze and turned his head.

An awkward eye contact between the two men.

It was Lee Hyunjin who first broke the silence.

“Um…”

“…”

“…It’s been a while, Father.”

A middle-aged man whose appearance largely resembled Lee Hyunjin, to the point where one might wonder if Lee Hyunjin would look like him after gracefully aging another 20 years.

Lee Jaesung nodded silently. It was the best greeting he could offer at the moment.

And he vigorously conveyed his intentions with his eyes.

‘I can’t help you.’

“…”

Lee Hyunjin fell silent. He hadn’t expected much, but he couldn’t help but feel a sense of betrayal.

Having finally lost his last refuge, which he had perhaps hoped to rely on, Lee Hyunjin resignedly returned his head to its original position.

He idly picked at the food that had already been served, without even knowing its taste… Eventually, he slowly and calmly surveyed the atmosphere at the table.

Even if his mother was like that, why was Seol Hayeon so sulky?

He didn’t think he had done anything wrong to her.

They had already been on several dates.

‘And when she happily dragged me to her room every night, that was a different story.’

Why was she now sending him such a displeased, growling gaze? It was utterly baffling.

…Of course, there was no way for Lee Hyunjin to realize that Seol Hayeon was suffering from frustration because she wasn’t satisfied just comforting herself.

Helplessly accepting her unreasonable gaze with a dejected air, Lee Hyunjin mechanically lifted and lowered his spoon repeatedly.

Without even knowing if the food was properly going into his mouth.

It would have been different if some conversation had started, but since the two women who held the initiative at this table were so taciturn, there was nothing he could do. It was truly a cruel silence.

The silence at the table was broken when everyone had almost finished their meal.

“Lee Hyunjin.”

Yeon Seobaek silently put down her spoon, called Lee Hyunjin, and wiped her mouth.

The other two subtly raised their heads, directly observing the frozen atmosphere between mother and son.

Yeon Seobaek parted her lips.

“I believe you know this well. The only reason I’ve left your shameless private life alone is… out of respect for the agreed-upon arrangement between you and Soyul, that child.”

“…?”

At those words, Seol Hayeon, who had been quietly observing from the side, pricked up her ears.

Shameless private life?

‘What, what is that?’

She rolled her eyes, not knowing anything.

Of course, in the current situation, there was no one to explain the circumstances to her. Yeon Seobaek was cold, and Lee Hyunjin was not in a position to speak.

The differing gazes of the mother and son met in the middle.

“I’m still contemplating, Hyunjin. Is it right for me to simply keep silent and condone this? Or is it right for me to disregard your relationships and inform my friend?”

At Yeon Seobaek’s next cold words, Lee Hyunjin’s expression stiffened.

He looked at his mother quite insolently, with considerable discomfort in his expression and eyes.

“Mother, that’s.”

And what stopped him from saying something was Yeon Seobaek’s palm. She nodded, indicating she knew, then continued speaking.

“Yes, I don’t intend to blindly inform Sehee about what happened. Even setting aside the moral issues, it would be meddling to interfere when the parties involved say it doesn’t concern them.”

“…”

“However, there’s only one point I take issue with. You’re still a young student, and the other girls involved are likewise.”

He had long met the criteria for an adult, but at twenty, could he truly be considered fully mature?

Yeon Seobaek wanted to address precisely that point. If necessary, she might have to inform her friend, Cheon Sehee, about it.

As her gaze grew cold, and Lee Hyunjin’s expression gradually twisted.

“…And that’s why I’m saying this.”

It was Yeon Seobaek who proposed a compromise.

She let out a deep sigh.

“Today’s match. Do you have the confidence to win?”

“…?”

And what she uttered was a single sentence, slightly different in nature from the conversation they had been having.

Lee Hyunjin immediately had a question mark appear over his head, but… The moment he saw Yeon Seobaek’s serious expression, he didn’t voice any particular doubts.

Instead, he simply thought. How much of a chance did he truly have in today’s match, the direct confrontation with Cheon Woohyuk?

‘Can I win? Me?’

Judging Cheon Woohyuk’s level objectively… he was probably at least A-rank.

That practically meant he was on par with Kim Jiwoo, and perhaps even higher.

To defeat such an opponent in a direct confrontation…? And with pure magic combat, with no room for other tricks?

Needless to say, it was a considerably difficult demand. Lee Hyunjin’s expression sank.

It was around then that Yeon Seobaek continued.

“Let’s make a wager, my son.”

“…Huh?”

Lee Hyunjin faltered in place. Then, he raised his head, which he had briefly lowered, and made a subtle expression, trying to discern Yeon Seobaek’s intentions.

Yeon Seobaek lightly flicked her fingers.

“If you defeat Woohyuk today, the scene I witnessed last time will be absolutely left unmentioned. At least, I won’t let such words slip to Sehee.”

At those words, Lee Hyunjin, conversely, had to widen his eyes.

Because it was such a groundbreaking proposal.

Deep down, he wondered why she was saying such a thing… but given that it was Yeon Seobaek, it actually made sense.

To let bygones be bygones regarding a violation of moral norms by proving one’s magical abilities.

It was truly a Yeon Seobaek-like proposal. Her meritocratic mindset wasn’t going anywhere.

Thus, it was the moment Lee Hyunjin couldn’t help but begin to feel hopeful.

“However.”

Yeon Seobaek’s next words followed.

“But if you show me unsatisfactory performances today, failing to meet my expectations, and ultimately suffer an overwhelming defeat to Woohyuk…”

“…”

“Then I will understand that you have neither the qualification nor the ability to enjoy such a private life, and I will convey all those matters to Sehee. And I will also discuss the engagement issue.”

Yeon Seobaek sent a rather sharp gaze to Lee Hyunjin, as if asking, ‘Do you understand?’

Lee Hyunjin could only swallow a hollow laugh, unable to react further.

Did his mother truly realize she was making an unreasonable demand? Did she know the skill of Student Council President Cheon Woohyuk?

…No matter, it was irrelevant now, with no way to avoid it.

Besides, there weren’t many other options in the first place.

Lee Hyunjin wore a bitter smile.

In the end, his answer was but one. Lee Hyunjin’s head nodded up and down—

“I’ll try.”

“…”

For the first time today, Yeon Seobaek drew a bright smile, as if pleased with his attitude.

…

…

…

And Seol Hayeon was left dumbfounded all by herself.

‘So what was it, then…? That shameless private life…!’

Unfortunately, there was not a single person at that table who could give an answer to her, stomping her feet in anxiety…