episode_0112

Rachel Brehelton. A second-year student at Cheongsong Academy who came to study from England.

A promising close-combat prospect, maintaining moderately high grades…

Even so, she was just a female student.

To be more precise, a girl.

Isn’t twenty-one not that old? Like others her age, she naturally wanted to enjoy her youth at least once.

And after spending a year diligently at Cheongsong Academy, the result was…

Half a success.

“Rachel! Are you going to the main building? Let’s go together.”

“After this, why don’t we all go to a cafe?”

She diligently took care of herself while also not neglecting her awakened ability training.

For a year, she always approached her friends first and treated them with a smile.

It was a natural outcome. Students always gathered around her, and it didn’t take long for her to be considered the center of Class A.

Although she didn’t show it outwardly… at the peak of such incredibly satisfying results, she would sometimes hug her pillow and smile brightly every night.

In any case, it was undeniable that her highly ideal school life, her campus life, which she had longed for, had been achieved.

Every day she hung out with friends, flocked together after lectures, and headed anywhere in the city to play after their daily routine.

Did she just play? That wasn’t it either.

When exam season came, she would immerse herself in studying again.

In fact, she always maintained top grades in both written and practical tests.

During the Cheongsong Festival, she also made efforts to enjoy the festival more splendidly.

Naturally, it wouldn’t be strange to consider her the most passionate student, at least within the bounds of campus life.

…Now, the problem arises around this point.

‘Ugh.’

The lingering regret she held, specifically ‘not yet resolved’ or ‘not yet attempted to resolve’.

Despite spending a year, she had only achieved half a success…

‘…Ugh.’

What she wished for was nothing else.

‘…Ugh…!’

Rachel Brehelton, closing her eyes tightly, would sometimes kick her blanket around at night, thinking such thoughts…

“Why, really, ah!”

She wanted to experience romance.

She wanted to enjoy it.

…She truly yearned for it.

“Ugh, why do I have such terrible luck with relationships?!”

She couldn’t understand. No, with so many friends and acquaintances spread across all grades, how could she not have a relationship?

To be precise, it should be called a romantic connection.

But anyway, that didn’t matter…

Rachel just! Wanted a student-like romance.

“Don’t touch me, or you’ll die.”

“Aren’t your words too harsh? Still, I’m your fiancé, after all.”

“You want to be fried…?”

“…”

Right.

Hmm.

Uhm.

…If I had to give an example, it would be like that ice and lightning duo, who are considered the most famous figures in this academy.

From a certain point, she began to look at Lee Hyunjin and Cheon Soyul with eyes full of admiration.

Ah, how could such an ideal(?) relationship exist?

They bickered constantly, but their gazes towards each other contained an undeniable playful affection and fondness.

Yes, isn’t that what romance is?

Rachel sobbed silently.

Of course, she had received confessions before. In terms of sheer number, it would surely surpass those received by Lee Hyunjin and Cheon Soyul.

It was just that she hadn’t felt the swaying and fluctuating emotions; Rachel Brehelton was unequivocally the idol of the academy’s second year.

…She even had an episode that wasn’t entirely laughable, where she once received a love confession not from a male student, but a female student.

But she had never felt any emotional stirrings from their confessions.

She hadn’t felt that ‘click’.

Something that just *clicks* into place.

‘…Is it because my wish is too abstract…?’

So eventually, she had no choice but to think a little differently. Perhaps, yes, perhaps her standards were just too high.

If she truly wanted a relationship, all she had to do was pick one of the male students who looked at her with flushed faces and date him.

Then, if she didn’t like him, she could break up and just find another male student.

In fact, she had the ability to select and snag male students like that.

The reason she hadn’t was simple: she didn’t like that method.

You could call it pure devotion if you wished.

She wanted a fated encounter…

And so, another half year passed.

“….Damn it.”

It was a sufficiently long time for a girl wandering in search of love to grasp reality.

She couldn’t bear it anymore.

She no longer had the patience, and only one thing remained.

Twitch.

Twitch.

“…”

It was the beginning of frustration, something a proper adult might feel at some point.

She didn’t know about romance.

Honestly, she wanted it.

She didn’t know if a truly fated encounter would even come before graduation.

Before that, wasn’t her lower abdomen itching too much?

Ah.

Of course, romance is good.

The fantasy hadn’t shattered yet.

But.

…But then.

“…Hwooo…”

She wanted to.

She wanted to try it.

Now.

Something else too.

That is.

In other words-.

‘…Sex.’

That thing called sexual intercourse.

She wanted to experience it.

*****

“…”

“…”

I was the first to move in the silence.

It was instinct.

If I just stayed still like this, or to be precise, if I kept holding Rachel’s arm in this wall-slamming pose…

I felt that something big might happen. That it might be dangerous.

“Oh, damn it.”

In other words, well. I quickly pulled my hand away and stepped back, as if dealing with a dangerous substance.

I thought I had reacted very quickly, but it wasn’t entirely perfect.

“…Huh…?”

Rachel, who had been in a daze for a while, blinked as if finally waking up.

And she awkwardly looked up at the hand that had been held by me just a moment ago.

“…”

“…”

A chilly silence descended. And what broke that silence was a whimpering sound, as if someone was hurt, though I couldn’t really understand why.

I thought, ‘Oh no,’ but…

“Th-there was no need to react like that…”

It was already too late. Rachel began to whimper, and I had to face a miraculous challenge where no matter how I tried to argue rationally, I would only come off as trash.

Rachel carefully clutched her wrist as if it ached, then slumped her shoulders.

“Wow, seriously.”

Baek Ayun, who was watching the situation with interest, as if she were about to munch on popcorn.

She stood leaning against one wall and simply reprimanded me briefly.

“Such a bad person.”

“…No.”

I felt extremely wronged. But I was aware that this wasn’t a situation where I could express how wronged I felt.

Anyway, I was the one who had blurted out those vulgar(?) words, and whatever reaction Rachel showed, it would be my responsibility to deal with it.

I seriously pondered.

Now, could I back out?

If I could, I would want to run away very quickly, but…

“…Alright, Hyunjin.”

It was Rachel herself who didn’t allow it.

She nodded, looking dejected.

She looked up at me with sad eyes.

“As you said, I won’t put your and Ayun’s unhealthy relationship in the newspaper…”

“…”

“But I’ll have to tell my friends that you tried to rape me.”

“…”

Her expression instantly turned cold. Perhaps she looked a little sulky, but that truth wasn’t important right now.

Her blue eyes turned sideways, as if no longer wanting to look at me—

“W-wait.”

I had no other choice. I desperately reached out and grabbed her shoulder.

Rachel’s cold eyes scrutinized me.

“Hyunjin is an attempted rapist.”

“…Don’t fabricate. That’s not tru—”

“So what if it’s not true?”

“What?”

I looked at Rachel in a panic.

A sarcastic smile played on her lips.

“So what if it’s not true?”

“…”

“I’m going to go around telling everyone I almost suffered a terrible fate. What can Hyunjin do about it?”

A single remark that left me unable to answer, only able to gape.

It was an unreasonable thing to say, but just as she said, there was nothing I could do.

I felt my pupils begin to tremble.

I gripped Rachel a little more desperately.

“…What do you want? Money?”

“I’m from a noble family, Hyunjin.”

“So you just want to torment me?”

“Sadism isn’t my taste either.”

The smile on Rachel’s lips deepened. As if this situation was far too amusing, as if having things go her way was thrilling.

I reluctantly sent a pleading glance to Baek Ayun beside me, but…

“Ahahaha.”

“…”

“Go, Oppa!”

This wicked little sister was siding with Rachel. I hadn’t thought it possible.

So as long as it’s fun, that’s all that matters, huh?

Now, I had no other choice…

I hung my head low.

“…Speak.”

“Hm?”

With a gloomy expression, I uttered my surrender.

I was the guilty one for playing such a needless prank.

“What do you want? If there’s anything you wish for, I’ll pretty much grant it…”

“…”

A philanderer is fine. No, actually it’s not fine, but isn’t it better than being branded with an unprecedented title like ‘attempted rapist’?

I raised the white flag—

“Aha.”

Only then did Rachel draw a triumphant smile.

Her two eyes sparkled with anticipation.