episode_0248

It had been a year of many events. No more, no less; just one word was enough.

Last year, the world had truly walked the path of ruin due to an invasion from another dimension.

Fortunately, such a catastrophe was averted by the actions of the top 1% of Awakened, but it was undeniable that the world had been in peril.

Even though the influence of the other dimension had firmly diminished, the entire world focused on cultivating Awakened power.

This trend was no different in Korea, which had produced both the 1st and 2nd generation Heroes simultaneously.

Cheongsong Academy, which, along with Jeokho Academy, served as one of Korea’s two major Awakened training institutions.

That place, where the 1st generation Hero Yang Chan-ho held the position of Chancellor, was still great and splendid.

However.

“…”

The main building of Cheongsong Academy, once destroyed by the commotion of the black mages, was now almost perfectly restored.

It was no less grand than before; in fact, it had even become more magnificent with the integration of advanced modern architectural styles.

“Ah, I’m bored, so bored.”

However, the main building’s rooftop was currently occupied by a certain delinquent student.

She was Baek Ayun, who, upon becoming a third-year, had completely gone off the rails compared to before, not even listening to her new homeroom teacher, Kim Kyunghun Teacher-nim.

The granddaughter of Gwon Hwang, and a very young Awakened who had risen to S-rank this summer.

With former student council president Cheon Woohyuk and former disciplinary committee head Yoo Seonghyeon having graduated… she was practically the top dog of Cheongsong Academy.

In the ranking battles, she had already achieved 19 wins and 1 draw out of 20 matches in the first semester. She reigned at the top without allowing a single defeat.

Even her sole draw had been the result of a head-to-head match against Ryu Seeun during a random ranking battle with a student one year below her, three months prior.

Kim Yijun, the Sword Saint’s disciple.

Kanzaki Rie, the Nightmare’s successor.

Jinyong, the Dragon King’s son.

It was already impossible for anyone in Cheongsong Academy’s third year to defeat or take down Baek Ayun.

In other words, the ego of the girl who was once pushed around had naturally inflated.

“Haa.”

Baek Ayun, with a pitiable face and a wistful expression, sighed.

A situation akin to a wild wolf enjoying solitude.

Her gaze, as she sat perched on the rooftop fence, looking up at the sky, seemed to yearn for someone, or perhaps to feel dejected.

Although Kanzaki Rie had described her behavior as “untimely chuunibyou,” Baek Ayun was at least quite serious.

And for good reason… it had already been nine months since she last saw the man she loved.

In fact, the reason she could reign at the pinnacle of Cheongsong Academy was in the same vein.

Lee Hyunjin, once the academy’s undisputed number one.

And Cheon Soyul, who followed as number two.

Perhaps it was thanks to the disappearance of the two monsters who had split the top spot among Cheongsong Academy’s 9th generation students.

Of course, Baek Ayun, who had benefited from this, was not particularly pleased with the fact.

“Uwaaa… I miss Hyunjin-ssi so much.”

Muttering this in a remarkably pathetic voice, Baek Ayun flopped down onto the rooftop.

It was a time when classes were in full swing, but what did it matter? At her level, she didn’t need to attend most classes anyway.

She hadn’t achieved S-rank through a card game, after all. Today, she could just laze around and then go back to the dorm.

And, as always, she would likely indulge in self-pleasure while thinking of her unseen beloved.

“…Hmph.”

Just thinking about it again made Baek Ayun’s body warm. She repeatedly recalled Lee Hyunjin’s face, rubbing her thighs back and forth.

And then, carefully opening her eyes to slits, she looked down.

“…”

The expansive campus of Cheongsong Academy lay before her. It was still class time, but students would probably emerge soon.

In such a situation, from this vantage point, what would happen if she were to take off her skirt?

And what if she touched her secret parts in that state?

Gulp.

Baek Ayun subtly raised the corners of her lips with an excited expression. And then, carefully, very carefully, she reached a hand towards her lower body—

Ring-a-ling!!

“Kyaah?!”

She leaped up on the spot, startled by the coincidental ringing of her cellphone.

Baek Ayun instinctively grabbed the phone that was slipping out of her pocket, about to fall.

“Phew…”

Fortunately, the brick-like smartphone didn’t free-fall from the rooftop.

Wiping sweat from her forehead with her sleeve, she nonchalantly checked the screen.

At this timing, any call would probably just be Kanzaki nagging her as if she were Lee Hyunjin and Cheon Soyul’s replacement, or Kim Kyunghun Teacher-nim scolding her for not attending class.

She was used to being scolded, so she could just ignore it or talk back…

[♡Oppa♡]

“…”

No. It wasn’t them. The importance was vastly, vastly different from those people.

Baek Ayun’s eyes trembled slightly.

Of course, Kanzaki, who had become a kind of rival-friend, and her homeroom teacher were not people to ignore, but wasn’t this a completely different case?

It was Lee Hyunjin, who, despite being a student and not even a working adult, had submitted a maternity leave(?) request and been taking a break from the academy for nearly a year.

For him to call her directly? No, of course they exchanged contact occasionally, whenever they had time.

But it had been a long time since she received a ‘call’ instead of a ‘text.’ If he had business, Lee Hyunjin would usually deliver it through Cheon Soyul.

“Oh, Oppa…”

Baek Ayun’s face instantly melted, and she gazed enchantedly at her phone screen.

Her expression and reaction were as if she had become a faithful cleric receiving a god.

She couldn’t help it. Anyone would break down after being separated from their beloved for nearly a year.

“Haa, haa-uh, heh.”

…But to say it was ‘just’ that, Baek Ayun had broken down in quite a few ways.

Baek Ayun, letting out truly violent breaths, touched the screen with trembling hands.

Although she was utterly excited, she would act modestly when receiving her beloved’s call.

“Hy, Hyunjin-ssi…? I’ve answered your call.”

Baek Ayun elegantly covered her mouth as if she were the world’s most obedient and gentle cat.

And no matter what she heard, at that very moment, she vowed to make this long-awaited call last as long as possible.

“…Huh?”

A brief remark was delivered from beyond the receiver, and Baek Ayun’s eyes widened.

It was news—no, a joyous occasion—that compelled such a strong reaction.

“Th-that’s really true? No, yes, oh, yes! Eh? Ah, Seeun-ssi and Kanzaki-ssi, yes. I’ll bring them right away…!”

Click!

After exchanging a few more words, Baek Ayun immediately hung up the phone.

Her intention to somehow prolong the conversation had long since completely vanished.

“…”

At least now, in this moment, such things were utterly unimportant.

Baek Ayun immediately stepped on the fence and leaped from the rooftop. Spinning once in mid-air, she landed quite steadily on the ground.

And it didn’t even take 1 or 2 minutes for her to move on to her next action.

Bang!

First was 2nd Year Class A. After bowing her head apologetically to the startled students and their teacher, Baek Ayun quickly snatched a single girl.

“…Eh?”

And without minding Ryu Seeun’s utterly blank expression of confusion, she dashed out of the classroom.

Next was 3rd Year Class A.

“Kanzaki-ssi!!”

“…Yes?”

Kanzaki Rie, who had taken on the role of class president in place of the now-absent Cheon Soyul.

She, who had been focusing on class with an upright posture, turned her head but was likewise caught by Baek Ayun before she could react.

Grab!

“?”

Truly, they were dangling. Holding the turquoise-haired and navy-haired girls in her right and left hands respectively, Baek Ayun shouted.

“Teacher Kim-nim! Please process our early dismissal!”

“…? Baek Ayun, what are you trying to—”

Kim Kyunghun, who was conducting the class, asked as if genuinely having a headache, but Baek Ayun very rudely cut him off.

Bang! The door to 3rd Year Class A slammed shut, and Kim Kyunghun had to clench his fist and suppress his anger.

Internally, he thought that if those two weren’t S-rankers, he would have expelled them long ago.

And he lamented the fact that he himself was merely a special A-rank, unable to reach S-rank.

“Th-that is, Baek Ayun Sunbae? Why are you suddenly like this…?!”

“Ayun-yang, is your chuunibyou acting up again? Do you need medicine?”

In any case, Baek Ayun sprinted, practically dangling Ryu Seeun and Kanzaki like keychains.

Once she reached the academy’s campus entrance, she hastily hailed a taxi.

And immediately yelled out.

“To Korea University Hospital, please, as fast as possible!”

Only one thought filled her mind.

‘Haa, haa…!’

That Lee Hyunjin’s child was practically her niece or nephew.

Because she was his younger sister (not really).

‘Wait for me, little niece/nephew! Your auntie is coming now!’

It was purely and simply that.