episode_0218

“I’m sorry.”

“… ”

After the commotion was over.

Even though I apologized repeatedly, Jin Ye-seo didn’t respond and just walked away, grumbling.

Her face was still as red as an apple.

I also feel aggrieved. Who would have thought that Kwon Yuri would pop out there? Maybe it was because I didn’t want to create an annoying situation, but my body reflexively moved ahead.

Well, even so, it’s still spilled milk…

No matter how strong and bold she is, is Jin Ye-seo still a woman of her age?

It’s cheap to hear people say I’m inconsiderate.

“… I forgive you.”

After a long silence, Jin Ye-seo stopped walking and finally recited:

“Instead, I’ll leave this as a debt.”

“Debt… ?”

“Yeah.”

The cold, glaring eyes are still filled with some kind of resentment and disappointment.

She stammered and stated her demands in a way that was different from her eyes.

“Cow, cow, I think I should get at least one wish ticket. No matter how close and relaxed we are, this kind of embarrassing experience… ”

“… Okay. Do whatever you want.”

I answered without thinking.

I’d rather be in debt than continue to be in trouble.

Of course, Jin Ye-seo isn’t the type of person to use something like this as an excuse to make some weird threats. At most, she’d probably ask you to teach her one more self-defense technique.

It’s something that can be tolerated.

“Huh.”

Jin Ye-seo turned her head away only after hearing the answer. She tried hard to keep up the appearance of being angry, but her expression had already melted away like snow in the spring sun.

So the commotion came to an end, and we quickly headed toward the West Research Building where Professor Shin Jae-yu had testified.

But the moment I got there.

The faint smile that had been blooming on Jin Ye-seo’s face soon turned into embarrassment.

“Huh… ?”

What greeted us was the desolate scenery of the research building. Not even a single baby ant was in sight, let alone Professor Shin Jae-yu.

Rather, even the dust settled shallowly as if it had not been used for several days.

-The research building is under repair. Entry is prohibited until further notice.

“… That guy from earlier. He actually doesn’t hate you, right? He lied on purpose to tease you… ”

“She’s definitely not that kind of person… ”

When I asked while looking at the notice attached to the wall, Jin Ye-seo shook her head.

“What did I misunderstand…? Actually, I met the professor at a different place… ”

“Didn’t you say with your own mouth that you practically live in the lab? How could you be mistaken about that?”

“… I don’t know either.”

She, too, furrowed her brows as if she had a bad aftertaste.

Even after thinking about it deeply, there was no solution. In the end, we had to turn back and continue walking aimlessly, with only the uneasy feeling growing like a snowball.

In the process of trying to return to the starting point.

An upperclassman we met on the stairs at the corner pretended to know us.

“You… ”

“Hello, senior.”

When I thought back on it because it looked familiar, I realized it was a senior from the student council who had selected students for the investigation committee earlier. His expression and eyes looked quite hazy.

He looked at us and asked us urgently.

“What are you doing wandering around like this? I’m sure the professor told you to wait quietly.”

“Oh, we received a special request from Professor Kwon.”

“Please?”

“Yes. Please help me find Professor Shin Jae-yu… I have some urgent business… ”

Jin Ye-seo lied without even licking her lips. She seemed quite skilled, but it wasn’t the skill of someone who had done it once or twice. Did she have unexpected talent in this area?

“Hmm, really?”

The upperclassman, who had been lost in thought for a moment with his hand on his chin, soon opened his mouth again.

“Then go to the pond in the backyard. Do you know where it is? It’s said that a female student without a name tag sometimes appears there.”

Then he raised his finger and pointed in our direction.

“I met the professor there. He was coming from the East Building. He was feeding the fish at the pond.”

“Huh? Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Thank you, senior! Thanks to you, I can save time!”

“… Thank you.”

The upperclassman who received my greetings from Jinyeseo waved his hand as if it was nothing.

“Oh my, if it’s the sponsor pond, it’s in the exact opposite direction from here. When did you go there? ”

Jin Ye-seo started grumbling again as she walked in the opposite direction of his disappearance.

Then he turned his head and spoke to me.

“But you’re really in the pond, right? You said you just saw it… ”

Somehow I don’t have a very good feeling about this time either.

Could it be because of the appearance of that senior who popped out as if he had been waiting for us?

But I nodded for the time being, putting aside the doubt that had been pricking my pocket like an awl.

“… Okay.”

We’ll soon be able to confirm the facts at the sponsor pond.

***

And this time too, Jin Ye-seo’s wish was not fulfilled.

“What is this… ”

Jin Ye-seo muttered in despair as she looked at the empty and deserted pond.

“You went somewhere else in the meantime? There’s no trace of it left… Was the senior really trying to make trouble for us…? No, it didn’t feel like that… ”

I was lost in thought next to Jin Ye-seo, who was feeling dejected.

It wasn’t really like that.

but…

“… ”

A feeling of foreboding, almost ominous, seeps into my skin. Now that I realize it, even the sunny weather and the blowing wind feel a little eerie.

Unlike Jin Ye-seo, who was still at a loss, looking at the empty pond, I felt like some kind of doubt was growing stronger.

It’s as if someone in this cradle is… toying with us.

“Ugh, where should I go to look for it now…?”

Jin Ye-seo let out a tired sigh and turned around weakly.

“I wonder if that bastard Choi Woojin will be the first to find the professor. I hate seeing him show off… What are you doing, not going?”

Jin Ye-seo asked me a question as she looked at me standing there frozen. I shook my head and stopped Jin Ye-seo from moving for a moment.

“Just wait a minute.”

“What? Why all of a sudden?”

Jin Ye-seo furrowed her brows, showing that she didn’t like it. But in the end, she gave in to my wishes and came over to my side to wait.

“Oh my… What the heck am I doing… I don’t have much time anyway… ”

Jin Ye-seo stood next to me, almost clinging to me, even though she was grumbling. I thought it would be easier to understand if I showed her directly rather than explaining it in detail.

My hair stood on end and a tingle ran down my spine. Before I knew it, I was considering the worst.

If the current situation is really being played around by someone with some purpose.

And what if that something is something I think is very dangerous?

What we are doing now is preliminary work to confirm that.

I was thinking of waiting for someone.

To be exact, it would be closer to being someone’s lackey.

Of course, this is only if the guess is correct…

“… How long will this continue… ”

Jin Ye-seo was about to complain again, losing patience.

With the sound of footsteps on the low-growing bushes along the path, something finally appeared, gradually approaching from beyond.

The next person to show up was a boy who seemed to be good at using tricks.

“Huh? You guys… ”

“Guk Jae-ryong?”

Jin Ye-seo recognizes him and calls his name.

Kook Jae-ryong. Among the students from many prestigious magic schools, he is a new student who is particularly talked about for his skills and character.

While he is quick to ridicule and disdain students who appear to be of a lower grade than him, his own grades and abilities are far below those of other excellent students.

I heard that among the 27 students from the Magic Academy who entered this class, he is the only one who is ranked below 30th.

“… What kind of combination is this? Didn’t you hate that guy in Jinye? But what is this… ”

The boy who looked very shabby also frowned when he saw us.

I also know him to some extent. Somehow, whenever we meet, I see a subtle hostility burning inside me.

During the time of Gihaengjong, I felt like I was being looked down on. I wonder if it was a sense of entitlement due to the reversed position…

“Don’t worry. I was working on a request from Professor Kwon.”

The male student flinched in surprise at Jin Ye-seo’s expression of disgust.

“Tsk, anyway, you’re sensitive… But what’s going on?”

“Have you seen Professor Shin Jae-yu today?”

“Professor Shin Jae-yu?”

I took a step back and listened to their conversation. It was an important crossroads.

To really determine whether he is involved in this situation or not.

“Um… ”

Kook Jae-ryong, who had been pretending to think for a moment, finally opens his mouth.

With the vague sensation of something passing through my eyes for a split second, as I had seen from the previous two.

“Come to think of it, I think I ran into you somewhere before… ”

“What? Really?”

“Uh. Definitely the East Wing… ”

… I guess that’s right?

“What? Why in the East Wing…! Are you sure?”

Jin Ye-seo shouted, clearly showing that she did not want to lose the ball to Choi Woo-jin.

Kook Jae-ryong nodded his head as if confirming his words.

“I’m sure. I just came from the office to say hello… ”

There was no need to hear any more. The West Research Building, the Backyard Pond, and the East Building. The three places were as far apart as the ends of a triangle.

But Professor Shin Jae-yu, who was just at the pond, is also going to the East Wing? Unless you use magic, it’s impossible to go back and forth between those three places in an instant.

I was finally able to be completely sure.

“Anyway, if you’re looking for Professor Shin, go that way… Huh, huh? What is it?”

Kook Jae-ryong frowns as he sees me approaching him at a fast pace.

“Wait, wait! What’s going on all of a sudden!”

At times like this, he looks exactly like he usually does. Maybe my judgment was wrong. But I had already made up my mind, so I didn’t hesitate.

I clenched my fist as I approached Kook Jae-ryong, who had a puzzled expression on his face.

And then, without even giving him a chance to react, he stuck it right into his forehead.

“Cough!!”

or not?

You should probably get some punishment.

***

“Ugh… ”

Suddenly regaining consciousness, Kuk Jae-ryong let out a groan.

It felt like he had been having a long, hazy dream. He tried to get up, but he lowered his gaze due to the uncomfortable feeling.

“What, what is it… ”

Before he knew it, his arms and legs were tied tightly. He was even experiencing an excruciating pain in his forehead and cheeks for an unknown reason.

“Guk Jae-ryong, you’re awake.”

“What the… Kkaaaak!!”

A low, heavy sound came from in front of him. As soon as he turned his head, a strange white mask filled his field of vision, and Kukjae-ryong let out a frightened scream in all directions.

“What, what, what is it!!”

A masked man approached Kook Jae-ryong, who was tied up and rolling backwards.

And then, sitting down with a thud, she looked down at him and spoke coldly.

“Let’s talk.”