Ch.127Choice (3)

“So… are you saying I’m your partner?”

Selena’s expression was puzzled.

Her eyes, clouded with alcohol despite it being daytime, blinked vacantly.

Nevertheless, her reaction clearly revealed her bewilderment.

“Would you accompany me? Master.”

I nodded as if it were nothing.

Rather boldly returning the question.

Perhaps it was because it was so sudden.

The woman pushed aside even the bottle she was drinking from and straightened her posture as if to look at me.

Her flowing purple hair seemed particularly lustrous.

Her red eyes had a murky glow.

Beyond her luscious lips came a moment of silence.

“……”

What kind of nonsense is this kid up to now?

It was a gaze close to suspicion.

Though I flinched at her piercing stare, I maintained my composure without showing it.

The woman muttered with a voice buried in fatigue and intoxication.

“…Do you perhaps not know what a partner request means?”

“I’m aware of the superstition behind the banquet.”

“Then that makes it even more puzzling.”

“I’m making this request precisely because I know.”

I had a general idea about the Gallimar Banquet’s superstition from what I’d heard.

It had been quite the topic among students lately.

It was a rather cliché superstition that if a pure man and woman pair up and dance together, their love will come true.

Well… I’m not really the type to care about superstitions.

‘They’re not kids after all.’

Recently, more people at the academy had been focusing on my movements.

Perhaps it was because I had just won against a professor.

Even without that, attention was already on me.

If I hastily chose a partner, there was a possibility of getting caught up in a scandal.

For young people in their prime, love stories are the most delicious and whisper-worthy gossip.

This was to prevent that.

‘First times are precious.’

The same applied to those children as well.

The protagonist’s group that I’d grown close to.

I didn’t want to burden them with unnecessary male problems.

Later, when the world reaches its conclusion, some of them might start families, and I didn’t want memories from this time to remain uncomfortable.

This was also why I chose Selena.

‘Surely she’s not a first-timer.’

She was a grown woman in her thirties.

She was old enough, had a decadent charm in her appearance, and an overwhelmingly curvaceous figure, so it was clear she had plenty of experience with men.

The premise of the superstition involved virginity.

In other words.

If even one person isn’t pure, such superstitions become invalid.

It was a way to avoid forced romance gossip.

“Hehe.”

I smiled at my perfect plan.

On the other hand.

Selena still seemed to be contemplating.

Her pupils wavered unusually.

Was there some problem?

As I waited patiently for her answer, she asked as if to confirm.

Her fingertips tapping on the desk conveyed her anguish.

“If you’re requesting a partner while knowing the meaning, I’m not sure how I should take this.”

“You can take it at face value.”

=It’s literally just to avoid unnecessary gossip.

“I know there are many other female students around. Couldn’t you ask them?”

“It has to be you.”

=You’re the only partner who can bypass the superstition.”

“……”

The more the conversation continued, the deeper her embarrassed expression became.

It was a rather sacred reaction.

After always seeing her cold as a corpse, it was refreshing to see even a slight emotional response.

Of course, it was closer to feeling like she’d been dragged into a troublesome situation.

The woman muttered with a sigh.

“…To be honest, it’s not a particularly appealing offer.”

“You don’t need to feel burdened.”

“I can’t help but feel that way.”

“I won’t force anything on you. I just thought I’d be happy if we could enter the banquet together.”

=If you say no, I can’t help it… but it was a good plan, so it’s a shame.

“I think it’s unreasonable to be with someone of my age… It wouldn’t be enjoyable at all.”

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

The woman negatively evaluating herself.

I firmly shook my head and gave her a gentle smile towards those red eyes.

“The fact that I’m with you is what matters most to me.”

“……”

I felt a bit guilty even as I made the proposal.

Was it right to use my master to avoid an awkward situation?

The Confucian values deep within me seemed to waver, but it was an unavoidable choice to escape the impending problem.

And it would be good to use this opportunity to close the distance between us.

‘It will be difficult though.’

Selena was a solitary person.

Even if someone approached her with goodwill, she never allowed them beyond a certain boundary.

Among those around me, she could be said to have the strongest walls.

Like a wild animal difficult to tame.

That’s why I wanted to get closer to her.

“Just standing by my side as usual is enough.”

The banquet, and the partner.

A simple permission would lead to an exchange of emotions, so I thought I’d use this opportunity to narrow the psychological distance.

The academy was also facing various incidents at this time.

The impending attack and disaster.

If I could firmly capture the faculty’s side in advance, it would definitely help with proactive responses.

It was a foothold to grasp the academy’s situation going forward.

I smiled leisurely.

“Just one day would be fine, wouldn’t it?”

“……”

“I won’t ask for much. Just spending one night with your student is enough.”

“If you’re asking like that… I don’t intend to refuse forcefully.”

“I’ll take that as permission.”

“…You’re truly unpredictable, Judas.”

“Thank you.”

A satisfactory answer.

I nodded, thinking I had overcome a major hurdle.

Now I wouldn’t have to worry about unnecessary gossip.

“I’ll look forward to that day.”

The plan was successful.

If there was one fact I overlooked, it was that young people in their prime are malicious.

Who would have thought they’d even link a master and student?

In the end, the headache from gossip was a future not far off.

I enjoyed a moment of peace, unaware of the approaching fate.

It was winter.

***

Scratch, scratch-

The sound of the pen tip following the moving fingertips.

Neat handwriting processes the work.

“Hmm hmm.”

Two days before the banquet.

Even with the holiday approaching, the pile of documents didn’t disappear.

Rather, it got busier as I had to clear a day’s schedule.

I had to finish the work in advance.

Therefore, to help Selena who had become even busier, I had to visit her research lab frequently.

Since she had agreed to my unreasonable request, I felt I should lend a hand.

It was also part of my direct duties.

‘There’s so much.’

I thought, looking at the neatly lined documents.

Since there was no other staff besides me, most of the paperwork had to be processed by the two of us.

Even as I continued working, it was a curious point.

Why doesn’t she hire more assistants while using such a spacious research lab?

I asked while moving my pen.

“Wouldn’t it be easier if you had more hands?”

“I wonder.”

A nonchalant voice returned.

Across from me sat the woman with purple hair. As always, she was holding a strong bottle of alcohol and a pen.

She moved her hand mechanically and responded to my question.

Her tone was extremely rigid for casual conversation.

“It’s always been this way.”

“Am I your first assistant?”

“Yes. I’ve had to employ a few errand boys out of necessity, but Judas is the first to whom I’ve given the position of head assistant.”

“Was there a reason you didn’t have anyone until now…?”

“I dislike people.”

There wasn’t even a hint of hesitation in her answer.

She seemed to think it was natural.

With an interesting smile behind me, I continued with my remaining question.

“Then why did you accept me?”

“Talent that will go down in history… I judged that the benefits from accepting would outweigh the emotional loss from disliking.”

“That’s truly an answer at the end of calculation.”

“Because I’m an adult.”

“Do you still have that dislike?”

“…It’s hard to say it’s on the good side. But I don’t think it’s to the extent of disliking.”

“That’s satisfactory enough.”

“Is it?”

An indifferent drunkard.

She tilts the bottle she was holding, perhaps feeling thirsty.

I speak with a bit of mischief.

“Could I have some too?”

“I refuse.”

“Oh my.”

“Alcohol is harmful to life. Especially for children.”

“Why do you carry something harmful then?”

“To forget.”

“What?”

“Anything.”

Her eyes sink a bit.

Her slender fingers fiddle with the bottle, then she answers faintly like a candle that has reached the end of its life.

Perhaps it was a murmur filled with confusion and lamentation.

“For example… perhaps to forget the shame.”

“What is so shameful?”

“The fact that I drink is shameful.”

“That’s strange. Can’t you just stop?”

“Being unable to stop is what makes one an adult. Those who know it’s wrong but are already too old to change.”

“……”

The bottle, the snake, and her hand.

The woman, shifting her gaze in order, gently closes her eyelids.

For a moment, silence lingers between the two.

Her faintly trembling shoulders reveal a distant consciousness.

Is she reminiscing about something?

Perhaps she’s mulling over her own words.

Knowing it’s wrong, yet making excuses that it’s too late for the problem, thus stepping back from change, ultimately unable to stop like a broken train, adults or herself swallow all that division by moving their throats.

Is it resentment embedded in life?

Regret?

Or guilt?

Either way, it wasn’t a pleasant expression from the observer’s standpoint.

I monologue to the familiar feeling I suddenly sense.

‘Indeed… that’s it.’

That was.

An expression I had seen overlapping several times from my own past.

I speak with a bitter smile.

“If you have concerns, I can listen anytime.”

“It’s fine. There’s no problem.”

Red eyes open again.

Beyond that hazy surface was a terrible fog.

The woman recites as if casting a suggestion.

“Yes… no problem at all.”

Finally.

The conversation didn’t continue further.

***

Two days later.

As time passed, it became the day of the banquet.

It began in the evening as the sun set.

In front of the elaborately decorated hall, the snake and the drunkard stood side by side.

Both were dressed formally for the occasion.

“It suits you well.”

Especially.

The drunkard, departing from her usual plain attire, drew attention with her sophisticated dress.

The beauty of her clearly curved figure was fatal.

It was an adult atmosphere in many ways.

The boy gently extends his hand towards the woman.

“Shall we… enter?”

“Alright.”

Their hands overlap softly.

The master and student, who had been gazing at each other for a moment, soon take dignified steps into the hall.

It was the beginning of a short and beautiful night.

***

Meanwhile.

Behind the two entering the interior, there were several gazes following.

They were none other than girls with familiar faces.

“Wow…! They look so good together!”

“Is this really the time to be admiring them?”

“Yeah. They look great.”

“That’s right. Surprisingly, even a bright-colored suit suits him.”

“……”

Five girls gathered together.

It was the night of the banquet, with the curtain rising, each holding different emotions.