Ch.137Let’s Talk – 2

It’ll be fine, right? Yeah, it’ll be fine. Surely they wouldn’t fight in a hospital.

I’ve heard that women are supposed to resolve things through conversation.

Of course, I’m not completely free from worry.

I’m dying of anxiety right now. What if the roof suddenly collapses?

But I tried to reassure myself once more that everything would be fine.

While Rina Lee is a crazy woman, that’s mostly limited to villains.

Occasionally her madness does burst out toward others too, but…

It’s still a hundred or thousand times better than what she does to villains.

So if Soohyun Kim keeps things moderate, Rina won’t cross the line either.

‘The problem is that Soohyun is also quite a strong-willed woman…’

Thinking about The Crimson Witch when she goes dark, I can’t help but feel anxious.

And of all places, they’re going to the rooftop? Not even the garden.

Should I go check on them now? Should I follow them before things get out of hand?

Both Rina and Soohyun are somewhat distant from what you’d call “normal”…

Click—

“Oh, you’re awake, Examiner Seojin Baek. But where are you trying to go?”

The one who opened the door was none other than Hakjun Ma.

Behind him was Jiyoon Han, carrying all sorts of things in both hands.

“Principal. You’re here. And Jiyoon too.”

“Yes. But where are you going? To the bathroom perhaps?”

“Ah… well, I’ve been in bed so long that I wanted to get some fresh air… ARGH!”

Suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my leg.

It hurt so much that I involuntarily let out some alien language.

“How can you go anywhere in this condition! Stay in bed quietly.”

Jiyoon Han, who had firmly pressed on my leg, forced me to sit back on the bed.

Then, clicking her tongue, she began pointing at my legs and arms.

“Even with healer abilities and hospital treatment, your attacker was none other than Sujin Hyun. Your body was directly exposed to S-class magical power, so you’re not in normal condition. Absolute rest! Don’t you understand?”

I know about absolute rest. But would you believe me, Jiyoon, if I told you I’ve never actually had any rest?

I’ve been tormented by sex-crazed Rina Lee for the past five days.

Things were so bad that I couldn’t sleep at night and had to hold onto my pants.

“Look at you. Your eyes are still sunken. No matter how restless you feel, don’t think about moving and just rest.”

That’s also because of Rina.

“Professor Han Jiyoon is right. Absolute rest is essential now. Moving around just days after fighting an S-class opponent won’t do your body any good.”

With Hakjun Ma also insisting, I had no choice but to give in.

Rina, and Soohyun. Please just have a calm conversation and come back.

“…By the way, where did Rina go?”

At Jiyoon’s question, I pointed to the door.

Indicating that she had already left before they arrived.

Somehow understanding this, Jiyoon let out an exasperated sigh.

“She was poisoned by The Mole, took Hyuk Kwak’s spear to the stomach, and she just casually left the hospital room?”

“Yes. She looked perfectly fine.”

Hearing my words, Jiyoon expressed her feelings in a single phrase:

“She’s insane.”

I agree. She definitely seems to be a crazy woman.

“No, just surviving a hole in the stomach from Hyuk Kwak’s spear is already miraculous. And she’s walking around normally after being poisoned by The Mole? Could she have brain damage?”

Wow. I almost burst out laughing. Brain damage?

I never expected the kind-hearted Jiyoon to say something like that.

How much trouble must Rina have caused her to say such things?

What’s even funnier is that Hakjun Ma beside her was nodding seriously at Jiyoon’s mention of brain damage.

“Principal. Should we ask for another examination?”

“No need. The doctors would have done their job. This isn’t some neighborhood clinic.”

“Rina’s body is unusual, so she needs multiple examinations. You never know. She might have brain damage that they missed.”

After saying that, Jiyoon busily unpacked the items she had brought.

Flowers, fruits, drinks—she had come with both hands full of heavy things.

“How are you feeling?”

Hakjun Ma, sitting beside the bed, asked about my condition with calm eyes.

“I’m fine. The wounds have almost healed, except for some aching in the injured areas.”

“That’s because you were directly exposed to magical power, as Professor Han said. It will fade with time. Of course, until then, absolute rest is essential. Avoid any activity.”

“I understand. And…”

“Don’t worry about the Academy. I’ve announced that we’ll pause the rank evaluations for a while.”

Hakjun Ma had accurately identified what I was concerned about.

I was going to ask how the rank evaluations would be handled during my absence.

It seemed he had already taken appropriate measures before coming to the hospital.

“Will the students be alright?”

“Of course they will. It’s actually good timing. The students need a moment too.”

A moment?

“Those who have run hard can’t immediately run again. They need to catch their breath.”

Hakjun Ma’s words reassured me somewhat.

If this old warrior says they “ran hard,”

it means the Academy students must have worked very diligently.

“…What about Sujin Hyun? Have you caught her?”

“Unfortunately, we haven’t yet.”

The answer came from Jiyoon Han, standing next to Hakjun Ma.

“But we haven’t completely lost her like last time. We found traces.”

“Traces?”

“The government official who was kidnapped that day. The one Rina was supposed to protect, but the enemies were so fierce that even she had to give up. We found him just this morning.”

The enemies were too fierce, so she had no choice but to give up?

I’m not so sure. From what I saw, she deliberately ignored him because he was in the way of her fight.

Well, there’s no need to mention that. I’ll keep quiet.

“Is he dead?”

That day, if I had given my all, I might have caught Sujin Hyun.

But my injuries would have been much more severe than they are now.

Sujin Hyun would have desperately resisted to escape.

In the worst case, one of us might have died.

But on that day, I took one step back.

In that momentary gap, Sujin Hyun was able to escape with that man.

‘Why did I do that?’

Thinking about it, I still don’t know the reason.

I stepped back and let Sujin Hyun escape, which could result in other innocent people dying.

Normally, I should have seen it through to the end for the safety of others.

But I didn’t. Or rather, I couldn’t.

Perhaps, without realizing it, I harbored anger similar to Sujin Hyun’s.

Against those who committed unethical acts and escaped without taking responsibility.

It seems I closed my eyes in what was my first and last expression of that anger.

Therefore, if that man died, it would partly be my responsibility too…

“No, he’s not dead. Well, he’ll need extensive psychiatric treatment for a long time.”

“He’s not dead?”

“No. Strange, isn’t it? Sujin Hyun isn’t usually so merciful. We even thoroughly examined his body, wondering if she might have done something suspicious to him.”

But ultimately, nothing was found on the man’s body.

She really just spared his life. Jiyoon concluded with a puzzled expression.

“Sujin Hyun wasn’t originally a vicious person.”

“Let’s not talk about the past. She said it herself. She’ll never go back to how she was. She said she’ll be a villain until she dies. It’s strange that such a woman would spare someone.”

What are you plotting? Jiyoon rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

Sensing something odd, I asked a question.

Did she know why Sujin Hyun kidnapped that man?

“I don’t know. As soon as we rescued him, the government took him away.”

…I see. So both Hakjun Ma and Jiyoon still don’t know.

What happened to Sujin Hyun, why she became a traitor.

‘Should I tell them now?’

I considered speaking up and telling the truth. But I soon decided against it.

If they knew the truth, they would try desperately to stop Sujin Hyun.

But Sujin Hyun doesn’t want anyone to stop her.

All she wants is revenge. That’s all.

If they confronted her in that state, the outcome couldn’t be good.

‘Later. Just a little later. I’ll tell them then.’

Though I didn’t tell Sujin Hyun, I too want those people to receive appropriate punishment.

And I hope that Sujin Hyun will finally secure decisive evidence and reveal everything.

That would truly be the requiem she wants for her fiancé.

Additionally, although I still don’t remember,

it would also be for the one who survived that hell with me only to lose their life in the end.

Someone who was once like me, perhaps my only family.

“…By the way, aren’t Rina’s parents coming?”

I subtly changed the subject. It was something I was curious about anyway.

I’m an orphan with no parents or relatives, so that’s one thing.

But both of Rina’s parents are alive and well.

Their daughter has been seriously injured and is hospitalized.

Other people are visiting, but why aren’t they here?

“I’ve met Rina’s parents a few times. They’re always like this when she gets hurt. Something about wanting to smack their daughter for not taking care of the body they gave her.”

“…Really?”

“Of course they’re joking. The real reason is protection. Both of Rina’s parents are non-powered. If some crazy villain targeted them, it would be disastrous. So they would need enormous security, but they find it burdensome, so they don’t go out much.”

That makes sense. No matter how accident-prone their daughter is, they couldn’t be like that.

They might say such things outwardly, but inside they must be deeply worried.

I’ve heard that’s how parents’ hearts work.

Knock knock—

“I’m coming in.”

The voice from beyond the door belonged to Minseong Kang.

“Examiner Seojin Baek.”

“Chairman.”

As soon as he entered the room, Minseong Kang looked around me.

Then, with a puzzled expression, he came closer.

“Have you seen Soohyun? While I was greeting some acquaintances, she said she’d go to the hospital room first. Why isn’t she in the room?”

Ah, about that. They’re probably having their showdown right now.

More importantly, Chairman. We need to talk about something.

“Chairman. Please have a seat.”

I used what I thought was my trump card, but I almost got hit with a finishing move myself.