Ch.200Episode 39. The End of a Fateful Connection (1)

“But, instructor.”

I was on my way to the Academy after having breakfast with Bin Yoon. She was sitting in the passenger seat when she spoke up.

“Hmm?”

“I had my phone turned off all day, won’t the others say something about it?”

They’ll definitely have a lot to say.

Just thinking about Yoo Ari’s interrogation, Yeon Muhee’s jealousy, and Jung Iyeon’s teasing was already giving me a headache.

But since I was the one who approached them willingly, I was prepared to take full responsibility.

“I’ll handle it.”

I said as I took her hand resting on her thigh and interlaced our fingers. Bin Yoon’s eyes widened in surprise at the sudden skinship.

But she curled her fingers over the back of my hand. Seems like she doesn’t mind.

“…What do you mean you’ll handle it? You’re still hurting others while seeing me. Now that I think about it, I’m not sure if you’re really trustworthy.”

“I am trustworthy though?”

“Who knows? Maybe you’re the kind of trash who throws people away when they’re no longer useful? Though you’re already trash for seeing multiple women.”

I had no intention of denying it, but her bluntness left me speechless. Perhaps I was destined to be called trash for the rest of my life.

Still, I was fine with being called that as long as I could gather all the special class members.

“But you like me anyway, right?”

“W-who said I like you? Just because we slept together once doesn’t mean I like you…”

Her voice lacked conviction. There was a subtle hesitation in her tone. She was pretending not to like me when she did. What kind of pride was this?

It was adorable how she seemed to be struggling not to give her heart to someone who was seeing multiple women.

“So you dislike me?”

“…”

She didn’t answer right away. See? I knew it.

“So you don’t dislike me?”

“W-what are you saying?”

“I like you.”

At my sudden confession, Bin Yoon’s face turned red. She opened her eyes wide and her mouth gaped. Then she covered her mouth with the back of her hand and turned her head slightly.

“Ugh…! I-it’s weird that you can say such things so casually, instructor…!”

“Is it?”

“Yes!”

“But why are you calling me ‘instructor’ instead of ‘oppa’?”

I felt a bit disappointed that she had reverted to calling me instructor. It felt like there was a distance between us again.

“…I’m not used to it yet.”

“You can call me comfortably when we’re alone.”

“I’ll do it when I get used to it.”

So she’s not saying she won’t do it?

She’s too shy to say she likes me, but she keeps showing her affection, which makes me feel good.

Still, I want to hear her say she likes me…

After all the effort I put into pleasuring her last night, she should at least do that much.

I park the car at the Academy entrance. A security guard approaches to check our identities and lets us in. He checks Bin Yoon’s identity through the window and gives us a strange look.

It was a reaction to the uncommon relationship between an instructor and a student.

I park the car in the dormitory parking lot. Bin Yoon unclasps our hands, unbuckles her seatbelt, and says:

“Thank you.”

“If you’re thankful, tell me you like me.”

Bin Yoon is startled by my sudden request.

“What…! H-how can I say something like that? I never said I liked you in the first place.”

“You really don’t like me?”

“…”

She glances at me once and then exclaims as if she can’t help it:

“Ah! I like you! I like you! Happy now?”

“How much?”

When I ask with a grin, Bin Yoon’s expression turns flustered. Seeing her furrowed brow while her face is red is quite enjoyable to tease.

“Really… you’re so mischievous, instructor.”

“So you like me enough not to reject a kiss right now?”

I asked while gently wrapping my arm around her waist. Bin Yoon hastily grabs the console box, but she’s pulled toward me more easily than expected.

“S-stop…!”

“It’s okay. The windows are tinted.”

“T-that’s not the issue…!”

Despite her words, she doesn’t avoid me when I lean in. As I get close enough, she closes her eyes and relaxes her body as if resigned.

“Mmph…!”

I pressed my lips firmly against hers, as if trying to imprint the wrinkles of my lips onto hers, then pulled away.

“I love you.”

“R-really…”

“Aren’t you going to say you love me too?”

“S-stop it!”

“Hehe. Alright.”

Teasing her is really fun.

“Really… do you have to do this?”

Bin Yoon’s face was already bright red. She fans herself vigorously, perhaps heated up from just a peck kiss.

“If you didn’t like it, you wouldn’t have let me do it, right?”

“…”

“Let’s go to the morning assembly.”

I stroked her hair once before getting out of the car. Bin Yoon followed me out but couldn’t lift her face for a while.

* * *

“Did you go on a date with Bin Yoon yesterday?”

As soon as the morning assembly ended, I was summoned by Yoo Ari. She dragged me to a staircase at the far end of the annex where people rarely pass by.

And after saying she had been holding back because she couldn’t talk about it in front of others, that was her question.

One way or another, I really appreciated Ari’s thoughtfulness. Though I wish she’d tone down her obsession a bit.

“You didn’t have to turn off your phone, did you? Didn’t you think I would worry?”

“Were you worried?”

When I asked nonchalantly, Yoo Ari replied with a pouty face.

“Of course I was worried. You’re… the person I love the most.”

Yes, this is it.

This feeling of her expressing her affection honestly while being shy is indescribably good.

Though I was a bit concerned about the double-digit number of missed calls when I turned on my phone.

“Did Bin Yoon tell you to turn it off?”

“No, the battery died.”

“…I see.”

She made a sour expression and clicked her tongue. Was she planning to confront Bin Yoon if she had told me to turn it off?

“But it seems you had fun. To the point where you didn’t turn your phone back on even after the battery died.”

I’m not sure if I should affirm or deny this.

I let out a laugh to defuse the situation. Yoo Ari snorted softly and grumbled:

“If it had been me, I would have made it much more enjoyable for you.”

“Really?”

“Honestly, I still don’t understand why you see other women when you have me.”

It certainly would be hard to understand.

While Yoo Ari’s family background isn’t great, she possesses S-class level abilities, a pretty face, and a good figure.

In short, she had no shortcomings as a woman.

Yet, the reason I see other women is simply out of greed.

“You must have been very lonely.”

“I was. Extremely.”

It was a strong appeal. There was force behind her words.

I looked around to confirm no one was there. I took a step toward her and embraced her gently.

Yoo Ari’s eyes widened in surprise, but she naturally placed her hands on my back and waist, applying pressure.

“Hmm…!”

She smiles innocently and buries her face in my chest. She seems pleased that I initiated the hug.

“Ari.”

“Yes?”

“When should we go on another date?”

“I’d love to. When would be good for you?”

I gave a bitter smile as Yoo Ari answered without hesitation. Her initiative was truly unmatched. Perhaps she was already used to it?

* @ *

“This bar might be the last one.”

Starlight muttered as he tilted his vodka at the bar operated by Cloud.

Currently, due to continuous tracking by the Association, there were no places that could be called Akcheon’s hideouts except for Cloud’s bar.

“Yeah. What are you going to do now? It won’t be long before they find this place too.”

Cloud disliked Starlight, but after witnessing his overwhelming power, he had no choice but to comply.

He wanted to run away, but after seeing how mercilessly Starlight killed organization members who tried to leave Akcheon, he couldn’t muster the courage.

After all, Cloud just wanted to survive.

“…That won’t happen. We’re going to make our move now.”

At Starlight’s words, Flow and Soleta, who had been listening quietly, flinched. Flow asked with his arms crossed:

“What do you have in mind?”

“We’ll focus on killing S-class heroes.”

“What?”

All the executives thought Starlight had gone mad. Last time, they had attacked the Academy with Anrak Church followers who had taken the eX potion, but they all froze before Ha Yuri.

Knowing that even the eX potion was powerless before the strongest existing hero, focusing on killing S-class heroes seemed like sheer madness.

“S-class heroes are difficult opponents even for us. How do you plan to capture them? Most of our underlings wouldn’t stand a chance.”

Soleta argued. His previously severed forearm had regrown. It was because he had stolen a healing ability.

“It’s different if S-class heroes act individually.”

“Have you forgotten how the followers we used with the eX potion were subdued in one go? How do you expect to capture S-class heroes after that?”

“That’s because we attacked with mindless underlings. Do you think all of us executives together couldn’t take down one S-class hero?”

Flow and Soleta didn’t like the idea of all the executives targeting just one S-class hero. It felt like their skills were being undervalued, which hurt their pride.

“You’re not lacking confidence, are you?”

“…What about Yujin? He might not have as wide-ranging abilities as Ha Yuri, but some evaluate his actual skills to be above hers.”

“Yujin… Well, it might have been better if he were with us.”

Cloud immediately realized that the person Starlight mentioned was Wolgang.

“Anyway, we’ll cause chaos across the country with the eX potion and assassinate the S-class heroes. If all the S-class heroes die, there will be no one who can stop us.”

And so, Akcheon begins to move once again.