Ch.6923. Ainz Alumni Association (3)

Just as I thought. Soso seemed to be growing impatient.

Because I hadn’t responded to her confession. Her pupils trembled immediately. Feeling her emotions through her hand, I made a decision.

I had been mistaken.

I thought that if I just kept a proper distance from Yuri, Arin, and Soso, everything would be fine. That there wouldn’t be any problems.

But just as I had consumed countless opportunities with my feelings for Yuri, just as I, who should have been merely a bit player, became the top-ranked student at Aince…

Human hearts aren’t simple. Soso awakening as a Cheonma, awakening the Blood Demon—all of it was because of those feelings.

‘But I need those three people. I can’t keep being dragged along with this ambiguous attitude forever.’

For a moment, I squeezed my eyes shut. As always, I could feel them beyond—the vengeful spirits of Aince. I had dedicated my remaining time to their revenge.

If that’s the case, I need to perfectly control the three people most necessary for that revenge. If I maintain these awkward emotions like before, Aince’s tragedy could repeat itself at any time.

I need to ensure the three of them can fulfill their emotions through me, keep them attached to me. But at the same time, I can’t let their feelings for me lead to any impulsive actions that might jeopardize my revenge.

‘If necessary, I’ll have to tame all three of them.’

Having organized my thoughts, I finally answered Soso.

“I don’t have the luxury to start a relationship right now.”

At those words, Soso’s expression turned cold. No, her face turned pale. Those pupils that had been nervously meeting mine just moments ago were growing dark.

Her hand trembled.

“Such an obvious line… You must think I’m a fool. I know what you mean. You’re rejecting my feelings.”

Suddenly, the flow of mana surrounding Soso began to change. From her increasingly sunken gaze, I could feel a growing killing intent.

No, it wasn’t just a feeling—it was real. The glasses and bottles on the table trembled.

“The true intentions behind such words are obvious. Do you think I don’t know that you’re checking out other women, that you’d start dating immediately if you found someone better? No, someone like you probably already has another woman you’re close with.”

Muttering like that, Soso spoke with an angry tone that seemed unlike her.

“Is it Yuri Tarkovskaya, or Seong Arin? The woman you’ll choose after rejecting me. Or… your gaze toward Seo Ha-eun was suspicious. Is it her?”

Soso had all but lost her reason. She was emanating a dangerous killing intent, as if she wouldn’t let live whichever woman’s name came from my lips.

But I squeezed Soso’s hand firmly and spoke. Not with my usual formal speech, but in the friendly tone I used back at Aince.

“It’s no one. Not Yuri, not Arin. And Senior Ha-eun is someone I just saw again a few days ago after a long time. We’re really nothing to each other.”

At those words, Soso’s killing intent subsided slightly. But she didn’t seem to believe me right away.

“Such lies… I know that you and Yuri still have feelings for each other. And that Seong Arin frequently visits your apartment.”

I was surprised for a moment. I hadn’t known Soso knew that much about my private life. But it wouldn’t have been difficult for her if she wanted to.

‘With the power of the Cheonma Sect, it wouldn’t be difficult at all to contact Korea’s underground world.’

Hiring someone to monitor my apartment or investigate my background wouldn’t be difficult for Soso at all.

There are hunters who specialize in such private investigation work. But that’s not what’s important right now.

“So you knew. But neither of them means anything to me. Yuri is just my workplace superior now, and Arin is just a close junior.”

“Is that true? If you’re lying to me…”

I could feel Soso’s mana immediately beginning to constrain my body. Her mana had already penetrated my mana road.

If I were lying, Soso would definitely be able to sense it.

“It’s… not a lie.”

Soso withdrew both her mana and killing intent. However, she didn’t let go of my hand, and continued to watch me carefully.

“But saying you don’t have the luxury to start a relationship… you too, Minsu, you’re at an age where you should be dating like the others here… an age where you should be interested in women.”

Soso wasn’t wrong. Today, Soso looked beautiful. As the daughter of one of the Five Great Heavenly Sects, the Aince alumni gathered here couldn’t openly stare at her, but I could still feel their glances stealing looks at her.

Her beautiful figure perfectly complementing the cheongsam she wore now. And that deep black hair flowing down to her waist.

To be honest, even I found myself unconsciously glancing at her. Not only that, but I’m still a young man in my prime, having had erotic dreams when I slept in the same room as Arin.

But I’ve never forgotten what I need to do. I said to Soso:

“I’m still just a B-rank hunter. So I can’t be satisfied with just this. I’m already two years behind all of you.”

At that moment, some kind of match appeared on the large screen in the hall.

***

Both of them turned their heads toward the screen.

“That’s…”

Soso’s expression showed slight surprise. The atmosphere in the alumni hall suddenly grew quiet. Everyone was focused on that screen.

“A clear disadvantage! The two mages seem to have run out of mana! Is Aince Academy’s dream of an undefeated championship about to be crushed here?”

The commentator’s voice could be heard. The two mages were Yuri and me. The exchange competition we participated in during our third summer year.

It was the finals of the world championship of the Hunter Academy Exchange Competition. Soso seemed to recognize that it was the final match.

“At that time, even I thought you and Yuri had lost.”

Soso’s expression became subtle. Watching the finals of the exchange competition where Yuri and I had competed as a pair probably didn’t make her feel entirely good.

Knowing Soso’s feelings, it was difficult for me to respond to her words.

But Soso, too, seemed to be waiting for the next scene, as she couldn’t take her eyes off the screen.

“Ritten Academy’s final attack! Lee Minsu has no strength left to block that sword!”

Britain’s prestigious Ritten Academy. And some guy named Thomas something, son of a high-ranking member of the British Royal Knights, was charging at me. The match was already heading toward its conclusion.

A lethal thrust imbued with mana. As the commentator said, Yuri and I had already run out of mana and our movements had become very sluggish.

“A sluggish mage is the easiest prey for a swordsman.”

As Soso said, the expression of my opponent thrusting his sword at me showed he sensed victory. But the result that unfolded moments later was the opposite.

“W-what happened? Ritten Academy’s James has fallen!”

Not Thomas something, but James something. Anyway, that guy was taken down by me instead.

“Because of the barrier Yuri created, his sword strike wavered slightly. Then your body blow, Minsu…”

Just as Soso said, the next screen replayed the attack I had just made. The commentator was astonished.

“Unbelievable… such a high-level counter performed by a mage, not an in-fighter?”

As he said, I had delivered a counter to my opponent with a body blow infused with blue flame.

“Truly a fist of fire. A flame punch. Showing a technique he’s never revealed before in the finals. Lee Minsu had an ace up his sleeve!”

The commentator’s additional explanation made me embarrassed. But all the alumni attendees were watching the video seriously. Because the commentator was right.

“Minsu was really amazing back then. To think it was all planned.”

I had concealed my ability for close combat throughout the exchange competition.

Ritten Academy, our opponent in the finals, was Europe’s finest institution. Moreover, the pair we faced were swordsmen, natural enemies to Yuri and me.

‘So we had prepared for the finals several rounds in advance.’

A tactic to end with a precarious coordinated counter-attack when pushed to the brink of defeat. That promised tactic secured victory for us in the finals.

Then came the post-finals interview that I never wanted to recall, which also appeared in the video.

“The name of the technique? Hmm… As a student of a hunter academy that catches monsters, I’ll call it… the Fist of Evil Destruction.”

Back then, too intoxicated by victory, I blurted out whatever came to mind without filtering. To be honest, I was full of myself.

‘I was such an idiot.’

Anyway, having them suddenly play such a video at the alumni meeting made me want to hide somewhere out of embarrassment.

“Let’s give a round of applause to 19th generation alumnus Lee Minsu, who brought glory to Aince!”

At that moment, Senior Ha-eun’s voice came through the speakers. Applause echoed throughout the hall.

Looking at the screen again, a presentation titled “Aince’s Moments of Glory” or something was playing. Senior Ha-eun’s name was written as the creator of the presentation.

Just then, Senior Ha-eun, who was on the stage in the hall, smiled at me. Soso, too, was looking at me with a strangely proud expression.

I really wanted to hide somewhere out of embarrassment.

“You back then… were really cool. The Fist of Evil Destruction…”

Soso delivered the finishing blow. But in the following trophy ceremony, Yuri and I were embracing each other, intoxicated with the joy of victory.

Seeing that scene, Soso’s expression darkened.

“To think that you… now consider Yuri just a workplace superior. I find it hard to believe.”

I quickly denied Soso’s words.

“She really is just my workplace superior. Since joining Flame, I’ve always addressed the Guild Leader—I mean, Yuri—formally.”

And this time, from my side, I interlocked my fingers with Soso’s hand first. Soso flinched in surprise.

“I-is that so? Then I want to ask you something. What am I to you?”

She asked the question I had anticipated. I had my answer ready.

“The same as Yuri. You’re also my workplace superior, Soso.”

“Superior… I see. So you really don’t have any feelings for me…”

Soso slowly released my hand. But then, she suddenly jumped up in shock.

“W-why all of a sudden?!”

Because I had placed my hand on her thigh. Of course, I wasn’t fondling her as she seemed to think, just resting my hand there.

And I brought my face close to her ear. Then I whispered to her.

“There’s no need to rush, is there? Relationships that start too hastily often end quickly.”

“…W-what do you mean…”

As expected, Soso couldn’t collect herself. To prevent her from having time to think, I continued speaking.

“To be honest… we’ve become awkward after not seeing each other for two years, Soso. Shouldn’t we become close again first? Don’t rush too much. Let’s start as friends again.”

“Th-that’s… t-true…”

“And it’s not a lie that I don’t have the luxury. Yuri, who went to the finals with me like that, is already an S-rank hunter. So I too… don’t intend to remain just an operator or B-rank hunter. If I were satisfied with that, I wouldn’t have returned to the hunter world.”

“Yes, that’s right… you were… an even more outstanding student than me.”

“Now you understand what I mean?”

“Yes… I… I understand… f-friends first, then lovers… step by step like that…”

Of course, I knew that such a day would never come—not for Soso, nor for Yuri and Arin—but I didn’t say anything.

I moved away from Soso again. She immediately placed both hands on her knees and couldn’t say a word, her cheeks flushed.

“And when we’re outside the company like this, with no Flame people around, you can speak comfortably. We’re friends, aren’t we, Soso?”

At those words, Soso’s expression became even more shy. It was a very happy expression, different from her urgent face just moments ago. Soso then said:

“Yes. I will.”

Saying that, she took my hand again.