Ch.77Episode 16. Annual Event (1)

# * @ *

A massive wooden library, neatly coated with varnish.

The enormous bookshelves reached the ceiling, packed tightly with books, yet not a speck of dust could be found on any of them. Clear signs remained that someone had been reading them.

Under the orange lamp, no sound could be heard except for the gentle rustle of turning pages.

But before long, that silence was broken.

Knock, knock, knock.

What shattered the oppressively heavy silence was, surprisingly, the sound of knocking.

“…Come in.”

The girl in the library spoke in a small voice. Her tone was so low that it seemed unlikely the person outside the door could have heard it.

Yet the one who knocked entered with perfect timing, as if they had indeed heard her voice.

It was a black-haired woman wearing a pristine suit with a white coat. She folded her hands demurely and bowed respectfully.

“Henry, I’m coming in.”

Henry. The leader of Paradise.

There was no answer. But knowing that silence meant consent, she straightened her back and walked toward the girl inside.

Henry bowed her head once more to the blue-haired owner sitting in a high-quality black chair.

“Lady Paris, I’ve been informed that the Red Moon, Moonlight’s core force, has suffered a devastating blow. They say it’s nearly annihilated and difficult to recover. What would you like to do about this?”

Paris, who had remained silent for quite some time after Henry’s question, softly spoke while turning a page in her book.

“…I’m reading. Don’t disturb me.”

“Yes.”

Just two sentences.

Silence returned, with the only sound being the turning of pages.

After about two hours of not taking her eyes off the printed words, Paris closed her book. Henry had been standing by her side the entire time.

Henry tightened her relaxed posture.

“…I never expected much from them anyway. From the moment the Academy plan went awry, there was nothing to expect from Moonlight.”

Paris rose from her seat and moved, her braided ponytail swaying as she walked.

“How is the eX development coming along?”

She asked while returning the book she had been reading to its proper place.

“The development is almost complete. However… I don’t think we’ll be able to achieve the maximum efficiency you desired, Lady Paris.”

“Can’t be helped. I wanted to use these disposable items with the highest performance possible.”

“I apologize.”

“No need. We’ll bring Bin Yoon-i to us soon anyway. We can try again then. So… how far has the development of ‘Comfort’ progressed?”

“Currently, Comfort is about seventy percent complete. We’re focusing our efforts on implementing the ‘long death’ that you want.”

“Good. Make sure it gets done.”

“Yes.”

Despite Paris’s indifferent attitude, Henry responded respectfully.

“Hmm… Come to think of it, don’t we have rather few combat personnel?”

Paris suddenly remarked while selecting her next book to read.

“Pardon? Ah… yes, that’s correct.”

“Should I try to bring Moonlight under my command? What do you think?”

“…Moonlight is a prideful individual. They would never agree to work under us.”

“I see. Then what about the possibility of joining hands with heroes?”

“Excuse me?”

This was a scenario she hadn’t considered.

A high-ranking member of Akcheon working with heroes? What nonsense was this?

Paris’s eyes, which had been facing the bookshelf, turned toward Henry. She scrutinized her with a sidelong glance.

Startled by the chilling aura, Henry opened and closed her mouth twice before speaking.

“Ah, I-I believe there’s no possibility of that happening at present.”

“Really? That’s a shame. If we just had a justification, we could try something.”

Paris selected a book to read and walked back to her seat. The book she had chosen was titled “Complete Obedience.”

“Continue as planned. And that… Brain God, no… that guy named Yujin?”

“Yes.”

“Try to arrange an opportunity for us to talk sometime. I’ve become interested in him.”

Henry’s eyebrows raised slightly at Paris’s animated voice. It was unusual for her to show curiosity toward another person, as she typically displayed only emotionless reactions.

“Understood.”

“Good. You may go now.”

“Yes.”

Paris opened her book as she heard the library door close, a smile playing on her lips.

“Yujin. Yujin, is it… I wonder if you’ll be able to resist ‘obeying’ my words?”

# * * *

Time had already entered June.

If there was one change during this period, it was that Bin Yoon-i had been commuting to the potion research lab in Uijeongbu instead of the Academy for a while.

[I never thought Mom would get involved with drugs.]

Lunchtime. Bin Yoon-i called me again today.

Having belatedly learned about Kim So-yang’s situation, she couldn’t shake off her concerns.

“It couldn’t be helped. It’s not like you were watching her 24 hours a day.”

I pretended as if I hadn’t known anything.

In truth, if I had pushed harder, I might have been able to prevent it.

But I didn’t.

More precisely, I didn’t want to.

My desired outcome included teaching a lesson to those who had forced these women to become villains.

[That’s true, but… it just feels wrong. That Mom ended up like that…]

Bin Yoon-i would likely have forgiven Kim So-yang for betraying her, or at least let it slide, even if she couldn’t fully forgive her.

I could tell just from how she didn’t get angry when facing her mother during the parent-teacher conference.

She was the type to internalize her pain rather than show it.

So I took indirect revenge on her behalf. Strictly in the name of justice.

Of course, Bin Yoon-i wouldn’t have wanted that.

[Come to think of it, how did you know, Instructor? That Mom would get involved with drugs.]

“Ah… that?”

[I didn’t think much of it at the time, but looking back now, it’s strange.]

“…I knew your mother was in debt. I was concerned she might turn to something unsavory.”

In truth, I hadn’t wanted to tell Bin Yoon-i about the drug connection, but it didn’t matter anymore.

From now on, Kim So-yang would drink the status ailment recovery potion that Bin Yoon-i made, work hard, and gradually pay off her debts.

If she overcame the aftereffects of drug use but continued living as she had been, then putting her in a mental hospital would be the best option.

There’s no point in wasting energy on someone who can’t be rehabilitated.

[I see… Oh, right! Today is the final stage of the non-clinical trial.]

“Oh? So you passed the previous stages.”

[Yes!]

To be honest, I was a bit worried.

Although I gave her all the advice I could, I couldn’t help with the precise ratios. Even in the novel I read, those details were described ambiguously.

“Will you be finishing late again tonight?”

[Hmm. If I want to see it through to the final approval, I think I’ll be late.]

“Alright. Let me know when you’re done. I’ll come pick you up.”

[You’re coming to get me again today?]

What can I do? It would be troublesome if she got kidnapped while traveling alone.

Just because Moonlight has lost power and collapsed doesn’t guarantee that Paris has given up. Bin Yoon-i is still someone Akcheon needs.

Currently, the Association is interrogating Akcheon members and thoroughly searching Incheon for leads on Akcheon, so we need to wait a bit longer.

[Ha~ I can already tell my value is skyrocketing and that’s why you’re treating me well! You’re always so calculating!]

Look at her casually speaking informally.

I almost pressed the end call button but reluctantly put the phone back to my ear.

[—Say something! This is awkward!]

“I meant to make it awkward.”

[Sometimes I can’t tell if you have good character or bad.]

“I’ve always had good character.”

[Wow… it sounds so fake when you say it yourself.]

“Shut up. So what time will you be done?”

[I think around nine o’clock.]

“Okay. I’ll come pick you up later. Hanging up now.”

[Ah, Instructor!]

“…What?”

Just as I was about to end the call, she urgently shouted to stop me.

[Um… um…]

“Hurry up and speak. I’m hungry.”

[Wow. Am I less important than your empty stomach?]

“If you keep changing the subject, I’m hanging up.”

[Ah! Wait a moment!!]

What on earth did she want to say?

It was unlike Bin Yoon-i to drag things out like this, which made it all the more suspicious.

After a few seconds of silence, a trembling voice came through the phone.

[…Th-thank you.]

At this unexpected expression of gratitude, my head tilted reflexively. But knowing she wasn’t speaking with ill intent, I just let out a small chuckle.

“Sure.”

[See you tonight then.]

“Yeah.”

When I turned around after ending the call, Yeon Mu-hee was staring at me.

“…You could have at least signaled if you had something to say.”

“Here.”

Yeon Mu-hee handed me a piece of paper.

She casually ignored my words. She didn’t seem to care about the content of my conversation at all.

She seemed considerate, but why did it feel so presumptuous?

I reluctantly accepted the paper.

At the top of the paper, “Leave Pass” was clearly written. And below that, the date June 7th was marked.

June 7th.

…Ah, is it already that day?

“A leave pass? Where are you going?”

I asked despite knowing what day it was.

“…Yes. Since they didn’t come for the parent visit.”

It was a meaningful statement, but I understood it completely.

“Even if I go, I probably won’t be able to meet them… but it’s something I have to do.”

“I see. Take care.”

This was all I could say.

As much as I wanted to intervene right away, now wasn’t the time.

This was an issue where Yeon Mu-hee needed to ask for help first.