Ch.78Episode 16. Annual Event (2)

“How was it?”

“Huhuhu! Who do you think I am? I’m Bin Yoon! Bin Yoon! Of course I passed!”

I let her be smug.

Such arrogant attitudes are usually subject to criticism for lacking humility, but it’s only possible because of her genuine confidence.

There was no reason to point it out when it was just the two of us.

However, her loud boasting in the middle of the night attracted the attention of security guards on patrol. I slightly bowed my head and apologized.

“What happened to the kid who was shyly saying thank you?”

“T-that’s different!”

She waved her hands frantically, trying to shake off her embarrassment. Her face was quite red. She seemed uncomfortable thanking someone.

“…I knew from the beginning that you could do it.”

“You’re lying!”

“I told you. It’s an investment. If I hadn’t recognized your talent and value, would I have helped you?”

“Now that you mention it…”

Bin Yoon couldn’t find a rebuttal. After groaning for a while, she eventually had no choice but to agree.

“W-well, fine! Since you call it an investment, I’ll make sure to pay you back generously, Instructor! Someday, I, Bin Yoon, who will shake up South Korea, will earn tons of money for you!”

“What would I do with money you earn for me?”

“We’ll eat lots of delicious food and go on trips together! Domestic or overseas! Because you’re working so hard for me!”

It was such an innocent answer.

She must trust me that much.

Kim So-yang and her husband, who betrayed someone who trusts people so purely, should reflect on their actions.

“I’m looking forward to that. Then, should I earn lots of points now in preparation for that time?”

“Huhuhu. You really know what you’re doing!”

Bin Yoon responded to my playful words with an unusually excited voice. I felt somewhat relieved at her pure and happy laughter, completely free of worry.

Now I think I can be confident that Bin Yoon won’t become a villain. Barring any exceptional variables.

“Earn lots of points? I’ll give you tons of potions whenever you need them!”

“Sure, sure.”

We walked to the entrance of the laboratory while exchanging light conversation. We greeted the security guards and exited.

The laboratory had fewer security personnel than the academy, but every one of them was at least B-rank.

Since the potion laboratory was an important facility and located in a remote area, it seemed to be thoroughly managed.

“What should we do about this inconvenience every time?”

She spoke after leaving the laboratory. She seemed sorry that I had to come pick her up every day.

“Just think of it as me earning points.”

It’s annoying for me too, but there’s no choice.

Inside the laboratory might be fine, but taking a taxi in such a remote area left too much possibility for kidnapping.

“Still. You must be tired from helping train the other students today too.”

“Do I smell like sweat?”

“No. You actually smell like nice fabric softener. I could keep smelling it.”

Should I call it honesty? Or lack of restraint?

I gave a wry smile as I looked at her, who had blurted out her true feelings in her excitement.

“…That sounds a bit perverse.”

When I slightly backed away, her eyes grew round.

The biggest I’d seen so far. Bin Yoon, belatedly realizing what she’d said, frantically waved her arms.

“P-perverse…! Ah, ahhh! I, I-I-I was talking about your c-clothes smell! No misunderstandings! Forbidden!!”

Bin Yoon urgently grabbed me to prevent me from escaping and shouted. The more she shouted, the redder her face became.

“Just, just! I meant the smell is nice! I, I-I am absolutely not a pervert so it’s, it’s fine!”

“Why are you making excuses? You could be a pervert.”

I smiled knowingly and habitually patted her head.

“I can’t be a pervert?!”

Bin Yoon, who was objecting even in this situation, seemed to calm down a bit under my touch as her breathing returned to normal.

However, her face remained as red as a tomato.

“It’s troubling to be called a pervert by you, Instructor…”

If she had ears, they would probably be drooping. Imagining that made her seem somewhat cute.

“Why?”

I asked while holding back laughter that was about to escape.

“Because… you’re someone I t-trust. It’s not good for you to think badly of me…”

“Being a pervert, I think that’s possible.”

“N-no! I’m not a pervert!”

She was making a tearful face while expressing her grievance. I decided to stop teasing her here, as she looked like she might cry if I continued.

“That should be enough.”

I said as I entered the grass a little away from the laboratory. Bin Yoon followed. I immediately crouched down with my back to her.

“Get on.”

Normally, I should have taken her by car, but Yujin didn’t have a “driver’s license.”

The reason was absurdly simple—she didn’t feel the need to get one because she was faster than a car.

“I really can’t get used to this every time.”

She whines but obediently gets on my back.

At first, she refused, saying she was embarrassed to be carried, but after I carried her princess-style to the academy, she asked to be piggy-backed next time.

Saying she would die of shame otherwise.

“What if people below see my panties?!”

She presses down on her skirt, worrying unnecessarily.

Most people wouldn’t even be able to react to my movements, and since I choose only routes with few people, the possibility of being spotted was slim.

“Somehow you ask that question every time I carry you? Just get on quickly. My knees hurt.”

“If your knees already hurt, what are you going to do!”

“You could massage them for me later.”

“…Instructor, you’re such a baby! I’ll specially do it for you when we get back!”

I meant it as a joke, but…

“Then, e-excuse me again today…”

Something heavy gradually pressed against my back.

Indeed, E-cup breasts. The more she pressed against me, the more apparent their fullness became.

With a bit of selfish pleasure, I placed my hands under Bin Yoon’s knees as she wrapped her arms around my neck.

This made her press even closer. Despite how constricting it must have felt, she gripped my arms tightly like safety bars on a ride.

“You don’t need to hold on that tight.”

“B-but it’s a bit s-scary…!”

“Sigh. Here we go.”

Crack!

Electricity wrapped around my body. I kicked off the ground and started.

“Kyaaa! L-liar!!”

She screamed as her body shifted from the sudden acceleration.

…Shouldn’t she be getting used to this by now?

* * *

“Uuugh… I feel like I’m going to throw up…!”

I patted Bin Yoon’s back as she dry heaved in front of the dormitory.

“The recoil shouldn’t have affected you…?”

When running while carrying someone, the person being carried might get hurt from the impact, but that wasn’t the case with me.

I offset the shock by discharging electricity just before landing, so the person being carried should feel as comfortable as on a Simmons mattress. Probably.

“Every time I ride, it feels like all my organs are shifting…”

“I went at a leisurely pace. Not even lasting five minutes. You’re weak. Your training is doubled from now on.”

“W-why does it turn out like that?!”

Even while suffering, she still finds something to argue about.

She must be fine then.

“…Anyway. Are you going to the laboratory tomorrow too?”

“They say it’ll take about two more weeks to start full-scale clinical trials. Apparently they need people for the trials.”

“Then you’ll be attending class after a while.”

“Yes. Were you a bit lonely without me in the classroom?”

“Not exactly—”

“Ah, no need to say it. It’s obvious.”

Look at her cutting me off and interpreting things her own way.

“By the way… should I massage your knees?”

“No need. You should massage yourself.”

“I… I’m healthy, so I don’t need a massage!”

She says that in that condition?

Her face is still pale. She looks like she might vomit at any moment.

“Alright. I’m going now. Get some rest. You worked hard.”

“Instructor Yujin!”

“…Huh?”

“Thank you. Sleep well!”

She bows to me and then waves her hand. I waved back in response to the kid who was desperately smiling despite feeling unwell.

Maybe she’s gotten used to it after the third time. She’s become good at expressing gratitude.

I was planning to tease her more. That’s a shame.

* * *

June 7th arrived.

“Be careful on your way.”

I said to Yeon Mu-hee, who was wearing casual clothes.

She was dressed in a white T-shirt and light blue jeans. It was an outfit chosen for neatness rather than activity.

“Okay.”

“If any problems arise, call me. You know there’s GPS in your student ID, right? Don’t take it off your body. Understand?”

Yeon Mu-hee just stared at me intently without answering. A faint glimmer appeared in her emotionless red eyes.

“What?”

“…Are you my parent?”

“…What are you saying?”

I was too dumbfounded to respond immediately. I didn’t expect Yeon Mu-hee, who had family issues, to make a parent joke.

“You worry about everything. It’s strange.”

“I worry because I care.”

“Care? About me?”

She takes out her sword from its bag and observes my reaction. Hey, somehow her attitude seems to have reverted to how it was on the first day?

“Say that after you’re stronger than me, Ms. Yeon Mu-hee.”

I said as I chopped her head with the side of my hand.

“Ugh! It hurts…”

She let go of the sword and rubbed her head, expressionless as usual. If anything, her eyes were slightly downcast.

“You only draw that sword when facing villains, understand? Promise me.”

“Yes.”

Yeon Mu-hee nodded.

“Good. Then off you go.”

“Okay.”

As soon as she answered, Yeon Mu-hee turned around. She showed her pass to the security guard at the academy entrance and left through the gate.

After going outside the gate, she looked back at me. She stared for a while as if she had something to say, then turned away.

“I wonder if she’ll be able to have a good visit.”

I muttered, looking at the spot where Yeon Mu-hee had just been.

She was heading to Taean.

She was going to meet her mother, who was living separately there.

But she probably won’t be able to face her this time either.

She’ll likely exchange just a few words and return. Yeon Mu-hee isn’t good at expressing herself either.

Maybe I should have said “happy birthday” before she left.

“Well, she’ll be back today, so I can say it then…”

I turned around, once again recalling what day June 7th was.

June 7th.

This day was the birthday of both Yeon Mu-hee and her mother, Jin Su-bin.