Independence

Han Suho, by her own assessment, was a passive individual.

There was little of her own will in her life.

Dominated by her biological father.

Only relying on her sister’s kindness.

That was no longer the case.

From that day on, Han Suho’s world was shaken.

‘…I’ve really become free. I have.’

From exactly that moment on that day.

Han Joon-hyuk no longer forced anything on Han Suho.

In reality, it looked less like he was faithfully keeping his promise and more like he was busy being absorbed in something new, but.

For Han Suho, it was all the same.

‘As expected, sister is amazing.’

Han Suho doesn’t know exactly what happened that day.

All she heard was one victorious report.

Her sister was indeed incredible.

To subdue Han Joon-hyuk single-handedly.

‘But, I can’t keep depending on sister forever.’

Apart from having an excellent sister.

Now Han Suho too had to move forward on her own.

Because she didn’t want to keep relying on her sister forever.

Because someday, she wanted to be the one protecting her sister.

‘Since it’s the freedom sister found for me. I’ll enjoy it fully.’

Free will.

Han Suho believed without a doubt that exercising it was the true repayment to her sister.

‘For that, first of all…’

A free life.

Han Suho decided to take her first step.

“President.”

“What business do you have in the student council room on a day off, Suho?”

“I’d like to fill out a form.”

“A form?”

“Yes.”

The first step of freedom is, of course, independence.

“Could I get a dormitory withdrawal form?”

The Academy is a military facility.

However, strictly speaking, the students here are not military personnel.

The reason why Korea’s top educational institution became so convoluted was none other than because of the Hero.

The Hero is strong.

He’s the world’s strongest hunter.

But he wasn’t a soldier.

Moreover, the Hero didn’t want anything related to the military in this country.

Thus, the result of an ambiguous compromise was students who have civilian status but are in a military facility where military law applies.

As such, the Academy, in certain aspects, wasn’t much different from an ordinary high school.

For example, the dormitory was like that.

The dormitory here is operated by tuition fees, and students can leave it.

There wasn’t much of a problem even if they commuted from home.

“That’s what happened.”

“…Wait, what did you say?”

Han Seoyeon asked again when she accidentally met her sister on the way.

Han Suho’s expression was very relaxed.

“You’re leaving the dormitory…? You?”

“Yes.”

Her twin sister nodded easily.

“Ah, no. Why…”

Han Seoyeon couldn’t understand.

She was always serious when it came to matters related to her sister.

“Don’t tell me, did that bastard say something to you? To leave the dormitory?”

She eventually deduced.

That their biological father had done something.

The contract between Han Seoyeon and Han Joon-hyuk was a guarantee of Han Suho’s freedom.

In other words, it was a contract that only guaranteed freedom.

Han Joon-hyuk doesn’t break contracts even in the original work.

However, there might be some background setting about exploiting loopholes in the contract.

All the food, clothing, shelter, and property that Han Suho had been using until now belonged to Han Joon-hyuk.

It was entirely possible that he might resort to the low tactic of not providing these.

Grind.

Han Seoyeon gritted her teeth.

A behavior no different from fraud.

It was absolutely unforgivable─

“It’s not like that, sister.”

“Then, what is it?”

“That man didn’t say anything. This is entirely my own decision.”

With her sister’s words that Han Joon-hyuk was uninvolved.

Han Seoyeon was momentarily dumbfounded.

“Are you a bit surprised?”

Han Suho smiled calmly while looking at such a Han Seoyeon.

“Why…”

“Well, just receiving food, clothing, and shelter from that man can’t be called freedom, can it?”

That might be objectively correct.

It was words that were far from what Han Seoyeon had wished for.

What Han Seoyeon always wishes for is her sister’s happiness.

The peak of happiness is generally determined by material value.

The reason Han Seoyeon went to the slums in place of Han Suho was because of that material value of happiness.

Han Seoyeon wanted Han Suho to live an affluent life.

That’s why Han Seoyeon had no choice but to choose to go to the slums, leaving her sister behind, even though she knew Han Joon-hyuk was human trash.

But.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to make.”

This world is harsh.

Living costs are high, and earning money isn’t easy.

So Han Seoyeon couldn’t praise it, nor could she blame it.

“It’s a decision I made after thinking and thinking again.”

Facing such a Han Seoyeon.

Han Suho speaks calmly.

“Honestly, I’m still scared. I haven’t gone out much until now.”

Han Suho is the precious daughter of the Firefly Group.

She only received education to be raised as a successor, and had no other knowledge.

The recklessness of a naive young lady who doesn’t know the ways of the world.

Someone might harshly criticize it that way.

“Still, I wanted to go out. No, I thought I had to go out.”

Certainly, Han Suho might come to regret this decision someday.

She’s stepped out of the house on her own feet.

There’s probably no way to return.

“The house, clothes, and even meals. There’s no way I can gain freedom while just receiving all of that. I should have done this long ago.”

And she had no intention of returning.

Han Suho now wanted to live freely even if hungry, rather than die as a well-fed livestock.

With her sister.

“It’s okay.”

It was a variable that her sister was this shocked, though.

“You, Suho, it’s okay for you to do that. It’s okay…”

Han Seoyeon couldn’t easily speak.

Her throat was choked up.

If she wasn’t careful, she might end up crying unsightly in front of her sister.

“You’ve been through a lot until now. It’s okay to be that selfish, right?”

Her sister who has suffered so much because of her incompetent older sister’s ignorance.

Isn’t it right that she should be happy now?

“Thank you for worrying, sister.”

It should be okay to be a little selfish.

Han Suho had that right.

At least, that’s what Han Seoyeon thought.

“But I won’t do that. Even if it’s your wish.”

Han Suho thought differently.

“I want to stand side by side with you, sister. For that, first, I want to fully enjoy the freedom you regained for me.”

Working to earn money.

Using that money to buy food, or buy clothes.

And so, Han Suho will enjoy.

Freedom, in this vast world, free from the shackles of Han Joon-hyuk.

“…That’s right. That’s who you are, Suho.”

Then Han Seoyeon realized anew.

No matter how twisted the original work might be, the girl before her eyes was still the protagonist.

A regret-filled trash character.

That kind of pushover protagonist from the novel.

“S-class Awakeners get tuition exemption benefits, but dormitory costs are separate, right? The Academy’s dormitory costs are especially expensive.”

That overly kind nature hadn’t disappeared anywhere.

“Ah, but I didn’t just come out recklessly. I’ve already found a room. The monthly rent is expensive, so it’s not right next to the Academy. But it’s about a 40-minute walk away.”

In some ways, it’s a situation worse than the original work.

The abandoned dormitory that the protagonist should have used, where Han Seoyeon herself once stayed, had already been closed due to the encounter with Lee Yeon.

“It’s also close to the hunting grounds. It’s a good location for earning money─”

“I really can’t stand this. My pushover sister.”

This was not at all reassuring.

So, Han Seoyeon decided to give advice as a senior in life.

“Is that one suitcase all your luggage?”

“Yeah. This is enough.”

“Are you going to the house you’re moving to now?”

“Yes. Why?”

“I’ll go with you.”

Han Seoyeon declared.

“I have to go with you.”

But it was more of a sentence than a declaration.

“…It’s okay. I’ll manage on my own. Rest in the dormitory.”

“How can I stretch out and rest when I have such a pushover sister!”

“…”

Who’s calling who a pushover?

Han Suho blinked blankly, as if she had become mute for a moment.

“In the first place! If you had such an important matter, you should have told me in advance!”

“Sorry.”

“Ah, no! I wasn’t really trying to get an apology! What I want to say is, you know, that.”

While scratching her head a bit awkwardly.

Han Seoyeon spoke clearly and definitely.

“We’re sisters. The only ones in the world. We should help each other with what we can.”

The only sister and sister in the world.

Sometimes fighting, sometimes playing pranks.

Depending on each other when times are tough.

“Right?”

She wants to do anything for her.

Everything she couldn’t do until now.

So, she won’t miss it.

No matter how small or trivial it might be.

All the pain Suho will experience from now on.

“…Sisters, I see.”

They will bear it together, and laugh together.

“Is it a wig?”

“Yeah. It’s troublesome in many ways when I go out without wearing this.”

“…It’s silver.”

What Han Suho focused on was the color.

“Yes. It’s silver. The same as senior’s.”

Snicker.

Han Seoyeon roughly understood what her sister was imagining.

“Next time, should I use blonde?”

She couldn’t do that before.

If she dyed her hair gold, she would look too much like her sister.

“…Yes!”

She won’t do that now.

This smile was far more important than the gazes of others.