Episode 96. 1-on-1 Duel (2)

[Match over! The winner is B Class cadet Jeong Jinhee! With this, we conclude the first-year 1-on-1 duel round of 16. We will be taking a 30-minute break for the cadets’ medical check-ups, so we would appreciate it if the spectators could also take a short break!]

“It’s over~.”

“Yeah.”

Min Yeji slumped back into her chair, completely relaxing.

“I’m going somewhere for a bit.”

Im Sol stretched her stiff body and adjusted her clothes.

“Where are you going?”

“To get some fresh air.”

“You’re not going to see cadet Lee Hoyeon, are you? You’re such a fanatic.”

“No, I’m not.”

Ignoring Min Yeji’s sly smile, she left the spectator stands.

‘There definitely was a restroom around here.’

Im Sol looked around, searching for the restroom.

After washing her hands thoroughly in the restroom, Im Sol was about to head back to her seat when she stopped, looking at the building map.

Just one floor down from her current location was the waiting room for the main tournament qualifiers.

Of course, it was off-limits to anyone who wasn’t staff, but as a professor, Im Sol could argue she was authorized personnel.

“… Should I go see him?”

Even if she didn’t have much to do upon meeting him, it seemed more productive than chatting with Min Yeji. She could talk about magic, discuss the duels, and even offer some encouragement.

“Yeah, there’s plenty of break time, so I can see my student for a moment.”

Im Sol headed towards the main tournament qualifiers’ waiting room without much thought.

*

[Match over! The winner is B Class cadet Jeong Jinhee! With this, we conclude the first-year 1-on-1 duel round of 16. We will be taking a 30-minute break for the cadets’ medical check-ups, so we would appreciate it if the spectators could also take a short break!]

Whoever won the last match is none of my business. They were both extras, so I didn’t even watch.

I was lying on the sofa, browsing Everyday.

“Lee Hoyeon… Search.”

Searching my name on Everyday was quite fun.

“I want to kill Lee Hoyeon? What did I even do wrong to deserve that.”

Even reading hateful comments didn’t affect my mental state; my willpower is just that strong.

“Lee Hoyeon… handsome. Crazy. Okay.”

But reading compliments about myself made me feel good. And sometimes, there’s useful information.

[Speaking of which, didn’t Lee Hoyeon have some club besides the student council? What was it?]

There were no replies, but the views exceeded 100.

Anyway, I won’t be accepting any new members into the [Let’s Play Club] anymore. Once I manage to conquer Lucy too, I’ll need that place as a sex space for the twins.

“I should go to the club department and ask them to remove the Let’s Play Club from the list entirely.”

Even though I blocked new member applications after Felix, I had it listed in the club roster. If a club with just me and the Lucy-Lumi twins suddenly appeared, people might get suspicious, so I might as well abolish the club. Besides, there are plenty of empty club rooms, so no one would complain if we occupied one.

I searched for Moon Surin too. To me, she was just a kind, pretty Noona¹, so I felt a bit close to her, but it seems others see her differently. Even a single picture of Moon Surin uploaded causes a commotion. That’s why there are so many paparazzi. Tsk.

Others included Sexy Succubus, Alice, Nam Daeun, Baek Ahyoung, etc. I searched for names that came to mind. No one had overwhelming popularity like Moon Surin; there were only posts praising their skills or calling them pretty and cute. Occasionally, posts questioning why people liked someone who wasn’t even that pretty were flooded with comments like ‘[Are you a girl?]’. Well, how could a guy look at that face and not think she’s pretty?

There were posts like this too.

---

[It’s so hard to see the Saintess’s face….]

I lived for the joy of seeing Nurse Baek Ahyoung’s face, but I heard she catches fakers now… Should I really break my arm…?

[Nowadays, going to the nurse’s office faking illness gets you one warning. Two warnings mean school service.]

[ㄴ Isn’t meeting the Saintess twice for one school service session a good deal?]

[ㄴ It’s 300 hours of school service….]

[ㄴ ??? Are they crazy?]

---

“Hmm, as expected of Surin Noona. She really does her job well.”

It’s because of these scoundrels that my Surin Noona has to work so hard. Bad guys.

Knock knock knock

Then, a knocking sound came from my waiting room door.

“Who is it?”

“It’s for the medical check-up.”

“Huh? Aren’t you Ahyoung-ssi?”

“… Yes.”

It was Baek Ahyoung just by her voice. I got up from the sofa and opened the door myself.

Baek Ahyoung entered the waiting room, pushing a cart with strange equipment on it.

“Congratulations on making it to the quarterfinals.”

“Thank you. But the medical check-up?”

“Yeah. All the quarterfinalists have to do it.”

“I see….”

I sat on the sofa, waiting for Baek Ahyoung to speak, but instead of doing the medical check-up, she just stared intently at me.

“Ahyoung-ssi.”

“Hmm?”

“You came to my waiting room last, didn’t you?”

“H-how did you know?”

“I just had a feeling.”

I felt like I could guess Baek Ahyoung’s thoughts even without looking at the status screen now. She’s probably thinking about locking the door quickly… and things like that.

★ Heroine Status Screen

[Baek Ahyoung]

• [Affection: 89] (+0.4)

• [Lust: 80]

• [Appetite: 30]

• [Fatigue: 25]

Current State: Isn’t she going to lock the door? Should I pretend lust is part of the medical check-up?

She’s thinking even dirtier thoughts than I am.

“Is there anything that might affect the duel? Like, suddenly feeling unwell somewhere….”

Don’t stare at my crotch. That’s sexual harassment, you know.

“Just a moment.”

I got up and locked the waiting room door.

“Why, why are you suddenly locking the door?”

“You know why, so stop pretending.”

Baek Ahyoung put on a masterful performance of trembling pupils, but she didn’t realize the corners of her mouth were twitching upwards.

“Ahyoung-ssi. What if my lust affects the duel? Can you resolve that too?”

“I-I’ll try my best.”

“Open your mouth.”

“U-uh-huh… smack.”

I pushed Baek Ahyoung onto the sofa and kissed her. As I sucked on Baek Ahyoung’s tongue, pushing my own into her mouth, she passionately returned the kiss. With one hand, I unbuttoned Baek Ahyoung’s shirt and slipped my hand down to her cleavage.

“Hnggg… slurp.”

“Haa… Come here.”

“Ngh… Honey….”

I pulled away from Baek Ahyoung and slipped my hand under her skirt to prepare for the main event. The intense heat could be felt even through her stockings, and I raised my hand towards her skirt to take it off.

Just then.

Knock knock knock.

“…! “

“Hnggg…!”

The sudden knocking startled us, and we froze exactly as we were.

“Wh-who is it?”

I quickly motioned to Baek Ahyoung and put my cadet uniform back on. Baek Ahyoung understood my intention and began putting on her shirt without making a sound, not even the rustle of fabric.

“It’s Professor Im Sol. I came to see if you were doing okay.”

Seriously, Professor, why are you suddenly visiting my waiting room? Someone who barely contacts me usually.

“Just a moment! We were in the middle of a medical check-up!”

“Medical check-up? Okay.”

Fortunately, Im Sol waited when she heard about the medical check-up. We quickly adjusted our clothes one last time. This should be perfect.

Baek Ahyoung and I exchanged glances, nodded at each other, and opened the door.

“There’s hardly any break time, so I just came by wondering what you were up to… Are you very busy?”

Im Sol paused mid-sentence as she entered, her eyes falling on Baek Ahyoung’s face, and she fell silent.

“Professor. Hello. I was conducting the medical check-up for the quarterfinalists. Uh, this is Nurse Baek Ahyoung. Nurse? This is Professor Im Sol.”

I spoke first to break the awkward atmosphere.

“Hello. I am Professor Im Sol.”

“Ah, hello. I am Baek Ahyoung, the nurse.”

Although Professor Im Sol initiated the greeting, the awkward atmosphere lingered. Baek Ahyoung’s face was still slightly flushed, perhaps unable to calm her excitement. I felt strangely like a husband caught cheating.

“Ahem. Professor. Please have a seat here. The medical check-up will be over soon.”

“Okay.”

Im Sol sat down next to me, and only then did Baek Ahyoung start my medical check-up. Of course, there was nothing wrong with my body. I hadn’t been injured in the sparring, nor had it been long since I came to see Baek Ahyoung.

“You’re healthy. No issues.”

“Of course. How sturdy am I?”

“Well, yeah. What else is left of you besides your health?”

As I was chatting casually with Baek Ahyoung like usual, I felt Im Sol’s gaze from the side.

“You seem close with Teacher Baek Ahyoung?”

Im Sol asked me with pure curiosity rather than jealousy. Her eyes seemed to say, ‘Why would you be acquainted with the Saintess?’

“Ah, we met while volunteering together. Speaking of which, do you know you two are the same age? I was actually thinking of introducing you. Since you’ll be working together at the Academy now, it would be nice to be friends.”

“Aha….”

“Haha….”

Im Sol nodded affirmatively, while Baek Ahyoung, who already knew because I told her, let out an awkward laugh. Ah, why are these two so awkward.

“Please take care of me…”

“Yes, please take care of me too.”

Im Sol accepted Baek Ahyoung’s greeting, but did I make a mistake introducing them?

★ Heroine Status Screen

[Baek Ahyoung]

• [Affection: 89] (+0.4)

• [Lust: 80]

• [Appetite: 30]

• [Fatigue: 25]

Current State: It was uncomfortable having only men around, so this is a relief….

Fortunately, Baek Ahyoung seemed to be thinking positively. What about Im Sol?

★ Heroine Status Screen

[Im Sol]

• [Affection: 51]

• [Lust: 25]

• [Appetite: 30]

• [Fatigue: 40]

Current State: If she’s the same age as me at the Academy, I’d like to be friends with her….

They both seem interested, so what are they waiting for?

“Okay, okay, exchange numbers and contact each other later.”

I couldn’t let this go on forever, so I stepped in. “And Nurse, if the medical check-up is finished, you should hurry back to your duties. There are other cadets waiting.”

Baek Ahyoung gave me a pleading look, asking if I was really going to send her away like this, but I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t exactly kick Im Sol out by saying I had private matters to discuss with the nurse. If I were a sickly beautiful girl, maybe, but since I’m so robust, it’s hard to fake being sick.

“Okay… Could you give me Professor Im Sol’s number?”

At least she got the number exchange done before leaving. Ah, whatever. I introduced them, so they’ll figure out the rest themselves.

“Then I’ll be going… Professor Im Sol, I’ll wait for your call.”

“Yes. I’ll contact you when I have free time.”

Watching the two of them interact made me recall my own desperate attempts to get a meal with someone I’d never see again. Since both were receptive, they’ll probably meet again later.

Baek Ahyoung left with the cart carrying the medical equipment. Even as she left, her expression looked gloomy.

I turned to Professor Im Sol, who remained in the waiting room, and spoke.

“Professor. What shall we talk about now?”

“How about we talk about magic research?”

Im Sol said, crossing her legs on the sofa.

“… Yes, that sounds good.”

Did she come to the waiting room for qualifiers just to talk about magic research? Well, what else does this person have besides magic?

*

The cawing of crows filled the air, and the rotten trees swaying in the wind, along with the moss clinging to the walls, exuded a desolate atmosphere. The outskirts of Seoul, where human footsteps had long ceased. This was the location of the Korean branch of Pandemic, responsible for information gathering.

In the darkness-filled space, a voice, indistinguishable as male or female, echoed.

“We’ve finally tracked them this far. Korea.”

“So you came directly to the Korean branch…?”

One figure was completely wrapped in robes, making their identity impossible to discern, while the man prostrating before them spoke cautiously.

“Yes. The last survivor of the Rune clan is alive in Korea. We must find them somehow.”

“Since receiving the message, we’ve been searching diligently, but… there are too few clues.”

“The survivors were a baby and a child around elementary school age. By now, they should be an elementary student or just reaching adulthood. What’s certain is that they are male. Investigate in that direction.”

“Are there any characteristics that could narrow down the search further?”

“The characteristic of the Rune clan is red hair… but hair color can be dyed, so don’t include that. Find a male, around elementary school age or just becoming an adult, who possesses an abnormal talent in the field of barriers. Understood?”

“Yes. Understood.”

The man slowly rose from his prostrate position and left the room. Left alone in the room, the Pandemic executive, unable to bear the fatigue from the relentless investigation, collapsed onto the bed.

“I must find the successor… for the sake of my clan.”

Pandemic can achieve results. I even joined Pandemic to find my clan’s survivors.

“It’s okay. Once I find the successor, everything will be resolved. We can start anew….”

He gazed at the moon visible through the window and murmured forlornly.

¹ Note: The original text uses ‘눈나라’ (Nunnara), which is likely a typo or slang for ‘누나’ (Noona), an informal term for an older sister or close older female friend.