episode_0015

Hong Yeon-hwa resided in the penthouse on the top floor of dormitory building 1 for first-year students.

She was admitted as the second highest among 613 freshmen in Siyoram 121st, and chose this place.

Her practical skills were perfect, but… she fell a bit short in written exams, so Baek Ah-rin took the top spot.

She could have received a house due to her top grades, but she chose the penthouse to be closer to her friends in the same building.

The facilities were quite nice.

Even from Hong Yeon-hwa’s perspective, who had been living a luxurious life, everything was up to standard.

Thanks to that, there were no problems staying here.

“Phew…”

Since it was the first day, there were no special lectures.

They briefly explained the overview of the subjects and how they would continue from tomorrow, and had some friendly matches.

8 p.m.

After finishing personal training following the lecture and solving it until late at night, Hong Yeon-hwa threw herself onto the bed, leaving her coat hanging roughly.

The soft bed embraced her body. It was messy in the morning, but now it was neatly arranged. It seemed like Erial had washed and tidied everything up.

Fatigue didn’t really accumulate. Her body wasn’t tired enough to accumulate fatigue to this extent.

Although she was a freshman in terms of status, Hong Yeon-hwa had the power to take on the role of a team leader in the clan right away.

If fatigue did accumulate, it would be in her mind.

“…I wonder if it’s okay.”

She brought an extra pillow and hugged it tightly. She murmured softly, burying her face in the soft texture.

For the past few days, Hong Yeon-hwa’s only concern had been one thing.

Lee Ha-yul.

The first and only special admissions student.

Recently the center of attention among the freshmen.

“He didn’t look good in the morning either. The dark circles seem darker… and it looks like he’s lost more cheek fat. Is he eating properly as usual? He ate too little at lunch. Was it not tasty? No, he said it was delicious… was it just out of courtesy?”

It feels like my head is about to burst. Worries are overflowing with worries. The subject was naturally Lee Ha-yul.

“Sigh…”

Today is only a few times, I sigh. It’s so frustrating. Ugh… I press my head against the pillow and struggle fiercely. My heel hit the bed meaninglessly.

“What should I do…”

If you say you weren’t interested at first, it’s a lie.

What kind of qualifications do you have, how much potential do you have, and what possibilities do you have that the owner of the cradle, who has been silent for hundreds of years, is being watched?

It is a situation where attention and interest are focused not only by superhuman forces but also by the general society. If rumors spread that Yi Hayul went outside right now, all kinds of people will flock to see him.

Before the welcome party, there was some information control, but now even that has weakened and a lot of information has leaked.

In other words, if Yi Hayul goes out of the cradle, there are plenty of people who will recognize him.

Hong Yeon-hwa was curious too. She wanted to meet him once and see how great he was.

When the semester starts, she thought about going to see him. If it wasn’t their first meeting, she might have approached him first at the freshman welcome party.

First meeting.

It was not a sweet resonance, but a resonance full of regret…

Another sigh. The breath blocked by the pillow hit my face.

“Ah…”

After stretching once, I turned over. Staring blankly at the pattern on the ceiling, I turned on my smartwatch.

I flicked through the hologram and my hand stopped at Yi Hayul’s number.

“……”

– Beep

The hologram unfolded.

▶Yi Hayul: Thanks to Hong Yeon-hwa, I got in well (Yesterday 11:12)

▶Yi Hayul: I was really grateful yesterday. If it wasn’t for Hong Yeon-hwa, it would have been a big problem. I’ll definitely repay the favor when I get the chance (Yesterday 11:13)

▶Yi Hayul: You even apologized. That’s more than enough, overflowing even (Yesterday 11:15)

▶Yi Hayul: I’m the one who caused trouble (Yesterday 11:16)

‘He speaks so courteously.’

Just looking at them, these messages made my heart feel at ease on its own. I could feel the consideration for the other person in each word.

▶Yi Hayul: I had a delicious lunch today. I’ll treat you next time (Today 19:57)

“Ah.”

There was a text that had just arrived. It contained the message that lunch was fine. Even though it might have been sent as a courtesy, thanks to it, Hong Yeonhwa’s mind was somewhat relieved.

Yeonhwa’s eyes shone as her fingers moved.

▶Me: Really? I’m glad you enjoyed it…

Glad… Glad… Uh…

The finger that was moving like a ray of light suddenly stopped. Due to the slowed thinking, the finger also dulled and dropped.

‘What should I reply.’

The tone of the text she was typing was awkward beyond belief. After remaining silent, Yeonhwa glanced at the hologram.

[Group Chat (6)]

▶Shin Seoryul: [Breaking News] Controversy over Hong Yeonhwa’s character in the Geophwa Clan (2 days ago 19:11)

▶Lee Si-eun: Remark to a blind person “Can’t you see in front?” becomes controversial… (2 days ago 19:13)

▶Seo Hae-eun: Just seeing this makes me sick for real (2 days ago 19:14)

▶Shin Seoryul: Is this true? (2 days ago 19:14)

▶Me: Damn b*tches (2 days ago 20:17)

.

▶Me: Recommend me a good restaurant quickly (Today 1:11)

▶Seo Hae-eun: Men like pork belly (Today 1:12)

▶Baek Arin: Why did Yeonhwa leave us? (Today 1:12)

▶Seo Hae-eun: Just because she saw one guy, she quickly threw us away (Today 1:13)

▶Shin Seoryul: Threw all your friends away? Threw all your friends away? Threw all your friends away? Threw all your friends away? (Today 1:13)

▶Lee Si-eun: He could be a potential husband> A friend of ten years… (Today 1:15)

▶Me: Stop bullsh*tting (Today 1:21)

.

▶Shin Seoryul: (Photo of Vanilla Choco Parfait) (Today 18:33)

▶Shin Seoryul: Want to eat it? Want to eat it? (Today 18:33)

▶Seo Hae-eun: You pig (Today 18:35)

▶Shin Seoryul: ㅗ (Today 18:39)

▶Hwang Si-yeon: +0.3kg (Today 18:41)

▶Shin Seoryul: Yeah~ I’m like a superhero, I won’t gain weight~ (Today 18:42)

▶Shin Seoryul: Listen to the betrayer who ran to a man like a devoted card and ate something delicious after throwing away her friends (Today 18:43)

▶Me: Do you want to die (Today 18:52)

▶Shin Seoryul: Gasp, death threat (Today 18:54)

▶Me: Let’s meet tomorrow (Today 18:55:12)

▶Shin Seoryul: ㅈㅅ (Today 18:55:13)

“……”

Chaos was thick. Under the gaze of others, they were all fine, even good kids, but when they got together, they turned into crazy people.

Quietly closed the chat room. It feels like a heart that has been healed by Yi Hayul is rotting and getting dirty.

Rotten and dirty.

The feeling subsided instantly. Past memories replayed on their own.

The health room lit by the sunset. Hayul, who was sleeping like a forest fairy. A burn mark covering her right hand.

Traces of fear.

“Damn it.”

My stomach bubbled. I spat out curses in a boiling impulse.

Fear.

The name of the family and the unique ability passed down through generations. A name she was proud of in her own way.

The progenitor of the family was a figure who emerged during the ‘cataclysm’ 200 years ago.

A time when monsters boiled in the world, dungeons erupted, and the world turned upside down, a time when the whole world was like a maze.

She was the progenitor who stirred up such a world with flames, killed countless monsters, and saved people. She was a figure named Hongyeon.

A great hero who gained as much fame as the Tower Lord who built the current world system. The Fear family, inheriting her blood, is a superhuman group with significant power in the world.

Abundance of enmity.

Following the deeds and traditions left by the progenitor, successive heads of the family and elders have carried out actions worthy of being called virtuous.

As a superhuman, the duty of a strong person and ruler.

Erased the dungeons that disturbed the world, burned and killed the monsters that brought chaos. Condemned the villains who persecuted innocent civilians and carried out various activities to stabilize the world.

But the family’s history spans 200 years. Hoping that there will be no troublemakers among the members for two centuries would be nothing more than a dream.

It was inevitable that there would be members of the same generation who, contrary to the ideology, abandoned their duties and sought only their rights, trampling on others for their own pleasure.

200 years of history. As a newly turned twenty-year-old Hongyeon, it was impossible to fathom.

However, hoping for no troublemakers over those years was an overly hopeful story. Those of the same generation as her remember the misdeeds committed.

– Badeuk!

A creepy resonance emanated from the tightly clenched mouth. The sharp taste of blood swirling in the mouth made the mind clear.

“……”

Nothing has been confirmed yet.

When was the last time Lee Hayul was exposed to fear? It can be predicted, but it is not confirmed.

What kind of bastard’s misdeed is this? I still don’t know. For what purpose? Was it intentional? I don’t know. I don’t know anything.

One thing is certain.

She has caused great trouble to Lee Hayul several times, and the burn on her right arm is the damage inflicted by her family.

Hong Yeonhwa is the one who manifested fear. She knows very well what power fear possesses, what harm it causes once it takes hold, and what aftereffects it leaves even if one survives fear.

Lee Hayul’s body is weak. Is it related to fear? Just thinking about it made blood rush to her head.

If she herself is related to Lee Hayul, she realized that blood rushed to her head. Despite being a relationship that had barely lasted a week, she poured excessive attention and intense emotions.

But what can she do?

She wasn’t the type to think deeply from the start, she belonged to the kind that followed her feelings.

She feels guilty. Guilty for causing trouble several times at their first meeting. There are traces of fear.

Appearance… If she walks down the street, she looks like a fairy that ten out of ten people would turn around to look at. Isn’t it a likable appearance?

Efforts to consider others in her actions were evident. She was someone who comforted, saying it was okay despite the troubles caused by Hong Yeonhwa.

If this was the motivation she wanted to get closer to, it was enough.

Yeonhwa, who calmed her emotions, closed her eyes.

The unique ability of fear always provokes the emotions of its owner.

As emotions intensify, fear also burns, but there is a risk of blurred reasoning and narrowed personality.

This is why Hong Yeonhwa’s character is hasty and irritable.

Especially due to the abnormally high output of fear she possessed, the provocation of emotions was significant.

As a result, about half of the training Hong Yeonhwa received from her family was emotional control.

Ignoring the belated nagging from Eriel, she fell asleep.

“That’s enough.”

Regardless of the reason, Hong Yeonhwa wanted to wash away her guilt and get closer because she liked him.

That’s enough.

The next day.

[Good morning]

“……”

Hong Yeon-hwa, who arrived at school earlier than usual, faced Lee Ha-yul, whose face was covered with a purple bruise.

“…Sigh.”

Hong Yeon-hwa’s pupils flared up like hellfire.