episode_0027

“Wow, you’re really amazing! And I heard that you are almost an expert in horsemanship… ”

“Oh, indeed. Not to that extent. I just taught myself and just imitated a little. If you just remember the principle of double vowel overlap used by demons… ”

“It’s amazing that I learned something so difficult on my own… ! oh my god… !”

The conversation in the salon was centered around Yeon-i. The blond, green-eyed female student was particularly fussy. Whenever Yeon said something, she would almost scream and nod her head quickly.

“Ugh, it’s a bit embarrassing because it’s so spacing. And don’t you think your senior is too affectionate? Just a sister… ”

“Then… west… Seoyeon unnie… ?”

The blonde girl was almost fainting now. A muscular, short-haired male student sitting next to me looked at the scene and frowned as if he was pitiful.

At this moment, my thoughts and his thoughts seemed to coincide.

“Senior… if… !”

“Senior… I’d like to ask too… !”

“Hmm? Of course it’s okay. And it’s not my senior, it’s my sister… ”

The voices of several people talking at the same time were loud, but Yeoni calmly led the conversation with an unchanging smile on her face.

In addition to students from famous families, there were several unfamiliar students here, but I was able to guess their identities without difficulty.

Even if they are not from prestigious families, they are probably people who achieved excellent grades in the entrance exam and were given a high rank, and are considered to have outstanding talent.

Yesterday there was news of admission. He left before Yeon, who was sympathetic, could finish her field trip.

And when I think about the expression of sympathy, which looked somewhat relaxed and anxious, the sight of people around me who seemed like chaff and sycophants rather than friends, and the circumstances of the Yeon family’s main family, which was said to have suffered a major blow to its finances due to a terrorist attack by an extreme group, etc. The situation she is in now may not be very good.

According to the contents of the diary I saw yesterday, it doesn’t seem like Yeon Myeong-ha has the spirit to take care of things around her in detail. Wouldn’t it be difficult to smoothly carry out these social activities that require a lot of mental energy?

In addition, his personality would have further encouraged his deterioration.

Of course, I don’t know if that’s the case, but in any case, it’s safe to say that this is an opportunity for Yeon-i to expand her influence without any interference.

That’s probably why they reached out to new students so quickly. Moreover, unlike her, Yeon-i is well-liked by students.

Even now, he is still skillfully controlling the audience, and it seems that he was not left as last year’s winner for no reason.

The timidity that I had when I was young, unable to even speak properly to others, is no longer left behind.

Students who did not seem to have a good background could not properly participate in the conversation, but Yeon-i treated them kindly and quickly made them open their hearts.

The cozy salon was filled with a friendly and friendly atmosphere.

Except for one person, me.

***

Every time I heard Yeon’s voice laughing and chatting with the female students, I had to do my best to calm my pounding heart.

It was a mistake to vaguely be guided by the word “senior.” It was a mistake to be complacent and try to get out of the situation just by looking at the atmosphere.

I should have just jumped up and left the moment I first heard the voice.

But the stupid body had no intention of listening to its owner.

I sat quietly and just prayed that the time would pass by quickly.

But sadly… It seemed like God had no intention of hearing my prayers.

“Well, my junior is definitely… I said it was Yoo Jin-hyeon, my junior… ?”

Suddenly, a nostalgic voice penetrates my ears.

However, that mouth was not calling my name, but the name of a ghost that did not exist in the world.

I had no choice but to close my eyes, feeling the excruciating pain that felt like pieces of my intestines were falling off.

“Junior… ?”

A question mixed with doubt is heard again.

And all the attention of the surrounding people.

I was able to give an answer only after barely calming my trembling heart.

“… Yes, that’s right.”

“… ?”

It was with difficulty that I opened my mouth and made eye contact with Yeon.

When Yeon heard my voice, she suddenly slightly raised the tip of her right eyebrow and tilted her head slightly to the left.

It was only a split second, but I could see it clearly.

“… ”

For a moment, I felt my heart sink at that strange behavior.

Just now, that was Yeon-i’s unique facial expression that she only makes when there’s something suspicious.

… Did he even recognize me? No, that will never happen. His voice has become thicker and lower, and his height and physique cannot be compared to before. He wears a mask so his face is not even visible at all.

I desperately tried to console myself like that.

Perhaps it was some sort of misunderstanding, but fortunately, Yeon soon continued speaking naturally as if nothing had happened.

“… Hmm, that’s a really nice name… ! But how about we talk to our juniors too… ? I hate to say it myself, but places like this are really rare… ? At this point, it would be better if I became closer to all my friends… ”

“… well. I don’t have anything to say.”

“Uh… uh? still… ”

“Honestly, I don’t even know why I’m here… I don’t know.”

The friendly air that had been heating up inside the salon cooled down in an instant due to the abrupt remark.

Meanwhile, I can also feel the cold eyes glaring at me from all over, as if I was influenced by Yeon.

The direction where the strongest hostility was felt was toward the seat where the blonde female student who had made a fuss earlier was sitting.

“… Puheup.”

The sound of someone snorting echoed throughout the otherwise silent salon.

“That is correct. I don’t know why such a weird guy is here. Senior, if it’s okay, can you tell me the reason?”

The subject of the sarcasm was a male student sitting on the sofa across from me. Clearly, something about Mr. Hwang Seong-guk… Was it a dragon? The grumpy tone of voice definitely suits that impression very well.

If I get beaten to dust, maybe that way of speaking can be corrected. For a moment I felt a very strong urge to test the possibility.

But the next moment, at the unexpected words that came out of Yeon-i’s mouth, that impulse melted away and disappeared without a trace.

“Oh my, didn’t you know? Junior Yoo Jin-hyeon is a student who entered the school after receiving a recommendation from Mr. Heukryeon. Why is it rumored that he was recommended for the first time in 18 years… ”

Yeon said, slightly covering her mouth with her hand. Reactions that seemed to be expected from the slyness soon erupted from all over.

“Yes? Is that him? It really doesn’t make sense… !”

“I heard a rumor… I couldn’t even imagine this… ”

“How on earth did a guy wearing such a perverted mask get a letter of recommendation…? ”

“So, you went to the private dormitory in the separate building yesterday… no wonder… I thought I took the wrong route… ”

I had already heard from the principal that although I entered the crib by recommendation, this fact was not separately announced.

Aside from some benefits, such as being exempt from entrance exams, you receive the same education as other students, and anyway, as you become close friends, you will naturally become known around you.

But I never thought about a situation where my origins would be revealed to the other side.

How does Yeon know in advance that I am Heukryeon Sa’s recommended student?

Since Baek’s people were said to be in charge of operating the cradle, the story may have been leaked there.

But why did he invite me to a social gathering when he clearly knew about it? Why do I naturally reveal my background to others?

As far as I know, the Baek clan is not on good terms with the Sa family as much as the Yeon clan. It was even said that the current head of the Baek family considers the leader to be Bul Daecheon’s enemy.

It was said that Mr. Sa and Mr. Yeon had a rather friendly relationship. There’s no way Yeon doesn’t know him now…

“… You shouldn’t try to judge people based on their appearance too much. Since you are a junior with great skills, wouldn’t it be natural for you to receive a letter of recommendation?”

When Yeon-i scolded the students in a quiet voice, the complaints disappeared in an instant. It seems quite benevolent.

The situation where we were talking like strangers was also very funny at the same time.

“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable, junior. I just called you to get along, it doesn’t really mean anything. We are all from the same cradle… ”

After calming the others down, Yeon spoke to me again. At first glance, the tone was full of confusion.

But I didn’t want to continue this skit any longer.

You were the daughter of the prestigious Paecheon Baek family, which treated students equally regardless of their origins.

When he left me like that two years ago, I couldn’t find words when I saw him treat others with a bright smile as if nothing had happened.

At first, I thought for a moment that maybe he had changed his mind again.

But I soon realized that it was a useless illusion.

The slight frowning of the corners of her eyes when she was having a friendly conversation with others was Yeon’s characteristic when she said something she didn’t mean to say.

The more I faced each and every one of those scenes, the more my mind was pushed to its limits.

Efforts to maintain composure had long since become futile.

To have a normal conversation with Yeoni as if you were meeting her for the first time… This is too harsh for me.

Just like that, my mouth was spitting out words I didn’t even know.

“… What kind of idiot… Would you believe that?”