episode_0035

Hong Yeonhwa’s perception of Yi Hayul was that of a fragile child who needed to be protected at all costs. It was as if one moment of distraction could lead to a disaster, making him seem incredibly precarious.

His delicate appearance played a role as well. Frankly, very few people would look at Yi Hayul and immediately think of him as sturdy.

However, more than anything else, it was the way Yi Hayul behaved while living together that shaped this perception.

Although it was her own fault, from their first encounter, Yi Hayul displayed a disheartening vulnerability when faced with confrontation.

And then…

Grabbing onto her sleeve, bowing deeply and following along, looking lost, searching for a secluded spot during the freshman welcome event.

Moreover, moreover! Collapsing after an accidental collision with a Japanese student, losing consciousness.

In the midst of fainting, struggling through nightmares, gasping in pain until it felt like her breath was being cut off.

…Gradually calming down when embraced. Trembling in fear, burrowing into her embrace…

After the lecture began,

Always watching others’ reactions, stumbling during self-introductions, stuttering when handed candy in gratitude.

If left alone during lunchtime, she would wander off to a secluded corner and nibble on a chocolate bar or something similar.

One day, returning after being scolded by a professor… sensing deep down that revenge might come someday, she would notice it like a ghost and cling, saying not to do so while hanging around…

Handing over a sticky candy as a token of appreciation, anxiously wondering if it would please her… a cute sight, constantly checking for any signs of displeasure.

In any case, due to her past actions, Hong Yeonhwa could only see Yi Hayul as someone incredibly fragile.

She felt the need to protect him, a sentiment intertwined with guilt and her usual behavior. She thought of Yi Hayul as someone akin to a fragile craft that could break at any moment.

Since some time ago, Hong Yeonhwa had been thinking of herself as someone who should protect him.

“Hmm… Indeed, you’ve grasped it accurately.”

However, that thought was somewhat shaken by the recent sparring session.

Inside a quiet café on a Tuesday morning,

Sunlight streamed in right next to the glass window, the table spacious enough for several people to sit comfortably.

Hong Yeonhwa, Baek Arin, and friends who had finished conquering dungeons early gathered to chat.

Excluding undisclosed matters, Baek Arin listened attentively to Hong Yeonhwa’s story with a serious expression, nodding heavily.

Taking a small sip of Deluxe Choco Edition (15,900 won) placed on the table, Baek Arin cleared her throat before speaking.

All eyes turned to Hong Yeonhwa, including Baek Arin’s tightly closed lips, filled with anticipation for what she was about to say.

After a brief silence, Baek Arin, having organized her thoughts, spoke up.

“So, did your fairy godmother showing a powerful side make your heart race?”

“Damn it.”

“Ahahaha!”

Various reactions ensued.

Friends listening to the conversation burst into laughter, causing a ruckus in the café. If there hadn’t been a noise-cancellation spell, it would have been quite a disturbance.

Hong Yeonhwa clenched her fists, swearing under her breath. She resisted the urge to grab the heads of her giggling friends and pull them out of their seats.

“Oh. That’s not it. Forget it.”

Wide-eyed at Hong Yeonhwa’s reaction, Baek Arin turned away irresponsibly, her slightly upturned mouth clearly expressing her emotions.

“Why curse and all that. People can make mistakes too…”

“Stop talking nonsense. I─”

“Ahaha! Fairy, fairy…! Oh my…”

Hong Yeonhwa’s words abruptly stopped. Her fist, previously clenched in frustration, mirrored the sudden halt. A chilly silence settled over the surroundings.

“…Yeonhwa?”

As Shin Seoryul, who had been smiling mischievously, raised her head quietly, Hong Yeonhwa’s frozen expression became visible.

He didn’t budge. He didn’t clench his fists or contort his face.

– Hwaryuk

Instead, flames blossomed.

“Ah~ But the conclusion is similar, right?”

“You want more beating? Bring your damn face here, you bastard.”

“No no! It’s not a joke! Listen seriously!”

Shin Seoryul, with a bump on his head, desperately nodded. His physical abilities explosively heightened in the face of a life-threatening situation, to the point where even remnants were visible.

Hong Yeonhwa crossed her arms and nodded slightly. It was a gesture indicating she would listen for now. Shin Seoryul breathed a sigh of relief.

“Now, let’s summarize. Our Ms. Hong made numerous significant mistakes towards Mr. Lee Ihayul on the first day, right?”

“Mm…”

The cowardly truth pierced the nape of her neck. Hong Yeonhwa held her neck in pain and bowed her head at the significant wound.

“Because it was a heinous act hard to even mention, we’ll skip that part. In the process, Ihayul exposed an extremely vulnerable side to you, and that perception took root in you~ That’s what I mean.”

Shin Seoryul paused, sipping through a straw stuck in his drink. With a sweet fruity taste lingering in his mouth, he continued.

“You know, first impressions are crucial. To you, Ihayul’s first impression was ‘someone to apologize for, protect, and care for,’ and you fell for him at first sight.”

“What the hell. Bullsh–”

“Living together in that state, attending classes together, the image you saw deepened the perception further. However!”

Thud! While Shin Seoryul was continuing, he suddenly widened his eyes and slammed the table. It was so forceful that even Hong Yeonhwa flinched.

“Through the recent heated duel, perceptions were shaken. Ihayul, who seemed like someone needing protection, actually had remarkable strength… And!”

The words kept flowing. There was an excited air about Shin Seoryul that left Hong Yeonhwa looking uneasy.

“The twist that a seemingly weak and cute guy actually had such abilities shook Ms. Hong’s heart! How about that? What do you think of Detective Shin Seoryul’s deduction?”

“Wow.”

Baek Arin, who was listening intently with interest, applauded enthusiastically. Other friends followed suit with their applause.

“Yes! That’s it!”

Praise directed towards himself! Shin Seoryul’s shoulders rose with rapidly soaring self-esteem. On the contrary, he glanced at Hong Yeonhwa, anticipating a possible objection.

It was a statement mixed with truth but spoken as a joke. He expected Hong Yeonhwa to retort with nonsense.

“?”

However, contrary to expectations, Hong Yeonhwa rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.

‘…First impression.’

Whether she caught the perplexing gaze or not, Hong Yeonhwa was lost in thought.

She had wanted to crush the bastard who dared challenge Ihayul to a duel. She had restrained herself since Ihayul intervened, but her boiling anger had not subsided.

During the duel, Ihayul’s performance exceeded her imagination, leaving her bewildered.

Gone was the fragile figure collapsing on the ground; instead, there was a potential-filled swordsman predicting and dodging the trajectory of flying swords accurately, countering with skill.

And then.

He displayed firmness. He exhibited strength, shattering the sword of a student clumsily trying to attack.

The shards of the broken sword reflecting light fluttered around, but she couldn’t close her mouth at the sight of Ihayul holding a sharp sword with clear determination.

Special admission. A student selected by the unprecedented principal. At some point, Hong Yeonhwa had completely forgotten its meaning.

And…

Sweat beads on the face from the intense duel. Rough breathing. The flushed cheeks looking striking.

Looking this way, the gesture of raising a hand beside the face. A smile different from the usual gloomy expression, a faint smile lifting the corners of the mouth.

“Hmm.”

Suddenly, a fever flushed Hong Yeon-hwa’s face. Although her body temperature was naturally high, and she hadn’t even manifested her unique abilities, the fever came on quite suddenly.

She interrupted her thoughts with a dry cough. She picked up the drink on the table. The cold, sweet beverage helped soothe her throat, bringing down the fever slightly.

“Wow… she’s really stubborn.”

Ignoring the annoyed voices around her, memories from that time resurfaced, highlighting a lingering concern.

“Hayul… lacked magic power.”

Strength and technique. Even during sparring, her mastery in using them was impressive. However, there was a part that didn’t attract attention as much.

Right after shattering the opponent’s sword, she remembered the unstable magic power that seemed about to scatter. It wasn’t just a matter of clumsy manipulation but rather a shortage of magic power causing this phenomenon.

Hayul hadn’t been practicing magic for long. Even if we assume she awakened at that moment, it had only been a month at most. Her magic reserves were likely running low.

“A reward.”

Mistakes made from the welcoming party until now. Despite muttering about compensating somehow, she hadn’t properly rewarded herself yet.

At best, she handed out candies or occasionally treated herself to a meal.

It dawned on her now. What Hayul lacked, what was just right, something Hayul would appreciate.

Expectation flickered in Hong Yeon-hwa’s eyes. Finally, the thought that she could reward herself a little lifted her spirits.

And if she did well, maybe she could see that previous smile again.

…

A moment later.

“W-what the hell?”

News hit Hong Yeon-hwa that Hayul had collapsed on the street while vomiting.

Her happy daydreams shattered as she processed the information.

* * *

Liana blinked her eyes.

Yesterday morning. After tossing the stubborn Atra into her lodging, she returned home.

Atra’s stubbornness made it impossible to persuade him… She fell asleep pondering this and woke up a bit late.

After having a late breakfast, she sat neatly in the courtyard attached to her lodging, leisurely practicing magic. This was her routine in the peaceful daily life she had been experiencing lately. She would have probably filled lunch haphazardly or skipped it, prepared for tomorrow’s classes, engaged in some personal research, and eventually dozed off.

If only she hadn’t received news of Hayul collapsing on the street while vomiting, her day would have continued like that.

Her thoughts jolted back to reality as she hastily ran to the infirmary. Straightening her disheveled hair, she surveyed the room.

On the bed lay a white cocoon-like object. More precisely, a roundly wrapped white blanket… From the feeling, it seemed like Hayul was wrapped up in it.

Rushing over, she couldn’t catch the exact reason for this hurried visit.

“…Is there anything wrong with her physically?”

After examining her with magic, nothing seemed amiss. Liana turned her head towards a corner of the infirmary, where Atra stood leaning against the wall. His actions seemed normal, but his expression was grim. He looked like he had lost a country.

“What’s wrong?”

“…Nothing.”

“Why… If nothing happened, why is she vomiting and passing out?”

Liana asked incredulously.

“To be honest, I don’t know. She just suddenly approached me… then started vomiting…”

“Did you meet Atra?”

Atra hesitated before speaking. His hesitant words indicated his own confusion.

‘What’s going on?’

The doubt deepened.

So, Hayul met Atra and immediately vomited and fainted? Suddenly? Was there a reason for that?

…Was there? She had been tough on the new girl, but…

“I don’t know…”

This bolt from the blue puzzled Liana. She sighed deeply and approached the bed. If she felt a presence, then Hayul was conscious. She must have heard their conversation just now.

She intended to ask her directly.

According to the healer present, there seemed to be nothing wrong with her body.

However, there is still a possibility of mental unease. In such times, one should not provoke Yi Hayul but engage in conversation calmly and kindly.

Liana was confident.

Unlike Ara, she treated Yi Hayul kindly and gently in all matters. Yi Hayul seemed to have sensed her intentions as he followed her without resisting her touch.

Liana smoothed her voice and spoke with a kindness even greater than usual.

“Yi Hayul, are you a student? Could you─”

– Rustle

The twist of the blanket intensified. After a moment of hesitation, Liana and Yi Hayul slightly distanced themselves.

“…Huh?”

It was a clear sign of refusal. An action completely unexpected. Liana’s mouth hung open in astonishment.

“I, I don’t want to either…?”

– Swoosh

As if agreeing, the blanket rustled. It was the second clear sign of rejection, proving it was no mere coincidence.

Liana’s body stiffened abruptly.