episode_0046

At Eun Yoori’s suggestion, the surrounding students buzzed with excitement.

“Insane, did she just propose scouting through Ojak Bridge?”

“She’s out of her mind.”

“But I heard Ojak Bridge isn’t on good terms with us.”

Setting aside the students’ chatter, it was a proposal not worth serious consideration.

“I’ve never once thought about being with you all.”

“Really? This is a rare opportunity.”

Eun Yoori crossed her arms and lifted her chin slightly.

“Your academic skills will improve significantly compared to before, and if there are any bothersome individuals, you can easily handle them. Not only that, even after graduation, talents cultivated at Ojak Bridge will gather around you. And most importantly…”

Eun Yoori said with a smile.

“You might even become close with Seongkwang’s illegitimate daughter.”

“…”

Upon hearing her final words, a sharp sound escaped my lips. Unintentionally, I felt excited.

And Eun Yoori is not someone who would miss such subtle emotional shifts.

“Why such a fresh reaction? Why so flustered when I mention Alice?”

“…I think there might be a misunderstanding.”

Calming my pounding heart, I quietly spoke up.

“Not only me, but many students have suffered because of Ojak Bridge. The culprit is a girl named Alice. Naturally, just hearing her name triggers agitation.”

“Well, in my eyes, it seemed like there were deeper emotions than mere anger.”

“Nonsense…!”

“M-Maruya.”

Nayuna, who had been quietly watching from behind, placed her hand on my shoulder. Feeling her trembling hand, I snapped back to reality.

“Calm down…”

“…Thank you.”

Regaining my composure, Eun Yoori smiled and sighed.

“I didn’t intend to provoke you this much. Apart from the group called Ojak Bridge, as an individual, I have a liking for you.”

“Since I don’t feel the same way, you should leave now.”

“It can’t be helped. If rejected, a woman shouldn’t cling even more.”

Wearing a genuinely regretful expression, she passed by me. As she did, she added a few words.

“Summer School entrance exam. You better do well. Otherwise, what you’ve built up might crumble.”

“That’s my cue.”

Without responding to my words, Eun Yoori left the academy. Only then did the onlookers disperse.

Han Doa seemed lost in thought, pondering Eun Yoori’s words with a serious expression.

Kim Noeul approached me slowly.

“Maru, why were you so excited?”

“It’s worth getting excited about. She mentioned Alice to someone resisting Ojak Bridge.”

“…Is that really all?”

Lowering my head, I stared into Kim Noeul’s eyes. She also met my gaze.

I know well what answer Kim Noeul wants to hear from me. However, there was no need to unnecessarily bring it up.

“It’s just something I’m hiding too.”

“…”

Kim Noeul remained silent. She lowered her head, holding onto her other arm with her hand.

Merely from a brief conversation with Eun Yoori, we were all still unable to collect our thoughts. The impact she left was quite significant.

“Everyone, pull yourselves together. If we want to keep the rights we fought hard for, we must work hard from now on.”

“Maru is right!”

Nayuna tried to lift the mood with her response. Seeing her awkward attempt, Kim Noeul and Han Doa’s expressions brightened slightly.

“Yes, let’s gather ourselves.”

Kim Noeul chuckled and stretched lazily.

After parting ways at the academy, I focused on what I could do.

Right now, it was keeping up with the latest from Veritas about the movements at Ojakgyo, studying for the upcoming Summer School, and exercising.

[Gumiho: Senior, as you may already know, there’s been a lot of activity around Ojakgyo.]

[Gumiho: Especially centered around the TT Academy.]

[Me: Well, Eun Yuri did enroll in the academy herself, so that makes sense.]

[Gumiho: According to the headmaster, it seems like on the day of the entrance exam, Ojakgyo members will gather near the academy.]

If that’s true, the scale of this conflict will increase exponentially.

While Eun Yuri and I engage in a pen fight inside the academy, outside, the Ojakgyo and anti-Ojakgyo factions will clash to determine the owner of the Rotary.

[Gumiho: Yusin High School will assist Heaven High, so we might hold our ground to some extent, but we’re slightly outnumbered.]

[Me: We have no choice but to keep holding out to minimize the damage.]

Although I muttered weakly, considering the original flow, things weren’t as dire as they seemed.

I could endure enough until the exams were over.

[Me: Anyway, we just need to hold out until the exams are done.]

[Gumiho: Are you confident?]

[Me: Confident about what?]

[Gumiho: Eun Yuri.]

After pondering Gumiho’s remark for a while, I realized that before coming to the academy, I had focused not on physical strength but on academics.

Because focusing on physical strength would only lead me to fall behind Alice, Seoyoon, and Kim Noeul.

In the original work, these three were classified as ‘Untouchables,’ meaning that after decades of effort despite having innate talent for fighting, one could only hope to compete against them.

Even though I inherited powers from a past life, I still fell short against Kim Noeul in terms of sheer strength.

Against Seoyoon, I was outmatched in physique.

Against Alice… I was outmatched in various ways.

Investing in areas where success was unlikely was irrational. Therefore, the rational choice left for me was academics.

Having possessed advanced knowledge from a past life since childhood, I chose and developed fields advantageous to me.

Yet, even with all my efforts, I wasn’t confident I could defeat Eun Yuri.

Still, engaging in an academic rivalry with Eun Yuri offered a higher chance of success than futilely challenging Alice with physical strength.

‘The battle between Eun Yuri’s genius and my efforts…’

[Me: I’m not sure.]

[Gumiho: I think you should give it a try; after all, you aced the premium mock exams.]

[Me: Eun Yuri does that too.]

[Gumiho: Oh;;]

[Me: Focus on what you can do; I’m doing the same.]

[Gumiho: Okay, I’ll report back if I get any new information.]

After finishing the conversation, I looked back at the math problems I was solving.

‘If you’re not confident, you won’t even start.’

To truly confront Alice and tie up loose ends, I needed to overcome the hurdle named Eun Yuri.

A few days before the vacation ceremony and the day of the entrance exam, the weather was scorching. Despite the intense sunlight, we had to make our way to the academy.

“As expected, the atmosphere is different.”

Walking beside me, Han Doa murmured as she observed the scenery along the street.

The blatant stares directed at us and the students walking alongside us to protect us created an overt scene, almost as if signaling an impending event.

“It’s okay… It’s okay…”

Nayuna, walking behind me, was trying to calm herself down by self-hypnosis.

“….”

Kim Noeul, too, seemed tense, her lips sealed shut.

“Relax.”

When I spoke to Kim Noeul, she glanced at me briefly.

“It’s not easy to relax.”

“Even if all of us are nervous, you mustn’t be. You understand why I’m saying this, right?”

“I do.”

Ultimately, Kim Noeul represents the face of the anti-Ojakgyo faction. If such a figure as Kim Noeul were to show signs of distress, it wouldn’t bode well.

Thinking about my advice, Kim Noeul gently touched her face with both hands. Gradually, her complexion improved.

“Ah, over there… I see…”

Watching the crowd of students gathered near the academy, Nayuna swallowed nervously.

Their faces came into view for me as well.

Faces I had seen before.

Among them were the key figures of Ojakgyo, the gang leaders.

Jegal Yeonhwa, Lee Ji-hye, and Eun Yoori.

The three women showed no signs of tension in this atmosphere.

Jegal Yeonhwa was playing with her nails, lost in thought; Lee Ji-hye was chewing gum, lounging on a bench; and Eun Yoori was calmly engrossed in a book.

As we approached, Jegal Yeonhwa, who had stopped paying attention to her nails, noticed our approach first.

“Oh, you’re here~. Maru, long time no see~.”

Before she could come closer, the Yushin High School students beside us blocked her path.

Jegal Yeonhwa blinked and tilted her head.

“What’s this about? I was trying to greet you warmly.”

Despite her sharp tone, the students remained unmoved.

Lee Ji-hye, who was behind, stood up from the bench and approached us. Her gaze was fixed on one person.

“Senior Doa, I missed you.”

“Ji-hye….”

Han Doa chewed her lip, meeting Ji-hye’s gaze.

“All the pieces are gathered.”

Eun Yoori closed her book and looked at Kim Noeul. The Ojakgyo students around them made way.

Kim Noeul and Eun Yoori stood facing each other. They were the women leading their respective factions.

The gathered students stared at the two women without even daring to breathe.

Being taller, Kim Noeul looked down at Eun Yoori.

“We don’t need many words between us. I will be taking the entrance exam at the academy today.”

Pointing at me, Eun Yoori spoke.

“I’ve been waiting to go in with him.”

“If you were waiting alone, why did you bring so many people with you?”

“Why did you bring students from other schools then?”

Responding with the same logic to Kim Noeul’s question, Eun Yoori gave up on the conversation and looked at me.

“Maru.”

“Yes.”

We ended our brief conversation. Passing by Kim Noeul, I approached Eun Yoori.

Eun Yoori reached out her hand to me.

“Do you need an escort?”

“…I can go alone.”

I was irritated by Eun Yoori’s joking even in this situation. She raised the corner of her mouth and headed towards the academy entrance.

As she walked towards the entrance, she addressed the students behind her.

“My role is to prevent you from causing more trouble than necessary in Alice’s absence, but… while focusing on exams at the academy, I might not be able to stop your mischief.”

Eun Yoori chuckled.

None of the students present understood the meaning behind Eun Yoori’s words.

I turned around.

Nayuna, looking tense.

Han Doa with narrowed eyes.

And even Kim Noeul with a calm expression.

They were all staring at me. After silently observing them for a while, I turned around and headed towards the examination hall with Eun Yoori.

“Hello, students. This is an announcement from the TT Academy Summer School Entrance Exam Headquarters. It is almost time for admission, so….”

“Are you nervous?”

While walking side by side with Eun Yoori, she asked me a question. I kept my eyes forward and replied.

“Not really.”

“You have nerves of steel. I’m a bit nervous. I’ve heard rumors about you, so I know.”

“….”

“The male examination hall is upstairs. We should part ways here.”

Eun Yoori bid farewell as I walked away.

As I entered the examination hall upstairs, most eyes were on me.

“Is that Kim Maru?”

“In this situation, can we see clearly…?”

“He got a perfect score on the last mock test; will he do it again this time?”

Listening to their chatter with one ear and letting it pass through the other, I sat down on a chair.

By now, a fight would probably have broken out outside.

As they fought hard, I had to fight hard too.

‘My weapon is this.’

From the pencil case, I took out a calculator and a sharp pencil. Twisting them in my fingers to ease the tension, the exam time approached unnoticed.

“Check your ID and cover it again. When the bell rings, the test will begin.”

The proctor’s bureaucratic tone disregarded the outside circumstances. This was an examination hall, after all.

I, too, paid no mind to the external environment, focusing instead on the test paper before me.

[First period, the Korean language section has begun.]