episode_0085

Kim Jiwoo mumbled, a hotdog bought from the school food truck filling his mouth. Of course, he was watching the current match between Lee Hyunjin and Ryu Seeun.

Lee Hyunjin, momentarily trapped within a massive tree, and seemingly about to suffer the barrage(?) of tree trunks, making it seem like the match would end anticlimactically.

But it seemed the match wasn’t meant to end like that after all. An eerie blue lightning bolt struck.

CRASH!

“Ack?!”

The aftermath was so widespread it even reached the distant spectator stands. Kim Jiwoo, who hadn’t braced himself, felt his hair whip back instantly and his body subtly pushed backward. Fortunately, the hotdog he prioritized protecting remained unscathed.

Kim Jiwoo let out a hollow laugh and tidied his disheveled hair.

“My, that’s incredibly violent…”

It was literally true. In a way, this match was even more spectacular than the first match between Cheon Soyul and Lee Hyunjin, a battle of that caliber. Ryu Seeun’s nature-based magic, its beauty was naturally beyond words.

Lee Hyunjin’s fusion magic of ice and lightning possessed a charm that naturally drew gasps of admiration from onlookers. These two, no, three vibrant elemental attributes were clashing intensely.

How could one not enjoy watching? Even though he was an A-rank Awakener, Kim Jiwoo had seen countless splendid techniques. The academy students’ match, which he watched unexpectedly, was so spectacular it rivaled his old memories. It was truly magnificent.

Suddenly, Kim Jiwoo subtly shifted his gaze sideways and stared intently at Lee Hyunjin’s opponent. A female student with distinctive teal hair, whose origin was obvious.

‘…I definitely heard she was a first-year.’

Since they were currently facing off in the semifinals, it must be true. She was a first-year, yet she was putting up an equal fight against Lee Hyunjin.

Kim Jiwoo also knew. The very subtle flow of emotions passing between the two students who were currently in the match. How could he not know? Just a few weeks ago, when Lee Hyunjin had boldly punched a Grand Mage in the face, Kim Jiwoo had been right beside him.

It was, so to speak, a woman’s intuition. Undoubtedly, the girl named Ryu Seeun must have some feelings for Lee Hyunjin. Yet, her serious attitude in the match, casting aside personal feelings, was quite a heartwarming sight to behold. Kim Jiwoo smiled faintly.

Of course, the truth was quite different… But what did it matter? It was a hidden story Kim Jiwoo was unaware of.

“Hyunjin, fighting~”

He merely shook the finished hotdog stick gently up and down as he cheered for Lee Hyunjin. After all, arms bend inward [a proverb meaning one favors their own], he too wanted to cheer for the man he shared affection with.

Moreover, the aura he was feeling seemed subtly different, so Lee Hyunjin would likely be the one standing at the end of this match. Definitely.

‘Although the child named Seeun is showing capabilities beyond what I imagined…’

Nevertheless, what had changed from before was definitely Lee Hyunjin. The cause lay in a ‘change in his trait,’ but Kim Jiwoo didn’t know that much. Even so, his intuition was surprisingly sharp. In other words, it was insight.

Kim Jiwoo narrowed his eyes, and began to carefully observe the flow of blue mana Lee Hyunjin was wielding…

Because of this, he was late in noticing. The presence of someone who had approached him.

“Eh…?”

He was flustered. He couldn’t help but be flustered. In terms of presence-related techniques, he prided himself on not falling behind even most S-rank Awakeners. Even if he had been focused on something else, was it even possible to be this careless?

That couldn’t be. The cause must lie elsewhere. He thought so and hastily turned his head sideways—

“Ah.”

Soon, without realizing it, he came to accept that chilling sensation. That he hadn’t sensed the approaching presence at all? It was because ‘that’ being, the only one in this country who could naturally do such a thing, was behind him.

Hidden Sword Yeon Seobaek.

“It’s been a while. I never expected to run into you in a place like this.”

“Ah, ahaha…”

She, likely now in her middle years, had once been Kim Jiwoo’s senior, and was still a deeply respected and admired figure in the industry. As a scout, it was only natural. Kim Jiwoo awkwardly scratched his cheek.

“Senior-nim, when you approach, could you please make some noise…? Every time you do this, my body shivers.”

Even as he said that, he hesitantly observed Yeon Seobaek’s reaction. Of course, he hadn’t expected her to visit the Cheongsong Festival. Why would someone so busy with missions be in the country at this time, and specifically at Cheongsong Academy in Daejeon?

‘A vacation, perhaps…?’

As far as he knew, it was a fact he couldn’t quite comprehend. It was a question that arose precisely because he knew Yeon Seobaek well. Thus, he tilted his head and reluctantly maintained his expression.

“By the way, Jiwoo.”

It was Yeon Seobaek who spoke first. She narrowed her eyes in apparent confusion and took a step closer to Kim Jiwoo. At that, Kim Jiwoo instinctively recoiled and had to step backward without realizing it.

“What’s so special that you’d visit an event like this, you who are always tied down by guild work? Did you suddenly find a boy you’re interested in?”

Yeon Seobaek’s gleaming, dark-crimson eyes pierced him as if to see right through him. Kim Jiwoo flinched, his shoulders trembling, and had to avoid Yeon Seobaek’s gaze.

Yeon Seobaek was one of the few people who knew how much Kim Jiwoo had fooled around when he was even younger than now. Because of this, in front of her, he certainly felt burdened to speak carelessly. And to confess that he was deeply smitten with a male student seven years his junior, and had even taken leave to come here…?

That was impossible. He shook his head internally and let out an awkward, hollow laugh.

“Ahaha… Of course not, Senior-nim. I’m not a child anymore, you know? I don’t just live for dating like I used to. Now I need to be devoted to one.”

“Hmm…”

At Kim Jiwoo’s awkward ‘explanation’ as he scratched the back of his head, Yeon Seobaek let out a nasal sound, sounding subtly suspicious. Kim Jiwoo felt a sense of crisis. Thus, he quickly averted his gaze, almost desperately.

“L-Look over there!”

“Hm?”

As his index finger pointed, Yeon Seobaek’s head naturally turned in that direction. To resolve his immediate predicament, Kim Jiwoo decided to confess the truth.

“It’s nothing else, Senior-nim. You see. Last time, when I went to the academy upon their request for guild work, I got acquainted with a student…?”

“…”

“That’s the one who’s currently in a match over there, Lee Hyunjin. That student pleaded and pleaded for me to come watch…! Yes! So that’s why I’m here. I also find him rather cute, hehe.”

He twisted his words a bit, but it wasn’t entirely untrue. He merely apologized to Lee Hyunjin internally and tried to ignore the pangs of his conscience. In reality, it was Kim Jiwoo, not Lee Hyunjin, who had pleaded to come watch.

But if changing his words like this could free him from Yeon Seobaek’s suspicious gaze, there was no harm in it. For now, at least, probably? Next time, that is, before he left the academy, Kim Jiwoo decided he should buy something really delicious for Lee Hyunjin, and thus shook off his guilt.

“…” “…”

And then.

“Uh…”

It was just then that he saw Yeon Seobaek’s coldly sunken expression. It was a gaze so chilling, so sharp it seemed to cut, and he trembled involuntarily as a bonus. Only after realizing that emotion wasn’t directed at him at this moment did he secretly let out a sigh of relief. Phew.

While Kim Jiwoo was thus having a one-man show, experiencing all sorts of emotions, it happened.

“Lee Hyunjin…”

Yeon Seobaek uttered her son’s name in a voice so faint Kim Jiwoo couldn’t hear it. It was a tone that, at first glance, seemed to contain chilling murderous intent.

Normally, no, even yesterday, in ‘this situation,’ she would have scolded Kim Jiwoo (who had a record) instead of Lee Hyunjin. But now the situation had changed. Lee Hyunjin had already lost her trust.

In other words, that was her judgment. Yeon Seobaek was convinced that Lee Hyunjin had even charmed Kim Jiwoo… with a slightly undesirable charm.

Kim Jiwoo was unaware. That a single thoughtless remark he had made had pushed Lee Hyunjin even deeper into a hellish abyss. In any case, it was a remark made with pure intentions(?), but it had turned out for the worse.

As time passed, just as Kim Jiwoo was about to subtly observe Yeon Seobaek’s nuanced emotional changes, a thunderous explosion erupted from the direction of the arena.

KABOOOM!

“!”

For that brief moment, both Kim Jiwoo and Yeon Seobaek simultaneously turned their gazes to confirm the situation in the arena. What had happened, indeed? Who had caused that massive explosion just now? And if a conclusion had been reached, which student had ultimately claimed victory…?

Kim Jiwoo completely forgot the fear he had felt moments ago and swallowed dryly. With such an anxious heart, wishing for Lee Hyunjin’s victory, he waited for a moment.

Soon, the dust cleared, and the battlefield was revealed.

Lee Hyunjin, who had created a spear of lightning, had Ryu Seeun pinned down and was on top of her.

“?” “?”

Kim Jiwoo and Yeon Seobaek simultaneously fell into confusion.

*****

“…Haa, haa…”

“…”

As rough breaths were exchanged, and hot gazes tangled wildly at the midpoint for a fleeting moment. Ryu Seeun and I were both looking at each other with flushed expressions. The reflection of me in her eyes was quite excited, and to be clear, that was 100% due to the fervor of battle.

In any case, since I had grasped victory like this, a sense of satisfaction certainly existed. Therefore, the reason I was so flustered right now was purely due to external factors.

“…You, what did you just say?”

I stammered, parting my lips, while Ryu Seeun remained silent for a moment, still looking up at me with distant eyes. With an unchanging, emotionless expression, she spoke to me.

“Just, let’s date. Not Cheon Soyul Senior-nim.”

“…”

“I’ll do well, I’ll try really hard. Senior.”

A slender hand was carefully raised and gently brushed against my cheek. It was Ryu Seeun’s trembling touch.

“…I think I’ve grown to like you, Senior. Probably quite a lot…”

The confession continued. After Baek Ayun and Cheon Soyul, this was the third confession of affection I had heard from someone of the opposite sex.

“It might be because you were my first experience… But I just have a feeling that even sex wouldn’t be satisfying with anyone but you, Senior.”

However, the choice of words in her subsequent remark was truly characteristic of Ryu Seeun. She drew a somewhat shy expression and slightly averted her gaze from mine.

“So that’s what I’m saying. I want to date you, Senior. Let me.”

“…”

All I could do was break out in a cold sweat. At the same time, only one thought came to mind.

‘What is this, really?’

Did I truly save a country in my past life? Otherwise, this wouldn’t be happening…