episode_0114

“Ahaha… This is so… I can’t see it in front of students… ”

Professor Shin Jae-yu smiles embarrassedly as he hands over a can of energy drink.

I feel a little weird being treated to an energy drink instead of tea.

I looked around a little.

You can see boxes of the same brand as the cans in your hand piled high all over the office.

“My sponsor sent me so many… No matter how much I drink, it doesn’t go away… phew… ”

She also takes out a can with water droplets on it and flops down on the sofa.

“Do you want to bring a box with you later?”

“It’s okay.”

“Why? This is really good. There are a variety of flavors, various vitamins, and essential nutrients… ”

“I don’t like drinks that much… ”

“Really? Then there’s nothing we can do… ”

When the female professor heard my rejection, she looked genuinely disappointed.

I’m not an evil merchant who tried to sell something and failed.

She opened the can, took a gulp, and got to the point first.

“So, what kind of advice does our master of rumors want to receive?”

“Before that, I have something to ask you.”

“Huh?”

Before resolving the question, there was something I needed to clarify.

“Perhaps our leader… What is your relationship with your successor?”

“What?”

Her eyes widened as if she hadn’t expected the question.

Then he chuckles and lets out a small laugh.

“Me. I was wondering what kind of consultation you wanted to do… ”

I was nervous that there would be an answer.

However, the female professor questions the question in a tone full of interest.

“Well? What kind of relationship do you think it is? Would you like to guess?”

“Yes? How do I know that… ”

“Don’t do that, just think about it. Wouldn’t it be more fun that way? Huh?”

He slightly lowers his upper body and gives me a look like a wild animal stalking its prey.

I quickly turned my head to see her top sagging naturally due to gravity.

“… ”

I never thought of this situation.

I didn’t know this person had this kind of side.

Anyway, I shook my head.

Judging by their reactions, I think it’s true that they are acquaintances.

I feel similar in age to the leader and his older sisters. A leader with titles such as bastard and lecher. And the older sisters who still follow the leader.

Putting it all together…

“That… Perhaps the professor also likes our leader… ”

“Puhhh”

Then, as soon as the words left her mouth, she started shaking her shoulders.

He lets out a strange laugh under his breath, and then immediately throws his head back and starts giggling, as if he can’t hold it in any longer.

Then, suddenly, a honey chestnut hits my head like a thunderbolt.

“What a nasty guy. How dare you say that to a professor?”

“That… Sorry… ”

“Puhuh… it’s okay. What do you have to be sorry for? That’s what I asked. It’s so funny, really… ”

Before he could finish speaking, the female professor burst into laughter and waved her hand.

“We were just close seniors and juniors. Actually, we weren’t that close at first. Should I say the opposite? ”

Professor Shin Jae-yu settled back comfortably on the sofa.

She slowly opens her eyes and begins to remember.

“That person is so cheap. He ignores people just because he comes from a prestigious family, and even harasses girls… You know?”

“… ”

I didn’t know.

So that’s not a malicious rumor but actually true?

“Huh? I guess you didn’t know… ? Oh my.”

The professor, seeing my reaction, asked me more hesitantly.

However, he continues talking with an expression that says whatever happens, everything will happen.

“Ugh. Anyway, there were times like that. We even had duels with him a few times. That person was so mean to my friends.”

He pours the remaining drink in the can into his mouth and throws it back.

She furrows her eyebrows at the sound of the can rolling on the floor instead of the trash can.

“… this. Anyway, after all the bickering, what… That’s how it happened. I heard that person is also becoming more mature. It’s amazing to think about it again. How could a person who was such an asshole be rehabilitated like that? ”

“Then do your sisters know?”

“Of course. We even served in the military together in the North. I’m in the same class as Jin. Jin knows, right? The other two are my seniors.”

I guess the other two are Chaewon and Sehwa.

After talking about this, I was confident.

Anyone who hung out with the leader or older sisters would not have known about the woman in his dreams.

He got so close to the leader and even took pictures.

I was still suffering from the discomfort of that memory.

The dream where some strange women gathered together and had incomprehensible conversations like polaris and spicani.

At first, it was such a blurry dream that I couldn’t even think straight.

However, a photo I saw at the Black Lotus Mansion brought back all those memories.

It’s strange that someone I’ve never seen before appears in my dream, but how should I accept the fact that she was a real person and that we were close enough to put our arms around the leader’s neck affectionately…

A woman in a dream whose expression was so evil that it felt repulsive at first glance.

However, in the photo, a genuine and bright smile appears. Clear, transparent eyes full of goodness.

That stark contrast confuses me even more.

The investigation requested by Muyoung was also part of resolving that strange discomfort.

I really hope it’s nothing, but I needed to find out more clearly.

Maybe we can solve that question today.

I swallowed my saliva and asked her a question.

“Then maybe… Do you also know someone named Seol Yu-jeong?”

“What… ”

But the moment I recited the name written on the photo.

The peaceful atmosphere suddenly turns cold.

***

It was just a moment, but I could definitely feel it.

The mouth, which was so light as to float on water, is now tightly locked.

Professor Shin Jae-yu, who sat silently for a moment with his mouth closed, stared at me again.

“… Since you’re asking me, I guess you haven’t heard anything from that person either?”

“Yes… ”

“Really? Well, I guess that’s where we’ll end today’s story.”

The female professor jumped up from the sofa with an exaggerated gesture.

I am dumbfounded by the sudden change in attitude.

“Yes?”

“Actually, I’m a bit busy. I think we’ll have to do the consultation again next time, right?”

“Yes? What is that all of a sudden… ”

“Now, get out quickly. Always take care of your health and prepare hard for the duel!”

-bang!

“… ”

When I came to my senses, all I could see in front of me was the tightly closed door of the office.

I thought about knocking on the door again, but… A stern expression that appears to have no intention of answering passes by before my eyes.

In the end, I gave up and turned away.

I feel like the discomfort that hasn’t been resolved is clinging to my mind even more.

The doubts have become more intense, but at the same time, one thing has become clearer: there is something.

What should I do with this?

Professor Kwon Chan-yeol seemed more open-mouthed.

Then, a fact suddenly occurred to me, and I stopped in my tracks.

That person named Seol Yu-jeong. I think he said he was the vice president of the student council.

Then perhaps we can check his whereabouts in the cradle records room.

“… ”

There are other issues that need to be resolved immediately before going through the difficult inspection process in the records room.

The Nakseong-day festival, the duel with Jin Ye-seo, and the ranking match that follows.

Is there no choice but to postpone it for a while?

***

A loud sound and vibration had been filling the air since morning.

The excitement of the Nakseong Day festival held in the capital is passed down to the cradle.

This year, the number of accidents has been unusually high since the beginning of the year. Public sentiment is on the verge of explosion due to worsening public security and the food situation.

Although there were criticisms that it was a waste of budget, everyone would agree that a grand festival is a cost-effective way to appease public sentiment.

And the reason why Yeon Yeon-ha thinks like that is… Because I, too, unexpectedly became a part of the excitement.

“Okay, that’s it… ”

Yeon Myeong-ha breathed a sigh of relief with wide eyes.

On the iron plate in front of her were several sticky lumps covered in white sugar powder.

The sizes are all different, the colors are different, and the shapes are crooked.

Even this is a selection of only the best results.

She looked around tiredly.

A pot completely burnt black, a pot full of melted sticky substances, and kitchen utensils left in a mess.

“Ha… really… ”

I was so angry that I couldn’t help but feel pity for myself and clenched my hands tightly.

Then the spatula he was holding was crushed like a piece of paper.

I have never cooked or done anything similar in my life.

There was no need to talk about confectionery, and she couldn’t go to the confectionery club either.

It is said that especially during the Nakseong Day festival and National Foundation Day, the place is crowded with one-time lecturers.

The Nakseong Day festival is for women, and the National Foundation Day festival is for men.

It is impossible for her to join that vulgar group.

Buying ready-made candies was also something that should not have happened. This is true no matter how high-end it is.

There was always an unspoken rule in the candy given out during the Nakseong Day festival.

It’s probably a good thing if they’re just friends, but… If you wanted to do more than that or express your feelings, you had to make it yourself and deliver it.

“Why am I like this… Ha.”

Yeon Myeong-ha complained to herself one after another.

It’s a rule that’s ridiculous, ridiculous, and I don’t like it.

Of course, that didn’t mean she had any choice.

Since I couldn’t afford any more, I started wrapping the candies with a pitying rustle.

Still, it was comforting to know that it was quite acceptable after being wrapped in wrapping paper.

Half excited and half worried.

Calming her pounding heart, Yeon Myeong-ha left the kitchen.

Then, he carefully hides the wrapped candy package in his arms and calmly walks towards the main building.

Now it was time for him to be listening to a lecture on magic mathematics.

It’s been a long time since I memorized his entire semester schedule.

As more and more students come and go, the sweet smell also gradually increases in intensity.

I decided to stand underneath the pity lecture building and wait for him for a while.

Just hand it over indifferently, with a casual touch and tone of voice.

“… ?”

The car was thinking about its plan like that.

At the movement detected by the spirit sent up in advance, Yeon Myeong-ha tilts her head and frowns as if she is puzzled.

Although spirits do not have vision like humans, they were able to detect their surroundings based on the shape of Sam’s energy body.

The place where she placed the spirit was in front of the locker he always used during mobile classes.

It was a solution he came up with after much deliberation as the spirit was unable to cling to him.

And although he was obviously listening to a lecture, for some reason, round energy bodies were constantly coming and going in front of his locker.

“How dare these vulgar bitches… ”

Immediately, Yang Yeon-ha guesses the meaning and mutters in anger.

It was very common to use the festival as an excuse to approach or become friends with someone you like.

She disconnected from the spirit and hurried up the stairs.

It was an impulsive move made out of anger.

I wanted to tear everything to pieces before he could see it.

Every time he saw female students coming from the opposite direction from him, he gave a harsh look.

Among those girls, there must be some sleazy bitches who used to put candy in his locker.

“… ?”

But the moment I took the last step. Stop moving with pity.

Although it was only from the back, something that seemed not to be seen was momentarily captured in her eyes.

Someone with flowing black hair was hurriedly going down the stairs opposite where Yeon Myeong-ha was standing.

A glimpse of golden eye light was also clearly visible.

The hallway was filled with the lingering scent of someone else, clearly not hers.