episode_0135

“Uh, huh?”

“Can’t you hear? I don’t like it.”

Jin Ye-seo was more embarrassed than angry.

He, the direct descendant and successor of Baek Gwang of the five families, bows his head and no one else.

This was tantamount to complete surrender.

She is already enduring all the humiliation and shame.

However, the masked male student still maintained a cold attitude.

“Ha, but… I’m asking you this much… ”

“What is this… ”

The words he uttered in a panic seemed to have further upset the male student.

Without even responding properly, he got up and started packing his luggage.

Jin Ye-seo seemed to be about to leave the library at any moment, and as soon as he turned, he hurriedly blocked the narrow passage.

Since it was a corner seat outside the bookshelf, her size alone was enough to block the path.

“Get out of the way.”

“… I can’t get out of the way.”

“We are enemies. Don’t you even think about the attitude you’ve shown so far? Even Baek Gwang clings to Paecheon like a leech. And yet you dare say something like that?”

“… Ah.”

“What?”

“Me too… I know.”

“I asked for that knowingly. Are you not stupid but shameless?”

“… You were the one who told me not to choose any means.”

“… What?”

“Just like that… All you have to do is follow.”

When Jin Ye-seo protested in a low voice, he seemed speechless for a moment.

After a moment of silence, the masked male student spoke again.

“… Please ask your professors. In your first year, you can change your major as much as you want. They would know your aptitude better.”

“… They can’t do that.”

Jin Ye-seo shook her head left and right before she finished speaking.

“There are several people with ties to the family. If I openly change my major, the news will reach my mother’s ears right away. And if he hears that I abandoned my family’s unique magic… I will take action immediately.”

“Then ask your friends to teach you. You have a lot of friends. Unlike me.”

“… They are not qualified to teach me. You know.”

“… ”

“I’m not hoping for something big. I’m not asking you to teach me any great tricks. just… Just deal with me. Even if it’s just for a few months… please… ”

“I don’t like it.”

“Sleep, wait… !”

“What are you doing? Get out of my way when I say nice things. Before calling security.”

However, the masked male student cut off his words with a single cut and started walking again.

Jin Ye-seo stretched out her arms and completely blocked the narrow passage between the bookshelves.

The masked male student did not hide his displeasure.

I repeatedly squeezed and unclenched my hand, which had bulging blood vessels.

Upon seeing him, Jin Ye-seo’s head was spinning around trying to find an excuse.

“That’s your situation. But why should I help you? There is no benefit, but rather an enemy… ”

“Hey, weakness… !”

“What?”

“… You’re exploiting one of my weaknesses. I told you earlier.”

Jin Ye-seo spoke urgently.

“Our Baekgwang has been a master of unique emission magic for generations. However, it turns out that the heir of that family is training circulatory system magic.”

“… ”

“There will be chaos everywhere. My standing in society will soon be over, and my family will try to sell me off like livestock before my value drops further. You can take advantage of my situation… ”

“What should I do? There is no need for such weaknesses. Get out of the way.”

The masked male student who stopped speaking approached her with a vicious attitude, as if he was going to push her away.

Jin Ye-seo, driven to the edge of a cliff, pursed her lips. If you miss him now, your opportunity will be lost forever.

Meanwhile.

The assignment sticking out of his bag comes in as he is busy looking around.

Jin Ye-seo, who caught him, shouted loudly without realizing it.

“Hey, I’ll help you study… !”

“What now… ”

“Ah, from what I saw earlier, it seems like I didn’t even memorize the basic theory properly… That’s why I was secretly solving it in a corner like this… ? I’m afraid I might get noticed… Because I’m embarrassed… ”

“… Did you see that?”

The male student’s tone became even lower. It was a voice that felt more like shame than anger.

However, Jin Ye-seo had no time to feel such things.

“… are you okay. Let me help you. I won’t tell anyone. You’ll be able to solve it quickly, quickly. It’s an easy problem that even middle school kids can solve, so you just need to know how to apply it… ! I’ll help you with something else besides that… !”

“… Even middle school kids can solve it easily… ”

After Jin Ye-seo poured out a bunch of words. The masked male student muttered in a somewhat empty voice.

There was a moment of silence between the two.

Eventually, the masked male student asked Jin Ye-seo in a slightly calm voice.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Huh?”

“Why did you go to such lengths to approach me? Don’t you think I could immediately reveal this story to someone?”

“… ”

Jin Ye-seo slightly lowered her head and answered.

“… Then there is nothing we can do. anyway… There’s no chance anymore.”

You know your own condition best. Although I worked hard and practiced hard, there was only one thing that was certain.

No matter who you face in the next ranking match, you will never win.

Bessel particles are substances closely related to the human mind. The same goes for the magic that is revealed through him.

There is nothing you can do with this state of mind.

And having blown her last chance, she will become a puppet for the glory of the Yeongyeong family.

“And… Uh.”

After a brief pause, Jin Ye-seo spoke in an unsuitably low voice.

“What?”

“… I was jealous.”

“What?”

“… You.”

“… ”

“Handling the blade as if it were one body… The sight of him strutting around like a bird… I was so jealous.”

Jin Ye-seo lowered her head even more as she spoke.

“And… I wanted to be like that too. I wanted to fly freely like you. Proving that you have become stronger… I wanted to get what I wanted.”

Before I knew it, Jin Ye-seo was spewing out all the words inside.

A long silence passed between the two.

The masked male student neither confirmed nor denied her words.

At that moment. He, who had stopped moving, started walking again.

And I just passed by Jin Ye-seo.

“Ah… ”

Jin Ye-seo’s dry lips spontaneously let out a lament.

A look of despair appeared in the green eyes at the clear meaning of rejection.

But the next moment.

A low voice comes from behind her.

“I can’t tell you the forecast.”

“Uh… ?”

In an unexpected situation, Jin Ye-seo turned her head behind her.

He stood tall there without even looking at himself.

“They say they can’t tell you the forecast. This can never be done no matter what happens.”

“Dang, of course… I’m not even looking forward to that… ”

Jin Ye-seo agreed with this very common sense story.

“I have never taught anyone. I never learned it properly. There is nothing I can do for you other than doing my best to deal with you.”

“… That’s enough.”

“Ha… ”

In response to Jin Ye-seo’s immediate reply, he sighed deeply and slightly scratched his head.

Right now. For Jin Ye-seo, each second felt like a minute.

How much time has passed?

He spoke one word with a voice still filled with worry.

“I said it clearly. All I can do is do my best to deal with them.”

“Uh, huh?”

“… Come to the training room tomorrow.”

“Well, then… !”

The masked male student left before he could even hear Jin Ye-seo’s answer.

“Ah… ”

Jin Ye-seo was staring blankly at the empty space he had left.

A sparkling light like a cluster of stars was suddenly filling my green eyes.

***

“Everyone had a hard time during the ranking week. Let’s all get some rest this weekend.”

In a classroom bathed in afternoon sunlight, a professor with ponytails and a bushy beard was giving a concluding explanation.

When he pressed the button on the mechanical device he was holding in his hand, the projector connected to it with a wire started working and started shooting out letters.

“But don’t be too lax. You all know that the external request period starts again starting next Monday, right? I hope you don’t end up failing to carry out the request by doing something in vain.”

“Ah… ”

“It’s too much… ! How hard was it to prepare for the ranking match… How can I… again? ”

Even before he finished speaking, boos and complaints erupted from where the students were sitting.

“Quiet! Quiet! Why are there so many complaints? Are you here to play? Huh?”

Professor Kwon Chan-yeol silenced the commotion by banging on the lecture table with the baton he was holding.

However, even as he said those words, an expression of annoyance about everything was evident on his face.

“Now, everyone is probably familiar with the request rules, so I will briefly explain a few things before moving on.”

After finally calming the mood, he continued his explanation again.

“Those who do not pass the first request will have to repeat from the beginning. And those who have passed the second request can freely choose a request that suits their skill and level. You can do it individually, or you can do it as a group request with like-minded people. Be sure to keep in mind that first year students can only perform normal requests of B level or lower. By the way, even as I say it, there are people who always come back with A-level requests every year… ”

He sighed and pointed the wand at a certain part of the picture projected by the projector.

“And one thing. Among the students who successfully completed the second request, those who are currently in the top 10 will carry out the ‘nominated request’ this time. Separate guidance will be provided to those eligible soon.”

As the professor added words, a wave of murmuring began to spread among the students.

Jin Ye-seo was also listening to the explanation among the students.

As something weighing heavily on my heart disappeared, my appearance naturally regained its former beauty.

The injury is almost over. Even the dull hair and sunken eyes have regained some of their shine and focus.

Jin Ye-seo turned her green eyes in a certain direction.

A first-year real-time leaderboard was installed not only in the hallway but also at the end of the classroom.

While the names from 1st to 10th place flashed brightly, about a hundred names as small as millet filled the remaining space.

And the name of Jin Ye-seo, who was firmly in second place until last week, no longer sparkled.

“Just because it’s a nomination request doesn’t mean it’s particularly difficult. However, it must be kept in mind that the subjects of the request are central state agencies, and the success of the nomination request is an essential experience for entering the Supreme Council in the future.”

Almost as soon as he finished speaking, a ringtone signaling the end of the day’s schedule rang out from the amplifier in the entire classroom.

“Okay, that’s it for this week’s class. See you all on Monday then.”

Professor Kwon Chan-yeol, who spoke while suppressing a yawn, was the first to leave the lecture room and disappear.

The students, completely forgetting his warning just now, excitedly discussed their weekend plans. On the other hand, those who were scheduled to take supplementary classes were anxious and packed their bags in silence.

At the sudden noise, Jin Ye-seo, who was sitting in the back corner of the classroom, turned her head down.

“Yeoul, congratulations! How did you decide to do the request?”

“I think I’ll probably be in charge of reclaimed land security. My uncle is the head of the development project in the western region, and they decided to give me a request… ”

“Really? Great! Then maybe… ”

A female student was talking, surrounded by her friends, just like a girl from a noble family.

The smile on Moon Yeo-ul’s face never ceased the whole time.

With just one defeat, all the glory that Jin Ye-seo had was in her hands.

With just one win, Moon Yeo-ul, who had been in the double-digit rankings since coming into the cradle, immediately rose to 8th place.

And as a result of that achievement, he was able to obtain the right to carry out the nomination request, which was his first career in the world.

Since the last ranking match, the two have not talked even once.

We often sat together when lectures overlapped, but now we didn’t even say hello, as if we were strangers.

Jin Ye-seo looked at the scene in silence.

However, I didn’t feel any particular feelings of anger or jealousy.

The biggest reason I lost my friend was because of my own arrogance and indifference.

“… ”

Jin Ye-seo turned his head again.

When I saw the masked male student leaving the back door of the classroom, I also finished putting my things away and stood up.

She went out the front door opposite the masked boy. The destination was the same building A training room, but the route had to be different. If you think about the ripples that will spread if that relationship is revealed.

At the time, Jin Ye-seo was trudging down a corridor colored by an orange sunset.

A familiar voice called her name from behind.

“Yeseo?”

Jin Ye-seo knew his identity right away before he even turned around.

She responded to the owner of the voice with a bright smile.

“Seoyeon unnie!”

The most popular person in the current cradle. Baek Seo-yeon, a second-year senior and her mentor, was just walking from the back of the corridor.

Jin Ye-seo ran to Han Dal-eum and threw himself into her arms without hesitation.

“This guy suddenly! It’s dangerous. Then I got hurt… ”

“Hi… sorry… ”

Despite Baek Seo-yeon’s stern warning, Jin Ye-seo only smiled brightly.

She thoroughly enjoyed Baek Seo-yeon’s soft and warm embrace.

Even after falling, his gaze continued to be focused on her face.

Hair that sparkles like the night sky, eyes that seem to be full of beautiful gold, delicate facial features with mathematically perfect proportions, and even the scent of wild flowers as sweet as sugar.

These days, Baek Seo-yeon’s beauty has been increasing even more.

For some unknown reason, the depth of the water sometimes cast a shadow on my face, but even that was just an ingredient that further enhanced my natural beauty.

Jin Ye-seo gulped down the admiration that came out without her knowing.

That beauty is going to be monopolized by just one man. No matter how much I think about it, it was such a heartbreaking and regrettable thing.

“Why… ? Did I get something on my face? ?”

“Oh, no. Where were you going?”

“Ugh. Student council. A meeting was suddenly scheduled. Is the injured area okay?”

“It’s okay. I’m all better now. Look.”

Jin Ye-seo nodded exaggeratedly.

Baek Seo-yeon was constantly paying attention to her recovery.

Even after learning that Ye-seo and Yeo-wool had a falling out, they adjusted their schedules so that there would be no disruption to the mentoring group’s activities.

It was not once or twice that I was touched by sincere, warm comfort.

“… Thank goodness.”

Seoyeon said with a slightly weak smile.

Are you a little tired from student council work? The moment Ye-seo thinks so.

At the unexpected question, a stone crashes into her chest.

“By the way, where were you going? It looked quite busy… ”

“Yes, yes… ?”

There was a prickling sensation near my heart, as if my conscience had materialized. Jin Ye-seo could not look into Baek Seo-yeon’s eyes, so she quietly averted her gaze.

“Yeseo? Why are you doing this all of a sudden? Is this really okay… ?”

Seoyeon, who noticed Jin Ye-seo’s strange behavior, spoke to her with a puzzled expression.

“Trigram, it’s okay. I was on my way to do some rehabilitation training… ”

“Already? Aren’t you overdoing it?”

“No, that’s too much… I can’t stand it any longer if I stay still… ”

“Well, that’s a good thing… Still, be careful… Okay… ?”

“… Don’t worry, sister. I will never cause you trouble.”

“Fuhu… What are you trying to do?”

Seoyeon laughed lightly as if it was cute, then suddenly checked her watch and opened her eyes.

“Oh my, it’s already time… I have to go now. See you next time… ?”

“… Yes, sister. Please go quickly… ”

Jin Ye-seo waved her hand to see Seo-yeon off as she left in a hurry.

And as the fluttering black hair disappeared around the corner, he lowered his raised arm helplessly.

Jin Ye-seo stood blankly.

After staying like that for a while, I suddenly came to my senses and took a step back.

The old training room in Building A.

This was where the man was waiting.

The biggest supporter of Baek Seo-yeon’s competitor, Yeon Myeong-ha.

He even raised his voice and argued with Baek Seo-yeon at the beginning of the semester.

A man who appeared out of nowhere as if he had fallen from the sky and stole everything that should have been his.

Jin Ye-seo could not possibly admit that fact.

Therefore, I repeated the challenge endlessly, but all that was left was my body and mind, which had been cruelly broken after being beaten several times.

And although he crawled back to his feet, even his fate was now in the hands of that vicious man.

Fear, anxiety. Guilt.

But a little hope. The excitement of learning the unknown. The first step toward self-fulfillment.

In the whirlpool of swirling emotions, Jin Ye-seo offered a small apology to someone.

As if they were trying to dilute the sense of indebtedness for betrayal.

“I’m sorry, sister. sorry… ”

However, contrary to those words, Jin Ye-seo’s steps suddenly had a bit of lightness in them.