episode_0179

Class 1-3.

Deborah, who had been checking the magic circles densely inscribed throughout the classroom, sought her classmates’ understanding.

“I’m sorry, but could I step away for a moment?”

“Huh? Where are you going? The restroom?”

“Not really, but there’s somewhere I need to go for a bit. Please look after things for me while I’m gone. It won’t take long.”

“Alright, do that. There’s nothing particularly wrong anyway.”

“Thanks. I’ll be back.”

Expressing her gratitude, she immediately left the classroom and began wandering around the various booths.

‘Where is he?’

Deborah was currently looking for Ruan.

Actually, she had let it go earlier, but she instinctively sensed that something serious was wrong with Ruan’s attitude. She knew that following him like this was wrong, but she simply couldn’t stand by. This was because ever since Alisa’s kidnapping last time, Ruan had subtly been careful not to burden her. Deborah didn’t like that. She wanted Ruan to trust her, rely on her, and lean on her anytime. Because that was the only advantage she had.

How long did she wander, filled with such earnestness and urgency?

Finally, she found Ruan in one of the booths.

The problem was, he wasn’t alone.

“That person is…”

Golden hair, blue eyes, and a short bob. Her gently curved eyes and pure face were beautiful, creating a comfortable atmosphere. Deborah immediately recognized her. Though their appearances differed, every little movement was identical to her Master.

“Ah… so that’s how it was.”

Was his promise with Isis a lie? She couldn’t be sure of the truth, but one thing was clear: Ruan had tried to keep his meal with her Master a secret from her.

Just then, her Master picked up a side dish and offered it to Ruan’s mouth. Ruan, who had initially shown discomfort, eventually couldn’t withstand her persistent gaze and meekly accepted the food. Ruan offered an awkward smile. The mix of excitement and embarrassment in that smile gave Deborah a fresh shock. She had never seen such an expression before. Perhaps it was a face he only showed to her Master. A corner of her chest ached stiflingly.

‘I hoped it wasn’t true.’

After the trial, she thought she might have been mistaken. That she had made a hasty judgment based only on circumstances without any evidence, and that perhaps they weren’t in such a relationship after all. Yet, despite holding onto that hope, it turned out they were already quite deeply involved.

Deborah, immersed in sorrow, quickly left the spot lest her Master notice her. She entered a restroom stall and sat on the toilet seat.

“Sob… sniffle!”

Her vision blurred as hot tears streamed down her cheeks. She didn’t know what to do.

‘Should I give up on Ruan?’

She might not have known if she hadn’t started from the beginning, but she had already vowed during the trial that she wouldn’t give up, even if she were to be abandoned by both of them. Although she didn’t yet have the courage to fight her Master, she decided to be honest with her own feelings. There was absolutely no giving up.

“Ugh… sob!”

Then there was only one thing left. It was to use their kindness, just as the clone had said. Pretending not to know anything and haphazardly dismissing everything as if it were just a mishap was the best she could do.

But could she really do that? Could she brazenly smile in front of them while doing such a thing? She could say with certainty. It was impossible. At least not in the short term.

So, preparation was needed.

“Let’s… practice.”

Fortunately, she had some talent for acting, so with a little effort, she would be able to perfectly deceive them both. Therefore, it seemed best to keep a bit of distance from Ruan until then. Her Master had already promised to meet tomorrow, so she would have to endure it somehow.

“Alright. Let’s do that.”

Deborah, having made a cruel resolution, wiped her tears and left the restroom. Her eyes were clouded with guilt.

*

‘She’s gone.’

Roxana, who had been feeding him a side dish, noticed Deborah’s disappearance and stopped her actions. Deborah was probably quite disappointed seeing Ruan casually eating and engaging in physical contact with an unfamiliar woman. It saddened her greatly to think her disciple would be heartbroken, but there was nothing she could do. Although she had considered that Ruan might not be as bad a person as she expected, she still couldn’t let him toy with Deborah. Even if Deborah didn’t completely give up, she would at least keep some distance. Roxana was satisfied with that.

“So, can you believe it now?”

“Uh, what did you say?”

“Can you believe that I’m not Deborah’s lover? I don’t know why you keep doubting me.”

Ruan chewed and swallowed the side dish Roxana had offered, asserting his innocence. This was because she had insisted that if he truly wasn’t involved with her, he should be able to accept the food she offered. One might wonder what relationship they had, but this was, after all, merely to show Deborah Ruan’s playboy side, so logic wasn’t necessary. Roxana nodded in satisfaction.

“Alright. I understand well enough. Shall we get up now? It seems the meal is about to end.”

“Already? …Well, alright. The meal was enjoyable.”

“Yes. It was enjoyable for me too. See you next time.”

“Yes. Take care.”

Roxana immediately stood up. Ruan tilted his head at her seemingly disinterested demeanor, unlike how she had been actively talking just moments ago, but he didn’t try to stop her. Thus, Roxana paid the bill, left the booth, and began heading back to the Magic Tower.

“It’s a bit of a shame.”

She wore a bitter expression. If Ruan hadn’t been using Deborah to hide his relationship with his sister, she would have gladly supported their bond. This was because when asked what kind of friend Deborah was, his answer held sincerity. Ruan genuinely considered Deborah his best friend. It was just that his sister was even more precious to him than such a friend. So, she had no choice but to separate them.

‘If it’s not the best, it’s meaningless.’

If he couldn’t cherish Deborah the most in the world, then trusting her to him was impossible. Fortunately, Deborah’s unintended appearance allowed her to separate Ruan and Deborah, but she ended up hurting Deborah in the process. It was the first time since they formed their master-disciple bond over ten years ago in the ruins.

“Deborah. Resent me all you want.”

She intended to confess this matter and beg for forgiveness someday. Roxana let out a small sigh. She worried about how she would face Deborah tomorrow.

*

Inside the dilapidated house shrouded in thick fog, a chilling breeze seemed to pass right through their bodies from somewhere, and eerie mumbling echoed from afar. Just as they were about to pass through the master bedroom.

Clank!

Suddenly, the ceiling collapsed, and a blood-soaked ghost leaped out.

—Aaaaargh!

The ghost, rushing forward with an ominous scream, passed right through my body and vanished. A beat later, the reaction burst forth.

“Aaaah!”

Isis screamed and trapped my arm, which she was already holding tightly, against her body. My forearm, drawn deep into her cleavage, was pressed firmly from the front, providing a soft sensation. It was truly a happy feeling, no matter when I felt it.

‘Isis was quite a scaredy-cat, then.’

I didn’t know this since I never encountered ghosts in the game, but it seems she’s subtly weak to occult elements. Given that she didn’t act this way when dealing with undead, perhaps her fear is limited to ghosts? Anyway, the important thing was that Isis was scared of ghosts, and I benefited from it. I wished this moment would last forever. Thinking that, I patted Isis’s shoulder to comfort her.

“Sister. Calm down. The ghost is already gone.”

“B-but we don’t know when it’ll appear again! Can’t we just stay like this?”

Isis looked up anxiously and hugged my forearm even tighter. The pressure was so strong that my blood circulation was almost cut off. I shook my head, desperately trying to control the corners of my lips that were twitching upward on their own.

“No. That’s not right. If Sister truly insists, then I suppose there’s no helping it.”

“Thank you, Ruan. Let’s go quickly, then! I don’t want to stay here anymore.”

“Alright. Let’s hurry.”

Agreeing with her, I still deliberately took a roundabout way through the abandoned house.

Thud!

“Aaaah!”

Creak!

“Aaaah!”

Rumble!

“Nooo!”

Ghosts popped out from everywhere: the fireplace, the bathtub, inside the wardrobe. I activated every hidden gimmick, relishing Isis’s reactions and thoroughly enjoying the happy time. Eventually, my forearm was so completely enveloped in her chest that my senses almost disappeared.

But all things must come to an end. We found the exit passage in just 40 minutes.

“Ruan. Look! I see light!”

“Indeed. Let’s go quickly.”

Despite being so scared, Isis didn’t immediately run forward but moved slowly, still tightly hugging my forearm. Was she perhaps scared to go alone? With that question in mind, we passed through the passage and met the exit attendant who was waiting.

“Welcome! Chairman-nim. Your clear time is 58 minutes and 18 seconds. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to win a prize. It seems your younger sibling is quite timid. Heh heh!”

The exit attendant smiled subtly at me. My brows furrowed at his clear disregard for my manliness.

“I wasn’t scared.”

“Oh, come on, that’s a lie. You mean the Chairman-nim was the one who was scared? The Chairman-nim is totally not like that—”

“Ru-Ruan! Let’s get out of here quickly. This seems to be the exit.”

Before the exit attendant could properly finish his sentence, a flustered Isis interjected. I struggled against her pulling hand.

“Huh? No, wait a minute. I have something to say to that person…”

“Hurry! It’s getting very late!”

But she easily dismissed my resistance and quickly dragged me to the exit without giving me a chance to explain. I could die from the injustice!

A moment later, as we exited, the sunset glow welcomed us as if we had never been in the abandoned house.

“Ruan. We’re out! We’re outside!”

“Yes, Sister. Are you that happy?”

“Yes! It was really scary, you know?”

Isis shivered as if recalling it still sent chills down her spine. Thanks to that, the vibrations transmitted to my forearm, restoring the sensations that had barely vanished and allowing me to feel her ample chest in three dimensions. As I was lost in that irresistibly enchanting sensation, Isis opened her mouth.

“More importantly, where should we go next? Ruan, is there anywhere you want to go?”

“Somewhere I want to go? What about you, Sister?”

“Me? Anywhere is good as long as I’m with Ruan.”

“Is that so? It’s the same for me. Then let’s just look around. There’s plenty to do.”

“Yes! Let’s.”

“Ah, Class 1-6? Not bad. Let’s do that, then.”

“Yes! Let’s go!”

Isis, smiling brightly, led the way.

‘But is she not going to let go of my arm?’

I was happy, but the gazes pouring in from all directions were still unusual. It was fortunate that Isis and I were siblings; otherwise, my heart might have been pierced by a dagger secretly launched from somewhere. I quickened my pace, thinking trivial thoughts.

And so, the first day came to an end.