episode_0181

Instead of his usual uniform and mask, Lee Hyeon walked around the dormitory wearing a strange lion head that he had received in advance.

The surroundings were deserted, as students usually wanted to enjoy the social gathering from early in the morning. In contrast, the noise of the social gathering, which could be heard from afar like an echo, added to the excitement.

He was walking briskly, but seemed to be absorbed in thought, not interested in the festival.

‘… Enjoy it. Whoever you meet, whatever you do, just do whatever you want.’

‘Promise me one thing instead.’

The words Yeonminha had whispered the day before still lingered in my ears, fluttering like the wind.

‘By midnight on the 13th… I promise to come down to the Baeknyeonmok.’

“Century tree… ”

I had heard about the Baeknyeonmok a few times in passing. The cradle garden was so vast that it was common for new students to get lost. In the center of it was an old broadleaf tree with its roots firmly planted.

It is a nickname given to it because it has been with the cradle for nearly a hundred years. Thanks to the rich particles that have seeped into the four directions, its branches have grown so large that they cover dozens of meters in all directions.

He firmly refused to show up at the gathering and continued to speak only of his pitying words.

‘You must come.’

‘No matter what happens, no matter who catches you.’

‘…please.’

If it’s the 13th, it’s the second day of the social gathering.

There is a schedule that requires you to attend Kwon Yuri’s secret meeting along with the tournament.

But there was a voice of compassion, full of determination, that I had never heard before.

That’s why Lee Hyun immediately answered that he understood. As if he was possessed by something.

‘It’ll be okay. The tournament is during the day, and the secret meeting is supposed to be held in the evening…’

However, I just couldn’t grasp the meaning of the specific conditions of midnight and under the hundred-year-old tree.

“He didn’t look angry… ”

I didn’t have time to ask any more questions because she disappeared like the pitying dawn. It was even more strange because she didn’t even make a fuss about sleeping with me like usual.

“Excuse me, senior…! What are you doing…!”

“… ?”

Lee Hyeon was groaning for a long time.

What woke him from his reverie was a noise coming from the schoolyard, the meeting place.

A school girl with a beauty that couldn’t be hidden even by a ridiculous monkey mask. She looked very annoyed and was about to kick a sulking boy in the butt.

“Hoo… ”

Lee Hyun let out a small sigh when he saw him. Then he shook his head from side to side vigorously as if shaking something off.

Now was the time to carry out the given task rather than pondering without an answer.

***

“Man, man’s woman? What the… Kyaak!!”

The man screams loudly as he exerts strength in his hands. But his distorted face looks somehow familiar.

Now that I think about it, this guy is the same third-year senior who was pestering Yeonminha in the hallway last time.

“Hey, let’s put this down… Aah!”

As he recalled that fact, he felt his grip tighten. The boy squirmed even more like a caterpillar in dire straits.

You’ve been so humiliated, and you still haven’t come to your senses.

For a moment, I felt like breaking my arm… but there were too many eyes watching me right now.

Moreover, today I am in a strange position where I have to act as Jin Ye-seo’s lover but hide my identity.

If I make too much of a fuss and even call out the security guards, I might be asked to reveal my identity. Then, all the effort I’ve put in so far will go down the drain.

Today is the first day of the social event. Excited, competitive, and light-hearted fights will occur here and there innumerable times. It is physically impossible to control all of those fights.

As long as it doesn’t cause excessive harm to the opponent.

“Oh no!”

In the end, instead of breaking his arm, I decided to just push the man to the ground like last time. The man lost his balance and fell to the stone floor, screaming humorlessly.

I’m proud of myself for being able to control my anger. I can definitely feel that I’m growing little by little. My older sisters would have really liked it if they saw it.

“Ugh… Ugh… !”

The man, who had barely escaped from her grasp, took a deep breath for a moment. Then, as if he had completely forgotten all the mean pleading he had done just a moment ago, he raised his finger and shouted.

“You, what the hell are you doing! Do you know who I am and dare to…!”

“Who is that? Didn’t I just say that? For a student at Yoram, he seems to be really stupid.”

“Ah… ?”

For some reason, I made a scene where I was pulling Jin Ye-seo, who was standing there blankly, towards me. The location was also good.

“I am the fiancé of Baek Gwang Yeong-ae.”

“What…? Medicine, fiance…?”

The muttering man turns his head to me and Jin Ye-seo alternately, making a dumbfounded expression.

I was wondering if you might recognize my identity because of our previous encounter, but looking at your face, it seems that’s not the case.

I think it wasn’t a bad choice to slightly damage my vocal cords in advance and even change my voice.

“Then the person you were waiting for is…? Could it be that Jinye Seo’s junior…? What nonsense… ”

“You’re talking nonsense, but can’t you tell just by looking at it? Huh?”

I put my arm on Jin Ye-seo’s shoulder and pulled her closer to me, saying this. Jin Ye-seo also seemed to be dragged along without a sound, as if she was following my acting.

“You’re flirting with someone who’s clearly engaged. Even if you’re a descendant of the 27th Demonic Clan, do you think you can just let this go?”

“Uh, uh… That’s not it… !”

I continued to threaten the man who was still sitting there. He shook his shoulders without even making eye contact. There was no trace of his relaxed attitude from before.

And how much time has passed?

In the end, the man, unable to bear it any longer, crawled away on all fours.

“Ah, no…! I, I’m sorry…!”

In the place he left, only an apology that didn’t sound like an apology remained, like a faint aftertaste. It was quite annoying that he started something and couldn’t even properly clean it up, but there was no need to chase after him now.

It seems that the strategy of deliberately treating him with contempt and arrogance has worked successfully. I understand that the family of Cheon Su-ho, Myung-won, is a new power that has recently established itself at the bottom of the Magic 27 Clans.

This strategy worked because there were many people above him. If the opponent had been from a noble family with a slightly higher status, it would have been an unwise method.

I was worried that something might go wrong, but fortunately, it turned out to be a relief.

After I had finished wrapping up the situation, I finally turned my gaze to Jin Ye-seo below.

“Hey.”

“Huh, huh?”

Jin Ye-seo, who had been staggering around with unfocused eyes, finally came to her senses after being spoken to a couple of times.

“Why is this happening? Is there a problem?”

“Oh, no… That’s not it… ”

It seems like she has a lot on her mind. Jin Ye-seo takes a deep breath. Then, she finally glares at me with her eyes that have come back to life.

“Hey. Who cares, you’re my woman.”

“What? Are you kidding me? Who asked you for help?”

I’m suddenly speechless. Is this something that would come out of the mouth of someone who practiced for several days?

“Don’t you remember? I clearly told you that you had to introduce yourself to others like that. That you had to make a strong impression.”

“Oh, no… That’s true… But it was so sudden… ”

Jin Ye-seo pursed her lips with a puzzled expression at my question.

“It’s not my job, it’s your job. Then do it properly. I don’t want to live a life being dragged around by my family anymore.”

“Work…Work…”

Jin Ye-seo thought back to my words with a strange expression.

“… That’s right. That’s right.”

Then, as if she had finally come to her senses, she nodded with determined eyes. The girl in the monkey mask coughed a couple of times and looked around.

“… Ahem. Okay, let’s get moving. I think I’ve been occupied here for too long… ”

***

We walked side by side and blended into the crowd.

Guests wearing bizarre animal masks, street vendors that attract attention with colorful magic, and outdoor stages where demonstrations of various weapons are held.

Even though it was still midday, the festival atmosphere was already at its peak.

“How about that lion mask?”

“It’s useful. It’s a bit heavy, though… ”

“I had no choice. That was the only thing I could do to cover my hair and my entire face.”

There was a hint of regret in Jin Ye-seo’s voice. In fact, it seemed inevitable. Putting aside the hair, at least the area around the nose where the scar was needed to be covered.

“… Ahem. And earlier… That wasn’t a bad performance.”

Jin Ye-seo continued speaking, avoiding eye contact as if embarrassed.

“The audience was probably a bit surprised, too. It was a rather unconventional introduction to the play.”

“Audience? Are you talking about the crowds that gathered around?”

“Of course it’s important to show it to those people. But the audience I’m talking about is other people.”

Jin Ye-seo shook her head and said.

“See? A man with a beard and a hat pulled down low in the back.”

Jin Ye-seo nodded and whispered to the middle-aged man who had been following us from a distance.

“He’s one of the Baekkwang family’s direct employees. I know his face. No matter how much he disguises himself, he can’t fool my eyes.”

Two green-glowing eyes dart around dizzily.

“And there’s the alligator-headed woman, the skinny guy with the spectacles, the hairy guy handing out helium balloons, and… ”

“… ”

Jin Ye-seo’s mouth was wide open. Isn’t the head of Baek Gwang’s family really a suspicious person? Now I think I understand a little why Jin Ye-seo tried to prepare so thoroughly.

“You sent a lot… Anyway, today’s goal is one. To make sure those guards know our affection. ”

“I know. I’ve heard it before. So what do I do now?”

Jin Ye-seo glared at me as if she found me annoying. But she quickly backed down and muttered in a crawling voice.

“What should I do? Just like before… I’ll try to act as affectionate as possible.”