episode_0187

The second day of socializing.

After finishing my participation in the tournament, I was walking out of the stadium.

Inside my pocket, I can feel the solid feel of the championship medal rattling.

Unlike ranked matches where you can only compete within your grade, there are no particular restrictions in these event tournaments.

I had prepared in my own way because I thought I might be matched up against second and third year students who had more experience and skills than first year students, but… it was so easy compared to my expectations that I actually felt discouraged.

-Hey, you’re acting cocky these days… Ugh!

Kook Jae-ryong, a classmate who looked very shy and sometimes glared at me as if he was dissatisfied with something when we met.

-I’ve been waiting for this day. I will definitely… Keuk!

Cheon Su-ho, a third-year student with a sullen look. I feel like I’ve been meeting this senior more often than usual lately. I got annoyed and hit him in the stomach a bit, and he just foamed at the mouth and fell over.

Aside from the two, the three upperclassmen I faced didn’t really leave an impression on me. Thinking about it, I guess I just had good luck with the draw. Since there were multiple tournaments going on at the same time, the strong players seemed to be scattered here and there.

Compared to that, the prize for winning is extremely generous.

E-2 Braver. A high-end line blade manufactured by S&C of Black Lotus.

It seems that this was the product sponsorship that Team Leader Myosang-ah mentioned last time, but compared to its value, it is of no use to me.

I’m already handling the Marvelous, and its flat shape, which feels more like a giant blunt weapon than a blade, doesn’t really suit my style.

“Should I give it to Jin Ye-seo… ”

It was an impulsive thought, but I think it’s pretty good. Even though he didn’t show it openly, he always seemed to envy my Marvelous.

It suits her aggressive fighting style quite well. I’ll have to give it to her when she’s free from her restraints and returns to her cradle.

“… ”

I touched my forehead absentmindedly. It seemed as if the moist feeling of the mucous membrane still remained.

It’s a little embarrassing, but on the other hand, the determination to achieve the goal is amazing.

Well, isn’t that what I’m supposed to be saying?

Because I was the one who told you not to be picky about the means and methods to achieve your goals.

Maybe Jin Ye-seo is just faithfully following those words.

The city center is still full of people. The magnificent music flowing out of the various halls and salons where small gatherings are held is sweet and piercing to the ears.

“Mary Anne! Mary Anne! You crazy bastard!”

A musical was being performed on a stage set up in the square, and the acting of a woman running around wearing a white rabbit headband and a mask was quite impressive.

“Go and get my gloves! Gloves! Gloves! ”

Every time she blows her trumpet, the crowd that gathers like a cloud bursts into laughter. It’s definitely like something out of a fairy tale I read as a child.

Was it the adventure story of a girl who followed a white rabbit down a rabbit hole?

It looks like the girl has already fallen into the hole.

***

Since I wasn’t particularly interested in the opera, I turned around and made my way through the crowd.

“Look over there! These are the wizards of the National Guard!”

“4th place black cat! Look at the equipment. How much does that cost… ”

“There’s also a 7th place bluefin tuna…!”

“Are you on patrol? The uniform is really cool. I want to work there when I graduate… ”

The voices of people passing by are loud and ringing in my ears. I know about the National Guard too.

A place where only those who have all the qualifications, such as family background, personal skills, and career, can enter. I think the captain mentioned in passing that he worked there before coming to the 66th Unit.

I understand that a considerable number of soldiers from the Royal Guard were deployed for security purposes during this social gathering.

Although there were quite a few concerns about security, no one would dare cause trouble in a place where such people were killing people.

“Is it still there? Barely surviving.”

“What? What is that?”

“There’s that one. If you confess below, your love will come true… ”

I can hear the chatter of the Royal Guard wizards passing by. Are they graduates?

But, there is a mistletoe that grants love. There is also a ghost story about a girl without a name tag. I think there are many different things. Perhaps the number of ghost stories and superstitions is proportional to the history and tradition of the Academy.

I continued walking to the outskirts of the city, on the other side of the crowd. I’m not the type of person to enjoy festivals alone. It happened yesterday, and I felt like I would be reminiscing about old memories.

Even though I have a few friends, it would be embarrassing to ask them to join me when they already have a group.

I was planning to kill some time in a quiet place and then attend the events scheduled in the afternoon.

There are two people I have to meet today: Kwon Yuri and Yeon Min-ha.

First of all, Kwon Yuri’s gathering comes first. I didn’t like the idea of an unauthorized ‘illegal’ gathering, but now there’s no other way.

Well, I guess I’ll just have to fill up some seats and come back later. At worst, I’ll just be treated like a puppet to please my seniors.

Still, I feel a little relieved to see that Kwon Yuri kept her promise. Didn’t you see with your own eyes that Yeon Min-ha’s salon was packed with people?

Considering that there were many people who usually looked down on her, it is clear that Kwon Yuri exerted her power.

In that case, it would be my duty to fulfill the contract as well.

‘Promise me one thing instead.’

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

But why did he say such things to me? I still couldn’t guess the meaning of that specific place and time.

I told you that you don’t need to come to the salon for no reason. As if I had made a big decision…

“… You’ll know when you go.”

Suddenly, an unknown premonition burrowed into my head. I shook my head to shake it off and hurriedly walked away.

***

The guards dispatched to the cradle were enjoying socializing while also guarding it.

“Black cat. Why?”

“Did you see the kid who just passed by?”

Then, one of the wizards suddenly stopped walking and turned his head. The tall man wearing a mask had long since disappeared into the crowd.

“Who?”

“There’s that guy from Black Lotus.”

“Ah, the younger brother of the first in the hierarchy?”

“I saw you at the tournament arena earlier. You fought well. Like the old Baekrang. But why? Are you trying to make a recruitment offer?”

“What? You still haven’t given up on your obsession? This bitch, you can’t keep messing with Baekrang, so now you have to go to that younger brother… Come to your senses. Even if you’re not as old as me, you’re twice as old as me… Ugh!”

“Shut your mouth! Who the hell is that!”

The wizard known as the Black Cat grumbled as he kicked the shin of a man who had been sulking.

“I just wanted to check it out in advance! And it’s not twice as old, it’s only about nine years old… !”

“Okay, stop now. Just finish what you were saying earlier.”

Another group approached her and quickly changed the subject to stop her from indiscriminately assaulting her.

“So where is that little girl?”

“Century tree. Just look for the smooth vines entangled between its branches. ”

Another person chimed in, answering the question.

“They say that if you confess your love under the midnight bell, you can be together forever.”

“Oh my. There are so many superstitions. If it was a hundred-year-old tree, it would be a big tree in the middle of the garden. It would be crowded with students all the time. I think there were a lot of kids who were secretly dating in our time too.”

“Well, it’s not as easy as it sounds.”

The person who was deeply engrossed in the story shook his head.

“First of all, there are two conditions.”

“Conditions?”

“Uh. First of all, the mistletoe attached to the century-old tree changes its location every year. I heard that it’s a magical plant and moves its habitat on its own. How would you find it among the branches that spread out like a forest? It’s just luck. ”

“Ugh, it’s so gross… ”

The person who thought of the vines moving slowly frowned.

“Well, there is a trick. The spirit masters use spirits to lure the nymphs to their side. I’ve seen a few people successfully confess that way.”

“If there is a spirit master, how much is there… What are the other conditions?”

“You can’t confess anytime. It has to be after the midnight bell on the 13th.”

“That’s fun. What day is it today?”

“12th.”

The wizard who had asked the question looked disappointed at the answer of the one who had checked his watch.

“Ah, during the social gathering period, the Baeknyeonmok area is off-limits anyway. It’s hot, it’s hot. I had a good time watching it… ”

“You never know. There might be someone who manages to sneak in through that gap… Big Bear, where are you going?”

He stopped talking and looked to the side to call someone.

One of the same guardsmen was trying to turn and leave the road.

“Oh, I have something to ask you.”

“Please? Who? To the battalion commander? That guy, please leave him alone on a day like this… ”

“Not the battalion commander. It’s someone else.”

“Someone else? Who?”

“Yes. We met last time. Should I go first? Let’s see.”

“Okay. Don’t go to places that are too remote!”

The wizard waved his hand and walked away from his group with a thumping pace.

“Main building machine room, anyone who interferes will be killed, Main building machine room, anyone who interferes will be killed… ”

He stood tall, whispering something so quietly that no one could hear.

Then he tried to recall the person who had asked him for a very small favor.

“Definitely brown hair… freckles… Huh? Who was it? ”

The gunshot only grazed him for a moment, and then he disappeared down the alley again, his gaze hazy and unfocused.

“Main building machine room, anyone who interferes will be killed, Main building machine room, anyone who interferes will be killed… ”

***

The clock tower was just before 4 p.m. I started walking toward the meeting place.

As we walk down the main street, which is full of people, it gradually becomes quieter and eventually a shabby park with no people begins to come into view.

Near the fenced entrance, the now familiar silhouette of a female student was looming.

An impression that gives off an innocent feeling, and the teardrops under his eyes that make him stand out even more.

Yuri Kwon, 2nd grade.

“Chick, this way!”

The moment I reluctantly took steps towards her, who waved my hand as if welcoming me.

I stopped dead in my tracks when I discovered something.

Between her hair stood fluffy rabbit ears that looked like something I had seen before.

“… White rabbit?”