episode_0192

“I suddenly wondered what was going on. The students said there was something fun, so I followed them. But there was heavy drinking and smoke… ”

Rather, it was Choi I-re who was excited by the sweet man’s voice.

“Oh, my… You’re a guest… It feels like it’s my first time seeing you… ”

Before she knew it, she was twirling one side of her braided hair around her fingers.

“Hi, my name is Choi I-re, the head of the leadership team… I’m a sophomore… My major is emissions… ”

“You are the Youngae of Seongsan. I have heard of your fame. I heard that you are a fair and upright leader who guides students in the school with passion and sincerity.”

“You, it’s embarrassing when you say that… ”

Choi I-re, who was shyly lowering her head, had already turned red up to her ears. The man spoke to her as if he was relieved to meet her in the midst of chaos.

“But… ”

Then he suddenly appealed to her in a tone full of worry.

“Did I do something wrong…? It seemed like the leaders were going around catching other students earlier. If there was something wrong, I will punish them… ”

“Oh my, no! Punishment.”

Then Choi I-re was startled and shook her head.

“The customer did nothing wrong. The ones who cheated should be punished.”

“But… ”

Before we knew it, a strange picture had formed in which Choi I-re was actually trying to dissuade the man who volunteered to be punished.

“This is an internal matter of the Academy. The guest was just unlucky enough to get involved. Don’t worry. If any trouble arises, I, Choi I-re, will guarantee the guest’s innocence. ”

She, who had been speaking forcefully, suddenly averted her gaze and trailed off.

“That, and… There’s no way such a kind person would willingly associate with such bad students… ”

“… ”

The man with the strange smile paused for a moment before continuing.

“… It seems like the person who is affectionate is not me, but the head of the leadership team.”

“Mo, I don’t know… Stop teasing me! You’re being too mean… ”

“Haha, sorry. It’s been a while since I’ve met someone I can really relate to. I guess I said all sorts of things without realizing it… ”

“Heee… ”

Choi I-re, who had been making the sound of a kettle blowing steam, flapped her front feathers with her fingers as if cooling down.

“Anyway, you can go now. I will guard this place tightly.”

“… ”

For some reason, the man seemed to dislike Choi Ire’s refusal to leave. He, who had been showing subtle signs in an unseen place, suddenly interrupted Choi Ire’s words.

“I… and if it’s not too much trouble… may I ask your name… ”

“Chief Seondo. By the way, didn’t you look for the girl wearing the rabbit mask earlier? ”

“That’s right… ! Kwon Yuri, you b*tch… No, my friend is a bit… a troublemaker… Haha… ”

“I think I saw him earlier. I saw his back as he was leaving through the passage over there… ”

“Jeong, really? I thought you’d definitely come this way. I’ll catch you right now… No, but still… ”

Choi I-re, who had been taking a stance as if she was going to jump out at any moment, hesitated while looking at the man. She seemed to still have feelings for the man in front of her more than for the annoying rabbit.

However, as the man moved closer and tickled her ear, Choi I-re froze, unable to move, like prey caught in a spider’s web.

“Respectable… I like a woman who takes responsibility… ”

“The glasses suit you well, but…the way you take them off is also very… ”

“Next… Again… ”

Because the whisper was so quiet, it was hard to hear properly. It seemed like only Choi I-re understood what was being said.

She had been hesitating with her head down, but suddenly she gripped the blade tightly. Then she herself entered the chaotic banquet hall.

Her face was filled with resentment towards the rabbit girl who had run away.

“Kwon Yuri! Hey!! Where are you!!”

“Follow the manager!!”

“Wow!!”

Before long, Choi I-re disappeared into the smoke and was no longer visible. Now, the passage was quiet, with no one guarding it.

Behind the fallen table that Choi Ire had passed by without paying any attention to, the girl with golden eyes who had collapsed and was muttering in vain.

“… Slutty bitch.”

***

The place the man and Seoyeon reached was a passageway under the streetlight at the back of the annex.

He didn’t open his mouth or look back the whole time he was out of the basement.

All Seoyeon could see was his back.

“I’m going to go now.”

“Ah… ”

Seo-yeon sighed in vain as she watched the man walking away.

It seemed as if he had no intention of even looking me in the face when saying goodbye.

The impatience that had arisen again disturbed Seo-yeon’s mind. It was even worse when she saw the miserable scene just now.

She too was desperate to hear the man’s warm whispers, even if they were lies.

Looking back, I just regret the two hours I spent doing nothing.

“Sleep, wait a minute… !”

And the moment that thought crosses your mind.

Seoyeon opened her mouth and shouted without realizing it.

“Wait a minute… Can you wait…?”

“… ”

“There’s no need to go this quickly… huh?”

The past two years have been filled with despair and heartbreak.

And then, like a miracle, came the hope I thought I would never see again.

The two hours of happiness that I finally tasted at the end.

Of course, it was enough time to become addicted.

“It’s a social gathering… Let’s walk together… and look around… ”

He couldn’t see anything because of the greed that covered his eyes. Perhaps because he had encountered the bitches wagging their tails at him one after another, his judgment had become excessively clouded.

I can’t even remember my last resolution.

“Hey, they’re going to have fireworks later… ”

“Two hours are already over.”

“Huh… ?”

But desperate persuasion was in vain, and the man only spat out cold, short answers.

“Well, still… ”

“There’s no reason for me to do that… ”

“Ah, ahh… ”

The man continued walking again. All Seo-yeon could do was stretch out her arms and wave them in the air.

‘No, no… This can’t go on…!’

Spangle Spangle. My brain was overworked to the point of overload. Now, all I could think about was how to hold onto that man. By any means necessary, by any means necessary.

And that’s the end of that whirlwind of thoughts.

Seo-yeon, who had finally found the answer, or what she thought was the answer, shouted at the man’s back again.

“Bo, compensation… !”

-Tall.

The answer was the answer. The man stopped walking as soon as he heard Seo-yeon’s scream. As if that wasn’t enough, he even asked Seo-yeon himself.

“What did you just say…?”

“Black, the compensation that Black Lotus must pay us in exchange for your life… ”

Seoyeon swallowed hard. The sense of accomplishment of having his attention back dominated her thoughts the whole time.

“… Just tonight. No, just spend a few hours with me. If you do that… If you accept that offer… ”

The girl with golden eyes continued speaking.

“… I will replace the reward with that.”

She finished what she wanted to say. Seo-yeon looked at the man who had completely turned around and prayed earnestly.

The words he had just spoken were purely his own opinion. He didn’t know what kind of sanctions he would receive from the head of the household later.

But this was something that only he had to take responsibility for. He was willing to take on more if it meant spending time with him.

This was just a mild tantrum.

In short, I want you to recognize my hard work.

***

I felt so nauseous that I even had a headache. The result of the beauty queen’s trick was quite successful. Thanks to that, I was able to escape the underground banquet hall safely.

But it was also true that the aftertaste was not very refreshing. The moment I saw the streetlight across the passage, I made up my mind.

I will never do something like this again, even if it is my actual experience or something. It was the most useless piece of knowledge the captain had ever taught me. I would rather punch myself in the stomach than do this again.

… That was the case, it was definitely true.

Not even a few minutes later, I was back on the test again.

“… ”

I was looking into a pair of brightly shining golden eyes. They were trembling, and there was a clear look of nervousness in them.

I couldn’t figure out why. Wasn’t it enough that he had tormented me for two hours?

I could barely sit down and look at that girl because I kept thinking about the contract with Kwon Yuri.

I couldn’t bear to see you get into such an awkward situation, so I went out of my way to bring you out.

And yet, what on earth is it that is holding me back like this? Why do I enjoy being in pain so much?

… No, I don’t. The only emotion I can sense from those eyes right now is pure kindness.

But the target isn’t me.

As soon as I realized that fact, I was able to realize the source of the pain I was feeling now.

Even how to solve it.

“Uh, how is it…?”

The golden eyes open their mouths again.

All this pain is something I feel because I am still young.

If so, the answer is simple.

You can erase me. I’ll just become something for a little while.

Not a country bumpkin from the old days, but a descendant of the prestigious Black Lotus family.

The very being that she is currently showing her kindness with all her might.

-They are demanding several lucrative businesses in exchange for the life of the young master in Paechon. The couple is also directly involved in the negotiations…

Team Leader Myosang-ah’s worried voice rings in my ears.

A few core businesses. Instead, all it requires is a few hours of dreaming.

The difference in value is too great to even be put on a scale.

If the successor of the Black Lotus heard that proposal, then…

There is absolutely no reason to refuse.

***

After a long silence.

Finally, the man who had been standing still in the darkness opened his mouth.

“… You have to go before midnight.”

“Huh, huh?”

“If that’s okay with you… ”

“Water, of course! It’s okay!”

The female student who had been dumbfounded quickly straightened up. She nodded fiercely and then glanced at the man and asked cautiously.

“Then shall we go…?”

“… That’s right.”

“… Yeah!!”

The successor of the Black Lotus stared at her with empty eyes. He couldn’t figure out anything. Why would someone who loves his fiancé act like this? Was he a lesser man than he thought? So he’s trying to find someone else?

“… ”

Only one thing was certain.

He could see clearly.

The deep, heartfelt happiness that was shining in her eyes that curved like crescent moons.

***

Deep in the cradle garden.

A dark black stump. Branches that stretch out in all directions and cover the entire sky. Leaves that glow blue with particles.

“Yes, I’ve been in love with you for a long time… No, no.”

Under the hundred-year-old tree, someone’s muttering could be heard.

“This is so old-fashioned… Something else… Something else… ”

The girl walked around the dungeon in an anxious manner. The hem of her sleeveless dress, the same color as her hair, fluttered in the night breeze.

She was muttering, then suddenly looked up and muttered in a chilling voice.

“… It’s still far away. Hold on tight.”

-Keeek!

-Sigh!

As if in response, the roar of a beast echoed immediately. The branches above his head were covered with vines of an unusually bright green color.

It was somehow moving its body as if it were an animal. It seemed as if it wanted to go somewhere else, but it seemed to be blocked by the translucent cats and caterpillars surrounding it, preventing it from doing so.

“Tsk. How did you find this little girl… ”

The girl clicked her tongue lightly and became lost in her thoughts again.

After standing still for a while, she hesitated and opened her mouth again.

“Oh, oppa… with me… No, no!!”

But soon he shook his head even more violently than before.

“What kind of brother are you, oppa! I’m your senior!! Something different, something different… !”

It was even more frustrating because I couldn’t even pull out my neatly combed hair.

-Ding! Ding! Ding… !

-Phuong! Bang!

Then, exactly nine chimes sounded from the clock tower. As if to signal this, fireworks began to rain down and light up the sky beyond the garden.

“Pretty… ”

Yeonmin-ha also stared at the scene, lost in thought. Then, suddenly, she trembled with a sense of loneliness.

She turned her head without realizing it and checked behind her.

“chi… ”

But the sight of the garden without a trace of human presence made the girl pout involuntarily.

“Fireworks… I wanted to watch it together… ”

She hummed softly.

“You said you would come… ”

Just a few hours until midnight.

The one still waiting didn’t even show a shadow.