episode_0210

“So that’s how it is?”

“No… What did he, what did he say… The assistant did this and that… ”

A lot of nonsense without any answer. I think I know the gist of it.

I can’t say it’s all that great now, but at the beginning of the semester, my perception among students was literally at rock bottom.

Among all that, the first person to approach me was Yena.

Since a female student with an innocent appearance, origin, and behavior was always following a vagrant around, it was only natural that such strange rumors would spread.

I thought things had calmed down a bit by now, but… listening to what he said, it seems like that’s not necessarily the case.

Well, as long as you don’t do it out loud in front of others, it doesn’t really matter…

“That, so… I thought you might have that kind of taste… Uh, it’ll be hard to resolve that with a girlfriend… If you need help… ”

“Hey. What if you believe such a rumor, and not someone else?”

Jin Ye-seo muttered something in an inaudible voice. I sighed and opened my mouth.

“I said we were friends. And if I did something like that, would he have stuck with me like that?”

“… I don’t know. It’s because our tastes surprisingly match… No, no… ”

Jin Ye-seo, who had been grumbling alone, nodded and cleared her throat.

“Ahem, actually, I thought so too. That’s ridiculous, um. That’s ridiculous… ”

I feel like I can sense some regret in your tone of voice… but of course I’m mistaken.

“Oh my, it’s already time… ”

Jin Ye-seo was always sad to see the training end, but today, a sense of relief flowed from her face.

“Should we start cleaning up now?”

However, Jin Ye-seo, contrary to what she said, rummaged through her bag while still sitting. Then she took out a towel and handed it to me.

“… ?”

“I’m sweating so much on my back… Help me wipe it off.”

“What?”

“It was really hot today. If I keep going like this, I feel like I’m going to stink of sweat. Everything else is fine, but my arms can’t reach my back… ”

“… ”

Before she knew it, Jin Ye-seo was lying face down. Her firm, milky white skin was visible beneath her rolled-up top.

Then he urged me on in a calm tone.

“Hurry up. I have to go straight to class in the afternoon.”

“… Okay. Is this okay?”

“Huh… Yeah. There and up there… and on the side too… Hyaat.”

“… ”

After a while of snoring, Jin Ye-seo finally got up, seemingly satisfied. It was so hot that her face was once again bright red.

The real story that happened sends me some kind of beckoning message.

“Look back. This time, I’ll do it.”

“I don’t need… ”

“Look back. Your back is much wider than mine. If you walk around smelling like sweat, your girlfriend won’t like it.”

“… ”

“If you understand, turn around quickly. And take off your shirt.”

Eventually, I hesitated and followed her words. Soon, I felt the sensation of the cloth moving back and forth across my back, along with a sound like a sob-inhale.

“Huh, huh… It’s done.”

Taktak-Jin Ye-seo patted her back with the palm of her hand.

“You can get up now.”

“Thank you. The towel is… ”

“Oh, I’ll take care of this. Our dormitory janitor is good at doing laundry.”

Jin Ye-seo put the towel soaked in my sweat into a small pocket and quickly put it into her bag. She did it so quickly that it was hard to follow her movements with the naked eye.

It feels quite awkward to wrap a dirty, smelly towel as if it were a precious gift.

It might be to prevent the smell from permeating other belongings, but… wouldn’t it be better to just throw it away? A towel or something like that is all over the place in this cradle.

For a rich girl, she’s surprisingly frugal…

“Are you okay? Your face is so red. Are you suffering from the heat?”

“Huh, huh?”

Jin Ye-seo looked embarrassed after hearing the question and fumbled with her face.

“Ah, I guess it’s because it’s so hot. Should I really go to the hospital… ”

But soon he shakes his head as if it was nothing.

After packing our bags, we left the training room and headed outside.

“I’m here. Should I go first?”

“Goodbye.”

Jin Ye-seo waves her hand and quickly disappears down the stairs.

I walked alone and slowly towards the correction.

Jin Ye-seo’s condition seems better than expected. She must be heartbroken to have her relationship with her senior, whom she trusted and followed, suddenly fall apart.

Maybe she’s just trying to act more calm on purpose. Considering Jin Ye-seo’s strong-willed personality, it’s entirely possible.

The fact that the person who caused this was none other than me makes my heart even heavier.

It’s fortunate that you feel at ease during your training time. I guess I’ll have to help you for the time being. I have responsibilities too…

“It’s really hot. It was fine earlier… ?”

“You didn’t come running here? Go wash up quickly.”

As I was walking through the warm schoolyard, the voices of students approaching and passing me from the main gate suddenly caught my ear.

Rather than the sunlight being warm, it feels like the ground is getting hot. Should I ask them to sprinkle some water on me?

“… ”

As I walked, I thought back to Yena again.

… Now that I think about it, I think there was something related to Yena. What was it? It wasn’t a memory, but more like a feeling… something like that.

But no matter how hard I tried to recall it, it was all blurry. I eventually gave up on the thought and started walking again.

If I look at Yena again… I might be able to recall what that feeling was like.

***

“Professor Noh. Are you sure there is no problem with the core?”

“That’s right! How many times do I have to tell you before you understand!”

Cradle Faculty Meeting.

The fat male professor became very upset after hearing Professor Shin Jae-yu’s sharp question.

“I went down to the basement and checked it myself. The core is fine. I can guarantee that.”

The topic of the emergency meeting was the rise in temperatures in the vicinity that had been detected two days ago.

Students were just complaining, but professors were more sensitive to what was happening.

Also, the fact that it is clearly an abnormal situation.

A cradle is a facility that is naturally formed in a place where particles collect along the terrain.

Highly densely compressed particles allow for smoother use of magic, while also placing a constant strain on the body.

It would be difficult for ordinary people to stay there for long periods of time, but on the other hand, it could be said to be a truly blessed environment for training young magicians.

The high density of particles complements the immature magical skills, and the body continuously repeats overload and recovery to further accelerate growth.

However, the remaining extra particles ultimately seep into underground cavities.

And what we have there now is a giant stellite ore, created by a reaction between the massive amount of particles and minerals that have seeped in.

The so-called core.

However, due to the massive particles that kept pouring in, it was having difficulty reaching a stabilization phase.

The outside has crystallized to some extent, but the inside is still half liquid.

The problem is its inherent instability. Unstabilized stellite always carries the risk of causing a chain reaction.

Of course, unless someone deliberately stirs things up internally, the chances of that actually happening are extremely low.

This is especially true when you consider the sheer size of the stone.

Even if Haewolhwa came in person and poured out all of her particles until she was exhausted, it would not be enough to cause a chain explosion.

In any case, there was no reason for the cradle to take even the slightest risk.

To relieve the instability by draining the energy inside and not waste precious power sources, the cradle connected the core to the main power unit and also used it to surround the surrounding atmosphere with a thin layer of particles.

Like a field surrounding the wizard’s body.

It was basically intended to prevent terrorism using heavy weapons, but it also had the function of preventing rapid changes in internal temperature.

Thanks to this, although not perfect, the temperature in the cradle remained relatively constant throughout the year.

So, this heat, which wasn’t even the beginning of summer, was clearly wrong.

“You didn’t just go down to the middle, did you?”

“What! Where are you now…!”

“Ahem, Professor Shin. Take care of yourself.”

As the argument began to escalate, another professor stepped in to stop them.

“Didn’t he say he checked it himself? With the principal out of the office, he’s the most senior professor and the ultimate security officer for the facility. He deserves more respect.”

“… ”

Professor Shin Jae-yu pouted as if he was not pleased, but there was no more objection. Another professor, who had been deep in thought, touched his forehead as if he had a headache.

“But if there is no problem with the core…what on earth is this phenomenon… ”

“The principal should come back soon… What kind of strange things are these?”

“How many accidents have happened this year already… Seriously, I wonder if I’ll end up being overtaken by Yukhwa… ”

“I wonder if the flow is messed up somewhere. Let’s do a closer check… ”

“Oh my! Didn’t I say I checked everything!”

“Professor Noh, calm down… ”

After the heated debate, the young female professor still had a suspicious expression on her face. She secretly gestured to Professor Kwon Chan-yeol, who was sitting next to her.

Then she brought her mouth close to his ear and whispered.

“Senior, no, Professor Kwon. You have the authority to enter the A-level confidential information, right? This is your 10th year as a full professor.”

“It exists…but why all of a sudden?”

“Please lend me that.”

“What?”

Professor Kwon, who usually has a languid expression, showed a rare look of bewilderment.

“I have to go down there and see for myself. Is there really something fishy going on?”

Professor Shin Jae-yu’s face showed a certain firm conviction.

“In the last accident, only the facility guarded by Professor Noh was intact. How can that be possible? Even the main building was blown up.”

“That’s actually something to be praised for. I know you don’t like Professor Noh, but even so… ”

“Ah, just don’t get caught! Don’t you know my stealth skills? Just take a quick look and I’ll come out!”

She opened her eyes wide and shouted into Professor Kwon’s ear.

***

“Umm… ”

The muscular, huge man lying on the bed opened his eyes with a start.

“What is this… Where is this… Huh?”

-Rumble.

At the sound of a heavy metal noise, the man who had been looking around with hazy eyes suddenly stopped moving.

As if he still didn’t fully understand the situation, he was staring blankly at the particle restraint handcuffs tied around his ankles.

Soon after, the urgent sound of someone running towards the medical team is heard.

A large man opened his mouth as he recognized the slender woman who had entered the hospital room.

“Black cat.”

“Big Bear, do you recognize me?”

“What are you talking about? Of course I know.”

Unlike the bewildered man, the black cat continued speaking with a stern face.

“It seems you have some sense of reason. That’s fortunate. But I didn’t want to kill you with my own hands.”

“Go crazy and run wild…? Kill…? What the… ”

The man’s expression becomes even more confused at his superior’s incomprehensible words.

“Is your memory not perfect? Well, it wouldn’t be surprising since you were unconscious for several days.”

“Faint… Me… ?”

“Know shame. A member of the active National Guard being beaten by a mere cradle brat. No matter how crazy you are… ”

“Cradle… Memory… ?”

The man muttered as he recalled the black cat’s words. His mind was gradually becoming clearer, as if the hazy fog was clearing away.

Due to some force, he was the only one who was able to regain his identity, unlike the other perpetrators of the Cradle Riot Incident.

With the memories coming back again.

“Okay. Let’s start the interrogation right away.”

The black cat sighed as he watched him standing still and muttering.

“Do you know my personality? I don’t plan on seeing you as an old colleague. So that I can answer each question correctly. Let’s start with my thumbnail. Then… ”

“… I got it.”

“What?”

“I remember…that.”

The black cat, who had been preparing to torture, frowned at the sudden change in stance.

“What is this intention? The interrogation hasn’t even started yet. Don’t think I’ll let it slide… ”

“Brown hair… !”

The man’s memories surge like waves. A remote alley in the capital city where he stopped by while on a mission. A female student he passed by there.

The cradle badge is clearly visible on the hem of the white jacket. Brown hair combed neatly, eyes the same color as his, and even the lips that were humming a tune.

But then came the moment when I realized the beauty that had not been asked about before.

The man inadvertently lost himself.

“Brown hair… brown eyes… freckles… I remember… !”

What followed was a long nightmare. The girl with the angelic face whispered the devil’s taunts.

“What is this… ”

The black cat muttered in confusion. The man, whose whole body was tied up, looked at her and shouted desperately.

“That’s the kid! We have to catch him…! To the cradle right now…!”