episode_0237

“Really… I’ll really do well… ”

“Senior… !”

“I won’t speak carelessly from now on… I’ll just be careful from the side… ”

“Senior, what are you doing? Come to your senses!”

He paid no attention to my pitying attempts to dissuade him.

“If you tell me to laugh, I’ll laugh, and if you tell me to cry, I’ll cry… It’s okay if I hit you to vent my anger… ”

She continued to kneel and make her desperate plea.

“Kang, I won’t resist even if you forcefully explore my body… In the classroom… In the garden… You can give it to me whenever you want… ”

“Pity me!”

I couldn’t stand hearing such miserable words any longer. I went over and forcibly lifted her up.

And then I met two eyes that were empty and unfocused, shedding tears.

I could immediately tell her condition. Even the ominous atmosphere that surrounded her all the time. I had experienced it once before.

This was a symptom of mental pollution.

“Senior… ”

I bit my lips, feeling exhausted.

Why? Yeonminha’s mental pollution was improving at a rapid pace. Recently, even without the manifestation of power, he was able to get through this week without any problems.

I felt a little lonely that she was needing my skills less and less, but at the same time, I thought it was a great relief.

Even though I didn’t know when, one thing was certain: my life would fade before hers.

But we were only apart for two days… Why on earth?

Could it be… that my heart was wavering because of the possibility that I might choose Yeon-i?

“… ”

It was later that I became obsessed with my thoughts. I immediately spread my power in all directions, cutting off the connection between Yeonminha and the spirits.

And the eyes of compassion that were looking at me gradually began to come into focus.

I shook her urgently.

“Senior! Come to your senses… ”

Prison.

And then, without saying a word of pity, he buried his face in my chest.

Her shoulders shook violently. I could feel her breathing raggedly, as if she was gritting her teeth.

The mental contamination had already been blocked. All I could do was silently embrace her.

“… ”

Silence spread through the darkness of the night. I consoled the little bird in my arms while pondering the situation I was in.

The life of a mere orphan changed drastically in just a few weeks. But who can blame?

Should we even reprimand the principal who made such an absurd request in the first place?

No, this is solely my burden.

A burden that I chose willingly, not one that was forced upon me or pushed upon me.

As the intensity in my arms seemed to have subsided, I looked down at Yeonmin-ha.

She was in a deep sleep, exhausted and exhausted, with large tears still hanging from her eyes.

He stroked her hair carefully.

After all, she is a woman who cannot be left alone.

***

With the official end of the school holiday, a new week has begun.

And the Academy also resumed its official training schedule that had been suspended.

“Okay, that’s it for today’s sparring!”

Students who had been standing at the signal of the short-haired female professor started to leave one by one. She was drawing lines on the evaluation form, perhaps dissatisfied with the students who had become dull over the past few days.

I had already finished my homework and was enjoying a leisurely break with the students in the leading group. This is still a lot of free time.

Even though I don’t know how much it was cracked, it was a piece of porcelain that looked fine on the outside.

Honestly, I couldn’t feel much of a difference from before unless I applied high-level magic to my entire body.

And then I happened to make eye contact with Professor Shin Jae-yu, who was looking around at the fallen students with his eyes wide open.

The female professor’s eyes suddenly widened into crescent-shaped shapes, then she winked one eye and sent an unknown signal.

“… ”

I was at a loss for words as I struggled to respond. Then she smiled mischievously, wiggled her fingers, and turned around.

Shouldn’t a professor have a certain sense of weight? Of course, I appreciate that he treats me kindly all the time.

On the one hand, a slight sense of anxiety still lingered in a corner of my heart.

That day.

Even though it was a choice to prevent a massive explosion that would blow up half of the capital, my ability was discovered by the professors who had gathered to prevent the core from going out of control.

And any wizard with common sense would be unable to help but be skeptical of that wondrous sight.

Even more so now that the existence of witches has been made public to the world.

“But is it really true…? A witch… ”

“That’s it…? They’re definitely the criminals who appeared a dozen years ago… ”

“You fools, that’s not it… ”

Soon after, the sound of other students talking while resting tickled my ears.

I, who used powers that could not be explained by modern magic. And then, after many years, a powerful enemy appeared again.

Connecting the two isn’t that difficult.

In other words, it wouldn’t be strange at all if you immediately turned me into an enemy force.

But none of the professors mentioned that day’s events in front of me. Instead, they just showed strange gestures that were close to encouragement or favor, like Professor Shin Jae-yu just now.

Maybe someone tried to force it. If so, the principal?

Now that I think about it, I wonder what the principal thinks of me. She must have heard about what happened that day a long time ago.

I’m curious about her intentions, but I can’t find a way to delve into them. She’s so busy with her piling up work that I can’t even open my eyes to look at her.

There are many other things to worry about. My relationship with Yeon-i, my relationship with the witch Polaris, my search for Yena, the eerie warning left by Regulus who took over Yena’s body, and… my remaining lifespan.

Each and every one of them is the cause of severe headaches.

“So, at that time, senior Baek Seo-yeon personally blocked the way… !”

The air in the cradle was filled with all sorts of rumors. Yeon-i’s name was heard everywhere I went, so there was no way I could not hear it.

She hasn’t shown up in the cradle yet, citing recovery as an excuse. I guess that’s a good thing.

I don’t have the same resentment as before, but I have no idea how to deal with Yeon-i when I accidentally run into her in the cradle.

Anyway, most of the voices heard about Yeon-i are favorable.

He personally reported the rebellion of his family and personally stepped forward to stop his father’s rebellion, even getting injured.

Moreover, Paechun had as many friends as enemies. Even in her cradle, there were still a considerable number of students who almost worshipped her.

Compared to the time of the communist incident, the situation was better in many ways. I feel a little relieved because I think that Yeon-i won’t be in trouble if she returns this time.

Of course, that’s a story for when I get back.

“Huh… ?”

Just as I was leaving the training ground and about to move to the next classroom.

Somehow, I heard a commotion coming from the exit. At the same time, I could feel several eyes glancing at me.

I could immediately see the cause.

Because I found Yeonmin-ha waiting for me with her hands clasped together quietly under the arch decoration at the entrance to the training ground.

***

“There was no need to come all the way here.”

“Sometimes I think we need something like this too.”

Yeonmin-ha and Saechorom, who were walking side by side, answered.

“Where did I see that… A way to cheer up your boyfriend… ”

“gi… ?”

I smiled faintly. Where did you come from for this strange book?

Well, I think anyone would be thrilled if a senior from the Red Army came out to greet them.

“… You didn’t hate it, did you?”

Yeonmin-ha, who had been glancing at me, asked in a slightly timid voice. For a moment, a strange feeling enveloped my body.

If it were my usual compassion, I would have opened my eyes wide and questioned him.

Now that I think about it, it seems better to see that kind of compassion. Of course, it’s better to see him looking so listless and worn out.

“No way.”

Anyway, he immediately shook his head and denied it.

“It was so good.”

“… Then that’s fine.”

A look of relief crossed Yeonminha’s face as she turned her head. During our break, we went down the hallway and walked around the central fountain.

“That, right.”

And Yeonmin-ha, who had been hesitating as if she still had something to say, finally opened her mouth again.

“That day… What I said was… ”

“Okay.”

And this time I shook my head immediately.

Neither of them mentioned what happened that day, as if they had made a promise.

Just because you’ve been mentally polluted doesn’t mean you’ll lose your memories, but that doesn’t mean you need to bring up shameful acts.

And the fact that I am here now is, above all, proof.

“I told you. I was so tired that I don’t even remember what happened that day.”

“Ah, no… that’s not it… ”

“That’s not it… ?”

“That’s not it… That, that is… A little bit of sincerity… !”

However, the commotion that suddenly broke out at the main gate caused Yeonminha to close her eyes tightly and her words were buried.

The attention of the students walking around the square was focused on one point. And their voices caught my attention as well.

“Senior Baek Seo-yeon…!!”

“It’s my senior!”

I stopped walking without even realizing it. My eyes, which had reflexively turned around, soon caught sight of someone.

Yeon-i, whom I saw again after a few days, looked quite healthy. Seeing her smiling brightly and greeting people made me feel a little relieved.

And at the feeling of being held tightly by my arm, I turned my head again.

Even though he tried to act compassionate and calm, he couldn’t hide his agitation. He stood there frozen, his eyes trembling.

Half fear, half… anger.

“… ”

There, Yeon-i’s smiling face somehow feels so determined that an uneasy feeling seeps into my skin.

Anyway, it’s not good for us to be here right now. I spoke while wrapping my arm around Yeonminha’s shoulder.

“Senior. First, take your seat… ”

But that was the moment.

I tilted my head as I noticed something with Yeon-i.

“… ?”

It seemed that I was not the only one who had discovered it. The murmurs among the students gathered in the square were gradually growing louder.

“Girl…?”

“Oh my gosh… so cute… is that your nephew…?”

Something that looks like a small animal is walking nervously, holding onto Yeon-i’s hand tightly. It’s a girl.

A very young girl wearing a white one-piece dress who appears to be no more than three or four years old, no matter how hard you look at her.

It’s even cuter because its head is so wavy that it almost drags on the ground. It’s a lovely appearance that makes you feel refreshed just by looking at it.

Maybe it’s because she looks so much like Yeon-i that it feels that way. Could she be a relative of the family who takes care of her for a while?

But somehow, the atmosphere feels quite familiar and not unfamiliar. Even the pupils are a cloudy gray color that looks like something I’ve seen somewhere before…

“Huh… ?”

And in that moment, I was overcome by a strange feeling that I couldn’t express in words.

The child, with an extremely excited expression, kept turning his head here and there. It seemed as if the sights surrounding him were new, and it also seemed as if he was trying to find someone.

And then, the moment I realized that the distance was gradually getting closer.

I suddenly locked eyes with the girl.

“… !”

Soon, a bright smile appeared on the child’s face. Then, she let go of Yeon-i’s hand and ran away with her feet in the air, the hem of her dress fluttering.

The direction was clearly towards us. Before I knew it, the child had run right up to my eyes and jumped into my legs without even thinking about stopping.

Then, he hugged it like a big teddy bear, looked up at me, and shouted loudly.

With a smile as bright as can be.

“Dad!”