episode_0303

Late afternoon.

Lee Hyun was walking along the back alleys of the capital that spread out like a spider’s web.

He’s not playing around or slacking off, what he’s doing now is part of a patrol assignment.

Patrol is the lowest rank request. Normally, it wouldn’t have been his turn since he was ranked first in the entire grade, but the chaos of the war and the aftermath created the current situation.

The scars of war were gradually being healed, but the inevitable vacuum in public security resulted in various thugs and stray warlocks seeping into the darkness of the capital.

As a result, the crime rate and mutant sightings in the slums were increasing day by day, so naturally, the number of patrol requests coming into the cradle from the security bureau also increased explosively.

‘Well… It’s nice to go for a walk after a long time, isn’t it?’

Lee Hyun already had a track record of successfully completing a number of high-level requests. His ranking score had long since passed the four-digit mark.

Although patrol assignments that cost only a single digit number of points were annoying, he faithfully carried out the assignments without showing any particular displeasure.

On the contrary, it seems that the recent explosive interest has been burdensome, as it even feels like a strange sense of liberation.

“Hey. What’s going on with you and my sister?”

It was so much so that I received this question from Choi Woo-jin, who had a complicated expression on his face, today as well.

He only greeted Choi Ire whenever they met. No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t find any particular connection with her, so Lee Hyun just shook his head.

‘Come to think of it… I think the place where I first met Yena was around here.’

Hyun Lee, who was looking around, recalled a memory that had flowed naturally like a past season.

Along with him, the face of an innocent schoolgirl with big brown eyes lingers in my mind.

“You said it would still take time to recover… ”

According to what Mok Jin-woo told me, she is currently staying at a safe house prepared by the Information Bureau.

At first, she was staying at Anhwa Prison, which mainly houses heinous criminals, but her sincere cooperation and the valuable information she provided were taken into consideration.

Her reinstatement was almost a done deal. It was just that the various procedures required more time because the situation was still at a standstill.

“… Would Yena be surprised when she sees me?”

Lee Hyun had a slight smile on his lips. Although he didn’t say it out loud, Yena was also secretly curious about his real face.

Of course, he was on patrol right now, so he had his hood pulled down low to hide his features. He knew full well that this in itself might attract unnecessary attention.

“Hoo… ”

Lee Hyeon, who finally reached the end of the alley, looked a little deflated.

According to the request, today he should have encountered at least two groups of mutants roaming the area.

But today, the alley was unusually quiet. Not a single rat was in sight, so much so that it felt almost boring.

Or perhaps the intensified patrols of the past are finally having an effect.

With that slight sense of emptiness, Lee Hyeon turned around and was about to leave the alley.

Suddenly, a commotion in the deep darkness reached his ears.

-…!

-…!

Heavy breathing, loud screams from multiple people, and even the faint smell of blood.

‘One woman… many men… ‘

Even while Lee Hyun was hurriedly moving towards the body, he continued to gather information. Before long, the source of the commotion became apparent in front of him, who had lost his presence.

And Lee Hyeon ended up making a bewildered expression.

I was clearly picturing some poor woman who had taken the wrong path and entered an alley, surrounded by a bunch of thugs and being persecuted…

“Eek… !”

“God, it’s a monster… ”

The ones lying on the floor, groaning in pain, were actually muscle-bound vagrants.

Occasionally, there are those with an extra arm and an extra eye, which are clearly mutants who were illegally treated by a warlock.

In the middle of the commotion, someone with long hair fluttering around was standing quietly. He was standing with his back turned so his face was not visible, but Lee Hyun opened his eyes wide.

Even though it felt a bit old, it was clearly a Cradle Schoolgirl uniform that the girl was wearing.

‘Who are you…? I haven’t heard that there are any other patrol requests besides mine…?’

Lee Hyun gathered his thoughts. Anyway, one thing was certain. Right now, Lee Hyun’s help wasn’t really needed.

Lee Hyun chose to hide for a moment and observe. Now, among the vagrants surrounding the female student, only one remained sane.

The schoolgirl let out a small breath and finally slowly walked towards the man who was leaning against the wall and trembling.

“Hee, heeeek… I didn’t recognize you… ! Please, at least save my life… ”

“Hey you. What did you say to me earlier?”

“Yes, yes… ?”

The mutant vagabond, who had been praying earnestly with his four arms together, made a puzzled expression for a moment at the schoolgirl’s question.

“I… What are you talking about… Huh… !”

-Bang!!

In an instant, the stone wall behind him came crashing down. It was all due to a single light kick from a schoolgirl.

“When you first saw me earlier, what did you say?”

A voice dripping with cold air was heard. The sound somehow felt quite familiar, so Lee Hyun tilted his head.

“Answer me. If you tell me honestly, I’ll spare your life. I promise.”

“That, that’s why… ”

The face of the vagabond who had recalled his memories instantly became thoughtful. However, it was also true that no matter how much he racked his brain, there was no proper way out.

Eventually, he stuttered and opened his mouth.

“Oh, after a long time, a ‘young and fit’ girl rolled in… Boom!”

But he stumbled and fell to the floor helplessly before he could finish his sentence. The schoolgirl had flicked a small particle bomb with her finger and hit him in the back of the neck.

Well, I didn’t take any lives, so I kept my promise.

“Uh, uhhhh… ”

And in the midst of all that misery, a strange voice was heard. The schoolgirl’s shoulders were shaking with increasing intensity.

Soon, joyful laughter began to echo down the darkened alley.

“That’s right… This body is still in its prime… Young and fit… Anyone can see it that way… !”

It was a muttering so full of resentment that it made his pores tingle. Even on an early summer evening, Lee Hyun could feel the chill of the north wind in the middle of winter.

The schoolgirl’s long hair fluttered in the wind that blew in the air. Lee Hyun was finally able to see the face revealed beyond it.

One eye was covered with a flower-embroidered patch, but the other pupil was as clear and sparkling as a jewel. The flawless, pure white skin was clear evidence of youth, but the speech that strangely sounded old added a touch of suspicion.

“… ”

Lee Hyun was speechless. It was the moment when he confirmed with his own eyes the ghost story that had been circulating through rumors, of a female student wearing an old school uniform and walking around the back alleys of the capital without a name tag.

After thinking for a moment, Lee Hyeon decided to quietly retreat and leave the scene without making a sound.

“Ugh, ughhh… !”

After that, Haewolhwa’s cool laughter continued to flow out continuously.

***

I thought it was odd, but I didn’t really want to criticize the principal’s hobbies.

Lee Hyeon thought like that and safely left the place, but the moment of reunion came to him sooner than he expected.

“Principal… Teacher?”

“Huh?”

On the way back, Lee Hyun stopped by a shabby bar in a back alley slightly away from the downtown area. He made eye contact with an elegant woman sitting at the corner of the counter, sipping a glass of wine, which was the target of his murder.

Because her skin was originally white, Haewolhwa’s cheeks were even more dramatically intoxicated. She recognized Lee Hyeon and muttered with an awkward expression.

“Yes, what are you doing here…?”

“While performing a patrol request… Where is the principal?”

“Yes, this is my regular store. I always stop by after working out.”

Haewolhwa’s voice sounded somewhat flustered.

‘…Has the meaning of the word exercise changed?’

Hyun Lee, who had been thinking about the scene from earlier for a moment, glanced at Haewolhwa. At least she wasn’t wearing a school uniform.

Fortunately, she didn’t seem to notice at all that Lee Hyun had been there earlier. You could tell just by looking at her awkward expression that she hadn’t expected to see him in a place like this.

…then it would be better for both of us to continue to pretend not to know.

“Hey, why don’t you sit down for a bit instead of standing there? I was already a little bored.”

A voice broke Lee Hyun’s thoughts. Haewolhwa was spinning her glass with one hand, her chin resting on her slightly drunken eyes.

“Ah, I… ”

Lee Hyeon was about to politely decline the offer, as he still needed to receive confirmation that the request had been completed. Before he could even hear the answer, Haewolhwa began to sing in a voice that was slightly sad.

“Yes, I guess so… Isn’t this body busy spending time with girls of the same age… This body without any sense… ”

“I’m not that busy… ”

“Huh. This body also has ears that can hear everything. I heard that the grade head professors are having a really hard time these days. As soon as you come to class, all the female students’ evaluation scores that day hit rock bottom.”

Haewolhwa turned her head sharply and spoke. Then she puffed out her cheeks while glancing at Lee Hyeon with only a slight glance.

“Do you know how much this body worried about you? When I heard that you had returned safely from the expedition, I forgot about my pride and jumped up and down in my office to express my joy. Before I left, I even personally told you to come back safely. But how come you haven’t come to see me for months, and instead, you’ve been flirting with kids your age… ”

“Oh, okay.”

Lee Hyeon sighed at the flood of words.

‘Yeah, I’ve already cleaned up the neighborhood, so I guess I can upload it a little later.’

It’s something I can listen to when a drunk person is complaining. Thinking so, Lee Hyeon ended up sitting next to the principal.

Then he took off his outer garment and gently wrapped it around her bare knees. Haewolhwa muttered with her face red from the series of natural actions.

“Hey, aren’t you too good at dealing with girls… ”

“That’s about it. Here, give me the strongest one.”

“… !”

Haewolhwa opened her eyes wide in surprise at Lee Hyun’s order, who waved his hand. Soon after, the bartender placed a glass filled with a clear liquid with a strong scent in front of him and disappeared.

“Hey, hey… Wait a minute… ”

-Bam!

Lee Hyun drank the liquid in one gulp without giving the principal a chance to stop him. Then, with a sober face, he smiled and said,

“Wouldn’t this be a little more balanced? Since Haewolhwa-nim was already drinking. Here, give me another one of the same.”

“Ugh… ”

Every single action had a strangely mature and generous side. Haewolhwa bit her red lips, holding back her pounding heart.

He didn’t know the reason. He just thought he was getting drunk quickly today.

At the bright smile she had witnessed, Haewolhwa avoided her awkward gaze and muttered softly.

“There is no one more solid and reliable man than me… ”

The night was getting deeper and deeper.

***

“Umm… ”

The bluish light of dawn streamed in through the window. Haewolhwa frowned and pursed her lips.

“Ah, it hurts… ”

Haewolhwa, who was pulling the blanket over her while sleeping, reflexively frowned at the pain she suddenly felt. A throbbing pain mixed with a strange sense of pleasure continued in her lower abdomen.

In addition, there was a strangely damp and pungent smell that filled the air.

“I’m thirsty… Where’s the water… Huh?”

Haewolhwa, who had been sitting up with a groan and holding her forehead that was stinging from a hangover, suddenly stopped moving. Only then did she realize that she was naked, not wearing a single piece of clothing.

“Uh, uh uh… ?”

Haewolhwa’s breathing became rough. She looked down at her body with a look of panic on her face.

Her skin, once as clear and pure as white jade, was covered in dark red bruises all over. It was as if someone had bitten her.

“What, what is this… What is going on… Where am I… ”

It certainly wasn’t his own home. Moreover, the presence of people wasn’t limited to just one.

A handsome man with a scar under his eye was fast asleep next to her on a spacious bed that could fit two people. Haewolhwa belatedly remembered that he was the one she had been drinking with until the early hours of the morning the previous day.

She instinctively lifted the blanket covering her lower body. Her pale thighs were covered with traces of some kind of viscous liquid that had dried.

And finally, the traces of loss that were blooming bright red on the comforter were discovered.

“Ha, haeueu… ”

Haewolhwa stared ahead with a blank stare. Soon, realizing the situation she was in, tears began to well up in her eyes.

“The cow, I have cherished it… The beginning of this body… ”