Chapter 17
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Cold War (1)
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“......What the hell is this?”
I was so flustered that I accidentally dropped the straw from my mouth.
It had only been ten minutes since I'd wrapped up that nail-biter of a match against Kim I-jun and returned to the arena.
Just then, I spotted signs that Cheon So-yul and Baek A-yun's ranking match was about to kick off, so I'd figured I'd grab a drink from the cafe and watch.
[Left: Cheon So-yul (1110 points) vs Right: Baek A-yun (972 points)]
[Cheon So-yul: 100%]
[Baek A-yun: 0%]
[Cheon So-yul Wins]
According to the monitor, the match was already over. A total blowout in Cheon So-yul's favor.
Unable to hold back my bewilderment, I quickly scanned the area.
Of course, I was looking for Cheon So-yul—the one I needed to settle our bet with—but for some reason, she was nowhere to be seen. Not even a glimpse.
In her place, what caught my eye was a short girl with ash-gray twintails. The Fist Emperor's granddaughter, Baek A-yun.
......And that made me twice as flustered. Uncharacteristically, the normally bold Baek A-yun was huddled up, looking utterly defeated.
I glanced around for a moment, then sighed deeply as I set down the iced tea in my hand—no time to grab anything else.
“Why the long face this time?”
“......Hic?”
I approached and handed her the iced tea I'd already taken a sip from.
Baek A-yun looked up with a blank expression, blinking her eyes.
“Getting beaten by a mage isn't exactly new for you. Why the drama now?”
“......Oh, it's you......”
Confirming my face, Baek A-yun let out a long sigh, like she'd seen something unpleasant.
Hey, this little—
Before I could even snap at her, she snatched the disposable plastic cup and chomped down on the straw. Stunned, I pointed it out.
“......I already drank from that.”
“Pffft!!”
Baek A-yun sprayed the iced tea in a spectacular arc, and I swiftly swung my hand, freezing the liquid mid-air into a solid block.
Whoa. Even I had to admire my own reflexes. Pretty satisfying.
“Cough, hack......! W-What the hell? You hand me your used drink like it's no big deal! I thought it was a fresh one!”
While catching her breath and thumping her chest, Baek A-yun laid into me. She clearly wasn't thrilled about the indirect kiss situation either.
Of course, I'd assumed she'd pop the lid off before drinking, so I just shrugged.
“Tough break. Don't sweat it. I'm fine with it.”
“Huh?! Whether you're fine or not isn't the point......!”
Baek A-yun yelped in disbelief at my casual response, but who cares what she thinks.
I just brushed off the frozen iced tea, shattering it into pieces. Ice shards clattered to the ground.
Baek A-yun was still fuming. I glanced at her and changed the subject.
“So, what happened?”
“What?”
“Why were you moping like that? Did Cheon So-yul do something to you?”
“......”
At my blunt question, Baek A-yun clamped her mouth shut for a moment. I thought she didn't want to talk, but then she started mumbling.
“I don't know... I know Cheon So-yul's hot-tempered, but even accounting for that, she was way off today.”
Her vague explanation made my expression harden too.
“Off how?”
“......Yeah. She was so pissed for some reason—she didn't even acknowledge my greeting, which isn't like her. Hmph, whatever. I'm done. Even if she greets me first, I'll ignore her.”
Baek A-yun was clearly sulking over Cheon So-yul ignoring her hello, but that had nothing to do with me. I focused on her statement.
Pissed off. Cheon So-yul. Why?
‘......She seemed fine right up until I left for my match with Kim I-jun. What the hell happened all of a sudden......’
As I pondered her mood swings, a sudden thought flashed through my mind, making me flinch hard.
Her mood tanked right after I left for my ranking match. Cheon So-yul......
“......”
No, hmm.
This is awkward.
I doubt it, but.
‘......No way, right?’
I unintentionally let out a verbal sigh. It felt half-right, half-wrong, but I couldn't shake the suspicion.
That's when I tried recalling Kim I-jun's final attack, my panicked improvisation in response.
“Agh, seriously......! This is ridiculous!”
Baek A-yun, who we'd never quite wrapped up our chat, suddenly started ruffling her hair like she was having a meltdown. Her signature twintails whipped around with her head jerks.
I stood there, arms crossed, waiting for her to spill. Then she glared at me and grabbed my shoulder roughly.
“Hey?”
“Spill it. Everything.”
“......Spill what?”
“That lightning Cheon So-yul was hiding!”
It was so out of left field I could only stammer. Maybe my attitude irked her, because her grip tightened on my shoulder.
Honestly, it hurt like hell—enough to make me want to scream. Grip strength befitting a top-tier close-range fighter like Baek A-yun.
At least have some consideration for us mages, huh? Why doesn't she realize my fragile body could shatter from one careless move?
While she shook me like a ragdoll, head throbbing, I managed to raise my hand.
“H-Hey...... Baek A-yun? Let's calm down and talk. What do you mean Cheon So-yul was hiding something?”
My rational approach even worked on her, calming her down a bit.
At least she's reasonable compared to most brute-force types.
Baek A-yun let go and planted her hands on her hips, then spat out her words with sparkling eyes, ready to explain.
“Lightning!”
“......”
I fell silent again.
What the hell is she talking about?
How am I supposed to interpret a lightning mage hiding lightning?
As I tried to decipher her unique way of speaking in my daze.
“......I didn't explain well. Specifically, that massive one from the sky, white and gold mixed together, that, uh.”
Baek A-yun cleared her throat and fumbled to describe the scene I'd witnessed, and by then, I had a rough idea.
I raised my hand to stop her vocabulary struggles and asked.
“Hold up—white and gold lightning?”
“Y-Yeah, exactly. It was huge, blindingly bright...... That's why I lost without landing a single hit......”
I tuned out her loser's excuses and sank into deep thought.
A massive, blindingly bright bolt of lightning, white and gold intertwined. One powerful strike.
“......”
Hmm.
I think I know what spell that was. And she used it in a ranking match?
......Yeah, that explains why Cheon So-yul was untouched until Baek A-yun's health hit zero.
I covered my mouth and groaned softly.
Has Cheon So-yul lost her mind?
That's what I thought back then.
The foolish delusion of an ignorant fool who couldn't see an inch ahead.
Truth be told, whether Cheon So-yul used an anti-monster extermination spell in a ranking match against a classmate—a straight-up “spar”—wasn't a big deal.
She must've dialed back the power, right?
So what should I have cared about?
Comforting the dejected Baek A-yun?
Why would I? That was her job to manage her own emotions.
So back then, I just left the sniffling Baek A-yun to her own devices and bounced.
I gave her my iced tea, listened a bit. That's enough from me. Honestly, mopey Baek A-yun is a total pain to deal with.
......Karma, maybe? Though it had nothing to do with her.
“Hey.”
“......”
“Cheon So-yul.”
“......”
“......So-yul? Miss So-yul?”
Anyway, now I was cornered—forced to scour for causes, even entertaining useless thoughts like that.
Three days had passed since that ranking match.
Normally...... since our bet ended in a draw, one of us would've taken the initiative by now—buying late-night snacks and heading to the other's dorm, all gracious-like.
No need to say it outright; last year's routine had made it our default.
But for some reason, no word from Cheon So-yul even past midnight that day.
I pitifully waited with eyes wide open, hoping for a late call or text.
Worse, the next morning on the way to school, I caught her glancing at me before snapping her head away.
And I knew—call it intuition.
Something was seriously wrong.
I might've screwed up big time......
And now another morning dawned. Three days post-match. Noon. Lunchtime. Students started grouping up to head out.
Most hit the cafeteria, but some unpacked pre-made bentos.
Point is, I'm the former. Bento? I'm not skilled enough to cook with dorm basics.
Cheon So-yul's the same. I'd tried her cooking once, so I know she's capable, but...
She said she doesn't enjoy the process much.
Waiting and prepping ingredients is a hassle.
So, long story short: Yeah, Cheon So-yul and I are similar types—we usually eat lunch together.
We naturally link up without saying a word.
And, to reiterate, three days after ‘that day’...... I hadn't shared a single meal with her.
I waited ten minutes daily at our unspoken spot, but it was obviously pointless.
Ah.
Finally, it hit me.
I'd hurt her feelings.
Badly. Spectacularly so. I hadn't meant to, but I realized it quick......
“......So, monsters typically operate from habitats unless they're loners—dense forests or mountain ranges often serve as their shelters. Around the academy, Sokri Mountain in Chungbuk is the most famous—. Hmm, that'll wrap today's class.”
As I spaced out, soul adrift, the bell rang. The elderly professor on stage declared class over.
And the pretty girl next to me—who'd ignored, bitten, and savored my calls all day—packed up like someone was chasing her.
She was clearly about to bolt without a backward glance. At that point, I knew dragging it out would get me nowhere.
“Hey, Cheon So-yul. Wait a sec......”
The moment I reached for her.
Crackle—!
“......!”
A spark danced from her wrist where my fingertips barely grazed it, forcing me to yank my arm back reflexively.
For a split second, the vast Year 2 Class A classroom fell into chilly silence.
Students prepping to leave fixed their eyes on us.
Some even exchanged glances and whispers.
-Did they fight? What's with that?
-They always seemed tight, but I've never seen her brush him off like that.
-No way—the rumored rift?
‘......Rift my ass. What the hell.’
Anyone hearing that would think Cheon So-yul and I were glued at the hip normally.
Watch the misleading chatter, kids.
I furrowed my brow slightly and looked up at her from my seat.
She stared right back, unyielding—her eyes downright murderous.
Like she was about to devour someone.
Honestly, even I was a little intimidated.
At the same time, I realized there was nothing I could do right now. Couldn't grab her, couldn't start a talk.
Our brief staring contest ended with her whipping her head away and leaving ages ago.
I let out a deep sigh.
“Haa......”
The classmates who'd been sneaking peeks at her retreating back and me started buzzing excitedly.
Fight, breakup, even wild talk like I'd assaulted her. I couldn't take it anymore.
......Okay, I did pin her once.
But that's beside the point.
I shoved my chair back loudly, stood, and swept the room with a piercing glare.
Then, with a bright smile, I dropped one line.
“Anyone talking crap from now on can spar me bare—no gear. That clear?”
“......”
“......”
The classroom went quiet again.
I sighed and slumped back into my seat.
Even then, my mind kept replaying her final look—eyes not just angry, but hurt, peering down at me.
After some agonizing, I grabbed my stuff and stood.
‘Where's the nearest chicken joint again......’
Looks like today's the day I swallow my pride first.
Cheon So-yul. What a troublesome friend she was. A real handful.