Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Cold War (2)
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Cheon So-yul was strolling through the academy grounds. In one hand, she clutched a black plastic bag from the convenience store, her face twisted in dissatisfaction.
...Annoying.
The words she muttered to herself perfectly captured her inner turmoil.
She was irritated. Nothing pleased her. Everything just rubbed her the wrong way.
And all those negative emotions were directed at one person. Her classmate, friend, frenemy, rival, competitor... Every label under the sun fit this one guy.
Lee Hyun-jin, the perpetual second-place finisher of the current ninth cohort.
Of course, Cheon So-yul had always found Lee Hyun-jin somewhat disagreeable, and their relationship wasn't exactly harmonious with all the constant bickering...
But what she felt now was entirely different from that usual 'dislike.'
Last year's academy life? Honestly, it had been pretty enjoyable. Enough to blow away the boredom she'd felt before leaving home.
There were various reasons for that, but she couldn't deny that Lee Hyun-jin's presence played a significant role.
So to Cheon So-yul, Lee Hyun-jin was a 'friend,' like it or not. Her closest confidant. A rubber band of a relationship—stretchy, prone to snapping, but quick to bounce back.
She'd never admitted it outright; it was too embarrassing. But she'd always cherished the time spent with him. Without a doubt.
That was ruined now.
Because of what happened just three days ago.
Of course... She couldn't claim they'd never fought similarly before.
They'd argued over trivial nonsense countless times, with one getting sulky or hurt feelings, leading to days of silence.
"...".
Even so, this time felt different.
Cheon So-yul was anxious. Yeah, that's what it was.
She recalled the memory. Three days ago. The ranking match between Lee Hyun-jin and Kim I-jun. Kim I-jun's desperate struggle with that surprising counterattack...
...And then Lee Hyun-jin's technique that effortlessly dodged Kim I-jun's final gambit.
She knew what that was.
She just knew.
And why wouldn't she? After all, she was the only one in the academy who knew about his bizarre, ridiculous trait, right?
So while other students debated heatedly whether it was invisibility magic or whatever, she naturally became convinced of the truth.
It was definitely the power of his trait.
That absurd yet profoundly mysterious trait: the ability to steal part of an opponent's power through intercourse.
Click-
As she unlocked the door lock to her fourth-floor dorm room, Cheon So-yul thought: Lee Hyun-jin must have 'done it' with some awakener.
That act they'd stumbled into about a month ago, drunk together—with someone else.
Cheon So-yul paused briefly in front of the entrance.
Because an image had suddenly flashed in her mind.
His naked body, the one she'd seen once before. Now rolling around in bed with another woman instead of her... That scene.
Cheon So-yul felt her mood plummet. Her shoulders slumped heavily.
She kicked off her shoes carelessly, hung her jacket on the rack, and without even changing clothes, flung herself onto the sofa.
Flop! The plush cushions enveloped her petite frame perfectly.
"...Hngh."
After burying her face for a moment and letting out an incomprehensible groan, Cheon So-yul suddenly thrashed her legs, pounding the innocent sofa.
Bam! Bam! Bam!!
Eyes squeezed shut, face covered by both hands, she twisted her body and screamed.
"Fine! I don't care anymore...!"
She didn't know. Didn't want to know. Didn't want to care anymore. What business was it of hers?
Whether Lee Hyun-jin slept with whoever, wherever, however—it was his freedom.
Using even the crude word she wouldn't normally utter, Cheon So-yul vented her anger to mask her complicated feelings.
Yeah, it hadn't even been a full month since they'd shared their first experiences, and he'd already gone off with another girl.
Ha...! What a handy ability.
It pissed her off. And that was putting it mildly—she was furious. Lee Hyun-jin was utterly infuriating!
...But that didn't mean she was hurt by him leaving her behind to hook up with someone else...!
There's no way I'd get hurt over something like that. No. No reason to.
After pursing her lips for a moment, Cheon So-yul suddenly sat bolt upright as if remembering something. She grabbed the black bag.
Rustle. She pulled out its contents: two bottles of soju and some snacks from the convenience store.
...She wasn't the type to enjoy drinking. She'd only turned twenty a month ago, and aside from that one time with Lee Hyun-jin, she'd barely touched alcohol once or twice.
And even those were during family gatherings back home, which showed just how little interest she had in booze.
That made it all the more obvious how abnormal her current state was—ditching the snacks she'd bought and cracking open straight soju.
No one was around to stop her at a reasonable point.
Naturally, Cheon So-yul popped open one bottle without hesitation. And started chugging.
Like a girl heartbroken by betrayal, putting on the world's most pitiful act.
Pour, drink. Thud!
Pour again, drink. Thunk!!
A brief pause.
Pour, drink.
Thud.
Thunk.
Thud.
....
....
....
"Mm."
Before she knew it, Cheon So-yul had polished off both bottles. The buzz hit hard, her head throbbing, vision swimming.
She judged she wouldn't think straight like this. With a quiet sigh, she carefully circulated her mana.
Hum-
Breaking down only the alcohol in her bloodstream wasn't easy, but her mana control was on par with top A-rank mages.
Her flushed face quickly returned to normal. Relatively speaking.
She couldn't deny some buzz lingered, but that was what she wanted anyway.
She didn't particularly want to sober up completely.
With a bit of reason restored, Cheon So-yul leaned back against the sofa, steadying her breath.
Huff... huff... echoed softly.
"...Jerk."
The murmur was a curse. Aimed at Lee Hyun-jin. Half genuine spite, half childish whining.
Of all times, why do it while she was away at her family home?
He wasn't some sex-crazed maniac without self-control. He was a mage, for crying out loud. Where'd he sell his clear mind and calm heart?
...Or had he met some irresistibly attractive woman? One he forgot about her in days?
Am I that forgettable?
It stung her pride. Cheon So-yul gritted her teeth, seething quietly.
She kept repeating it: Lee Hyun-jin had done nothing wrong. She knew that.
Right after they'd hooked up, he'd offered to take responsibility, and she'd brushed it off with pointless bravado.
So she had no right to complain if he went looking for someone else right away.
That was his freedom. And likewise, if she sought out another guy, that'd be hers.
"...".
Logically, sure.
But this was just resentment.
She'd boasted she wasn't some helpless girl who needed to rely on him, only to go home and spout nonsense to her mom about him being a live-in son-in-law.
All bluster and fuss. Nothing more, nothing less. Pathetic, really.
She felt stupid for getting her hopes up. She hadn't even seriously considered marrying him, yet she'd fantasized, built it up, gotten all hot and bothered...
In the end, this wasn't really anger at Lee Hyun-jin. There was some, but mostly astonishment at her own recklessness.
...Embarrassing. Shameful. She'd lain there plotting rosy futures without even knowing if she had feelings for him. Bluntly, she was an idiot.
Her teenage years screamed 'never been in a relationship.'
Staring blankly at the ceiling for a moment, Cheon So-yul buried her face in the sofa again.
"Uwaaah, seriously! Haaah...!"
She suddenly wanted to die.
She needed a noose.
Ding-dong-!
"...Huh?"
The dorm intercom rang right then.
Cheon So-yul froze like a machine forced to shut down mid-rampage.
She rolled off the sofa onto the floor with a thud, then weakly lifted her head to stare at the intercom screen on the wall.
There stood Lee Hyun-jin.
Shoving a plastic bag emblazoned with a chicken restaurant logo at the camera, appealing fervently.
Cheon So-yul blinked sluggishly, then glanced around left and right a beat late.
It was pitch dark outside. Probably evening or night already. A questionable time for a guy to visit the girls' fourth floor.
Having assessed the situation, Cheon So-yul went through three stages of thought in sequence.
One: She quickly patted her cheeks, face darkening grimly.
I haven't washed up yet.
Two: She gingerly tugged down her uniform skirt.
What underwear did I wear today?
Finally, three: She stared holes into the desk drawer on the wall.
Condoms... do I have any?
"...".
After agonizing, Cheon So-yul dragged her limp body upright.
She shuffled toward the front door.
For now, yeah. Chicken's innocent.