Chapter 28
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: New Student (5)
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The time had come. The one-day date with Ryu Se-eun that I'd accidentally promised her at last week's dinner.
Honestly, I didn't think my heart would be swayed whether we went on the date or not...
But a promise was a promise. She seemed pretty confident about it, and it felt awkward to just flatly say, "It won't happen anyway, so give up."
"...".
Of course, it'd be a lie to say there wasn't even a sliver of personal interest.
But I figured it was best to gloss over such minor issues.
'No, but isn't it understandable?'
Ryu Se-eun, a girl with delicate features packed into a small face, her unique hair and eye color exuding a strange allure.
And here she was, asking me to spend just one day with her.
I wasn't creative enough to smoothly brush off a request like that.
Adding a dash of honesty to those reasons?
Hmm.
I believed beautiful looks were always right.
An unchanging truth, the law of the world, that sort of vibe.
Someone from the Cheon family had once called me a playboy...
At this point, denying it as slander felt like it was too late—I'd come too far.
Now, even the faint guilt and pangs of conscience toward Cheon So-yul seemed to be sublimating into a subtle thrill of taboo.
Ah, maybe this was the emotion adulterous men felt.
It felt like I'd awakened to some dangerous new sentiment.
'Why do I only have bad premonitions piling up...'
What if a few years from now, I ended up on a tiny boat adrift in the open ocean, stabbed in the back?
I wanted to believe that wouldn't happen.
People who consumed too much fiction sometimes had extreme delusions, and I felt like I was exactly that right now.
A chill ran through me for no reason. I hugged my shoulders and shivered.
That's when a familiar presence I'd grown used to brushed against my senses.
I turned my head, and Ryu Se-eun, walking slowly toward me, gave a little wave.
"Nice to see you, sunbae. Good morning."
And then she immediately crossed her arms again.
Not for anything else—she was just sensitive to the cold.
Winter was nearing its end, but the chilly weather was still going strong.
The tips of Ryu Se-eun's ears were slightly red.
I felt sorry for her and considered casting a cold resistance spell, but then I paused and glanced downward.
Below the hem of her skirt, her trembling bare legs were fully exposed.
'She's wearing a skirt.'
I immediately withdrew the resistance spell formula.
It felt like self-inflicted suffering.
"...You knew it'd be cold, so why didn't you at least dress properly instead of shivering like that?"
I snapped at her like she was pathetic, and she pursed her lips awkwardly.
"W-Well, this is technically a winter mini-skirt..."
"Hm."
"...I-Is it bad? I put a lot of thought into it."
Were there winter versions of skirts? I'd never worn one, so I didn't know, but did I care?
At least she'd bundled up properly with a warm-looking coat on top. That was a relief.
I shook my head and lightly snapped my fingers.
Snap!
An invisible pale blue energy spread out and settled effortlessly over Ryu Se-eun's body.
I couldn't infuse it with warmth, but blocking the invading chill was easy enough.
This was the advantage of an ice mage. Unlike barbaric fire mages who could warm the body itself but were utterly useless in summer—that was the funny part.
Fire resistance didn't work against the scorching summer heat. It wasn't a volcanic zone, after all.
"Ah, thank you...?"
As I habitually dissed fire mages in my head, Ryu Se-eun gave a bewildered expression and a somewhat awkward thanks.
What? Why the weird reaction?
Here I was, extending some goodwill...
It felt a bit unrewarding.
"...N-No, ahem. I just didn't expect you to be so sweet. Caught me off guard."
She must have read my expression perfectly. Ryu Se-eun waved her hands flusteredly, offering a lame excuse.
No need. The bus had already left. Once the duration ends, I won't recast it.
I waved my hand dismissively and turned to walk ahead. Ryu Se-eun hurried after me with exaggerated steps, afraid to fall behind.
She rolled her eyes for a moment before flashing an awkward smile and continuing.
"I-I figured you'd hate it. I was even surprised you came out on time to wait. You've got good manners, sunbae."
"A promise is a promise."
"Oh, so you've got a sense of honor too."
Honor, my ass. Her intent to hype me up was too obvious. It was so forced it didn't even annoy me.
At least I now knew she had no talent for acting.
I let out a silent chuckle inside, then schooled my expression and turned to her.
"Even so, the promise only went as far as showing up here."
"...Yeah, I guess so?"
She rolled her eyes as if asking, "But why?" I decided to voice the ominous feeling she probably had. I gave a chilling smile and tilted my head.
"I'll show you exactly what a thoroughly businesslike date means."
"...Huh?"
Ryu Se-eun let out an uncertain sound.
She looked up at me with a weary expression.
"So this was your plan from the start, sunbae. I thought it was suspicious how easily you accepted the date invite..."
I shrugged.
"You need to know how pointless it is to try dragging me to Cheolwon. Consider it consideration so you don't waste the whole semester and give up early."
"...No, Cheolwon is actually pretty livable? It snows a lot, it's atmospheric, and, uh, th-there's a movie theater."
Ah, I see. That sounded super appealing.
I nodded as if in agreement.
'I absolutely won't go.'
The fact that a movie theater's mere existence was her selling point meant the discussion was over. I had no reason to go to Cheolwon.
I looked at her with pity and gave a thumbs-up.
"You did great coming to the academy. Now you can enjoy all the cultural activities you want."
Ryu Se-eun's eye twitched briefly.
And she muttered discontentedly.
"That tone pisses me off."
"Hm."
I kept a straight face without responding.
Because it was meant to piss her off.
You're getting better at reading the room. Good job. Sunbae feels relieved.
"...Hmph, whatever. Anyway, I'll lead today's date. Just follow behind me obediently, sunbae."
"Where to?"
"Heh."
Ryu Se-eun changed the subject, and I asked back. She puffed up proudly, placing a hand on her chest. Her attitude screamed confidence.
It made me a little curious. Did she really think she could lead smoothly?
The moment I felt a spark of interest and anticipation.
"Let me see, just wait a sec."
She spun around and suddenly pulled out her smartphone.
"?"
I frowned.
I wasn't sure if she thought I couldn't see, but hiding it that sloppily?
Over her shoulder, half the screen was visible—a notepad app.
...It looked like a date schedule at a glance.
'Oh man.'
A sigh escaped me. So her confidence came not from experience, but from pre-rehearsed plans.
I wiped away non-existent tears and nodded firmly.
Fine, she'd put in this much effort. I could play along a bit.
Maybe she'd stayed up all night planning. For the sake of her effort, I'd invest in her today.
"...?"
Then I paused.
I turned my head.
Not toward Ryu Se-eun, but the opposite direction—the academy entrance where we'd come out to head downtown.
What was that?
I'd felt a gaze.
...Just my imagination?
From the first time I saw her, I'd thought it, but Ryu Se-eun's hair really did remind me of seaweed somehow.
The color, the texture. Maybe even the feel.
I wanted to touch it once, but would she let me if I asked...?
"What're you staring at?"
"Hm."
Had I been staring too intently? Ryu Se-eun, lounging on the mat reading a comic, lifted her head slightly and shot me a glance.
I cleared my throat needlessly and pretended nonchalance by grabbing a cheese ball to eat.
It was 8 PM now. After trailing Ryu Se-eun all day through trendy MZ-style date spots, I'd been dragged by the hand to this comic cafe.
We'd drawn the curtain in a narrow, cave-like booth and settled in.
After reading about three volumes, I lost interest and switched to snacking on the simple menu from the counter.
The taste was average, but there was that unique atmosphere you could only get here.
The mysterious interior and private space made it feel like I'd entered a secret library.
Ryu Se-eun was sprawled out there, legs kicking idly as she flipped through comics.
I sneaked glances at her after she eyed me and returned to her reading, reflecting on the day anew.
Thinking it over carefully.
For example, where I'd gone today, what I'd done, and what natural skinship there'd been with Ryu Se-eun in the process.
There had been plenty of her contacts that seemed loaded with impure motives, of course...
But right now, I was pondering something unrelated, frowning.
I'd realized it too late.
Now it hit me.
So, had I really maintained a thoroughly businesslike attitude all day today, as I'd told Ryu Se-eun in the morning?
The answer was a resounding "No."
Wow. This was embarrassing.
'What...? Was my willpower this weak?'
I slumped, hand sinking into the soft mat. I felt Ryu Se-eun blinking at me curiously.
This wasn't good. I needed to crush her enthusiasm completely so she'd never think of dragging me to the front lines again.
...But executing that with iron walls was tough when the date itinerary had been so smooth and low-pressure.
I slowly recalled memories from just a few hours ago.
'What was the start like again?'
Oh, right. First, lunch was waffles we bought and ate while walking to a building in the city center.
It was like a complex cultural space with 12 floors, packed with everything.
Inside, Ryu Se-eun dragged me around like a puppy on a walk... and somehow we ended up touring everywhere.
First stop: a famous franchise cafe on the new 2nd floor. We got some weird-looking drinks to start.
Then the 4th floor with all the clothing stores.
While window-shopping, she noticed my boredom and flinched, pulling out her phone again.
Plan change on the spot.
After fumbling with her phone, she led me to the 8th floor.
Luckily, there were a few things there to mildly pique my interest.
Like a fortune-teller who divined awakening talents?
Inside was a mysterious woman in a witch hat. She built up the atmosphere and spouted nonsense(?) about me carrying a greatsword.
I didn't really believe she'd nailed it, but I'd hoped for something magic-related. Disappointing.
'Hm.'
After that, we browsed street stalls and hit a karaoke spot. When hunger struck, we had dinner, then ended up here at the comic cafe.
Oh, and she'd called my singing voice "unique"...
No matter how I thought about it, that was an insult disguised as praise. Naughty girl.
"...".
I paused and glanced at Ryu Se-eun again.
She was still immersed in her comics. Manga, technically.
...Thinking back, that initial window-shopping might have been influenced by her desires to some extent.
I regretted not playing along a bit more.
'Ha.'
At that moment, I couldn't help but chuckle. The thought itself felt strangely foreign.
Just this morning, I'd been dead set on making her give up, and now here I was, having colorful impressions?
In other words, it meant my attitude toward this girl, Ryu Se-eun, had improved somehow.
Maybe because today she'd focused more on not making things awkward than outright seducing me.
Until recently, she'd just been "annoying underclassman" in my mind.
Congrats, Ryu Se-eun. As of today, you're upgraded to "at least hardworking underclassman."
It was amusing watching her flail around with wild swings, desperately trying not to upset me.
I snickered and finally snapped out of my reverie.
Then I turned my head.
"?"
Ryu Se-eun was gone.
Where'd she go?
I blinked blankly in place, then belatedly came to my senses and started to stand awkwardly.
"Huh? What're you doing?"
Ryu Se-eun pushed aside the black curtain and returned.
Beer cans in both hands.
I froze for a second, then frowned slightly and asked.
"What's with the beer?"
"To drink, obviously?"
"...Now?"
"Yeah. Don't want to?"
No real objection, so I shook my head half-heartedly.
Though I wondered if alcohol was allowed in comic cafes.
Anyway, Ryu Se-eun grinned and handed me a can.
"Then let's have a drink. I can at least pour you one out of pity, right? This hard-won one-day date feels like it's about to fly away."
"...".
At least she was self-aware that one day wouldn't change my mind. That was something.
A bit bittersweet, I took a sip from the can.
Black Heaven Ryu Jin-seong, that guy was a grand mage, so why the hell did he make his daughter do this ridiculous crap?
I couldn't comprehend it; it was making my blood boil.
....
....
....
"...Uh...".
No, correction. Not "feeling like," it actually was boiling.
The cause wasn't some petty grand mage somewhere out of sight.
My vision spun as I forcibly gathered mana and glared piercingly at the beer can I'd only sipped from.
"...Hey, you."
I glared at Ryu Se-eun, who was sticking out her tongue playfully a short distance away.
Common sense said you couldn't get this drunk from one sip of beer.
Yeah. "Common sense" wise.
"...This, nature series, component amplification magic, alcohol...".
Ah.
I'd been properly screwed.
My head was spinning.
Words weren't coming out straight.
That's when I sensed I was in deep shit.
Sudden drowsiness hit me.
Ryu Se-eun knelt by my head.
She scratched her cheek with an awkward smile.
"Haha... Sorry for real, sunbae."
"...You crazy bitch...".
"You'll sleep it off and it'll be over when you wake up...?"
And behind her, turquoise tendrils woven like crude vines reached out toward me...
I closed my eyes powerlessly and muttered inwardly.
I shouldn't have trusted her.
And when I woke up, what I saw was.
Not the comic cafe ceiling, but somewhere else...
"What are you doing, you...?"
"...Oh, you're awake? Hold on. What's wrong with this? How, how do I...?"
Ryu Se-eun, stark naked without a stitch on, straddling me and fumbling awkwardly to adjust her position.
After struggling for a while, she looked down at me with a teary face.
"How do I put it in...?"
"...".
I repeated inwardly once more.
You fucking bitch.