Chapter 33
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Walls Have Ears (1)
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Despite all the indescribable mishaps that piled up last weekend,
Monday still rolled around. It was the cruel, rotten law of the world.
For some reason, right on cue, my eyelids drooped 1.5 times heavier, and my legs felt like they needed twice the effort to move—not an illusion, but damn close.
I stifled a yawn with a grimace, blinking hard to fight it off.
Still, I managed to drag myself to the academy's main building. But for students, the real suffering was just kicking off.
Of the academy's classes, about half were theory useful for mages, and the other half... weren't.
This was one of the latter. Unfortunately.
Awakener connections to non-combat jobs?
I'm not applying to some freezer warehouse gig. Even leaving that aside, after inheriting this stellar ice magic, if I didn't contribute to Awakener society, my master would beat me to death.
Cheon So-yul wouldn't get scouted by the power company either.
Part of me wanted to just flop over and catch up on lost sleep. If only Pikachu—the symbol of diligence and perfection—wasn't parked right next to me.
The second I slouched even a little, she'd sense it like a ghost and pinch my thigh.
In the end, I had no choice but to focus on class. I'd pay back this petty grudge on the bed someday... I swore it.
A dozen minutes later, the bell signaling the end of class rang out.
"...Phew, finally."
I stretched with a grin plastered on my face.
Lunchtime.
A quick glance sideways showed Cheon So-yul still scribbling notes. Was there even anything worth writing?
Didn't matter. I slipped both arms under her pits and yanked her up like pulling a radish.
"Uh..."
Cheon So-yul dropped her mechanical pencil in surprise and shot me a glare, head tilted back.
"What's your deal?"
"Time to eat."
"In a bit."
"Nah, now."
"Hey, who are you to decide when I eat...?"
I ignored the pointless bickering and half-dragged her along.
She didn't resist much after the initial protests—just came along lightly.
That's when we were heading to the first-floor student cafeteria.
Turning the corner to hit the central stairs...
"...Ah."
"Uh."
We bumped into Baek A-yun, shuffling along with slumped shoulders.
In that split second, our eyes locked in a tangle of unspoken complications.
"...Um, A-yun."
The first to speak wasn't me or Baek A-yun. It was Cheon So-yul behind me, oblivious to the awkwardness.
Even she looked uneasy, though probably for different reasons than my own embarrassment.
Probably because their last encounter hadn't been peaceful.
Like the first ranking match after school started—that legendary 100% vs. 0% showdown...
According to Baek A-yun, Cheon So-yul ignored her greeting and blasted her with Heavenly Punishment, an anti-monster annihilation spell.
Naturally, Baek A-yun felt slighted, and Cheon So-yul must've been mortified too.
She'd done it because she was in a foul mood, but it was basically taking it out on her.
Given Cheon So-yul's personality, even if she'd forgotten briefly, running into her now meant she'd want to clear the air.
"A-yun, about last time, I..."
Cheon So-yul started timidly, looking genuinely sorry.
Barring any surprises, Baek A-yun would've accepted.
"S-sorry."
"...Huh?"
But things weren't that simple right now.
Cheon So-yul froze at Baek A-yun's sudden apology.
Baek A-yun glanced at me, then made a guilty face and bolted down the stairs.
"Sorryyyy!"
She vanished with a fading echo.
'...Huh.'
I shot Cheon So-yul a look, feeling like the guilty one for no reason.
She gaped, lips flapping silently, speechless.
This expression was rare for her, but I wasn't in the mood to savor it—just scratched my cheek.
Then she turned to me blankly, head creaking.
"Why...?"
"...Yeah."
"Why'd she run? I mean, I did go overboard then, but did A-yun just dodge me?"
"... ."
"Ugh? Did I do something else? Piss her off? Hurt her feelings? I d-don't know. What else could I have done without realizing...?!"
Cheon So-yul clutched her temple, panicking, then froze with a gasp.
She paled and looked at me; I met her gaze seriously.
Had she figured it out?
"Did she see those posts I made on ETA saying melee classes are inferior to mages?"
"... ."
Nope.
She'd written that? Classic internet life from a mage family heir.
I swallowed a dry laugh.
"Doubt it..."
"Right? Pretty paranoid of me."
She sighed in relief, hand on chest.
Then tilted her head, muttering, 'Then what...?'
I wiped cold sweat secretly. Best to change the subject.
"...If she has something to say, she'll come back. Wanna grab food first?"
"Mm."
She grumbled reluctantly but didn't refuse.
"Yeah, eat first, think later."
She nodded, and I smirked, teasing lightly.
"Should've gone easy. She looked totally deflated."
"... ."
"Breaking news: Academy top student crushes sole promising martial artist's bud!"
"...Shut up..."
She trailed behind, steps dragging, a bit down.
Perfect. Natural as could be. I sighed inwardly in relief.
Ding!
My smartphone buzzed.
"?"
"?"
We both questioned it, then identically pulled out our phones.
Cheon So-yul's head tilted.
"Not mine."
"... ."
I pressed my lips tight.
Had to be mine, then.
[Kiddo]
...But seeing the sender's name, I instinctively pocketed it.
'Kiddo' was Baek A-yun's nickname—the one who'd just fled.
A message from her, right now? No clue on content, but obvious topic.
Not any random time—definitely about last weekend.
"Hm."
I pocketed it smoothly and stepped forward.
Cautiously—one step, two. Stairs: one, two, three, four...
"Hey, what is it?"
"Guhk."
Cheon So-yul grabbed my nape, halting my escape.
My behavior screamed suspicious, no denying it.
She eyed my profile suspiciously, half-lidded.
"You know? Your ears twitch every time you lie."
"...My bad."
"Gonna have to investigate what you did wrong. Mind showing me your phone?"
Huge invasion of privacy, but awkward to say.
Should've kept my mouth shut instead of snarking.
"Hand it over."
She wiggled her palm; I bit my lip in defeat.
Refusing flat-out as privacy invasion? She'd back off, knowing her...
But not worth hiding forever.
I placed my hand on her palm instead. Plop.
"...?"
She raised a brow briefly.
Got the hint to wait, nodded obediently, and started molding my hand like clay.
With my free hand, I checked the message from Baek A-yun.
Skimmed it—yep, couldn't show her raw.
Her seeing my phone? Fine. But this involved Baek A-yun's private stuff—I couldn't spill without permission.
Just a quick apology for yesterday and a note she'd visit soon, wait till then...
Better I relay it.
I looked at Cheon So-yul, busy origami-ing my fingers.
"Listen up, one shot."
"Go ahead."
She nodded, still gripping my hand.
...Anyway.
"Got a message just now."
"Yeah."
"From Baek A-yun."
"Wow, what timing."
Her reaction was flat—expected it, basically.
Given the timing, yeah.
"...Sigh."
I swallowed hard. Now for the tricky part.
As I pondered seriously...
Cheon So-yul stepped on my foot lightly and whispered in my ear.
"Did you touch her?"
"... ."
Silky voice.
But chilling.
I averted my eyes, speechless. She took a deep breath, suppressing rage.
Her fist clenched; golden sparks from her forehead zapped my cheek repeatedly.
She calmed, muttering 'Karma, my karma...', and stepped back.
Like she'd slug me if closer.
Pinching her brow, she finally spoke.
"...Fine. Hung out with A-yun last weekend, huh. Got it. I got no right to meddle in your womanizing, so I won't say more..."
"Sunbae!!!"
Then Ryu Se-eun burst in, yelling at me.
Cheon So-yul stopped mid-sentence; I startled and turned.
Ryu Se-eun looked up from the stairs' base, spotted Cheon So-yul, hesitated, then gritted her teeth like screw it.
Hand on hip as usual, she barked at me.
"Remember this! Y-yesterday was chaotic so I left, but even if you took my body, my heart's still out of reach!"
"??"
"...S-so be nicer from now on, hmph!"
She said her piece and bounced. The girl who'd tried forcing my body and heart two days ago—shameless.
I flapped my lips, speechless. Ha, really.
Still hasn't learned after that beatdown...
"You horny bastard."
"Gahk."
Cheon So-yul lunged like lightning, grabbing my collar and yanking me.
Caught off-guard, I dangled helplessly.
'Whoa, intimidation.'
Dead-eyed like rotten pollack, she shook me back and forth.
"What the hell did you do over the weekend? How'd you charm two girls? Not one, but two? How's that even possible? I really don't get it, Hyun-jin."
"... ."
My bad.
Your voice is terrifying.
But I didn't plan a buy-one-get-one-free?
Mercy, please.
"Ah, Cheon So-yul, Lee Hyun-jin."
Salvation came from an unexpected rope.
A staff member's voice; we turned.
We blinked; the staffer seemed briefly thrown by our weird pose but composed himself.
"Th-the chairman wants to see you two."
...Totally unforeseen.