Chapter 39

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 39

Chapter Title: Wrong Encounter (3)

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The name of this virtual dungeon was 'Ruined Sanctuary'. That was the official title, anyway, though students usually just called it the 'Temple' for short.

A collection of stately pillars, a ceiling wide open in the center that they supported, and the soft moonlight shining down faintly.

Among the dozen or so virtual dungeons you could see during ranking matches, this one ranked among the most mysteriously artificial in terms of scenery.

Its gimmick was that you could deliberately smash the pillars to collapse the ceiling and access the underground temple...

Back when I was a freshman, whenever this place was selected as the battlefield, the two of us would team up to smash the pillars first thing. But now, the ninth graders' enthusiasm had died out enough that we wouldn't bother anymore.

That said, it was usually the case that, like in any other ranking match, you'd run into each other and immediately drop into fighting stances without a word.

But this time was a major exception. Far from trying to wear down each other's stamina, one side had lost the will to fight and quickly signaled surrender(?).

I couldn't help but be utterly bewildered.

Such situations weren't entirely unheard of during ranking matches. Mid-tier students who got bad matchups against the top ranks would often forfeit without protest.

But... this wasn't that kind of case, was it? Sure, I was number one even among the top ranks, but my opponent was no slouch at number four. True top-tier.

Back in freshman year, I'd lost to Kanzaki a few times occasionally, so flipping the perspective, it wasn't an insurmountable gap.

But Baek A-yun's current attitude—what the hell was that? The granddaughter of the Fist Emperor, bowing her head without even thinking of exchanging blows. She was even on her knees!

If Fist Emperor Baek Moo-yeom, the man himself, saw his one-and-only sacred prodigy of the fading martial world in this state...?

I'd only glimpsed him from afar once, but given that emotional old man's temperament, it wouldn't be surprising if he grabbed me by the collar.

Shouting something like, 'What did you do to my precious granddaughter!'

If that happened, I'd naturally feel wronged, of course.

'It's chilly...'

But right now, I couldn't even manage that. No, I was the one in a tough spot.

For starters, I was innocent. Objectively speaking, Baek A-yun was the one at fault.

But what did common sense about right and wrong matter now? All that counted was the fact that a petite girl was prostrating deeply before me.

Even someone clueless about the situation would mutter, 'How could he be so cruel...', and even I wasn't at ease.

Was it because the virtual dungeon's backdrop was midnight? Baek A-yun was shivering slightly from the cold but showed no sign of getting up.

At least I wasn't heartless enough to leave a girl in that pose outdoors in this chilly late night—even if she really had tailed me last weekend.

With a sigh, I approached her.

She must have heard my footsteps clearly, yet Baek A-yun didn't budge.

She just stiffened slightly and bowed her head even deeper, as if ashamed.

'No.'

...No matter how serious the issue, was it really this bad?

I stared down at her in bewilderment for a moment before sighing and speaking up.

"...Baek A-yun."

"......"

She flinched.

The wild Baek A-yun flinched her shoulders. Pitiful, but at least it proved she could hear human voices properly!

I considered poking her with my foot, but that felt too rude, so I knelt on one knee instead.

Squatting down roughly, I grabbed one of Baek A-yun's identity markers... her drooping ash-gray twintails and tugged lightly.

This was also her most dangerous reverse scale in everyday life. She never forgave anyone messing with her pigtails.

Even with some familiarity between us—and me usually on the receiving end of her sour affection—I shouldn't have been allowed to touch her hair.

Petting her head might've been okay, but she'd always reacted sensitively to the twintails specifically.

"......"

But look at her now. The Baek A-yun who'd snarl and snap if I touched her twintails was submitting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to my touch like a tamed wild wolf.

Her hands resting demurely before her forehead twitched occasionally, suggesting some displeasure.

Yet with no other reaction, it seemed she was dead serious.

What if this was her way of apologizing, in her own fashion?

I braided knots into her long hair, tried clumsily braiding it... basically played with her twintails like my personal toy.

By now, she should've snapped. Anything at all.

I glanced sideways at Baek A-yun, still forehead-to-ground, and finally turned her twintails into my makeshift scarf.

"...Seriously, what are you doing...!"

Finally, a bite. Baek A-yun lifted her head with a teary expression, and I gave her a satisfied thumbs-up.

Her bewildered face drooped at the corners of her eyes.

I shrugged lightly.

"No response."

"Ugh, no response and you mess with someone's hair like that?! Don't you have any respect for others?!"

Baek A-yun was back to her usual self, snapping at me, but I had the perfect one-liner to shut her down.

I tilted my head with a deliberately blank expression.

"Did you respect me when you tailed me?"

"......"

As expected, she went mute like she'd swallowed honey.

Her fierce expression turned pitiful again as she hung her head.

"That, um, that was..."

"Yeah, why'd you do it?"

"......So..."

"Yeah, tell me."

"......"

Baek A-yun hesitated mid-sentence and glared up at me resentfully.

Not because of anything else—my babying tone rubbed her the wrong way.

Her face said it all.

I burst out laughing.

Baek A-yun's face flushed red.

"Wha-what-why are you laughing! Am I funny?!"

"A little."

"Ugh...! You're so annoying!"

At that point, I deliberately hardened my expression. Seizing her flinch, I stared straight into her eyes.

"That's not what you should be saying right now, is it?"

Baek A-yun slyly averted her gaze, turning left, then right.

When I followed, she fixed her eyes on the ground.

"I-I don't know what you mean."

She mumbled timidly, and I narrowed my eyes pointedly.

"Explanation, excuse... hell, just spill it all and apologize. You're not seriously trying to gloss over it with nothing, right?"

"...N-No way! D-Didn't you see the message? I said I'd come see you right away...!"

"Then you should've come sooner. Before bumping into you like this in rankings."

"Th-That was...!"

Baek A-yun jerked her head up to retort reflexively. But realizing she had no ground, she deflated instantly, tail between her legs.

She huddled her arms and muttered softly.

"......Sorry......"

"What?"

"I-I'm sorry...!"

Her voice was so tiny I asked again, and this time she yelled it outright.

But she was too close. Hit point-blank by her sonic attack, my eardrums rang briefly...

"I-I must've gone crazy for a moment. Curiosity made me do something I shouldn't have. To you, and to first-year Se-eun."

Of course, our Baek A-yun was oblivious to that. She just fidgeted with her hands, head bowed at 45 degrees, rambling incoherently.

Her thoughts clearly unorganized.

"...I'm really sorry, Hyun-jin."

Well, ultimately, it boiled down to a sincere apology.

Her calling me by name instead of 'you' was a rarity...

I couldn't help but widen my eyes and look down at her.

There wasn't a shred of falsehood in her apologetic demeanor.

She peeked up, flinched at eye contact, shoulders slumping in a perfect (T^T) expression.

Then rolling her eyes uncomfortably in the silence, she looked utterly pathetic.

'Hmm...'

I swallowed a groan inwardly and tilted my head up.

Gazing at the temple's open ceiling and the black sky beyond.

Invisible to the naked eye, but the third eye probably watching us from there.

In other words, the 'cameras' directly linked to the arena in the academy campus.

Five minutes had already passed in the 20-minute ranking match. Monitors observing us were likely broadcasting this weird standoff between me and Baek A-yun.

Unless we shouted, the mics wouldn't pick up our words.

Still, the discomfort was unavoidable. It was too late for a normal match, and our talk felt unfinished here.

So, I figured we should wrap this up quickly.

"Baek A-yun."

I called her in a low voice.

"......Yes?"

She sniffled softly and lifted her head.

Craaaack!

I gathered cold energy in my right hand and formed a frozen spear.

Baek A-yun's face drained of color.

"H-Hyun-jin?"

"You free tonight?"

"Y-Yeah?"

"Clear your schedule even if not. Dinner with me tonight."

"W-Wait, what do you...?"

"Wait for me in front of the main building after."

Anticipating the impending tragedy(?), her future self? Pale-faced, she urgently channeled mana to reinforce her raised arms.

Craaaaaaaaack-!

But against a prepared mage, guards meant nothing.

I thrust the frozen spear forward, and Baek A-yun turned into an ice statue.

The most basic ice spell, Ice Binding. But even such a technique varied wildly by user.

Someone might barely freeze a cup of water, Lee Hyun-jin could freeze a person, and Seol Ha-yeon could freeze an ocean...

There's always a bigger fish. Unfortunately.

And the ranking match ended.

5 PM. As the sun began to set a bit early, Cheon So-yul wore a slightly perplexed expression in front of Lee Hyun-jin.

"...With A-yun?"

"Yeah."

The reason was simple. She'd suggested dinner together after a long time, only to be turned down due to a prior engagement.

That alone wasn't a big deal, but the key was who had that prior engagement with Lee Hyun-jin.

Baek A-yun—the one suspected of some 'something' with him last weekend, alongside new student rep Ryu Se-eun.

Cheon So-yul ambiguously opened and closed her lips briefly.

Maybe because they hung out so often, even one schedule clash felt disappointing.

...And more than that, suspicions about Lee Hyun-jin inevitably arose.

Cheon So-yul bit her lip, then grabbed his wrist.

Lee Hyun-jin's eyes blinked.

"What?"

"...Come here ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a sec."

He seemed flustered but didn't resist her touch. Feeling a bit relieved, Cheon So-yul dragged him to a secluded corner of the hallway.

A spot rarely passed, perfect for discreet actions—unless someone stared, they wouldn't notice.

Thud!

"You."

She quickly pinned him against the wall and lowered her voice.

Lee Hyun-jin blinked in confusion, his bewilderment deepening.

Cheon So-yul pressed on regardless.

"You sleeping over with A-yun tonight?"

"...Huh?"

"Are you gonna do it? Sex."

Leaving his startled echo, she interrogated him in as casual a tone as possible.

"You're not planning to just eat and part ways."

"...Well, we'll probably have drinks too..."

"Then take her to a motel?"

At her blunt follow-up, Lee Hyun-jin looked baffled.

"No plans for th—"

He tried to protest with wronged eyes, but...

"Can't hear you."

Cheon So-yul cut him off, sealing his mouth with her lips.

Her cold expression deepened as she thrust her tongue further, pouring her saliva down his throat. Like marking territory.

"...Hoo..."

She pulled back after a kiss, creating distance, then eyed his flustered face with satisfaction.

A face fully focused on her—perfect.

Licking away the drool trailing her jawline, she tossed out a line.

"You're gonna jump A-yun tonight."

"...What?"

"I can tell just by looking. Your face says it."

"No, what the hell since earlier..."

Lee Hyun-jin couldn't finish again. She kissed him once more, silencing him.

Boldly, aggressively, lewdly intertwining tongues.

Their lips parted dozens of seconds later.

"Puha..."

Cheon So-yul exhaled first, but gave him no breather.

Pressing closer, her tongue now grazed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his nape.

"...!"

She steadied his startled jerk with her hands, slathering saliva on his neck, shoulders, and soft skin near the collarbone.

"......"

After a brief hesitation, Cheon So-yul closed her eyes softly and bit his neck.

A soft 'ang', not hard but with a slight sting.

Lee Hyun-jin's face twisted then relaxed. Cheon So-yul pulled away, wiping her lips with her sleeve.

The two panted roughly, gazing at each other with heated eyes.

Cheon So-yul paused briefly. Her hot gaze landed on the bulge in his uniform pants.

...Excited, huh. She swallowed dryly inwardly.

'I want to.'

Honestly, she wanted to entwine bodies with him right now.

School or not, didn't matter.

Press ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠skin to skin, use mood as an excuse, whisper affections...

But not now.

Suppressing her urges, she pouted up at him.

His expectant expression was obvious. She chuckled.

Sorry for teasing, but oh well.

She shrugged and quipped.

"Go on."

"...What?"

His flustered echo. Cheon So-yul held back laughter, feigning casual innocence.

Turning away nonchalantly, she glanced back.

"I said go."

"......"

"Dinner date, remember? With A-yun."

Adding a cheeky, 'Have fun!' inwardly.

"Ah."

Something clicked for him. She spun playfully with a grin.

"If you really can't hold it... handle it alone here."

"...Hey, you."

"Want a handkerchief?"

His face stiffened, and savoring the reaction, she stifled giggles.

Riding the momentum, she tugged her skirt down boldly.

Swish-

Teasingly visible, not quite.

Her pale skin emerged—waistline and hips.

Pulling panties down too, she smiled leisurely with an eye-crinkling grin.

"Me too tonight... yeah, self-comfort after ages. You're busy, right?"

Glancing aside, she peeked at Lee Hyun-jin—flushed, covering his mouth with his sleeve, exactly as expected.

Flashing a sultry smile, she waved lightly.

"See you tomorrow."

After Cheon So-yul's unexpected, ultra-sneaky, erotic ambush(?).

I tried sorting my jumbled thoughts quickly.

A promise was a promise, so I headed out on time. Shaking off stray thoughts, I grabbed Baek A-yun waiting in front of the main building and led her to a BBQ joint off-campus.

I ordered a beer and soju each, then downed a light beer first.

The meat was still grilling, but... no helping it.

This stifling feeling, 50-50 mix of Baek A-yun and Cheon So-yul—might as well borrow booze's power.

I chugged the glass.

"You liked it, Hyun-jin."

"Pffft!"

Baek A-yun's sudden confession made me spit the beer in my mouth straight ahead.

Her pristine white top slowly soaked it up.