Chapter 5

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 5

Chapter Title: External Mission (1)

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"......Hmm."

I stared down at my smartphone with a displeased frown. Cheon So-yul's curt, tick-tock replies were part of her charm, but today it felt a bit over the top.

Usually, we could at least manage normal everyday chit-chat...

Of course, I had a pretty good idea why. The reason she was being so prickly at this timing? It was painfully simple.

I let out a smirk despite myself, typing out my reply loaded with annoyance.

I chuckled to myself and hit send cleanly. The response came back instantly.

Cheon So-yul fired off a barrage of curses without even bothering with spaces. After about five seconds to calm down, she sent another message.

I replied immediately.

I could practically picture Cheon So-yul on the other end letting out a series of incredulous laughs. 3D replay in my mind.

So what are you gonna do about it? What can you even do if I throw my weight around?

'Of course, if rumors spread, it'd be trouble for me too...'

But I wasn't the type to care as much about my public image as she did. As long as I endured some whispers, it wouldn't be a big deal.

What kind of scandal could a student even have? Dating rumors at worst. We'd been seen together plenty anyway.

Bottom line: This battle was rigged so she couldn't win.

"Pfft."

Seeing her use an emoji she never normally touched made me burst out laughing without realizing it.

A gift would probably just be something perfunctory anyway, so no big expectations.

I decided to take satisfaction in just having gotten under her skin as much as possible, pocketed my smartphone, and got out of bed.

So.

Vacation's really here now.

What do I do next?

Cheon So-yul headed home. It was a trip from Daejeon to Gyeongju, and she planned to spend the whole break there now that she was going.

'She said she was gonna stay at the academy originally.'

I had no idea why she'd changed her mind so suddenly. When I asked, she dodged on purpose—it seemed pretty suspicious...

But I decided not to pry too hard.

The real issue was elsewhere. With Cheon So-yul gone home, what was I supposed to do with my break?

"Hm."

Don't get me wrong—I didn't look like I only had Cheon So-yul as a friend. Far from it. I got along with plenty of people.

It was just a ridiculous coincidence that they were all busy heading back to their hometowns, going on trips, or tied up with other stuff.

They were all too swamped to hang out with idle me.

"......"

For real. No lie.

'...Maybe I should swing by home too.'

I mulled it over. My master had been calling me anyway, and I figured I should see her. It'd already been half a year.

Yeah, why hide it? Even during summer break, I'd stayed at the academy instead of visiting my parents or master. I was a fire-attribute filial son and disciple.

Her messages had gotten progressively rougher in tone, and I hadn't even opened them for the last three months.

Going now would definitely mean a scolding, so I wanted to avoid it while I could.

'Ugh.'

I rubbed my forehead and groaned.

Meanwhile, I diligently dried my hair.

She'd come find me herself come April anyway. Did I really need to go first? I pondered seriously.

To be more honest, I was just scared to face my master.

The day I first met her at fifteen through my father's connections—she spotted my talent instantly, her eyes lit up, and she basically kidnapped me to her house. That was shock number one.

After that, every break, I'd get dragged there to train forward rolls, backward rolls, you name it—bone-grinding suffering for nearly four years.

Trauma was inevitable. I still flinched on reflex whenever she got mentioned in the news.

I couldn't deny she cared for me, but did I really need to burn my precious break to go see her? Eh?

"...Alright, decided."

I changed into going-out clothes ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and finally made up my mind, however reluctantly.

This break, I'd stay fire-attribute too...

Once decided, I even felt lighter on my feet. In high spirits for no reason, I left the dorm.

Dropping one homework didn't mean all my to-dos vanished.

For a Blue Pine Academy student—Korea's top academy—to truly enjoy a vacation-like break, there were quite a few things to handle early on.

One was neatly clearing the quota for "National Contribution Missions."

Blue Pine Academy, founded by Hero Yang Chan-ho, basically had no tuition or fees once you enrolled.

Even Red Tiger Academy, positioned as its rival from Busan, charged private uni-level fees that paled in comparison.

That's why Blue Pine was the nation's premier awakener training institution. The hero himself was chancellor, after all.

So, what was the one obligation Blue Pine students had? National Contribution Missions.

In short: You're growing comfortably under the hero and nation's banner, so we'll use you as national awakener forces in advance.

They treated students as combat personnel plain and simple. Surprisingly, backlash was minimal.

The justification wasn't wrong, and they never threw students into missions beyond their level.

At most, unpaid gate sealing near your residence.

Or lightly clearing the edge of a monster-infested mountain range.

Even that came with veteran awakeners for protection, so in the nine years since founding, major incidents were countable on one hand.

Basically, it was just practical experience with minimal difference from training.

Last summer break, it let me handle monsters easily too.

The security alone was huge.

This time wouldn't be different. No—if anything, half a year stronger, I'd be an asset, not a liability.

Season being what it was, I threw on a jacket and headed straight for the academy admin office.

Ice mages didn't need outerwear for the cold anyway...

But appearances mattered, right? Everyone else in coats and padding—me in short sleeves would look odd.

I was the type to blend in with others. Unlike some Pikachu who just circulated lightning heat and roamed in a shirt or sweater.

In that sense, she and I were alike in not feeling the cold.

What else?

'Common points, common points.'

Food tastes overlapped decently; movie picks differed a lot?

Personalities were both extreme my-pace types, but otherwise dissimilar...

Hm.

I spent a while listing commonalities with Cheon So-yul, even recalling her ideal type I'd heard somewhere, then snapped out of it.

Why was I suddenly thinking this? Embarrassing.

I ignored the adage that popped up: 'When you like someone, you unconsciously seek common ground.'

I didn't have feelings for Cheon So-yul, after all.

'...Here already.'

Shaking my head needlessly, I'd long reached the admin building. Hiding my unease, I went inside.

Several students were gathered, probably for the same reason.

Some familiar faces, classmates or seniors, all looked busy. No need to greet.

As I moved to draw a number ticket for smooth assignment—

"Hyun-jin?"

A voice called me; I turned to see a girl eyeing me curiously.

Badge color said second-year—no, soon third-year, Blue Pine's eighth class...

"It is you! Lee Hyun-jin. Didn't you say you go home for breaks? Why're you still at the academy?"

"...Sunbae."

Second or third year didn't matter; I knew her. I shot a sour glare at her enthusiastic clap and welcome.

She knew what my look meant, yet grinned cheekily and pulled me past the partition.

And handed me mission papers without a ticket. Before I even stated my purpose...

"Call me noona casually. You lied about going home just to me, huh? Scared I'd bug you all break?"

"...You know it well."

"Too bluntly honest. But that's charming too."

Seo Ha-rin swept her jet-black hair behind her ear with a eye smile. Last year's student council secretary, vice president this year.

...Separate from that, we weren't on great terms.

More precisely: I unilaterally pushed her away; she unilaterally pursued.

Her target? Me. Not my money or background—my body itself.

Sounds weird, but true. What use was a student's pittance to her?

She was Ilseong Group chairman's granddaughter. That top-tier conglomerate.

Again: Only reason to target me was this body. But romantic feelings? No.

She wasn't after my heart—

"So, still no thoughts on becoming Ilseong Group's son-in-law?"

...She was after this budding mage's body itself, as I'd said.

I swiftly dodged her slinking arm around my waist.

Seo Ha-rin smacked her lips in regret.

I felt chills for no reason.

This was tame skinship. Last time? Since I kept refusing like a parrot, she tried spiking my drink?

'Then planned to make it a done deal.'

Not my place to judge after getting drunk with Cheon So-yul recently, but this sunbae was extreme. Overkill.

She didn't hide her schemes—once treated me to eel, oysters, abalone trio "for lunch"...

Yeah. Not unlikable person-to-person, but her blatant binding attempts creeped me out often.

'That time she shoved a contract listing 100 reasons to marry her... That was genuinely terrifying.'

Some might say, "Big corp heiress? Why bother?"

Issue: ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠World revolves around awakeners now, and Ilseong had zero awakening genes.

Heard her two older sisters married famous awakeners in arranged matches long ago.

I'd gasped at those articles just yesterday—or so it felt; it'd been nearly ten months since meeting her...

"If you'd given in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that day, we'd have a kid by now. Right?"

"......"

I snapped from my reverie back to reality urgently.

What? Mind reading? Rattled, I eyed her tremblingly.

She beamed brightly at my shaken gaze.

"Kidding."

"......"

"Not planning kids at this young age. We'll think heirs after marriage—. Whoa, Hyun-jin? Where you going already? Have a drink with noona to celebrate adulthood!"

A battle mage's judgment must always be swift. That's how you survive.

Grabbing only the papers, I bolted from the office before she could grab me.

She's the sole awakener in Ilseong—no marriage pressure there...

Why so fixated on me?

Shivering. Chilled. First time feeling winter wind creep since learning ice magic.

I neatly folded the paper noting tomorrow's destination and tucked it away, heading to the central bus stop.

Destination: Northeast of the academy, Songnisan National Park in Boeun-gun, North Chungcheong Province.