Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Kim Ji-woo (1)
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‘Good kid.’
Kim Ji-woo gazed at Lee Hyun-jin in the distance, who was turning a horde of orcs into ice statues, a soft smile gracing her lips.
The emotions in her lingering gaze were a vivid, deep fondness and goodwill.
For Kim Ji-woo, it was only natural. Among all the people she had met so far, Lee Hyun-jin's reaction was quite unusual.
She could read minds. That was her trait. She knew it was inevitable that others found it unpleasant.
That was why her position in the Blue Butterfly Guild was a bit ambiguous.
She was treated well because of her abilities, but there were very few people she could casually befriend.
Among the many peers, maybe just one or two, and one reliable senior as a boss?
It was a lonely situation. She simply didn't even have time to feel downcast amid her busy schedule.
Even reading minds only captured fragments of thoughts. She knew logical explanations wouldn't change anything.
So she had decided to give up. What did it matter? She had understanding family and friends, and she could just feel a bit out of place at work.
She was in the middle of convincing herself of that when she was assigned to escort students from Blue Pine Academy.
She was feeling quite skeptical about her trait at the time, which made it a bit disconcerting, but outright refusing felt wrong.
She reluctantly nodded and accepted the order from her superior. That led her to the entrance of Sobaeksan National Park a few hours ago.
In truth, Kim Ji-woo was a little worried. What if the students turned out to be arrogant, frog-in-the-well types typical of academy kids?
The students would hope their escort awakener had a decent personality, but the reverse wasn't much different.
Especially for Blue Pine Academy, where the most promising kids in the country gathered.
She had casually overheard from senior awakeners that rumors weren't great, so even without showing it, Kim Ji-woo was inwardly anxious.
And then the time for their first meeting arrived.
As expected, the student wasn't just ordinarily plain...
His name was Lee Hyun-jin. Truth be told, Kim Ji-woo couldn't have not known about this young man.
She had seen articles a few times mentioning him as part of the top-two combo with the Cheon family's precious Family Treasure.
Rumor had it he was the Ice Empress's one and only disciple.
What if, despite being the escort, she ended up being bullied instead? She spun in circles inwardly, agonizing for a moment.
But unexpectedly, seeing him obediently follow her lead filled Kim Ji-woo with emotion.
Honestly, at that age, having already built such fame and recognition, she thought she could forgive a bit of arrogance.
His attitude, more accommodating than even new Blue Butterfly Guild recruits, put her mind at ease.
That hesitation, the turning point, started right then. She knew there wouldn't be any issue even if she didn't say anything.
But still, didn't it feel like deceiving him somehow?
In other words, her conscience began to prick her. Kim Ji-woo, who tended to self-deprecate by assuming her trait deceived others, felt it even more.
That was why she spoke up, even knowing she'd regret it. She didn't want to trick him.
If she thought more rationally, he was just an academy student she'd never see after two days anyway...
-My trait, well... It reads the other person's mind.
Having been burned by her trait too many times, Kim Ji-woo blurted it out.
And immediately regretted it. Lee Hyun-jin's expression turned profoundly strange upon hearing it.
‘It's over...’
Tears that weren't tears welled up in her eyes. Was she too forward? Or had she stupidly said something unnecessary? She berated her own foolishness anew.
Her face drained of color, and then she went even further.
-D-don't feel bad about it...
She pitifully grabbed the hem of this boy, seven years her junior. How could she be so pathetic? Thinking back now made her face burn with shame.
Maybe she was thirstier for connection than she thought, isolated by her trait and unable to get truly close to others. That realization came as a bonus.
‘I'm not a kid, damn it...’
In the distance, Lee Hyun-jin was creating an ice pillar as tall as a five-story apartment.
Definitely beyond student level in magic power, Kim Ji-woo thought bitterly, smiling wryly. She had shown such an embarrassing side.
Yet Lee Hyun-jin responded calmly, more maturely than her, and she was simply grateful. Of course, sorry too.
-Do you think it'll stand?
‘...Uh, umm...’
But the memory of her momentary meltdown flashed back. Kim Ji-woo flinched, glancing around uncomfortably.
She wanted to believe no one had witnessed her disgrace...
‘You're crazy, Kim Ji-woo. Totally crazy.’
What on earth did she say to a kid? Even if he said something grateful, what was that behavior?
...Was she going to tackle him or something?
“Eek, uwaaah!”
A sudden not-quite-fantasy flashed in her mind. Kim Ji-woo flushed red without realizing.
Lee Hyun-jin, smashing goblins in the distance, startled and turned his head.
That was the moment her face turned even redder.
“...Ji-woo noona?”
“N-no.”
“Pardon?”
“It's nothing, so, uh, keep doing what you were!”
“Ah, yes...”
Having unnecessarily raised her voice sharply, Kim Ji-woo sighed in relief only after Lee Hyun-jin turned back with a subtle expression.
‘...Have I been bottling up too much...?’
And she thought. It seemed the backlash from neglecting her desires these past few months was finally hitting.
Not having dated for years due to work was just an excuse.
Had she really been too busy even to take care of herself at home? Truthfully, she had simply ignored it.
And now, meeting someone who understood her trait after so long, her mind had veered that way.
The problem was he was a student seven years younger. If not...
‘...I'd have dragged him off and gotten a room right away.’
It was a fleeting thought. A faint lewd glint briefly crossed Kim Ji-woo's face as she sneakily peeked at Lee Hyun-jin in the distance, then vanished.
“Hah.”
A half-beat late, she regained her adult senses and shook her head vigorously.
What had she just thought? This was wrong. He was a student...!
Even while saying he understood her, Lee Hyun-jin couldn't restrain boyish urges befitting his age. She seemed drawn to that cute, human contradiction.
For a moment, she had the wicked thought, ‘If I push a little, won't he fall right over?’ She sternly scolded herself for it.
With a deep sigh, she leaped to Lee Hyun-jin's side, who had finished off the monsters and was about to make a rookie mistake.
She kicked off silently and caught up behind him soundlessly. Lowering her stance, she gently pressed her body against his back.
“...! J-Ji-woo noona?”
Was the sensation on his back bothering him? As expected, a fresh, innocent reaction. Kim Ji-woo shuddered lightly.
‘Yeah...’
Just one touch, and her earlier resolve nearly crumbled. Had she always been a woman whose head filled with dirty thoughts like this?
She let out a loose chuckle while struggling to control her expression.
Anyway, it was work hours now. She had to fulfill her role as escort.
After successfully calming herself, Kim Ji-woo grabbed his hand.
“Don't touch that with bare hands.”
“...Ah.”
Just before, Lee Hyun-jin's hand had been reaching for colorful mushrooms near tree roots.
Even a layman ignorant of mountains would instinctively avoid mushrooms that shade.
Yet Lee Hyun-jin, trained at the academy, was about to touch something obviously dangerous without precaution. What did that mean?
For example, that student Lee Hyun-jin lacked basic common sense due to naivety...
Or quite the opposite.
“It's an Illusion-Scent mushroom.”
In other words, the mushroom itself had power to bewitch people.
This time, it was the latter case.
With colder eyes, Kim Ji-woo lightly crushed the vibrant mushrooms underfoot.
Lee Hyun-jin's eyes, which had been slightly glazed, returned to normal.
He stared blankly at the crushed mushrooms, then turned to her with an embarrassed expression, seemingly snapping out of it.
“...Sorry. I've read about them in books, but it's my first time seeing one in person, so I couldn't look away.”
His voice was laced with discomfort. Probably shame over his mistake, embedded in the apology.
Kim Ji-woo nodded several times, feeling an inexplicable warmth at this first glimpse of a truly ‘student-like’ Lee Hyun-jin.
“No, it happens. Some rookies don't even know what those do. You're great compared to them.”
First, encouragement. But then came a slightly stern reprimand.
“Still, be more careful from now on. You know what happens if you ingest an Illusion-Scent mushroom wrong, right?”
Kim Ji-woo asked, and Lee Hyun-jin flinched before averting his gaze and answering softly.
“Basically, it heightens mood and induces euphoria... Depending on the person, symptoms mainly include dreamlike sensations, awakening effects, and physical pleasure.”
A textbook-perfect answer, and Kim Ji-woo nodded.
“Yes, that's right. And?”
She followed up.
Lee Hyun-jin replied reluctantly.
“Induces arousal.”
Only then did Kim Ji-woo's expression satisfy. She reached out and lightly patted his head.
“Good job studying. Keep that vigilance. Sometimes shady guilds take rookies to secluded mountain valleys and make them touch these on purpose.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Especially young, pretty girls?”
“...”
She didn't mention nearly experiencing something similar early in her awakening.
Even though ruled self-defense, she didn't want to confess her bitter past of awakening assault charges to a kid.
‘Will this kid eventually clash with other awakeners too? Probably.’
Living as an awakener inevitably brings encounters with bizarre ones or outright villains.
Guilds all mandated mental preparation training for that.
But...
‘...He's still a student.’
No need to dampen a twenty-year-old's spirits by bringing it up first. Kim Ji-woo gave a wry smile.
Looking up, the sun was starting to set.
Glancing around, she confirmed the piles of monster corpses.
They had reduced numbers this much. About 80% of the quota done.
Two choices: push to the forest depths to finish today, or wrap up tomorrow and head back now.
The dilemma was brief; the decision easy. Student safety trumped tomorrow's hassle.
Even if Sobaeksan's monsters were low-level... Sunset made them ferocious.
Not insurmountable danger, but no need to rush. Kim Ji-woo clapped once.
“Alright, Hyun-jin. Let's call it for today and head down. Time's a bit awkward, but the sun's setting soon.”
Lee Hyun-jin, drinking water beside her, paused briefly and looked at the sky.
Seemingly convinced, he nodded casually.
“Sure, let's do that.”
As expected, no resistance. Kim Ji-woo smiled broadly.
A buoyant feeling welled up. Suddenly, she yanked his arm into a hug.
Even savoring his startled flinch, she suppressed her twitching lips and spoke in a trembling voice.
“Y-you might not know this, Hyun-jin, but starting second year, it's industry custom to grab a drink with the escort after finishing the daily contribution task.”
“...Is that so?”
“Yup.”
A dubious reply came, but having started the engine, Kim Ji-woo didn't hit the brakes.
She deployed one of her strongest weapons: her chest. She subtly shifted her weight, softly pressing his arm.
Exactly like hours ago, he reflexively straightened his back.
Suppressing inward laughter reluctantly, knowing she shouldn't, she leaned her head on his shoulder.
“Hmm, going to a bar isn't bad, but...”
And she said it.
“If you're okay with it, how about somewhere quieter, just us?”
“...”
“Get a room, just you and noona.”
No reply came, but Kim Ji-woo felt he wouldn't refuse this blatant flirt.
Her hand slyly brushed his thigh.
Feeling like a naughty adult, she let out a lascivious smile and excited breath.
To reiterate, it was dusk.