Chapter 28
Chapter 28
Translator: Penny
Chapter 28: Relationship [1]
Episode 28: Relationship (1)
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...
The only sound was the ringing in my ears.
Ah, I passed out while blocking Lee Seo-yun and Kang A-yul's attacks.
In my panic, I had only used psychokinesis to push them away, mistakenly believing I had safely resolved the situation.
Next time, I need to use psychokinesis to deflect their weapons too.
The mana-infused wooden sword's power was comparable to a 10-ton dump truck... well, maybe not quite that strong, but still powerful enough to slice through steel.
As a result, my hands, unable to grip their blades, were torn to shreds, spinning wildly. It wasn't exactly the kind of spectacle you'd want to show newly enrolled Academy students... but hey, I have Recovery, so I can pull off crazy stunts like this.
If anyone else had attempted this, their entire body would have been torn apart, like a shrimp crushed between battling whales. The force was truly overwhelming.
When I wake up, I need to give those two a stern talking-to.
From now on, the Academy will be plagued by events that defy common sense.
There will be incidents like a cadet losing control of their abilities and going berserk, forcing us to enter the library to subdue them—a truly insane situation. We'll also have to deal with assassins from Japan.
As their senior, I plan to guide the protagonist and his group onto the right path. After Yun Se-a's death, I'll become a pillar of support, helping the player regain their mental composure during their temporary emotional turmoil. Kang A-yul, known for her unwavering resolve, and Lee Seo-yun, a disciple of the Sword Demon whose skills are beyond question, will be crucial allies in these trials.
These two were crucial resources for tackling the upcoming story and the protagonists who needed to pave the way for my return home.
I wish they'd just make up already...
"...Infirmary! Quickly...!"
"I... know that!"
Thankfully, even in my collapsed state, they didn't seem crazy enough to keep fighting.
"Fine... I'll... carry you..."
I lost consciousness, feeling a floating sensation as if someone had slung me over their shoulder. It must have been either Lee Seo-yun or Kang A-yul carrying me to the infirmary.
A pleasant breeze gently tickled my hair, and I drifted into a peaceful slumber.
"...An unfamiliar ceiling. Well, not really unfamiliar, actually."
When I opened my eyes again... for some reason, I wasn't in the infirmary, but in my dorm room. My own room.
"...Ugh, it's so damp."
Did I have a nightmare? I must have sweated so much in my sleep that the bed was completely soaked.
"That's strange. Just a moment ago, something blurry was coming to mind... but now I can't remember anything at all."
My body was trembling violently, and something was trickling down my cheek. Tears were streaming from my eyes. It was like a mirage—as soon as I tried to grasp it, it vanished instantly, leaving no trace behind.
"That's strange. There used to be a light here."
As I struggled to steady my spinning vision, a familiar voice called out from beside me.
"Miss Se-a, are you alright?!"
"Miss Seo-yun... and Miss Ayul?"
"...Why did you stupidly squeeze in there?"
When my vision finally focused, I saw Kang A-yul and Lee Seo-yun staring at me with the guilty expressions of children who had broken a plate.
"Uh... what happened? I thought Miss Seo-yun was a transfer student?"
"Ah, you must have been startled."
It turned out they had been slightly panicked, thinking I was a home intruder.
"So, after seeing Miss Seo-yun's skills, they provisionally adjusted her ranking to 20th place..."
"Provisionally 20th place? They just threw her into an ambiguous spot so she'd get ganged up on during the Student Council President election."
Despite Kang A-yul's curt reply, Lee Seo-yun smiled contentedly.
"Thanks to that, I get to stay in the suite reserved for cadets with exceptional grades. My Master said he'll send my luggage tomorrow... I couldn't check the room because Miss Se-a suddenly collapsed... They told me to use Room 103, but where exactly is that?"
"..........!"
At Lee Seo-yun's words, Kang A-yul frowned slightly, looking somewhat uncomfortable. The reason was simple.
"Room 103... that's right next door to me. And quite close to Miss Ayul's room as well."
Room Layout
[Room 101] [Room 102]
[Room 103] [Room 104]
[Room 105] [Room 106]
[Room 107] [Room 108]
[Room 109] [Room 110]
[Elevator]
[Room 111] [Room 112]
Room 119 Room 120
I pulled out the floor plan from my room and showed it to Lee Seo-yun.
Right now, the owner of Room 103, which was close to my Room 101 and Kang A-yul's Room 102... who was it again? Anyway, that person had to move out due to a scandal involving sexual misconduct, and Lee Seo-yun had apparently taken over the vacant spot.
I feel a bit sorry for the person who had to move out.
They had worked so hard to maintain their position in the top 20, only to be instantly knocked down to 21st place by Lee Seo-yun, a ten-ton boulder that had rolled in.
Well, the Student Council President election was just a few weeks away anyway... If they were truly talented, I believed they would use this frustration as motivation to grow even stronger and reclaim their spot in the top 20.
"Anyway, why is everyone in my room?"
"Ah, right! You changed the subject earlier and never got to the important part."
That's right. Something's been off since earlier.
Unless they have a student's personal key, there's no way to open a dorm room... So how are Kang A-yul and Lee Seo-yun in my room...?
...Could it be...?
Is this... not my room?
I don't want to believe it.
"This is my room, right?"
"..........?"
Oh, for fuck's sake.
"When I saw your arm was all mangled, I rushed you to the infirmary as fast as I could. But when we got there, your arm was perfectly fine! I was so shocked!"
"Even so, Miss Se-a hadn't woken up yet, so we stayed in the infirmary to watch over her until she did. Around 7 PM, right after the nurse left for the day, Miss Se-a suddenly started convulsing as if she were having a nightmare. We decided to carry her to the dormitory, which would be more comfortable than the infirmary."
"She was sweating so much her uniform was soaked through, and she was groaning in pain. I couldn't just dump her in your room and leave. Besides, I had nothing else to do, and if you didn't wake up, the Student Council's reputation would be ruined. So I had no choice but to help."
"Miss Ayul's pajamas didn't fit, so we couldn't change her into them. But it was nice to get a peek inside Miss Se-a's closet."
"Hey!"
I'm sprawled out asleep in Kang A-yul's room, sweating like crazy?!
My mind reeled.
"...More importantly, I need to talk to both of you. Alone."
Come to think of it, Kang A-yul must have already sensed something was up.
"...Miss Seo-yun, could you step outside for a moment?"
"...Hmm, now that I think about it, I heard the pizza bread at this unmanned convenience store is supposed to be amazing. I should go try some."
Lee Seo-yun seemed to grasp the gravity of the situation, calmly heading outside.
Thump
The moment the door closed, Kang A-yul leaped over and stood beside me.
"Are you... really okay?"
"Yes, Miss Ayul. Anyone's heart would skip a beat if you and Miss Seo-yun suddenly acted like that."
"Not that."
"..........."
Ah, I was trying to deflect, but it's not working at all.
"You have the same look in your eyes as back then."
"What are you talking about? Why would I be tired?"
"The look you had on Christmas Eve, the one you get when you're trying to hide something."
"It's not like that. I've just been really busy lately and I'm tired... You know how people sometimes faint when they suddenly relax after being tense? It's something like that..."
"..........Alright, if you say so, then I guess that's it."
Ah, that expression.
It's the same look Kang A-yul gives when he's disappointed.
It was the kind of face he usually made when the protagonist broke a promise to him or did something dangerous, scolding them for their recklessness.
The expression on Kang A-yul's face wasn't one of disappointment in me, the player. Rather, it was a self-loathing born from the powerlessness of knowing his own plan was too weak, too inadequate for him to participate.
But I couldn't tell Kang A-yul, "I don't know why I suddenly started having such vivid nightmares, and even if I did, I couldn't tell you for fear of worrying you."
"I'm sorry. I didn't want to trouble you with this..."
"Haa... Forget it. But remember this."
"......?"
Kang A-yul pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, intending to wipe the sweat from my forehead, but instead tossed it to me.
"You're the Student Council President of Raon Academy, and I'm the Vice President. If you show any weakness, I'll take your position immediately."
"That's quite intimidating. Couldn't you be a little gentler?"
I felt a pang of guilt toward Kang A-yul, but this kind of dynamic suited our relationship perfectly.
After all, I was just a transient outsider destined to leave, while Kang A-yul would have to live in this world even after Mephisto's death. Our twisted relationship was exactly what it needed to be.
This was enough.
"Well, with the sheets like this, the bed's unusable..."
"Don't worry, they'll change them tomorrow if we ask."
"Then Miss Ayul should sleep in my room. I'm used to sleeping on the floor."
Kang A-yul assured me the sheets would be perfectly replaced the next day if we requested it, while Lee Seo-yun generously offered her room, saying she was used to sleeping on the floor.
They seem to have... gotten along better, somehow.
Just this morning, they were at each other's throats like wild animals. Now, they seemed to have settled into a more rival-like, bickering dynamic, which was a relief.
"By the way, I didn't want to interrupt the good mood, but... are you both insane?"
Regardless of how friendly they seemed now, I had to say what was on my mind.
These crazy fighting cocks.