An Angel Strolling Outside (2)

What word best suited Yumari? If people had to pick just one, they'd unhesitatingly choose "perfect."

Daughter of the Seocheon Yu family, bloodline of heroes, descendant of dragons... her lineage was perfect. Her beauty went without saying. She was already at a level that could compete with pro models—perfect. Top of her class upon entering Central Superhuman Academy, and now boasting the most overwhelming strength among the first-year Martial Arts Department students. Her combat prowess was perfect. And despite her noble birth, she led a spotless life with not a single scandal worthy of the news or papers. Even her personality was perfect?

But the Yumari who emerged from the waiting room looked somehow... off. She kept glancing around furtively, her steps hesitant and full of doubt. The flawless poise she usually showed was gone; she seemed a bit dim-witted, almost like looking at Soya.

'Soya would get mad and call that black mage hate if she heard.'

Refri apologized to Soya in his mind. Then he asked Yumari,

"Mari. You feeling okay?"

"...No."

"Then let's go."

Without warning, Refri grabbed Yumari's hand and headed somewhere. Yumari had no choice but to ask again.

"Uh, where are we going?"

"Event headquarters."

In truth, Central Superhuman Academy had a lot in common with outside schools. Aside from the scary professors and brutally tough classes, that is. If you thought of the Spirit Blessing Festival as just like a sports day at an outside school... it wasn't entirely off-base, was it?

And when outside schools held events like this, they were usually overseen by a group called the "student council." So who would oversee the Spirit Blessing Festival? Naturally, Central Superhuman Academy's Student Council.

And the president of that Student Council was none other than Yumari's half-sister, Yusihyun.

"What exactly do you plan to do?"

"Something naughty."

Grasping Yumari's hand, Refri boldly entered the Spirit Blessing Festival headquarters. As expected, several Student Council executives were there, deep in serious discussion.

Yumari, who had stolen the show at this Spirit Blessing Festival—probably Yusihyun had seen it and flown into a rage, issuing stern orders to these executives here. Fix this somehow.

"Hello, everyone?"

Refri greeted them with an angelic smile. Only then did the executives look at him.

"You... you're the first-year who teamed up with Yumari... Hmph, outsiders aren't allowed here. Get out."

"Oh, my bad."

He said that, but of course, Refri didn't leave.

"I said get out."

"But hey..."

Refri asked with a smile.

"Why are you running the event so cowardly?"

"What?"

"Even if the Student Council president ordered it, isn't it shameful to bully one person like this?"

With words like that, the executives finally grasped the situation.

"First-year, seems like you're misunderstanding something..."

"No misunderstanding. I've already heard it from everyone involved."

From spirits, not people, but still.

'Not even a flicker of agitation. They must be certain no one involved would talk.'

Refri thought. The involved parties were probably all Student Council members, excluding Spirit King Naiad. And their confidence that those members wouldn't talk meant...

'Student Council President Yusihyun...'

She truly was a scary woman.

Student Council President Yusihyun.

"Hey, underclassman. Enough probing."

Another executive shook his head.

"I don't know how you got that suspicion, but we've done our utmost to run the event fairly."

"Even after the Reflection Flower incident?"

"A mistake. An unlucky coincidence of misfortunes."

How brazen. Refri's hands trembled.

"What about the people who signed up for Yumari's team and switched to others the night before? They all seem close to the Student Council president."

"Coincidence. The president interacts with many students due to her position. By that logic, everyone working at our academy is close to her—would you suspect them all?"

"Then why were only Yumari's cooking ingredients ruined out of all the ones the Student Council was storing?"

"That was pinned on the students who switched teams. Probably selfishness—once the team disbanded, they sabotaged so the remaining members couldn't use them."

"And the Magic Engineering Department student close to the Student Council who handed Yumari the Reflection Flowers?"

"Investigation showed they genuinely thought it was edible. Of course, given the major accident, they'll face the disciplinary committee even if it was a mistake."

Smooth answers without a hitch. Too smooth—suspiciously so.

'Probably rehearsed responses.'

One executive muttered offhandedly.

"Of course, since it's a mistake, no major punishment..."

Heh-heh—the executives sneered at Refri.

"You people have no conscience. You..."

At that moment, Refri felt Yumari's hand. As if to say it couldn't be helped, she subtly shook her head.

'This is how it is, Refri.'

She mouthed. Refri mouthed back.

'There's no such thing as "how it is."'

Refri quelled his rising anger for a moment...

And continued in a calm voice.

"Promise me just this, and I'll go. Can you swear on the Student Council's name that there was truly no cheating ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in this event?"

"We can."

"And if any cheating comes to light... Student Council President Yusihyun herself will apologize to Mari directly and make amends?"

Sudden silence. The executives exchanged glances... then the one who seemed the leader said, "Yes."

Refri smiled brightly at the answer.

"Let me turn on the TV."

Refri suddenly switched on the TV and tuned it to a news channel. Every news channel was carrying the same breaking story: Spirit King Naiad's press conference.

Refri clenched his fist watching Naiad calmly confess her wrongs.

'As expected of the Spirit King. I believed in you!'

Naiad repents, gaining Angel Power. Naiad admits her wrongs, gaining Angel Power. Saving Naiad's life because she admits it, gaining Angel Power. And with Naiad's press conference, no punishment for Yumari—more Angel Power.

'This is Refri-style Angel Domino!'

A domino driven mad by power... no, by good deeds.

"Refri."

Yumari's expression looked bad. Why, after gaining so much power?

'Oh right. I got the power, not her.'

Refri looked at Yumari and asked,

"Why?"

"You mustn't antagonize the Student Council. They're dangerous."

Refri could only laugh. Antagonizing the Student Council? That's exactly why he was doing it. Because the Student Council gave tons of Angel Power.

'Whoa, just facing off against the Student Council nets this much Angel Power.'

Refri resolved to farm tons more Angel Power against the Student Council from now on. There weren't many factions that were just strong enough and evil enough.

"I know they're dangerous."

And the Student Council's specialty was wielding power only within the academy. Who were the real owners of this academy? The professors, obviously.

And which angel had the professors in their pocket right now?

'Probably me...'

Refri spotted something suspicious on a portal site. In all the Spirit Blessing Festival articles, there was zero mention of his own past.

What was written about Refri? Cute, kind. Super pretty boy. Looks like an angel but fights like a devil... basically Lucifer. Nothing but cringy stuff like that.

'This feels like that cringy book Professor Park Jinho wrote...'

Thus, Refri rationally deduced the truth. He didn't know what moves the professors had pulled, but they'd erased every trace of his past from the public eye.

'...Scary professors for real.'

It was spot on. The academy's true masters were the professors; ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Student Council was just students. No matter how much students rampaged, they were still in the professors' palms.

So why would Refri be scared? That's why he could say to Yumari,

"Still, it's something that has to be done."

Of course, Refri meant it had to be done (to gain Angel Power). But Yumari interpreted it as...

'Suicidal act of opposing the Student Council... something that must be done... for my sake...'

So Yumari bit her lip. To this boy sacrificing so much ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for her, had she as a dragon felt that vulgar desire to "possess" him?

Even Yumari, who lived suppressing her emotions, felt guilt like this.

'I want him even more.'

'Shut up.'

'Refri knew my true self from the start. That I deal with people through acting. That my heart is empty, nothing inside.'

The dragon in her heart mocked her.

'Yet Refri sacrifices this much for me. No one else treats my vulgar true self this well now. Just that boy. Only him.'

Yumari's horns slowly grew. She bit her tongue hard, using pain to drive out the voice.

'That boy is our last family.'

And with the pain, the dragon's voice faded like an echo.

'Hurry, or he'll be taken.'

'Like Mother.'

Yumari barely suppressed her draconic instincts and watched the chaos unfolding at headquarters.

"Then have Yusihyun come apologize to Mari herself."

Refri's voice was flushed with excitement. Utter delight.

Power trips were fun like this, after all.

"...Got proof?"

A flustered executive muttered. The others chimed in agreement.

"Yeah, what nonsense is this?"

"Go home. Can't you see we're busy?"

But Refri wasn't fazed by the excuses.

"Guys! They want proof!"

Martial Arts Department first-years pushed through the tent flap. Smiles bloomed on their faces too. Each held a superhuman-grade camcorder.

They'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠brought them to film their mascot Refri's exploits... but somehow, they ended up useful like this.

"Whoa, seniors. We heard everything."

"Video quality's crisp, right? These superhuman camcorders are a must for dungeons these days—super clear."

"Student Council seniors are too much. How could you screw over our cute Ref... I mean, our classmate Yumari like that..."

Watching the chattering first-years, one executive muttered,

"We're screwed."