Academy Summer Break (0)
"Juwon should be okay..."
Lee Da-eun was heading to the infirmary with a C-rank Elixir clutched in her arms. From her perspective, even an A-rank one wouldn't have been too much of a sacrifice, but she knew he'd refuse it every time, feeling burdened. This was her compromise. Even a C-rank cost tens of millions of won, but to her, it wasn't a big deal.
She could have watched from the VIP viewing room, but she chose to observe the spar with her own eyes. The viewing room was comfortable, sure, but it lacked the on-site intensity and made it hard to sense the flow of mana.
"If he'd been just a little faster... Juwon would have won."
Lee Da-eun had watched their match closely. The punch that exploded the moment Kang Juwon's sword connected—if he'd been a bit quicker, the outcome would have been different.
Whoa, there's Da-eun the Titty Monster.
Hey, don't say it so loud! How could you?
As someone fairly famous in her own right, she often drew attention like this while walking through the academy.
I wonder what that means?
The occasional "Titty Monster" comment nagged at her, but it didn't seem malicious, so she brushed it off.
...
The stares grew burdensome, so she hurried toward the infirmary.
As she reached the entrance, thoughts of the defeated Kang Juwon flooded her mind. How should she comfort him? While she pondered, voices drifted from inside.
"..."
She knew eavesdropping was wrong, but she focused carefully on the conversation within.
Right then, she heard her childhood friend's voice.
"Not in that other sense... I just want us to get closer from now on."
"..."
Lee Da-eun clenched her fists without realizing it.
After Juwon's family business collapsed, they'd grown distant. She'd wanted to help, but he always pulled away, burdened, widening the gap. All she could do was watch from afar.
Reuniting at the academy had filled her with joy. She'd thought they could go back to how things were, but the distance lingered.
Why is she the one he lets get close... when he pushes me away?
To Lee Da-eun, Kang Minji seemed like a sly vixen seducing her precious childhood friend—a wicked fox.
"I don't like it."
Kang Minji's firm rejection brought a wave of relief, along with the thought, What's wrong with our Juwon?
The relief outweighed everything else. But Kang Juwon, oblivious to her feelings, pressed on.
"I don't have bad intentions. I learned a lot from today's spar... So I want us to be closer for each other's growth."
Every word from Kang Juwon stung her heart. But she told herself it meant nothing more. Their skills were so evenly matched, teetering on a knife's edge—it had to be about mutual improvement.
Lee Da-eun trusted the Kang Juwon she'd always known, the one who turned down every confession from other girls. This was surely the same.
As she steadied herself, footsteps approached the infirmary entrance.
That guy...
Lee Da-eun eyed Kim Siu. She'd witnessed Yoon Seoa's match firsthand, so she knew of him, but his sudden transformation in appearance made her not recognize him at first. She'd only seen him carrying Kang Minji after her spar, so she pegged him as just a friend of hers.
He held a black envelope—probably snacks, judging by the look. His destination was obvious: the infirmary she was blocking.
She hesitated. She didn't see it that way herself, but wouldn't it look like he was hitting on Kang Minji? What if weird rumors started?
I... I can't let him go in right now!
In her earlier daze, she hadn't noticed, but the guy in front of her was strikingly handsome. If Kang Juwon was the soft, flower-boy type everyone swooned over, this cadet had a sharper, more intense edge. To her, accustomed to Juwon's face, it was a fresh shock.
This... this isn't the time for those thoughts!
When you didn't know what to say, start with a greeting. She tried to stay composed, but his approaching face made her stammer.
"H-Hi... hello?"
"Pardon? Oh, hello."
Kim Siu reacted with surprise, as if he hadn't expected her to speak first. Lee Da-eun's mind spun—what should she say next? Self-introduction first?
"I-I'm Lee Da-eun!"
"Ah... yeah, I know. You're the academy's vice-top student, right?"
Kim Siu stared into space with a puzzled look, then burst out chuckling.
"Could you step aside? I came to see Minji."
"Wh-what's your name?"
"Kim Siu."
"Kim Siu...?"
She knew only one Kim Siu: the guy who'd handed Yoon Seoa her first loss, the academy's former dead last whose name she'd mulled over endlessly.
"Th-the Kim Siu who beat Yoon Seoa?"
"Yeah... that's me."
Kim Siu scratched his head sheepishly. How could someone's looks change this much? Second awakenings could alter appearances, but not usually this drastically. Still, it wasn't impossible.
If this was Kim Siu, the image of his eyes blazing with clear blue during the spar lingered vividly in her mind.
"Did you... have your second awakening?!"
"Uh... yeah? I did."
"C-could you show me?"
If it matched what she'd seen, his power was the same. Two years ago, Kim Tae-hwan had saved Korea with it—the idol of all hunters. And now, someone with that ability stood before her.
Kim Siu gazed into the distance, then nodded.
"If the vice-top asks, how could I refuse?"
As Kim Siu activated his Anti-Magic, his eyes turned a vivid blue. The clear, pristine azure from the spar, blue mana flickering like flames at his fingertips.
"Ah... ahh..."
The glowing blue eyes accentuated his features. Without realizing, Lee Da-eun's heart raced faster.
Watching, her eyes sparkled as she spoke.
With the ability confirmed, the man before her was indeed the Kim Siu who'd beaten Yoon Seoa.
"I watched that match—it was amazing! First time I've seen Seoa that flustered!"
As the academy's vice-top, she'd sparred with Yoon Seoa before. Every time, utter defeat. Pure ice without impurities blocked electricity. Yoon Seoa's flawless ice rendered her lightning useless.
"Dodging those ice spears was so cool!"
"Ah, thanks."
Even without using her electricity, the overwhelming mana gap and Yoon Seoa's perfect ice fortress made it impossible. Others might call Kim Siu's win cheap, but not Lee Da-eun. She'd fought her—she knew how towering and impenetrable that wall was. Seeing him triumph despite the power difference felt like gazing at a fairy-tale hero from her childhood.
Seoa's not a villain, but... hehe.
Yoon Seoa wasn't a villain in any tale, but from the perspective of someone who'd lost to her every time, she seemed a bit villainous.
Without realizing, Lee Da-eun had grabbed Kim Siu's hand.
"Um..."
As she opened her mouth, Kang Minji's shout erupted from inside.
"I said I really don't like it, so stop!!!"
"Ah..!"
Startled, Lee Da-eun let go. She'd thought it would fizzle out, but Kang Minji had exploded.
"Uh... so..."
"Our Iron Wall Queen's pissed."
Kim Siu chuckled familiarly, excused himself to Lee Da-eun, and entered the infirmary. She followed right after.
"Whoa, whoa, calm down a bit."
Inside, Kang Juwon stood flustered, while Kang Minji glared daggers—clearly furious to anyone watching.
Kang Minji, still mad, spotted Kim Siu and turned away.
"Minji, why are you so mad?"
"No! I said no, but he keeps..."
Kim Siu stepped in front of her, speaking on her behalf.
"Yeah, yeah... sorry Minji got mad."
Kang Minji huffed, glaring at Kim Siu, while Kang Juwon's shock turned to bewilderment.
"And who the hell are you?"
Kang Juwon glared angrily, but Kim Siu kept smiling.
Lee Da-eun watched him maintain that gentle smile without snapping back—it made him seem so mature.
"We're classmates, and you don't recognize me? That hurts."
"Classmates?"
"I'm Kim Siu."
"What?"
Kang Juwon stared in genuine shock. This was 180 degrees from the Kim Siu he knew. Kim Siu was Minji's partner—the guy she talked to had to be him.
"I know 'cause I'm Minji's partner, but she's not really mad, so don't worry too much."
"Hey, I am mad for real!"
"Minji says sorry."
"Hey, Kim Siu!"
Their playful banter thawed the icy tension instantly. Kang Juwon and Lee Da-eun could only watch.
We used to be like that too... back in the day.
Lee Da-eun felt a pang of nostalgia, while Kang Juwon shot Kim Siu a fleeting jealous glance.
Then he apologized first.
"S-sorry, I didn't mean it that way. If I upset you, I apologize..."
Kang Minji still eyed him suspiciously, but after Kim Siu nudged her, she accepted.
"I-I'm gonna go."
Kang Minji rose uncomfortably from the bed.
"Take it easy."
Kim Siu caught her as she wobbled. Her wounds were healed, but mana exhaustion meant she needed rest.
"What're you doing, you loser..."
"Hop on."
"...I can walk myself."
"Hop on."
Grumbling, Kang Minji climbed onto his back. Lee Da-eun watched enviously.
"Have a good break~"
With that, Kang Minji and Kim Siu left, leaving Kang Juwon and Lee Da-eun alone.
Lee Da-eun gazed wistfully and pulled out the elixir she'd brought.
Soon after, summer break descended on the academy.