Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Hoping to Get Closer (6)
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Early morning.
Whistling a tune with a gift in hand, I entered the classroom to find Azalea already seated at her desk.
"Hey."
A glance laced with disgust.
Just from her voice, I could tell she was properly pissed off.
"Don't you have anything to say to me?"
"Uh...... surprise?"
"......"
Stunned by my shameless response, Azalea pulled a large box out of her bag and set it down.
-Thud. It was stuffed full of chocolates.
"Take it. You don't want to know what happens if you don't."
Her warning was frozen cold, like a flurry of winter snow packed with every emotion imaginable.
Did I do something wrong?
I racked my brain hard, but no answer came.
'Was it too much?'
Well, I'd crammed chocolates into every available space, so it was bound to annoy her.
"Got it."
"......Take it already."
Her eyes widened, as if she hadn't expected me to back down so easily, then she schooled her expression and spat out a shrill retort.
The box was pretty heavy.
It was a testament to how many snacks I'd gifted her over time.
As I picked it up, I thought to myself.
'You think that'll make me stop? No way. Come lunchtime, I'll ship more via courier.'
The Lee Si-heon gift offensive was far from over.
Ten per box, thirty boxes—three hundred total. Enough to last ten months.
I set the box aside and took my seat. Soon, the cadets started filing in.
Bead, who opened the front door, spotted me and waved cheerfully as she approached, her steps light and bouncy.
"Si-ha~ As in Si-heon!"
"Old news."
"Huh? It's trending lately. You didn't know?"
Perfectly at ease, Bead plopped down next to me and eyed the chocolate box.
"What's this? Valentine's today? Gimme one."
"Owner's marked."
"Who? No way...... Azalea?"
As I clammed up, Bead's lips curled slyly. She covered her mouth with one hand and giggled.
"It was you, huh?"
"Hm?"
"The guy rumored to have a crush on Azalea."
Her eyes sparkled like a galaxy at the discovery of something fun.
I scoffed dismissively.
"Crush my ass."
"Aww~ Playing shy."
She poked my shoulder with her index finger, laughing away, oblivious to the fact that I'd die without friends.
What I was doing was business.
Mixing personal feelings into professional matters? Ridiculous. My relationship with Azalea had to stay strictly at that level.
'Why the hell would I like Azalea?'
She's pretty, sure, but I'd never fall for someone who's never shown me an ounce of kindness.
The only reason I approached her was because she was the closest thing I had to a friend.
'Now that I think about it, it's kinda annoying.'
I eyed Bead suspiciously.
If this girl had ever truly seen me as a friend, none of this would have happened.
"Pffihihi."
Letting out a weird cackle, Bead slyly reached for the chocolate box.
I swatted away the playful puppy's paw.
"Hey, owner's marked, I said."
"Ow, just one."
"I'll buy you some later."
Had I ever struggled this hard in my life just to make one friend?
Every one of those chocolates contained the essence of my efforts. Missing even one would tank their value.
I glared to emphasize no way in hell, and Bead grinned before speaking up.
"Fine, guess I'll nap then. Wake me when the teacher's here?"
"Sure."
Bead buried her face in her desk and was out cold in under ten seconds.
The girl fell asleep disgustingly fast.
*****
Afternoon class.
Circulating my awakened mana brought a rush of unexpected pleasure.
'Oh, oho?'
To me, mana was a toy even better than the dinosaur robots I'd obsessed over as a kid.
Who knew the mana theory class I'd taken just in case would come in so handy.
During the practical exercise testing mana control, I got lost in the bizarre power of mana.
I pulled mana from my heart to my arm, or manipulated it down to my toes with precision.
Aiming at the marshmallow in my hand, I channeled mana, and it squished flat like it'd been crushed in a hydraulic press.
This was mana. This was the other world.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Advanced mana control increases Mana by 1. The system didn't need to tell me—I already knew.
The more I manipulated the mana in my vessel, the more I felt that vessel expanding.
My mana had already reached 3.
'Elite cadets who pop elixirs and train all day average 5.'
Even among them, San Su-yu, who ranked first in mana, was probably around 7 or 8. That's rare even among heroes.
Sitting here training alone had already built up a solid amount.
Catching up to the others would take time, but my growth graph made it feel possible.
'Most importantly, I've taken my first step into mana.'
Those born with a vessel grow slowly because it's crude and rigid.
But for someone who had no mana, the newly formed vessel stays flexible and smooth until it fully settles into the body.
In short, the days right after awakening mana come with a growth booster.
And...
"Wind."
A fresh breeze from my right hand brushed pleasantly past my ear.
Just a basic entry-level spell, but now I could cast magic effortlessly.
Was it my talent, or was magic just easy?
It had seemed daunting at first, but once I grasped the principles, it was no different from math or science.
If I had to compare, it'd be like programming.
I'd benefited from K-education, and honestly, I had more aptitude for magic than swords anyway.
Sword talent was E-rank, but magic was D.
More than that, my overflowing potential kept granting insights regardless of aptitude.
"That's it for today's class~"
Focused on mana, I'd lost track of time—the afternoon session was already over.
As cadets rushed out, I lingered a bit longer on magic before sauntering into the hallway.
Gotta feed Shiva quick.
With that thought, I quickened my steps lightly—then a voice called from behind.
"Excuse me."
A low, slightly sharp voice. Azalea.
Had she found out about the courier I'd snuck to her dorm at lunch?
I was furiously calculating in my head when a man approached from behind her.
"You must be Lee Si-heon? I've been waiting!"
A handsome middle-aged man with well-proportioned features. He looked like he'd excel in politics.
"Who might you be?"
"Ah, sorry. Haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Azalea's father."
"Ah...... Azalea's dad?"
I glanced at Azalea. Her face was icily rigid, far colder than before.
Seeing that, I thought.
'Something's up.'
Tearing my eyes from Azalea, I looked at her so-called father. He wore a fairly benevolent smile.
A smile bordering on fondness.
'Said he'd been waiting for me, huh?'
I cleared my throat, and he subtly offered a business card.
Jinmok Group. Lee Seong-han. A massive corporation.
"Different last name."
"Haha..."
At my point-out, Seong-han gave a wry smile. Azalea's face twisted at the sight of him. Stepfather, probably.
That let me infer how she felt about her stepdad too.
Bad blood. Complicated circumstances.
"I've been looking forward to meeting you too, sir."
"That's what I wanted to hear. How about we talk privately right now?"
Seong-han leaned in with subtle pressure.
Tricky situation.
I'd planned to probe his intentions, but asking outright felt off. Maybe play along for now.
"Tomorrow. Same time. I've got something to handle today."
"Sure, I'm the one asking, so I'll match your schedule. Clear your day tomorrow."
He was the one pushing, so adjusting time was on him.
Buy some time to think, at least.
"Well, Azalea. Let's head back."
"No thanks."
"This girl, really..."
Azalea smacked his arm away and glared coldly at Seong-han.
It was a situation that warranted anger, but Seong-han just scratched his chin awkwardly, glancing at me.
What the hell was this?
"Have a good time with Azalea then."
"You too."
I bowed politely enough.
Lifting my head, I saw Azalea glaring at me, looking miffed.
"So, what?"
"......Nothing."
"Nothing my ass. Spill everything you know."
That guy wanted something from me.
Anyone could see it, and someone close knew.
Azalea furrowed her brows deeply and muttered through gritted teeth.
"You wouldn't get it even if I told you."
"......"
"Fine."
I said nothing.
She had her own circumstances, no doubt.
And I knew this woman well enough—she wouldn't blab them to others.
As I walked off, a lame excuse trailed from behind.
"For you, it..."
"Pardon?"
"For you, it'll be good. That guy's generous with investments for his own people."
Her words sounded like the opposite for herself.
From her phrasing—'his people' and all—I could infer that Lee Seong-han wanted me on his side.
Why me? I didn't dwell on it. No point obsessing over unknowns.
And Azalea utterly despised her stepfather.
So she'd hate me cozying up to him too.
Judging by her reaction, she knew full well he was after me.
'If she didn't want me under Seong-han, she could've tried winning me over herself. But she never did.'
What psychology was at play?
I pondered, but pushing further was speculation, not deduction.
One thing was clear: this wasn't something I could brush off easily.
Whatever it was, tomorrow would tell.
I left the building without another word to Azalea.
The sun blazed, and the breeze was pleasant.
Still spring. Not long since enrollment.
-Step, step.
My footsteps led to one person's office.
I took a deep breath and knocked three times.
-Come in.
I'd known this moment would come someday. Time to go for it.
Azalea's father wanted me for some reason.
And I knew my own value well.
The key was how he'd spotted it.
-Creak.
"Teacher."
"......Si-heon?"
Lee Se-young, mid-keystroke, looked up and blushed faintly.
I shattered the mood and pressed on.
"One favor. Can you help?"
Startled by my serious tone, Se-young's eyes widened as she scanned my face.
"Hey."
"Yes, teacher?"
"What's going on?"
Straight to the point.
"Can you help without knowing why?"
"I need to hear what it is before I decide to help or not. Hey, and you—the guy who raped me the other day—asking for help out of nowhere?"
"What? You said sex friends."
"Th-that was in the heat of the moment—"
"Don't want to?"
Se-young bowed her flushed head.
"Fine......"
"That's secondary."
"Secondary? You little shit... Fine, what is it?"
I said nothing.
Under my earnest gaze, Se-young shut her mouth, pondered, then sighed in resignation.
"Ha... I'll help."
"Good. Then you're my backer."
"Hey, what does that—"
"Teacher."
A necessary step, finally voiced now.
I needed a faction watching my back.
And in this process, my position as a World Tree husband candidate was a huge asset.
"I'm a World Tree husband candidate too."