Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Azalea's Falling Petals (4)
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A massive root slams down onto the floor.
-Boom!
A deafening roar tears at my eardrums. My heart pounds wildly.
-Crunch!
Shattered block fragments pelt my mask.
The goosebumps rising on my back show no sign of fading. My instincts keep screaming for survival.
-Whish!
A rough wind howls as a thick root whips toward me like a lash.
"Fuck!"
I raise my sword too late to block the root.
-Thud!
Her attack hits harder than I imagined. My body gets pushed back steadily. The sword slips from my grip and clatters uselessly to the floor, and I slam into the distant wall.
"Get up."
-Rumble.
The enormous tree moves as if it has a will of its own.
The rough bark protruding from the roots grazes my skin, drawing blood in spots.
It's tough. Heavy.
The body of the monster wearing that bizarre mask isn't human—it's that of a massive, grotesque beast.
"Cough, cough."
Covered in dust, I hack repeatedly while channeling mana throughout my body.
I notice the pain has vanished and focus my entire being. Six spells activate behind my back.
Fireball.
I gather mana in both hands, then explode power from my thighs like kicking off the ground and charge forward.
My target: the sword I dropped.
-Slash!
Roots whip in from both sides. I obscure her vision with the fireball and slide to snatch the sword.
My racing heart and buzzing nerves respond to my instincts.
I slice through the two incoming roots with my mana-infused sword in one stroke.
-Schwick!
Severed tendrils scatter haphazardly across the ceiling and walls.
The sword in my grip still gleams.
A fierce, flame-like fighting spirit surges around my body.
The pinnacle of instinctive movement.
Though I doubt this mana control I've never used before, hope swells that I can win.
'......This is doable.'
The moment that thought crosses my mind.
-Whoosh!
My nerves scream danger. My brain boils.
A dark shadow fills my vision. No—a tree.
Prickling pain races up my spine. If I don't block, it'll be a fatal wound at least.
I instinctively raise my sword, but facing the massive attack barreling toward me, I lose my nerve and pull back.
What comes at me is the giant hammer she's held from the start.
......As big as my whole body. Shit.
-Crash!
My vision flickers. My body hurtles backward through the air.
Like planting yourself in a medieval battlefield cannon and lighting the fuse.
I squeeze my eyes shut, enduring the shock ripping through my body, and exhale.
I'm rolling across the floor like a ragdoll.
This shit hurts like hell.
-Flash.
Eh?
"You okay?"
"I just blacked out."
"I know."
Lee Se-young giggles at my bewildered reaction and pulls my head into her embrace. Through the melting wood bark, I see Se-young grinning playfully.
"Hurts like dying."
"Obviously, dude. Who do you think I am? Thought it was doable?"
Doable my ass.
I had no idea she was this strong.
"I'm pretty badass, right? This is your teacher's power~"
Se-young flexes her slender arm proudly and cackles.
I glare at her face like it's ugly, then spit out sharply.
"Then why'd someone like you get raped by me?"
"......Raped."
"Yeah, got it."
She raises her fist at my sarcasm and bonks my forehead hard.
I groan, and she laughs. After that exchange, time flies, and it's already lunchtime.
In the ensuing silence, I stand and loosen my muscles.
As the mood shifts to wrapping up, Se-young, who's been watching me, speaks softly.
"I'll do everything I can. In three days?"
"Time and date are TBD."
"Got it. And you...... what're you gonna do? You're not the type to back off just 'cause I say so."
I widen my eyes, and she flicks my forehead with her finger.
Thwack—no pain thanks to the mask, but the feeling's weird.
"You know me well."
"Figured you would...... And you fight pretty damn good."
Se-young seems to grasp the potential I showed today.
Sword aura and fighting spirit drawn out in that brief moment.
It happened too suddenly, so adapting will take time, but I think I can pick it up quick.
I scratch my jaw and shift a bit, and something cracks from my waist.
"Kuhuhu, hurts a lot?"
"Nah."
"What was that sound? Your cheeks are all swollen—what, need me to help you walk? What's next class?"
She hops over, supports my shoulder, and nudges my jaw with her head.
I turn, and she's grinning mischievously.
"You held your own pretty well, though? Even Elite Class would be a joke. How about challenging top student next?"
Chatter chatter chatter.
As we descend from the training room, Se-young bounces down the stairs rhythmically and thumps the hood of a luxury sedan.
A dream car anyone would fantasize about.
"Hop in."
She confidently slides into the driver's seat, opens the window, and grins provocatively.
-Snicker.
I smile back and take the passenger seat. A sweet scent fills the car.
"What's the occasion? Being this nice."
My body's wrecked, but teacher's perks, I guess.
I buckle up and turn my head.
-Rustle.
There, Se-young hikes up her skirt sides with both hands, fingers pulling her stockings down from deep on her thighs.
"......Teacher, what're you doing?"
"Sweaty, hate it. What, turned on?"
-Rustle, slip.
The slightly damp stockings slide slowly down her elastic thighs.
Then she lets go with a snap, leaving her underwear blatantly exposed in a half-stockinged state.
"Hee hee hee, can't look away, huh."
Talkative maniac face.
She's flaunting it like throwing down a gauntlet. I lean down for a better view of her panties.
Her mound is faintly wet.
"Pervert."
"Who's the pervert? It's wet."
"......Sweat."
Her flushed face is cute; I almost reach out, but my body won't move.
Situation's fucked anyway. No room for that luxury.
-Stretch.
I pinch and pull her cheek a bit.
A hint of annoyance crosses the Emperor Oak's face.
"-I'm not driving like this."
"Then maybe don't beat me so hard. Could've done whatever then."
"......"
A flicker of regret crosses her face, then vanishes.
Arms crossed, she ponders, then blushes beet red.
"What?"
"N-never mind. Let's go."
She grabs the keys with her heated hand, starts the car, and drives off.
We don't speak the whole way.
Her tangy scent lingers at the tip of my nose.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ This morning, Azalea couldn't focus on class at all.
-Crunch, crunch.
She bites her nails and taps the mechanical pencil cap repeatedly.
As stinging pain draws blood from her fingertips, she licks her dry lips with the pen tip and glances back casually.
By the window next to Bead, who's dozing with arms folded—Lee Si-heon, always there, is gone.
She expected it, but after one night, the guy who clung to her like she was the best thing ever vanishes, and it doesn't sit right.
Last night's uneaten chocolate crosses her mind.
Any lingering attachment is just her imagination.
"Class dismissed. See you tomorrow."
"Yeees~"
Break time.
The kids cluster, whispering about their class's mask guy.
-Hey, you know that Lee Si-heon? The one with the mask.
-That attention whore?
-Yeah. Heard he went into the private sector with Chairman Lee Seong-han yesterday.
-For real?
Every word grates on her ears.
Azalea subtly furrows her brow. Jeong Si-woo, beside her, asks carefully.
"Something wrong?"
"Huh? No, nothing."
She flashes a bright, cute smile.
But inwardly, she can't shake thoughts of Lee Si-heon.
Not regret or disappointment exactly—a sticky, inexpressible emotion wells up.
Guys that forward are rare.
...No, of course they are. His gift barrage was over the top.
'Whatever. Forget it.'
"Let's eat. Wanna hit that pasta place from before."
"Huh? Sure, let's go."
She grabs Si-woo's shoulder lightly and heads for the main gate.
The academy center, lined with massive buildings, swarms with cadets heading to lunch.
A place where science and capital converge—Education City fits perfectly.
A man and woman approach the main gate emblazoned with noble family crests.
'Huh?'
Lee Si-heon and... Lee Se-young.
Just walking wouldn't be an issue, but Si-heon's face is badly swollen.
His clothes are torn in places.
His mask is intact, but blood seems smeared on the stained fabric.
Si-woo spots Si-heon first and rushes over.
"Dude, what happened? You okay?"
Se-young scratches her cheek awkwardly at the worried tone. Si-heon glares at her once, then laughs cheekily.
"No biggie. Heading to eat?"
"Yeah... how'd this happen?"
"Just an accident at the training grounds. Called the teacher to help me walk. Right, Teacher?"
"Y-yeah. Scared me when you weren't there this morning, you punk. Don't pull that shit again."
Se-young awkwardly fists his head.
Si-woo finally gets it and sighs in relief.
Azalea watches their exchange from a step back, quietly.
-That's no accident.
Torn clothes. Beating marks.
Completely one-sided thrashing. Not something from training.
'What the hell happened yesterday?'
Her stepfather Lee Seong-han is overly gentle with those he takes in.
Even if they resist, he never harms his targets physically.
That's his method, and it works well.
Not his only method, but among targets she's seen, none ended up this battered.
-Thump.
Suspicion stabs deep in her chest. Doubt.
Azalea startles and shakes her head.
"Eat well. I ate with Teacher."
"Cool. C'mon, Azalea."
"Huh? Uh, yeah."
Face stiff, Azalea lets Si-woo lead her to the gate.
Distance closes. Shoulders brush.
They pass Si-heon.
"Be careful in three days."
The quiet whisper rings in her ear.
Azalea whips around in shock.
"Azalea, what's up?"
Si-heon already has his back turned.
The suppressed doubt surges out. Her fidgeting lips won't part.
If you're gonna say it, say it right.
She clasps her trembling hand with the other and presses it to her chest.
Her heart's a mess.
Is this anticipation or fear occupying her chest?
She can't tell. Azalea forces a smile at Si-woo.
"Nothing."
Si-heon extends goodwill. It should be obvious, plain as day.
Yet she denies it.
Azalea always has.
'Can't trust him,' slapping together lame excuses to ugly-cut ties.
Those betrayed know.
How easily bonds shatter. Even abandoned by family, who can she trust?
She just wanted one comrade.
But she's no longer someone who can accept goodwill as goodwill.
-Be careful in three days.
So Si-heon's well-meaning words twist in her mind like this.
'What the...?'
He's lying.
She thinks.
And that's that.