Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Masked Man (5)
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⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [El Academy, 2021 Midterm Exam Notice.] A text message popped up on my phone screen. Midterm exams were drawing near.
Sitting comfortably on the plush sofa, I savored a cup of peach tea while reviewing magic theory.
Slurp.
The hot sip melted through my body, leaving me blissfully relaxed. It wasn't too bitter—just the right amount of sweet. It hit my tastes perfectly.
Our preferences are annoyingly similar. That might be exactly why she assigned me this task.
I copied down my notes and let out a sigh.
"Ah..."
Wrapped in this cozy air, free from any chores, able to immerse myself in studying...
It's really, really nice.
The leisure of sipping tea after victory was my ultimate break.
I smiled contentedly. Bringing the cup to my lips, I noticed the tea had cooled just a touch.
Clap, clap.
"Hey!"
Two sharp claps. At my rude summons, a silhouette emerged from the kitchen and approached.
A stunning woman with snow-white hair tied in a ponytail narrowed her brows in an inverted eight shape as she drew near.
"Ugh..."
Dressed in casual clothes, she held the teapot and glared at me silently.
"What... do you want?"
"The tea's gone cold. You know what that means, right?"
"Got... it."
I could hear Baek Do grinding her teeth from here. She was seriously pissed.
But so what? What was she gonna do about it? Today, I was practically her master.
"Hurry up and fetch more."
"......You'd better know your limits, third-rate disciple."
She'd demoted me from disciple to third-rate disciple, but I was in too good a mood to care.
"You and I are in a master-disciple relationship. No matter the bet, there's a line between master and disciple. Surely you know that?"
"Quit beating around the bush. What did I tell you to do?"
"......A master worse than a jackal."
She prefixed it with some nonsense, but whatever. I had so much fun ahead—her blowing up now would ruin it.
"You were the one who proposed the bet first, anyway."
"......Talking down to your superior."
"Who's the superior now?"
"The master."
"Good to know your place... Someone once said that to me. Guess who?"
Baek Do's brow twitched. It was something she'd said to me back during training on Jiri Mountain.
"...Me. Your pathetic third-rate disciple's punches were so weak, I had to say something."
"I won the bet fair and square, but your attitude's still spineless, so I had to say something."
"You really never learn."
"So what?"
"......Never mind."
Realizing this back-and-forth would drag on forever, she stood and headed to the kitchen.
Soon, I enjoyed the snacks and fresh tea she brought while skimming the midterm notice that had just arrived.
Written exam, practical exam, and tournament.
The exam types were set in three formats.
The subject depended on the professor's choice. If your chosen class's prof picked written, you did written; if practical, then practical. Instructors usually went for practical.
The tournament, on the other hand, was an annual fixed event.
A brute-force, efficient way to rank pure power.
It didn't hugely impact grades but affected rankings—a system to honor true talent.
I glanced sideways at Baek Do.
"Sit here."
She tilted her eyebrow and sat on the folding chair by the desk.
"You're pissed right now, huh."
Nod, nod.
"Exams are coming up... and I have to win... Wanna bet again? On whether I take first place."
She smirked.
"After seeing you embarrass yourself last time... You think I'd take that bet?"
Honestly, I do. I'd take it.
"Fine."
See?
"I'll bet on the loser. Can't have you cheating."
"Sure. What's the penalty for the loser?"
"Anything goes. Winner dictates to the loser, of course."
She hadn't learned after one loss. Felt like watching a retail investor dumping cash into stocks.
"What if you lose again? Won't end at servant this time."
"Shut up."
She insisted, so I couldn't stop her. I waved her off.
"Whatever. Let's grab food in an hour. Pig bone soup sound good?"
"...You like it."
With increased training volume, my appetite had grown lately too.
Movement builds hunger. Baek Do seemed to agree, smacking her lips at the thought of the soup.
"Oh right, give me a foot massage first."
Of course, until mealtime, she was basically a slave.
"Eek... Eeek..."
Baek Do held back, swallowed her curses, and silently complied.
Grind, crunch. Her rage-filled teeth grinding filled the silent room.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ [BuddyBuddy 010-XXXX-XXXX] Cornus had made a friend.
And saved the contact with an embarrassingly affectionate nickname.
'...Of all people, that guy.'
Cornus's dedicated secretary, Ji-ho, sighed bitterly as he scrolled through her phone.
BuddyBuddy... No doubt the work of that hornbeam tree she'd recently taken as her master. He'd probably teased her that real friends use nicknames like this.
'Lee Si-heon... Why him of all people...'
The Cornerus Family was nobility among nobles, just from the name alone.
Anyone approaching the eldest daughter of such deep-rooted wood folk had to be vetted—even if they were World Tree spawn.
Ji-ho silently eyed the sparse report.
Lee Si-heon. He'd investigated on foot since the day he'd approached Cornus... but found no trace of his past or history.
'Too dangerous. He might have ulterior motives.'
Lee Si-heon hid his info flawlessly.
No expert could vanish themselves this perfectly.
'Why would she meet someone like that...'
As her secretary, it felt wrong to say, but Cornus was too pure and naive.
She sometimes couldn't even tell if her actions were right.
Just watching her, you'd confuse the noble heiress for a ditzy golden retriever.
'Sigh.'
His sigh scattered out the window.
'She wasn't always like this.'
Excessive expectations and attention. And the Cornerus Family's ongoing project.
Various reasons had eroded the once-sharp Cornus's emotions.
She was still beautiful enough to sacrifice her life for... but sometimes, he recalled the girl from her childhood.
-Ji-ho, I learned swordsmanship today. Log it.
She'd trusted herself fully, always leading by example.
But lately?
"Mi-ho."
"Yes, miss."
"My phone's gone..."
-This.
She wasn't all ditz, though.
Foolish as she seemed, her Academy grades were top-tier.
Her swordsmanship improved by leaps and bounds. Lately, she'd been training hard for some reason.
'Because of that guy...?'
Thinking of Lee Si-heon, Ji-ho gave a wry smile at the tilting-headed Cornus.
If so, he'd owe him thanks. But... if he harbored irreverent thoughts toward her, Ji-ho would step in personally.
Ji-ho pulled out his phone from his pocket and offered it to Cornus.
"Found it in the hallway earlier, miss."
"Ah, thanks, Ji-hu."
"It's Ji-ho."
"Mi-ho."
"......Yes."
Cornus grabbed the unlocked phone—no pattern or anything—and grinned at the screen.
'She won't really go for that weirdo, right...?'
Ji-ho felt inexplicably uneasy watching her.
She'd been through so much; he just wanted her happy.
Knowing the family's internal affairs made his mouth taste bitter.
"Miss."
"Hm?"
"About that friend you mentioned... Could I learn more about him?"
Cornus hugged her phone tight. The large screen buried into her ample chest—she could cover it with one small palm.
"I made a friend."
"Really? Congratulations."
Worried it might be, and it was. Ji-ho kept a poker face.
"Exams are soon, right, miss?"
"Yeah."
"How about inviting your friend to study together? Build rapport, and it might be a special experience."
Cornus's eyes sparkled like it was a great idea.
"Sounds good. Shi-ho! I'll ask him."
With that, she trotted back to her room.
Tracking her with his eyes, Ji-ho had to admit one thing at least.
Her emotional expressions had increased lately.
An undeniable, visible change.
'Need to investigate more.'
Ji-ho reread the few lines on Lee Si-heon.
---
Lee Si-heon, age 20. No records of childhood or past activities.
However, given his access to S-rank hunter Baek Do and ongoing contact with Oak Family executive Lee Se-young, he is deemed no ordinary individual.
Several guilds and families have approached him. No illegal dealings confirmed.
---
Seems promising at a glance. He'd leave it be otherwise, but since it's Cornus, no choice.
'And of all connections, linked to that woman Baek Do...'
Ji-ho recalled Baek Do at a past guild meet—haughtily seated, eyes devouring all.
Just thinking of it gave him goosebumps.
Honestly, investigating Lee Si-heon felt risky.
'Mess this up, and I'm dead.'
Still, must be done.
For the miss.
That was the mindset of the Cornerus eldest daughter's secretary.
'Please, just not a bad guy.'
With that unseemly thought, he reached into his pocket, then remembered he'd quit smoking for her and pulled out empty-handed.
A bit regrettable today. Shaking his hands off instead, he knocked on Cornus's door to announce dinner.
"Miss? May I enter?"
"Yeah~ Come in."
Permission granted, he opened the door.
In the spacious room, Cornus sat at her computer, bright yellow headset on, turning only her head to look at Ji-ho.
"Time for dinner, miss."
"I'm good."
Ji-ho circled the room, checking around.
"Mi-ho...?"
Her puzzled voice sounded a bit off—too forced. He scanned the wide space.
There.
Under the bed, a white plastic bag.
"Miss..."
"Uh, yeah."
"No more tteokbokki. Dinner's soon—what's this?"
"I wanted some."
What could a secretary say to that?
Ji-ho swallowed his irritation, thinking inwardly.
Whoever got her hooked, he'd make them pay.
Last time it was fried chicken. To him, that spicy rosé tteokbokki was Satan's spawn.