The Taker and the Taken (8)
The Taker and the Taken (8)
I looked at Kim Ha-rin. Hair dyed in pink. Pink eyes and lips that matched her hair.
As I looked at Kim Ha-rin, she blushed and lowered her face slightly.
'What is this.'
I racked my brain. What on earth is going on?
"What's up?"
"Well... I have something I want to talk to you about."
She said this to me with the fresh, youthful expression of someone her age, as if saying something embarrassing.
However, I know that what she's doing right now is a facade. I am one of the only two people who know Kim Ha-rin's true personality, the emotions felt through the mask. A petty personality that endures all sorts of bullying on the outside but remembers every single one of them.
"What kind of talk?"
I glanced at the time. Every second was precious. I needed to hurry toward the completion of Top Mae...!
"It's a bit... awkward to do it here."
Kim Ha-rin hesitated and paused for a moment.
"Let's talk, just the two of us."
I saw the desolate landscape of the club room.
Basically, the Fairy Race manages it and provides necessary supplies, but it was a desolate classroom because nothing was brought in. Nothing but walls could be seen.
"Sorry... the club room is a bit shabby, right?"
It's not that it's shabby, it's that there's absolutely nothing here.
"No, I'm like this too. It looks good because it's clean."
"Then that's a relief."
I can't get used to Kim Ha-rin's tone.
More than that, I was curious. There must be a reason why Kim Ha-rin is acting like this. What on earth could it be? Is it because I haven't paid much attention to her lately? I answered every single question she asked during the midterm written exam.
"Should I get you some water?"
No, I don't need it. I wanted to go to the dormitory quickly.
"Yeah, please."
After saying that, Kim Ha-rin brought water. I drank a cup of water. A cool, refreshing feeling enveloped my body. After drinking the water, I looked at Kim Ha-rin. Kim Ha-rin looked at me with moist eyes. She hesitated for a moment and then opened her mouth.
"Siwoo, I have something to tell you..."
"Yeah, go ahead."
Kim Ha-rin said that and showed me her phone.
I saw a screen with swirling purple and pink colors.
Hypnosis app... you again.
I relaxed my eyes and pondered. Why is she hypnotizing me? I proved I had become stronger by defeating Han Jong-woo. That process appealed to the fact that I possessed the traits of a being who was a member of the heroes. Greedy Trade. The power to add mana and mental strength to the opponent and borrow their traits...
'Oh no...!'
I intended to use that to catch Demon-human of the mental type, but in other words, it also meant that the hypnosis app would work even better on me...!
While I was inwardly horrified, Kim Ha-rin looked at me.
"Did it work?"
Kim Ha-rin brought her hand and waved it in front of my eyes. Eyes without movement. I was startled when she pretended to poke my eyes, but it was fortunate that I kept my expression the same. This psychopath bitch...!
Anyway, Kim Ha-rin smiled satisfactorily at my reaction and said.
"From now on, when you are with Im Na-yeon, you will think of Kim Ha-rin."
'Why...?'
"Actually, you don't like Im Na-yeon. Deep down in your heart, you love Kim Ha-rin, but... you are dating Im Na-yeon due to realistic problems. Im Na-yeon's background, the power she holds... you must have been afraid of those things. Thinking of your parents, you couldn't refuse her confession."
"......"
'This is too much...'
"You will gradually start to like Kim Ha-rin more than Im Na-yeon. That feeling... becomes most intense when you are with Im Na-yeon. When you hold hands with Im Na-yeon, Kim Ha-rin will overlap, and when you feel happy while on a date together, Kim Ha-rin will overlap."
Kim Ha-rin parted her pink-glowing lips.
"Yes. Actually, you... the person named Lee Si-woo has been in love with Kim Ha-rin."
Her eyes curved wickedly.
...I unexpectedly confirmed Kim Ha-rin's shadiness.
I knew that Kim Ha-rin didn't like Im Na-yeon. I knew that. But I didn't know she hated her enough to steal the man Im Na-yeon likes.
I nodded for now.
Kim Ha-rin smiled satisfactorily at my reaction.
"Can I turn off the hypnosis using the app?"
She fiddled with the phone a few times and then glanced at me. Seeing her exit the app on the phone screen, I refocused my eyes.
"Huh? Until just now..."
I pretended to be released from the hypnosis and observed her reaction. She had a worried expression, but I could feel a sense of satisfaction.
Fortunately, it seems she was fooled.
"Are you okay, Siwoo? You fainted for a moment just now. Didn't you overdo it yesterday?"
"Is that so..."
Overdo it. I didn't even use The Only One yesterday, so it wasn't to the point of overdoing it. However, I put on a tired expression. That way, I could head to the dormitory quickly.
"Sorry, I think I overdid it when I sparred with Han Jong-woo yesterday."
"That's understandable... the opponent was Han Jong-woo."
Kim Ha-rin added to my words.
I glanced at Kim Ha-rin.
If she, the owner of Mad Wings, decides to fight Han Jong-woo, the fight ends very one-sidedly. Each of the light bombardments using the feathers of the Mad Wings when she spreads them rivals a decent mid-to-low-level magic.
Furthermore, Mad Wings unfolds without delay. Without any casting time, she can immediately go up into the sky. Kim Ha-rin's Mad Wings can get her 100m above the ground in an instant if you give her just 1 second.
It ignores physical laws, so changing direction is immediate, making it very tricky to catch. If the speed is fast, it usually uses lightning or light attributes, but Kim Ha-rin has the ability to absorb the power of the two attributes above.
In the game, you have to catch her by raising agility to increase senses and using items that increase accuracy.
'Still, it's tricky.'
It's very tricky. The main body is also quite good at fighting. She's not as insanely strong as Eun Sua or Yoon Chae-rin, but even Han Jong-woo or Im Na-yeon would have a hard time.
"Sorry, I held you up too much, right?"
"No... but what was it you wanted to say?"
"Ah, that is..."
Kim Ha-rin hesitated for a moment. She looked at me with a blush on her face.
"Sorry, I forgot. Siwoo, I was so surprised that you fainted."
"Yeah. Then I'm tired, so I'll go first."
"Yeah. Bye."
Kim Ha-rin waved her hand. I waved back and headed to the dormitory.
The next day.
Most of the students were in the duel arena. Fairy Race started moving busily here and there. This was because they had to pay attention to the safety of the audience as they were summoning monsters.
The exam involves professors teaching students, identifying their weak points, and summoning the monster that is most difficult for that student to deal with. Even if it's a difficult monster, it's adjusted to the student's level, and it's a monster that can be defeated if examined calmly.
"As you all know, today's exam is a monster hunting exam. The risk is very high as we are summoning monsters. If you feel your life is in danger, shout 'surrender' or tap the ground twice with your hand, and the agents will immediately enter for rescue."
Although she says that, dangerous things rarely happen in reality. I looked around. I saw a woman with gray straight hair, large ears, and brown skin.
I don't remember her name well, but she's a professor who teaches skills related to thieves. As a characteristic, she is a Dark Elf, which is rare even among the Fairy Race, and she handles dark spirits.
On the other side, there was a fairy the size of a forearm with a bored expression and an impressive gothic lolita outfit. She is not the school's second-in-command... but she is a fairy with skills that can be counted on one hand.
"For this exam, we have someone specially invited from the Ivory Tower. Please welcome them with applause."
As she said that, wizards wearing robes were coming out in a row from the end of the duel arena. The unique thing was the color. Wizards wearing dark blue robes were gathered in a row. In the middle of them was a woman. She was a woman with an impressive, seductive gaze.
"This is a wizard who has been granted the same color as me from the Ivory Tower. As you all know, the color 'dark blue' symbolizes 'summoning'. We will welcome 'Kim Chun-ja', who is evaluated as the most outstanding in that summoning school."
"......Does that wench want to die?"
At Song Rahui's introduction, a low growling voice was heard. It was Kim Chun-ja's voice. People around were desperate to hold back their laughter at the sudden, tacky name.
"Hello. I am Saralonia Kim, who was granted 'dark blue' from the Ivory Tower. Please call me Sara Kim comfortably. I look forward to working with you all."
Kim Chun-ja said with a smile.
It was a tone that felt like a strange pressure.
"You will be facing the Phantom Beasts that we summon. You might think it's safe because we are the ones summoning them, but please be careful because the Phantom Beasts we generally summon only have instincts. Furthermore, our Phantom Beasts basically have resistance to dispel, so please note that they will not be immediately reverse-summoned even if you try to reverse-summon them."
Everyone answered "Yes" loudly to Kim Chun-ja's kind explanation. Kim Chun-ja smiled brightly as if she liked the students' answers.
"Then I will teach you about the exam method. If you defeat the Phantom Beast we summon, we will give you extra points... but that doesn't mean students need to catch the Phantom Beast. We will focus on how 'well' you respond to a Phantom Beast that has abilities disadvantageous to you. The exam is for thirty students at a time. The total time allotted for the fight is 30 minutes."
While listening to Kim Chun-ja's explanation for a while, I saw Im Na-yeon who had approached at some point. I glanced at Han Jong-woo and saw him staring blankly in one direction. I turned my head there and saw a monkey waving its hand.
'......No way.'
It wouldn't be that, would it? This is annoying in its own way.
Anyway, Im Na-yeon approached slightly and whispered in my ear.
"Siwoo, are you okay? You overdid it a bit yesterday."
"Yeah, I rested well yesterday, so I'm fine."
Saying that, I turned my gaze to the location of Kim Ha-rin that I had checked in advance.
Kim Ha-rin, who was looking this way, was sending me the brightest smile.