Etiquette Training (1)
Etiquette Training (1)
"Nonsense...."
Something beyond mere displeasure slithered up from within.
Likely the influence of Void, who detests the very concept of 'gods.'
But even setting that aside, the words the creature left behind as it vanished were more than enough to sour my mood.
-That I was the first.
Its parting remark, fading away like a mirage, echoed through my mind once more.
"Tsk."
What made it worse was the fact that it wasn't entirely wrong.
Half true, half false.
It was true that the creature took a part of my firsts, but that was all.
I ran a still-awkward hand over my left cheek.
The day I left an opening for Claire and evaded her question, the creature had manifested before me in fury over the matter. It revealed its true form, just like today, and pressed its lips against my cheek on a whim. Upon vanishing just now, it was undoubtedly referring to that incident.
"...Ha."
I suppressed the seething anger and irritation.
There was no point pondering what the creature meant by those parting words right now. It wasn't the kind of answer I could reach through deliberation.
One thing was certain: the more I reacted like this, the more entertained it would be.
"Hoo."
Imagining its delight cooled my boiling emotions in an instant.
Calming myself, I rose from the bed and approached the clothes Claire had neatly arranged. I retrieved the smartphone I'd placed inside the shirt.
Unsurprisingly, the power wouldn't turn on.
I had kept the battery barely alive on purpose, so having any charge left would have been the stranger outcome.
I set it on the table and unfolded the prepared clothes, putting them on one piece at a time.
Swish-
Finally, I picked up the glasses resting beside the bed and put them back on.
I clicked my tongue at the sensation—as if a missing body part had finally snapped back into place.
After slipping the smartphone from the table back into my pocket, I quietly exited her room. Movement itself wasn't an issue, thanks to Vuar's unsolicited help.
'Best to leave the barrier as is for the time being.'
I had arranged backup aside from Claire for Baek Ha-na's side, so even if someone invaded right now, it wouldn't pose a significant problem.
Though there wouldn't be a reason to target Baek Ha-na in the first place.
The priority for now was stabilizing this broken body's equilibrium.
"You have awakened."
When I descended, Lee Ye-sol, who had remained alone in the temple, approached and bowed her head in greeting.
I glanced at the half-shattered temple door, then spoke to her.
"Can you contact the Chairman?"
"I can."
"Do so."
Lee Ye-sol retrieved a smartphone from within her priestly robes, manipulated it, and handed it to me.
Not long after I took it, the voice of Chairman An Hyeon-do flowed through the speaker.
-What is the...?
"How goes the cleanup?"
A brief silence.
-Professor Baek?
"Answer."
-I am still the Chairman, you know.
I scoffed at that.
"If it displeases you, I can resign from my professorship. The barrier, of course, would never return either."
-...It has been handled cleanly.
The reply came with a small sigh.
"The loose ends?"
-I may be retired, but I'm still spry.
The graduates invited to maximize the Fairy's emotions.
Of those, a mere seven showed up.
Meaning the number of graduates who walked away alive that day was seven.
-Well, once the barrier is restored and things settle down somewhat, their affiliated guilds and acquaintances will likely come asking after their whereabouts.
"Deal with it yourself."
-I intend to, without being told. More importantly, when will the barrier be restored?
"I plan to put it back before the vacation ends."
-Ahem, well... if possible, please restore it as quickly as you can.
"I'll see what I can do."
The Chairman seemed about to say something else, but I ignored it and ended the call. I handed the device back to Lee Ye-sol.
"I'd like you to summon Kim Seong-won and Jaden."
"Please, have a seat and wait a moment."
Lee Ye-sol's hands moved busily.
I sat down nearby, watching her.
"Are you not hungry?"
"I'm fine."
"Then how about some coffee?"
"That would be welcome."
Looking oddly pleased, Lee Ye-sol smiled brightly and headed upstairs briefly.
Creeeak-
The half-shattered temple door opened, and Jaden entered with a haggard face. Less than a minute had passed since Lee Ye-sol went up the stairs, so he must have burned mana to sprint here.
"Professor!!"
Spotting me seated on the long bench, he approached with quick steps, his expression on the verge of tears.
"Stop."
"Hnng...!!"
He flinched and halted in his tracks the moment I raised a hand to stop him. He then busied himself smoothing his expression, needlessly running both hands down his face.
"The situation?"
"Ahem. There are intrusion attempts roughly five to seven times a day. Sixteen attempts total thus far, three of which have been confirmed as Underworld operatives."
"Does the Chairman know?"
"Well... he hasn't remarked on it, but I suspect he is aware."
I nodded.
Other professors might not know, but An Hyeon-do would certainly be aware of the Clock Tower mages laying siege outside.
"I owe you one."
"Owe me? I am simply glad to be of assistance to you, Professor."
"That's somewhat disgusting."
"...My Korean is clumsy. But I am not speaking empty words."
Just as I was about to add another remark, Lee Ye-sol returned with the coffee.
"Here it is."
"Thank you."
I took a sip of the coffee, its familiar aroma rising, and moistened my slightly parched tongue and throat.
"Tell the ones outside they can guard until next week and then leave."
"Ah, will you be restoring the barrier then?"
"No. I plan to restore it the week the vacation ends."
"......"
The man, whose face had been relaxing somewhat, stiffened again as he asked.
"You intend to lay a trap, then."
I answered with another sip of coffee instead of words.
Originally, I'd planned to wait longer for something to spring the traps I'd set. But losing the Demon God Bullets—items that must never see the light of day—without so much as a nibble had been nagging at me.
If they were this cautious, I simply needed to set more traps accordingly.
'Biche. I'm relying on that one quite a bit.'
A Unique Individual bound to me by chance.
We had never clashed directly, but Biche's combat power was on par with or slightly superior to the blessed Claire.
It wasn't the guardian of the first known 14th Stage Rift for nothing.
'Though it's hard to say for certain how things are now that its Madness is gone.'
Still, the undeniable fact remained: Biche was powerful.
I could state with confidence that unless a god manifested directly, Biche would buy enough time for me to recognize the problem and reach Baek Ha-na's side. More than anything, as long as I wasn't annihilated, she was undying.
"Professor."
As I savored the coffee's aroma, Lee Ye-sol, now standing naturally beside me, spoke carefully.
"The Academic Affairs Department head says he will be slightly delayed due to traffic."
"Call."
Lee Ye-sol promptly connected the call to Kim Seong-won and handed the smartphone to me.
I held the ringing device while gesturing toward Jaden, who was standing there blankly.
"Go do your job."
"...Yes."
A man of his age making a face like a rain-drenched mutt only inspires disgust.
-Yes, this is Kim Seong-won, Head of Academic Affairs.
"Are you in the car?"
-That is correct.
"If it's going to be a while, there's no need to come. I only called because I assumed you were at the academy."
-Is... that so...?
"Yes. Refrain from commuting to the academy until the barrier is restored, if possible. Inform the other staff as well."
-Understood.
"And regarding the Witch of Eternity."
The rift I'd scheduled eight years ago, from the day I met Kim Seong-won.
-As you instructed, we have it set for this winter.
"Move it to next year."
-Next year... understood.
The Underworld matter factored in, but there was no guarantee I could stabilize this body's equilibrium by then. If another shock hit while my balance was still distorted, even I couldn't predict when I might wake up next.
"That's all."
-I will handle it without delay and submit a report.
Having nothing further to say, I ended the call and rose from my seat. I handed the smartphone and empty cup back to Lee Ye-sol.
"Lee Ye-sol."
"Yes, Professor."
She answered with a perfectly demure smile.
I took in the sight of her and the broken door, then turned away.
"...Don't tease him too much."
"Ufufu~ I shall keep that in mind."
Seeing Lee Ye-sol off with her sly smile, I made my way back to the mansion.
**
"......"
Passing through the maze and arriving before the front door, I frowned. The presences of those who should have been outside in the garden were all clustered in the kitchen.
I opened the door quietly, stepped inside, changed into the neatly arranged slippers, and walked toward the kitchen.
-Peep, peep! Big sisters have to go now, you know....
-Peep!!
-Eeek, d-don't pull....
The noise grew more vivid the closer I got to the kitchen.
I rounded the corner and entered.
-Peep!!
The insolent little creature sat atop Baek Ha-na's head as if riding a mount, tugging at her beastly ears.
Around her, the other children were lying on their stomachs, peeling chocolate shells.
And then—
"Ah...."
Claire, who had been capturing the scene with her smartphone, met my eyes and flinched, her shoulders trembling.
Having grasped the situation, I swallowed a sigh and gathered my mana. Then I fired it.
-Pyeok?!
The Fairy that had been riding on Baek Ha-na's head tumbled to the floor with a short shriek.
'What a little tyrant.'
Now that it had gotten everything it wanted, it was time to teach it that misdeeds come with consequences.