No Need to Look
No Need to Look
[ Just as I was saying, the proud students of Royal Academy are entering... ]
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The woman watching the broadcast of the opening ceremony rose from the sofa.
"Come in."
Even as the door opened, she did not look back. She simply moved to the empty desk and sat down.
"My Queen."
The middle-aged man wore a brown coat.
It was Eddie Holt, who had excused himself from Baek Woo-jin's presence under the pretense of being busy.
He bowed to his sovereign, the motion carrying an air of elegance.
"How was it?"
The queen, Eleanor, kept her gaze fixed on the screen still showing the opening ceremony.
"He was not a man I could measure with my own standards."
"Is that so."
Eleanor's response was lukewarm, as if she had expected that answer.
[ Arena Academy, one of Korea's representatives, is now entering. ]
[ It wasn't included in the list submitted to the Association, but I hear the famous Executor of the God of Amusement is serving as an associate professor there. ]
[ Yes, that's right. Just a few months ago, the world was abuzz with that news. ]
[ How could it not be? The Executor who abruptly ceased all official activities and went into seclusion eight years ago reappearing... and not even as a head professor, but as an assistant to someone else!! ]
[ Ah, just as I was saying, the professors have emerged behind the students. ]
[ Except for Professor Jaden, both are completely unknown names. ]
[ And yet Professor Baek Woo-jin, who is at the front, took overall command ahead of Professors Jaden and Lee Hyeok. ]
[ Not only that, there is a first-year who defeated Yoon I-seul—the student considered a strong favorite this year after her overwhelming showing at the previous festival—and claimed the throne. ]
[ This place is worth watching in many ways. ]
[ Indeed. Ah, now Hwarang... ]
Once the Arena Academy segment ended, Eleanor's eyes finally turned toward Eddie Holt.
"You said he would have an official duel with Ben Stiller at the friendship party?"
"Yes."
Hmm.
Eleanor rested her chin on her pale hand and closed her eyes.
"A high ranker in the top 20 lost consciousness from a single slap..."
How much time passed?
"No movement of mana was detected, and nothing that looked like an artifact was found... yet Ben Stiller was completely helpless."
Her long eyelashes slowly lifted.
"I will not change the venue."
"Understood."
"You may go now. You still have plenty of work, don't you?"
"Indeed. However, my Queen."
Eddie Holt rose and addressed his master as she headed toward the dressing room.
"It is permissible for you to make an appearance at the party, but please do maintain your dignity."
"I'll handle it properly."
"......."
"Leave, now."
He watched the dressing room door close, then let out a small sigh and departed.
**
"Rest a bit, change clothes, and gather back here by seven. Understood?"
"Yes!!"
"Good. Dismissed!!"
After the short and concise opening ceremony, the students returned to the hotel and headed straight for the elevators.
The elevator reserved for the top floor opened first, and Baek Ha-na stepped in.
Glance. Glance.
Students from other institutions who boarded the same elevator shot sidelong glances at Baek Ha-na and the three others with her.
Ding—
After a suffocating silence, the elevator doors opened again.
Once more, Baek Ha-na moved first. Only after she, Yoon I-seul, Nam Seo-hee, and Na Ju-hee had all stepped out did the other students tentatively exit and head to their assigned rooms.
"Hmm, Professor Baek really is incredible."
"......."
"......."
Inside their room, as they changed shoes, Yoon I-seul casually tossed out the remark. Nam Seo-hee did not even glance at her, while Na Ju-hee seemed too lost in thought to hear it properly.
"Hehe, that's right. Professor Baek Woo-jin—he's really, really strong."
Baek Ha-na, who had been quiet until now, beamed as if she herself had received the compliment.
Yoon I-seul made a mental note: from now on, any topic related to Professor Baek Woo-jin must be approached from the most positive angle possible.
"We have about three hours. Want to look around the hotel together?"
"Sounds good."
Baek Ha-na's bright and lighthearted response, as if her earlier silence had been a lie, made Yoon I-seul chuckle softly.
"I'll just change first."
"Ah, wouldn't it be better to change after we come back? Your clothes might get dirty."
"It's fine."
Without looking back, Baek Ha-na disappeared into her room.
·
·
·
"...Miss Ha-na?"
"Yes?"
Yoon I-seul stared seriously at the changed Baek Ha-na.
"Let's go shopping. Right now."
"Huh? Why? Do I look weird?"
"No. Not at all. You look great. Yes. Really great, but..."
She wore a form-fitting white shirt and black vest that showed every curve, and tailored slacks that made her already long legs seem endless.
'...I want to dress her up even more.'
Right now, Baek Ha-na looked so cool that even another woman might fall for her.
"Ha-na, you look cool."
"Maria picked it out."
"...Looks like Maria picked out all of Idni's casual clothes too."
"How did you know?"
Nam Seo-hee calmly met Baek Ha-na's wide-eyed gaze as she loosely hung a necktie around her neck.
"But like the senior said, what if it gets dirty?"
"It's okay. This is the kind of outfit that's fine even if it gets dirty."
"Well, that's good then."
Nam Seo-hee stepped back and, with practiced ease, took Baek Ha-na's hand.
"Let's start with the basement, then."
"Uh, okay... But what about the senior?"
Yoon I-seul had fallen oddly silent.
"She'll catch up."
Before Yoon I-seul could snap out of it, Nam Seo-hee led Baek Ha-na out of the room.
It wasn't until around the time Baek Ha-na and Nam Seo-hee returned that Yoon I-seul finally managed to drag herself out of her daydream.
**
"This is a friendship party. Don't go picking fights anywhere. Just eat, drink, and have fun. Got it?"
"Yes!!"
"You answer so well."
Kang Han-na snorted, making the students laugh along with her.
"But if anyone does start something, don't just get your ass kicked—beat the shit out of them no matter what. Never lose, you hear me? Okay?"
Another ripple of laughter ran through the students.
Kang Han-na, however, wiped the smile off her face.
"That wasn't a joke, you bastards. If any of you pick a fight and lose, expect special training every day until the new semester begins."
Gulps.
The laughter died down, replaced by tense expressions.
"I'm telling you to enjoy yourselves but don't let anyone look down on you. Though you probably won't even understand each other anyway."
Kang Han-na rambled on about her own student experiences until the bus arrived at the Royal Academy.
"Everyone roam around freely, and when the party's over, wait out front."
"And if any problems arise during the event, please contact me."
Cheon Ji-ho stood up, looking sharp in his suit.
"Shall we disembark?"
He and Kang Han-na were the only professors aboard the bus.
- Why the heck does an academy have a party hall?
- The royals run this place, duh.
- That's just showing off money, no joke.
- Right, they could've given us elixirs with that cash instead.
The students who stepped off the bus reacted with a mixture of awe and disbelief at the party hall, which was even larger than their usual sparring grounds.
"From Arena Academy."
"Yes, confirmed."
The man guarding the entrance handed out wristbands.
"Entry to the party hall is impossible without this, so please keep it safe."
Wooooom.
The colossal marble doors began to move.
"Whoa..."
Baek Ha-na, standing right behind the two professors, gaped at the dazzling interior.
"Miss Ha-na. You'll catch a fly."
"Ah..."
The doors finally swung wide open.
"From now on, it's free play. Have fun, whee-whoo."
Kang Han-na waved her hand lazily and strolled into the party hall with Cheon Ji-ho.
"Shall we go too?"
"Ah, yes..."
The other students followed behind Baek Ha-na and Yoon I-seul.
'Doesn't look like anyone's going to pick a fight.'
Yoon I-seul smiled as she scanned the other students, who were watching their group while whispering among themselves.
"Ha-na. There's a chocolate fountain over there."
"Chocolate... fountain...?"
Baek Ha-na, who had been surveying the ballroom—which looked like a medieval ballroom transported whole—swallowed hard and immediately changed course toward the towering cascade of chocolate.
'All males are to be blocked.'
'Surround her so no one can see.'
'Someone's ahead... it's a woman.'
'Females allowed.'
The students trailing Baek Ha-na quickly scanned the area around the chocolate fountain and naturally formed a protective circle.
Yoon I-seul found this perfectly normal, and Nam Seo-hee left them to it, figuring it would keep annoying pests away.
Only Baek Ha-na, utterly captivated by the chocolate fountain, walked on without a clue.
"Miss Ha-na? You can't dive in, okay?"
"...Ah, n-no, I wasn't..."
Baek Ha-na flinched and averted her eyes from Yoon I-seul, having briefly considered dunking her face in it.
"Hello?"
"......?"
Baek Ha-na, who had been drooling over the assorted sweets arranged next to the fountain, turned her head at the clear female voice beside her.
A woman with pale blonde hair falling to her waist and gently downturned eyes smiled as she approached.
"You are from Arena Academy, correct?"
"And you are?"
Yoon I-seul stepped in front of Baek Ha-na and asked.
"Ah, I am from Royal Academy."
"I see."
"I had a few questions about that professor of yours I saw earlier today. I didn't expect to run into you so soon."
"......."
Deciding it wasn't her place to speak on matters concerning Baek Woo-jin, Yoon I-seul quietly stepped aside.
Sure enough.
"What is it you're curious about?"
Baek Ha-na asked the woman before her, her gaze carrying a hint of wariness.
"His skill I witnessed firsthand today—it's certainly formidable."
"Ahem... and?"
"I was wondering whether his character is as outstanding as his skill."
His character?
Yoon I-seul wanted to ask why she was curious about that, but she knew interrupting now would be disrespectful to Baek Ha-na, so she held her tongue.
"...He's a good person. He may be a little... no, very—very closed off—but he's also incredibly kind."
"Is that so."
The woman watched Baek Ha-na's expression soften from its usual coldness and murmured quietly to herself.
"Skillful... character seems decent... and as for his face... you don't even need to see..."
"......?"
Baek Ha-na tilted her head in confusion.