Personal Meeting (5)
Personal Meeting (5)
[ Temple of the Goddess of Benevolence ]
After finishing her meal, which served as morning prayer as well, Lee Seol returned to her room to prepare for the lecture.
She checked her bag one more time for anything she might have missed, then stood before the mirror to inspect her appearance for any dishevelment. Only after confirming once more that everything was perfectly in order did Lee Seol perch on the edge of her bed and let out a soft breath.
-We should postpone the meeting to next Tuesday.
Every time she closed her eyes to pray or sleep, the memory of that day replayed vividly.
The resonant timbre that made her heart throb, and the large, warm hand that had stroked her hair.
After graduating from the elementary division and entering the middle division, that was the first time anyone had stroked her head. Even when she had leaned against the wall looking unsightly, he hadn't scolded her, but patted her hair instead.
Frankly, it bewildered her. She was so flustered and confused she had no idea how to react. Her heart had pounded so fiercely.
But it wasn't the pounding of tension or anxiety. And because of that, she had made yet another mistake.
-T-take care...!!
Why had she stammered and raised her voice so high?
And what was with the 'take care'?
"Urghhh..."
Whenever she recalled that moment, her own actions seemed so mortifying she wanted to die. Honestly, how many times had she kicked the blankets these past few days?
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Lee Seol, who had been trying to cool her flushed face, rose from the bed and gathered her bag at the sound of the polite knock. She checked the mirror once more—making sure her robe was not disheveled or stained—and then opened the door.
"Huh? Are you sick, big sis?"
"Your face is really red."
Four younger students who attended the lecture with her approached and looked up at her with worried eyes. Lee Seol tightened the mask she wore on her face a little more, then patted each of her juniors, her younger sisters, on the head once.
"It seems like the stretching caused it, so don't worry."
"I told you, you have to be careful even when stretching."
"Right. I heard you can actually damage your muscles if you don't."
"Han Ji-su. Didn't I tell you to speak respectfully to Big Sis Seol?"
They were only a year apart in age, but in thinking and behavior, the gap felt much larger. Lee Seol smiled softly at the children.
"Enough, everyone. Let's go quickly."
"Yes~"
"But big sis, didn't you say you were meeting with Professor Baek Woo-jin today...?"
"Yes. So again today, go on without me and have lunch after the lecture ends."
On the way out of the temple and toward the annex.
Lee Seol listened and responded attentively to the children's endless chatter, as they had so much to say. So much so that when she came to her senses, she found herself already seated in the lecture hall, taking her materials out of her bag.
-Yeon-ju, what are you doing after this afternoon?
-I don't have any particular plans today, indeed.
-Then let's go see that movie we couldn't watch before~
-Hehe, sounds good.
Before the lecture began, the youngest first-year students subtly rose from their seats and approached the first-year student from the Temple of the God of Amusement, starting a friendly chat.
-Idni, let's have a bout in sparring today.
-Aah? What's with the hostility right off the bat?
-It's, it's not hostility... I'm saying let's, let's spar.
-Fufu, sorry. Our kid's a bit fierce.
-I am what?
Also, the children one year younger approached the second-year duo from the Temple of the God of Amusement, famous for many reasons, trying any way they could to strike up a conversation, stammering their words.
Build close relationships with the followers of the God of Amusement wherever possible.
This was a directive issued the day after the God of Amusement's live broadcast that turned the world upside down.
'There's nothing for me to do here...'
Since none of her classmates had managed to enter the Rift Studies lecture, Lee Seol took the opportunity while the younger students had drifted away to catch her breath and rest for a moment.
-Hck, feels like we're doing some kind of practical this Friday.
-You just set a flag, so it'll probably be a practical for real now.
-If it's practical, I'm smashing that bastard Im Gyeong-su's head in.
-I'll smash him too.
Even so, she did not forget to keep her ears open and listen to her surroundings.
Because this was the lecture that had weeded out over ninety percent of students at the start of the semester.
To survive here as long as possible, listening to the words of the students who had remained was an absolute necessity for survival.
Squeak.
"......!!"
At the sound of the lecture hall door opening, the noisy room fell silent as if the sound had been a lie.
Patter-patter-patter!!
The younger students who had left their seats dashed back quickly and plopped straight into their chairs.
Click— Click—
The distinct sound of shoes echoed through the now-quiet lecture hall.
"Huh...?"
A sound of surprise escaped someone's lips.
Though no other sound was made, most of the students seated in the lecture hall opened their eyes wide and stared fixedly at the podium.
That was because, behind the tall man whose commanding presence could be felt even from a distance, a beauty with a demeanor colder than winter followed—her brilliant golden hair, fully bathed in sunlight, tied back neatly.
'That person is...'
A being who was an idol to nearly all clergy, and a symbol of fear.
Since last summer, she had no longer shown her face at lectures, so she hadn't expected it at all. To think she would be able to meet her like this.
'...But is she unwell somewhere?'
Someone might rebuke her for daring to think such a thing, but there was an intuition only fellow women could feel.
'She looks uncomforta—'
"Submit your assignments."
"......!!"
Startled back to her senses, Lee Seol had forgotten she had already placed the assignment on the desk, and rummaged through her bag for a while.
·
·
·
"Today's lecture ends here."
At the declaration of the lecture's end, Lee Seol's body, which had been tense with effort, relaxed a little.
"There is no separate assignment, so whoever finishes their notes last should tidy up and leave. And Lee Seol, follow me."
"Yes."
Having prepared in advance, Lee Seol was not flustered; she packed her belongings and came down. Then, she quietly walked behind the two adults.
-Ghk?!
-I-it's the Executor.
-Oh Black, m-my heart's beating like crazy...
-That's a symptom of early heart failure, so hurry to the hospital.
As the lecture ended and the eyes of students and professors in the hallway naturally focused on them, her own heart pounded harder for some reason. But it was only for a moment.
After leaving the annex and walking behind the two, she soon found herself in a place where all signs of human presence had completely vanished.
Tall hedges surrounded her—the most famous mysterious place in Arena Academy.
'The I-Infinite Labyrinth...'
A mysterious space where it was said no one had ever reached the end.
But that is all an old tale now.
Now, it was better known as the place where the residence of the person walking ahead of her was hidden.
'I-I'm going insane...!!'
Walking through the thickets where pure white flowers bloomed beautifully, Lee Seol found it hard to calm her heart, which was pounding like crazy.
No matter how she thought about it, her destination had to be the residence of the one who had caused such an uproar in the world!!
And it wasn't long before she could confirm with her own eyes that her assumption was correct.
A Western-style mansion with an exterior that was not lavish, but exuded an air of age and dignity.
She was stepping right into that mansion now.
"E-excuse my intrusion..."
She hadn't meant to stammer, but she was so nervous that her voice didn't cooperate. So much so that cold sweat ran down her palms, her back, and even the soles of her feet.
Thus, the place she ultimately arrived at was a very simple room that resembled a study.
'It feels like my mind is calming down...'
She didn't know exactly what it was, but the moment she stepped into the study, a scent—nostalgic yet cozy—seeped in through the tip of her nose, gently settling her agitated mind. She could feel her heart calming down bit by bit.
"Take a seat."
"...Yes."
Lee Seol leaned her body into the chair placed in front of the study desk.
Click.
She heard a door open beside her, but paid it no attention whatsoever, keeping her gaze fixed straight ahead with clarity.
"This isn't an exam, so there's no need to be so tense."
"Yes."
Though she had calmed considerably since entering this room, she was still stiffer than usual. So Lee Seol tried to shake off the remaining tension by letting out breath as slowly as possible.
"It was called a meeting, but there is nothing special about it. If you have questions or anything you wish to say to me, speak freely."
"Q-questions, you mean...?"
"Yes. I won't set a fixed time, so you may take your time and think it over slowly."
"...I understand."
At the completely unexpected situation, Lee Seol's heart lurched greatly once more.
She had definitely assumed she would be the one being questioned, but to think she was the one asking.
'I wonder if... personal questions are okay too...?'
But she quickly came to her senses and hurriedly shook off such nonsense thoughts. Then, after much deliberation, she opened her mouth again.
"...I have nothing."
Actually, she did have questions.
The problem was that they were all personal questions, utterly unrelated to the lecture, meant to satisfy extremely personal curiosity.
"I cannot force you to answer, so very well. If any arise later, do not hesitate and speak."
"...Yes."
It would be a lie to say she wasn't disappointed, but she believed without a doubt that this was the right choice.
"Then, is the meeting over...?"
"If you have nothing to say to me."
"Ah..."
Just as Lee Seol nodded slowly and put strength into her body to rise from her seat.
"If you have no other plans, have lunch before you go."
"...Huh?"
Lunch.
Had she really heard that just now?
Click.
The same sound from earlier was heard once more.
And at the words that followed, Lee Seol felt as if her breath would stop.
"Claire. Please prepare the meal."
It was a day when keeping her wits about her was terribly difficult.
**
"She was a good child."
"She was."
I accepted the teacup Claire offered.
Savoring the coffee with its stable aroma and flavor as usual, I briefly recalled what had just happened.
-Th-those really suit you perfectly...!!
-I've admired you for a long time, co-could I have your autograph?
-Would it be okay if I asked when you plan to tie the knot?
From the moment she left the study, she had been acting oddly restless, and the instant she sat facing Claire and me and began the meal, she started rambling incoherently.
I realized it was behavior stemming from her mind being thrown into extreme confusion by tension, and I meant to calm her down, but the gaze of Claire beside me was warm, so I just left her be until she left to return.
'By now, she's probably tearing her hair out.'
Claire and I didn't mind it much, but the person who had been in this mansion until just a moment ago wouldn't think so at all.
"Do you plan to invite the remaining children to the mansion as well?"
"No."
I had invited Lee Seol to the mansion because Verotha had requested it. I accepted her request to conduct a proper meeting, and treated Lee Seol under the same conditions as Baek Ha-na and the other children.
"I will handle the rest adequately, so don't concern yourself."
"Yes."
There is a conversation to be had with Yun I-seul regarding the Head Professor of Guidance position, but that's about it.
'More importantly, I should start preparing soon.'
Constructing the stage to be used in the Grade Evaluation.
I also plan to attempt summoning a new Unique Individual this time.
And before the Grade Evaluation begins, if the vermin disguised as students make even the slightest suspicious movement, it would be good to rip their hearts out during this opportunity.
"...?"
Claire had naturally come to sit beside me.
When I turned my head and stared straight at her face, she blinked her long eyelashes and tilted her head.
The General Assembly of Clergy.
I don't know about elsewhere, but I suppose paying a little attention to the domestic branches would be fine. Since I decided to have them owe me a debt, making sure they owe it clearly is better in many ways.
"Woo-jin, sir...? Did you have something you wanted to ask...?"
As she touched her own cheek and lips with her fine hands, I quietly reached out and pulled her close by the waist.
"I was looking at you because I wanted to. Don't mind it."
"......"
Feeling her body temperature gradually rise, I savored my coffee.