Simple Pleasures (3)
Simple Pleasures (3)
In front of the Arena Academy checkpoint.
"Young lady. Are you truly all right getting off here?"
"Yes. It's fine. I arranged for someone to come and meet me."
The moment Nam Seo-hee answered, her smart watch lit up brightly. She glanced down at the glowing screen, then opened the car door.
"Please open the trunk."
"...Yes."
Click. The trunk opened, and Nam Seo-hee stepped out of the car. She pulled out the many paper bags packed inside, grasping them in both hands.
Thump. She nudged a tire with her foot, and the open trunk lid automatically closed.
"Drive safe going back. And please tell my father I said not to come without calling first."
"Ha, haha... Go in safely, young lady."
"Sure. And there's no need to wait since it's right there. Just go. Quickly."
"Understood. Then, I will see you this winter."
The chauffeur knew Nam Seo-hee's personality well and didn't protest further. He rolled up the window and pulled the car away.
Nam Seo-hee watched the vehicle swiftly disappear into the distance. She turned toward the checkpoint.
The checkpoint, normally bustling with a constant flow of people, was exceptionally quiet due to the vacation period. Thanks to that, Nam Seo-hee didn't have to wait in line and had her bags inspected immediately.
"...?"
"Why? Is something wrong?"
"No, it's nothing."
The female security guard shook her head and handed the paper bags she was holding over to Seo-hee one by one. Since there were no particularly suspicious items, the inspection finished quickly. As Nam Seo-hee moved to enter the academy grounds, the guard cautiously added a remark.
"You shouldn't wear it outside..."
"Pardon? Oh, yes. I know that too."
Nam Seo-hee replied with a face that said she was being told something obvious, then exited the checkpoint.
"Seo-hee."
A refreshing voice that seemed to cool even this sweltering summer reached her ears, and the corners of Nam Seo-hee's lips lifted slightly.
"Ha-na."
"Give those here."
"No, it's fine. Just take these."
Nam Seo-hee handed over the boxes her father had meticulously packed to Baek Ha-na.
"Those are chocolates I brought for you, Ha-na."
"Chocolates? All of them?"
"Mm. I only brought ones that are hard to find domestically. Try them later and tell me if any are good."
"Uh, sure. Thanks."
Baek Ha-na's blue eyes widened as she stared at the boxes in her hands, and a small smile crossed Nam Seo-hee's face.
'So Dad can be useful sometimes.'
In truth, all the chocolate boxes now in Baek Ha-na's hands were things her father had prepared and instructed her to deliver. When she first mentioned Baek Ha-na's name, he had simply been indifferent. Then, suddenly taken by some whim, he had given her firm instructions to stay close to Baek Ha-na, no matter what.
'Fine by me.'
Nam Seo-hee sidled up next to Baek Ha-na and spoke.
"It's hot. Let's hurry inside."
"Ah, right. Let's go."
The two headed toward the dormitory, chatting lightly about this and that.
"I'm going to stop by my room for a moment. Here, the things you asked for."
"Thanks."
Baek Ha-na took three paper bags from Nam Seo-hee and went into her room.
"You're back?"
Lee Na-young, who had thoroughly washed away her fatigue with the potion she got from Idni, sat up on the bed with bright, clear eyes. She helped Baek Ha-na with her bags.
"Where's Seo-hee?"
"She said she's dropping by her room first."
"Ah, I see."
"More importantly, try this on."
"Huh? Ah..."
The moment Lee Na-young saw the swimsuit coming out of the paper bag, her face flushed slightly. It was that one, the one she had shopped for with Baek Ha-na that day—a bit too bold for her to handle, she thought.
"Ha, Ha-na, what about you...?"
"Obviously, I have to try mine on too."
Before she even finished speaking, Baek Ha-na started undressing without hesitation. Lee Na-young fidgeted with her fingers for a moment, then followed Baek Ha-na's lead and took off her pajamas.
"Mm. It looks good on you."
"Ugh... It's, it's embarrassing..."
Lee Na-young genuinely wondered what was so different between a swimsuit like this and underwear.
Knock, knock.
Just as Baek Ha-na was about to change into the next swimsuit, someone knocked on the dormitory door.
"Perfect timing."
She needed someone to give their opinions anyway, so Baek Ha-na quickly ran to the entrance and opened the door.
"Oh my."
The moment the door opened, Nam Seo-hee saw Baek Ha-na in her swimsuit. Her eyes widened as she stepped inside.
"Wait a moment... I should just call Maria and Idni too."
It was almost time for them to meet at the cafeteria. Baek Ha-na decided to just call the other two over to the room instead. They could eat here if they wanted.
"Hello~"
"Whoa, you bought a bikini?"
The two entered through the door Lee Na-young held open and promptly examined Baek Ha-na, who was now standing before Nam Seo-hee in a different swimsuit, from several angles.
"Seriously, you have such a nice figure."
"Oh my, Idni, you have a good figure too, you know?"
"Do I?"
She had subtly visible abs and snow-white skin. Just like Maria said, Idni had a great body as well.
"So when are we doing the water play?"
"Good question. The best time would be whenever the professor steps out for a bit."
"We can just ask my sister about that one after training today."
When it came to preparing for the annual summer water play, Claire had always been an active co-conspirator. Baek Ha-na wasn't too worried about that part.
"But our numbers have grown, and we're all bigger now too. Shouldn't we buy a new pool as well?"
"Fufufu."
Maria covered her mouth and laughed at Baek Ha-na's question.
"Don't worry. I already have everything prepared. Ha-na, you just tell us the time, and I'll have Idni bring everything over."
Idni, who had been watching Maria from the side, furrowed her brow. Oddly, her best friend's smile today bore a striking resemblance to a certain someone.
**
[ June 30 ]
Nearly a month had passed since the Fairy first spoke.
"Here it is..."
I took the envelope Kim Seong-won handed me and checked its contents.
"Thirty-seven. Is this all?"
"Y-yes, that's it."
"I'll trust that it is."
"Thank you, thank you...!!"
I slid the documents—personal details on thirty-seven academy graduates—back into the envelope and stood up from my seat.
"Kim Seong-won."
"Yes?"
The guy, who had been bent at a perfect ninety-degree angle, lifted only his head slightly to look up at me.
"The Eternal Witch. Make sure there are no disruptions to the schedule."
"Eternal... Ah! Yes. Of course. You gave me that order on the very first day you decided to give me a chance, Professor. Would I ever dare treat it carelessly? Don't worry."
"Good."
"H-have a good day, sir!!"
Leaving Kim Seong-won still bowing, I exited the Finance Department. My destination was not the mansion, but the Chairman's office at the end of the main building.
The moment the elevator doors opened, the wide-open Chairman's office came into view.
"Heh-heh, you're right on ti... You really are a piece of work."
The Chairman, who had been looking at a tablet, caught the envelope I tossed at him and shook his head.
"Graduates?"
"Send each of them an invitation."
"An invitation? To the festival?"
"Right."
"Hmm, I don't mind, but I'd like to at least hear a reason. Ah, of course, this isn't an order. I'm just asking out of pure curiosity."
I considered the question for a moment before opening my mouth.
"I'll tell you if you agree to do one more thing. However, from the moment you hear it, you won't have a choice in the matter."
"Hmm... I'm sick of doing things by force, but it doesn't seem like you'd have me do anything bad. Fine, I'll hear you out."
"'Anything bad.' Using such childish phrasing."
"If you want to live even a little bit younger, you have to go to these lengths, you know."
I didn't answer. I simply sat down on the sofa in the center of the room.
'Anything bad, huh.'
I wasn't sure exactly what kind of person this guy thought I was, but one thing was absolutely clear: he was deeply mistaken.
'If something gets in my way, I'll sweep it aside. It doesn't matter whether it's good or evil.'
I calmly spoke to the guy who was patiently waiting for my story.
**
Late afternoon.
'He's just like Yoon Do-sik.'
Chairman An Hyeon-do. The man was far more easygoing than I expected.
After hearing my entire story, he didn't ask any follow-up questions. He just nodded his head and said he'd do it. Instead, he once again pushed that proposal from the end of the last meeting in my direction.
And he did so using the most ridiculous excuse.
-Agh, if you hate doing it that much, I guess there's nothing I can do...
That's what he'd said to me as I was walking out of the Chairman's office, having felt no further need to listen to him. But despite his words, which sounded like he was giving up, I caught the clear glint of mischief in his eyes.
'Only crazy bastards like Ha-na exist in this world.'
Why were all the people who were helpful or necessary for my future plans missing a few screws from their heads, just like Ha-na?
The only reason I put up with them is that, even when their screws are loose, they possess enough ability for me to let it slide once. Were it not for that, I would've blown that bastard Sean's head clean off ages ago.
'...Still, they're bastards who do the work I give them well.'
So, no matter what useless scheme An Hyeon-do cooks up, I intend to let it slide once as long as he properly handles the tasks I've assigned him.
"Nineteen days left, is it."
That was the time remaining until the festival.
Originally, this summer would have been mostly the same as last year's, except for Baek Ha-na pestering me to go around together.
But then I placed Lee Na-young by Baek Ha-na's side. That led to Lee Na-young forming a bond with the Fairy, which created an unforeseen variable. I never imagined the Fairy's time could be dissolved into a potion.
'To be fair, I did place her there because I thought she had that kind of ability and talent.'
As a result, I ended up in a situation where I had to advance my prepared plans by a whole year, but it wasn't really a problem. Everything I actually needed was already in my hands.
-Peep-peep!!
-You?!
Just as I was about halfway through the Maze, the faint sound of those two troublemakers reached me.
'The garden, then.'
Wondering what kind of racket they were causing this time, I sensed not just Maria and Idni, but also Claire's energy, all gathered together in the garden.
-Blurghb!!
-Didn't I tell you not to use your ability?
The voices became clearer as I exited the Maze.
'...Water.'
I heard splashing sounds mixed among the voices. I took my hand off the door handle and headed toward the garden.
"I'm going to start preparing dinner, so you should go inside to wash—"
Claire, who had been perched on the edge of a pool I had never seen before, spotted me and froze on the spot.