Academy's Joke Character Side Story 153rd Episode [Illustration]
Episode 153
Baekyang felt a warmth.
Her entire body was hot.
But strangely enough, far from feeling agony at that melting heat, she felt a comforting warmth.
For her, someone who was easily affected by the heat, it was a considerably puzzling thing.
"Mmnn......."
Baekyang, in a half-asleep, half-awake state, slowly began to regain consciousness.
And as her awareness awakened, she felt the heat growing stronger.
'Ah.'
And at the point where she had gathered her senses to some degree, Baekyang was able to realize.
'He was holding my hand.'
Where the warmth she felt was coming from.
Oz was desperately clutching her hand, as if he feared he might let go.
The heat was climbing up through that palm. From that hand, gripped strongly enough to hurt a little, Oz's worry could be felt.
"If you squeeze that tight, I might just melt, you know?"
Baekyang opened her eyes and, giggling as usual, smiled toward Oz.
That smile was playfully mischievous yet passionate, as if harboring its own heat, like that of someone playing a prank.
"Hmm....... I made a mistake. It seems I must have been mistaken about something."
Baekyang recalled the fact that she was alive right now.
She surely should have been dead.
Yet the fact that she was alive must be thanks to the fruit Oz had fed her.
In the first place, the reason Oz had been so impatient was probably for that fruit.
Wasn't it an item capable of reviving her after her heart had been pierced? It must have been something he absolutely wanted to obtain.
"Oz-nim was a far cooler person than I had thought."
And yet, he had used such an item for her sake. Baekyang decided to express gratitude rather than feel sorry.
And the fact that he had chosen her.
"Huhuhuhu."
Honestly, more than anything, she was happy.
Even though it hadn't been long since they got close, Oz was the kind of person who could give up something like that for her.
Baekyang covered her mouth with the blanket and quietly laughed.
"......You idiot. What exactly did you do well to be smiling like that?"
Baekyang giggled sheepishly even at Oz's accusation that wasn't quite an accusation.
Because she was so happy she couldn't stop the laughter leaking out, she just covered her face with the blanket.
Meanwhile, from the hand gripping hers tightly, an emotion hot enough to burn could be felt.
In the haggard face of Oz looking down at her, a gaze full of worry shone sorrowfully. It was such a beautiful color.
"Hmm, I didn't know before, but Oz-nim's eyes are really pretty."
Oz let out a sigh at Baekyang's behavior, but still spoke.
"Is your body feeling a bit better?"
"Mmnn......."
Baekyang buried her face into the blanket and then squirmed for a moment. It seemed she was checking her own wound.
A moment later, Baekyang, who had poked only her face out from the blanket again, grinned and said.
"Would you like to check for yourself?"
"......Looking at your expression, I take it you're alright."
Oz sighed, pulled the blanket up, and shoved Baekyang's face, which had only her head sticking out, back inside.
Then Baekyang popped her face back out again.
Even in the middle of such playful exchanges, Oz's hand was trembling. It hadn't calmed down yet.
Even though he had experienced the sensation of death flowing through his fingertips several times already, the terror this time was severe.
Baekyang, having popped back out of the blanket again, stared at Oz's state for a moment, then soon spoke carefully.
"It's alright."
"......."
"I feel perfectly fine. Fortunately, there doesn't seem to be any scar, and rather, I feel so full of vitality, you know?"
"Is that so......."
A face that showed relief, even if just slightly.
Seeing that face, Baekyang's mischievousness sparked again, and she whispered.
"Would you like to check for yourself?"
"......."
"Kyaang."
Oz covered Baekyang with the blanket again at her prank. He didn't want to see that strangely sly face.
But this time, even after covering Baekyang's face with the blanket, Oz's hand didn't fall away for a moment.
Baekyang wondered if she might have angered him, but then was startled by his subsequent action.
"Don't you ever do something like that again."
Oz was hugging her over the blanket.
It was a cowardly act of not being able to hug her directly, but Baekyang entrusted her body to that slightly stuffy pressure.
She felt the coziness of the blanket and a warmth beyond that.
"I won't die."
Oz was on the verge of tears.
"I absolutely refuse to die. So you don't have to do anything so reckless for me, and neither does anyone else."
He was speaking as if pleading.
At Oz's voice, Baekyang squirmed inside the blanket, took out her hand, and hugged Oz back.
He was trembling. It was a mix of various emotions, including anxiety and self-loathing.
"I will. So don't be so scared anymore."
Baekyang felt happiness.
The person she loved was saying this much for her sake.
She couldn't possibly not be happy.
But at the same time, she felt bitterness.
'It's only for now.'
Certainly, Oz would try to keep his promise. But clinging like this would only be this once.
Moreover, being able to monopolize Oz was also only for now.
Because Oz had far too many precious things to protect by his side.
Baekyang knew.
Being able to embrace him with such honest feelings like this would also be brief.
Since Oz would end his momentary rest and regret, then stand up again.
'A little more.......'
Therefore, Baekyang thought. If this was a rare opportunity.
'Let me etch my existence into him.'
Let's leave a color so intense that this feeling right now wouldn't fade.
*
*
*
Right after confirming that Baekyang's condition had improved. It was when I had just exited the room, making some suitable excuse to escape the oddly changed atmosphere.
"......."
Now that I think about it, it's a bit embarrassing.
To cling to Baekyang, of all people, not Arieta or anyone else....... I don't even know what I was really doing.
How am I supposed to face that brat in the future?
I was just about to head toward the well to cool my face, which was burning for no reason.
"Uh, um....... It's not that I meant to eavesdrop, I just, came because I was worried about Baekyang. But, something like that....... I-I'm sorry?"
"......Why are you here? So-yeon-ssi?"
As I turned the corner, So-yeon was there, her face dyed red, floundering about.
Seeing her reaction, it seemed she must have overheard the conversation Baekyang and I had.
The sense of shame doubles.
"Ahem....... First of all, it's a bit awkward to stay like this here, so shall we go somewhere quiet and at least talk?"
"Uh....... No matter what, you just met Baekyang right before coming out, and now you want to m-meet ano, another woman......."
So-yeon faltered, stepped backward, and began to spout nonsense.
What is this person saying?
Had staying by the Samdo River too long addled her brain?
"......It's a conversation about Baekyang, so I'm suggesting we talk somewhere else."
"Ah, I see. I-Indeed. Hmm."
So-yeon gave a dry cough and then, with stiff movements, began to carefully follow behind me.
No, do I seem that untrustworthy?
Well, it can't be helped. The situation was what it was. I'd probably feel awkward too, so how could So-yeon be any different?
Things will gradually improve with time.
"Well, this might sound a little strange but......."
I cautiously broach the subject while moving locations. Fortunately, So-yeon seemed to have calmed down somewhat, as her movements weren't as stiff as before.
"What just happened, please keep it a secret from the others......."
As my words continued, So-yeon's expression grew increasingly distorted.
"No, don't look at me like I'm trash and just hear me out first."
"Forget it. I don't want to hear the excuses of trash. Just get to the point."
"Yes......."
Let's give up.
Even So-yeon, who had been relatively gentle until now, is dead serious. That's already beyond persuasion.
Yeah, just giving up is easier. So-yeon's words aren't exactly wrong either.
I am trash.
"We will be leaving the Dokkaebi Forest soon."
"Really? Even though you're trash, it's a shame we're parting like this."
I'd really appreciate it if you could just remove that one modifier mixed into that sentence.
But pointing that out will only prolong the conversation.
"Yes, and so I have a favor to ask of you, So-yeon."
"A favor? Hmm....... Considering what you said earlier, it must be related to Baekyang? Are you asking me to guide you since you'll be crossing the Samdo River?"
"No."
This matter involves So-yeon as well.
So it would be best to tell her in advance before we part ways.
"Could you perhaps stay in the Dokkaebi Forest just a little longer and look after Baekyang? She says she's better now, but I'm still worried."
Even I can't guarantee how the effects of the World Tree's Fruit manifested in Baekyang.
The demonic energy within her body might cause her condition to worsen.
I don't think it'll be a major issue.......
Still, it would be nice if there was someone nearby she could lean on.
"Hmm....... I'd like to do that too, but it's not something I can decide on my own......."
"Couldn't you just make an excuse that there's still follow-up measures to take care of?"
So-yeon scratched her cheek and spoke as if troubled.
"How could I possibly lie in front of that terrifying Gang-cheol-nim?"
"There won't be anything to report to the Dragon King. He'll be away from his post."
"Ah, really?"
So-yeon's eyes sparkled with excitement and she smiled brightly. Gang-cheol must really be quite difficult for her to deal with.
But So-yeon, who had been humming happily, suddenly tilted her head and spoke as if something was strange.
"No, wait. Does it even make sense that Gang-cheol-nim would be away from his post? The Samdo River is essentially Gang-cheol-nim."
"It does make sense. A part of the Samdo River will separate and move on its own."
"......Huh?"
The side story is over.
Now we must resolve the main story, the crisis at Mount Bongrae.
Dragons, of which there are said to be only five in this world.
Three of them will become entangled.
"The Dragon King recently freed himself from the shackles that bound him."
Two will die.
*
*
*
After the events in the <Dokkaebi Forest> were settled.
Oz and his companions set out on the road once more. However, those gathered at the entrance of the <Dokkaebi Forest> were relatively reduced in number.
Alexios planned to take a different path to seek forgiveness from his schoolmates, and Ulla followed to guide him on his subsequent journey.
"It's a shame. We'd finally gotten close."
And Baekyang cannot accompany us now. Even though she must have known that fact, she pouted her lips and grumbled as if disappointed.
No yokai possessing demonic energy can enter the dwelling of the [White Dragon] Jin-seon.
There are yokai living within Mount Bongrae, but they are ascetics who have emptied their minds.
Therefore, Baekyang, being a dokkaebi and a yokai possessing demonic energy, cannot enter Mount Bongrae either.
No, she even had a high probability of getting lost. It was the opposite of the Samdo River.
Yokai that enter Jin-seon's domain lose their way and wander back the way they came.
Since her companions might at any moment become separated from the yokai or get lost alongside her, guiding her was also impossible.
"I might be able to at least go up to the front of Mount Bongrae, you know."
"What exactly is the standard for 'the front of Mount Bongrae'?"
"......."
"If such a reference point existed in the first place, yokai that eat people would have set up camp in front of it."
At Oz's scolding, Baekyang pouted her lips again and grumbled.
"Just a little while ago, you were such a kind and wonderful person......."
The moment she brushed herself off and was up and healthy, the person changed instantly.
Strictly speaking, this was simply a return to their original relationship, but to Baekyang, this side of Oz only felt heartless.
"Well, it can't be helped."
Saying that, Baekyang examined the faces of the group.
The first to catch her eye was Mari with a blank expression. It was impossible to tell what she was thinking.
And the next place her gaze went was Arieta. The person Oz is currently pouring the most of his heart into.
The next place her gaze went was, naturally, Ellenoa. She had a rare look of fatigue about her.
She was also the person Baekyang currently felt the most sense of kinship and guilt towards.
"Well then, Oz-nim."
"Hm?"
Baekyang finally made eye contact with Oz and smiled.
Her purple eyes had a more sly feeling than usual, making her look as if she were scheming something.
"Was it the 6th time?"
"Huh......?"
Baekyang strode up to Oz and wrapped both arms around his neck.
"The number of times you coveted me, Oz-nim."
With that, Baekyang pressed her lips against Oz's.
It was a lingering kiss she bestowed after wrapping both arms around him, making it impossible for him to escape.
"I wanted to do it while sober at least once. That makes this the 7th time, I suppose? How was it? I liked it."
"No, I mean......."
Baekyang looked at Oz, who couldn't finish his sentence and was hesitating, and giggled playfully before surveying the faces of the group once more.
Everyone except Mari wore a shocked expression.
"As for me. I have no inhibitions."
Baekyang hugged Oz tightly.
And looking at the group over his shoulder, she licked her lips as if to flaunt the kiss from just moments ago.
"I have no rules to follow and no mission to accomplish, you see."
Yes, that is why she has no inhibitions. If so, there is no need to match the pace of others.
If she started late, she just needs to sprint at full power.
"With this, you won't be able to forget about me even if we're apart for a while, right?"
Baekyang had fired a declaration of war.
I Became the Academy's Joke Character Chapter 153
Written by
Yangparang
Publisher
Daon Creative
Planning / Editing / Production
Kim Tae-hyun
Cover
RONOPU
ISBN
979-11-6730-143-7 (05810)
ⓒ2021, Yangparang
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