Camping with the Demon
"We're going camping next week."
Baek Sian leaned against the teacher's desk as he announced it. The students blinked in confusion.
"......Pardon?"
"Mountain camp. Three days, two nights. The academy owns a training ground up there."
"Out of nowhere?"
"It's not out of nowhere—it's always been in the curriculum. I just picked this timing."
...?
The students tilted their heads. If this wasn't sudden, then what was?
"You'll camp by groups, and everything from prep to the camp itself is up to you."
Baek Sian yawned as he passed out printouts.
"It's self-directed, but since it's two nights and three days, don't overdo the prep. Bring only stuff that's actually useful in a real fight. No booze, no smokes, none of that crap."
He waited for the printouts to make their rounds before adding,
"Questions?"
The classroom erupted in chatter. Baek Sian glanced at the commotion and headed for the door.
"Keep it down. The next class is still in session."
Scraaaape!
As soon as he was gone, students clustered in groups of twos and threes.
"Camp!"
"Two nights, three days!"
"What should we buy?"
"Barbecue?"
"Barbecue!?"
Group 1 gathered around Seha and Isol with their printouts in hand.
"Camp out of the blue, huh."
"Timing's perfect, though. Not too hot, not too cold."
Harin and Jinho chimed in. Isol skimmed the printout.
"School provides sleeping bags and tents... What else? Mats, personal utensils, flashlights... Oh, it's self-directed, so we'll need to prep our own food too."
Meanwhile, Ariella hid behind her printout, peeking out with just her eyes fixed on Dahong.
Two nights, three days. Stuck in the mountains with that demon.
Spend that much time glued together, and she'd eventually show her true colors.
This time, I'll rip off your veil.
Ariella steeled herself. That's when Isol's face popped up beside her.
"What do you think?"
"Uh, u-uh!? What?"
Ariella startled, stumbling over her words.
"You got camping experience, Ariella?"
"C-Camping! Yes, lots."
Ariella fumbled the printout down as she answered.
"I slept outside a ton chasing the necromancer."
"Outside? Isn't Iceland freezing?"
"Lofti blocks the wind for me. He's a wind spirit."
"......Total survival mode."
Seha muttered.
"Ariella's our camp expert then! She can help when we go shopping!"
The classroom buzzed with excitement over camp prep.
A little ways off, Hyein rested her chin in her hand, gazing toward Group 1's table.
Again.
Her eyes drifted there on their own. Isol talking, Ariella flustered. Seha watching and smiling.
They looked happy.
Mountain camp. Two nights, three days. Her own group was already chatting it up.
A friend nudged her.
"Hyein, what should our group prep?"
"Oh, yeah... Barbecue?"
"Barbecue! Awesome!"
"For barbecue, we'll need charcoal... a grill..."
"Fire pit too!"
"Sausages and ramen..."
"Marshmallows! For roasting over the campfire!"
"Meat? Pork belly? Ribs?"
"Both!"
Once she tossed out a topic, her friends lit up the conversation. Hyein smiled quietly at them.
But her gaze flicked back to Group 1 once more.
......Why am I like this?
Lately, she'd catch herself staring their way every time she snapped out of it.
Hyein folded her printout in half.
"......"
But she had no idea those glaring red eyes were fixed on her in annoyance.
"She keeps staring."
Dahong muttered, clearly irked. Black bobbed hair. Quiet vibe. The kind of student who usually flew under her radar.
But this girl kept eyeing Seha.
"Nya?"
Ruby tilted her head, wondering what was up.
"Beats me."
Dahong fiddled with Ruby's wings, opening and closing them.
"Nyaong..."
Yeah. This was jealousy, probably.
Jealousy over something she couldn't have.
She was definitely envious of Yoo Seha.
Come to think of it, this kid's got girls swarming him.
Dahong glared at the back of Seha's head, right in front of her. Starting with Isol, who'd stuck by him since the days Sangjun bullied him. Then Harin, prickly but touchy-feely in her own way. Teacher Seoyeonn with her personal ties, that Jo girl, Ariella too.
Harem vibes.
Prime youth.
Dahong's eyes narrowed further.
Cheeky bastard. Yoo Seha of all people.
Some of us got dragged to hell, never dated, and aged thousands of years.
"Nyaong?"
Dahong scooped up Ruby and plopped her on Seha's head.
Ruby, seeking a perch, stood on her hind legs, paws kneading his crown.
"......What're you doing, Dahong?"
"Not me. Ruby."
"Nyaaang."
"......Bored?"
"Yeah."
Seha let out a small, resigned sigh.
Dahong never really listened to him anyway. Sometimes she did, but only when she felt like it.
At this point, he figured he might as well think of her as a giant white cat.
They even matched in the willful department.
"You just thought something cheeky."
"Didn't."
Ruby wiggled dreamily atop his head, guided by Dahong's finger.
"Jeez, do whatever."
"Oh ho. Getting cocky, Yoo Seha?"
"Not the kinda thing a summon usually says to her summoner, is it?"
"Sue me. You can't even give orders."
"......Ugh."
After school, Seha hit the department store with Dahong to shop for camping gear.
School only provided for students. Nothing for summons.
"Dahong, how about this one?"
Seha held up a massive sleeping bag. Dahong shrugged halfheartedly.
"Told you I don't need it."
"Come on, you can't go three days without one."
"......Whatever."
She could go months without sleep, no problem. Camping gear had a pricey rep, so she'd appreciated the gesture at first, but turns out his wallet was fatter than expected.
Still, him buying stuff for her didn't feel half bad.
Seha compared two bags and picked the thicker one.
"This seems better."
"That's the pricier one."
"Gotta splurge on a sleeping bag. Nights get cold."
I don't sleep.
But Seha hefted it seriously.
"Need two mats too, and a lantern? School only does tents and bags..."
He muttered to himself, checked the bag for defects, then tossed it in the cart. On to the next aisle.
Dahong trailed lazily behind, browsing.
They passed the aluminum cookware. Foldable forks, knives, spoons. Neat rows of silverware, with mugs hanging in a line beside them.
Dahong paused, peering closer.
Camping mugs. Fancy designs, nothing like her ceramic ones at home. Various colors: black, olive, navy. And in between, a deep red.
She picked up the red one. Nice fit in her hand. Glanced at the price—not bad.
Humans get off on shiny new toys, I guess.
But she hung it back up.
Seha's cart already had the sleeping bag and mat—for her. Piling on a mug felt like overkill.
She spent his money freely, sure, but not on pointless stuff. Snacks from vending machines? Necessary fuel.
Coffee in paper cups works fine.
Dahong turned to find Seha. But then—
"Hey, Yoo Seha?"
Familiar voice. Black bob, quiet face. Jo Hyein approaching with her group mates from the store entrance.
Seha turned.
"Oh, Group 2. You guys shopping here too?"
"Closest outdoor shop."
One of the guys in Group 2 shrugged.
"S-Seha, what'd you get? Mind if we take a peek?"
Hyein asked, voice pitching up a notch. Shoulders tense. She was clearly fishing for chat.
Dahong's eyes narrowed.
"Huh? Well, I got..."
Seha wheeled out the cart, and Group 2 swarmed it.
A reference list would slash their shopping time. Naive Seha didn't notice, happily showing off his picks.
"Whoa, tons of stuff!"
"What's this? Pot?"
"Copro set. Good reviews online. Got the 8-person since we're six, but there's a 5-person next to it."
"Thanks! Noted."
"This? Fire pit."
"Folding grill. Opens like..."
"Whoa!"
Seha had become Group 2's shopping guru.
Sucker.
Dahong grumbled inwardly. He'd just been picking her stuff, and now he was helping rivals with his hard-researched intel.
Then Hyein sidled closer to Seha.
"Seha, where was that copro again? Mind showing us?"
"Oh, sure. Over in that cor—"
As Seha stepped forward—
Yank.
Dahong's arm looped his neck, yanking him back. His head smooshed right into the side of her chest.
"!?!?!?"
Seha's eyes bugged out. Soft, springy warmth enveloped his temple. Brain went blank.
"We're done shopping."
Dahong said flatly.
Hyein clapped a hand over her mouth. Her ears flushed pink.
"Pfft—cough! Cough!"
One guy from Group 2 turned away, hacking. The rest averted eyes, awkward grins plastered on.
"Uh, y-yeah... We'll figure it out."
"Yeah, let's go go go."
Group 2 bolted to another aisle. Like they didn't want to intrude.
Dahong watched them go, then released Seha. He stumbled back, face beet red.
"D-D-Dahong!"
"What."
"What do you mean 'what'! What was that?!"
"Quiet. We are done shopping."
Dahong yawned hugely, then grinned.
Yeah. This was more like it. Her personal plaything to toy with at will.
Recalling how he'd stiffened up in her arms, she smirked in satisfaction. Lips curled up on their own.
"Nyaaang?"
Ruby poked her head from the cart.
Dahong petted her head.
"Ruby. Yoo Seha turned tomato red."
"......I can hear you."
Seha's aggrieved voice drifted from behind.