Reunion
“Step aside. There's someone I need to meet inside.”
“Release Tiss Unnie!”
Sia and Siwoo, eyes bloodshot, rushed straight to the conference room to meet Tiss, causing an immediate commotion.
“Weren't we supposed to release Tiss? What can we possibly do if we just barge in like this!”
“This is an important meeting. No examinees or students are allowed to enter! What... kids' strength...!”
Kwaang!
When the examiner who tried to stop them realized they were being pushed back by sheer force, their body flew and crashed into the iron door with a bang.
“Examinees! If you keep acting so recklessly, we'll have no choice but to use force. Now, step back!”
The other examiners were genuinely pondering whether to use weapons to restrain the two who were charging in with bare hands.
“Stop!”
Crack! Crack!
With countless crows covering the sky, Baba Yaga descended to the ground.
“You little brats, stop now.”
Her disheveled clothes, messy twin tails, and youthful appearance that was beautiful yet childlike would make one underestimate her if taken separately, but in front of Baba Yaga, nothing diminished her majesty.
Goooo.
The aura emanating from the great witch who had lived for 12 centuries was overwhelmingly oppressive.
Anyone who was a criminal wouldn't dare face her head-on, and her massive presence completely dominated the atmosphere.
“Oh ho, so it's you, the little brats who were hunting the attacker from that time. Your performance was quite interesting for this old woman to watch. So, what urgent matter is causing such a ruckus?”
Baba Yaga looked at Siwoo and Sia with a smile.
“Baba Yaga, the chief examiner. We are... ”
“Why is Tiss the examinee in the auditorium instead of being detained at the Academy? Isn't it strange that we haven't heard from you for days?”
“Sia, calm down first.”
Siwoo tried to stop Sia, but Sia shook off his hand, unable to hold back anymore.
“Stop it! Oppa. I can't hold back anymore. How many times is this? Don't you know? This is clearly intentional.”
Sia approached right in front of Baba Yaga, bowed her head, and glared at her with a snarl.
“If the Academy is holding Tiss Unnie, then no matter if it's the Academy or anything else, I'll destroy it all.”
Baba Yaga narrowed her eyes at them, then burst into laughter with a grin.
“You thunderous brats. For your friend, you're planning to storm the Academy. I respect that spirit. But don't speak carelessly. Do you not know who this old woman in front of you is? This old woman is Baba Yaga herself.”
Kuuu.
The two suddenly realized that the overwhelming pressure they felt was not just aura but actual crushing force on their bodies.
“Your level is high. For now, kneel.”
-Kugugugu!
More than ten times the gravity from Baba Yaga's magic was applied to Siwoo and Sia.
“Gwaeuk!”
“Oh ho...? Can you endure this?”
They gritted their teeth and tried to endure it, refusing to kneel.
“So? If it's a calamity or... a hero... anyone who harasses Tiss Unnie will never... forgive them.”
In response to Sia's fierce words, Siwoo stood beside her with resolve on his face.
Baba Yaga tilted her head, amused by their fearless demeanor.
“Indeed, I remember now. The two brats who almost failed the 0th exam and barely scraped through were you.”
“You... saw that?”
“Of course, since it's an exam, I saw everything from the start. How pitiful and adorable you looked, crying for your unnie like a kid looking for mom. You'll never forget it, hehehe.”
The fact that Baba Yaga had seen their crying and tantrums made the faces of the two siblings instantly turn as red as ripe apples.
“Gwaeuk!”
“Ghum!”
Sia bit her lip to hold back her embarrassment, while Siwoo lowered his head slightly to hide his face.
“Tiss must be very precious to you. You even want to meet in the illusion. And even received salvation from that illusion. Hehehe.”
“Yes. That's right. Tiss is really precious to us, brother and sister.”
“Your fluffy one has a huge popularity. Good. Follow me. I'll let you meet her.”
“Eh...?”
“Why? Does it sound like a lie? I'm not some evil demon king who kidnaps princesses. There's no reason to stop someone who just wants to see a person's face.”
Baba Yaga's words sounded like a joke, but they were sincere.
With her gesture, the examiners blocking the entrance stepped aside, making way for the two.
“Tiss is inside...”
“Tiss Unnie...”
Finally, their eyes lit up with hope of meeting again.
“What are you standing there for? Come along with this old woman. The meeting was stopped, and I hurriedly came down, so hurry back.”
“Yes, understood.”
Thud-thud.
Finally able to meet.
Placing a hand on their still racing hearts, Siwoo and Sia followed Baba Yaga inside to meet Tiss.
...
...
...
Why suddenly here?
Not only had the meeting stopped, but they had even isolated her in a separate reception room.
In the meantime, she had tidied her clothes lightly and taken the 2nd exam, wiping away any bloodstains and dust.
What did they want?
They had even prepared coffee and snacks.
Was it that last time they made her act as a villain, now they wanted her to handle customer service too?
If they were causing such a fuss, it was like the missing hero had returned.
[Is it possible they're not going to make me do some weird hospitality thing?]
Would Baba Yaga go crazy and do that?
While chatting briefly with Shan, familiar scents and footsteps approached.
Was it?
[Um...? Oh, the scent I smelled long ago.]
Shan also reacted as if sensing something.
Squeak.
The door opened.
And.
“Siwoo? Sia?”
They came in.
...
...
...
Blink, blink.
A white girl sat neatly, looking this way.
Her appearance was unrealistically beautiful, as if not of this world.
Fluffy like wool, long luxurious hair, deep thick eyelashes, ruby-like sparkling red eyes, ears full of downy hair, and a lush tail.
Everything was in perfect artistic balance.
It was more than the 'Angel-nim' Dorothy had called her.
Although much different from the Tiss in memory, her gaze and smile remained unchanged in front of them.
Just as the knot of anxiety tied in the two's hearts finally unraveled, her smile was incredibly warm.
Sia took a deep breath.
She had tried to calm her heart by taking several deep breaths.
The feeling of tears pricking her eyes, but she didn't want to ruin the moment of reunion.
“Tiss... Unnie?”
Sia gathered courage, took a step, and called out the name of the unnie she had longed to see.
Tiss, the white girl, smiled softly at Sia's trembling voice.
“It's been a while, Siwoo, Sia.”
With just that smile, the two could set down the heavy burden they had carried in their hearts for the past 2 years.
“Ah...”
Even though appearances had changed a lot, the smile was still the same as in memory.
“Tiss Unnie!!!”
Sia staggered and approached Tiss.
Sia couldn't walk anymore because tears blocked her vision.
Her steps slowed, and finally, with blurry vision, she knelt and crawled towards Tiss.
“Ah... aah...!”
Sia reached out desperately to Tiss like a child looking for her mom.
Tiss was startled by Sia's intense reaction.
Seeing Sia like a child returning to her innocence, Tiss hurriedly stood up from her seat and opened her arms to welcome Sia.
Seeing Sia reaching out pitifully, Tiss pulled her into her embrace with all her might.
-War<|eos|>