Chapter 259: Wow! It’s the Second Semester! (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 259: Wow! It’s the Second Semester! (1)
Kang Ha-ni had a problem.
When she first saw a heavily intoxicated So-hyun with a senior who had her arm draped affectionately(?) over his shoulder, she had been on guard, wondering if yet another rival was being added to the list. However, his strangely meaningful attitude afterward had completely killed that mood.
“…Ah, damn it. It’s bothering me.”
Honestly, she didn’t think of herself as the type to meddle in others’ business, but was it just her imagination, or had the number of things she had to worry about increased ever since she got involved with So-hyun?
…In some ways, So-hyun might be even worse than Lilac.
“Hmm.”
“Mmm…”
He was certainly sleeping soundly.
She wasn’t sure, but was that ‘Hero Drink’ stuff really that strong? Would he be okay for school tomorrow?
Generally, she’d never heard of a high-ranking superhuman suffering from a hangover, but since he was originally a frail kid, she couldn’t be too sure.
“…The mart is probably closed by now. I wonder if convenience stores sell dried pollack and bean sprouts?”
She should buy some hangover relief medicine too. She recalled seeing her mother cook dried pollack soup before; maybe it would be good to make some for him.
“…Ha-ni?”
“Ah, So-hyun, are you awake? Can you wash up? Want some water?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Hey, what are you apologizing for? You said the seniors forced you to drink. Here, water—”
When she handed him the glass, he didn’t drink. Instead, he stared blankly at her before setting the glass down and taking her hand.
“I’m sorry. I know an apology isn’t enough, but I’m really sorry…”
I mean, honestly, she was a bit miffed, but she wasn’t that angry…?
But after apologizing for a long time, he suddenly began to observe her intently and started saying strange things.
“Ah, what. It’s Ha-ni. It’s not Ha-ni. It was Ha-ni. Right? It’s Ha-ni.”
…What kind of novel drunken habit was this?
After gulping down the water, he burst into a bright smile.
“Can you wash up? Should I help you move? Or should I make you something to eat first?”
She was about to say she could probably manage some egg soup with the ingredients they had, but she froze and could only stare at him.
It was because, while still wearing that smiling face, he had suddenly started crying.
“Hey, whoa…! Why are you suddenly crying!?”
“Ha-ni.”
“Uh…? Yeah…?”
“Let’s sleep together.”
…Coming on that strong all of a sudden? It wasn’t that she disliked the idea, but they had to go to the Academy tomorrow. Couldn’t they at least have dinner before starting?
Wait, starting what? It was almost time for Luna to arrive.
Whether he knew her heart or not, he backed her toward the bed step by step. The moment she sat on the edge, he collapsed against her, putting his full weight on her.
…Being aggressive isn’t so bad, is it? No, wait. Mom said to be careful of people with bad drinking habits.
What should she do about Luna?
While worrying, she closed her eyes with a faint sense of anticipation, but no matter how long she waited, no further stimulation came.
He simply wrapped his arms around her waist, and soon, only the sound of his steady breathing could be heard.
“So-hyun…? Are you seriously sleeping right now? You really meant just sleeping together…?”
“It’s warm…”
…Is that so? It’s a relief that it’s warm, but what exactly do you plan to do about how I’m feeling right now?
And not long after, Professor Cathy arrived with Luna.
“Papa~ Mama~ Me too~”
Luna, who was now quite natural at using polite speech, squeezed in between them.
“…I guess I shouldn’t join in, right?”
The professor said that while looking at them with an envious face, but the bed was far too narrow for four people to sleep in.
“…See you tomorrow. So-hyun will be embarrassed about being drunk, so don’t tease him too much.”
“I know. I’ll keep it moderate enough so he doesn’t do this again, so don’t worry.”
Of course, she didn’t mean she wouldn’t tease him at all. She had to pester him enough to make him reflect on his actions.
Since he came home this drunk even with Luna around, he’d just have to endure that much embarrassment.
* * *
Having unintentionally had a deep sleep in his arms, Kang Ha-ni woke up and began preparing a meal with a smirk.
In fact, just thinking about how to tease him when he woke up made her feel like she could eat two bowls of rice without any side dishes. But since it was the new semester, it was better to eat something hearty.
The atmosphere lately had been swinging wildly between extremes—too dark one moment and too frantic the next.
Didn’t they need to lighten the mood with some calm, everyday banter once in a while?
Listening to the story about the senior or what exactly he had been up to lately could wait until after the mood had settled.
Just as the rolled omelet she was excitedly making was finished, he finally sat up.
Blankly stroking Luna, who was nestled in his arms, he looked around with a dazed expression.
Haha, he must still be out of it.
“Mr. Kang So-hyun, did you sleep well last night? You came home completely wasted, then forced someone onto the bed and hugged them like that.”
Would he be embarrassed? Would he try to run away? Or would he apologize sincerely? If he apologized sincerely, she’d only tease him a little before letting him off the hook!
“…Ah.”
But when no answer came even after a while, she looked at him closely and noticed something was off.
“…So-hyun?”
“Hic.”
“…Hic?”
“Ahhh… It’s Ha-ni…”
With a completely loose expression, a slightly flushed face, and limp movements, he looked no better than he had yesterday.
“Luna’s here toooo…?”
The way he gently stroked Luna’s hair in his arms was the very picture of a drunkard.
“…Papa?”
When Luna woke up and called him with a questioning voice, he beamed a bright smile.
“Hehe, yes, it’s your Papa…! I’m not worthy, but I’m your Papa! Come here, our Luna! Papa will give you an airplane ride!”
She had to rush over to stop him as he used his Talent without hesitation, attempting to toss Luna toward the ceiling.
Seriously, who are you?
Does a person’s personality change this much when they’re drunk…? Wait, is drunkenness something that stays exactly the same even after a day has passed?
“Ah, right. I shouldn’t do this here! Let’s go outside, Luna! I’ll do it for you outside!”
Luna, who had been looking just as bewildered as Ha-ni for a moment, soon grinned and nodded.
So-hyun said he was going out, but instead of the door, he opened the window and jumped out while holding Luna.
“Are you crazy…!!!!”
Well, if she thought about it, he was using Reinforcement, so there wouldn’t be a problem, but there was no telling what he might do in that irrational state.
No, no.
Putting everything else aside for a moment.
“Hey! So-hyun! Come back…! Our classes start today…!!!!”
It’s the first day of the semester; where on earth is he going…!?
* * *
“Wow, looking at it like this, there really were a ton of incidents this summer, weren’t there~?”
“Yes, there have been many changes both within and outside the Academy.”
Leilan Claudia, the Chairperson of Leilan Academy, was reviewing documents with the faculty gathered around.
“Among them, the one at the center of the greatest change is undoubtedly this cadet.”
She pointed to a photo of a student.
A boy who stood out in both good and bad ways, a boy who was quite a celebrity among the professors in charge of the first-year class.
Kang So-hyun.
“I never imagined things would turn out like this when So-hyun first entered the Academy.”
“Hah, I had a gut feeling the very first day I met Kang So-hyun! This kid is going places. I knew there was something different about him. For a cadet who was in the lower ranks at the entrance ceremony to climb the rankings this fast…”
While Cathy and Park A-ram nodded as they shared their thoughts, Leilan, who was in charge of the actual administrative processing, shook her head as if she couldn’t just laugh it off.
“…Well, in truth, most of his points were earned from the holy water and information he provided during the demon invasion, but it’s also true that he has grown significantly in terms of skill.”
“Cadet Lilac and Cadet Cheon Yu-hak must be a bit disappointed.”
“Ah, like that saying, ‘Why did the heavens bring forth Zhou Yu, only to also create Zhuge Liang…!’? Probably not. Those two are the types to get fired up by competition; they won’t get discouraged by something like this.”
“That’s true. But it’s a fact that So-hyun suddenly surged ahead.”
“…Professor Cathy. I’d appreciate it if you’d refrain from showing favoritism toward a single cadet in front of everyone.”
“Huh? Me?”
…She isn’t even aware of it.
It sounded like the sound of teeth grinding came from some of the male professors, but Leilan decided to leave it be, thinking it might be entertaining.
“Though it’s a bit of an outlier case, there’s nothing particularly problematic about it, so let’s finalize it.”
“Yes, we can announce the first-year second-semester grade rankings as they are.”
“I think it’s good as a way to tell them not to stop striving even during the break.”
First-year Grade Rankings.
Top Student: Kang So-hyun.
Second Place: Lilac.
Looking at the report card that seemed to symbolize the many incidents that had occurred, they wore bitter smiles and continued preparing to announce the cadet who had risen to the top.
* * *
And as for what that new top student was doing right now…
“It’s high!”
“Waaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
He was tossing a small girl into the sky as if to turn her into a star, then catching her perfectly—an act that could never be called an ‘airplane ride,’ yet he insisted it was as they played.
After becoming a dot in the sky, Luna accelerated as she fell, but he didn’t hesitate for a second, throwing himself forward to catch her.
“Is it fun!”
“Yes!”
“You should say ‘Yeah’! Luna! Is Papa a stranger!? Papa’s feelings are hurt!”
“Yeah!”
“Good! Let’s do more! This time, we’re going even higher…!”
“What do you mean higher…! I told you we have to go to the Academy!?”
“Huh? Oh, right! Today’s the first day! Luna, Papa has to go! Make sure to listen to the professors today too!”
“Yeah!”
“Give me a kiss so I can do my best!”
“Yeah! Hehe!”
As Luna smiled shyly and kissed his cheek, So-hyun laughed and kissed her cheek in return.
…It’s nice that he’s energetic, but I can’t get used to this. So that’s how So-hyun gets when he’s drunk.
Doesn’t he want to kiss me?
“Hmm? I sense the energy of someone who needs a kiss?”
Wait, you can sense that through ‘energy’?
“Ha-ni! Come here! Luna! Should we give Mama a kiss too!?”
“Yes!”
“You’re not supposed to answer with ‘Yes’!”
“Yeah!”
Luna came running and jumped into her arms, kissing her cheek.
Then, So-hyun approached as naturally as flowing water and gave her a light kiss on the cheek… no, on the lips.
“Hey!?”
“Whaaat~?”
…Is he actually a fox? Doesn’t he have a tail hidden somewhere…? If he did, I bet he’d have more than one.
“Ah, anyway, I brought your uniform, so at least put this on over your clothes.”
“Ah, thanks. Uniform. Right. Gotta wear a uniform to go to the Academy.”
And then, without a moment’s hesitation, he took off his pants and started changing right there.
Fortunately, it was early and there were no people around.
Is this really okay? Shouldn’t I call and say he’s taking the day off…?
“Oh, what’s this~? Are you two exercising together from the first day of school~?”
“Hello, both of you. It’s been almost a week, hasn’t it?”
Just then, familiar voices called out from a distance.
It was Lilac and Lee Yu-na.
“We came out for a jog before school; want to join us?”
Kang Ha-ni was about to nod without much thought at their usual appearance, but then she suddenly remembered Kang So-hyun’s condition.
However, it was already too late. So-hyun was laughing heartily as he spoke to Lilac.
“Aigoo, our Lilac! When it comes to being dense, you’re practically a baby ox~!”
“Huh?”
“Do you really think Lee Yu-na wants to run with us instead of just the two of you! That’s why you couldn’t even confess during the summer…!”
“Uh…?! Hey, So-hyun…!?”
“No, I mean, I’m fine with everyone running together…?”
“Haha, the fools have a lot to say! You two just run by yourselves!”
Watching him pour out his words like a machine gun before sprinting away, the two felt a sort of dread rather than anger.
“Did he eat something wrong…?”
“Ha-ni, what’s wrong with So-hyun?”
“Well…”
If he ate something wrong, he certainly did…
As the explanation continued, expressions of absurdity began to wash over their faces.
“…Then shouldn’t we catch him?”
“…You’re right. Where did he go?”
Starting with Lilac’s perfectly natural question, the three of them snapped to their senses, looked in the direction he had fled, and began to run all at once.
“I’ll be at the faculty building!”
Only Luna, who had been in a good mood since playing with her Papa since dawn, was having a peaceful moment.