A Wild Night Ride with the Water Lily
“What the fuck...!”
“Eek, eek!”
Lee Se-ri jumped in fright and started trembling at my sudden curse.
“Ah, sorry. I just got a weird email... It wasn't directed at you, Sunbae-nim.”
“Oh, r-really? Phew, I thought for a second...”
The fear radiating from Lee Se-ri evaporated in an instant.
I knew she was the timid type, but reacting like this right away? I didn't think I'd done anything scary...
Well...
Maybe I had more skeletons in my closet than I realized.
“No big deal. Anyway, I'm always grateful for stuff like this—today included.”
“Hehe, hearing that makes me grateful. Ah, club activities aren't over yet, so I'll head back.”
“Sure. I'll enjoy the cake.”
“G-good luck!”
She bowed politely and left the club room. After seeing her out, I headed to the training room where the kids were probably devouring the cake.
But...
“Jinwoo Bivalt. You could squeeze out five more, right?”
“No, I'll really die. I'm dying here!”
“I'll save you before you kick it, so just five more. Come on, one.”
“Forget one—I'm seriously gonna die!”
“Screaming like that? Sounds like ten more. One!”
“Eeeeeek!!”
Jinwoo lay shivering on the bench press machine, while Ji Suhyun munched on a cupcake with a relaxed grin. Youngje and Sea-a watched the spectacle, clearly amused.
“Ah, Boss is here?”
“Wanna watch too, Eugene?”
What the hell was going on here?
“I'm dead! Deaaaad!!”
“...Such a drama queen.”
Ji Suhyun sighed at Jinwoo's flailing—foam practically bubbling from his mouth—and snapped her fingers. The dumbbells pinning him down slid safely onto the rack.
Finally free, Jinwoo slumped straight off the bench onto the floor. Ji Suhyun gave him a pitiful look before glancing up at me.
“Oh, you're here?”
“Instructor. When did you arrive?”
I'd messaged separately, so I figured she was somewhere else. Never imagined she'd be in the training room.
“Me? Just now. Saw Jinwoo pumping iron as I came in, so I was spotting him. Right?”
She nudged Jinwoo with her foot. A muffled “Nuuugh...” came from below.
“So, what's up?”
“What's up? Having to give the grade rep oath as class president—it's so sudden, isn't it?”
“Ah, that?”
Ji Suhyun nodded, like it suddenly made sense.
“I just got the heads-up from upstairs too, so details are fuzzy. But Choi Yeon said she wasn't interested and didn't wanna do it. What can you do? Next in line's gotta step up.”
“Then let me—”
“Some of us pull all-nighters buried in paperwork as club advisor...”
“...handle it, is what I was gonna say.”
Looked like she'd already decided it was me.
“So, when's the date? No schedule in the notice yet.”
Academy welcome events shifted dates often depending on circumstances, so best to confirm.
The kids reacted like it'd never crossed their minds.
“Huh? We have a welcome event too?”
“I think there was something like that on the schedule...”
“Ugh...?”
Ji Suhyun's face fell like she'd just remembered.
“Oops? Did I forget to mention? Next week, I think.”
Of all things to blank on—academy events?
“Hey, class rep. Text the whole class. Welcome event next week.”
She roped in the class rep right there for a quick fix. I stared in disbelief, and she cleared her throat, whipping her head away to poke the sprawled Jinwoo with her foot.
“Hey. Quit whining and get up. Upper body's done—time for legs.”
“Eh? I'll die...”
“Upper body might die, but legs are fine. Eat this and move.”
“Mmf—!”
Ji Suhyun shoved a cupcake in his mouth and dragged him to the squat machine.
“Five reps. Go.”
“My thighs are ripping!! Boss!! Save me!!”
“...Instructor. Judging by Jinwoo's volume, he can do another set.”
“Right? One more set.”
“KyaAAAAH!!”
Next week, huh. Cutting it close.
Back home, a message from Gwak Chunsik waited.
Looked like he'd sorted his feelings. Right on schedule.
“Wait there” meant he'd wrapped things up there and was heading our way.
I'd tipped off Han Seojun lightly, so he'd handle any needs.
Gwak Chunsik had experience and connections—no big issues.
“The old man's worries are his own. Time for my business.”
I changed from comfy clothes into the suit Maestro made: Dis Pater.
Stepping out, a maid waiting outside bowed.
“You're out, Young Master.”
“Jiyoon?”
“Yes, she just fell asleep.”
“Got it. Alesia. Time to head out.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
She fell in behind me as we moved down the hall.
Jiyoon's dedicated maid: Mikhail Alessia.
Russian immigrant with pale purple hair tied back neatly and striking red eyes. She'd grown up in the Calione household since childhood.
And her true identity was...
“You're joining patrol tonight?”
“Yes. Han Seojun has the task you assigned, and it's his duty shift...”
“I see.”
...also the family hitwoman.
Limited to Jiyoon's nap times, but still.
With Han Seojun tied up, we were doing tonight's essential Calione duty: nighttime public safety maintenance.
Commonly called a “Night Walk.”
She was a named character in the game, so no complaints about skill.
“Patrol zone tonight?”
“C District.”
Asian immigrant residential area.
“Should be straightforward.”
“Yes. It's my first Night Walk with you, Young Master, so I'm thrilled.”
Alessia smiled brightly.
...No wonder CS players called her the underworld's water lily.
We opted for bikes given C District's alleys. Incheon's Foreign Quarter spanned A to G Districts.
Successor lessons said it used to stop at D, but growth led to subdivisions.
“Young Master. How many Night Walks is this for you?”
She handed me a helmet before mounting.
“Hmm... Third or fourth, I think.”
“More than I expected. I figured one or two at most.”
“...Successor training. Parnello said I needed face time with locals, so we did a few together.”
And each walk boosted Main Story (Gangs of Calione) influence a bit—not bad.
“Parnello's wise. Most merchants here distrust outsiders. Face familiarity like this will pay off big later.”
“Good to know.”
“Shall we?”
She patted the seat behind her.
...I could ride, but not in this body. Need a license soon.
I sat obediently, lightly wrapping my arms around her slim waist.
“Grab tighter or you might slip on takeoff.”
She sounded like a big sis scolding a shy little brother.
“...Tch.”
No dodging that. I hugged properly for stability.
“That should hold. Let's go.”
The engine hummed like an electric motor, seat vibrating faintly.
Different model from Parnello's, but something felt off—uneasy.
“Um... Alesia?”
“Here we go.”
Huge inertia slammed me back. If I hadn't gripped tight, I'd have tumbled off.
Zero to sixty in under two seconds, felt like.
“W-wait—this is too fast, even if no cars or people near the mansion—?!”
“I'm a Calione Cup bike racing champ, you know.”
There was such a thing?!
The bike tore down the road at insane speeds. A glance at the dash: [362km].
“Is this legal in Korea?”
“Think any cop could catch me?”
Probably not. Grim Reaper, maybe.
“Young Master.”
“Yeah?”
“Hold tight so you don't fly off.”
“Fly off—what—?!”
She whipped the front wheel into a drift. The bike leaned hard—knees out and it'd scrape pavement, fully sideways.
“A-Alesia?!”
“Won't tip—don't worry.”
True to word, it righted smoothly. I reflexively gathered Aura when it tilted.
“Alesia. Isn't this a bit aggressive?”
“Back then, slow meant getting caught. Old habits... I'll tone it down.”
But.
“Straights I can't hold back on.”
“Ah—”
We hit C District outer roads from A District's edge.
Rushing cars, neon-lit signs, teeming crowds.
Exotic enough to call foreign.
“Feels like everyone's sneaking glances.”
“Probably my maid outfit. Only Calione servants wear these here.”
“Got it.”
Suit's normal, but that screams “Calione!”—no wonder the stares.
“Circle C slow?”
“Nah, park nearby and walk.”
After that speed, I needed to stretch my legs.
“Understood.”
We parked at a Calione-run restaurant lot for quick access, dismounted, and ditched helmets.
“Whew, helmets are stuffy. Still die in a crash anyway.”
...Blame your 360+ km/h speeds.
“Pardon?”
“Nothing.”
Calione maids read minds too, apparently.
“Hehe. Walking alone with you after so long—exciting.”
“...You know we're here for work, right?”
She beamed proudly.
“Of course. I'm a proper Calione maid, trained by the head maid.”
But.
She turned slightly, murmuring over her shoulder.
“A little detour can't hurt, can it?”
Calione's water lily.
A smile played on her lips.