Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Rift─1-7 (1)
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The air inside the infirmary was thick with the mingled scents of my sweat and my sister's, the musky tang of semen, and the sweet yet tangy aroma of her bodily fluids—a heady, erotic haze.
Hoo...
I lay sprawled atop Da-eun sis, catching my ragged breath. My cock was still buried deep inside her, pulsing faintly, the afterglow of that full-body-shaking climax lingering pleasantly.
My muscles felt deliciously languid all over, my mind blissfully hazy from the pleasure. It had truly been... the best.
Even though it was only our second rapport of the day, it had been far deeper and more intense than the first. Her insides still gripped me hot and wet.
"Haa... Sis... I thought I was gonna die..."
But something was off about my sister in my arms. She'd clearly writhed in ecstasy with me just moments ago, yet her breathing was steady, her face wearing a strange expression—like she was lost in thought somewhere else.
"What's wrong, Sis? You uncomfortable or something?"
"No... it's not that."
She stroked my back softly, but her gaze drifted toward the firmly shut infirmary door. A faint smile played on her lips.
"Seems like we had an interesting peeper."
"Huh? A peeper?"
I bolted upright in shock.
"Wh-who saw us? You mean... someone's been there since earlier?"
"Who knows... but it was a pretty hot gaze."
Sis caressed my cheek with an enigmatic smile. Her calm attitude only made my insides burn. Someone had watched me and Sis going at it? Right outside the door, no less?
"Sis! Quit messing around and tell me! Who saw?"
I grabbed Cheon Da-eun's shoulders and pushed her lightly against the wall. Her eyes widened at my sudden move—a flustered look that didn't suit her.
She stared at me steadily under my firm gaze. The surprise faded quickly, replaced by that subtle, inscrutable smile, tinged perhaps with a hint of resignation.
She met my eyes without flinching and shrugged.
"Hee-hee... Fine. Don't get mad, Kang Ihyeon. If you insist, I'll tell you."
She took a moment to steady her breath, then spoke in a playful yet meaningful tone.
"It was me watching with that hot gaze. Well, my original self, precisely."
"What? N-no way, you're lying."
My breath caught. The instructor? The real Instructor Cheon Da-eun had watched us? Cold sweat trickled down my spine.
"Th-the instructor? For real? H-how...?"
"Calm down, Kang Ihyeon. She sensed it with magic from outside the door, so she probably only caught a vague silhouette."
"B-but..."
"Plus, my original doesn't know I exist. She probably thinks you were rolling in the sheets with some other woman—a pretty powerful mana user, maybe another instructor."
Her words eased me a bit, but the nagging unease lingered. We'd still been caught, after all.
"But..."
I trailed off, unable to continue.
Images of the instructor's usual strict demeanor flashed through my mind—the woman who valued discipline like her life and tolerated no infractions, however minor.
If she found out a student and a presumed instructor were doing this in the academy infirmary... we'd face discipline at best, expulsion at worst.
"If she caught us, I'm done for. I'd definitely get expelled, Sis."
"Hmm, you think? My original isn't as rigid as she seems."
Da-eun sis tilted her head thoughtfully. But her reassurance offered no comfort.
She could say that now because we were close!
Even if there was the slightest chance, getting caught with Instructor Seraphina would sour things badly with the instructor.
Shit, what now?
I bit my nails in anxiety. My heart pounded uneasily again.
"Do you know where she went? She didn't head straight to the department head, right?"
"Dunno. From the mana trace, she seemed to hurry down to the end of that hallway. Probably the bathroom?"
Bathroom?
I jumped up and hastily grabbed my scattered clothes from the floor, pulling them on.
I didn't know what was going on, but I had to find the instructor now—clear up the misunderstanding or at least gauge the situation.
"I'm going to check it out."
As I threw on my clothes haphazardly and headed for the door, Sis, still on the bed, grabbed my arm.
"Kang Ihyeon, hold on."
"Let go, Sis. I gotta hurry."
"Idiot. What are you gonna do barging into the women's bathroom? If she didn't run straight to the department head like you said, better to leave her be."
"Still, I can't just do nothing. Gotta clear up the misunderstanding somehow!"
She stared at my frantic state, then released my arm with a deep sigh.
"Haa... Ihyeon, you really have no clue, do you?"
"Huh? What do you..."
"Why do you think my original rushed to the bathroom in such a hurry?"
Sis crossed her arms and fixed me with a stare.
"Why?"
"I told you. It was a really hot gaze. Ever think she might've gotten turned on watching us?"
The instructor aroused?
Not the clone, but the original Cheon Da-eun herself?
"Nah, no way. She's not like that."
I shook my head. Aroused Instructor Cheon Da-eun? Unthinkable. She was always cool-headed, unflappable—a perfect instructor.
Her getting excited over my lewd infirmary romp? Absurd.
"Don't be so sure."
Da-eun sis sighed again.
"I'm not emotionless. And the body is even more honest. How much do you really know about my original?"
"Well..."
"What you see of Instructor Cheon Da-eun isn't everything. I'm a woman too. Shocking scenes trigger reactions—disgust or whatever—especially this kind."
She paused at "this kind," locking eyes with me.
Her gaze was so intense, it shut me up for a moment.
"So leave her be for now. She needs time to sort herself out."
The instructor really got aroused? Watching me with another woman?
I still couldn't believe it.
But dismissing the clone's words as lies was hard too.
She shared memories with the original, after all.
If she said so, it must be true.
Better than assuming needless misunderstandings.
'But that means...'
My heart raced again, laced with subtle anticipation.
If—if the instructor really felt that way about me... maybe someday with her too...
Gulp.
No, no. Snap out of it, Kang Ihyeon.
Wild fantasy. And not the time anyway.
Tomorrow was uncertain as it was.
I shook off the tangled thoughts with a deep breath.
"Got it, Sis. Better head back and prep for tomorrow's exam."
I glanced indifferently at the damp, warm bedsheet.
Yeah, how things played out from here... who really knew?
Next day. 9 AM.
The mood at the Rift─1-7 entrance was tense with the students' pre-evaluation nerves.
Last night's infirmary escapade felt like a dream, but a corner of my mind couldn't shake the anxiety.
Especially...
......
Far off, Instructor Cheon Da-eun stood with the other instructors, reviewing documents in her crisp uniform and usual icy expression. No trace of last night—no disarray whatsoever.
Ugh, makes me jittery.
Is she looking at me?
What if our eyes meet?
As worries swirled inside, she didn't so much as glance my way, focused solely on prep.
Her silence only made it worse.
I couldn't approach her first either...
"Attention! Group assignments for the evaluation."
The other instructor's voice snapped me back. My name was in Group 1, called with three others.
At the spot, my three teammates waited.
A Western guy who looked scrawny despite his build: Leo Miller.
Next to him, a girl standing defiantly with arms crossed: Sophia.
And the fidgety one twisting his fingers: Jeon Minjun, I guessed.
Unfamiliar names.
The so-called "stragglers."
'Just a few weeks ago, that was me...'
Looking at them stirred an odd disgust. Teamed with these guys?
Was this kindred loathing?
Doubts crept in: Could we even pass properly with this lineup?
I forced a neutral face and spoke first.
"Group 1, right? I'm Kang Ihyeon. Nice to work with you."
"...Ugh."
Their faces stiffened subtly.
Leo and Jeon Minjun visibly panicked, avoiding my eyes. Sophia turned her head slightly, arms still crossed.
Ah, that reaction.
Familiar.
Probably one of the ones trash-talking me behind my back.
They greeted reluctantly.
"L-Leo Miller."
"...Jeon Minjun."
"Sophia."
Silence choked the air right after intros. Better if they'd just curse me out.
As I fumbled for words, Jeon Minjun spoke cautiously.
"Um... shouldn't we pick a group leader first? Decide who's in charge..."
His eyes darted nervously between Sophia and Leo Miller. Leo chimed in, emboldened.
"Y-yeah, good idea. Probably best if someone experienced takes it?"
"Exactly. I heard you've cleared rifts a few times, Miller. What do you think?"
"Haha, sure. But Sophia's not bad either. I heard she's under Instructor Seraphina..."
Their talk excluded me completely.
They figured settling it among themselves beat including my spinner-only record.
A subtle rapport formed between the other two.
Ptooey.
Sophia spat on the ground and jabbed her chin at me dismissively.
"Shut up. Hey, Kang Ihyeon. You be leader."
"Me?"
I blinked, as did Leo and Jeon Minjun.
"He's kinda iffy, right? I heard he failed rift clears thirty times straight. Makes me uneasy."
"Yeah. We should decide among ourselves."
Sophia snorted.
"Ha! Jealous? Prove it with skill then. Fact is, his public scores are the highest among us four. Gotta admit what's true."
Her unexpected defense surprised me.
Someone on my side here?
As I looked at her awkwardly, she scowled with contempt.
"What're you staring at? Loser gets a pat on the back and loves it? Just 'cause your score's best, you're leader. Don't get delusions and climb."
"......"
"What? Hate 'loser'? Then beat me or fail the exam."
Her mouth was foul as a rag, bitchy attitude and all, but her words held weird conviction.
Clear criteria, at least.
Performance above all.
Leo and Jeon Minjun shut up, unable to retort.
'Ridiculous... but maybe easier this way.'
Her baseless hostility aside, I kinda liked it.
As we awkward-chatted, the evaluator's voice boomed over the speaker.
"Groups two and onward, attention! This mock rift assault eval targets clearing up to floor 3 of Rift─1-7! Points awarded progressively for mid-boss on 3 within time, plus loot collection. Strategize and assault!"
Murmurs rose as the instructor finished.
Here we go.
"Alright, ready?"
Leo and Jeon Minjun nodded reluctantly, eyeing each other. Sophia grunted curtly, arms crossed.
"Yeah, so let's go already."
"Positions? I'll tank front..."
"Tch, whatever. Leader's job, right?"
Sophia snapped.
"I-I'll support..."
"M-me too. Cover from back."
Jeon Minjun mumbled meekly. Leo muttered, eyes averted.
'Will this even work...'
Anxiety hit, but no time to hesitate.
Instructor Cheon Da-eun seemed to glance our way from afar.
"Good. Let's move. Stay sharp, everyone."
I steeled myself and approached the rift entrance first. The rippling blue barrier revealed a dark, damp cave beyond.
"Group 1, entering!"
With the instructor's signal, I took a deep breath and stepped inside.