The Seeds of Obsession Grow
Their True Intentions.
It was a total collapse. Kim Seongho had been trampled by me, expelled from the academy, and now even the guild that had been his safe haven was being dismantled. If Shin Suyeon hadn't been targeted, I might have stopped here. But there was still a debt to settle.
Once the investigation wrapped up through my deal with the association, I would take custody of both the Baekho Guild Master and Kim Seongho. 'That's when the real fun begins.' I would make them experience with their own bodies everything I had gone through.
I thought back over the past week. I'd slept only two or three hours a night and worked like a dog. During the day, I cleared external dungeons with Irena to build up my pain tolerance. At night, I raided workshops. The fact that I could hunt alone, and that the association and media had accepted my data, was all thanks to her. Honestly, without Irena, a clean resolution to this incident would have been impossible.
'I feel so refreshed.' It was like ten years of built-up grime had been washed away. There was just one problem.
"......"
"......"
My image on campus had turned into that of a thug. Apparently beating Kim Seongho so brutally had left a strong impression. The fearful glances from the second and third-years were easy enough to ignore. And since Shin Suyeon had recovered safely, everything had worked out.
"Shall we get going?"
"Yes!"
She was in a wheelchair now that her cast had been removed. Even though we'd poured healing skills and high-grade potions into her, shortening the recovery time dramatically, she still needed absolute rest. That was why I was pushing her wheelchair.
The back gate of the academy. It was the same alley I'd visited once before with Choi Ahyeon. Weapons of all kinds were lined up everywhere. Shin Suyeon looked around with wide-eyed curiosity.
"Um... Seonghyun, we're not going to buy anything too expensive, right?"
"I squeezed every last compensation penny out of the Baekho Guild. Since we're buying anyway, we might as well go big."
"Ugh... It feels too burdensome. I don't think I'll even be able to carry it around..."
I ignored her grumbling and headed toward Yu Cheong's shop. The place that always looked like it was only hosting flies. Sure enough, we were the only customers today too.
"Welcome... Huh?! Oppa!"
"Hey."
As soon as we stepped inside, Yu Cheong greeted us with eyes as round as saucers.
"What brings you here? I've been singing for you to come visit, but you never showed up?"
"When did you ever sing... Anyway, today I'm here to buy something for this noona."
"This noona?"
Yu Cheong tilted her head at Shin Suyeon, then broke into a bright smile and bowed.
"Hello! I'm Yu Cheong!"
"Ah, hello. I'm Shin Suyeon."
"So... are you here for a wand?"
"N-no. I came to look at some barrier artifacts."
"Ah... Got it! Please come this way."
Following Yu Cheong's lead, we reached a display filled with countless accessories. Every single one was a defense-related artifact.
"Take your pick."
"Okay!"
Shin Suyeon examined the display with a very serious expression. But since she knew nothing about artifacts, they all probably looked the same to her.
"If it's hard to choose, should I pick for you?"
"Ah. Yes, please!"
"Cheong-ah. Give me this one, that one, and that over there too."
"Yes!"
I swept through the display, grabbing anything that caught my eye. I planned to prepare perfect defenses against all five major attributes, including mental attacks. Even biochemical and possession attacks. By the time I was done, I'd picked about six artifacts. Yu Cheong looked stunned at the number.
"Y-you're buying all of these?"
"Why? Can't I?"
"No, it's not that you can't... Haha... As expected of you, oppa. You really know how to pick only the good stuff."
"Is that a compliment?"
"Hehe. Of course! But this is basically a walking fortress."
Just as Yu Cheong said, these were moving castle walls. The barriers were two or three times stronger than what Kim Seongho had used. But still...
'Something's missing.'
Call it obsessive-compulsive if you want. Having been burned once before, no amount of preparation ever felt like enough. Maybe she noticed my expression, because Yu Cheong stepped forward.
"Should I recommend one?"
"Sure. Bring it over."
Yu Cheong handed her a leaf-shaped necklace from the very back corner.
"This artifact not only strengthens multiple barriers but also has a curse mitigation effect."
'Mermaid's Tear, huh...' Even if a Gold Dragon had made it, could it really alleviate Shin Suyeon's curse? Still, it was better than not trying.
"Give me that one too. And this."
I handed her a crystal ring from the corner. Including the Mermaid's Tear, that made seven. Perfect defense against every attribute, plus mental protection.
'Still not enough.'
No matter how much I prepared, the anxiety lingering in my chest refused to fade. 'Isn't there anything better?'
As I scanned the shop one more time, Shin Suyeon gently tugged at my sleeve.
"Seonghyun. This should be plenty. I'm not going to fight any monsters..."
"...Understood. Let's go with these for today. If you need anything more later, just tell me."
"N-no, it's fine. But isn't this already over budget? It feels like it's more than the compensation money..."
"I'll cover this much, so don't worry."
"Ugh. It feels way too excessive..."
"It is excessive. Noona, it looks like oppa really likes you a lot, doesn't he?"
"W-what?!"
Shin Suyeon fidgeted helplessly at Yu Cheong's teasing. If it were up to me, I'd have given the little brat a good flick on the forehead and told her to stop messing around. But...
'I have to hold back because of Eve.'
While calculating the price for the items, Yu Cheong casually asked me,
"But oppa, don't you need to get an artifact for yourself too?"
"Me?"
"Yeah."
This kid. Look at her trying to hint about the thing she gave Eve. Since she couldn't openly say she was a Gold Dragon, this was her roundabout way of asking. 'How cute.'
"I'll be fine for a while. Someone already gave me a gift."
I patted her head to show my gratitude. Yu Cheong tilted her head in confusion.
"I'll come again next time."
"Huh? Oh. Yes! Take care on your way back!"
Yu Cheong had a slightly puzzled look on her face. Maybe I hadn't shown enough thanks? I'd have to bring her some snacks next time I visited.
On the way back to the dormitory, we were heading to a celebration party for Shin Suyeon's full recovery. So instead of the infirmary, we went straight to our dorm.
"Who's coming today?"
"Ahyeon, Seol, Yuri, and Professor Irena. Four people total."
"Ah......"
She let out a small gasp at my words.
"Are you worried because of Han Yuri?"
"Hmm... No. The combination is just so perfect it's almost scary."
Shin Suyeon gave an unreadable smile and looked up at the sky. The night sky had grown dark. The moon was shining down on her. She turned her head to meet my eyes.
"You said there was someone you like, right?"
"...Yes."
"What if... and this is a huge hypothetical... someone other than the person you like confessed to you? What would you do?"
"Why are you suddenly asking..."
Even after my question, Shin Suyeon remained silent, waiting for my answer. With no choice, I had to speak.
"I'd obviously turn them down."
"......I see."
Shin Suyeon fell into deep thought. Her expression was impossible to read. It was so unlike her that I could only push the wheelchair in silence.
But then I saw Han Yuri sitting on a bench in front of the dormitory in the distance. Déjà vu. This had happened before, right after I'd applied for the grade evaluation. I wasn't going to fall for the same trick twice. The moment I tried to turn around...
Ring ring ring.
My phone rang. When I looked toward Han Yuri, she was holding her phone to her ear, staring straight at me. It seemed I'd been one step too slow. I sighed and answered the call.
"What? Need a pack mule?"
-Yeah. But this time she was walking toward me with the phone still at her ear.
"I'll be the pack mule."
-I'll be the pack mule.
After sending Shin Suyeon up to the dormitory, I followed Han Yuri to a place we'd been before. The pavilion. Unlike last time when the night wind had been quite cold, a humid breeze greeted us now.
"This is the second time, huh?"
"Yeah."
Same spot. Same time. I had a pretty good idea why she'd called me here. Han Yuri shifted her gaze around nervously before fixing her trembling eyes on me.
"What the hell did you do for a whole week? What did you do that let you completely wreck that Kim Seongho guy?"
"I did some special training with the professor."
"No way... Just special training and a D-rank can beat a B-rank..."
Han Yuri let out a small sigh and asked,
"Status window. Can you show me?"
'Didn't you hear me? Open your status window.'
Her tone had changed. From a self-centered egoist who only cared about herself to someone completely oblivious. To an outsider it might seem like the same thing, but to me who knew her personality, it was a seismic shift.
'Is this the Shin Suyeon effect?' Or was it that day? The day I'd shown her Meteor Shower. I couldn't be sure. But one thing was certain.
'This isn't good.'
The closer she got, the higher the chance that the seed had grown. I took a small breath.
"Not today. I'll show you next time."
"......"
An uncomfortable silence wrapped around us. Han Yuri bit her lip and glared at me. But there was nothing I could do about it.
'This is the best option until I enter Blue Hill.'
Once I obtained Pantoma's Olfaction, I'd be able to set a much clearer policy regarding Han Yuri and Lee Seol. Until then, it was best to keep my distance no matter what.
Han Yuri, who had been biting her lip, took a long deep breath and forced the corners of her mouth upward as she nodded.
"Fine. You promise you'll show me next time?"
"Yeah."
And so the uncomfortable atmosphere between us grew thicker and thicker.