Chapter 33
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: A Secret and Dangerous Meeting (2)
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"By any chance, do you have a girlfriend?"
"...Huh?"
Girlfriend.
In English, it's "girlfriend."
A girlfriend refers to a female lover or partner, and in Korea, it's widely used to mean a woman you're dating.
It's distinct from just a friend who's a girl (female friend) or a female person friend (girl friend), implying a relationship with romantic feelings.
So, do I have anyone I could call a girlfriend? No, I don't.
Of course, there are women around me—starting from Sophia, then Yoon Seo-rin, Wol Ha-yeon, and Amelia—but they're all just girl friends, not girlfriends.
'...No, what nonsense am I thinking? This isn't the time for useless thoughts like this.'
The question came so suddenly that I have no idea why the definition of a girlfriend popped into my head first, but I quickly pulled myself together, shook my head lightly, and answered.
"I don't have a girlfriend. I do have a few girl friends, though..."
"Hmm, girl friends..."
Yoo Ji-an frowned as if recalling something at my response, then clapped lightly and exclaimed.
"Oh, right! Come to think of it, Hyun-sol, you're the only guy Wol Ha-yeon shows any interest in, aren't you?
Plus, there are sightings of you going in and out of the mana training room every morning with Yoon Seo-rin.
In the afternoons, you're studying magic books in the library with Sophia Litwell, right?
And lately, rumors are spreading that you're making moves on Amelia too... You definitely have a lot of girl friends around you."
"Ah, yeah. Well... I haven't made any moves, but overall, that's all correct."
As expected of the student council president who has a grasp on everything at the academy?
To know all the rumors about a single student—it's downright chilling.
"So, why did you ask if I have a girlfriend?"
When I cautiously asked for the reason, Yoo Ji-an suddenly covered her mouth with one hand, acting demure and shy as she blushed slightly and replied.
"Well... Can I call you Hyun-sol from now on? Anyway, if I receive your trait, I'll need to learn how to use magic power, and I didn't want any misunderstandings if you had a girlfriend. Ugh... It's a bit embarrassing."
"Uh... um, yeah... I see? No need to worry. I don't have a girlfriend. I never even intended to date anyone!"
I shouted it like a vow and looked at Yoo Ji-an's face. For a brief moment, I caught her eyelids trembling ever so slightly.
It must be because of the tea I drank earlier—my senses were heightened, letting me see even the tiniest changes in expression.
Or maybe because we were so close.
"......I see."
Yoo Ji-an rolled her eyes as if a bit disappointed, mumbling something so softly it was inaudible, then smiled again.
The slight flush on her cheeks faded, returning to the calm face of an alchemist.
"Ahem, anyway, you know I'll help you with handling magic power. Now, to wrap up: I'll guide you through the trait duplication procedure as soon as it's ready—"
She tapped the potion I was holding close to my chest.
"This is the upfront payment as promised. Drink it now."
"...Got it."
Before downing it, I held up the potion and checked inside.
The purple liquid in the glass vial swirled in a faint spiral.
Under the ceiling light, fine particles slowly sank toward the center.
As expected of an S-rank skill potion—it looked on another level compared to the B-rank one from Chae Yeon-hwa.
Which made me a bit hesitant to drink it.
"It really is okay to drink this, right? Not that I'm doubting you, but it looks kinda scary."
"Of course. Just keep your posture straight. Your heart rate might spike momentarily."
"...Then, thank you. I'll have it."
I uncorked the vial and swallowed the liquid in one gulp.
My tongue tingled, and my heart thudded heavily once.
At the same time, the system alert rang out.
You've acquired a new skill.
Tidal Binding
Rank: S
An advanced control skill that artificially generates tidal force (pressure differential from gravitational differences) between two designated points in space.
Within the tidal field, physical and magical forces lose balance, simultaneously suppressing the target's movement and mana flow.
Like invisible high and low tides clashing, the space's flow twists, grasping, tearing, and crushing everything.
Effect: Designate two foci to generate a tidal field.
Targets inside become immobile and unable to cast mana. Projectile trajectories and spell deployment paths distort.
Defensive barriers and wards lose balance, with durability sharply reduced.
"Huh? What's this...?"
As I muttered softly, staring at the purple magic power rising unbidden from my palm,
Yoo Ji-an's eyes sparkled beside me as she began explaining.
"The skill's name is Tidal Binding.
Pick two points, and manipulate everything between them like the push and pull of the sea—defense, suppression, and disruption all in one.
It consumes a ton of mana, but it's a surefire one-shot. It's the technique Lee Sung-ha used and honed his entire life right up until he was killed by an Apostle."
"......"
My fingertips trembled wildly.
My heart was still racing, and a ringing filled my ears.
"Want to test it out?"
Yoo Ji-an pointed to an empty space in one corner of the student council room.
"There's a multi-layer protective ward that can block up to 5th-circle magic, so feel free to go all out."
"Then... excuse me."
I took a deep breath.
In my mind, the unfamiliar new mana sensation from the skill slowly took shape with my trait's help.
I raised my hand and designated two points in the air.
Between the wall and ceiling, out of reach—I set the foci.
Purple magic power burst from my fingertips toward the designated points, and gravity itself warped around them.
I felt the magic tools and herbs nearby crumpling, glass vials shattering, the flow of space twisting on my skin.
"Urk...!"
My mana drained explosively, my head spinning.
If I didn't focus, I'd black out, but I barely held on.
Crackle—! Crunch—!
Instead, the multi-layer protective ward Yoo Ji-an had assured was safe screamed under the skill's effect.
Untouched by 5th-circle magic before, now invisible gravity crushed it, cracks spiderwebbing like glass.
Grrrrrind—!
The ward trembled faintly, contracting and expanding repeatedly.
"Oh... incredible. Tidal Binding is a gravity magic skill that manipulates space—mana cost and control difficulty are insane, but this on your first try!"
Yoo Ji-an shouted in excitement.
Her eyes brimmed with awe.
Intoxicated by the surging sensation, I focused more power.
I wanted to test this newfound strength further.
"With this...!"
Mana scraped from my steadily circling heart to the bottom—excruciating pain flooded in.
Muscles stiffened, vision blurred white.
Crunch—!
Still, I succeeded in shattering the multi-layer ward.
Fragments dispersed as mana particles, compressing into a clump.
An overwhelming success.
To destroy a ward that blocked 5th-circle magic with one skill use.
Thrilling accomplishment wrapped my body.
"Success! Perfect, Hyun-sol!"
But the joy was fleeting.
"Urgh."
Dizziness hit from exhausting too much mana at once.
My heart thudded heavily again.
My head throbbed like it would split, and a heavy liquid sensation came at my nose tip.
Warm blood trickled down.
I pinched my nose hastily, but it was too late.
"H-Hyun-sol!!"
"Urgh..."
My mind clouded, balance failing.
Vision flickered, the ringing in my ears drowning out Yoo Ji-an's voice.
The last thing before blacking out: Yoo Ji-an's worried expression as she rushed to support me in surprise.
'...That sly woman making that face...?'
With that thought, I lost consciousness.
How much time had passed?
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I felt on the back of my head was something softer and warmer than anything in the world.
Next came the faint herbal scent and the rough feel of cosmetic cotton plugging my nose.
"Groan... Where am I?"
As my blurry vision cleared somewhat, I realized I was lying down.
Looking straight ahead, I saw the familiar ceiling of the student council room.
Tilting my head slightly to look diagonally up, there was Yoo Ji-an gazing down at me with worry.
"..."
The moment I saw her face, I knew.
Yes. What my head was resting on... was Yoo Ji-an's thigh.
"Ah!! Hyun-sol, you're awake?"
Yoo Ji-an let out a small gasp of surprise.
She removed the cotton from my nose and gently wiped the cold sweat from my forehead.
Where had the cool student council president or scheming alchemist gone?
Only the image of a senior worrying over her collapsed junior remained.
"W-Wait... hold on!! This is, uh..."
I panicked and tried to sit up, but with my mana and stamina depleted, no strength came.
Forcing it made my head spin again.
"Ur... ugh."
"Don't move! You passed out from losing too much mana at once. You almost had a serious problem."
Yoo Ji-an pressed my shoulder firmly yet softly, laying me back down.
"You bled a lot from your nose too. Absolutely no straining yourself now. Even if you're thrilled about getting an S-rank skill... what were you thinking pushing like that?"
"...Sorry."
I rested my head on her thigh again and unconsciously focused all my senses on the back of my head and nose.
Her thigh was softer and warmer than any bed.
The faint scent through my nose lulled me into drowsiness.
In this urgent situation, feeling pathetic for such thoughts, but the comfort was undeniable.
So I just blamed it all on the Oath of Indulgence and Book of Restraints.
'Yeah... it's all your fault. I'm innocent.'
"Sorry... I got too greedy."
I lowered my voice and apologized again.
"It's okay. It just means Tidal Binding suits you that much. And as an alchemist, I'm used to healing people too."
Yoo Ji-an smiled shyly.
Unlike her earlier feigned demure smile, this one seemed genuinely relieved and happy.
"I'm so glad you don't have a girlfriend. I almost got in trouble with one."
"..."
She said it jokingly, breezily, but her gaze looking down at me held something dangerous.
'Whoa... scary.'
Chills ran over my skin, survival instincts kicking in as I unconsciously tried to get up again—but to no avail.
Not from lack of mana or stamina this time.
Yoo Ji-an was pressing my shoulder with one hand—firmly, but not painfully—keeping me down.
"......"
As I looked at her with eyes demanding an explanation, Yoo Ji-an innocently turned her head away, avoiding my gaze.