Chapter 74
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Ice Castle's Seol Yu-bin (2)
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...What the hell is going on here?
The shocking sight had left every student at the academy frozen in place, as if they'd been hit by an ice spell.
Yoon Seo-rin and Wol Ha-yeon, who had been huddled together whispering something important, went rigid.
Sophia and Amelia, who had been locked in intense eye contact and deep conversation before entering the gate—maybe some kind of pre-battle pact?—had completely stopped.
And on top of that, it was the first time any of them had seen their guild master acting so casually friendly with someone.
The Ice Castle guild members who had been trailing behind to assist with the tour froze as well.
'...What? How am I supposed to process this?'
For starters, the fact that she had called out my name so clearly meant Seol Yu-bin knew me.
More precisely, she knew the old Kang Hyun-sol before I possessed this body. That much was certain.
And close enough to hug without hesitation.
So, how was I supposed to act?
Pretending to be thrilled and familiar would be impossible; I still lacked way too many memories of Kang Hyun-sol's past.
But ignoring her outright...
'These stares are burning holes in me. Why is everyone looking at me like that?'
Every Time was already full of posts about the academy's bottom-ranked freshman skipping training and classes to fool around with girls.
And now, ignoring one of the world's biggest celebrities, Seol Yu-bin? I dreaded what kind of rumors that would spark.
So, after a moment of being held in her arms, lost in thought, I slowly opened my mouth.
"Uh... long time no see, sis?"
As far as I recalled, Seol Yu-bin was about six or seven years older than me.
In a relationship that close, we'd probably called each other sis and bro.
And my guess hit the mark.
"Yeah, it's been forever, Hyun-sol. Two or three years?"
"H-Has it been that long? I've been so buried in studying and training lately that my memory's all fuzzy."
"Does studying mess up your memory...? Anyway, about two years. But..."
Still holding me, Seol Yu-bin looked down with a slightly puzzled expression.
"Why are you acting so awkward? You used to hug me just fine."
"Aw, did I...? My memory of that's fuzzy too..."
Even I could tell the conversation was going nowhere, but there was no helping it.
I had to throw out ridiculous excuses like this to fish for info or clues without raising suspicion.
One wrong move, and she might realize I wasn't the real Kang Hyun-sol.
"......"
After a brief silence, Seol Yu-bin burst out laughing. "Pfft."
"Hey, what happened in those couple years? You used to come running and cling to my arm every time you saw me."
She patted my shoulder, chuckling.
"Getting shy about hugs now? You've grown up. Man, I miss when you were a little kid."
Only then did the tense atmosphere around us ease a bit.
The Ice Castle guild members in the back exchanged glances, their faces saying, 'Ah, the guild master's just being her usual self.'
Of course, the academy students and the four girls—including Sophia—were still glaring daggers at me.
It felt like they were piercing right through me...
"Haha... Guess I was just awkward 'cause it's been so long."
I forced the most natural smile I could muster. Seol Yu-bin replied, "Yeah, I get it. Two years is a while," and playfully tapped my head.
A faint chill of ice aura lingered on her fingertips, but somehow, it felt warm.
"Alright then."
She suddenly released me with a serious expression and stepped back.
Turning crisply toward the students.
The mood shifted in an instant.
She'd been all goofy a second ago, but now she was the Ice Castle Guild Master, Seol Yu-bin.
"Everyone, gather round. Welcome to the guild experience."
Her clear voice filled the space.
"Today, you'll get a direct look at how our guild operates. You'll experience how each department functions.
And at the end, there's a simple field-type dungeon raid scheduled."
Murmurs rippled through the gathered students.
Someone whispered, "Seol Yu-bin's giving the tour herself?"
She smiled lightly, as if she'd heard.
"Yes, personally. It's my pride and joy, after all. Of course, only a third of you here will have that honor."
Most of the students were utterly captivated by that smile.
"Let's start with a slow tour of the guild facilities!"
We followed her.
The first stop was a massive training hall.
Frozen crystals hung from the ceiling, twinkling faintly with absorbed light. Dozens of hunters trained in the central arena.
"This is the close-combat training zone. We focus on swordsmanship, spearmanship, and basic aura control."
Seol Yu-bin pointed to the protective barriers on the walls.
"Each arena has auto-deploying safety barriers. Even if someone goes berserk, we can neutralize them safely."
As the students beside us gasped in admiration, she moved to the other side.
This time, a mana analysis room etched with dense magic circles.
"This visualizes mana flow. Think of it as a mage-exclusive training area.
Our equipment is even more precise than the academy's meditation chambers."
I listened from the back, feeling a bit relieved.
'Good, seems like the suspicion's cleared up.'
She was guiding the students completely naturally.
The hugging incident seemed to be water under the bridge for now.
Except for Amelia and Sophia flanking me, still shooting demanding looks.
And Wol Ha-yeon in the back muttering about gravity and moonlight, and Yoon Seo-rin asking about her grandpa.
Seol Yu-bin continued the tour through the guild's facilities before stopping at a large door atop some stairs.
"This is my personal strategy room. We'll pop in for a quick briefing on the upcoming field dungeon raid."
She glanced playfully at me as she opened the door.
"Hyun-sol, you've been here a few times before, right?"
"Y-Yeah... Feels kinda nostalgic after so long..."
"What's with that funny face?"
She shrugged with a smile.
That one laugh melted away the lingering tension.
The awkwardness passed naturally, and I sighed inwardly in relief.
'Phew... That was close.'
At least for now, no one seemed to doubt I was Kang Hyun-sol.
Still, I couldn't fully relax.
From the looks of things, we'd keep crossing paths even after this main story arc.
I'd have to dig up as many memories and info as possible.
If I couldn't recall or started raising flags...
Just thinking about it was nightmare fuel.
Anyway, after wrapping up the tour in the strategy room, Seol Yu-bin clapped her hands.
"Alright! Quick review of the precautions, and then let's dive into the field dungeon proper!"
"Yes, ma'am!!"
About 40 minutes of brief training later, we gathered at the gate entrance to a D-rank field dungeon owned by Ice Castle somewhere in Seoul, preparing to enter.
The other students joined their groups, checking gear, meditating, or stretching lightly before the raid.
I'd finished my prep too, but now... it was time to explain myself to everyone.
"...So, can you fill us in?"
Sophia spoke first.
"We kinda knew our Hyun-sol was talented in all sorts of ways... but I didn't expect him to be connected to someone like that."
"And it didn't look like just acquaintances either,"
Amelia chimed in from the side.
"I was shocked. Seol Yu-bin, the Frost Witch of Ice Castle, making that face. Acting like that."
"Hmm... I see."
I wanted to clear up the misunderstanding before it grew, but...
The problem was, I had zero info.
No matter how hard I racked my brain, nothing came up clearly. Even if something did, vague scraps wouldn't explain much.
One slip, and it could snowball into a bigger mess.
So after dozens of internal freakouts, I finally opened my mouth slowly.
"Look... don't get the wrong idea."
"Wrong idea?"
All four furrowed their brows in unison, but I bulldozed ahead.
"Truth is... I don't really get what's going on either."
"What do you mean?"
"How do I put this... Yeah, Seol Yu-bin sis and I go way back. But that was two years ago?
You guys know better than anyone—I've been grinding training and studies non-stop since enrollment.
Hell, I nearly died from a demon wound recently,
So my head's not working right."
"...Okay, I'll buy that. But even with close friends, guys and girls have boundaries. Hugging like that?"
They seemed to accept my excuse, but the hug was a sticking point.
Ah. I'm gonna die.
I took a deep breath and decided to spin a plausible backstory naturally.
'No choice... Time to bring up the parents and tragic past again.'
"Uh... When I lost both my parents and was at my lowest, Seol Yu-bin sis helped me out a ton...
Maybe that's why she treats me like her own kid? Something like that."
A moment of silence.
Then finally,
Sophia softened a bit.
"...Hmm. If that's the case, fair enough. Got it."
Amelia nodded with a smile.
"That makes sense! It just looked so intimate, I was surprised."
Wol Ha-yeon seemed to accept it too.
"...Memory being fuzzy is still weird. But whatever, I'll let it slide."
And finally, Yoon Seo-rin, who had been the most expressionless and unreadable.
She scanned me up and down slowly before saying,
"...Fine, for now. I'll ask her about your past myself later."
"Huh?"
Ask Seol Yu-bin directly? That could be dangerous...
"Alright, everyone ready?"
Right then,
Seol Yu-bin clapped and returned, all energy and brightness, like the hug never happened.
"Groups are set~ Gear checks done~ Time for today's highlight! D-rank field dungeon. Those entering with me, head to the Wind Grassland gate!"
With her words, massive iron doors swung open, revealing the dungeon entrance.
"Whoa..."
"We're really going in..."
"Everyone, stay sharp!"
Despite the little drama, we'd wrapped it up decently.
Now, it was all about handling the undead horde ahead.
"Whew... Okay, I got this."
I took one last deep breath and followed Seol Yu-bin into the gate.