Chapter 86
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Déjà Vu
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Next morning.
After the dean's brief speech wrapped up and the vacation ceremony ended far quicker than expected, I hurried toward the main gate ahead of everyone else.
There was a reason I was leaving in such a rush.
Even if my classmates couldn't be helped— I wanted to keep the upperclassmen from finding out that Seol Yu-bin and I were somewhat close.
So I tried to slip out as fast as possible...
"...Damn it, we're screwed."
The moment I reached the main gate, I couldn't believe my eyes.
For some reason, word must have already spread, because right in front of the academy's entrance...
A luxury foreign car so extravagant it practically screamed money was parked there, surrounded by dozens of students.
And at the center, exuding a subtle icy aura while surrounded like a perfect celebrity lost in autograph mode...
That was Seol Yu-bin's unmistakable figure.
"Seol Yu-bin! I'm a huge fan! Just one photo, please!"
"Autograph, please! Right here!!"
"I... I want to be frozen solid by your ice magic—that's my lifelong dream! Please freeze me!!"
"...What the hell was that?"
My eyebrow twitched at the bizarre fan confession from who-knows-where.
Even amid the chaos, Seol Yu-bin gave an awkward smile as she responded to each one patiently.
"Photos are fine. But freezing... well, that'd violate school rules. Line up neatly for autographs, and I'll sign for everyone."
Her face lit up with the world's most beautiful smile, pure white frost gleaming atop her hair like a sparkling accessory under the sunlight.
Seol Yu-bin seemed oblivious to the devastating power of her looks, freely captivating the students with unguarded actions and charm that stirred every male heart.
As I rubbed my forehead with one hand, pondering how to push through the crowd...
She glanced around while taking photos one by one, and her gaze locked onto me.
Her pure white eyes sparkled brightly.
And— I instinctively stepped back.
'Wait... this feels just like.'
It hit me like déjà vu, flashing back to the first time we met.
The scene where she'd hugged me tight and ruffled my hair the moment she saw my face.
If that happened again here, it was game over. I spun around reflexively to escape, but it was too late.
"Ah! Hyun-sol!! You got out even faster than I thought!"
Crack—!
Ice shards scattered as Seol Yu-bin's silhouette shot through the crowd straight toward me.
No time to breathe, in the blink of an eye— she was right in front of me.
"Ah, w-wait... just a... "
And then— swoosh.
"I saw you just a bit ago, but why do you make me so happy, my Hyun-sol!!"
Her arms yanked me in strong, and I crashed hard into her embrace.
At the same time, I felt something soft and inexplicably warm...
"N-not that, s-sis, wait just—!"
I strained to pull away from her hold, but Seol Yu-bin only squeezed tighter, as if finding it adorable.
The students witnessing our intense hug stared in disbelief and shouted.
"Whoa, what?!?!?!"
"Who the hell is that guy?!"
"N-no way, boyfriend? Ugh!!"
"Don't talk nonsense! Seol Yu-bin having a boyfriend...? No way that exists."
"Are your eyes decorative? You see that and still spout crap? That's clearly her boyfriend!!"
"Take pictures! Quick!!"
Click! Snap! Click-click!!
Smartphone shutters went wild.
Seol Yu-bin ignored the stares completely, keeping me locked in her arms as she spoke in an incredibly bright voice.
"You rushed out because you missed your sis, huh, Hyun-sol? Aww, so thoughtful!"
"Ugh, stop treating me like a kid... No, first, can you let go so we can talk? Sis?"
"Why~? Is my Hyun-sol embarrassed? It's fine! If you're worried about getting married, you can always be my house husband!"
"Ah, seriously, what's with that terrifying talk! Not even as a joke!"
I desperately refuted her unfiltered words, trying to calm the growing reactions around us.
But in the already chaotic scene at the gate, no one was listening to me.
The students went wild, I froze solid, and Seol Yu-bin kept beaming.
After holding me unyieldingly for about 30 seconds, she finally snapped out of it, leaned in close to my ear, and whispered.
"More people around than I thought, huh? Did I go overboard, sis?"
"Huh? You're noticing that now?"
Seol Yu-bin giggled softly by my ear and slowly released her arms.
But the damage was done.
The gate area was pandemonium.
Shutter sounds, screams, cheers, even a few upperclassmen with flipped eyes.
My reputation? Soon Eta would flood with hundreds of photos and clickbait headlines only trash writers would dream up— something like "Not enough with Sophia and Yoon Seo-rin, now Seol Yu-bin too?"
"Get in for now."
Seol Yu-bin opened the car door quietly.
"The kids' stares are getting scary~"
"You caused this and that's all you say?"
I wanted to explain to everyone before leaving, but the students' glares were too intense, just as she said.
Swallowing my deep-seated rage, I dove into the back seat of the luxury car.
Clunk—!
As the door shut, Seol Yu-bin hopped into the driver's seat.
And amid the mob surging toward the windshield—
Vrooom—!!
The car peeled out of the gate.
"Ah... I'm dead."
I slumped over, burying myself in the seat.
Seol Yu-bin bit her lip to stifle a laugh and said,
"Sorry~ I was just so excited. Didn't expect that big a crowd..."
"The whole gate and school area's probably flipped by now."
"Mm, yeah! Think of it as the fate of fame."
'You're the famous one...'
She straightened up coolly, then glanced sideways at me.
"Anyway, looks like my Hyun-sol's gonna be a heartthrob next semester?"
"...Yeah. Wonder whose fault."
"Right?"
Seol Yu-bin grinned childishly despite her age and status, keeping her eyes on the road.
She really seemed to adore me—or rather, Kang Hyun-sol.
"I like your honesty."
"..."
The car fell into an oddly quiet atmosphere.
As I caught my breath and stared out the window— my pocket buzzed.
"...?"
I pulled out my smartphone and checked the screen.
One text notification.
[Yoo Ji-an: Hyun. Sol. Junior? Vacation ceremony's over, right? Come now. Everything's ready. Oh! And... how's your condition?]
[Kang Hyun-sol: Perfect, aside from a minor tragedy.]
[Yoo Ji-an: ?? Anyway, hurry!]
"Sigh... Come to think of it, the skill extraction in the settings said it hurts a lot."
I pinched my brow.
Seol Yu-bin glanced over curiously.
"Who was that?"
"Student Council President Yoo Ji-an."
"Ah~ the alchemist girl?"
Yu-bin nodded with a smile.
"Now that I think about it, I heard she was interested in a promising freshman. That was you, Hyun-sol?"
"Yeah, interested alright. Probably wants to experiment on me."
"Could be both?"
"Please stop with the weird talk. I'm getting exhausted."
"Why~? When a big shot like her takes interest in my Hyun-sol, this sis can't just ignore it!"
Seeing Seol Yu-bin grin and drive without full focus, I worried about an accident and started to warn her.
But then my phone buzzed again.
This time, a call.
[Caller: Yoo Ji-an]
"Sudden call...? Guess I should answer."
"When a girl calls first, you thank her and pick up~"
Seol Yu-bin teased playfully, then focused ahead on driving.
'Where does she learn this stuff? Ridiculous.'
I sighed deeply and hit accept.
"Hello—"
[Junior Hyun-sol! You're on your way, right? You better be! If you don't come, I don't know what I'll do from waiting too long!]
"I'm on my way now. Please calm down."
[Hehe... I'll wait.]
The call ended.
I leaned back and muttered,
"Seriously... why's today so damn hectic?"
Seol Yu-bin peeked at my face, then silently reached over and patted my head.
"If it's tough, tell me. Sis'll help."
'Who got me into this mess...'
"...You wouldn't even if I did."
"True."
Seol Yu-bin laughed nonchalantly.
And the car sped straight toward Yoo Clan territory— specifically, the alchemy market where Yoo Ji-an waited.
Meanwhile, just before Kang Hyun-sol and Seol Yu-bin arrived at the alchemy market.
Yoo Ji-an, having finished all preparations for the trait potion, was wrapping up a short chat with her grandfather Yoo Tae-min— still the world's top alchemist.
"Grandpa, I'm so nervous! Soon I'll have Junior Hyun-sol's trait too... It's really, truly making me happy."
"Th-that much? Makes this old man's hard work worth it."
Seeing his granddaughter flushed with unusual joy, her smile eerily pretty and chilling...
Yoo Tae-min flinched and smoothly changed the subject.
"Anyway, have you gotten closer to that young man? Beyond the trait, a guy with that talent... you should snag him somehow..."
"Eh, it's tricky."
Yoo Ji-an mumbled evasively, picking up a lab beaker nearby.
She gently rubbed its side with her finger, lost in thought.
Her earlier smile vanished, replaced by something else.
"He won't budge easily... no, not even a little. I used all my charms, made every potion he asked for, tempted him with wealth, even..."
Her trailing finger tapped her lower lip as she continued.
"Tried seduction, but zero reaction? Why? Even though I'm one of the academy's top five beauties."
"Hmm... I'm curious too, what kind of punk rejects Yoo Clan's granddaughter so coldly, even with legendary elixir offers."
"Right!?"
Thrilled by her grandpa's agreement, Yoo Ji-an beamed.
She checked Kang Hyun-sol's message saying he was almost there and flashed the world's most beautiful smile.
Then, seeing her grandfather frozen in slight fear, she declared,
"So next semester, I'll make it stronger, surer, inescapable!"
"I-is that so... Good luck. I always support you."
Facing the genuine madness of his irreplaceable granddaughter head-on...
He prayed for the well-being of Kang Hyun-sol, her first and last obsession, this once.