Chapter 219
Everything was great anywhere, but "Hehehe..." Ever since that phone call, Yoo Seol-ah had been grinning from ear to ear nonstop. She'd always been singing about wanting to go to Japan someday. And now, getting the chance through an invitation from her role model, SPICA, it made total sense why she was floating on cloud nine all day.
Time flew by, and now it was Friday afternoon. With our flight tomorrow morning, everyone in the club room was buzzing around with last-minute preparations.
"You that excited?"
"...Yeah. Japan’s been my lifelong dream..."
"Then why didn't you go after entrance exams..."
Lee Seo-yeon, tilting her head curiously, trailed off mid-question as realization dawned. The reason was simple.
"...I was planning to, but someone forced me on a trip somewhere else..."
"......"
Most people travel on their own after turning adult, but we got dragged to Astasia right after hitting adulthood. No wonder. They must have some labor laws over there—not kidnapping minors and all. What a conscientious world.
"That made my first solo trip to Astasia."
First trip alone to another world? In terms of destination uniqueness, no one could top that. Not that we could tell anyone anyway.
"And after coming back, I forgot all about plans. Never thought it'd happen like this."
After her Tuesday call with SPICA, Seol-ah had immediately started polling everyone one by one for schedules. I'd figured exams might make it tough—except for Yuna-unnie, who I assumed had endless free time—but surprisingly, they all caved to her earnest begging pretty easily. None of us prioritized grades above all else anyway. Doyun-hyung probably juggled dev work and aced school without breaking a sweat. Just a hunch. Seo-yeon was sharp as a tack, so her grades were bound to be solid too.
"But Seol-ah, you studied at all?"
"......"
Seo-yeon asked with a sly smile, clearly already knowing the answer.
"...Been busy drawing lately..."
"So you didn't study at all?"
"Not not at all—exams test your usual steady effort anyway..."
Seol-ah scanned our silently smiling faces one by one, then bolted teary-eyed to Yuna-unnie, who was tapping away at her keyboard in the corner.
"...Unnie, exams are about everyday skills, right?"
"Yeah. I never crammed during uni exam season."
"R-right!?"
She looked thrilled at the solidarity, but Yuna-unnie was from a top corp. The one with the highest new grad pay, no less. Mischief sparking, Seo-yeon sauntered over with an innocent grin.
"What were your grades like, unnie? Feels like you were top of the class..."
"Kept a 4.3 most semesters. Slipped once mid-way."
"A 4.3... Wait, 4.3..?"
She said it so casually, like strolling in the front yard, nearly fooling even me. But Seol-ah and even top-student-vibes Seo-yeon were stunned for good reason. Korea University had a 4.3 perfect GPA scale. I remembered a media special on the first-ever perfect graduate—it wasn't easy to hit 4.3 even for one semester.
And she drops it like that.
"...Grad GPA by any chance..."
"4.28, I think. Could be off."
Seol-ah, desperately seeking a kindred spirit, deflated like the world ended at Yuna-unnie's grad score.
"...Ugh, why's everyone so good at school..."
"You're good too. You got in here."
"...Hits harder after getting in?"
Surrounded by Korea U kids, yeah. Seol-ah pouted, plopped down, and grabbed her pen like studying was off the table.
"Seol-ah, still gotta grad on time or you'll be stuck an extra year alone?"
"...Nuuu..."
Her face hardened like a sulky teen getting nagged by parents. Full elementary mode, but Seo-yeon and I just watched the cute creature fondly.
"See you at the airport tomorrow then?"
"Yeah, I'll pick you up. Fits five."
"Sweet, thanks."
We wrapped up early in the club room—pre-trip eve. Already coordinated with SPICA on gear, so we packed game stuff and headed home.
Door barely open, Seol-ah sought out Shabu first.
"Shabu, we're off on a quick trip... Stay alone? Or crash somewhere else?"
Shabu, rolling in the attic as usual, meowed enthusiastically at Seol-ah. I double-checked my packing from yesterday.
"Shabu?"
"Dropping him at my parents'. He’s cool with it?"
Cats hate loneliness less, but Shabu's smart—let him decide. No downside to greeting Seol-ah's folks, so I tagged along.
Texted ahead; they waited outside.
"...Oh, Sion too, come on in."
"Eat before you go?"
"Mom, we're good. Gotta pack."
No awkwardness anymore from occasional chats. Felt like real family—warming my heart—until.
"Japan trip, right? Trend's seeing grandkids young these days."
"Mom, what the hell!?"
"Chatting with channel subs, grandkid talk came up."
"We'll handle it, please...!"
...Seol-ah's killer tsundere swing? Family-made since childhood. Face flaming, she handed over Shabu's carrier after reminders, then stormed back huffing.
Short greetings done, heading home.
"...Not even honeymoon, wtf..."
Fanning her face, but parental grandkid jabs hit hard. Blushing Seol-ah was an irresistible sandbag. Curiosity piqued, I asked straight.
"Where you wanna honeymoon?"
"...H-huh?"
She doubted her ears; I repeated clearly.
"Honeymoon."
Usually beach resorts. Wedding date TBD, but her kid timeline eyed 24-25 post-grad.
"...Uh, um..."
Redder than before, she mumbled head down, barely audible.
"...Anywhere's fine if it's just us..."
"......"
Her soft sincerity shut down my teasing. ...We both love baths, Japan onsen honeymoon sounds solid.
"Whoa, airplanes..."
Seol-ah gawked kid-like at planes outside the window. Seo-yeon smirked, nailing her impression.
"But my magic's way faster... Why ride that primitive junk..?"
"Quit it, Seo-yeon! Japan needs Yuna-unnie level mana..!"
Our crew was rowdy as ever, even at the airport. Short flight to Japan, SPICA picking up right after—everyone hyped. Subculture club, not isekai returnees.
"Business class first for me..."
"...Me too."
Chatting away till boarding, all but one marveled at business seats. Grateful to SPICA for four spots (Seo-yeon used miles for hers). Her guidance got us off smooth.
Neighboring country, Narita Airport fast. Seol-ah, ex-air combat vet, enjoyed turbulence.
"Wait here, right?"
"Yeah."
Seol-ah checked phone location; we buzzed with anticipation for SPICA—until.
"...Everyone, on guard."
Doyun-hyung's tone casual, but battle-commander voice from Astasia. Trip mood vanished; combat-ready in a blink. Air turned heavy. Even hyped Seol-ah flashed that scary face I'd seen before.
No direct killing intent, but two watchers. Alert mode—not full battle. Blood pumping after ages.
Soon, we faced the sources.
"...Seol-ah... right?"
Her shaky voice? Instant grasp of "cute yet cool." ...SPICA's a returnee. QL too. But they panicked, reeling in mana.
Makes sense. We rocked Lupco Yanglip tees—perfect normie cosplay. No threat vibe. Seol-ah was mortified, but Seo-yeon's "embarrassed together = fine" won.
Wonder why they powered up first. SPICA approached Seol-ah, bowing slightly.
"...Sorry. Thought I smelled demon..."
"Smell"? Tilted head, but eyes snapped to Seol-ah.
"...Ah, th-that's..."
One demon-linked here. Demon lord exec powers inherited, plus recent heavy use. Even yesterday, trip focus excuse for... intense sessions.
"...Kinda my, uh, issue..."
Seol-ah fumbled, face endlessly crimson.