The Promise
“Hey, so where are we going anyway?” Han Yurin asked, looking as though she couldn't stand waiting another second.
Somehow, it brought back memories of yesterday, even if the atmosphere between us had changed completely.
“Could you let go of my arm first?”
“Huh? Why?” She tilted her head in confusion and let out a silly giggle.
Her clueless reaction was undeniably cute, and the soft sensation pressing against my forearm wasn't half bad either, but the stares were driving me crazy. Every single student passing by in the hallway threw a sidelong glance our way. ...I seriously wanted to smack them. I wasn't usually the type to obsess over what other people thought, but I despised pointless rumors. More than anything, what would Lee Gayeon think if she saw this? I wouldn't have a single leg to stand on. Of course, what she had done was still far worse.
“Mmm... but I want to stay like this.”
A critical hit landed right when my guard was down. In the end, I gave up resisting. It was a force of nature.
“Yay!”
Our destination was the rooftop of Baekya Academy. In ordinary schools, the rooftop doors were bolted shut for suicide prevention and various other safety reasons, but because this institution enrolled legal adults, the door was left unlocked. If trouble arose, the burden fell entirely upon the student, not the academy.
The sunlight felt blistering. Maybe my eyes had just gotten dry lately, but it was hard keeping them open. It genuinely felt as though my skin might burn under the exposure.
“Whoa! High places really are the best! The air is so refreshing.” Come to think of it, Han Yurin was a succubus, so it made sense that she enjoyed open heights. Well, I liked going to the mountains myself.
“So, what did you want to say to this big sis?” Han Yurin leaned against the railing, putting on a sultry, dramatic air. Her colossal Gyaru Pouches pressed firmly over the horizontal bar, flaunting their overwhelming presence.
“Don't tell me... a confession?”
She was completely getting ahead of herself. I hadn't even uttered a single word yet.
“As if. How on earth are you still alive? And what's this transfer student business about?”
“I mean, I can tell you if you're dying to know... but what about the time? Aren't you going to be late for class?”
“I'm cutting.” I was already an adult. Even if Baekya Academy was closer to an ordinary high school than a university, skipping an hour of class wasn't the end of the world.
“You're really that curious? You have to know no matter what?”
Once my curiosity was piqued, I couldn't stand not knowing. Cutting someone off mid-sentence was the worst kind of torture.
A sharp pang suddenly twinged behind my temples. Come to think of it, I'd also wondered why Lee Gayeon abruptly demanded we break up. A dull ache bloomed in my head. Thoughts tangled into a thick, hazy fog, making it impossible to string a coherent line of reasoning together. If I just concentrated a bit more, it felt like something would surface...
Eeeee—
A piercing, high-pitched ringing echoed inside my ears, almost as if warning me not to think any further.
“Seojin, your face looks scary. Jeez, did you really want to hear it that badly?” Han Yurin shrugged as if exasperated.
Her voice dragged my consciousness back to the surface. The ringing ceased, and the sudden migraine vanished without a trace.
“To get straight to the point, I really did die back then. Or maybe saying I vanished would be more accurate?”
Died? Then what was the creature standing in front of me right now? The whole thing was one giant question mark.
“Under normal circumstances, that is.”
The midnight dream had come to a close with that fleeting kiss. Once the curtain fell, the tale was over; as a mere phenomenon born of urban legend, she possessed no means to continue her story. Besides, anyone watching would have taken it for a tragic farewell scene.
“At first, I thought that was the end too. I went, ‘Ahhh, I really wanted to make love with someone I liked at least once!’ A succubus dying a virgin? That's not even funny!”
Wait, isn't a succubus being a virgin pure common sense in modern light novels? What nonsense was she spouting?
“The only reason I can stand here right now is all thanks to you, Ha Seojin.”
According to her, that final kiss had supplied her with an immense amount of Existence Power. She didn't seem to understand precisely why that had happened either, but she suspected some physiological abnormality in me was the cause. Regardless, using that harvested Existence Power as a foundation, she broke free from being a mere creature of rumors and was reborn as the Han Yurin who had engaged in Night Play with me. That was what she meant by dying once. Han Yurin had died and been reborn. She was no longer bound by the fleeting lifespan of a mayfly.
“Do you remember? Our promise from before. We haven't fulfilled it yet, so... my chest... if you want to touch it, Seojin, you can.”
Crack! A bolt of lightning struck inside my head. It felt as if every single one of my brain cells had been deep-fried to a crisp. Did Han Yurin even realize what she had just offered? Were all succubi like this? Whenever I talked to her, I felt myself getting completely swept into her pace.
It sounded amazing. Honestly, it was tempting as hell. I wanted nothing more than to bury my face in that soft paradise this very instant.
Yet, something inside told me I shouldn't. I couldn't even explain why I felt that way. The excuses I'd fed her before wouldn't work anymore; unless someone was a total idiot, anyone could tell she harbored genuine feelings for me. I knew damn well I was making a losing trade. I'd definitely regret this choice the moment I got home—no, the second I stepped off this roof.
“Tee-hee, are you shy? If you really are... this big sis can take the lead for you.”
Han Yurin let out a sultry whisper and leaned in. Before I knew it, she was inches away—close enough to touch with an outstretched hand. Her breath tickled against my skin, warm and intoxicating.
“Ah.”
Unconsciously, I flinched and stepped back.
Being rejected caught Han Yurin entirely off guard, leaving her flustered.
I see. I was afraid.
It had only been a single day since Lee Gayeon dumped me out of nowhere. That scar remained etched too deeply into my mind. Without realizing it, I had grown terrified of forming deep emotional bonds with someone precious to me.
Wasn't my head completely full of impure thoughts about copping a feel just yesterday?
Well, sure. But I hadn't taken things seriously back then. At most, it was just one night of Night Play—a fleeting distraction fueled by rumors to take my mind off the pain. Besides, I hadn't been in my right state of mind at all.
“Sorry. My bad just now. It's not like I hate you or anything.”
“No, if anyone's in the wrong, it's me. I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions and pushing myself onto you.” Han Yurin beamed brightly, just as she always did.
A suffocating weight settled in my chest, making me feel like an utter criminal. I hated this awkward air between us, so I blurted out gruffly:
“If you really feel bad about it, how about granting me a different favor instead?”
“Sure! Tell this big sis anything!”
Her smiling face really was the best sight.
“You said anything, right?”
“Seojin, you pervert. What on earth are you planning to make me do?” Her gaze bore into me with playful suspicion, but there were some things a man simply could not compromise on. I had just traded away the divine right to fondle those luscious Gyaru Pouches, after all. There was no way I was letting such a golden opportunity go to waste.
“Starting to think I shouldn't have offered,” Han Yurin pouted, puffing out her cheeks. Watching her grumble was entertaining in its own right.
“It's not like I have any weird ulterior motives... but you know how you transformed into that succubus form back at the park? I was just wondering if you could transform into other outfits too.”
“Ehehe, what kind of outfit do you want to see...?” Han Yurin grinned wickedly, her amber eyes sparkling with mischief as if she had finally caught my weakness.
Let's see...
Maid outfit, bunny girl, reverse bunny, race queen, hanbok, qipao, kimono, evening gown, chic married woman look, sailor uniform, bikini, military uniform, magical girl costume, nun habit, mummy bandages...
Yeah, I definitely wanted to see them all.
“There's no way I can pull off that much!” Han Yurin shrieked, her face flushed beet-red.
She explained that she lacked the Existence Power to do it right now anyway. Reviving herself and arranging her school transfer had depleted almost everything, leaving her running on empty. It was a shame, but our private photo shoot would have to wait for next time.
And just like that, an unforgettable promise was made.
Before we knew it, the chime rang. Even if we were adults, ditching two whole hours instead of just one was pushing our luck. We decided to wrap things up and head back to the classroom.
The moment I pushed the rooftop door open, a familiar figure was standing right by the staircase entrance.
Porcelain-white skin.
Lustrous, flowing black hair.
Pale pink eyes shimmering with a mysterious glow.
And, above all, a beauty that didn't lose an inch even when placed beside a succubus like Han Yurin.
It was my childhood friend, Lee Gayeon.
Lee Gayeon stared at us for a moment before speaking.
“Looks like you two were having quite the delightful time. Your smiles are stretched from ear to ear.”
“Yup! It was tons of fun!” Han Yurin chirped, completely oblivious to the tension. Come to think of it, hadn't she done the exact same thing this morning?
Gayeon's eyes narrowed slightly. To anyone else, her usually subtle expressions would make it difficult to read, but I could tell she was irritated. But so what? I had nothing to say to her—not unless she apologized first.
“Let's go.” Taking Han Yurin's hand as she stood there grinning foolishly, I started down the stairs.
“Wait. I'm not finished speaking.”
I stopped in my tracks. I really hadn't wanted to drag this out. I had already made my rejection clear enough, but apparently, she couldn't care less.
“If you've got business, keep it brief and get to the point. Weren't you the one who claimed you had no interest in me?”
“...The academy is a public facility. I understand that the two of you are close, but conduct yourselves appropriately.”
Fair point. That part was definitely our bad. I untangled my arm from Han Yurin's, where she had naturally linked it again. A whimper of disappointment came from beside me, but I tuned it out.
“And? If you don't have anything else to say, we're leaving.” What else could she possibly lecture us on beyond cutting class? It was completely pointless.
Lee Gayeon stood in silence for a brief moment before finally opening her mouth.
“...You've been appointed Vice Class President of Class 1-A, so keep that in mind. And you two are the only ones who haven't undergone your physical examinations in the infirmary yet. Go down there right now.”
Now that was something I hadn't seen coming at all.