Magic with Professor Im Sol! (6)
"Kuh."
Im Sol covered her face with her hands, then burst into laughter. The situation was ridiculous, and so was her own state. She laughed without a care for anyone else's gaze.
"…Professor?"
Lee Ho-yeon tilted his head, staring at Im Sol who had suddenly burst out laughing.
'What's with her this time.'
Was calling her "Sol unnie" that funny? He'd said it a few times before.
But Im Sol didn't answer his unspoken question, just kept chuckling away.
"Why, why are you like this, Professor?"
Just before Lee Ho-yeon started feeling scared, Im Sol finally stopped her sudden laughter and caught her breath.
"Haa…."
She let out a deep sigh. Only now did her chest feel clear. She'd finally figured out her own feelings.
'I've fallen for him.'
She should've been more careful. She knew her lovable disciple was skilled at seducing women. She knew he had deep connections not just with her friend Baek Ayoung, but with other female students too. She'd never once erred in her magic calculations, yet she couldn't control her own emotions. Im Sol let out one final hollow laugh at her own predicament.
"…Are you okay?"
Lee Ho-yeon cautiously watched Im Sol, who had gone from laughing hysterically to suddenly quiet. Had she been hit by some mental magic, maybe?
'No, she doesn't look like it….'
His professor wouldn't fall for something like that anyway. Hmm. Lee Ho-yeon seriously pondered why Im Sol was acting this way.
Im Sol, still with her lips curved up, stared into Lee Ho-yeon's eyes.
"Professor, by any chance…."
He was about to check if she'd been brainwashed when—
"You seduced Ayoung like this too, didn't you."
"Guh! Cough, cough cough!"
At Im Sol's bombshell statement, Lee Ho-yeon started coughing like he'd choked.
'What the hell is she talking about.'
No, suddenly…? Was she just teasing?
Lee Ho-yeon looked at her in bewilderment, but Im Sol wore the same smile as always. That made it even scarier.
'Stay calm.'
Even in a tiger's den, you can escape if you keep your wits. First, he needed to figure out why she was doing this.
Current Status: What to do, I'm sorry to Ayoung.
Her expression was that of the usual playful Im Sol professor… but the sharply risen affection caught Lee Ho-yeon's eye. And that thought about feeling sorry to Ayoung. Knowing Baek Ayoung liked him and still thinking that meant… the professor had feelings for him too.
'Why, though?'
Did one "Sol unnie" really make her fall for him?
He needed time to grasp the situation. Lee Ho-yeon continued the conversation, searching Im Sol's words for clues.
"What do you mean out of nowhere, Professor."
"Be honest. How many girls are you juggling?"
"…Juggling what? I don't have any girls."
Lee Ho-yeon pondered her words. The facts hit too directly.
'How much does she know? Since when? Has she been playing dumb this whole time?'
But no matter how much he thought, he couldn't figure it out.
"Liar. You have tons of girls."
"…They're all just friends."
For now, get past this. Then slowly….
"Oh? Then that's fine."
"Huh?"
Snap—
Im Sol snapped her fingers lightly at his words. Blue mana surged from her body toward the sky, drawing Lee Ho-yeon's eyes naturally upward. It was like magic meant to attract everyone's attention.
Boom—!
As Lee Ho-yeon looked up, a small mana explosion went off behind him.
"Wha—what?"
Standing defenseless, he lost balance and stepped forward. His eyes met Im Sol's—playful yet resolute.
Before he could process what happened, Im Sol caught his falling body naturally and brought her lips to his.
*
"Mmph, Pro, Professor!"
I stared dazedly at Im Sol's lips, which had touched and vanished in an instant. No time to feel their softness properly. And the faint lingering scent. The sweet body fragrance I always noticed when close to her.
Unlike me, failing to hide my fluster, Im Sol leisurely licked her lips.
"What? It's fine, right? You said they're all friends."
"…Professor. Th-this kind of thing, you confirm each other's feelings first, get permission…."
"Didn't you just confess to me?"
"…."
No words for that. It was basically a confession.
I'd only meant to boost her affection, but maybe I overdid it. Breaking her trauma was good, but….
"Hmm…."
Yeah. Getting closer to conquering her was good. All good, but this caused a huge problem. Baek Ayoung or the Lucy-Lumi twins were one thing, but if Professor Im Sol got involved like this, things got way too complicated. Irreparably so.
But as if reading my mind, Professor Im Sol continued.
"But I won't accept it."
"Huh?"
What crazy talk is this? Part of me was relieved, but I was dumbfounded. Then why the kiss?
"I have standards set for my future husband from way back. You have to exceed them."
"What are the standards?"
I asked, looking at her cool smile. We'd kissed, maybe even French kissed territory, and I still hadn't met them? How far did I have to go?
"Secret. No fun if I tell you."
"…Then why kiss me?"
"Didn't like it?"
"No, of course I did. Loved it."
Of course. A beauty's lips are always welcome. Though… a quiet spot would've been better.
'If this hits the news, how messy will it get.'
Actually, it might already be unfixable. Could I pass it as mentor-disciple affection? Or a simple accident?
Lost in complicated thoughts, I heard voices around us.
—Wasn't that Professor Im Sol just now?
—Cadet Lee Ho-yeon was there too. Where'd they go?
"What."
I scanned the surroundings after hearing the chatter. My eyes widened. A thin mana barrier had enclosed us unnoticed.
"…You were joking?"
"Yeah. Curious how serious my disciple was."
Im Sol smiled with her eyes at my incredulous question.
"…Wow. Really. Too much."
I'd been so flustered. But relief too. If I'd gotten mad here, it would've been real trouble. Though she probably wouldn't have… anyway, if people saw, it'd be a huge hassle.
"Tch. Satisfied now?"
Im Sol smiled, lips curved up.
"Not bad, my disciple."
I touched my lips and grinned sheepishly. Facing her like this felt embarrassing somehow.
—There they are!
—Security team! It's over, what are they doing!
—Security team here! Professor Im Sol! Cadet Lee Ho-yeon!
The barrier around us dissolved, and security and reporters approached. Im Sol, as if her earlier vulnerability was a lie, looked at me confidently.
"…Let's go. Won't make afternoon class."
"Hehe, yeah."
Thinking of the annoying investigations ahead, we approached the crowd.
*
"…Tch."
Fortunately, the investigation didn't drag on. But it wasn't quick either. Too awkward for afternoon class. In the end, with Professor Im Sol's permission to skip it, I headed to the dorm.
For reference, Im Sol returned to her lab beaming happily. A bit confused on how to treat her from now on… but probably fine. Still no clue on those "standards."
"Huh? Junior Ho-yeon?"
At the dorm entrance, I ran into a student council senior. One who'd worked with Sulin unnie.
"Oh, Senior. Hi. Long time."
"Yeah. Just coming down with documents, must've missed each other."
The student council senior shook some papers with a smile.
"Huh?"
"Participation forms. Oh, back from the convenience store?"
"…?"
What was she talking about? Not knowing the situation, I played along. My gut said, 'Don't ask what it is.'
"Ah… yeah. Right."
"Got it. You just signed and left, huh. Yeah, too early anyway."
"Uh, the forms… yeah."
I still couldn't grasp the conversation. What forms? Why sign?
"Anyway, got it. Super busy here. Oh, package came. Check it!"
The senior chattered excitedly alone and left.
"…Weird person."
How busy to end up like that. Tsk tsk. Anyway.
[Forms] [Signature]
Super ominous words. Uneasy, I hurried to my room. And there, I saw it.
Creeeak—
A delicate hand from my door grabbing the package outside.
"…."
Thud—
After the door fully closed, I scanned around. Good, no cadets around this hour, no one saw….
I'd told her not to.
"Haa. What's the big deal with a late package."
Only Liliana was in the dorm at this time. I opened the familiar door.
—Humming humming hum. Hide it before the kids come.
I headed to the living room where Liliana's humming came from. She was in streaming clothes, bobbing her head, opening the package.
"This crazy succubus… I told you not to get packages without me."
"Huh? Eek. Wh-what! Classes aren't over yet."
Liliana hid the package contents behind her back and looked up at me. Chocolate, snacks, jelly piled there.
"…Not taking it. Be careful when I'm gone, Liliana. Get caught and dissected?"
"But! If I wait for you, Nam Da-hee takes it all…. Da-eun saves it for her sister, Da-hee wants it for herself!"
"Gave you plenty of money. Order double."
"Order double and get caught, Da-eun scolds…."
I let out a hollow laugh at Liliana, pouting with a jelly in hand. Absurdity brings laughter.
"No, haa… fine, whatever."
Didn't get their fights over this, but let it slide. Tired from investigation. About to sit on the sofa, I spotted papers by the package box Liliana opened. My handwriting exactly on the signature.
"…What's this?"
"Dunno. Thought delivery signature, but it says student council."
"Why's my signature there? Don't remember."
"…Thought it was delivery, signed."
Liliana hung her head like she regretted it.
"You say that so casually?"
When'd she practice my signature? How many secret packages?
'Lucky no one caught her.'
Sincerely relieved, I looked down at the papers.