End-of-Term Celebration (17)
After wrapping up my secret rendezvous with Lumi, we headed back to Lucy. From there, things wrapped up quickly. The three of us bounced around from spot to spot, and before we knew it, a few hours had flown by. Lunchtime hit, and we made our way to the cafeteria together.
"I should probably head to the student council this afternoon."
"Ehh, really?"
"Got it…."
After eating, I pulled off the plan to slip away under the excuse of helping with student council duties.
"Perfect."
I nodded to myself as I crossed the academy grounds. Lucy and Lumi let me go without much fuss, saying they'd just hang out together. Must be because we'd shared enough emotional intimacy. We'd had sex, after all—they understood each other's feelings now. As expected from the twins who'd spent so much time with me. Still, I'd played hard all morning, so I'd fulfilled my boyfriend duties, right? Keeping up with two girls in their prime was tougher than it looked. Even two bodies wouldn't be enough.
I should text Sulin noona first.
Lunch was over, but she might still have a ton of work. It'd be polite to shoot a message ahead.
Ding—
The message sent as I headed toward the student council tent managing the celebration. That's when I spotted some familiar faces. Liliana and the Nam sisters, their faces veiled by a light barrier.
"Oh, oppa!"
Nam Da-hee, who was scanning the crowd eagerly, spotted me first. Nam Da-eun turned my way next, followed by Liliana, who dropped her face-disguising barrier to look over.
Should I go say hi?
I glanced at my smartwatch. No reply from Sulin noona yet.
She probably still has work if she hasn't responded. Her personality's like that.
I'd already spent the morning with Lucy and Lumi, so killing some time here wouldn't hurt. I cast a perception-lowering barrier around myself and approached Liliana and the Nam sisters. Essential because of Liliana.
"Having fun?"
"Oppa! Ho-yeon oppa! Want some fish-shaped buns?"
"Yeah, thanks."
Seeing Da-hee so excited made it clear they'd been having a blast. Her energy was infectious, lifting my mood too.
"Hey, Ho-yeon."
"Yeah. …Yeah?"
Nam Da-eun greeted me with her usual faint smile. Nothing off there. But how to put it—refreshing? Unburdened? Her expression looked the same, but I'd known her long enough to notice. Da-eun was definitely in a better mood than usual.
"You seem happier. Eat something good?"
"No. Same as always."
She smiled brightly. Weird. She looked happier. But Da-eun just tilted her head innocently, like she had no idea.
"What's up?"
"Nothing."
She kept smiling, but asking why she was smiling felt off. She said it wasn't anything—prying would be rude. Probably just enjoying time with her sister.
This time, I turned to Liliana, who was avoiding my eyes. Her unique pale purple irises were disguised as plain black, her face shifted to some generic girl's. Of course, I could pierce the barrier and see right through it.
"Liliana. What're you doing?"
Since I'd gotten close, Liliana hadn't met my gaze, just quietly stuffing fish buns into her mouth.
"Don't act like you know me. For perfect acting, understand?"
Nom nom—
Watching the succubus munch her bun with such a serious face was oddly deflating.
"…I'm barred up too, so it's fine."
"If you want perfect acting, stay quiet. Real acting starts with the little things."
"Fair point, but… since when do you act?"
There she went again with that smug look. Did they teach aggravating lectures in hell? Liliana was cute enough to survive it, but an ugly guy pulling that would get punched.
"I'm good at acting too. Mom praised me."
"…What can't you do?"
"Hmm, good question. …Haven't found anything yet!"
"…Right."
Crazy succubus. I shook my head at Liliana, who was puffing out her chest, and chatted with Da-eun.
"Just eating all morning?"
"Yeah. Too many snacks, skipped lunch."
"Even so, eating nonstop for hours?"
She'd gain weight. Festival food packed on pounds fast.
"No. We talked to some blonde lady too."
"Blonde lady?"
Da-hee jumped into our convo then.
"Yeah. Who was it? We mentioned oppa's name…."
"Da-hee."
"Yeah, sis?"
"Go with Liliana. Lots of snacks over there."
"S-snacks!"
Pat pat pat—
Da-hee bolted after Liliana mid-sentence.
"…What was that."
"Nothing."
"…."
Super suspicious. Totally deliberate to cut Da-hee off. But Da-eun's smiling eyes pressed me silently: Don't pry.
I discreetly opened her status window.
Current Status: Won't block it, but won't help either. She's a rival, after all.
Not sure what that means. But "blonde lady" only pointed to two: Ellis or Moon Sulin. Unlikely anyone else would chat up Da-eun. And Sulin was probably swamped… Ellis?
"Uh, yeah. Wanna grab some of that?"
I took Da-eun's lingering gaze and headed toward Liliana.
"Sure."
Not guarding against Ellis, right?
Nah, no way.
Our Da-eun's too sweet for that.
*
Liliana forgot her "acting" bit fast, chatting me up within five minutes.
"Where're those people going?"
A crowd of cadets headed one way, where she pointed.
"Banquet? Nah, buffet? Party's easier."
Simple: eat, chat with cadets. Free infinite food and booze—who wouldn't?
I explained simply for her.
"What! Let's go now!"
"Knew it."
Heading there anyway. Busiest spot for cadets. Tasty food, night events close early, so party venue for more fun. Greetings to profs, same-sex groups—loners aside, everyone ends up there. Student council's nearby too.
Planned to beat the rush, but oh well.
"Wine there? I only drink 30+ year vintages."
"Hell has wine?"
"Nope, but I decided!"
"Right. Hunt it down there."
Liliana grabbed Da-hee's hand and dashed off. Da-eun and I followed, watching them.
"Ho-yeon, you drinking?"
"Nah, weak with booze."
Never tested properly, but no urge. With Lumi once—not super weak. Awakened could shake it off with mana anyway. Easy to purge alcohol. No drunk rowdies here, unlike clichés.
"Y-yes… Prof… stop drinking now…."
"…."
Slurp—
Of course, absolutes don't exist. Rare, but happens. Why them, though?
We arrived at the party venue. There, Baek Ayoung and Im Sol faced off, drinking.
Bad vibes. Better check.
"Gonna say hi to the profs and head to student council."
"Okay."
Da-eun smiled farewell.
"I'm getting wine!"
Liliana and Da-hee were already scampering around. Don't get caught. Please.
"Da-eun, watch Liliana and Da-hee. You're all I trust."
I squeezed her hand, pleading. Wanted 24/7 surveillance, but terror risk rose at dusk. Finish tasks first.
"Don't worry. Used to it—I'll handle them."
"Thanks."
One reliable person eased my mind.
"Ho-yeon's going to Prof. Im Sol and Nurse Baek?"
"Yeah, just greetings."
Drunk like that? Something's up. Gotta check.
"…Can't beat the fast ones."
Da-eun muttered something.
"Huh?"
"Nothing. Go well. I'll grab Liliana."
She smiled and dashed to the corner. Glanced back—Liliana chugging wine.
Misheard?
Uneasy, but Da-eun's got it. Liliana's barrier solid—won't break unless a high mage focuses.
I approached Baek Ayoung and Im Sol.
"Urp. Solly, youuu…."
"…Why."
Slurp—
"How could you do this to meee. Ugh."
"…What."
Slurp—
Drinking without sobering. Im Sol's TA hovered worriedly behind. I waved her off—she smiled relieved and left. Couldn't watch long.
"What're you two doing."
I slid into a seat naturally.
Im Sol slowly turned, spotted me, and bowed her head.
"Haa, it's you. All your fault. Everything…."
Slurp—
Why was she drunk? Not her image.
"Prof, you okay? Better detox and rest."
Shaking her, Baek Ayoung noticed me.
"Hic. Huh? Yeo… bo…."
I clapped my right hand over her mouth before the weird word escaped.
"Mmph! Mmph!"
"Please, no weird stuff."
"You… why touch A-young's face. Ignoring me?"
Slurp—
Im Sol sadly lifted her on-the-rocks glass—whiskey?—to her lips.
"Prof, please. What's wrong."
"I'm innocent… it's you…."
"Mmph. Mmph! Pwah, darliiiing…."
This won't do. Planned to check status and leave 'em, but not normal. Why binge?
I placed a hand on Im Sol's handback, clamped Baek Ayoung's mouth, and purged their alcohol.
"Ugh…."
"…."
Lucky—their mana waves familiar. Often overlapped with Ayoung; seen Im Sol's magic plenty. Quick work.
And soon after.
"…."
"…."
Sobered, they scanned around. Met eyes. Then looked at me—and blushed.