Finals Celebration Party (18)

"…Sol-ah, how's the research going?"

"Yeah. You, Ayoung?"

"Mine's always about the same. I'm stuck in the infirmary, after all."

Baek Ayoung and Im Sol had somehow slipped into casual chit-chat. They were best friends long before they became rivals, so it wasn't all that strange.

"But lately, it's been rough. More and more cadets keep showing up."

Baek Ayoung shook her head, her tired face sucking noisily at her coffee.

"So many getting hurt, huh."

Well, with finals approaching, more cadets were ramping up their training intensity. Im Sol nodded, but that wasn't the reason.

"…That's not it. They come even when they don't look hurt at all. That's the problem."

"Not hurt, but to the infirmary? Why?"

Im Sol was still a total newbie when it came to human relationships, not magic research. She couldn't even fathom the idea of guys visiting the infirmary just to ogle a pretty girl.

"It's… haa. The cadets are coming to see my face."

"Your face?"

"The male cadets show up pretending they're hurt. They even risk pretty big penalties for it."

Only after Baek Ayoung spelled it out did Im Sol finally get it. Men's lust was a hell of a thing—it could drive them to pull off all sorts of inefficient nonsense.

"Must be nice for you, Sol. No guys staring you down."

"Yeah, I g…uess?"

Baek Ayoung slurped her coffee with a prim little pout, practically saying, I'm prettier, so they come to me, not you.

Delusion. She was clearly just pointing out the difference in their work environments.

"…The infirmary's way more accessible than a lab, after all."

"True, but… nah. You could see it that way."

"…?"

Baek Ayoung trailed off mid-sentence, and Im Sol furrowed her brow. What the hell was this?

Im Sol stared at her in disbelief. That expression said it all. It was pathetic, petty needling. They'd tacitly agreed to make up, and here she was striking first.

Im Sol wet her lips with her chocolate latte and pressed on.

"Well, you've got that slightly childish vibe, so maybe you're popular with the cadets."

"…Childish?"

"Yeah. You're short, and you act all young and cute."

"No, I'm not?"

Baek Ayoung shot back immediately, but Im Sol didn't let up.

"You are."

"Not even close? If anything, you act more childish, Sol. I've been in the working world for years?"

"What 'working world'? Can you even drink, Ayoung?"

"Of course. How many company dinners have I been to?"

"…This won't work."

Im Sol stopped the bickering and eyed Baek Ayoung. Dragging this pointless spat out was unproductive. Time to settle who was superior, clean and clear.

"Drinking contest."

She couldn't spar with a non-combatant friend, so they'd have to compete some other way.

"…You're a mage. You detox faster."

Baek Ayoung eyed her suspiciously, but Im Sol stated it confidently.

"I stake my pride on it. I won't cheat."

"…For real?"

"Obviously."

With Im Sol's pride on the line, Baek Ayoung could believe her. She knew all too well how ironclad it was.

And that was the full story of what had just gone down.

*

I stared holes into the two staff members, who were now stone-cold sober.

"…Hic."

Baek Ayoung slammed her head on the table and started hiccuping.

"…."

Im Sol casually crossed her legs and looked away.

"Cadets everywhere—what the hell are you two professors doing?"

- I'm not a professor though….

Baek Ayoung mumbled it with her face still planted on the table. What were these two even doing? Neither struck me as heavy drinkers. Why were they like this?

I turned to Im Sol, who at least looked a bit more normal.

"Professor. You usually drink?"

"Don't know."

"…."

She seemed pissed. Next up, Baek Ayoung was still facedown.

"…Ayoung-ssi?"

"…Sniff. My head… hurts…."

I placed a hand on Baek Ayoung's head. Her status showed the alcohol hadn't fully cleared, so I purged every last drop from her system.

Nothing there. Was this that placebo effect? She had zero alcohol left but was still complaining of pain.

"Anyway, both of you, get up. Place is packed."

Luckily, no one approached them directly, but plenty of sidelong glances came our way.

"Got it."

"Ugh, y-yeah…."

They noticed the stares and stood, but both still looked rough. Detox didn't erase built-up fatigue.

This is seriously dangerous.

Terror attack today was a lock. But with Im Sol like this….

She gonna be okay?

Honestly, from my purely selfish angle, it didn't matter. I'd stop the terror eventually, and any casualties in the meantime weren't likely to be heroines. Hell, Im Sol and Baek Ayoung staying out of danger might even be better.

But that's too heartless.

I peeled off a sliver of mana and secretly stuck it to their backs. Im Sol would've noticed normally, but she was too embarrassed to focus on me, so it worked.

Now, if terror hit, I could signal them instantly. If I needed their power, I'd call. Ignoring lives I could save felt wrong.

"Alright, go rest."

"I wasn't drunk to begin with."

"Sure thing, Professor."

Im Sol cooled her flushed face and stood. I tried pulling Baek Ayoung up, but she clutched her head with a sigh.

"M-My head hurts… Can you support me?"

"Alcohol's all gone, Ayoung-ssi."

"Tch."

"'Tch' what? Tch."

Way too honest. I hauled Im Sol and Baek Ayoung up from the table.

"So, why the drinking?"

"…."

"…."

Im Sol and Baek Ayoung turned away in sync. I snuck ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a peek at their status windows.

What the hell did these two even do?

*

Im Sol and Baek Ayoung thankfully walked on their own two feet just fine. The mana I'd attached clung perfectly to their bodies. Now I could signal them anytime.

Gotta hit the student council quick.

No reply to my message—she must be swamped for real.

"Huh?"

Then a familiar-yet-awkward male voice hit me head-on.

"Yeah?"

"Whoa, long time no see."

"You alive?"

Kim Young-han. My one and only male friend in this world.

His tousled golden hair pissed me off for some reason.

"Obviously. We were in the same classes from the start."

"Figured since it's been ages, I'd play dumb too."

We used to talk a lot back then, but lately? Zero contact. I'd been dodging him, mostly. Not avoiding, per se—just no time to spare with all the girls piling up. Harem life ate my schedule.

"Famous guy as always. The celeb all the girls love."

"Cut the weird crap."

"Deny it all you want—facts don't change."

His smirking face grated, but I had something to ask first.

"…Hey."

"What?"

"Am I really famous for having lots of girls?"

I'd been careful, right? No, seriously careful. Frequent barriers in crowds, secret dates. Most sex in private spaces. Girls living at my place? Top secret.

Was I that notorious?

"Mm, from my view? Or objective?"

"Objective, obviously."

"Honestly? Not quite there yet."

"…Phew."

Relief. I'd been curious—couldn't exactly ask the girls.

"But… yeah. Could blow up anytime. Stay cautious."

I knew that. Getting caught with my dorm setup alone would socially bury me.

"Thanks. Where you headed?"

"Dance time soon, so hunting a partner. Heard Lucy and Lumi at some cafe earlier."

"Yeah, yeah. Don't touch Lucy or Lumi or you're dead."

I waved him off dismissively, and Kim Young-han nodded vaguely before jogging away. Nice—guys were low-maintenance greetings.

Off to student council. I picked up the pace.

*

Even on commemoration day, Moon Sulin's hands never rested. She could've delegated, but her obsession meant she handled most matters herself.

Moon Sulin pored over each document line by line, stamping meticulously.

"Checked. Next, the security firm…."

"President!"

Moon Sulin snapped out of it at her secretary's call.

"Huh? What? Something wrong?"

"President. Cadet Lee Ho-yeon is here to see you."

"Huh? Ho-yeon?"

She finally checked her smartwatch. A message from hours ago: Coming to student council to hang.

One line melted the stress piled from work.

But dozens of documents still loomed beside her. At least an hour to clear.

Moon Sulin eyed them with a glum frown.

"President. Go on."

Her secretary snatched up the stack.

"…Huh?"

"We'll handle it!"

"No worries!"

"You guys…."

The execs grabbed their shares, and the desk cleared instantly.

"Working like that every day is bad news. Take a break for once."

The others nodded. Moon Sulin's usual diligence made them eager to help—no resistance.

"…Yeah. Thanks."

Moon Sulin beamed, quickly checked her outfit, and headed out.

The remaining execs chuckled warmly.

"President's too meticulous."

"We've double-checked those docs a million times, and she still pores over every one."

"But hey, isn't she super cute lately?"

"Totally… Came in casual today and I was shocked. Must be that thing with Ho-yeon, right?!"

Giggles erupted as they chatted, stamping away. Since they'd vetted everything multiple times, they skimmed this round.

Even the extra personnel from Victoria Academy's decade-plus ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠security firm? No biggie—just rubber-stamped.