Yoo Eun-chae's Determination
"Cheers?"
The sudden roar of cheers came from students of both genders. When she turned around, she saw a large crowd gathered. "Your fundamentals are quite impressive." "Hehe~ Not at all. Arian was amazing too."
The spectators had surrounded Arian and Yee Eun-chae, who now stood with swords pointed at each other. The sight of the beautiful princess of the Liberin Kingdom, Arian Liberin, and Yee Eun-chae, whose looks were equally stunning, engaging in a light spar had drawn everyone's attention.
"Did they spar? I didn't sense any magic power." If they had used magic, she would have detected it immediately. However, using magic for sparring inside the auditorium was forbidden, so the two had simply crossed blades in a light exchange, showcasing their swordsmanship without mana. It was less a serious duel and more an opportunity for each to experience the other's technique.
"I need to be careful around those two as well."
Her focus had been entirely on Seo Moon-jin, pushing them to the back of her mind. Yet as Yoo Eun-chae, she knew that after Seo Moon-jin, these two were the people she most needed to befriend.
"The princess of the Liberin Kingdom and Yee Eun-chae of the Yee family..." The Yee family was a renowned martial clan, while the Liberin Kingdom was far more than a mere family—it was a powerful nation with over forty million citizens, a robust economy, and immense global influence. Of course, as a constitutional monarchy, it was unclear how much direct authority Arian actually wielded. Still, she might prove helpful in the search for her mother, perhaps second only to the Yucheon Group.
"I don't want to do this..."
Yoo Eun-chae felt a wave of self-loathing. Instead of approaching them as genuine friends, she was calculating how useful they could be. The realization made her stomach churn with disgust. Her conscience ached.
"Still, Seo Moon-jin's skill... is on a completely different level from mine or Eun-chae's."
Yoo Eun-chae's ears perked up at the mention of Seo Moon-jin's name from Princess Arian's lips. Come to think of it, about three years ago, there had been news that the heir of the Yucheon Group had visited the Liberin Kingdom. His face hadn't been shown publicly, but it seemed the king and Princess Arian had met him in person.
"Mm! That's true. Actually, the swordsmanship I just used was the result of practicing what Chun taught me after the entrance exam last week. He's a friend, but he's really something else."
From Yee Eun-chae's words, Yoo Eun-chae learned that she had received sword training from Seo Moon-jin just days earlier.
"So even the daughter of the Yee family knows him."
Yoo Eun-chae didn't know much about Yee Eun-chae. The girl had been hidden away by her family until only recently, when she finally appeared in public. Her beauty was so striking that people understood why the family had kept her concealed—long black hair with a violet sheen and purple eyes, radiating vibrant health and charm. She had learned swordsmanship from Seo Moon-jin during the final stage of the entrance exam.
"I also learned something from him three years ago."
"That sounds like something Chun would do. He always said it felt refreshing to watch someone improve after he taught them."
Yee Eun-chae chatted brightly with Princess Arian, her smile radiant.
"What did he say after that?"
Princess Arian seemed genuinely interested in hearing more about Seo Moon-jin.
"He said he wouldn't feel satisfied unless I repaid him, so he asked me to spar with him occasionally. After that, we exchanged contact information and became friends."
Watching Yee Eun-chae speak with such a bright smile, Yoo Eun-chae thought she resembled a puppy—eager and pure in her joy at having made her first friend. If she hadn't lost her parents, would she have smiled like that too?
"His habit hasn't changed, I see. If he spots talent, he can't help but teach them."
Listening to their conversation, Yoo Eun-chae pieced together the information about Seo Moon-jin. If what they said was true, his swordsmanship surpassed both of theirs. And when he saw someone lacking compared to himself, he had a habit of offering guidance.
"Shall we head to the training grounds and have a proper match?"
"Oh! I'm always up for sparring! Arian, I'm really looking forward to facing you seriously!"
At those words, Yoo Eun-chae sensed her chance to intervene.
"Um, excuse me..."
Feeling the weight of countless eyes on her, Yoo Eun-chae stepped forward despite her nerves. She forced her racing heart to calm as she addressed Arian and Yee Eun-chae.
"Whoa, jackpot!"
"She's stunning."
"Three beauties in one place..."
"If that blue-haired girl from earlier joined them, it'd be perfect."
"Our year seems stacked, huh?"
Admiring whispers rose from the crowd, but they brought Yoo Eun-chae no joy. Her introverted nature only made the situation feel more burdensome.
"May I ask who you are?"
"Who might you be?"
"Ah, I'm Yoo Eun-chae. It looks like you two were about to spar... Would it be all right if I joined? I'd like to experience your skills firsthand."
Yoo Eun-chae used the sparring request as an excuse to approach them. Since her own abilities weren't weak, she hoped the match would help her build rapport.
"For Mother's sake."
She had to become close to them—no matter what.
"Hehe, that sounds fine."
"I welcome it too! Your name is Hyun-ah, right? I'm Yee Eun-chae! Let's get along!"
When Yee Eun-chae extended her hand with a cheerful smile, offering a handshake, Yoo Eun-chae felt another pang of guilt but pushed it aside.
"Please take care of me..."
She made a silent vow to herself.
"If we truly become friends... I'll treat them with sincerity."
If they accepted her as a friend, she would do the same—wholeheartedly.
* * *
"Seo Moon-jin..."
Seo Moon-hyun quietly stepped out of the auditorium, lost in thought. Who exactly was that man? Who was he that he could take Min-hye away so casually—and why had Min-hye followed him?
"I need to tell Father about this."
He couldn't let it slide. The possibility that the man harbored ill intentions toward Seo Moon-min-hye crossed his mind.
"He might be lying to drive a wedge between Min-hye and me."
Otherwise, there was no way Seo Moon-min-hye—his only sister—would treat him that way while calling another man "brother" and following him so obediently.
Seo Moon-hyun's thoughts briefly touched on a certain possibility, but he deliberately pushed it away. Such a thing could never be true.
"Hyun-ah, are you really okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for worrying, Sena."
When Lee Se-na asked with concern, Seo Moon-hyun answered with a gentle smile. His kind expression made many female students' hearts flutter. Yet as his childhood friend, Lee Se-na could tell his smile wasn't quite the same as usual.
"Hyun-ah, I know this is a strange question, but... do you know anything about that Seo Moon-jin person?"
Lee Se-na asked if he knew anything about Seo Moon-jin. She couldn't just brush it off either—the way Seo Moon-min-hye had acted had shocked her deeply.
"...No, I don't."
Seo Moon-hyun shook his head. He knew nothing about the student who had appeared as the freshman representative, the heir to the Yucheon Group named Seo Moon-jin.
"So you're planning to ask your father to look into it?"
"The head of the Seo family?"
"Yeah. Father might know something. Even if he doesn't, the family's resources should turn up some information."
It wasn't just any matter—it involved Seo Moon-min-hye. With that thought, Seo Moon-hyun pulled out his phone and called his father immediately.
Soon, the screen displayed the face of his father, Seo Moon-kang-hyuk.
"Hyun-ah? What's going on?"
"Father, something has come up that requires your immediate attention."
"Something that requires immediate attention?"
"Yes. The student who appeared as the freshman representative today is supposedly the heir to the Yucheon Group. His name is Seo Moon-jin."
"Seo Moon-jin?"
"Yes. He has black hair and black eyes... and strangely enough, Min-hye ignored me and followed him. Something feels off. I think we need to investigate at the family level."
Seo Moon-hyun relayed everything he had witnessed that day to his father, Seo Moon-kang-hyuk. Lee Se-na watched him quietly, her eyes filled with worry.