Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: One Wrong Move and You're Dead!
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I have one pendant. It glows brightly in response to mana.
The pendant had changed a bit when it went into my [Inventory], and right now, I'm holding it in my hand.
Yes. That's right. The scouting pendant originally used by those mine workers has truly evolved into a proper detector.
But why is it pointing at that guy? I just couldn't understand it.
And what's this? What the hell is this?
"Your stance is wrong. Do it again."
"The guy next to me is even worse."
"I'm talking to you right now."
Raphael snickered from the side as she did some half-hearted warm-up stretches. I was definitely trying harder than her, putting in my best effort to hold the stance. No matter how I looked at it, there wasn't much wrong.
But the blue-haired young man standing in front of me was stubborn.
"Again."
"No. Hey, this stance is correct, right?"
"Again."
I could feel the malice. The malice was palpable. No matter how much I thought about it, I hadn't done anything wrong. I'm a good citizen.
Isn't this treatment a bit too much?
"Reflect on your usual behavior, one by one."
What usual behavior? While repositioning myself at the blonde's words, I racked my brain. No matter how I thought about it, I hadn't done anything to hold a grudge over.
It's because of Shin Ga-yeon, right? Yeah?
But I never ordered him to do anything. It was all his own choice. She might call herself a maid, but I was the one suffering.
I wasn't ordering service; I was the one receiving it.
So, I'm innocent─
That's what I was thinking when something flashed through my mind.
─I brought it openly, you know? When the working lady asked what I was doing, I said I was taking elixirs for my future husband.
─These are elixirs we take when training at home.
Hehe. Shin Ga-yeon's smiling face flashed by. The young blue-haired man with a fierce face. And the uncle glaring at me from behind.
I quickly assumed the stance under their gazes.
"Like this?!"
"No! More! Sharper angle!!"
"Like this?!"
"Snappier!! At an angle that could slice!!"
"Like─?!?"
"Until my hand gets sliced! Do it again!!"
Under the blonde's questioning glare of "Why is he like that?", I moved snappily. Sweat born from tension, not exertion, dripped down my body.
One wrong move and I'm dead.
I'll really die!
"I'm dying. What is this? Back-to-back. Nothing's working. Yesterday's premium elixirs! Give me strength!! Earthlings!! I don't need your power!! Just the elixirs!!"
"That's such trashy dialogue. No matter how many times I hear it, it's just impressive."
Thanks for the praise. While everyone else finished and rested, I was the only one forced to keep holding weird poses. All the way until paper slapping. If this isn't hell, what is?
And I couldn't even rest properly during break time.
"Now we'll pair up for sparring practice. Since it's the first day, just do light warm-ups, so pair up freely."
At those words, the classmates scattered and formed groups of twos and threes. Watching them, I lay down spread-eagled. For an outcast like me, there's only one possible partner.
"Ugh. I hate this time the most. What are they expecting from people like us? Is that okay for an instructor?"
"Agreed."
I nodded at the words from my soulmate who sat beside me. They should assign partners on the first day. That's the teacher's job.
Not that it's the start of the semester, but anyway, it's your fault.
My unpopularity is your fault.
"That gave me chills just now? You had a lame thought, didn't you?"
"....."
When I didn't respond, Raphael flicked my forehead. How did she know?
As I lay there staring at the ceiling, trading jokes with Raphael, a shadow fell over me.
Not one. Two shadows overlapped, blocking my view. Curious, I followed them with my eyes to see two women.
A black-haired woman twisting her long straight hair. A silver-haired woman scratching her face.
I narrowed my eyes and looked at them. What? Here to bully the outcast?
"What."
"That's."
As I shot up and asked, they spoke over each other. They yielded to each other to go first, then Isia stepped forward.
"Um, partner with me!!"
She said it without meeting my eyes, twisting her hair. How shy is she? If you're that bold, make friends with someone else.
"Huh? I was going to say the same thing."
"Huh? Sophia has lots of friends."
"Yeah? What does that have to do with it? I want to partner with Lee Seong-hoon."
She glanced at me and smiled. What was this situation? The two looked flustered, checking each other's reactions.
What's wrong with them?
"The one handing out rice cakes doesn't even consider it."
Be quiet. I smacked the top of the blonde's head and looked at the two. They seemed to be waiting for my answer.
I'll partner with Raphael. I tried to say it straightforwardly, but something else caught my eye.
Isia's hands, twisted as if from embarrassment.
"Huh? You're wearing a ring? But why on your ring finger? Put it on your index or middle."
"Huh? No. Th-this one, it got stuck. It wouldn't come off?! L-Lucy put it on as a prank!!"
Be more careful. It's a ring you can't take off once it's on. I grabbed Isia's hand as she frantically explained and fiddled with the ring.
Hic!
I ignored the weird sound. It really wouldn't come off. The ring finger is trouble. But since it's Lucy's fault, maybe it's fine.
"This one's stuck. Be careful. I should've put it on for you."
"P-put it on?!"
Yeah. I should've put it on so it doesn't go on the ring finger. What to do now. As I fiddled with it trying to figure out how to remove it, something wedged between me and Isia.
Thanks to that, I let go of her hand. Looking up, something scary was there.
Sophia was smiling at me. Why is a smile scary? What's this? Did I do something wrong?
I looked at Lachesis, but all I got was a sigh.
"Ring? Ring finger? Put it on? What are you talking about?"
"Huh? I gave her a ring, and Isia accidentally put it on her ring finger. Haha."
I don't know why I had to explain, but my survival instincts told me to. I trust my gut.
The pendant was going berserk right now. Like a dog charging at the culprit at a murder scene. Warning me that she's dangerous.
"Hmm. A ring. On the ring finger. I've never gotten anything like that. I see."
Even the eye smile was gone. She stared with a blank face. The pendant thrashed!!
I shook my head wildly. Survival instincts are amazing. I shot Raphael a pleading look, but she just shrugged.
What to do. My brain in crisis accelerated thinking to survive. What's the problem? The ring?
"S-Sophia, want one too? I know one that'd suit you perfectly!"
I actually do have one. A ring to get before Sophia goes dark. But getting it is tough.
Whatever. Survive first.
"...?"
Her frozen face filled with bewilderment. Not the reaction I expected, but seeing the ice shatter instantly relieved me. Relieved, but─
"What did you say? What?"
An ambush from elsewhere. Why are you mad? This time, I suppressed the pendant thrashing toward Isia.
Stay still.
Am I going to die like this? Isn't the murderous intent too strong? It didn't react this much to that uncle.
Raphael, Lachesis, anyone, save me. With nowhere else to turn, I even prayed to God.
As if waiting, applause rang out.
"Alright, alright. Break time's almost over. Hurry and finish pairing up."
At those words, the two looked at me. Whichever I chose, I'd die. There was one way in times like this.
Ask them to split me in half and give me to whoever stops them?
Thinking too much is making me weird. I shook off the dumb idea, approached the two, and grabbed their hands.
"?!"
I saw them panic, but it didn't matter now. Solomon, you were wrong. If two moms are fighting over a kid, just co-parent.
I linked their hands.
"I don't know why you're mad, but I hope you two work it out talking."
I'll partner with Raphael! With that, I ran. The two stared blankly for a while.
"Ah!!"
Only after slapping hands did they let out desperate cries.
"Hm."
Shin Hak-cheol bobbed his head as he sat in the chair. Having to live here for nearly half a year, he was forcing himself to adapt.
"Uncomfortable, right? I told you not to come."
He snorted at the man in front of him. The reason was simple.
"I need to confirm with my own eyes. That's the proper way. No other choice since it'll close soon."
He had come to check on the man, the eldest of the twins.
The incident started with a single remark from a servant at home a while ago.
─Master. The young lady took all the precious elixirs from the warehouse.
It was absurd, but he brushed it off as her usual rebellion. She'd bring them back soon enough, he thought.
But what came from the servant's mouth next couldn't be ignored.
─She said she was taking them to her future husband. Amazing action for someone in the dorms. No time to stop her.
Swordsmanship clan.
They had one destiny. If born a woman of this house, bring in a good man from outside to strengthen the bloodline.
The younger twin had talent with the sword, so he left her be, but the eldest was dim and had frequent mana surges, so he planned to marry her off right after graduation.
Yet the eldest was suddenly meeting a man. As family head, there was one thing to do.
"Surveillance on this Lee Seong-hoon guy. All day."
"Already have someone on it."
"Even his bedroom. Toss a stone while he sleeps."
"Can't respond to that."
"I can."
The man who spared "You're you" bowed his head. The family head's orders were absolute.
"Watch until tomorrow. No need for tomorrow."
His bobbing head stopped. He narrowed his thoughtful, half-closed eyes.
"If."
Shin Hak-cheol's eyes held not a speck of life as he trailed off.
"If judged an inadequate piece of trash, pass the order to kill. Stab without looking back, instant death so he can't recover."
The man ahead nodded. He'd handled such missions often, so no particular emotion. But.
"Still, he's the one the young lady likes─"
Pfft.
As if hearing what he shouldn't, Shin Hak-cheol chuckled.
"Women of our clan don't need emotions. They need one thing: the ability to bring in a good man."