Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: A Suspicious Campus Stroll
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Meanwhile, Ju A-rin and Cheon Seo-yun were heading to the library to write their individual sparring reports.
Unlike usual, the path was deserted.
The faint smell of fireworks in the air and the distant murmur of microphones from the crowd felt like tales from another world.
Satisfied with the quiet solitude, Cheon Seo-yun grinned widely and spoke up.
“We look like such model students, don’t we?”
“Model students?”
“Yeah, everyone else is playing around, and we’re off to study.”
“Isn’t the assignment studying?”
“Then what is it?”
“Well...”
It wasn’t wrong, but...
Just as Ju A-rin nodded with a reluctant expression,
“Hey, stop for a sec.”
“…Why now.”
“Come on, quick!”
Startled, Cheon Seo-yun quickly crouched down and pointed to a spot ahead.
“Look over there.”
“What am I even looking at...”
Ju A-rin glanced in the direction Cheon Seo-yun indicated, more out of obligation than interest.
Her eyes widened in surprise, and Cheon Seo-yun reached out to pull her down.
“Pretty exciting, right?”
As if she’d expected it, Cheon Seo-yun smirked and stared ahead again.
There was a pair of man and woman wandering around the Taehak grounds.
The man wore the brightest smile in the world, while the woman clutched tightly to his jacket.
It was a fairly common sight at Taehak, where romantic relationships between students were allowed.
But it stood out because the man’s identity was unexpected.
“Wow, Park Ha-yul. What’s up with him? He always has that sour face, but over there he’s acting all sweet and caring.”
They had spotted Park Ha-yul and Reina, who were together due to a forced escort for the sake of Taehak’s peace(?).
“How’d he meet the priestess?”
“Priestess?”
“Yeah, I’ve seen that robe on TV before. So what’s their deal?”
Oblivious to the complicated backstory, Cheon Seo-yun’s eyes sparkled like a child who’d found an intriguing toy.
“They’re not family, that’s for sure. And too close to just be friends, don’t you think?”
Was it because they’d been tangled up together lately?
Ju A-rin pretended to be uninterested and kept her words brief, but she was actually focused on Cheon Seo-yun’s next remark.
“Hmm. Something smells fishy here...”
Buoyed by premature excitement, Cheon Seo-yun stared intently at the pair before muttering as if she’d made up her mind.
“Let’s follow them for now.”
“What?”
Ju A-rin blurted out louder than intended. Cheon Seo-yun hurriedly lowered herself further and continued.
“What’s ‘what’? Aren’t you curious?”
“……”
“I mean, a guy and a girl suddenly meeting up in the middle of all this festive chaos? And walking around all chummy like that. How is that not intriguing? They look like they’re totally hitting it off.”
“Even so...”
Ju A-rin, who had been about to refuse outright, suddenly swallowed her words.
Of course, given her indifferent personality toward romance, ignoring whatever they were up to would be the proper response for her.
But was it because of Jung Ae-ri’s persistent nudging lately?
It’d be a lie to say she had zero curiosity.
“If you really wanna go, then go.”
Pretending to give in, Ju A-rin agreed and subtly pushed Cheon Seo-yun’s back.
With her usual calm expression, as always.
* * *
May, where freshness and greenery coexist—a university campus strolled with a romantic interest.
I was there, in the scene that every young person dreams of at least once.
Though inwardly skeptical, I wore a bright smile on the outside.
I led Reina around, giving simple explanations here and there.
“This is the grand library. Built at the same time as Taehak’s founding, so it’s probably about a thousand years old.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Anything you’re curious about?”
“No. Nothing.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Hmm...
But she was definitely acting suspicious.
Normally, Reina was emotionless but curious, chattering more when encountering something new.
Yet here she seemed utterly disinterested, to the point where I wondered why she’d even asked for a guide.
As if the tour was just an excuse, and her real goal lay elsewhere.
“Is there something on my face?”
“……?”
“No, Priestess, you keep staring.”
“No. It’s not that...”
And the subtle sidelong glances were another oddity.
There was definitely something going on.
Something important enough to wander Taehak while ignoring the event.
I vowed to uncover it soon and lured her to her weakness.
No matter who she was, she couldn’t resist this spot.
As we approached, reactions started trickling in, just as expected.
“Hmm...”
Reina broke from her impassive demeanor, letting out a subtle hum as she stared intently at one shop.
The shop was a bakery cafe, fragrant with the aroma of fresh bread.
A famous eatery inside Taehak, always with a line.
It was like a sparrow passing a millstone—it was impossible for her.
Because what Reina loved to the point of losing her senses wasn’t anything else—it was bread. (Not prison food.)
A cute trait that Yoo So-young had hastily shoehorned in, insisting every character needed one.
Suppressing a victorious smile, I casually remarked,
“The bread here is delicious.”
“……”
But she was putting up quite the resistance.
She looked ready to dash in, yet Reina clamped her mouth shut and said nothing.
How long could she hold out?
“Then let’s keep moving.”
I pretended not to notice and tried to walk past.
Grip—
But the hand clutching my jacket told no lies.
If I kept going, she’d cling on with murderous intensity. So I asked again.
“Want some?”
Only then did she nod.
She’d finally bitten the bait.
I chuckled and entered the bakery.
Money? No issue—I loaded up plenty.
I packed a huge bag and found a quiet bench, sitting across from her and offering it.
Nom.
Reina bit in as if she’d been waiting. Her eyes widened in delight for a moment.
No wonder—it was priced like a bowl of seolleongtang; of course it tasted amazing.
“Try the coffee too.”
I personally stuck a straw in and placed it in front of her.
Reina didn’t hesitate, sucking it down with a slurp, then bit into more bread with noticeably softer lips.
She seemed unaware, but her feet tapping away showed she was in a pretty good mood.
Seizing the moment, I carefully probed.
“But is it okay to sneak off like this? The delegation is at the welcome event, right?”
A brief silence fell, and Reina’s chewing visibly slowed.
...That sharp look made me regret being too hasty...
“I didn’t sneak out. Don’t worry.”
“Ah.”
...Just my imagination.
Reina turned back to her bread, and I sipped my coffee, feigning relief.
But my suspicions deepened.
This outing wasn’t personal—it was an official Vatican-sanctioned visit.
“Then.”
I tried floating another question for more precise info.
—!
Suddenly, a suspicious presence from behind.
Faint and stealthy, but with the surroundings so quiet, perhaps?
It couldn’t fool my sensitive senses.
...Vatican?
Pretending to look around, I focused my energy toward the source.
Nearby bushes. Figures hiding like stray cats.
And their faces were quite familiar.
“…What are you doing over there.”
Cheon Seo-yun and Ju A-rin were peeking our way.
It was so absurd I nearly coughed in disbelief, but Reina seemed to notice too and quietly asked me.
“Friends?”
She asked casually while picking the next bread, but I sensed a hint of wariness.
No point hiding it, so I nodded.
“More importantly...”
I tried to press on with my questions.
But my intent was quickly thwarted.
“Time’s up, it seems. Thank you for today.”
Reina cut the conversation first.
At the same time, booming sounds erupted as fireworks and confetti lit up the sky.
The salute signaling the end of the Vatican event.
Our candid talk ended here.
Reina shot to her feet. Before I could react, her snow-white hand touched my forehead like a snowflake.
[The Saintess’s Blessing envelops you.]
[Fatigue recovers.]
A brilliant light and refreshing energy swept through my body.
The floating sensation was so unfamiliar and awkward that I forgot to speak for a moment.
The bluish veil around her face dissipated, revealing her signature silver hair and golden eyes.
Her features, now sharper.
Her beauty transcended any illustration, leaving me simply entranced in that instant.
“Leina von Bien Hildebrandt. That’s my name. See you tomorrow.”
With those words, Reina vanished. Along with the bread bag on the bench.
Soon after, the presences of Ju A-rin and Cheon Seo-yun faded away too.
* * *
That evening, the usually bustling comprehensive training hall was quieter than normal.
Drenched in sweat, Baek Sa-young panted before collapsing spread-eagled.
With a refreshed expression, she gazed at the system message on the front screen.
[The Virtual Reality Tournament has ended.]
[Final rankings are announced.]
[1st: Bu Han-si, 300 points]
[2nd: Baek Sa-young, 297 points]
[3rd: One Stroke Two Cuts, 293 points]
.
.
She hadn’t achieved her goal of first place, but there were no regrets.
“I did my best.”
Not just going through the motions—she’d given it her all.
Nearly two weeks of ten straight hours a day made it an excuse without a shred of shame.
But who the hell was it, really?
Baek Sa-young pondered the nickname boldly atop hers.
“Bu Han-si.”
Cheats, bugs—plenty of accusations flew, but with the rankings finalized, it confirmed pullback’s claim: a hidden master concealing their strength.
Tournament rank didn’t directly equate to strength, but the shock of such a powerhouse in her grade was real.
As a swordsman, it stirred a fierce desire to cross blades.
“Wonder if they’d crush me good.”
Imagining a massive Bu Han-si charging with a greatsword, Baek Sa-young chuckled idly.
Pointless, since even their affiliation was unknown.
“I need to get stronger.”
Springing up, Baek Sa-young mulled over her future direction.
The new trait gained from last time’s civilian aid mission.
She hadn’t commissioned the Awakener Association yet, so details were vague, but she vaguely guessed it was physical-related.
The more she trained her body, the more her overall stats rose slightly.
Pushing to her limits seemed the best approach, but...
It felt too brute-force.
Spending that time honing her swordsmanship might be smarter.
It’d be nice to have someone to advise her right now.
Her thoughts reached that point, and she suddenly recalled one person.
But it was meaningless.
No contact info, no idea when they’d meet again.
“Any way to reach them?”
Regretfully fiddling with her phone,
Bzzz.
A sudden vibration and incoming message.
[Tomorrow’s Vatican Myeongdong Mass: Saintess Escort Team confirmed. Recipients must report to the faculty office by 9 AM...]
She’d gotten a heads-up in the afternoon, so nothing special.
Some showmanship to publicize the Vatican-Taehak agreement.
Just stand around as company, from what she heard.
But.
Bzzz.
The phone vibrated once more.
She thought it was another faculty message.
[Long time no see. Doing well?]
A jolt like electricity searing her nerves swept over her.
Just the first line set her heart racing—anyone could tell it was that person.
Standing dazed, Baek Sa-young realized this wasn’t the time and hurriedly scrolled down the text.