Chapter 226: Misunderstanding Breeds Misunderstanding
Chapter 226: Misunderstanding Breeds Misunderstanding
‘Hey. Are you really too stupid to understand, or are you just pretending not to?’
The voice from in front of her pierced sharply into Kim Hanbyul’s mind. She lifted her head with a dazed expression. There sat Sung Yubin, legs crossed, looking down on her arrogantly. She took a drag from the cigarette in her right hand before exhaling a thin stream of smoke.
‘Are you that dense? What? You don’t get it? Ahahaha!’
Sung Yubin was definitely laughing. No, she heard the sound of laughter. But the Sung Yubin sitting before her wasn't smiling at all. Just as Kim Hanbyul unconsciously tried to take a step back from that sharp glare…
“Ah.”
Kim Hanbyul let out a gasp. It was as if her entire body was bound by invisible chains; she couldn't move an inch. No matter how hard she struggled, she remained frozen, and despair slowly began to creep across her face.
‘Let me spell it out for you then. Clean out your ears and listen carefully. You, go spread your legs for that bastard. Offer up that precious body of yours to the Mercenary Lord. Huh? Do you get it now? Do I really have to be this blunt?’
“I won’t…”
Kim Hanbyul managed to squeeze out the words, but nothing changed. The restraints on her body didn't loosen, and the Sung Yubin before her was now giving her a mocking look. She couldn't turn her head, cover her ears, or close her eyes. Soon, memories she wanted to forget began to flood in around her.
‘Don’t worry. Once you do the deed, we can help you with the rest. Just close your eyes this one time. And throw yourself into his arms, even if you have to strip yourself.’
“Not like this…!”
‘Hoho. Why are you trying to stay so clean all by yourself? Don't feel so wronged. When I joined the Golden Lion…’
It was then that Sung Yubin’s body began to distort grotesquely. At the same time, the words that had been stinging Kim Hanbyul’s mind also began to fade.
Though she hadn't regained freedom of her body, Kim Hanbyul could finally let out a sigh of relief. The mere fact that Sung Yubin was gone was enough to ease the breath that had been caught in her throat.
However, Sung Yubin’s distorted form soon began to coalesce into a new face. Aloof eyes, a sharp nose, calmly closed lips, neat features, and an overall indifferent expression.
The moment she saw the fully reconstructed face, Kim Hanbyul let out a faint scream. The person who had appeared before her this time was none other than Kim Soohyun.
In the next instant, Kim Soohyun’s and Kim Hanbyul’s eyes met. The flow of time, which had momentarily paused, began to rush in like a tide, bringing new memories with it.
‘With the people who trust me. And the people I can trust.’
‘Still, I wanted to have at least one or two people who felt like family.’
“No…”
Memories from the day before completing the User Academy. Kim Hanbyul denied them. She tried to shake her head, to deny it somehow, but only a few helpless tears trickled down. Heedless of them, new, more recent memories began to flow in.
‘And during that process, nothing happened that could have cracked our trust.’
“No! That’s not true!”
‘Honestly, if I were you, I don’t think I could trust the words of someone who left like that.’
“Noooooooooo!”
*
When I opened my eyes in the morning, I could feel a dull throbbing in my head. Perhaps because I hadn't slept well, my entire body was filled with fatigue. I'd woken up a few times during the night to the sound of Hanbyul groaning in her sleep; she must have had a nightmare. I reflexively glanced at the bed next to mine and saw an empty, neatly made bed. It seemed she had left early, before I woke up.
After letting out a meaningless sigh, I calmly got up. Today was the day a welcome guest was visiting. It was the day I'd been looking forward to most in the 8th week—the day Ko Yeonju would visit the Academy. I wanted to hear news about the others I hadn't seen in a while, and I also wanted to know what decision she had made regarding Park Hyunwoo's proposal.
After a quick wash, I left the dorm, and the slightly bustling scene of the Academy came into view. Since weekends had been established as a time for rest, it should have been quiet. The reason it was so busy today was likely because of Ko Yeonju and Park Hyunwoo's meeting.
Looks like the Golden Lion is getting pretty desperate.
Knowing a fair bit about the Golden Lion's internal situation, I clicked my tongue and started walking. There was still plenty of time, but I planned to arrive at the Easter Egg early and wait for Ko Yeonju at a leisurely pace. Besides, my mind had been a cluttered mess since this morning, and I was also craving the fresh, grass-scented air.
Arriving at the Easter Egg at a strolling pace, I stretched wide and lay down on the grass. I could feel the refreshing air rushing into my nostrils. Soon, the warm sunlight shone down on me, and a cool breeze blew through it. I felt the fatigue that had settled deep inside my body slowly washing away.
“……”
Just in case someone came in, I activated my Sensing and enjoyed a brief moment of rest.
Time continued to pass, and soon I felt my stomach clock ring, telling me it was lunchtime. I felt a little hungry, probably because I had skipped breakfast. Just as I was thinking of stopping by the cafeteria to grab something in case Ko Yeonju was late, I caught the presence of someone entering the Easter Egg from the right.
As I turned my head in that direction, I saw Ko Yeonju emerge from between the trees with a gentle smile on her face. Seeing the basket hanging from her left arm, I cheered inwardly.
“Darling~.”
“It’s been a… while.”
Her aggressive opening made me stammer despite myself. I let out a dry laugh and looked her over, noticing that she was dressed differently than usual. She normally gave off a slightly seductive air, but today she looked more like a demure wife. The style suited her surprisingly well, and I found myself admiring her outfit.
After sharing a reunion with a tight hug, we sat side-by-side on the grass and opened the basket. Seeing the delicious-looking food she had made herself, I felt glad I hadn't eaten breakfast.
“You’re hungry, right? How about we eat first and then talk?”
“Sounds good to me.”
I listened to Ko Yeonju’s stories as I ate the food she had prepared. Since I was eating, the conversation consisted mostly of light topics. It was her own way of being considerate, to ensure I had a comfortable meal.
Of all the topics, I listened most closely to the others’ training progress. Hearing that they were producing good results delighted me. With their Academy graduation drawing nearer, I could look forward to seeing how much more they had grown by the time we met again.
With her last comment being that Vivian missed me very much, I managed to finish most of the food. As I was gently rubbing my full stomach, she began to clear away the leftovers with demure hand movements. Seeing her being strangely obedient today felt a little odd, but I decided to let it go, thinking it was for the best.
I quietly watched her fold the cloth we had spread over the grass, then spoke in a low voice. I had heard most of what I needed to hear, so it was time to move on to the main subject.
“Ko Yeonju.”
“Yes?”
“What did you decide about Park Hyunwoo’s proposal?”
“Ah~. Yes. I accepted. I figured it would be better to help out a little.”
Accepted, huh. Ko Yeonju answered in a casual tone. It wasn't very surprising, since it was within my expectations. She must have had her reasons. Still, I was curious about them.
“Didn't you tell me not to trust the Golden Lion?”
“Yes, I did. Of course, I don't trust them either. But even taking that into account, I concluded that this matter is worth investigating. You've heard the gist of it, right?”
“Yes. What do you think? Do you really think the Matriarch is missing? Or is the Golden Lion just worrying for nothing?”
At my question, Ko Yeonju paused her tidying of the basket and adopted a thoughtful expression. After about a minute, she turned to me and spoke calmly.
“Honestly, when I first heard what you said, and even up until this morning, I was planning to refuse. But after doing some investigating on my own and seeing the records Park Hyunwoo gave me today, I changed my mind.”
“So the Matriarch is missing?”
“Nothing’s certain yet. But at the very least, it doesn't seem like the Golden Lion is just exaggerating. And…”
“And?”
“Well, I suppose I’ll have to go and see for myself. But I have this strange, uneasy feeling. I keep getting this feeling that we might already be too late…”
Ko Yeonju trailed off with a worried expression, then closed the lid of the basket. After pushing it to one side, she turned back to me with a bashful smile.
“We decided to leave tomorrow. They’re recalling the investigation team already in the field and have also assigned support forces from the allied clans, so it shouldn’t be especially dangerous.”
“So you’ll be commanding them?”
“Of course. First, we’ll investigate whether she entered the mountain range. If we confirm that she did, we’ll conduct a second investigation inside. If it ends after the first phase, it should be quick, but if we have to proceed to the second, it will take at least two weeks.”
“Wow, two weeks? The others will be thrilled.”
I meant it sincerely, but Ko Yeonju must have taken it as a joke because she burst out laughing. Then she reassured me, saying, “Don’t worry. Hayeon is there.”
“Oh, right. Speaking of Hayeon, if I’m leaving tomorrow, I need to delegate my authority in advance. I came here intending to refuse, so I completely forgot to do it before I left.”
“You could probably do it via communication. Anyway, sounds like you’ll be quite busy today?”
“I suppose so, right? I have to hand over my duties, too… After that, we're scheduled to rendezvous with the investigation team at Prinsica.”
“You’re working hard. Isn’t it tough?”
“Hmph~. Soohyun~. I'm tired~.”
At my words of comfort, Ko Yeonju immediately acted coquettishly and snuggled into my arms. I held her with a conflicted expression, watching her original demeanor gradually replace the demure air she had worn at first.
Strange. Why do I feel so anxious?
As I forced myself to calm my increasingly unsettled mind, Ko Yeonju's strangely excited voice reached me.
“The official departure is tomorrow. We're meeting up this afternoon, so thankfully there's still a little time left.”
“Hmm. Still, wouldn’t it be better to prepare in advance?”
“I'd like to, but my whole body is completely drained right now. Someone needs to recharge me, quickly.”
“Haha. Then hugging me should recharge you.”
I recalled a past event and replied bitterly. But unexpectedly, Ko Yeonju shook her head back and forth.
“That is a form of charging, but it takes too long. So, I need a more direct, faster charge.”
“Huh? A faster charge?”
“Yes. You need to put some energy into this product called Ko Yeonju. Otherwise, I might collapse from exhaustion.”
“What does that…”
At my question, Ko Yeonju gave me a subtle smile and spread her thighs. Then, she pointed her index finger down to the center of the open space—in other words, to her private parts.
“Here. This is the outlet. Now, would you please insert the plug?”
As soon as she finished speaking, her gaze shot down to my lower body. I reflexively closed my thighs and said in a flustered voice.
“Ko Yeonju. This is inside the Academy, and it's an open area.”
“So what? A little outdoor play is fine now and then. I've always wanted to try it.”
“No, wait a minute. How did the conversation get here?”
“Agh! Who told you to tempt me like that in the first place?”
Ko Yeonju let out a powerful shout and lunged at me. I wanted to ask when on earth I had tempted her, but at that moment, the memory of our crystal communication flashed through my mind. I had only given her a light kiss, but how did that become a provocation?
However, I had no time to think, no moment to react. I could only stare with a dumbfounded expression as her nimble hands grabbed my pants.
*
By some miracle, we were able to safely conclude our outdoor play that day (meaning, we didn't get caught), and Ko Yeonju left with a very satisfied look on her face.
Normally, I should have been the one to see her off, but instead, the strange phenomenon of her supporting me all the way to the main building occurred. As a brief aside, as I hobbled into the dorm, Kim Hanbyul, who was sitting on her bed folding my instructor's uniform, looked at my face with a startled expression.
Anyway, after Ko Yeonju left, I heard at the start of the ninth week that the investigation team led by 〈Shadow Queen〉 had departed. It was not publicly announced—Park Hyunwoo merely mentioned it in passing—but because they had received support forces from several places, it was effectively an open secret among certain clans.
There was nothing I could do in the meantime. Simply hoping for her safe return, I spent my days at the Academy as things slowly wound down.
And so, two weeks passed.