Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: The Hypnosis on My Childhood Friend Is Completely Broken (3)
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Class President Mi focused on the sparring while also keeping an eye on Eum Ji-hye. Ever since that inexplicable fog had lifted once, Eum Ji-hye had started to weigh on her mind.
She didn't know why she felt this way. Class President Mi simply found herself instinctively glaring at Eum Ji-hye. She couldn't tear her eyes away from whatever Eum Ji-hye was up to.
"Mi!"
Because of that, a huge opening appeared. For the C Class cadets pressing her, it was their chance.
Whoosh-!
Sword and spear rushed in swiftly. They stabbed toward Class President Mi with killing intent.
Eum Ji-hye had clearly told them to go easy on her. But everyone was going all out.
They were too excited to hold back.
In this situation, avoiding injury was up to Class President Mi herself.
Class President Mi briefly pulled her gaze from Eum Ji-hye and focused on the threat right in front of her. She glared wide-eyed at the sword's path.
Time seemed to slow. Her concentration reached its peak.
Strength flowed into the hand gripping her sword. Mana concentrated in her upper arm.
For a moment, she felt the illusion that her arm had thickened.
Mana Reinforcement. It was a skill all cadets specializing in close combat could use.
The intensity varied by skill level, of course.
Class President Mi was a cadet who could wield Mana Reinforcement at an advanced level. With its aid, her sword swung in an impossible arc.
Clang, clang-!
She deflected both sword and spear at once. Weight shifted to the ankle bracing her center of gravity.
"Ngh!"
Class President Mi held her ground through sheer grit. She perfectly redirected the attacks so they wouldn't reach her teammates behind her.
Juyeon-woo immediately backed her up, thrusting his spear at the enemy. Blue lightning surged along its trajectory.
Kaboom-!
The intimidation was intense. If they weren't on the same team, it might've been a little scary.
"Not thinking of switching teams even now?"
"I could do better than Park A-young."
Even with the person in question right there listening, some cadets brazenly made the offer. But no one scolded them.
They were all thinking the same thing.
If they had a face as thick as that girl's, it was worth a shot at least. They'd have pitched it to Juyeon-woo too.
He was that appealing a teammate.
"Aw, that's too much."
Juyeon-woo brushed off the proposals with a bright smile.
"A-young's working hard too."
"Yeon-woo..."
Park A-young looked at Juyeon-woo with a touched expression.
"And honestly, you all and A-young aren't that different."
"...?"
Was that praise or an insult? It was ambiguous.
While Park A-young puzzled over it, the cadets who'd taken it as an insult swung their weapons.
"Yeah? Then block this too!"
Aggro shifted to Juyeon-woo. Whether intentional or not, it was an opportunity for now.
Class President Mi fell back to regroup with Park A-young. Her ankle throbbed.
"You okay?"
"...Dunno. Let's sort out the situation first."
They were surrounded by C Class cadets. They needed to help Juyeon-woo. The two quickly moved to their positions.
As the fight intensified, Class President Mi could no longer spare attention for Eum Ji-hye. She didn't even notice that Eum Ji-hye was only watching Juyeon-woo.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The academy's end-of-semester practical exam was essentially the final evaluation of the first semester.
"Not everyone's gunning for a last-minute turnaround. They'll all prep hard."
Training was more grueling than usual. Minimum 1-vs-3 battles.
Right after finishing all drills, the cadets were wrecked. I looked like a total rag too.
I got treated at the infirmary. I left wrapped head to toe in bandages.
Han-seol was waiting. Not out in the open in the hallway.
We met up secretly near the main gate, her hiding out.
"C Class is prepping hard too, huh?"
Han-seol giggled as she looked at me. My girlfriend, apparently finding my state hilarious.
From my side, I'd feel hurt saying it, but she'd be guilty as charged. Han-seol would have to sweetly atone.
"Kinda? What about you guys? A Class isn't slacking?"
"Nope. Everyone's grinding."
She spoke casually, but I knew she was working harder than anyone. No cadet at Infinite Academy outdid Han-seol in effort.
Talent on top of that drive. That was why she was called Korea's next-gen hero.
'And I've snagged the childhood friend spot with a girl like that.'
If only she wasn't weak to threats. Juyeon-woo's weird personality had led to creating that weakness.
Right now, Geum Tae-yeon was the biggest issue.
Eum Ji-hye was off on her own path, and Aunt and Juyeon-hee were a set. The only girl directly tied to Han-seol was Geum Tae-yeon.
Something would blow up with Geum Tae-yeon eventually. She'd do something awful to Han-seol.
I could see it coming.
What would my fate be? Which of the many NTR plots would Han-seol follow?
I hoped it'd go the way where she does the dishes for Juyeon-woo.
"Class President Mi?"
On the way home with Han-seol, we ran into Class President Mi on the street. Her condition was a bit better than mine.
Overusing brain lightning mana had left me the most banged up.
Class President Mi, meeting us on the road, gave an awkward smile and a greeting.
"...Yeon-woo, heading this way?"
"Yeah."
Class President Mi glanced at Han-seol. She hadn't expected us to be together.
"You two close?"
"Close?"
Asked like that, I had to say yes. By the setting, we were childhood friends. Closest relationship at the academy.
"Eh, moderately?"
Couldn't let dating slip. Childhood friends was public knowledge, but I drew the line.
Han-seol frowned, clearly unhappy with my response.
"I heard you're childhood friends? From A-young."
Class President Mi walked with us. She joined naturally. Then started gently probing our relationship.
Curious all along, maybe.
"We are childhood friends."
"That's wild. Friends from childhood lasting this long? Most drift apart, right?"
"If you live in the same area, it sticks. As long as neither minds."
I answered Class President Mi's questions kindly enough. Felt a bit iffy, but I brushed it off.
We'd both been under Eum Ji-hye's hypnosis, after all.
'Sense of kinship?'
Maybe camaraderie.
We chatted with Class President Mi on the way home. Shy Han-seol didn't interact much with her.
Me and Class President Mi, me and Han-seol. Ping-pong like that.
"I gotta go this way for the bus."
Midway, Class President Mi stopped abruptly. At a fork, she pointed the opposite direction.
"Oh. See ya. Catch you tomorrow."
Hoped her soreness eased. I sent her off with that wish. Class President Mi turned and headed straight home.
Just Han-seol and me now, we picked up the pace.
"...Weird."
Han-seol voiced her doubt. Said Class President Mi's behavior was off.
"Why go the long way around?"
"Huh?"
"That way's a huge detour. There's a bus stop right here on our route."
Our path with Han-seol had a bus stop. Connected to the main road, so usually you'd take that one.
"Guess her bus doesn't go this way."
I shrugged it off. Figured she had her reasons, thought positively.
'...Some other goal?'
What goal?
Mysterious.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Class President Mi rounded the corner and secretly peeked back at the two. Han-seol and Juyeon-woo walking side by side.
The distance between them felt oddly intimate.
Han-seol naturally stuck close to Juyeon-woo. Not pressed together, but not apart either.
To Class President Mi, with suspicions sprouting, it looked off. That gap wasn't the width between ordinary 'friends.'
She was nearly convinced.
'What A-young said was weird too.'
Since the fog lifted. Memories of recent events flashed through her mind.
Training with Park A-young over the weekend. Things Park A-young had let slip that day.
Han-seol and Juyeon-woo weren't just normal. Too close for that.
Because childhood friends?
The vibe felt familiar. Han-seol and Juyeon-woo. Juyeon-woo and Teacher Eum Ji-hye.
Familiar. The atmosphere Class President Mi often sensed.
She couldn't pinpoint it exactly.
Class President Mi turned away, feeling uneasy. Believing this stifling, hard-to-describe emotion would eventually clear, she headed home.
"Mi, why so late?"
The detour had delayed her. Normally, she'd have been home an hour earlier.
Class President Mi gave her father an awkward smile.
"Had to sync up with my team. Got late."
"Yeah? Man, your face is a mess. Tough training?"
"Training's always tough."