Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: Part 2 Chapter 8
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“Yeou-hee.”
Lee Sa-byeok called Yeou-hee’s name and stepped into the room.
Yeou-hee, who had been painting her nails with black manicure, looked up at Lee Sa-byeok suddenly entering and blinked.
“What brings you here? I’m not exactly on the verge of death right now.”
“Bored, so I came to check it out.”
“Oh, wanna head downtown and hang out? I’m free today, perfect timing.”
Yeou-hee flipped her wrist back carefully so the manicure wouldn’t smudge and draped her arm over Lee Sa-byeok’s shoulder.
“Wait till this dries.”
“Ugh, the manicure smell’s giving me a headache.”
Lee Sa-byeok swatted Yeou-hee’s arm away and flopped naturally onto her bed.
“Want me to do yours too? Since you’re here, let’s match colors. Gimme your hand.”
Lee Sa-byeok hesitated for a moment before sticking out just her pinky nail. It was chipped badly and patched back, making the surface bumpy.
“What’s with the timidity? Just paint them all.”
Yeou-hee grabbed Lee Sa-byeok’s pinky and shook it playfully.
“If I paint them all, my fingers’ll reek of manicure. Just make this one look pretty.”
Lee Sa-byeok tapped her pinky and smiled. Yeou-hee stared at her, tilting her head.
Something felt softer about her today.
“……Something up?”
Yeou-hee paused while applying black manicure to the pinky and gazed intently at Lee Sa-byeok, who seemed a bit down.
She wasn’t the type to yell down the hallway gathering the kids for a mood boost, nor was she snapping insults sharply.
Coming quietly to her alone and suggesting they hang out felt suspiciously off.
“Fox.”
Yeou-hee looked up from painting the pinky, meeting Lee Sa-byeok’s eyes.
‘Even using a nickname…….’
Suspicious. What’s her angle?
“Why, sweetie?”
Either way, it was welcome.
“How’s school life? Fun?”
Lee Sa-byeok asked without batting an eyelid.
Is this momentary kindness before an interrogation?
Yeou-hee drooped her eyebrows like she was miffed and spoke.
“It was kinda fun at first, but lately it’s boring. Not like I can do much.”
“Oh, I see.”
Lee Sa-byeok blew on her now-painted black pinky and replied half-heartedly.
“Good to hear you’re staying out of trouble.”
A blunt remark. It somehow drained her energy. She’d expected probing questions.
“Lee Sa-byeok, you’ve gone super soft lately, you know that?”
“Not soft—just playing it smart and safe now.”
“Why safe?”
Yeou-hee tilted her head, not getting it.
“’Cause I’m unawakened. Gotta be.”
“So why? You’re Abyss. They’re scared of you, won’t mess around. We’ve got no enemies but monsters now, Sa-byeok. Monsters aren’t your kill anyway, so no enemies for you.”
“Nah, fuck, I’m gonna awaken. Saying they’re my kills hurts my pride.”
“I’ll take it back when you awaken.”
Lee Sa-byeok shot a glare like she was cursing with her eyes, then soon rubbed her now-dry pinky with her thumb.
“……Monsters aren’t the problem. People are.”
“People? Why people?”
Looks like Lee Sa-byeok had gone soft physically and mentally.
Worrying needlessly and getting scared. Is that why she came?
Her newfound innocence was kinda cute.
“What’s there to worry about? I’ve got eyes locked on you like this.”
“…….”
Lee Sa-byeok reached out and pinched Yeou-hee’s cheek.
“Then my heart feels secure.”
* * *
Lee Sa-byeok arrived at school and walked the hallway.
The gazes from those around her were shifting more and more.
Early on: goodwill, curiosity, a bit of fear.
Midway: growing fear and unease.
And now.
“Ah, whatever.”
One student bumped shoulders with Lee Sa-byeok.
“Ah, sorry. Sorry, you okay? Sorry.”
“Ah, shit…….”
As Lee Sa-byeok kept apologizing, the student scowled, eyed her up and down, and walked past.
‘Now it’s total ignoring and occasional pity.’
She’d tested bumping shoulders with students floor by floor, and reactions were similar.
Either cursing or pitying looks.
One thing clear: fear was largely gone from how they looked at her.
It’d changed even faster since she started blatantly eating in the bathroom.
The rumor that Lee Sa-byeok cried alone eating lunch reached even the kids whose heads she’d bashed with a tumbler.
“Ah, so that’s why she was crying alone in the bathroom?”
“No fuckin’ way?”
“She looked tough, guess it was an act.”
“Who said you’d get fucked if you touched her? Who was that.”
The downfall of the girl who’d once shamed them was prime gossip fodder.
“Wait, isn’t that Lee Sa-byeok over there?”
“What do you know, speak of the devil.”
“She’s coming our way, right?”
A familiar face ambled over from afar.
Wearing earphones, expression uneasy. Lips pressed tight, eyes trembling faintly.
As she got close, Lee Sa-byeok turned off the video she’d been watching and removed her earphones.
“Hey, guys……. Um…….”
All eyes focused on Lee Sa-byeok, who’d suddenly approached staring at the ground.
She looked totally deflated compared to last time.
“Sorry for hitting you last time. Must’ve hurt bad~ I lost my temper. Sorry. Really sorry.”
Laughter erupted.
Lee Sa-byeok thought of the hilarious story from the video she’d been glued to and laughed along. Frowning would look like forced smiling.
Laughing together: tacit agreement to the ignoring.
Lee Sa-byeok kept her eyes on the floor, fidgeting her fingers idly.
“Hey, isn’t the apology a bit late?”
“Sorry…….”
She dragged out the end of her words to sound weak.
“Funny bastard, huh? Know how close you came to cracking my skull?”
“Thanks to the amazing medical tech sacrificed by Association kids you insulted, I’m fine.”
Lee Sa-byeok, groveling in apology, suddenly sneered back.
“What?”
“Nothing…… sorry…… Glad you’re okay at least…….”
“Fuckin’ annoying prick. Seeing your face makes the spot you hit ache.”
“Sorry…….”
Watching her bow low and grovel reminded them of getting their hair grabbed and beaten by Yeou-hee’s crew, fueling their anger.
They were the usual fixed targets, but suddenly the territory expanded to them.
Probably ’cause that Association president guy came to school because of Lee Sa-byeok.
Blaming the guy in front of them pissed them off more.
“If you’re sorry, take a hit too.”
Pow!
A fist slammed hard into Lee Sa-byeok’s face, snapping her head to the side.
Her cheek flushed red. She clutched her face, head bowed, shoulders shaking.
“So…… sorry……. You forgive me now?”
Head down, shoulders trembling—it seemed like she was deeply hurt. But when she lifted her head, her expression was wicked.
Her forced frown looked like a smirk, sending chills.
Strong vibe she was acting.
As everyone hesitated at the weirdness from Lee Sa-byeok, she spoke first.
“……Hey. If Yeou-hee’s crew causes trouble and shit hits the fan, could you say it was me to the others?”
“Why?”
“Last time you guys ran your mouths, the Association president came grilling me, and I suffered big time ’cause of them. Just wanna look good to them. School hell’s better than Association hell…….”
Finally, Lee Sa-byeok’s oddness started making sense.
Her fear wasn’t them, but her own group.
Apologizing to keep the beating quiet, probably.
“This fucker’s apologizing to use us?”
“Ah……! No! Not that. Just a side request.”
Not just groveling—teetering between servile and defiant, pissing them off more.
From first-awakener perspectives, befriending influential A-rank Association awakeners like Yeou-hee’s crew was key.
Chance to escape the recent bullying stress.
Dragging along their obvious lackey Lee Sa-byeok to show off fun stuff.
Maybe climb a bit in their implicit caste system.
They were mustering after school for a nearby open gate—bringing her along sounded good.
“What’re you guys up to after school? I’ll treat you to something tasty as thanks!”
Perfect timing—Lee Sa-byeok asked about after school.
“Cool. But we pick what to eat. Follow us after school? Let’s hang since we’re good now. We’ll show you muggle games. Got time?”
Lee Sa-byeok’s lips curved up.
“Wow, really……? Yeah! I’ve got time!”
Her bright expression shone as she answered loudly.
* * *
After classes, Lee Sa-byeok met up with the kids she’d promised to eat with and moved together.
“So when’s the restaurant coming up?”
“…….”
Lee Sa-byeok trailed behind them innocently, chattering away.
“Feels like we’re leaving downtown—hidden gem? Super excited.”
“…….”
“Oh, and don’t order too much. I’m broke as fuck.”
Lee Sa-byeok pulled out her wallet to check.
Jingle, jingle.
In the silent atmosphere, only the sound of her rummaging echoed.
“Whoa. Sorry, all I’ve got is five thousand won? It’s fine, it’s fine. I’ll do dishes at the restaurant.”
“…….”
“You guys help with dishes too.”
“…….”
“Say no if you don’t wanna.”
“…….”
“Joking, but no one’s responding. Embarrassed, so I’m talking more. Fuck. Wait, you guys said you wanna be friends. Why am I the only one trying.”
Lee Sa-byeok babbled servilely, but at some point, they went silent.
When they veered into a secluded spot, one finally spoke.
“Knock her out.”
Someone swung a blunt weapon at the back of Lee Sa-byeok’s neck.