Hey, Class President, Don't Get in the Way

Stagger, stagger. Younghee moved forward.

The hospital shrouded in darkness was silent. To reach the next building where Cheolsu was, she had to go outside. Just walk straight from there.

……

Younghee was smiling, for some reason. Precisely, only the corners of her mouth curved up. Her eyes didn't move at all. Her black pupils, devoid of light, stared straight ahead. Maintaining that chilling smile. Straight ahead. Only toward Cheolsu's room.

"……Younghee?"

Someone blocked her path. She turned her head with a creak to look at the person.

It was the class president. She looked a bit tired, holding a cup of coffee in her hand. Probably taking a break after nursing Cheolsu. What a good girl.

"Oh, class president."

With slightly off timing, Younghee opened her mouth. Her clear voice rang through the night air. Her tone was unusually bright. But her expression didn't change at all. The class president frowned slightly at the eerie feeling.

"When did you wake up? You okay?"

"I'm fine. Perfectly healthy now."

It was true. Her body felt lighter than ever. She felt like she could fly. She could do anything right now.

"Glad to hear it. Where you headed?"

"To see Cheolsu."

After answering, Younghee started walking again. She passed right by the class president, heading toward the hospital entrance.

"Wait a sec."

Younghee stopped and turned. The class president was frowning at her. Their gazes clashed briefly in the air.

"What's that in your hand?"

"Huh?"

Younghee's gaze belatedly dropped to her own hand. A whip was clutched there.

"Oh."

Right. The weapon that person gave her earlier. To use when killing Cheolsu. Something about needing proof. She didn't really get it, but she took it anyway. It had been so long since she got a gift; she was happy. So she forgot and just carried it like this.

"It's a gift."

"A gift? You gonna give that to Cheolsu?"

"No. It's mine."

Younghee hugged the whip tight before it could be taken. The class president's expression twisted further at the sight.

"……You're definitely acting weird."

"I'm not. I'm perfectly fine."

On the contrary, she felt amazing. So good that she couldn't think of anything but Cheolsu. She was going crazy wanting to see him quick. Then she'd be even happier!

"Come here for a sec."

"No. I gotta ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠see Cheolsu."

"……No. You can't see Cheolsu."

"……Why?"

Younghee tilted her head. The class president quietly gathered mana in her hand. A silent signal that she'd stop her by force if needed.

"If you see Cheolsu right now…… something big's gonna happen. Even if not, you're banned from visiting. Gonna pass out again?"

In that instant, Younghee's face hardened coldly. Her unfocused eyes turned toward the class president. An inexplicable chill spread out.

"……What? Why are you interfering? I don't like you anymore either, class president."

A shiver ran down her spine.

What the hell is this?

The girl in front of her wasn't Younghee. The body was hers, but the personality inside was different. Different enough to call her a whole other person.

"What are you? Who are you?"

"Ehehe, what're you talking about? It's me, class president. Lee Younghee. Your friend."

Younghee stepped forward. The class president could feel the cold killing intent from that face. Was she even capable of smiling like that? More than that, why would Younghee……?

"What are you planning to do after seeing Cheolsu?"

"Huh? Kill him?"

She answered as if it were the most natural thing. As casually as picking up a dropped coin. Madness. That's all emanating from Younghee now.

"What the hell does that mean……."

"Why've you been like this since earlier? Can I go now?"

"Why the hell ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠do you wanna kill Cheolsu?"

"Reason……?"

Younghee tilted her head again. As if asking what that even meant.

"Do I need a reason?"

"What?"

"Listening to that person makes me happy. This is awesome. I feel so good."

Younghee raised her hand. The whip—her weapon—was in it.

"So killing Cheolsu will make me even happier."

Whoosh! The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠whip flew at her in an instant. The class president deployed her prepared spell.

Clang!

The shield shook from the impact. But right then, the whip swung around, aiming straight for the class president.

"Huh?"

The whip coiled around her neck like a snake. It pulled taut, choking her. Her breath cut off. She had no time to react to the sudden turn.

"Guhk!"

Younghee's true role was healer and buffer. But she was a rare type who could fight directly. Especially her specialty: the whip. She could easily beat mid-tier combatants at the academy.

"Kuhk! Kahak!"

"You're so mean, class president. If you'd just let me go, nothing would've happened. Making me do this."

The class president, sprawled on the ground, struggled desperately. This wouldn't do. She'd pass out from lack of air.

Danger……!

The class president twitched her hand. Her mana shield spun rapidly like a sawblade, thin and sharp enough to slice the whip.

"Cough! Haah! Haah!"

Finally securing her airway, the class president gasped roughly. She looked up at Younghee. Younghee was pouting at her severed whip.

"Hiiing. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I really liked that one."

"……I don't know what's going on, but you're not Younghee."

"Huh? What're you saying, class president? It's me. Lee Younghee. Your friend."

"Hoo. Fine. I'll beat you senseless, drag you back, and hear it all out slowly."

Mana gathered in the class president's hand. She was a top magic student at the academy, vying for first place. No pushover.

She fired the spell straight from her hand. And—

Semitransparent mana bullets poured toward Younghee from all directions. At least ten of them.

"Whoa~ They're sparkling~"

In response, Younghee cast her own spell. White waves danced in the air.

Boom!

Their magics collided. Mana exploded midair, cratering the ground where stray shots hit. The dispersing mana kicked up sand in a roar.

Whoosh!!

Seizing the gap, Younghee's remade whip via magic flew at her.

"Hmph!"

The class president spread her hand, summoning an ice shield. The whip froze solid on contact.

"Whoa, that's a tough spell, right? As expected, amazing, class president."

Light gathered in Younghee's hand again. It formed a sphere, then scattered like fireflies. A beautiful sight at a glance—but the class president's face went pale.

Damn! She was aiming for this from the start…!

Kaboom!!

It obliterated the entire area, including where the class president stood. Dirt and dust billowed in the explosion. An omnidirectional attack no shield could block. That had been Younghee's goal. A frontal shield couldn't stop it. Too late to cast now. This would surely….

Splat!

As if mocking her thoughts, the class president burst from the dust.

"You think you can beat me with magic?!"

Her body was wrapped flawlessly in a mana barrier. Double casting—a high-level skill even pro mages struggled with. The class president wielded it perfectly.

"Ugh!"

Younghee buckled under the compressing pressure from all sides. Unlike simple gravity magic, this sealed movement itself. Not binding, but crushing—impossible to dispel. The only way was raw strength to stand.

Yujin or Cheolsu might manage, but Younghee doesn't have that power.

As expected, Younghee stayed down, immobile. Soon she wouldn't even twitch a finger.

"Enough now. You're not a frontline fighter to begin with."

As said, Younghee was a healer-buffer. Even if decent in combat, she was support at best. She could beat normal mages, sure. But the class president was an academy top student. No way she'd go down easy.

"Satisfied now?"

"……"

"Let's head back, Younghee. Tell me everything that happened."

This Younghee was far from normal. What could make her want to kill Cheolsu? She needed the full story.

The class president approached Younghee. Maybe that was her mistake.

"Why……."

"Huh?"

"Why are you interfering?"

Black energy rippled. Realizing what it was, the class president's eyes widened.

"Black… mana?"

Malevolent even at rest, it surged. The source, needless to say: Younghee.

"I just don't wanna hurt anymore. I wanna be happy! Seeing Cheolsu fixes everything…!"

Even her hair seemed to writhe. That vicious mana. The air vibrated with its waves—an illusion, maybe.

Impossible…!

Mana overflowed from Younghee's body. No normal student could produce that. Her frail frame was being forcibly overtaxed, squeezing out mana beyond control.

I have to stop her!

The class president hurriedly gathered mana. This was dangerous. Not just for Cheolsu or others—even Younghee's life was at risk. She had to block it here, somehow!

"Lee Younghee!"

Black mana erupted from Younghee's hand. The class president countered with her own casting.

Her strongest spell. She didn't want to kill Younghee by mistake. Offsetting should suffice. So she steeled herself as her magic glowed.

Or it should have.

"……Huh?"

The class president muttered blankly, unintentionally. She was face-down on the ground. Her fallen body wouldn't move. A beat late, she realized her magic had been overpowered.

I… lost? To Younghee?

She clearly remembered the clash. Younghee's black mana. Her own Cho Jung Ryeok. They collided—and hers was pushed back. It had veered off course; a direct hit might've killed her.

Damn….

She tried to rise, but her body wouldn't obey. No—her vision was blurring. Rough sand stung her cheek. She'd lose consciousness like this. Instinct told her so.

Someone… someone stop Younghee…!

Her unresponsive mouth screamed in her mind. As if answering, someone appeared. Probably the one Younghee wanted to see most.

"……Younghee?"

It was Cheolsu. He'd gotten up and walked over from his bed. Seeing that, the class president wanted to scream.

No….

No good. Anyone but him. Cheolsu couldn't meet this Younghee. One of them would end up hurt—reason and instinct screamed it. Someone had to intervene!

Please….

Her desperate plea went unanswered; her consciousness faded. At last, the class president collapsed completely.

Now alone in the clearing, Younghee smiled faintly.

"I missed you, Cheolsu."