Chapter 33
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Learning (3)
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[Not everyone is like this, but most possessors have a tendency to think they're the only special one. That's why I like possessors. The way they realize right before they die that they're not the 'one and only'... distorting their faces...]
*Beep-*
I turned off the movie and dumped the rest of the beer into my mouth.
It wasn't special, but as a possessor myself, I just couldn't enjoy movies where possessors got killed off.
It felt like watching a zebra in the zoo stare at another zebra getting devoured by a lion on safari.
"Hoo..."
I let out a cold sigh and sank deep into the sofa, mulling over the request I'd gotten from Lee Hye-ri earlier that day.
"Queens, huh..."
Pulling a queen off her throne was never easy.
Even though I'd created them myself, Queens was an astonishingly strong team.
'It's not a team you can just beat because you want to win.'
There were countless reasons why Queens was strong, but I believed their overwhelming balance was the key.
Seol Ju-hee was undoubtedly powerful.
The measurable limit was S-rank, so officially she was S-rank, but at her current level, she'd reached the one-of-a-kind Ex-rank—practically the world's strongest.
But...
If her teammates couldn't support her, she probably never would have claimed the number one spot.
Hong Yu-ra, with her title of Swordmaster, lived up to her name with explosive attack power and defensive capabilities rivaling top-tier tanks.
Without Seol Ju-hee, she'd be the undisputed top dealer.
And what about Im A-rin?
Called a genius mage, she wielded near-perfect all-purpose magic.
Back in school, she'd once tracked me down with some unheard-of GPS spell during a blind date I'd been begged into by friends—that incident had become academy legend.
Unlike Seol Ju-hee or Hong Yu-ra, who specialized in one-on-one, she could unleash wide-area attacks too, making her a total cheat-code supporter.
This was Queens: not relying on individual strength, but perfect balance with no weak links.
Of course, Black Rose had once been number one, so they weren't lacking...
But compared to the current Queens, they fell a bit short. That was a fact.
"Tricky..."
Financially and considering my ties to Sejin Guild, taking the request made sense.
Since the opponent was Queens, Sejin had probably braced for failure from the start, so there wasn't much pressure.
More than that...
I loved the idea of sticking it to that trash heap Cheonhwa Guild and Cheonhwa Group.
'Time to pay for firing people so carelessly.'
Plus, Queens had never failed once. That was a slight worry.
They'd only ever taken paths guaranteed to succeed, so it was almost natural...
'They need to trip once.'
With the Demon King's forces changing course, who knew what was coming? Breaking them now would toughen their minds.
"...No choice but to do it."
Having sorted my thoughts, I grabbed my phone, messaged Lee Hye-ri, and— just in case—added a condition to keep my involvement in command under wraps.
*
The next day.
During their usual break after training...
"...Unnie."
Bang Han-na was lost so deep in thought she didn't hear Jin Seo-won's call.
"...Unnie?"
'Should I just not do it...?'
The reason she was racking her brain like this? Do Ji-hyeok.
She was seriously debating whether to ask him to watch a movie.
'What do I do...'
Bang Han-na wanted to spend time with Do Ji-hyeok.
They already spent most days training together, sure.
But she wanted something beyond team member and producer—more like brother and sister, intimate time.
'Will it seem too much? But if I don't do something like this...'
Then.
"...Han-na unnie."
Fed up, Jin Seo-won poked her.
"Eek!?"
Bang Han-na jolted back to reality and looked at her. Jin Seo-won spoke carefully, her tone laced with concern.
"...You okay?"
"Y-Yeah...! Totally fine!"
Bang Han-na forced a bright smile to brush it off, but...
Jin Seo-won, sensitive to others' emotions, could tell she was anything but fine.
"...Something bothering you?"
"B-Bothering me...?"
Bang Han-na floundered at Jin Seo-won's serious nod, waving her hands frantically.
"N-No way! I'm totally good!"
But...
That only made Jin Seo-won worry more.
"......"
After staring at her for a while, Jin Seo-won suddenly glanced around, pulled something from her pocket, and slipped it into Bang Han-na's hand.
"...Wanna try this?"
"...?"
It was a small oval thing made of soft silicone-like material.
Not getting it, Bang Han-na gave her a puzzled look.
"What's this...?"
Then.
"...Massager. Runs on magic."
Jin Seo-won gave a loaded answer.
"Massager...?"
Bang Han-na absentmindedly channeled a bit of mana to test it.
Vrrr...
The mystery massager vibrated fiercely for its size...
Staring at it buzzing in her palm, Bang Han-na finally realized what it was.
"!?"
A woman's massager.
"U-Um... Seo-won? Is this... like... yours...?"
"...Yeah."
"O-Oh... right... Um, why do you carry it...?"
"...For when I need it."
Bang Han-na felt dizzy at Jin Seo-won's innocent reply, quickly cut the mana, handed it back, and whispered urgently.
"Seo-won... This is for home only. Don't just show it to people...!"
"...Why?"
"Huh?"
Stumped for a second, Bang Han-na calmly explained to Jin Seo-won, whose values seemed oddly skewed.
Even between women, exposing such private things was dangerous and not to be done lightly.
Then...
"...I just thought you looked stressed, unnie..."
Jin Seo-won apologized with drooping shoulders, looking genuinely sorry.
"...Sorry."
Shocked again by her pure intentions, Bang Han-na felt ashamed of the secret jealousy she'd once harbored and patted her comfortingly.
"It's fine. It happens... Just be careful next time, okay?"
"...Okay."
Bang Han-na had completely forgotten her Do Ji-hyeok dilemma amid Jin Seo-won's sudden confession. Shaking off stray thoughts, she decided to follow her heart.
...Yeah, let's do it...!
Training resumed.
"It's pouring out there."
"Whoa, really?"
"Yeah. Supposed to last till morning."
"Ugh... Didn't bring an umbrella..."
"Oh? I'll give you a ride then."
"Really...?"
"Same direction anyway."
Bang Han-na, who'd been timing it perfectly during feedback, seized the moment.
"Producer! Since you're driving me home today... How about I treat you to a movie this weekend...!"
"Movie?"
"Yes! Was gonna go with a friend, but she bailed last minute, so I've got an extra ticket...!"
Lie.
"...Sure?"
Do Ji-hyeok eyed her oddly.
He rolled his eyes as if pondering, then...
"Alright then."
Nodded readily.
'Yes...!'
Bang Han-na, thrilled at securing the date, beamed uncontrollably.
*
Do Ji-hyeok's house.
Seol Ju-hee sat in the empty place, waiting for him.
"......"
Fresh off schedule, she was fully made up and glamorous, but her face was fierce as a demon's.
'That trash bastard... Chasing after that slut?'
News of Team Seoul City Hall teaming up with Sejin Guild.
Seol Ju-hee had despised Lee Hye-ri for ages.
At first, it bugged her that Lee clung when Do Ji-hyeok started succeeding.
Then she saw her wiggling up to him right in front of them, and it turned to loathing.
That's why she'd pushed for Cheonhwa Guild over Sejin despite better terms...
But Do Ji-hyeok got tangled with Sejin anyway. Learning that, Seol Ju-hee cursed herself for ever worrying about him.
...Won't let it slide.
Her worry mixed with hate had long since turned pure venom.
How long had she sat there, radiating icy fury?
*Beep-beep-beep-beep-*
Sounds from the entrance.
*Click-clack-*
Do Ji-hyeok was home.
"......"
Seol Ju-hee unconsciously fixed her hair and clothes to greet him.
No desire to look good remained, but...
Unconscious habit—she didn't even register it.
"...Huh? A-rin?"
Do Ji-hyeok's voice from the entryway.
Seeing shoes, he thought Im A-rin was over.
*Grind-*
Grinding her teeth at his casual call for Im A-rin, Seol Ju-hee unconsciously crossed her legs prettily, folded her arms to accent her chest, and waited.
And...
"A-rin...! Huh?"
They finally came face-to-face.