Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: 15. School's Star
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“Inha?”
But the one who picked up wasn’t Inha.
[Hello. We’re finally alone together.]
“……!”
A voice that felt both unfamiliar and eerily familiar struck my ear. I flinched.
The hand holding the receiver trembled uncontrollably. ……No, I’d expected this. With my phone in this state, it was possible……
I bit my lip hard. But how? He hadn’t stolen Inha’s phone. Because Inha was with Hansu right now. In a safe place.
‘Hacking?’
Computers, phones, landlines. He’d done it all. Then, what came to mind next was the scene from my dream.
‘As I thought, that was…….’
With that in mind, I quietly opened my mouth. Stalking me, setting up a barrier that blocks magic, cutting off calls……severing all communication……I had no idea what he was thinking. What he wanted from stalking me, really, I had absolutely no clue……!
“Who……are you……?”
I swallowed my fear and asked. Then he, the voice on the other end, let out a sigh full of admiration.
[Such a pretty voice. It feels like it’s been forever since I last heard it.]
A chill ran down my spine, and I gripped the phone tighter with both hands.
“……What do you want? Why do you keep……”
My throat felt parched again as I swallowed. The man’s voice was low, dark, and sticky.
[What I want? Nothing much. I just wanted to be alone with you.]
“Alone……?”
[Yeah. Just the two of us. No friends, no parents. Everyone you call, everyone you meet, only me. That’s my goal.]
“That’s……disgusting……”
[Oh, right. The barrier must’ve startled you out of nowhere. It startled me too. Did you want to run away before even seeing my face?]
“…….”
I rolled my eyes. Barrier? Run? What was he talking about?
[I’m glad I set up the trap in advance. I rigged it so the barrier activates the moment you try to use magic, so you can’t escape. I couldn’t do anything about magic already in effect, but inside it, you can’t use any magic. No items either. Teleport items are useless. You can’t run. If you really want to use magic, come down to where I am. You can use magic once you step outside the house. Easy, right?]
My body shook so badly I couldn’t speak, and the man’s voice continued.
[Did the sudden phone cutoff, internet blackout surprise you? Sorry. I didn’t want anyone else coming here. I want to see your crying face, your laughing face, your pained expression……that would ruin it.]
Terror welled up inside me. My vision blurred as heat built in my eyes.
[Remember when we talked last time? The first time I touched you. My hand brushed your hair……you have no idea how excited that made me. I made up my mind then. Yeah, I decided. I’m going to have you. I want to be alone with you. Hear your voice, touch your skin, smell your scent…….]
“S-stop……! Stop it……!”
[Are you crying?]
“Hic…….”
[You’re……so lovable……. ]
A shiver ran through me! I dropped the phone. The man’s voice kept going. Ignoring it, I moved my shaking hands to end the call.
[I prepared so much. Want me to send proof of my love? Oh, what do you like? Food? Flowers? I bought notebooks?]
Click.
I stared at the disconnected phone, face down, catching my breath. Tears poured down.
“Hic……hngh……!”
I had no idea what was happening or why. What should I do? How am I supposed to handle this alone? Against an adult mage……
Even if I had amazing talent, it was only by a kid’s standards. I couldn’t beat an adult mage.
“Hn……hngh…….”
It was terrifying and scary. I just trembled in fear and cried for a while, unable to do anything.
I came to my senses in the middle of the night. The first thing I did upon getting up was test if I could use magic. I cast blankly, but nothing happened. No illusions, no messages, no barriers.
The man’s mana was still fixed at the front gate. The phone was still blank. The computer showed only a blue screen. The landline made no sound.
Checking the phone, there was a message.
『From: Rex
A gift.
Check the delivery chute.』
I agonized over whether to check it. I don’t know what possessed me to open the intercom chute. But roses came tumbling out. Red, pink, black, purple, white. Some buds, some fully bloomed, some half-open. The overpowering scent made me dizzy.
“Ugh……!”
I ran to the storage room, grabbed a fire item, aimed at the flowers, but nothing happened.
‘Right, he said items don’t work either…….’
Sitting there dejectedly, my eyes blazed with anger. Alone together? Don’t make me laugh.
“Dad will come back soon, and Mom too. Three days, no, two days. Just hold on a bit, and Mom will come. When Mom gets here…….”
Wiping away fresh tears, I desperately thought it through. No magic inside, but magic outside. Did he say that thinking I’d come out? Anxious to escape?
I’m a kid, he’s an adult. Who’d be dumb enough to go out knowing they’d get caught? Teleport was the only slim chance, but even that was the same. He’d catch me before I could cast. Kid versus adult, our physical abilities and spell speeds were worlds apart. Plus, teleport distorts space, making it easy to track.
He was guarding our house. The barrier enveloped it. Even over the fence? Wouldn’t he notice? He’s an adult C-rank mage, I’m a rankless kid. A barrier might give a tiny chance. But it was just possibility. 90% chance of failure—I wasn’t that desperate yet.
Alone together was bluff anyway. He couldn’t enter due to the security. His barrier had flaws. No new magic or items, but ongoing ones persisted. Security mana kept going. Plenty of food and water. I could last a week if needed.
As long as I stayed inside, he couldn’t touch me. Wiping tears, something brushed my foot. A stuffed envelope.
Feeling uneasy, I opened it. Sheets of paper crammed inside. I shook it upside down, and they scattered across the floor.
……Scattered.
“……!”
I froze in horror. Trembling hands covered my pale lips as I stared at the floor.
Photos.
Photos of me. All of them.
I stiffened blankly. Various shots: me in uniform, lying on a playground slide, walking away, brushing hair, face faintly visible through a window……
My expression hardened, body shaking. I reached for a photo slowly. Touching it, a sticky emotion like residue clung. I yanked my hand back.
Tears poured again. I couldn’t endure without crying.
It was too much. Imagining him trailing me, snapping photos nonstop, disgust and stickiness rose from my gut. Truly repulsive and infuriating.
Some had friends too, showing how long he’d watched. Not just since vacation started. Probably right after he moved here. At least a month. I sobbed.
“Hn……hn…….”
Why me? Why was I caught in this?
We’d bumped into each other a few times in the neighborhood. Talked once. That’s enough to obsess?
I didn’t know. Really didn’t. What came to mind was……
‘Rex……? A fan turning stalker?’
No, he was around before the email. So no. Unlikely.
Rex online was surely a pure fan. Rex is a common name or nickname. So no.
Scared and repulsed, but preparing for Mom’s arrival, I sniffled and sorted the scattered photos. Evidence maybe. Recalling online tips, I stacked them by the wall.
‘I want to burn them all. After this is over, definitely…….’
No creepy ones at least. No changing clothes with windows open. Thank goodness.
……That thought led to worse ones, but I shook them off.
Two days until Mom. I’d endure. Phones, landline—all cut. If no call tomorrow, Mom would worry. Might come early.
Looking around, the front door, big window, and porch bothered me. I rushed, drew curtains over the big window.
‘Not enough……still anxious…….’
Trusting Mom would come, I locked the balcony tight, dragged the sofa against it. Storage had wood planks, boxes, paper, tape.
I boarded up all first-floor windows. Extra care for kitchen—fence right there, could peep in. Planks, tape, paper sealed. Bathroom, master bedroom too.
The living room’s huge window and porch couldn’t be fully blocked, so I went to the master bedroom. Knowing he couldn’t enter, I locked the door.
Finally isolated, I sighed.
Sitting still in the dark felt weird. I turned on the light. Then, rattling from the window? Footsteps pattering.
Just people passing outside. That’s all. I plugged my ears. Focused on inner darkness.
He said the barrier was a preset trap. But I hadn’t cast. Woke up midday to it suddenly there. Thinking, I realized: lucid dreaming is magic too. In the dream, unconsciously, I’d tried reaching another’s dream for help. That triggered it.
Dreams, magic I’d practiced lately. Explored dream worlds, touched others’. But only close people’s. Far ones impossible. Failed magic anyway—mood soured more.
Tried living normally. Scary, but someone would come soon. Mom or Dad……
‘Not Dad…….’
If work ends, Auntie Seona might come too. Hope rising, daytime lights I’d left on flickered out. Phone beeped.
Worried it related, I turned it on. Hands shook reflexively.
Messages piled up. Opened chat. Eyes scanned fast without intending.
『Last time you couldn’t buy notebooks because of me? Bought all the cute ones. Hope you like.』
『You like books? Latest bestseller.』
『Like the roses? Red for passion, pink for happy love, white as light’s flower. White buds mean ‘I suit you.’
Purple eternal love, black you’re mine forever……
All my feelings.』
『Cake? With cute bunny decoration.』
『Cut all signals too. Scared of dark nights? Come to me. I’ll comfort you gently.』
Chills. Emotions rippled through text. I removed the battery. Lights didn’t matter. Light in or out, not scary. Just didn’t want to drown in anxiety.
Time dragged. Night fell, day came. Tried magic more—useless. Storage items too.
Escape urge hit repeatedly. Watch his mana color, slip out unnoticed. Barrier before he sees, or block attacks and run. Teleport where? Teacher’s home? Locked. Right, teleport badge unusable now, but Mom’s item.
School? Inside……Minhee there. Contact Je-hyeon oppa through her?
All imagination. Scared to go out, fight him. Safe inside—why leave? Someone would come……
Roses’ scent tickled nose in bedroom. Forced thoughts away. Didn’t want to think of him. Would forget after escape. Pictured only Mom’s face desperately.
Three days became two, then one. Stomach ached, but ate, drank. Skipped meals, no appetite.
One day left—panic. What if Dad comes, gets ambushed? Mom? Warn somehow?
Scribbled note frantically. Mailbox guarded—he’d stuff gifts. Useless.
How’d he know parents’ return for “alone”? Psychologically corner till I exit? Satisfied tormenting till they arrive? Or parents……
Shiver.
No, impossible. Similar skill to Mom. She had less mana. Please, please……
‘Know day Mom comes, not time. Way to relay……Does barrier show to others? No to normals, sensitives notice. Mom’s sensitive to mana. Still, maybe……’
Decided: avoid 2nd floor, but go wait at my door. Mana sight, wait for parents, yell out window. Pale face, clasped trembling hands.
Only option. My best courage.
Who cares. Safe inside. Why me? Don’t care your feelings. Didn’t want to see, hear, care. But this time, muster courage.
Midnight passed. Day Mom returns. Anxious, grabbed blanket from bedroom. Wrapped up, went upstairs. Summer, yet cold. Chest icy. Limbs cold. Blanket-wrapped, lost in thought.
End today. Help if Mom in danger. Yes, can with Mom. Alone no, but with others yes.
‘Mana feel—fire magic probably. Barrier too……Hacked phone magic? Barrier blocks signals…….’
Pondered his magic. Squatted through long night. Dawn broke. 2nd floor windows bare—light seeped. Body twitched.
Morning. No Mom mana. Stalker’s presence sharper. Circling house. Peering spots. Still, then weird emotion swells, drips sticky to engulf.
Injustice welled tears, but held back.
Neighbors passed multiple times, oblivious to barrier, went home.
Crane neck, wait for Mom. Then strong manas neared him.
‘Huh?’
Odd feeling. Mana surged.
‘Eh? Ehh?’
Three and one, manas clashed loudly. Actual boom in ears.
Boom! Kwang!
Startled, jumped up. Spells flying. People soaring. Fighting. Him and unknown mages!
He C-rank, them one C low, two D.
‘What? Did they notice? Our situation?’
Swallowed. Agonized. Maybe helping. Couldn’t stay put.
Hesitated, but opened door. My room after three days. Felt like ages. Broken clock under bed. Walked slowly, shaking hands opened window.
Rattle, click.
Sunlight hit eyelids. Below visible.
Knees on sill over chair, peered. Battle clear. One him, others……
‘Who?’
Strangers. Not locals. But fighting desperately him. And……losing one by one.
Fire as guessed. Flames blasted them. Gulped.
“ Gasp……!”
Then he looked up. Eyes met. His gaze serious unlike before. Flinched, shrunk, clutched blanket, yelled.
“Y-you! What are you……!”
His gaze softened briefly.
“Long time no see. Missed you.”
Flenched back. Didn’t want to see. No eye contact, no voice. Wait for Mom to beat him.
“But sorry……no time to play. Taking you before they come.”
“Wh-what…….”
“Anyway, planned today since Mom comes. Just a bit earlier.”
‘What?’
Stepped back more. Suppressed fear.
……Impossible. Won’t go out, he blocked by security.
‘How’d he know Mom today? Knew from start?’
Chills everywhere. Then, he reached for gate.
Hand blocked by barrier. Unauthorized. But then, computer window-like before him. Something from hand eroded barrier. Eyes wide, gasped. Face pale without mirror.
‘No way, he can enter? Impossible! B-rank security……!’
Letters around hand. Hacking magic? No……wait……
Realized. Security magic tool, but ‘mechanical device’.
Controlled by main system handling all house machines. Computer-like!
“Uh……hic…….”
What? C-rank hacking B-rank power? Pure software hack? Never imagined.
‘Damn!’
Cursed inwardly, brain raced. Saw his mana extending.
‘What do! Run?! Commit to run? Shit, damn. But no magic till outside……!’
Barrier firm around house. Cursed, scanned. Weapon? Cutter? Pencil? Something caught eye. Flower-shaped crystal on shelf. Chain of mana crystals friends made.
‘Crystal……yes, crystal!!’
Key: block his barrier interference even slightly, solutions open. At least cast magic. Teleport or whatever, escape now!
Dove for bottom drawer. Old friend-made mana crystals piled. Felt barrier weakening, grabbed largest, placed in corners.
‘Okay! Even if barrier down……can’t crash whole system at once……viruses spread slow, erode……not instant total…….’
Near despair, comforted self. Somehow, somehow. Chanted inwardly. Activated barrier with crystals.
Worked—direct mana no, but mediated via crystals yes. Crystals not my mana, friends’. Slight control edged his barrier.
But inner barrier via crystals unstable. Not enough for teleport.
“Not fully ‘blocked’. No teleport.”
Outside ‘beep beep beep’ blared. Anxious swallow.
Succeeded barrier, but can’t beat him. Stuffed pockets with crystals, teary. Hands shook, blood cooling.
“N-need……help……ask for help…….”
……This shaky barrier buy time? Against adult, felt limit in terror incident. Then used own mana. Now only crystals. Run out, barrier breaks.
‘Message magic……range……contact tools……y-yeah, this lets some magic/items! In room…….’
Hands together slowly, thought. Frozen brain stuttered.
‘Ph-phone……phone, computer……and……nothing else…….’
Panic brain. Nothing more. Hands to head, eyes squeezed shut. Tear fell.
Cling!
Eyes snapped open. Clear metallic ring by ear. Like clearing chaotic mind. Turned to wrist. Silver chain with bead charm swaying. Bracelet I made. Seeing it, realization.
‘Ah……ah…….’
“Student ID!!!“
Screamed, hugged bag under bed. Left there since vacation.
Outside shattering, lightning cracks, electricity hums, breaks repeating. Inverted bag, dumped contents. Frantic rummage, shining gem-like. Student ID bracelet.
Grabbed desperately. Slipped from sweaty hands. Opened, hit comm button, hesitated instant.
Limited contacts. School people only. No Mom, Auntie Seona.
Frowned, eased finger. Calling friends crazy, teacher……
No contact vacation, now? Scanned address book. Friends, then seniors. Joo Je-hyeon, Lee Eunhee, Yoo Cheonho……
‘Stalker……so……woman…….’
Unconsciously tapped strongest. Je-hyeon oppa. Tapping, sobbed.
‘Please……Je-hyeon oppa.’
Heard from Minhee: busy, no calls. Knows he works like Mom. Might not connect, but……please! Can’t endure more……
Outside chaos of breaks, room deathly quiet. Signal tone clear in silence. Clasped hands, prayed.
[……Eunha, Eunha?]
Signal ended, Je-hyeon oppa’s voice. Nearly collapsed crying. His face on screen. Stumbled close, gripped ID, whispered.
“J-Je-hyeon oppa…….”
Sensing something, he looked worried.
[…Eunha? Why that…….]
Then.
Clang!! Side, something burst. Startled, turned.
Simultaneously, fizz—something bounced off barrier. Flinched. ‘That man’……who stalked weeks……now breaking window, standing on frame. Long-for-man brown ponytail fluttering behind.
Froze solid. Already……disabled security?!
Explosive entrance. Shaking, fixed on face. Oppa’s shocked voice from ID.
[Eunha? Eunha?! What was that? Something wrong?!]
“J-Je-hyeon oppa, th-that…….”
He reached through broken window. Hand repelled by my barrier, sparking.
“Aren’t you being too much?”
Furious, ground teeth. Forced hand in, flames around. Tried block, but crystal-only barrier melted instantly without chance.
Dropped below window. Strode to me, snatched ID, flung far. Ching! Shrunk at sharp ring.
“Really, contacting another guy when I’m here.”
Said so, slowly reached. Slowly stroked cheek. Froze white on spot.
“Right?”