Chemical Bonds (3)
Hae Wolhwa set down her teacup and spoke, seated on the sofa across from Yeon Minha. Behind the neatly dressed woman, the nameplate on the desk reading "Principal Hae Wolhwa" came faintly into view.
"The southern dispatch investigation team sent their progress report yesterday. It was all torn to shreds, so it took some effort to verify, but they've identified every single one of the dark mages you slaughtered."
"Lee Ji-sang, head of the People's Liberation Front's southern guerrilla command. Known as the 'Tiger of the South.' He's been confirmed as the blacklisted target you know."
Though her appearance suggested little age difference from Yeon Minha, her manner of speech carried the weight of years gone by. A faint, grassy scent drifted from her body in all directions.
"Besides him, there were five red-listed targets, thirty-two yellow-listed ones, and a total of two hundred thirty-four infiltrators in Jinling—including them. Adding those who had surrounded the canyon and its surroundings, the grand total comes to four hundred eighty-two..."
Hae Wolhwa shook her head as if she'd just heard an absurd joke.
"Honestly, I'm still completely dumbfounded. I've already read the official report three times, yet if Marvelous's unique particle traces hadn't remained, no one would have believed it. That a single person eliminated the majority of them..."
Marvelous was clearly the model name of the blade he used. It was a high-performance blade from the Starline lineup released by S&C, the company owned by the Black Lotus, but few could draw out its full potential, so now only a select few elite Circulation mages used it. Yet in her memory, he had wielded Marvelous as if it were an extension of his own body.
"..."
Yeon Minha sipped her tea with elegant poise, listening to the principal's words. Hearing the report made her feel as though her mood were floating up into the sky. Even though it was clearly someone else's story being told. She had to exert considerable effort not to let it show. This, too, was one of the strange symptoms she'd been experiencing these past few days.
"Really, that child always exceeds my expectations..."
The principal muttered something and turned her body. Her gaze fell upon the large strategic map mounted on the office wall. The northern half of the divided peninsula was painted pitch black, revealing nothing. Even in the south, the territory under clear administrative control was less than half. Scattered throughout were the various emblems and identification codes of anti-government organizations and rebel forces.
"The infiltrators in Jinling have been identified as the PLF's elite Southern Army 1st Regiment. The military estimates they suffered losses so severe they won't recover for at least five years."
Hae Wolhwa murmured while looking at the largest and most widespread People's Liberation Front identification code.
"Though Jinling was heavily damaged, there's a forecast that the south may regain stability for a while. With the demons stirring again in the north, this is an undeniable achievement."
"Is that so..."
"From what I hear, the Gold Star Military Merit Medal might actually be awarded this time. In fact, it's practically confirmed. In such a clear-cut case, even the Paecheon family wouldn't dare voice opposition. They might face backlash, so they'll keep quiet this time."
At the pleasant news that followed, Yeon Minha's lips curled upward of their own accord. Hae Wolhwa, who didn't miss it, wore a peculiar expression and swiftly seized the opening.
"You look as happy as if it were someone else's affair. There will be two recipients of the Gold Star Military Merit Medal. That child. And you."
"...What?"
Yeon Minha, who had been maintaining her dignity, finally widened her eyes and turned her gaze to the principal.
"Not only that, the other children who participated in this request will also receive the Chungmu Medal."
"What do you mean..."
The Chungmu Medal was understandable enough. But the Gold Star Military Merit Medal was the highest-grade decoration awarded for meritorious service in matters of national significance. Setting aside the fact that its points could instantly overturn the ranking where she trailed far behind Baek Seoyeon, it would bring great honor and various additional benefits to her descendants for generations. Yet this achievement wasn't hers. If it were him, who had personally beheaded the ringleader and prevented the complete destruction and contamination of Jinling, perhaps—but she couldn't easily understand why she was being treated as having accomplished the same feat.
"Why on earth would I... what did I even do..."
"You did quite a bit. You single-handedly slaughtered dozens of the infiltrators, didn't you? I believe it was eighty-four? Honestly, that's already a tremendous achievement most people couldn't even dream of."
"But that's not enough for the Gold Star..."
"Ah, and there's one thing I haven't mentioned. Officially, the one who subjugated Lee Ji-sang will be you. And roughly half of the infiltrators killed this time will also be credited to your achievements..."
"...What are you saying right now."
Yeon Minha gritted her teeth and cut off the principal's words. The principal merely stared at her with that strange smile still on her lips.
"There's clearly someone else who actually earned the credit... so why..."
"Let me be clear—this was something that child proposed to me first."
"What... did you say...?"
But at Hae Wolhwa's next words, the venom Yeon Minha had been holding instantly scattered like smoke. At the same time, the words he had casually spoken on the battlefield flashed through her mind.
'The Gold Star Military Merit Medal. My congratulations in advance.'
"Quite devoted, isn't he? Anyone would think he was your husband. Hmm?"
"H-husband..."
"Come to think of it, your complexion has been quite good lately. Truly remarkable. Is this all thanks to that child as well? From what I hear, the two of you have been getting 'quite close' these days. My, who could have predicted this..."
"C-close, you say...! No matter if you're the principal, that kind of tasteless joke...!!"
The principal's tone had strangely emphasized certain words. Because there was something that struck a nerve, Yeon Minha pressed the principal even more heatedly. It was because her strange cohabitation with the masked male student filled her mind. Though the principal was treating her favorably for political reasons, if that fact ever became known outside, she would never be able to show her face anywhere.
"Enough. It seems he simply thought it would look better if you took the spotlight. He said his own record subduing the miscellaneous ones would be sufficient. It didn't sound wrong, so I decided to lend my support. Though, to be honest, they weren't exactly miscellaneous to begin with..."
The principal's face, as she looked at Yeon Minha, was filled with a mischievous smile.
"Accept it. There's nothing bad about it for you, is there? Especially considering the position the Red Fire family is in right now."
"...Understood for now. I should be going. I'll see you next time."
Having finished speaking, Yeon Minha immediately stood up. From the middle of the conversation onward, she hadn't felt like remaining seated. After greeting the principal and opening the door, she turned back and asked,
"Has anything been revealed about what those people called the 'Revealer'?"
"...For now, the speculation is that they may have introduced a demonic concept, but nothing is certain yet. Once the investigation results come out, I'll let you know then."
"...I see. Understood."
Yeon Minha nodded and left the principal's office. The sound of her footsteps, growing faster as if she were in a hurry, faintly echoed beyond the door.
"..."
After Yeon Minha left, Hae Wolhwa silently stared at the map again. Though the principal had just been smiling brightly while seeing her off, her face now held an unprecedented depth of shadow.
***
"Why are you acting like this? Get a hold of yourself."
Yeon Minha spoke softly to her reflection in the mirror. Her face, hidden behind disheveled hair unlike her usual self, was flushed bright red. It was fortunate there was no one around; anyone who saw her might think she was mentally unstable, and it wouldn't be strange at all.
"I'm going crazy, seriously..."
Facing her own pathetic state, Yeon Minha muttered in lament. Lately, she had been experiencing an emotional turmoil she had never once felt in her life. The cause was, of course, that masked male student. His dual attitude toward her was also one of the main reasons for that confusion. Sometimes he treated her worse than a back-alley prostitute, and other times his touch was so gentle, as if handling a precious work of art...
"...Hic."
The moment that thought surfaced, she could no longer bear to look at her own face and lowered her head deeply.
"No, no, no...!"
At first, she had suspected it might be an extension of the fear she had once held toward him. But it hadn't taken long for her to realize that assumption had been wrong from the start. Every time she thought of him, her mood improved. She had to desperately suppress the corners of her mouth from rising even at a few words exchanged. Unless she had lost her mind, she couldn't call these feelings fear. And right after that realization, Yeon Minha, in shock, desperately tried to deny her own emotions.
"Please, get a hold of yourself. You're Yeon Minha. You're one of the most noble figures in this country..."
Yeon Minha considered herself someone who could distinguish between public and private matters. She was also well aware that he was completely different from other people—for example, those miscellaneous types who clung to her trying to gain something. She had no intention of ignoring the favor she had received, either. He had risked his life to pull her from the jaws of death. The merit of saving a member of one of the Five Great Families was by no means small. On top of that, he had willingly shared the great honor of the Gold Star Military Merit Medal with her. Though her personal pride would never allow it, if he was drawing a grand picture and trying to place her within it, as the principal said, she had no way to refuse. If she expressed her will, he could simply shove the contract in her face and end it.
In any case, she intended to repay him with more than what he had given, and she was willing to forget the way he had treated her harshly in the past. But those matters and these absurd emotions arising were on completely different planes. As she had said, she was one of the most noble figures. Among her peers, aside from Baek Seoyeon, there was no one who could compare to her. Whether in appearance, skill, or background—any condition added. How could someone like her carelessly give away her heart? The target made it even more preposterous. He was a perverted lecher who treated women roughly without any consideration. Hadn't she herself been severely handled by him and then trampled upon even in a private, intimate space? Moreover, his appearance was surely unsightly and ugly. Otherwise, why would he keep wearing a mask that only barely revealed his mouth...
"...Wait."
Yeon Minha, who had been lost in thought for a while, suddenly lifted her head at a passing idea. Immediately after, her face began to brighten like a full moon.
Yeon Minha had thought of a very good way to calm these absurd emotions. It stemmed from her innate aesthetic sense—her rather high and demanding standards.
"Yes... That should work...!"
Yeon Minha immediately began walking briskly toward the hospital ward where he was. She tried to calm her heart, which was reflexively pounding at the thought of seeing him.