The Red Flower Falls (1)
I spent three full days in the hospital ward before I could finally go through the discharge procedures. Yeon Minha seemed intent on keeping me there longer, but I could no longer endure it. Whether then or now, the ceiling seen from a hospital bed was the most dreadful and painful sight in the world I knew. Though the aftereffects of trauma and medication still lingered, they posed no hindrance to daily life, so I could manage with outpatient treatment from now on. Thus, I returned to the academy's routine once more.
"…That will conclude today's lesson. The next period is the ranking match lottery, correct? Before that, I have an announcement for all of you. It is quite important, so open your ears and listen carefully."
Professor Kwon Chan-yeol, standing on the podium with his hair tied back, glanced at the clock and stopped the projector. "Recently, several new students have received severe disciplinary actions in succession. The penalties included the highest level of sanctions: deduction of ranking points and suspension. The reason was an attempt to access certain keywords in the academy library's database that are prohibited from search."
As he said, several empty seats stood out conspicuously in the usually packed classroom today. "Following this, the faculty meeting decided on special education for the new students. This is knowledge originally meant to be acquired in the second year, but it seems this year's freshmen are particularly overflowing with academic enthusiasm."
The tired-looking professor turned toward the blackboard. A piece of chalk floating in the air began writing large letters on its own. "Whether universal magic or unique magic, most of the magic formulas you know can be classified into two systems. The Emission System, which draws particles from the spring outside the body to reconstruct the form of matter, and the Circulation System, which consumes particles inside the body to enhance the physical abilities of each part."
As if the chalk had been mixed with some kind of resonance stone powder, the words "Emission System" and "Circulation System" engraved on the blackboard emitted a sparkling light in response to his words. For something presented as an important announcement, it was all quite basic knowledge. These were things I already knew well enough to recite from memory.
"However, among the magic known so far, there exists one more system."
But in the next moment, unfamiliar letters began to be engraved on the blackboard. —Interference System.
"Interference System mental magic is magic that directly affects the opponent's brain. It can manipulate electrons at will or directly attack the brain to cause behavioral disorders. And now, all magic of the Interference System is strictly prohibited from use and improvement."
A small ripple spread even among the students who had been listening with bored expressions at the unfamiliar concept. "In the early days of magic, there were serious considerations about the applications of Interference System magic. However, due to the high possibility of causing social chaos and the danger of severe aftereffects on the electrons, all related formulas and materials have long since been discarded. The same applies to further research."
"Professor, then those students who received disciplinary action…?"
"That's right. I don't know where they heard about it, but they tried to look up knowledge related to the Interference System in the library and triggered the alarm. Really, they have some nerve. In the first place, there's no way the academy library would have that kind of knowledge…"
The professor nodded a couple of times at the question from someone who raised their hand. "All you need to know about Interference System magic is its harmfulness. Do not become curious about the method of writing the formula, its principles, its reasons, or anything else."
"Professor, what happens if someone is caught secretly researching Interference System magic?"
"Eradication."
At the word that slipped from his lips, the atmosphere in the classroom instantly sank as if someone had died. "If traces of Interference System magic are discovered, an elite unit directly under the Supreme Council will be immediately dispatched to track down those involved. The knowledge will be completely disposed of on-site upon discovery, and once the charges are confirmed, the individuals involved will be executed on the spot."
"…"
"Furthermore, this disposition is not limited to the parties involved. Even those around them who are suspected of having even the slightest contact with that knowledge will meet the same fate. Family, friends, children—all of them. This is a law that is strictly enforced without exception, even for the Twenty-Seven Magic Families or the Five Great Houses."
Only the professor's explanation echoed softly in the quiet classroom. "So I will say it once more. Do not become curious about anything regarding Interference System magic other than its name and harmfulness. That is all."
***
"Hey, Hyun!"
On the way to Hwayang-gwan after class for the ranking match bracket lottery, I turned at the sound of someone calling my name from behind. A male student and a female student were walking toward me in step. The kind-looking male student raised his hand and waved cheerfully, while the girl with a refined appearance wore an uncomfortable expression, as if something displeased her. Their name tags read "Ryu Seungheon" and "Mun Yeoul" respectively.
"The medal bar suits you well. It was really visible even from afar. It sparkled so brightly."
At his words, I looked down. The medal bar of the Gold Star Military Merit Medal pinned above my right chest caught my eye. As he said, it certainly reflected the sunlight and drew attention. Though it felt good, I also felt a bit embarrassed. I wondered if it was necessary to walk around showing it off like this. There really were some pointless school rules.
"You looked really cool at the award ceremony last time. A Gold Star Military Merit Medal… I can't believe something like that…"
"…Seungheon. I'll go ahead first."
While he was speaking, the female student beside him tossed out a sulky remark and left without another word.
"…Your fiancée seems to dislike me. Is it okay for you to keep talking to me like this?"
"Haha, Yeoul has been a bit sensitive lately… I'll apologize on her behalf…"
The kind-looking male student scratched his cheek with an awkward expression. "Why?"
"Well, her ranking hasn't been very good lately… There's quite a gap with Yeseo too… Anyway, it's a bit like that…"
At his words, I checked the first-year ranking board installed in the middle of the hallway. The name Mun Yeoul ranked 14th was visible. There was also a fairly large point gap between her and second-place Jin Yeseo. Did they have some kind of competitive spirit? That Jin Yeseo girl, on the other hand, seemed to burn with intensity whenever she looked at me. My name was at the very top of the first-year rankings. Thanks to the bonus points from the Gold Star Military Merit Medal, the gap with second place was even more overwhelming than before. Looking at it somehow filled me with satisfaction.
My gaze naturally shifted to the second-year ranking board attached beside it. Yeon Minha's name, which had stayed in second place all along, had suddenly overtaken someone and risen to first. "Since her mentoring group also went to Senior Baek Seoyeon, she'll probably be a bit conscious of it… But she's actually kind when you get to know her. Don't think too badly of her…"
I didn't really have any particular thoughts. It just felt strange to see two people who seemed like complete opposites of each other hanging around together like that. Setting aside the fact that she was Sehwa noona's younger brother, I couldn't help but think she wasn't a bad person whenever I saw her. The way she kept talking to me even when my reputation was at rock bottom, and how she came to visit me in the hospital as soon as she heard the news of my admission… She mingled freely with other students despite coming from a good family. Maybe this was the kind of person the captain meant when he talked about connections…
"By the way, where did you say you went?"
"Subjugation of the Mandarinia colony on the outskirts of the capital. You would've been surprised if you saw it. Hundreds of them buzzing around at once from a hive the size of a house, and inside, human corpses turned into rice cake balls…"
We exchanged light conversation as we headed toward the now-familiar Hwayang-gwan. On the stage of the main auditorium crowded with new students, a strangely shaped machine had been installed. Inside were dozens of colorful balls floating in the air as if in a vacuum state. Professor Shin Jae-yu, confirming that all the new students had arrived on time, clapped her hands to draw attention.
"Alright, is everyone here? You've all memorized the ranking match rules, right? Let's not waste time—come forward and draw a ball."
At her instruction, students from the lowest ranks began stepping forward to draw balls. The order of those whose names were written on the balls automatically passed to the next in line. It was said that the opponents in the ranking matches were randomly drawn from adjacent ranks above and below. There was no chance of me suddenly facing a student in the 200s range. Since there was no one above me, my opponent would be chosen from among the students within the top 10 ranks below.
I wondered who it would be. "Ryu Seungheon—Choi Woojin!"
"Ah, this is…" "Puhaha! Hey, Seungheon! Take care of me, okay? Now that I think about it, I've only been fighting Jin Yeseo every day, so this is the first time with you, right? Huh?"
"Hey. If you so much as scratch Seungheon's face, you're dead that day…"
Snapping out of it at the burst of laughter, I realized the lottery order had already reached the upper-rank group of students. From afar, I could see Seungheon scratching the corner of his mouth awkwardly, Choi Woojin burning with fighting spirit as he patted his shoulder, and Mun Yeoul glaring at him as if to kill him. If those two were matched up, then my opponent was…?
"Huh…"
I turned my gaze back to the stage. A blonde, green-eyed female student had stepped forward in the meantime and reached into the machine. Since all the matchups had already been decided, only one ball remained. She grabbed the floating ball and pulled it out. With a sparkle as she infused it with particles, someone's name began to be gradually engraved on the ball's surface.
"Final matchup! Yoo Jin-hyun—Jin Yeseo!"
***
"Of all people, it had to be Yeseo… I don't even know what to say…"
On the way back after the lottery. Seungheon, walking beside me, muttered with an awkward smile. I felt just as dazed. In any case, I had no intention of losing no matter who came, but there was only one person whose matchup itself felt awkward to create. Jin Yeseo was well-known as a self-proclaimed follower of someone, after all. Honestly, I wanted to avoid troublesome situations, but how could I have known it would be exactly that person…
"At this rate, I can't even cheer for anyone… I just hope no one gets hurt and it ends… Huh?"
As he spoke, Seungheon suddenly widened his eyes while looking ahead. Following his gaze, I saw a familiar sharp-featured female student standing at the end of the hallway with her arms crossed, looking this way. The same gold medal bar as mine was pinned to her chest, emitting a sparkling light.
"Haha, it seems Senior has something to say. Go ahead. I need to go comfort Yeoul…"
Seungheon politely bowed and greeted her. Yeon Minha merely nodded lightly in acknowledgment. After Seungheon left, I approached her and asked, "Good afternoon, Senior. Did you have something to say?"
However, Yeon Minha glared at me with a pouty expression, as if something displeased her. "…Do I have to have something to say?"
"Not necessarily, but…" "…I just came by. I heard there was a ranking match lottery… for a moment."
Yeon Minha stopped mid-sentence and suddenly stared at my chest. "Really… what is this even?"
Following her words, I lowered my head. My tie seemed loosely knotted, and the collar of my shirt was slightly misaligned. I thought I had gotten used to it by now, but I was still inexperienced in these areas. It felt a bit embarrassing to think someone else had seen this side of me.
"…Wait a moment." "Huh? It's fine. I'll do it myself." "Just stay still. It gets twisted because you're wearing it so loosely. You have to tie the knot tightly…"
Yeon Minha stepped forward without hesitation and loosened my tie with a smooth motion. Feeling unnecessarily embarrassed, I glanced around. Fortunately, there was no one passing by nearby. With skilled hands, Yeon Minha began retying it, turning it this way and that. Before long, a perfectly formed dimple appeared on the tie. Though her soft hands occasionally brushed against my body during the process, I still felt no particular discomfort. Perhaps that was why I left Yeon Minha's impulsive action, which I could have easily stopped, alone…
"…There. If you turn it clockwise twice like this, it won't come undone no matter how intense the movement."
"Thank you…"
Yeon Minha nodded in satisfaction. Her appearance was impeccably neat, with not a single strand of hair or piece of clothing out of place. That was probably why she couldn't tolerate such things in others. "…Ahem, about the ranking match. It seems your matchup is against the Jin family's daughter…"
"That's right. It's quite strange, isn't it…"
"Well, you know… what if we postponed the ranking match schedule…?"
Yet an unexpected remark came from Yeon Minha's mouth. "What?"
"I know your skills, but… your body hasn't fully recovered yet… And as far as I know, if you submit a medical certificate, you can postpone the ranking match for a few days…"
This was probably the reason Yeon Minha had come in person. "You don't have to worry. I'm almost fully recovered now…"
"Why do men always try to show off like that? Earlier, your walking posture was…"
"You're worrying too much, Senior. Even if my condition isn't fully healed, I can still win easily against that level."
"Still…"
"And if I back down like that, wouldn't it cause trouble for you as well, Senior?"
"Huh, huh?"
A deflated sound escaped Yeon Minha's lips for a moment as she had maintained a firm attitude throughout. I wasn't lying. By the time the ranking match in two days arrived, my body would have recovered even more, and even if not, I didn't feel like I would lose at all. Moreover, even if postponement was possible as Yeon Minha said, it would give those looking for faults the perfect excuse. So there was no need to give unnecessary openings.
"…I understand. But don't overdo it. I wouldn't mind even if you lose."
After a moment of silence, Yeon Minha spoke softly. So this person was worried about me too. It was quite strange… "Don't worry. That won't happen. I'll definitely win."
"…Yeah."
***
Even after the masked male student left, Yeon Minha remained standing there. "Really… is he doing this on purpose… Haa…"
Then she suddenly banged her head against the wall and muttered. "Why do you keep touching someone else's tie…"
Various complicated emotions rose at once, making her dizzy. Worry about his unrecovered physical condition, competitive spirit toward Baek Seoyeon, gratitude for standing up for her. She had no doubt about the outcome. Though Jin Yeseo was certainly a talented new student, there was a wall several layers thick between her and him. What tormented her were not doubts, but unexpected emotions. It was the impatience that rose whenever she imagined Jin Yeseo being defeated by him, and an inexplicable, baseless anxiety.