Bedside Rivalries
"…."
Yui-seol quickly assessed the situation. The moment her eyes glowed red, Han Sia's pupils—hidden behind her hair—lit up as well.
This is the legendary eye showdown? My heart's swelling with grandeur.
.
.
.
Yui-seol plopped down into the chair opposite Han Sia.
"I'm here."
She leaned back in the chair and looked at me as she said it.
"Welcome, Yui-seol." "You two close?"
At that moment, Han Sia tilted her head as if she genuinely had no idea. Though she'd greeted her casually, Yui-seol had straight-up ignored it.
If they hadn't met before, it might not matter, but considering Han Sia was a third-year, the academy's overall rank 1, and a senior at Orbis, some might see it as a problematic move.
But honestly, Han Sia didn't care what Yui-seol did.
Her perspective was just too different from a normal person's.
….
It had to be that way.
"Hey, didn't you hear me?" "Huh?"
Han Sia asked again, and only then did Yui-seol respond. She had her hands stuffed in her hoodie pouch, legs crossed, of course.
At the same time, Han Sia noticed something in her eyes. A faint tremble.
Han Sia carefully brushed her hair back. Her face, half-hidden before, was now fully revealed.
With one eye covered by hair, she'd given off a vibe of subtle mystery and decadence. But fully exposed, her face radiated an even deeper enigma.
The mysterious student. That was Han Sia.
Flinch.
Yui-seol twitched slightly.
Her Ma-an was telling her: the woman before her was superior.
Of course, this was about mana quantity, power, and the "eyes."
Appearance-wise, I'm still better.
That's what Yui-seol thought.
Seo Ji-ho approached Yi Han-su's hospital room again, but something felt off. He could sense clashing mana from unknown sources inside.
He'd even brought sweet potato chips for his injured friends…!
But instinct told him: don't go in now.
.
.
.
An unnatural tension hung in the hospital room. Yui-seol rummaged through her bag and pulled out a snack.
…!
It was unmistakably the king of snacks: potato chips.
"Want some?" "Please."
I took the potato chips. If they'd been sweet potato chips, I might've flipped the hospital upside down, but potato chips? No choice but to devour them on the spot.
The crunch was juicy.
Yui-seol gave a careful smile. She'd seen me buy potato chips after training a few times.
It was obvious they were my favorite. She'd also witnessed me glaring at sweet potato chips with utter disgust.
Observations possible only because of her Ma-an.
Han Sia glanced at the potato chips, then back at my face.
"You like those, huh?" "Yeah, pretty much."
I sneaked a peek at Han Sia's face. Definitely suited her better fully revealed than half-hidden behind hair.
"Why? This look better?"
Her eyes seemed to shimmer faintly. Was that the power of Thousand-ri Eyes?
"Suits you more than covering up." "Hmm~."
Han Sia nodded, looking satisfied.
Then, ominous mana stirred from the side. Yui-seol.
"I think the covered look is better." "Yeah."
In that instant, I realized something.
-Finally caught on, huh.
The bag of potato chips was empty.
-No.
Yui-seol must've noticed too, because she rummaged in the bag and pulled out another pack of potato chips.
"Wait, you have more?"
Straight-up impressive foresight. Yui-seol wasn't just a combat genius; she had killer instincts all around.
Humanity's hope: Yui-seol.
"Heh heh heh."
Yui-seol wore a smug grin. For some reason, she seemed extra radiant today.
"Should I bring some next time?"
Han Sia asked me, but Yui-seol answered.
"Today's his last day admitted, right?" "Oh?" "Didn't you know?"
Yui-seol shot her a slightly smug look.
"By the way, you using the thing I gave you last time okay?"
Han Sia looked at me. I knew exactly what she meant.
The relic that had become Tyrbing's meal.
"Yeah, using it well." "Good."
I couldn't exactly say Tyrbing ate it, so I had to lie….
"…."
I felt Han Sia staring right through me. Thousand-ri Eyes couldn't possibly have lie detection….
"Hey, wanna see something cool?"
That's when Yui-seol spoke up. Perfect timing.
Shhhrrrk!
Chains made of mana extended from Yui-seol's left hand. Considering the location, it wasn't full power—just about the length of a short wooden stick.
"Can make five at once now?"
As she finished speaking, five chains shot out. Shhhrrrk! Incredible growth.
"Relic?"
Han Sia tilted her head, watching the scene.
"Yeah, someone I know gave it to me." "…."
Yui-seol grinned cheekily. At the same time, Han Sia shot me a slight glare.
Fair enough—I'd ridden the free bus and snagged the relic too. From her perspective, it might piss her off.
"Eh, relics are nice to have, annoying without." "Nah."
-Why just hand over a relic to that wench?
Tyrbing grumbled at me telepathically. This bastard was getting bold; my blood boiled instantly.
When I'd watched Tyrbing's relic mukbang back then, my rage had been off the charts.
-Hold up, not talking about me.
What?
Tyrbing dropped a bombshell.
-Next time you have something useless… wait, got one.
Then I felt my finger twitch.
'Mana Circulation Ring'.
The ring I wore on my middle finger.
-You don't need this anymore.
I was about to complain to Tyrbing when—
"Ah, gotta retie my hair."
Yui-seol undid her ponytail. Her silver hair, that shade between silver and white, danced freely as if thrilled at its release. Under the fluorescent lights, it seemed to shine even brighter. She bit her hair tie in her mouth to retie it, then glanced at me.
"What're you staring at."
I hadn't even looked.
-Say the loose hair looks better…!
Tyrbing spouted his usual nonsense, but for some reason, I felt compelled to listen right then.
"Loose hair looks better?" "Huh…?" -Good job.
Yui-seol froze for a second and dropped the hair tie from her mouth.
"R-Really?"
Instead of picking it up, she leaned back in the chair and crossed her arms.
"Ugh, where'd my hair tie go." "Want mine?" "Nah, too annoying. I'll just go like this."
Seo Ji-ho returned to Yi Han-su's room. But the weird vibe lingered.
Whatever. He'd come back later.
Seo Ji-ho headed to Cha Ryu-jin's room.
.
.
.
Seo Ji-ho trudged out of Cha Ryu-jin's room, dejected.
He'd offered sweet potato chips in case Cha Ryu-jin got bored, but his face turned like he'd eaten a 500 billion Scoville Mexican pepper, so he snatched them back fast.
Only by giving him the potato chips he'd bought for himself did he calm Cha Ryu-jin down.
"…."
He wished more people appreciated sweet potato chips.
If they just gave them a chance, they'd realize how delicious they were.
A brief sigh.
But you can't force-feed them.
Like how an egg broken outside becomes a dish, but inside, it's new life.
"Heh heh heh."
Just then, a little kid passed by Seo Ji-ho. Looked like early elementary school age.
"Hi?" "Hewwo!"
Seo Ji-ho cautiously offered sweet potato chips.
"…!!!"
He nearly collapsed in shock. The innocent kid's face twisted into 5 trillion Scoville Mexican pepper fury.
No choice—Seo Ji-ho handed over his last pack of potato chips.
"Yayyy, tank you!"
The kid's face flipped back to angelic bliss, like she'd gotten the greatest gift ever. She scampered off happily. Faintly, from afar: "I got Ophelia snacks!"
"…."