Why Kim Jin-seo Was Here
I had no idea why Kim Jin-seo was here. I stopped in my tracks and looked at her. She stood still, staring back at me, then crossed her arms and tilted her head. With that, she strode right up to me, frowning like something was bothering her.
"Long time no see."
I couldn't think of anything else to say. Kim Jin-seo didn't reply; she just kept coming closer. Then she stared at me intently, like she was sizing me up. Her large, clear eyes held some emotion I couldn't quite put into words. I could read her expression, but not the feelings behind it.
"...Skipping out early?"
she asked. I nodded, fiddling absentmindedly with the early dismissal slip in my pocket. Kim Jin-seo scanned me from head to toe, then fell into step beside me.
"Let's go."
"Where?"
"I'm skipping too. Together."
She gave my back a shove as she said it. Just like that, we were walking side by side. When the wind blew, her hair got tousled, and she'd smooth it back each time. It seemed a bit longer now. But it might've just been my imagination, so I didn't mention it.
"Hair's gotten longer. Didn't notice?"
She glanced sideways at me and asked. I nodded.
"Yeah, looks like it. Suits you."
"Looks like it, huh. You wouldn't have said shit if I hadn't brought it up."
"I noticed. Just didn't say anything."
I shot back, feeling a little indignant. I'd been pretty sure, just hadn't wanted to bring it up without being certain.
"Fine, whatever."
Kim Jin-seo smirked. We headed for the school gate together. A few late students rushed past, sprinting to avoid being tardy. They nearly bumped into us. Kim Jin-seo and I strolled leisurely in the opposite direction.
As we approached the gate, the guard stepped out to stop us. I pulled out my early dismissal slip and showed it to him. Kim Jin-seo didn't have one, but he let her through without a fuss anyway.
"You don't need to show one?"
"I skip out a lot to visit Dad at the hospital."
She said it casually, like it was no big deal. I debated asking if her father was still in bad shape but decided it was none of my business. Come to think of it, it was surprising how naturally she'd said "Dad." She'd always called Kim Chang-won "Father" before. Maybe because he wasn't her biological dad, she'd kept that subtle distance—but now even that seemed gone.
"I quit smoking."
Out of nowhere, as we walked, Kim Jin-seo dropped the bomb.
"Good for you. What made you quit all of a sudden?"
"......"
I'd asked out of genuine curiosity, but she just glared at me instead of answering. I had no clue what her problem was and just took the heat from her sharp stare. She snorted in disbelief before speaking.
"You told me to quit. Said you'd grant me a wish if I did."
"...Right, I remember."
I didn't, actually. But I played along so she wouldn't chew me out. Her piercing gaze swept over me.
"Asshole. I quit because of you."
"......"
"Weeks of hell over one damn word, and you can't even remember."
She kept grumbling, her pouty expression so unlike her usual self that it felt strange. I stayed quiet, listening to her vent. I had nothing to say. I'd nagged her to quit, and I'd forgotten about it—both true.
"So, you gonna grant my wish or what?"
I'd even made that reckless promise: if she quit, I'd grant her a wish. Even though her quitting didn't benefit me at all. Looking back, I had no idea why I'd said it.
Legba suddenly chimed in. He was right. At the time, I'd been hooked on the Intoxication Spell. Any stress, and I'd cast it; without it, I couldn't even sleep. With nowhere else to turn, I'd pitifully clung to those short bursts of intense pleasure. Seeing her addicted to smokes had mirrored my own weakness. That's why I'd made that absurd promise.
"...Yeah, fine. Whatever you want."
I hesitated a bit before answering. I had to own up to my words. Kim Jin-seo seemed pleased, flashing a grin that carried just a hint of ominous vibe. Whatever she was scheming, it already had me on edge.
She kept smiling at me for a long while, but didn't say anything.
"What?"
"Just thinking about what to ask for."
"Cool. Let me know when you decide."
"Decided already."
She dropped her gaze as she continued.
"But I'm not telling you now."
"Then when?"
"Later."
"Just say it now. Why drag it out...?"
"So you'll stew over it."
She snapped curtly. I wasn't dying to know that badly, and figured she'd dodge anyway, so I shut up. What grand request was she plotting that needed all this buildup? She glanced at me slyly before adding,
"Keep wondering. I'll tell you eventually."
"......"
"If you get too curious, hit me up. I'll decide based on what you're up to."
"I'm the one granting the wish—why do I have to bend over backward?"
"Then you shouldn't have offered in the first place."
Nothing to say to that. I walked on in silence. The quiet stretched out, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Maybe because neither of us were big talkers. After a while, we hit a crossroads.
"Guess I'll head off."
Kim Jin-seo said. It caught me off guard. I'd figured she'd tail me all the way to the hospital.
"What's up with that? You stalked me to the dorms last time."
She smirked at my words.
"Gotta bail here to leave you hanging."
"......"
"What, bummed I'm not coming?"
She asked all nonchalant. Not even a little. I shook my head, and she smirked again. It was probably meaningless, but it felt like she was mocking me, stinging my pride. I waved her off quickly.
"Get going."
"Suddenly pissed? Hit a nerve?"
"What the hell... What nerve?"
"Fine. See you tomorrow."
With that, Kim Jin-seo turned and left. I watched her back for a moment, then headed for the chapel.
Kang Ji-a came out to greet me when I arrived. No sign of Ha Su-yeong or my uncle. She widened her eyes at the bandages and plasters plastered across my face.
"It's nothing. Just took a few hits."
I cut in before she could worry more.
"Hits...? From who? You're in bad shape..."
"Me."
"Pardon...?"
Kang Ji-a blinked, not getting it. Explaining would take too long, so I changed the subject, glancing around for Ha Su-yeong and my uncle. Neither was there.
"Where's Uncle and Ha Su-yeong?"
"Ha Su-yeong left with the Master earlier."
"Why?"
"Seemed like they just went out for fun..."
Kang Ji-a didn't know the details either. Ha Su-yeong heading out worried me a bit, but with my uncle, it'd be fine. He'd handle any trouble. I grabbed my staff to head to Jeong Yun-ah's room.
"Cult Leader."
Kang Ji-a called out then.
"Yeah?"
"Did something good happen today?"
Random question. I replayed my day. Flowers wilted back at the dorm in the morning. Learned one of the paladins I'd driven mad with spells was a Florence student's dad. Ma Yu-hyeon picked a fight out of nowhere, and I said shit to Ha Ye-jin I didn't need to. Then met Kim Jin-seo. Nothing good.
"...Nah, nothing special."
"You came in smiling today, for once."
"Did I?"
"Yeah, even now..."
Kang Ji-a said. Only then did I realize I was smiling. I hadn't paid much attention to my expressions today. Might've even let some slip to Kim Jin-seo that I shouldn't have.
"Didn't notice. Nothing good happened, though."
"If a smile comes unbidden, isn't that good in itself?"
She smiled faintly. I smiled back instead of answering and entered Jeong Yun-ah's room.
Jeong Yun-ah was huddled on the floor. She looked up at me with wide eyes as I entered, like she'd been waiting. Seeing her reminded me of Jeong In-ah. I'd missed talking to her at school today. She might've been waiting for me too. But I didn't dwell. I'd see her tomorrow anyway.
"Waiting for me?"
I approached with my staff and asked. Pointless question—she couldn't be waiting, and even if she was, she couldn't answer. But Jeong Yun-ah nodded at my words.
I channeled Voodoo magic into the staff for a reverse voodoo spell, then noticed something off.
"......"
Jeong Yun-ah had nodded at my words.
*
"Do Seon-woo still not coming today?"
Han Dae-ho slumped over his desk in the office and asked. O Hui-jin, there for a report, rifled through papers and nodded.
"Yes."
"He's been skipping a lot lately... Something up?"
"Doubt it. Exams are coming, so he's probably busy studying."
"Right, yeah..."
Han Dae-ho muttered glumly. He'd managed to get Do Seon-woo's name on the Eastern Paladin Order dispatch training list. But the kid hardly showed. Exams were a fair excuse, but it still sucked. Han Dae-ho wanted to pile work on him somehow. Not to overload him, but to rack up achievements for the Central Knight Order entrance exam later.
"He wants into Central Knight Order, right?"
O Hui-jin asked. Han Dae-ho nodded.
"Yeah. Ambitious kid with real talent, but I can't do much for him right now."
"Don't sweat it. Not much to do this time of year anyway. Training's not short, so take it easy."
"True..."
Han Dae-ho nodded slowly, agreeing. She had a point. Even if Do Seon-woo showed, there wasn't much left—Han Dae-ho had handled all the big stuff. Just patrols and long-term missing persons searches, nothing impressive. Patrols weren't resume material, and too boring for the kid anyway. Missing persons could build record, but finding them was a bitch. Fail, and it was wasted time.
Knock knock knock.
Someone rapped on the door. O Hui-jin and Han Dae-ho turned. She opened it. Han Dae-ho's eyes went wide.
An unexpected visitor.
"Do Seon-woo? What the—thought you weren't coming today..."
"Captain."
Do Seon-woo cut him off and entered. Han Dae-ho shut up, stunned. The kid's eyes sparkled with a sharpness he'd never seen. Breathing hard—he must've run all the way.
Do Seon-woo caught his breath and continued.
"I'd like to join the long-term missing persons search."