Midterms (1)
Han Da-na saw it all happen right before her eyes. She'd seen it clearly with her own two eyes.
But. But!
……I can't believe it, even after seeing it.
It wasn't a shikshin. Not a sulsik either. Pure yeong-ryeok control.
And not even blasting out raw yeong-ryeok—she's handling yeong-ryeok materialization like it's basic training?
Han Da-na nearly fell over just from the yeong-ryeok materialization alone. But wielding it like a shikshin? Treating yeong-ryeok itself like a living creature!
Is there any first-year who can pull that off? No, second-years? No no, anyone in the entire academy? No no no!
I can't even do that…….
Sweeping up low-grade yeong-ryeong was easy enough. But doing it through yeong-ryeok materialization? That changed everything. Normally, you'd collapse from yeong-ryeok depletion before even a minute was up.
And that thing right now……it's subtly but definitely growing bigger bit by bit?
Blasting out yeong-ryeok raw was inefficient on its own, but what the hell was this? It even looked like her yeong-ryeok was replenishing.
This isn't just alien talent—it's violently overwhelming.
Now she got why Professor Ma Yong-beom wanted that kid by his side.
"S-stop! Do-gyeol, stop!"
Han Da-na shouted urgently. But Shovi was still smashing through the deep forest.
"You think I can't understand English? Stop! I said stop!"
"Huh?"
Do-gyeol, lost in devouring the yeong-ryeong, finally halted Shovi.
"You said I could eat them all."
"I didn't say you could eat the forest too? Stop now!"
Do-gyeol withdrew Shovi. Looking back, a path had formed in its wake. Cleanly bulldozed.
Ah…….
Did I just screw up? If it were the teacher, it'd be: 'Excessive destruction, yeong-ryeok waste, insufficient consideration for surroundings. Points deducted across the board.'
I need to learn finer control, fast.
"This enough? I was gonna buy you something tastier."
"It's plenty!"
Do-gyeol shoved wang-dongaseu into his mouth.
"But sis, does this mean I get to tag along on all your field trips now?"
Han Da-na sipped her cola and paused.
"That's……kinda iffy now."
"What?"
Do-gyeol's fork froze mid-air.
"Why? Was I no good? Insufficient surroundings consideration? I'll fix that going forward……"
"That's part of it."
Han Da-na poked the air with her fork.
"You know what real field ops are like for TAs going out?"
"No clue."
"It's rarely just hunting ma-mul for fun."
She lowered her voice.
"Mostly cleanup, sample collection, investigating traces left by jujul-sa. Thorough grunt work."
"I'm down for anything."
"Think about it. When you pulled out that black thing earlier, what happened to the yeong-ryeong?"
Do-gyeol blinked.
"Ate 'em up?"
"Yeah! Not a trace left!"
Han Da-na stabbed a piece of dongaseu.
"Say we need to bring back intact samples for research."
She popped it into Do-gyeol's mouth.
"But you gobble them like that? When they ask if you got samples, you gonna say 'Packed 'em in my belly~'?"
Do-gyeol chewed and protested.
"I get it, but that's not what you promised!"
I thought I'd get to chow down on tons outside! My yeong-ryeok! My lunch!
"I'm so wronged I'm done with this dongaseu."
"……You already ate it all."
"Anyway!"
"Calm down, okay?"
Han Da-na pressed her palm down in the air.
"Missions needing delicate sample collection or investigation are out. But for je-ryeong work, I'll bring you along for sure. Buy you tasty stuff again. Deal?"
"For real?"
"I don't lie."
"You did."
Han Da-na averted her eyes and slurped her cola.
"Th-that was a special exception……."
"Keep this promise, though."
"Bring me along?"
"Sis."
Do-gyeol's eyes filled with disbelief.
"Obvious question."
"Right? Better than food……"
"Both! The food too!"
Han Da-na looked stunned for a second, then chuckled.
"Fine, fine. Another dongaseu?"
"Sis, are you an angel?"
The next morning. Do-gyeol had just sat down after arriving at school and let out a massive yawn when a faint perfume scent tickled his nose.
He turned to see Baek Seo-rin standing at his desk.
"Want some?"
She held a fancy boxed package.
"Huh? What's that?"
Do-gyeol asked, and Baek Seo-rin plopped the box on his desk without a care for the stares around them. No hesitation, no awkwardness.
"Nothing special."
Inside the wrapping were handmade macarons, the kind sold in department store basements, neatly packed.
"Ooh! Was already crashing before morning classes—perfect! Thanks!"
"Heard you collapsed. Why didn't you say anything."
Baek Seo-rin leaned in slightly, matching his eye level. Any normal guy would've flushed and stammered at that suffocating closeness.
"Eat this at least. Hang in there."
Her voice was alluring. But Do-gyeol just ripped open the packaging and stuffed a macaron in his mouth, blank-faced.
"Delish! Thanks!"
His reaction was friendly enough. But none of the romantic tension she'd imagined from yesterday.
……This idiot.
Wouldn't a normal girl bringing you this make your heart race? At least show some curiosity about her intentions.
Whatever. I'll make him notice me bit by bit.
Just then, the front door opened, and Pi Yu-jun entered. Baek Seo-rin smoothly turned and headed to her seat.
"Everyone feeling okay?"
"Yes."
The students mumbled listlessly, and Pi Yu-jun grinned wickedly.
"Good. Midterms coming up soon—gotta manage your condition."
"Huh?"
"And as you know, exams include regular subject written tests."
"Whaaat??"
Despair flooded the classroom.
"I'm screwed! Used the Korean, English, math textbooks for origami!"
Chalk flew through the air at Lee Seok-gyu's outburst.
Whack!
A white mark bloomed on Lee Seok-gyu's forehead, and he flopped onto his desk.
'Black is ink, white is paper.'
Do-gyeol stared blankly at the test paper. Damn midterms. They'd arrived.
Yeah. It was already midterm day. Screwed.
Big trouble. I know zilch.
Do-gyeol scribbled on the test paper.
What's the answer? Tell me the answers.
This trajectory? Straight zero.
I know it's shameless without studying, but hey, humans aim high anyway.
And what was it Yun Ga-eun said? Homeroom didn't mention it, but scores might bring benefits?
Why tell me today! Sabotaging rivals?!
Yun Ga-eun. Yun Ga-eun! Didn't peg her for the backstabber type. Even if regular subjects might not count and that's why today, still hurts!
No. Be grateful she told me at all. Not a right, right?
Forget that. Focus on now.
Gotta do something.
Do-gyeol pondered deeply, then slyly moved his hand as an idea struck. A fly-sized eyeball was just forming at his fingertip.
Snap!
Chalk nailed Do-gyeol's forehead dead center.
"Guh……."
He rubbed his forehead.
"Do-gyeol. Cheating warning one."
Pi Yu-jun rolled a candy in his mouth and added,
"All jujul use strictly forbidden during exam. One more yeong-ryeok ripple, instant zero."
The bell rang, ending first period amid the chat's mockery.
Busted.
Break time was a funeral.
"How'd it go?"
Yun Ga-eun slammed her head on the desk in defeat at Do-gyeol's question.
"Nope……totally bombed……."
"You?"
"Yeah…… Got too deep into researching sulsik upgrades……."
"Oof. Not rival sabotage then."
"Huh?"
"Nothing."
Do-gyeol eyed Seo Tae-yun.
"You?"
"Eh, whatever."
Seo Tae-yun shrugged off the question.
"And you?"
"Bubbled random!"
"……That's a flex?"
Second period began.
This one's hopeless too.
Only one hope left? Yun Ga-eun's benefits were fake. Or regular subjects don't count!
But she wouldn't mention it if irrelevant.
Ignore her info at your peril. Learned that the hard way.
But how?!
Then it hit him. The chat's mockery—no, advice.
Right. Don't get caught?
Good ideas come in flashes, huh. And with it, Yun Ga-eun's old words resurfaced, thanks to obsessing over her benefits comment.
'Read opponent's yeong-ryeok flow to predict next attack somewhat.'
Yun Ga-eun! Not mad anymore! Thanks!
That advice had dodged Kang Hak and Baek Seo-rin's attacks before.
So like reading moves to block, just read what answers they're writing?
Do-gyeol's lips curled up.
This is it.