Chapter 157: Skewer (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 157: Skewer (1)
Kang A-rin was sitting in her Mana Application Theory lecture.
In truth, there was little for her to gain from this class.
The basic principles of mana flow and control that the professor was passionately explaining from the podium were all second nature to her.
She was only taking this course for one simple reason.
‘It’s the perfect class to slack off in.’
If you scored well on the early exam held at the beginning of the semester, the professor would instantly grant you an A+ and excuse you from all future classes.
For someone like her, who needed to devote her time to more important matters, there was no better option.
And today just so happened to be the day of that early exam.
She planned to get it over with quickly.
Several students demonstrated their mana control on the platform.
She, however, had a hologram projected from her watch and a transparent in-ear device in her ear, listening to a briefing from her secretary.
“Next… student Kang A-rin?”
When her name was called, Kang A-rin walked to the front.
Let’s get this over with.
The test was simple. Of course, it was only simple for her.
The task was to use mana to lift the water from ten flasks on a table and stack them in the air in the shape of a pyramid, without losing a single drop.
Creating a difficult structure like a pyramid with an unstable medium like water, without any support, was a highly advanced task that demanded extreme precision and control.
Kang A-rin simply, nonchalantly, flicked a finger.
Swoosh.
The water from the ten flasks rose into the air and arranged itself into a perfect pyramid, without the slightest error.
“…”
Silence filled the lecture hall.
The professor adjusted his glasses and spoke calmly.
“You’ve worked hard this semester, Ms. Kang.”
She gave a slight nod in response.
“Thank you, Professor.”
Then, without a second thought, she turned and walked out of the lecture hall.
She walked down the quiet hallway, intending to head home.
It was at that exact moment.
Beep.
A tone sounded from the in-ear device, followed by her secretary’s voice.
—Sub-Guild Master! A top-level secure communication request from Phantom!
Kang A-rin’s leisurely pace came to an abrupt halt.
Top-level secure communication wasn’t possible through an in-ear device.
She scanned her surroundings once, then changed direction.
She spoke softly.
“I’m heading in now.”
Kang A-rin immediately made for the Portal Clearance Office.
*
Kang A-rin went straight to Maengju’s building.
The moment she entered the office, she spoke in a low voice.
“Connect me immediately.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
With the secretary’s reply, all the plate-glass windows and passageways in the office were sealed off by thick steel barricades, closing with a heavy thud.
The lighting in the room shifted to a cool blue, and a massive hologram screen materialized before her eyes.
“Connected to Phantom.”
The secretary murmured from the side.
Vweeeeee….
The three-sided screen flickered to life, the static slowly resolving into an image.
Soon, it was filled with the face of Yu Serin, who was drenched in sweat and breathing heavily.
Behind her, an open sky and buildings were visible. It was the landscape of Guangdong.
“What is it?” Kang A-rin asked.
—I’ve confirmed the presence of Demonic Energy.
At Yu Serin’s words, Kang A-rin nodded.
She had expected as much. A Mine attack was bound to follow a Mana Eruption.
In that case, she would need to give Guangdong a heads-up and prepare for the assault…
—However, it wasn’t Guangdong.
Kang A-rin froze at Yu Serin’s next words.
—The Mana Eruption in Guangdong was a fake. I can’t be certain of the details, but it was likely a diversion to hide the real one. The real one… is in the north.
“The north…”
If it was the north…
—Yes. Hunan Province.
“Are you certain?”
For the first time, a hint of emotion crept into Kang A-rin’s voice.
On the screen, Yu Serin nodded.
—Yes. I’ve checked during both day and night. I don’t know what they’re trying to hide… but it’s Hunan Province.
Kang A-rin’s mind raced.
The detection capabilities of Yu Serin’s Authority, Insight Eye, were the best in the world.
If she said it was so, then it was true.
The problem was something else entirely. Frankly, it wouldn’t matter much if Guangdong or Sichuan got obliterated.
But Hunan was different.
In Hunan Province…
‘The Fragment of Yu Hana is there.’
Was this a coincidence?
Or were they targeting the Fragment?
There was no way to know for sure right now. But she couldn’t be the only one who knew.
I have to tell them.
Kang A-rin decided she had to inform the others immediately.
*
This was so unfair.
The most unfair thing that had ever happened to me.
Even though we had cleared a B-Class mission in ten minutes, I felt no sense of accomplishment whatsoever.
I just wanted to kill my past self from ten minutes ago for accepting the bet.
These damn talented freaks.
I never imagined they’d be so good at detection, too.
I trudged along behind them, letting out a deep sigh.
“What should we do~? What should we wish for~?”
On the way back to the dormitory, Cheon Yeo-wool and Yoon Chae-ha had been humming beside me the entire time.
As if they couldn’t care less about my mood, they walked arm in arm, bouncing with excitement as they happily discussed the prize they were about to receive.
I, Jung Hae-in, was the leader of Unit 7.
But the only thing I’d done as leader was watch with my jaw hanging open as the two of them put on an overwhelming fireworks show.
And now, it was time for me to pay the exorbitant price of admission.
“Should I ask him to take a bath with us?”
Cheon Yeo-wool muttered nonchalantly.
“…”
I had a very bad feeling about this.
But next to me, Yoon Chae-ha’s face turned beet red at those words, and she stammered.
“Wh-What…? A b-bath?”
It seemed the thought had never even crossed her mind.
And it was no wonder. The two of them were completely different.
If Cheon Yeo-wool’s inner thoughts were like an abyss of unknown depth…
…then Yoon Chae-ha was a shallow, clear stream where you could see every single pebble on the bottom.
I figured her wish would be something simple, like ‘pat my head sincerely.’
“Hm? Of course, we have to ask for at least that much…”
Cheon Yeo-wool replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, turning her head toward Yoon Chae-ha.
But when she saw Yoon Chae-ha’s face, which looked ready to explode, the corners of her lips curled up as if she’d found a fascinating new toy.
“Why? Yoon Chae-ha. Are you embarrassed to take a bath together?”
“No… I mean, of course…!”
“You don’t want to take a bath with Hae-in?”
“That’s not it… It’s just, I’m still a little shy…”
Yoon Chae-ha covered her bright red face with both hands.
Cheon Yeo-wool took a step closer and wrapped a friendly arm around the shoulders of the nearly-crying Yoon Chae-ha.
“Oh, I see. It’s okay, it’s okay. It’s natural to be shy. Hmm… if you’re that uncomfortable, how about the three of us bathe together?”
“Huh…?”
“Do you want to wash Hae-in’s back first? Or should I?”
At that last question, tears finally welled up in Yoon Chae-ha’s eyes.
She seemed completely overwhelmed by the relentless pressure.
Unable to watch any longer, I stepped between them.
“Stop it. You’re going to make her cry.”
Her eyes still fixed on Yoon Chae-ha, Cheon Yeo-wool replied to me.
“I know. I’m trying to.”
Her chilling response left me speechless for a moment.
And so, for the entire walk down the mountain, Cheon Yeo-wool walked separately with Yoon Chae-ha, her arm around her shoulder, constantly whispering something in her ear. And every time she did, Yoon Chae-ha’s shoulders would flinch… her mouth would fall open… and her face would burn an even deeper shade of red.
‘What in the world is she telling her…?’
At last, we arrived at the Portal Clearance Office.
Having completely subdued Yoon Chae-ha, Cheon Yeo-wool wore a satisfied smile as she removed her arm from her shoulder.
Then, as if nothing had happened, she called out to me in an incredibly lovely and charming voice.
“Excuse me~ Hae-in~”
She made a motion like she was knocking on my back with her finger and asked.
“Could I possibly get an extension on my Wish Ticket? I’m a little busy these days~ I don’t think I can use it right away~”
“Go ahead…”
The atmosphere suggested she’d do something drastic if I said no.
I nodded with a deep sigh.
“Great~”
Cheon Yeo-wool beamed like a child who had been given the world.
Pat, pat.
Then, with a touch like she was soothing a crying child, she patted Yoon Chae-ha’s bottom twice.
Cheon Yeo-wool whispered sweetly in her ear.
“When you get home, make sure you review what I taught you today. Got it?”
Then, after patting the still teary-eyed Yoon Chae-ha on the head, she sauntered into the portal.
I spoke to the dazed Yoon Chae-ha.
“Let’s go. Us too.”
But Yoon Chae-ha didn’t move.
“Today…”
She suddenly mumbled, her voice distant.
“Huh?”
“I… I want to use mine today…”
Her voice was soaked, like waterlogged cotton.
A bit… damp, you could say.
“Tonight… when we sleep…”
When we sleep?
“Please hold meeee… sob, sob.”
“Oh, for crying out loud.”
In the end, Yoon Chae-ha finally burst into tears.
It seemed Cheon Yeo-wool had been tormenting her the entire way down the mountain.
I sighed and asked, “Did she give you a hard time? What did she say?”
What could she possibly have said to make her act like this?
As I patted her back, Yoon Chae-ha’s shoulders flinched.
“…”
She lifted her head from my chest. As if replaying Cheon Yeo-wool’s torment in her mind, her face flushed crimson once more.
There was no part of it left that could possibly get any redder.
“That’s… a secret…”
“…”
Yoon Chae-ha avoided my gaze.
“…Alright.”
I didn’t press her any further.