Chapter 108
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Separation Anxiety
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While Haneul was diligently searching for hidden cameras,
one person and one dryad brazenly skipped class, even used the showers, and returned all fresh and fluffy.
So-yeon blinked at the sight of the two returning after so long.
"Unnie...? No, both of you...?"
"Ah, nothing happen while we were gone? No, something did happen, right?"
"Well, classes got postponed anyway, so we just hung out doing nothing. But what’s with that look...?"
"Huh? Why? Oh, we got dirty, so we washed up a bit."
Ga-eun said as she brushed back her hair with her right hand.
Her hair tips were still damp, sticking lightly to her cheeks and the nape of her neck.
"Yeah, that much I can tell..."
So-yeon scanned the two of them once.
Su-hyeon, clinging to Ga-eun's left arm with her butt planted firmly.
Didn't they seem a lot closer than before?
So-yeon trembled her eyes, about to point it out, but the two started flirting casually as if nothing was wrong.
"Oing, Haneul still hasn't come back? Guess I'll sit here for a bit then."
"No, just stay like this."
"Huh...? But there's an empty seat, why bother...?"
"It's more hassle to move again for no reason."
"...? Really?"
Convinced by Ga-eun, Su-hyeon shifted seats in bewilderment.
From Ga-eun's upper arm to her knee.
Hmm, this position was actually more comfortable.
Haneul was small-framed, so she had to sit between her legs.
It felt like she was being used as a stand or a security blanket.
"But that outerwear's too big. Can't you just take it off?"
Su-hyeon said, waving her hand.
The long sleeves flapped around.
"No way. You'll get cold again. You'll catch a cold."
"Just put it back on if you get cold later."
"By the time you realize and grab it, it'll be too late. Here, let me fold up the sleeves for you."
So-yeon blinked watching Ga-eun tenderly roll up the sleeves.
This wasn't just flirting... it was...
'Mom and daughter...?'
So-yeon could no longer see Su-hyeon as her older sister.
"Su-hyeon unni. Are you really 23?"
"Uh, y-yeah?"
So-yeon asked, slightly adjusting her glasses.
Su-hyeon, who had plenty of guilty secrets, startled like a frog in a pan.
'What? Did I slip up somewhere again? How...?'
"Wh-what are you talking about? I am twenty... three. Haneul said so too."
"Hmm, no matter how I look at you, I can't buy it."
"...Ahem, cough, cough."
As So-yeon crossed her arms with a suspicious glare,
Su-hyeon let out an awkward cough.
A cute sound like deflating air.
The reaction came not from So-yeon, but from atop Su-hyeon's head.
"Oh my, look at that. You're catching a cold, aren't you?"
"Ahem. No, I'm fine. Calm down."
Ga-eun fussily pressed the back of her hand to Su-hyeon's cheeks, forehead, and neck.
Not satisfied, she picked up Su-hyeon and tried rubbing her forehead and cheeks against hers, until Su-hyeon finally pushed her face away with her hand.
"Ack, why are you doing this...?"
"Boo hoo, sorry, don't push me away."
"No..."
"Hmm, definitely doesn't look 23."
"Argh."
Just then, Haneul trudged back in.
Spotting her, Su-hyeon waved.
"Oh, Haneul's back. Why'd it take so long?"
"......"
"Wh-why are you squeezing your arm...? That outerwear...!"
As soon as Haneul appeared, Ga-eun silently tightened her grip around Su-hyeon. Just enough not to crush her.
"...Sigh."
Haneul shot a slightly dissatisfied look at their carefree display, but soon perked up.
"What, you two got that close? Kabee, Su-hyeon was the perfect height for chin-resting."
"Su-hyeon isn't unnie's chin-rest."
"Eying, can't be helped then. Second best, So-yeon...?"
"Pass. And I'm taller than you anyway."
"Whew~ Now we're alive...!"
Thankfully, with Su-hyeon's mood restored, everyone started regaining their energy one by one.
But it was already too late to continue training.
They decided to have dinner a bit early and head to bed.
Before that.
"Team leaders, come up and grab these please. Make sure the side with the skin contact goes on your arm. Names are written on them, so attach the right one to yourselves!"
Before dinner, staff came in and distributed strange bands.
Carmen approached a staff member rummaging through a box and asked,
"What's this?"
"Ah, Instructor Carmen. This is a test version of a new smart band. They said it'd save time by replacing physical exams with this."
Normally, after the first training, they'd do exams in order for precise analysis.
Scheduled to run late into the night.
Analyze overnight, then proceed with afternoon plans based on results—but since they couldn't, this would substitute.
"Really? I didn't hear about it. And this tiny bracelet can replace a full checkup?"
Carmen voiced skepticism at the staff's explanation.
Basic mana and body info inside individuals could be checked externally anyway.
The key was max output and specific mana reactions for experts to analyze abilities, uncover hidden potential, applications, and training methods.
"Well, adult circumstances or whatever? Honestly, checking everyone one by one costs a bit..."
"Hmmm. Lobbying? Got it."
As Carmen peered at the bracelet, the staff broke into a cold sweat.
"Haha, d-don't say it like that..."
"Oh, my bad. Illegal here?"
"N-no, it's not that... Well, it is illegal, but this isn't lobbying—it's selected by the council..."
"Same difference. It's lobbying."
"......"
"They say this replaces the exam."
"Ha, we got totally scammed."
Grumbles erupted here and there upon receiving the bracelets.
Having their most anticipated parts canceled raw? Naturally, reactions weren't great.
But not everyone was negative.
"Where's it from? No brand name."
"Hasn't released yet."
"Maybe they give 'em out when we go home?"
"Nah, how'd they give unreleased stuff?"
"This replaces exams? How much does it even cost...?"
"Break it, maybe it'll tell the price. Hoyt."
"Agh! Crazy bastard, do your own!"
The guys, curious about the novel gadget.
Plus Su-hyeon.
Click.
"Oh..."
The bracelet auto-adjusted to fit perfectly.
Su-hyeon lifted her plump arm, checking it from all angles.
"Weirdly comfy, not uncomfortable at all."
She'd worried since she'd never worn watches or bracelets before. But this? No need to fuss.
"Wear it all the time."
"Fine for sleep, but showering too?"
"Yeah."
"Ugh, feels like we came for nothing..."
"Heh, just think of it as a vacation. Better than weeks of hard training elsewhere."
"True."
Regardless of others' complaints, Su-hyeon marveled at her bracelet.
Ga-eun cautiously asked,
"But, can you really wear something like this carelessly?"
"Ah."
Late anxiety hit.
But worry didn't last.
"...Should be... fine? I know someone high up here."
'Jun-hyeok'll handle issues. Worst case, ask Brüel.'
Su-hyeon now saw them as fixers.
"Oh...? Nice connections."
Seeing Su-hyeon's nonchalance, Ga-eun shrugged it off.
'Well, Brüel's out in the open, so they must've handled it somehow.'
...More concerning was the council.
Heard they got attacked by consenters once?
At this point, hard to call coincidence.
'They're after Su-hyeon.'
No incidents with Da-hye, Min-ji, Ji-eun, so probably wanted something from Su-hyeon's hunter friends.
Come to think, that damn staff from earlier was gone.
The culprit who escalated the misunderstanding with Su-hyeon.
They must've realized she lied.
'Doesn't matter. Show your face, and I'll...'
Ga-eun ground her teeth.
Meanwhile,
Oblivious to Ga-eun's grinding or not, Su-hyeon wagged her tail thinking of proper pork cutlets this time.
'So thick...'
She barely ate that huge one earlier before tossing it...
Such a waste.
Probably divine punishment incoming.
Sorry pig, sorry chef.
Pig made her think of honey for some reason.
That evening.
"Where'd unnie go now."
So-yeon sighed after getting ready for bed.
Lights out at 9, too early to sleep. Wanted to chat.
Almost 9 now.
All adults, so no strict movement curfew, but...
"Sigh. Was hoping for NewTube stories at least."
The moment So-yeon gave up and set her glasses on the desk,
The door opened.
Click, creak.
"Unnie?"
"Yeah."
"Huh?"
Glasses off, So-yeon squinted.
It was Haneul, pouting.
"H-haneul unnie, why...?"
"...Got my spot stolen."
"......???"
"Sleep with me tonight."
"Pardon???"
"No, listen. Su-hyeon was already asleep, right? But Ga-eun wouldn't budge. So I suggested rock-paper-scissors, and we did, but she used her powers and all. Oh yeah, Ga-eun's way more famous than I thought? She's been on NewTube since high school, goes to college, no real training, but B-rank! Became a hunter recently. And this camp? She was streaming when she got in..."
"Ah."
So-yeon got her wish? They chatted till lights out.
