Home Visit (5)
“Hae-bin, you need to look after Sea and Yu-ri until the end of May.”
“Huh...? Why? I get Sea, but Jin Yu-ri too?”
Yoo Hae-bin muttered half in jest, half seriously. She was the type who took care of herself just fine. I explained the details and the reason.
“You know I don't mean babysitting their school lives, right?”
“Yeah, figured.”
“There might be an S-rank rift in Seoul soon—or something on that scale even if it's not a rift. I don't want Sea or Yu-ri getting caught up in it, so hang around with them and make sure they stay safe. We'll talk about Arnaud Duré after that mess is over.”
“Mm... Honestly, being around Jin Yu-ri feels like it'd end in a fight... But okay, I'll do as you say, Professor. Though... um, can I ask something?”
“What?”
I knew what Yoo Hae-bin was going to ask—not just me, but Seo Yeon-hee, who had been quietly watching, probably did too. I nodded to show it was fine, and she continued cautiously.
“How do you know all this stuff, Professor?”
It wasn't just about this incident. How I knew the enemies involved in the Great Rift. How I'd foreseen something happening in Gyeongju and brought her along. She'd been harboring these questions and finally asked outright.
“He doesn't tell me everything either. But the kid's so sweet, right? I trust there's no bad intent.”
“I get the vibe... but I'm still kinda curious.”
Seo Yeon-hee spoke first, brushing it off casually. Yoo Hae-bin chimed in, glancing at her expression. Under their gazes, I answered sincerely.
“It won't sound convincing... but I try to tell you everything I can. Not everyone, but you two—the Boss and you, Hae-bin—I'll make damn sure you never feel backstabbed.”
Of course, I wasn't entirely above board. I was deceiving a lot of people. But with Seo Yeon-hee, even if I hid the truth, I'd never let her feel betrayed—that was one of my principles. Lately, Yoo Hae-bin had entered that category too.
“I don't want to deceive the Boss, and with you, Hae-bin? What's the point? I can't say 'blindly trust me,' but... that's how I really feel.”
“Yeah, that's enough for me.”
Seo Yeon-hee accepted it as usual, but Yoo Hae-bin grumbled like she was sulking.
“So... you just don't want to deceive the Boss, and I'm not worth the hassle?”
“Hey, the fact that I'm even saying this means I don't want to deceive you, okay?”
“Pfft, I know. Just teasing. Anyway, got it. I'll watch over Sea and keep an eye on Jin Yu-ri while I'm at it.”
Then Yoo Hae-bin asked for specifics—what exactly she needed to do.
“I'm not asking you to risk your life. If you think something's up with Sea, just tell me as soon as possible. That's all I need.”
“I can handle most things myself, right? As long as my identity stays hidden.”
She grinned and handed me a chicken leg. Around then, Seo Yeon-hee asked as if it just occurred to her.
“Speaking of, Dojin, how much longer are you staying?”
“At home?”
“Yeah, you said you were just out for a walk. Your sister's probably waiting—eat this and go. I can chat more with Hae-bin after.”
Suddenly, Yoo Hae-bin flinched and asked in a small voice.
“W-wait... Professor, you're leaving? There's still so much food left... Why not stay longer and go with the Boss...?”
“Yeah, I was planning to hang till around ten and head out together.”
I replied with smug satisfaction, and both Yoo Hae-bin and Seo Yeon-hee stared at me. I boasted proudly.
“Sea texted earlier. Asked when I'd be home, and when I said soon, she told me to take my time. Walk slow, grab coffee, come back leisurely. Guess she's studying alone at home—man, she's been so sweet and thoughtful lately. I thought it'd last a few days at most, but it's been a week since the school trip. Stable now, I'd say—”
“Think I'll have that beer I bought. Hae-bin, you put it in the fridge?”
“Yeah, in the freezer to chill. I'll grab it.”
“Nah, it's for me—I'll get it.”
“I'll find it for you. It's way in the back.”
“……”
They stood up mid-sentence and zipped to the kitchen, leaving me feeling deeply miffed and lonely.
What the hell? They were so curious, then suddenly don't wanna hear it?
The clock hands had crept to nine p.m. Yoo Hae-bin glanced at the portable rack in the corner of the living room and thought.
Will this just slide...?
Hanging there were the pajamas she'd been wearing until recently. She'd worried about getting caught. It felt like the natural flow would expose her. But it hadn't—and she knew exactly why.
Guess she really is one hell of a mage.
No other explanation fit. Phantom's Boss. She'd stripped the pajamas off Yoo Hae-bin, put them on herself, and handed them to Lee Dojin. And in that time, she'd done something. So discreetly that even Lee Dojin, a top-tier magic researcher, noticed nothing. Magic so advanced it turned clothes worn for days at home into pristine new ones.
Yoo Hae-bin eyed the Boss, who was smiling sweetly while chatting with Lee Dojin, and muttered inwardly.
Honestly, kinda creepy...
Did Lee Dojin even know? That the Boss had personally protected a new recruit's privacy without him noticing.
Pfft, no way. That big, shiny-headed genius.
“Shiny-headed” was objective praise, but she emphasized it with spite. And it wasn't just that Lee Dojin was clueless. Even if he found out, he'd never grasp the Boss's true intent.
She didn't hide it out of consideration for me...
Just to avoid needless fuss. She didn't like the idea of Lee Dojin and Yoo Hae-bin getting tangled in “that” kind of topic. So she'd nipped the potential drama in the bud. That was the logical read.
Scary woman...
Yoo Hae-bin sighed inwardly. The Boss wasn't rubbing it in, and it didn't seem like leverage for threats, so it'd probably pass smoothly... But she still had gripes.
What the hell? It's my house, why are they all cozy without me? Include me too!
The chicken on the table was for all three, but drinks differed. She had soda. They both had beer.
“Right, that movie looked fun.”
“Which one?”
“Trailer had vampires. Plot seemed cool.”
“I think I saw that trailer... Romance-thriller mix, right?”
“Yeah, didn't it look good?”
“Felt like trailer bait. Saw it twice 'cause of ads—means I've seen the movie twice already.”
“Come on, filmmakers would be heartbroken. Gotta see it for real.”
“Wanna go together?”
“You free?”
Then they clinked beer cans. Yoo Hae-bin shot them a jealous glare, but it meant nothing here. She repeated inwardly.
Why not include me? This is my house—I pay the bills with my scholarship! Talk to me: 'Hae-bin, seen that trailer?'
And then it actually happened.
“You see that trailer?”
“Uh, y-yeah!?”
She startled, her voice coming out weird. Seo Yeon-hee smiled thinly, and Lee Dojin asked again.
“What was it called...? Looked like pure trailer hype to me.”
“Uh, yeah, I thought the same as you, Professor.”
A total lie. Yoo Hae-bin actually thought it'd be pretty good. But no chance of going with Lee Dojin, and since the Boss might, she sabotaged it.
If I can't have it... I'll smash it.
Petty motive. Dodging Seo Yeon-hee's knowing glance, she glanced at the table and broached.
“But Professor, Boss...”
“Yeah?”
“Hm?”
“One left... I wanna try it.”
She eyed the half-empty beer can. Never tried it, but drinking was something learned from adults—and one was an idiot, the other a rival, but adults nonetheless. She asked with subtle hope.
Lee Dojin shut it down instantly.
“No. You're a minor.”
But Yoo Hae-bin wasn't backing down.
“Not true, Dojin.”
“Oh?”
“...?”
Seo Yeon-hee tilted her head. Lee Dojin eyed her like, What nonsense now? Yoo Hae-bin continued innocently.
“Ahem, truth is, I fudged my age a bit. I'm twenty-five this year.”
Bold-faced lie—her real age was eighteen. With all the shocks today and her third-wheel frustration, it just spilled out. But the utterly annoying Boss replied calmly.
“Can't lie, Hae-bin. I saw it all during the wish contract.”
“Tch, trying to compete, huh.”
“Ah...”
One counter crushed her. As she deflated with a whine, Lee Dojin piled on.
“And twenty-five? By dragon lifespan, that's not even high school—middle school level.”
True to his “smart” shiny head, he knew this stuff cold. Human average lifespan: eighty. Dragons beyond the rifts: average 120. Even at twenty-five, human-equivalent was sixteen or seventeen. But she had a point and dragged her rebuttal plaintively.
“Nooo, why divide it like that? Count meals eaten. We dragons are adults at fifteen, can drink then too. We mature fast, hatch early. You know, so you're just being mean, right?”
“No means no.”
“So unfair...”
Then, as she grumbled bitterly—
Hiss— A can opened. The Boss reached out to her.
“Here, try it.”
“Boss, she's still in high school—booze is—”
“What's wrong? Dragons are adults at fifteen, so she's barely younger than Dojin by that math.”
“No... how does that even calculate?”
“Why? It's fairer this way.”
The Boss shot back innocently. Lee Dojin didn't stop her, and Yoo Hae-bin took the can, steeped in defeat.
That smug poise... So annoying. Right at the finish line, huh?
More infuriating than Lee Dojin's firm no. The Boss was elegant, kind, super attractive on her own... but annoying was annoying. Her looks so similar to Lee Sea made it weirder. But Yoo Hae-bin had no way to flip the mood, and soon it was ten p.m.
Whoosh— The Boss waved, cleaning the messy living room spotless, then stood at the door.
“Hae-bin, we're off. Sleep well—see you next time.”
“See you at school tomorrow.”
“No Friday class, Professor.”
“Bump into you in the hall, ice cream's on me from the kiosk.”
“Expensive one.”
“Fine, whatever. Night.”
The door shut. Thanks to the Boss's magic cleanup, nothing to tidy. Yoo Hae-bin staggered to the sofa and flopped down. The half-drunk beer—tastier than expected, but only half-gone—sat on the table. She hauled herself up and headed to the rack.
She grabbed the pajamas she'd worn for days, pressed them to her face. Perfectly new. Fresh scent, new texture. Grateful for the save... but it felt like hitting a brick wall.
Right then—
Shoooo...
The faint mana the Boss had left before leaving gathered in one spot.
“Huh? Wh-what!?”
Panicking, Yoo Hae-bin backed away. The mana coalesced, forming a tiny space in midair.
And...
Shooooaaah—!
A sucking force poured from the space, targeting Lee Dojin's jacket in her reluctant grip. It slipped from her hand in an instant, vanishing into the rift. The space closed, leaving three shimmering orange-mana letters in the air.
Yoo Hae-bin read them aloud.
“'Warning'...?”
She trudged to the table, grabbed the half-full can, and chugged it. Bitter beyond reason... perfectly matching her mood.
Rescued by the enemy. The gap in shared time and closeness hit hard. Her hard-won trophy not just cleaned against her will, but straight-up stolen. And a warning left behind.
Orange made sense—not yellow-card mild, but sparing the red. Cross the line again...
'What, turn my house into a bloodbath?'
Easy to imagine the orange warning turning blood-red.
“……”
She finished the beer and vowed firmly.
Next time, don't get caught...
Not just shady acts. Any move—avoid Boss detection. If caught, make it too slick for open reprisal. No detection, no crime. No callout, no crime.
And finally, she grumbled.
“Why'd she take it?”
The pajamas, vanished through space—already missed. Where'd the Boss stash it? If she could restore it original...
How would she use it? Yoo Hae-bin was dying to know. Seo Yeon-hee, planning to toss it straight in the wash at home, would've been baffled.
Meanwhile, an hour earlier around nine p.m., as Yoo Hae-bin stewed in defeat—Jin Yu-ri's patience was nearing its limit.
Lee Sea... Lee Seaaaa...!
Coming here, it'd be two hours soon. Lee Dojin, out for a “walk,” showed no sign of return. Jin Yu-ri had no choice but to grind through the group project with hyper-studious zeal. Otherwise, no excuse to stay.
Think I'll leave? No way—gonna see Professor's face before I go home today.
She wanted to greet him, sure—but pride stung too. Falling for Lee Sea's ploy like an idiot, even buying fruit juice? Infuriating. Had to at least exchange hellos with him or she'd toss and turn all night.
But no chance to act on it... Jin Yu-ri asked Lee Sea in her sweetest tone.
“Ah, Sea—more cola?”
“I can pour it.”
Lee Sea replied primly, grabbing the floor bottle and filling her cup. But the table plate was empty. As guest, Jin Yu-ri got delivery pizza courtesy of Lee Sea. While she sipped one cola, Lee Sea downed two. One slice for her, two for Lee Sea. Excluding the two pre-plated, nothing left. Jin Yu-ri wondered.
Why ask for it if she won't eat?
Cheese oven spaghetti from a review event. The kind that dies cold—yet Lee Sea hadn't touched it despite requesting. Left it like it wasn't there, though portions looked short.
Jin Yu-ri checked her phone: 9:10 p.m. Even staying late, ten was the limit. Project topic sorta set, but objectively, time to bounce. Already overdue.
Finish the project first.
Topic narrowed but not finalized. Their opinions clashed, stalemated. Pushing aside creeping anxiety, Jin Yu-ri debated hotly.
“Sea, wouldn't that unbalance it a bit? I think sticking to textbook theory's better. Integrates well with the assignment goal.”
“If we sync our axes right, we can hold the construct over a minute like this.”
“That's just us doing well solo. Topic's ours, but low participation's an issue...”
“More complex, and we might not finish.”
“Still... maxing within guidelines feels right.”
“……”
“……”
No bridging the gap. Lee Sea found Jin Yu-ri frustrating; Jin Yu-ri found Lee Sea frustrating. To Jin Yu-ri, Lee Sea was a slacker banking on talent. To Lee Sea, Jin Yu-ri was inflating work endlessly.
“Sea, hear me out once more? See—”
“Bet the group bails—too hard, they'll say. Better us.”
“Don't assume—prep well, they can do it.”
Unnoticed, voices rose. No intent to understand each other—inevitable. How long did the tense time drag? Finally, Jin Yu-ri declared war, not as future sister-in-law, but longtime rival.
“Then tomorrow in Charlotte training—settle it there.”
“...How?”
“Spar winner. You do your way, I do mine. Confident in yours, right?”
“...Whatever.”
Only then did she think, Too harsh...? But water under the bridge—Lee Sea didn't seem offended. And ten p.m. arrived.
Time to go for real. Oddly, Lee Sea said,
“I'll walk you.”
“...Thanks.”
Give poison, offer antidote. Lured her, knew her anxiety over Lee Dojin, yet no mention—now this? Felt almost apologetic. But Jin Yu-ri couldn't say it. Out the door, elevator down, out the complex, walking together—she finally asked,
“Professor... said he was walking. Late.”
First mention in three hours. Lee Sea hesitated—rare for her. Years as rivals let Jin Yu-ri spot it. Lee Sea was... genuinely sorry. Then,
“Said he'd be late. Around nine. Told him take his time.”
“...!”
Jin Yu-ri seethed instead. Pure deception. Wanted to snap: Fun messing with people? Fury choked her words; silence fell.
And...
“...?”
Jin Yu-ri saw Lee Sea staring somewhere, shock cracking her usual stoic face. She followed her gaze and...
“Ah...”
Gasped softly in surprise. Far off in the dark alley mouth. Lee Dojin walked with someone. Slender build, first sight yet oddly familiar woman.