[Miss Baek Ahrin, will the head of Changhae clan visit during the birth ceremony?]
Baek Ahrin was melting into my arms.
As I concentrated so hard that my head creaked, a sudden thought popped into my mind, which I captured in my necklace.
“Hmm, well…”
Baek Ahrin blinked, dragging out her words. Her breath, now somewhat lukewarm, brushed through her hair. She, like a droopy doll, squeezed the arm around me and languidly continued speaking.
“Recently, there’s been a chain reaction bursting in the territory. He’s leading the forces to handle it, so it’s uncertain.”
[Ah, I see…]
“Since the territory is vast, it happens often. It’s an unmanned zone full of dungeons and monsters, so there’s no casualties, but if left alone, it keeps growing, so they’re hurriedly managing it.”
Among the three major clans, the jurisdiction… the largest territory belongs to the Changhae Clan.
Unlike the Gop-hwa and Taesan Clans, which are coiled inside the Korean Peninsula, the Changhae Clan has secured a vast territory going all the way up to northern Korea.
Of course, most of the area has become barren land in a frigid climate, but dungeons occur frequently in the vast territory.
A wider management area means more dungeons and monsters to deal with. It’s common for forces that can’t handle them to fall apart.
Existing forces shrink unnecessary territories, while newly settled forces maintain smaller territories, which is different behavior.
That’s because the Changhae Clan has the power to deal with the dungeons and monsters arising in its expansive lands.
‘And right below their territory, the Gop-hwa and Taesan are holding firm.’
The three major clans have maintained a relationship akin to blood alliances for the past 200 years.
They actively communicate normally and generously send what’s needed when required.
Even when the twin-headed dragon turned China upside down, the Gop-hwa and Taesan clans together rushed up with their forces, joining the battle.
“Hmm, if it gets at least manageable, they might still come late. But if it drags on, they might not be able to come.”
[Got it.]
But that means the head of Changhae Clan must be quite busy pouring over the management of the territory.
So, Ahrin’s explanation that she couldn’t be sure about the visit during the birth ceremony made sense.
Baek Ahrin shrugged her shoulders and buried her nose in my hair. Sniff sniff… Her breath had become somewhat warm and gently brushed through my hair.
It wasn’t awkward. Others were like that too, but especially Baek Ahrin always buried her nose in my hair when she melted into me.
‘……’
There was no dissatisfaction with her doing that, but I did feel some annoyance that only Baek Ahrin got to scent me.
Every time she moved, her inflated dress shirt would brush against my face. Her outer clothes had long been discarded, and her shirt was half-soaked with water and sweat.
Even with her burying her nose deep into such a chest and sniffing hard, I felt no smell at all, which was frustrating.
…Every time that happened, I felt provoked but somehow managed to hold back and pouted my lips.
‘Is the head of the Changhae Clan not going to meet during the birth ceremony?’
The current head of Changhae is Baek Ahrin’s biological father, Baek Wol-seon, a prominent hero among the highest-ranked, widely known for his exploits.
‘I wonder if he knows about Ahrin’s condition…’
Baek Ahrin’s biological father. It wouldn’t be strange for him to know about her condition, having been with her since birth.
Conversely, given that it’s a secret hard to discover even with observational powers, there’s also a possibility he might not know.
Whatever the case, I had a strong desire to meet and ask him.
‘…Of course, thinking about meeting him makes me really nervous…’
As I tightly hugged Baek Ahrin’s waist, I suddenly noticed the ring on her finger.
It was the ring I had made for her last time, and it was on her left hand’s ring finger.
Observing it gave me a strange sense of satisfaction that tingled in my chest.
.
.
.
Even though it was overshadowed by the grand festival of the birth ceremony, the midterm evaluation was also approaching.
The midterm evaluation is a test held every semester. The second semester’s midterm is held before the birth ceremony.
Of course, it isn’t conducted on the same grand scale as the first semester.
Typically, students would hard-prepare for the first semester’s midterms and take the second semester’s midterms casually.
This time, however, the midterm evaluation would take place over two days instead of five. No outsiders would be allowed, nor would there be any large tournaments held to announce the results.
The first day was written and the second day was practical according to the major subject, a straightforward schedule.
Moreover, the scoring itself was less than in the first semester, so the students felt no significant pressure.
Still, since it’s an assessment that affects their grades, even the students excited for the upcoming birth ceremony maintained a reasonable level of tension as they prepared for the final exam of the year.
I felt similar.
I wasn’t particularly anxious. For the past few days, we had been studying and training together in the mansion.
“We will begin the written evaluation shortly.”
Thus began the first day of the midterm evaluation.
I settled into the evaluation room assigned to me and waited for the start.
Unfortunately, I had been assigned to a different evaluation room than everyone else. Such a situation made me wonder if there was some strange manipulation behind it.
“The exam consists of 30 questions, with one hour for each subject. Once you’ve completed all questions for a subject, you may proceed to the next. Students who finish within the allotted time may exit early.”
Listening to the announcement echoing from the speakers high on the ceiling, memories of the previous first semester flooded back.
I sat in my seat, scanning the organized content over and over, meditated, and took deep breaths to calm my nerves…
The test I took in that level of high tension was very difficult, and due to the rush of time, I had briskly engaged my mind and fingers, and that memory remained vivid.
How anxious I was over potentially losing ranks, fearing what others would think of me if that happened?
To be honest, I didn’t care much about my reputation, but I had earnestly tried so as not to burden my teacher, who had taught me.
“Time is up. We will start the written evaluation now.”
At the moment, I wasn’t feeling particularly nervous. As the staff approached, I removed my smartwatch to submit it and waited a moment for the examination to commence.
Calmly, I examined the problems printed on the tablet.
As in the first semester, the first subject was magic. It was a wicked move to place a hard subject first, designed to shake the students’ mental strength.
‘30 questions in an hour… the number and time for each were reduced compared to the first semester, but the difficulty is… as hard as the material covered.’
I hurriedly began solving as I manipulated the tablet and reviewed all 30 questions on the magic subject.
After which, I employed some divided thinking to calculate the problems in parallel.
‘Solve complete.’
– Swoosh, swoosh…
While other students were just starting their first question, my pen continued to move without stopping.
[I’ll be exiting now.]
“Oh? Alright, understood. Please leave the tablet where it is. You can retrieve your belongings from the desk.”
[Thank you.]
Thus, I was able to exit early, leaving behind students who were sweating profusely, scribbling furiously.
I may have hurried a bit, but I had no doubt about my results.
Returning my smartwatch to the now surprised staff, I rushed out of the evaluation room.
– Hoo-whoosh!
– …Phew…
A chilly wind blew through, ruffling my hair. Suddenly, I blew into the wind, and white breath escaped from my mouth.
I quickened my steps, passing by trees shedding their leaves.
Passersby dressed warmly, while the trees dropped their leaves.
Shiyoram had already started to embrace a wintry atmosphere.
It was a season I absolutely despised.
A cold and brisk season.
With snow and ice stuck in various places, it was hard to sleep on the ground. The chilling sensation felt like it would freeze me to the bone, making my limbs tingle involuntarily.
Speeding up my steps allowed me to reach my destination quickly.
It was still the desolate entrance of the sixth evaluation room.
I lingered around the sparse entrance to kill some time.
– Praise be, this time, I think I got all the superhuman exception laws.
– Did you write down all the exceptional laws in disaster situations?
– Ah, damn… huh?
After a short wait, when the time for the exam ended, students began to exit from the entrance.
Initially a few students trickling out, they eventually began to flow out in a tide.
Among them, a student who was grumbling loudly spotted me and widened his eyes.
[Hello.]
“Oh, yes, hello.”
As I lightly bowed my head, the stunned student returned the greeting. The following students also showed surprised reactions upon seeing me.
Disregarding them, I slightly turned my eyes. Somewhat ignoring the sound of swallowed breaths, I rolled my eyes left and right.
No matter where I turned my gaze, the air was thick with murky fog. I recognized a student in front of me opening his mouth, but couldn’t see clearly.
Amidst it all, a flash of red caught my eye.
Bright red hair and gem-like sparkling eyes.
The student was wearing the outer garment of the uniform I had lent her, instead of the baseball jacket she usually wears.
A sweet scent wafted over from afar.
On her neck danced a red scarf colored the same as her fluttering hair.
“Hehehe.”
My previously stiffened lips relaxed into a satisfied grin. Ignoring the noise surrounding me, I moved closer.
“Yeon-hwa.”
Hong Yeon-hwa, who had her hands stuck in her pockets and was staggering out, opened her eyes wide. In that instant, I quickly dashed and wrapped myself in her embrace.
The cold surroundings instantly warmed up. I looked up, swaying in contentment, transfixed by the warm body heat traveling through her clothes.
“What’s up? Were you waiting outside? It’s cold, why not go inside…”
Hong Yeon-hwa cupped her hand against my cheek, her cool fingers melting against my slightly chilly skin.
“I arrived just before it ended, so it’s fine… yes, keep touching me.”
A smooth purr escaped her throat. I grasped her hand, pulling it closer to my cheek.
As I stood on my tiptoes and rubbed my face against hers, the soft touch of her red scarf brushed against me.
“Hehe.”
Once again, satisfaction surged within me.
It was a warm winter.
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