Due to the body weakness from Gop-hwa’s trial, I skipped most of the lectures, but I didn’t skip the mentoring with Choi Ji-yeon.
Fortunately, there were no ongoing classes requiring teamwork, so I could easily skip without hassle.
Attendance issues could be handled as sick leave, and I could make up for the missed material by submitting assignments.
It would be a bit tiring to catch up on all that accumulated work, but as long as my grades wouldn’t drop, I count my blessings.
However, the mentoring with Ji-yeon would affect not just me, but also her.
I could handle a little hardship for the overdue assignments, but Ji-yeon’s schedule would get thrown off as well.
Of course, a couple of delays wouldn’t create a huge problem. Schedules don’t always match perfectly, and it’s common for plans to get derailed occasionally.
But I wasn’t incapable of moving, nor was it something that would take long, so I decided to go ahead with the mentoring.
Instead, I asked Hong Yeon-hwa and Baek Ahrin, who just finished a sparring session with Gop-hwa, to accompany me. It was to avoid any potential outbursts from Gop-hwa that could lead to danger.
I got Ji-yeon’s permission. When I casually texted her, she accepted, saying it would be nice to meet up after a long time.
“Did I mention I’m learning necromancy from Ji-yeon?”
As we strolled leisurely toward the meeting spot, Hong Yeon-hwa suddenly looked over and asked.
“Yes, Taesan is… famous for necromancy, after all. It just so happens I want to learn it, so I asked my senior for help.”
I nodded and raised my hand. Soon, a ghostly flame resembling a will-o’-the-wisp appeared above my palm.
It was a spirit pulled from some random monster, wavering in a colorless haze.
Not particularly useful. I could use it to possess a corpse, but I didn’t expect much performance from it. It would struggle even to serve as bait.
‘If it comes down to it, I might as well use it as firewood for Gop-hwa.’
Gop-hwa burns everything like a country dog. I could shove a bunch of these useless spirits into him and boost his output in one go.
As I thought this, the spirit above my palm started to shiver.
“Oh… already in the beginner phase? Wow, Ha-yul really can’t do anything wrong.”
Hong Yeon-hwa leaned down to admire the spirit on my palm.
“Hehe.”
I couldn’t help but smirk at her reaction. Compliments from someone who likes you are just the sweetest. Even if I regained my sense of taste and indulged in sweet cookies and cakes, it wouldn’t match this kind of sweetness.
“Has it only been a short time since mentoring began, and you’re already handling a spirit? You really pick things up fast.”
“I can barely manage basic magic… How many talents does Ha-yul have?”
While muttering this, Hong Yeon-hwa zipped up her thin windbreaker.
As the zipper went up, the snow-white skin previously visible disappeared from sight.
The strong scent of milk wafting from the windbreaker suddenly faded…
“……”
I shut my mouth in an instant. Feeling a bit embarrassed by my own thoughts, I raised my head.
My gaze met her jewel-like red eyes.
Her eyes surveyed where my gaze had been, and for a moment, her blinking stopped, causing a soft smile to bloom.
Hong Yeon-hwa lightly pinched my cheek.
“Hmph… Just hold on until night, alright?”
“Okay…”
“Good boy.”
These days, sleep is no longer a source of fear for me.
Before, I had severe insomnia, and if I ever did manage to fall asleep, it was always plagued by nightmares, making me dread sleep. But now, snuggling into someone else’s arms, I found no nightmares or anything at all.
Feeling the warm, soft touch and rhythmic heartbeat conveyed through her embrace, I’d fall asleep instantly, without even having the chance to feel the nightmares or insomnia.
Nodding in enthusiasm, I looked forward to the happiness I would feel that night.
“If I want to stop Gop-hwa from blowing up while sleeping, I should fall asleep by your side too, right?”
“Shush.”
A little while later, we arrived at the meeting spot, a spacious park with a large grassy area.
Flowers of various colors were planted along the walking paths, creating a lovely view.
The shadow of sparsely planted trees provided the perfect cover for laying down a blanket and enjoying a picnic.
‘The dorm is nearby. Should I bring Seo-yul along for a walk?’
It would be nice to just pack a simple lunch and come out for some fresh air.
After scanning the surroundings for a moment, I ventured inside.
Ji-yeon was waiting for us on a bench nestled under the shade of a tree. Her chin resting in her hand, she was focused on a hologram, giving her an air of elegance.
With her natural color palette of greens and browns, Ji-yeon’s appearance was quite soothing. Her hologram was also set to a green hue.
As she stared intently at the hologram, Ji-yeon lifted her head at the sound of our approach.
Her green eyes blinked, taking in the group including me.
I nodded my head in a slight bow.
After hearing the news about my absence from class due to Gop-hwa’s trial, a flood of caring messages had come my way.
Among them was Ji-yeon’s message. I expressed my gratitude in reply, but I also planned to thank her in person.
Thinking back, I realized we’ve built quite a friendship now. Since there’s a debt from my previous stay in China, perhaps I should casually bring up the fairy incident?
[Thank you for worrying about me.]
[Thankfully, I am—]
“Eeeek?!”
[—fine…?]
Ji-yeon’s eyes widened in shock.
She leaped violently from the bench, as if she’d just touched a hot frying pan.
Caught off guard by this bizarre scene, I froze in place as she swiftly wrapped her arms around me, burying my face into her warm bosom.
A question mark floated above my head.
Hong Yeon-hwa’s face contorted.
—
I wished I could scream and pass out right then and there.
With my eyes squeezing shut, I gazed down at Ha-yul nestled in Ji-yeon’s embrace.
The sweet scent that tickled my nose, the warm and soft sensation from her petite body.
All of this stimulated my senses.
Ji-yeon, with her sixth sense wide open, casually assessed Ha-yul again.
Perceiving life force through Taesan. She expanded her range to even detect another’s vitality outside of the earth. It was a tricky technique, yet Ji-yeon could manage it in her own way.
As she scrutinized Ha-yul again.
An empty vessel. A space so void, content yet vanishing slowly, similar to evaporating moisture…
‘What the heck…?!’
The life force I’d carefully replenished just recently was about to deplete again.
The realization made Ji-yeon’s eyes tremble in fear.
She had strained herself to restore that energy just days earlier, and now it was dwindling down again so soon.
What on earth was he doing outside? Was he gambling his vitality away?
I feared he might suddenly faint from exhaustion at any moment.
‘Could Gop-hwa have anything to do with this?’
As these horrifying thoughts rushed through Ji-yeon’s mind, Ha-yul’s condition flickered into her thoughts.
Trials must be accompanied by changes in Gop-hwa. It was mentioned that he skipped nearly all classes because of it. The memory of when she sent her caring message was still fresh.
Gop-hwa… it might have had an impact after all.
Considering the nature of Gop-hwa, it wasn’t absurd. Among the unique abilities of the three main families, it was indeed one of the most volatile. It had a history of killing its hosts more than any other.
Of course, nothing was certain.
Currently, no one could truly know Ha-yul’s condition.
After all, within one single body were two unique abilities from the three main families.
Taesan and Gop-hwa.
In all of history, never before had those two abilities coexisted in one individual.
What kind of interaction could be happening? Nobody knows.
‘No, first I need to restore his vitality…’
Ji-yeon shook her head, dismissing such worries. Now wasn’t the time to dwell on that.
I should replenish the depleting life force. Although Ji-yeon didn’t have the strength to fill it back completely, at least some would suffice…
“Sister.”
Just then, a chilly voice pierced her ears. The cold intensity felt like it had frozen her in place, making Ji-yeon’s shoulders tremble.
She lifted her stiff head and encountered an icy glare with an undertone of fiery rage.
“Sister, do you want to die?”
“Eek…”
“What are you doing right now?”
It was Hong Yeon-hwa, her red eyes blazing like hellfire.
Ji-yeon gulped nervously.
The familiar title of sister and the minimum level of politeness that typically felt casual were now overshadowed by the overwhelming intensity of Hong Yeon-hwa’s gaze and voice.
The sound of Hong Yeon-hwa’s tightly shut jaw made Ji-yeon acutely aware of a life-threatening sensation.
What if Hong Yeon-hwa decided to attack? Sure, she would resist, but after training at Shio-ram for a whole year, I still wouldn’t feel confident to win in a fight…
“Ji-yeon? Why are you suddenly acting like this? Why are you hugging someone without permission…”
Baek Ahrin, standing next to Hong Yeon-hwa, didn’t look too pleased either.
While her usual demeanor was soft, Ji-yeon recognized that right now, Ahrin was not pleased with something. That discontented glare was firmly directed at Ji-yeon.
Suddenly, memories of childhood—their shared past—flooded Ji-yeon’s mind.
They hadn’t yet awakened their unique abilities, but their personalities were already evident. The cheerful, proactive demeanor of Ji-yeon matched with Hong Yeon-hwa’s ruthless playfulness left Ji-yeon harassed as a kid.
Though she did try to put up a fight, she always found herself knocked over by Hong Yeon-hwa’s pure, yet merciless smile, as Ahrin snickered next to her.
Of course, those were just childhood memories, but the lingering emotions from being bullied would forever remain potent.
They were undoubtedly good little sisters, but the memories of being bullied by them were stark…
Ji-yeon instinctively hunched her shoulders. Her arms naturally folded closer together, making Ha-yul bury himself even deeper in her embrace.
Hong Yeon-hwa’s glare intensified dangerously.
—
‘…?’
As the murderous intent ramped up even further, Ji-yeon felt a peculiar sensation.
She read the emotions behind Hong Yeon-hwa’s eyes, which pierced through her like daggers.
Rage and hostility.
And…
‘Jealousy?’
Jealousy, envy, resentment…
Oblivious to Hong Yeon-hwa’s trembling fist about to strike, Ji-yeon blinked in stunned silence.
Jealousy is the emotion of desiring what others possess.
It was the very emotion Ji-yeon had toward Hong Yeon-hwa.
Ji-yeon had envied her. Jealous of Baek Ahrin. Resented her own mother.
Though Ji-yeon had awakened her unique ability, she hadn’t been able to garner as many praises as them, nor had she received similar expectations.
Despite having developed her own talents, she often felt inferior due to the comparisons in the eyes of others.
Now, however… that sentiment had flipped around.
Hong Yeon-hwa was now burning with fierce jealousy toward Ji-yeon.
“……”
Caught in a whirlwind of complex emotions that were hard to grasp left Ji-yeon flustered, feeling a strange warmth rising in her chest.
– Tap, tap
[Um…]
[Could you let go now?]
“Oh, uh, okay…”
Feeling the intense, almost lethal aura, Ha-yul hurriedly urged Ji-yeon to release him.
Finally coming to her senses, Ji-yeon released Ha-yul from her embrace.
– Gak…?
As Ha-yul stepped back, his body jolted suddenly.
[Huh?]
Innocently wide-eyed, he quickly covered his mouth with both hands.
He felt surprisingly bloated.
In that brief moment, the faint replenishment she’d provided took effect.
*
[Player Adjustment System: Affection Level]
Ha-yul → Ji-yeon
●●●●○○○○○○ (46▷47/100)
『Heir of Taesan』 『Good Person』 『Shorty?』 『Questionable』
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