Hong Yeon-hwa awkwardly peeked her upper body through the door, sporting an awkward smile. Her fluttering gaze met my face.
Simultaneously, her expression hardened. Her pupils tremored like an earthquake, scanning my face thoroughly. Soon enough, the corners of her lips began to quiver.
“What’s wrong with your face?”
‘?’
Thud— the bag fell limply to the floor. Hong Yeon-hwa rushed over and squeezed my cheeks with both hands, causing my lips to pout like a fool.
Her face showed a total collapse of emotions. She continued to speak in a shaky voice.
“No, seriously… what’s up with your face? It looks half the size!”
– Squeeze… Squeeze…
I guess she found something tragically sad, as Hong Yeon-hwa kept squeezing my cheeks while wearing a troubled expression. The warmth from her palm transferred to my cheeks.
Before I could even respond, she gasped and jumped up. She quickly picked up the bag she had just dropped, rummaged through it, and abruptly thrust something towards me.
“Here, this is a fatigue recovery potion and an energy tonic… They’re simple enough to take without a hassle. I brought them as a visit gift, so make sure to eat them!”
In a world where magical powers and spells exist, nutritional supplements that are typically overhyped in our world actually exist here.
Taking them increases concentration and alleviates fatigue, restoring energy… such potions can genuinely be produced through alchemy.
While they aren’t on the level of elixirs, there are quite a few potions that can be of real help out of the various concocted ones.
I wouldn’t be surprised if a few hours of the free study period included basics of alchemy.
What Hong Yeon-hwa handed me also seemed to fall into that category of potions. I numbly listened to her explanation and accepted one of the vials she offered.
While inspecting the label with spatial perception, I recoiled upon seeing a familiar brand.
Animo-bigoránĭmovĭgor.
A product produced with great care by a top-tier alchemist, making its supply limited. One thing was for sure: they were outrageously expensive.
From where I stood, the price was practically untouchable for a player. I nervously tapped my smartwatch with trembling hands.
[Isn’t this all really expensive?]
“Hmm? No, no. I brought only reasonable ones since I was worried you might feel burdened. So, be sure to eat them all.”
…Is that so? No matter how I looked at it, it seemed to match that brand.
Is it different from the original? I tilted my head in confusion. After putting the supplements back in the bag and placing them on the bedside table, Hong Yeon-hwa looked over at me again.
“Sigh…”
She glanced at my face again. With a deep sigh, she reached out once more to cup my cheeks.
“What happened that made your face look like this… hmm?”
What could it be that she kept checking on me like this? Looking around with spatial perception, there didn’t seem to be any real problem.
Of course, I have lost a little weight recently due to not feeling well, but it wasn’t anything alarming.
Hong Yeon-hwa, having heard a brief explanation of my situation, continued to manipulate my cheeks with an even sadder expression.
‘Hmm…’
She fiddled with my cheeks for a while now.
It was a feeling that was hard to describe. What I knew for sure was that it didn’t feel bad.
Because of her unique ability, Hong Yeon-hwa had a higher body temperature. Thanks to her Gop-hwa trait, she had developed accordingly.
The warmth flowing from her palm felt extremely nice. The soft feeling of her hand as it repeatedly rubbed at my cheek was delightful.
As I quietly enjoyed the sensation, I felt as if I was floating. Honestly, I wanted to stay in this moment forever.
“…Ah!”
That touch suddenly vanished. Hong Yeon-hwa, who had been absentmindedly squeezing my cheeks with both hands, gasped and quickly withdrew her hands.
The warmth and sensation were gone. The hand that had been cradling my cheek disappeared, and relatively cold air surged in between.
I opened my mouth in disappointment. I was really enjoying it, so why pull away? I felt as if I had something taken away from me.
However, I didn’t have the guts to ask her to continue, so I kept my mouth shut.
“Cough, cough.”
Hong Yeon-hwa awkwardly cleared her throat a few times, then checked the time with a quick glance. Lunch had long passed.
After a moment of hesitation, she spoke.
“…Do you mind if I stay with you for a bit?”
[It’s okay. I’m feeling better now, and I was about to head out soon.]
It wasn’t a lie. Being pampered by Hong Yeon-hwa had made me feel a lot better.
Hong Yeon-hwa scrutinized my face, nodding as if judging whether I was being truthful.
…
After being discharged, I walked to the library with Hong Yeon-hwa.
[I’m fine seeing ahead. I can navigate well on my own.]
“That’s part of it, but I also just wanted to take a stroll, so it’s no problem.”
I was going to refuse, thinking it might be inconvenient for her to guide me, but since she just wanted to walk, I had no reason to decline.
Since it was still early, the sun was shining brightly down upon us.
Soon, other teams would be returning from their dungeon practices. I could sense a few students trudging back with my spatial perception.
“…I tried it, and it was good. Most other menu items were fine too. Let’s go together next time.”
[Yes, I’m looking forward to it.]
“Ahrin ordered something called Choco Deluxe? I found it a bit too sweet. I have no idea how she can eat that sweet stuff.”
“……”
We chatted about various everyday topics as we walked. It seemed Hong Yeon-hwa had been hanging out at a café with her friends, including Baek Ahrin.
Responding to her description of the dessert that had been best at the café, I was inwardly taken aback at the name.
‘Baek Ahrin.’
The heir of the Changhae Clan and Hong Yeon-hwa’s close friend.
Despite being opposites in personality, they clicked unexpectedly during their families’ exchange from a young age and have maintained a strong bond since.
Furthermore, she is widely known as the embodiment of both literary and martial prowess.
Top of the 122nd class in Shio-ram.
Perfect scores in all theoretical subject exams.
In the combat section, she was second only to Hong Yeon-hwa.
Unlike Hong Yeon-hwa, who’s notorious for being a “crazy dog,” Baek Ahrin enjoys a good reputation.
Her ever-present smile and unique bubbly yet gentle tone attract attention.
Utilizing her understanding and empathy to the fullest, she maintains splendid relationships with those around her, consistently being popular in social gatherings.
While Hong Yeon-hwa’s bold and refreshing personality may evoke mixed feelings, Baek Ahrin tends to win over almost anyone.
‘……’
That’s the reputation, at least. The surrounding opinions echo similarly.
I had noted that during my first playthrough too.
Back then, I was just banging my head against the ground trying to learn the game. In summary, I had no knowledge and couldn’t level up efficiently.
Because of that, I couldn’t overcome the setbacks in the upcoming Tower of Growth and was quickly expelled.
After that, I ended up being the weakest in the history during the worst playthrough.
In the first run, Baek Ahrin was just as rumored. There were icy aspects I hadn’t expected, but she was fundamentally a character building up positive deeds in a decaying world.
That perception changed slightly as I entered the eighth run.
“Ah.”
As we chatted, Hong Yeon-hwa sighed. Time had flown by, and we were already at the library. I had already informed her I was studying magic.
[Thanks for the guide.]
“……”
As I bowed my head slightly, Hong Yeon-hwa pondered for a moment, looking like she had something to say.
I tilted my head in question, wondering what it was.
After hesitating for a bit, Hong Yeon-hwa finally spoke up.
“Um… if you’re okay with it, can I…”
– Ding!
Hong Yeon-hwa’s mouth closed. A clear alarm rang out. The source was the smartwatch attached to her wrist.
“—Damn it…! W-wait a second.”
As she furrowed her brow and started to speak, Hong Yeon-hwa flinched her body. She quickly glanced at me and spun around.
…But I could see perfectly well. Why can’t everyone understand spatial perception explanations? Even if you turn around, you can see everything…
Hong Yeon-hwa rubbed her smartwatch to check the alarm, scrunching her brows. She dismissed any holographic information for privacy reasons.
After staring at the hologram for a moment, she turned her attention back to me. During that brief spin, her expression softened to a surprisingly tender look.
“…It’s nothing. I’ll be going now. See you tomorrow morning.”
[Yes, thanks for the guide.]
She buried the truth. It didn’t seem right to add any comments.
*
With her wishing eyes, Hong Yeon-hwa gazed at Lee Ha-yul’s back.
Feeling her gaze, Lee Ha-yul tilted his head, scratched the back of his head, and strode into the library.
“Sigh…”
A sigh escaped involuntarily. Just thinking about it was immensely disappointing. If it hadn’t been for the alarm just now, she would have had the chance to suggest staying a bit longer…
Hong Yeon-hwa shot a resentful glance at her smartwatch. With a grudging emotion, she started to tap at the holographic keyboard with force.
[Connecting to the contact ‘Mrs. Choi Ji-yeon’]
– Ring… Ring… Ring
Before long, the connection tone was cut off. A woman’s voice echoed in Hong Yeon-hwa’s ear.
[What brings you to contact me, my daughter, who usually never calls?]
It was a voice similar to Hong Yeon-hwa’s but more matured and assertive.
Choi Ji-yeon.
Hong Yeon-hwa’s mother, who expressed her delight, continued to speak.
[I thought it would be until second year before you’d call me.]
“What? How often do I not call?”
[Have you even thought about how your mother feels hearing your current situation from someone else?]
“No, that aside, I called because I wanted to ask something.”
[You ungrateful child.]
After some trivial banter, Hong Yeon-hwa finally got to the point.
“Remember that elixir we had last time? Is there one just like it left? If there’s one left, send it to me.”
Elixirs are primarily divided into two categories.
Natural elixirs that form naturally in nature and artificially made ones through the combination and processing of various ingredients.
The elixir Hong Yeon-hwa mentioned was a natural elixir. To be precise, it was a processed natural elixir.
While natural elixirs are generally hard to come by, they offer significant effects. The rarest natural elixirs are said to be ones that can’t even be glimpsed by a family that has cultivated virtue for three generations.
However, the problem is that since their efficacy is too good, they have the potential to send you to the next world if consumed recklessly.
Thus, they process the natural elixir to be “safely” consumable.
It is not an easy task. There are very few who have the skill to dare to alter an elixir formed by the laws of nature.
The alchemist commissioned by the Gop-hwa Clan was one of those rare experts. Thanks to that, Hong Yeon-hwa frequently had access to processed natural elixirs.
Still, even though it is effective, overconsumption can burden the body, so there were plenty of elixirs piling up in storage.
Eventually, it was all stuff she’d need to go through anyway, and it all belonged to her.
The authority to consume or sell them was in Hong Yeon-hwa’s hands.
In that sense, silence stretched across the communication.
‘Huh?’
With confusion, Hong Yeon-hwa checked the communication. It was properly connected. Was there a momentary disconnection? Just when she was about to say something again…
A voice came through the connection. Unlike her usual assertive tone, this one carried a vibration of uncertainty.
[W-Wait… Have you already built up a relationship to the point of offering your clan’s pillar to your crush…?]
“What the hell are you talking about, mom!…”
Hong Yeon-hwa gasped, her voice rising in shock.
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