Chapter 106
“Uuuuh….”
In her pajamas, Lee Se-ah dangled her head upside down on the corner of her bed and gazed at the mirror opposite her.
“No matter how much I look, it just seems odd.”
Her meticulously styled hair was now disheveled, and she nibbled anxiously at her moist lips. Deliberating over something to this extent was uncharacteristic of Lee Se-ah.
Thump thump thump
“Miss, it’s time to eat!”
The impatient knock on the door came from the head maid.
But Lee Se-ah didn’t hear it. Since returning home from the hospital, she had remained in this peculiar state.
“Why on earth is this happening?”
Like a claw machine picking up a doll, Lee Se-ah’s body flipped itself in mid-air, performing an elegant somersault before landing back in front of the mirror.
“Am I not cute enough like this? My figure seems quite decent, thanks to consistent maintenance.”
Lee Se-ah touched her face, adopting various poses that emphasized her femininity.
Despite any attempt to undervalue, her reflection concluded that ‘the woman in front of the mirror was near perfection.’
“I didn’t help you for this.”
However, the response she received was one of rejection. That voice reverberated inside her mind again and again.
‘Didn’t he have romantic feelings for me?’
Otherwise, why else would Seol Ha-baek have been so kind to her?
Expecting some reward seemed too naive, considering how plainly he had acted, nor did he ask for anything special.
The notion that he was simply doing chores at someone’s request lacked substance; it was too grand a scale. He even risked his life at the Winners Company.
High risk with low return.
In Lee Se-ah’s experience, there’s only one possible motivation for such irrational and non-advantageous behavior.
‘Love.’
That kind of heartfelt love.
Even without dating experience, Lee Se-ah was aware of that much.
“Ooh.”
Belatedly, Lee Se-ah’s face reddened. It was her first confession, her first heartbreak—she pretended outwardly composed, yet inside, she was filled with anxiety.
‘What if he thinks I’m a frivolous woman?’
It wasn’t with whimsical intentions that Lee Se-ah expressed her feelings. After soul-searching alone in the hospital room, she’d arrived at this decision.
Reaching that decision, she had been secretly astonished when Seol Ha-baek showed up at the hospital room door.
“How’d it come to this?”
Initially, she thought he was just full of misplaced pride. Realizing Seol Ha-baek’s kindness, she attempted to use him as much as possible.
Yet, Lee Se-ah hadn’t realized back then that for the first time, she was genuinely interested in someone outside her family.
Repeating his acts of kindness and attention nurtured these new emotions within her.
‘Plus, he’s quite good-looking.’
Lee Se-ah slapped her cheeks a couple of times, her mouth pulled into an unconscious smile.
“What are you hesitating for, you fool?”
Lee Se-ah stood with her chest boldly puffed out, hollering.
“It’s nonsensical for the eldest daughter of Seonjin Networks to be so downcast!”
Lee Se-ah was strong.
Had she been someone to break from one or two failures, she would have crumbled long ago.
“It’s obvious he’s playing hard to get! Fine, if he builds walls, I’ll be the one to break through!”
Subtly, feelings of loss transformed into defiance and a hunger for a challenge without her realizing it.
“There’s no wall I, Lee Se-ah, can’t break through!!”
And with that resolve, she fully revived in another sense.
* * *
Hidden Quest Clear!
– Uncovered the Winner’s Company’s Secret! : Skill Points +150
– Contributed to eradicating a great evil!! : Spiritual Power +3
‘Wow, they really dole it out.’
In the lazy afternoon.
[Hehehe.]
While lying quietly with a sheet spread on the balcony, Yomi, who had curled up next to him, started to chuckle.
“Stop laughing.”
He lost count of how many times he’d given that warning. This small fluffball laughed whenever she got the chance, making it impossible to concentrate on anything. And Yomi wasn’t the only one who pestered him.
[I’m jealous. I wish someone would confess to me, too.]
Baek-ah’s voice seeped from the Sain-gum. Green mucus then oozed from the blade, creating a smaller version of himself.
“Sorry, but I, Seol Ha-baek, am a man no one can have. So—.”
“Ugh, come on.”
Thwack.
I slammed my palm down onto Nogdu with all my strength.
‘Have they all collectively lost their minds?’
If I’d known it’d come to this, I would’ve at least left the Sain-gum behind.
“Is it that funny that I got confessed to?”
[That was amusing, but your awkward fumbling was even more ridiculous.]
Yomi, recalling the memory, rolled around on the spot.
“You said you’d grant me one wish, right?”
“Anything but that.”
Though I feigned aloofness, I was equally taken aback. Having neither dating experience nor having flirted seriously with anyone in this life, the topic itself was foreign to me.
“I truly didn’t see it coming.”
[Didn’t you notice? What did you intend to do with those eyes of yours?]
“You mean the Spirit Sight? It’s considered extremely rude to probe into people’s emotions during casual conversations unless in emergencies. Plus, keeping it activated consumes significant spiritual energy.”
The Spirit Sight translates human emotions or actions by visualizing the intensity and color of spirits. While undeniably useful, I’d rather not use it on those around me if possible.
‘Understanding what the other person thinks only ends up hurting more.’
It was like reading that folktale. Apart from enemies, peeking into feelings would be overwhelmingly tiring.
[Kicking away the chance to make life easier for yourself.]
“That’s what it means to be human.”
I gently stroked Yomi’s body, who pressed her face against me, seemingly not in a bad mood.
“Hoo.”
The silence returned.
I was lying quietly on the balcony because I genuinely wanted some peace.
‘Were her feelings sincere?’
Truthfully, I had considered her suggestion seriously. Even if traces of romantic feelings remained within me, I wasn’t so foolish as to be pressured by impulsive desires.
If anything, I tried to maintain composure at that moment.
‘Cheon Tae-seong.’
Originally, hadn’t Lee Se-ah liked Cheon Tae-seong? Eventually, she’d turn into a villain and, in the latter part, be killed by him.
‘What if I had accepted Lee Se-ah’s feelings?’
It might eradicate her affection for Cheon Tae-seong. If that were the case, I could potentially prevent Lee Se-ah from being killed by him.
Despite calculating these contingencies, I ultimately couldn’t respond to Lee Se-ah’s feelings. That’s because…
“Enough.”
I dusted off my knees and stood up.
Sunbathing was nice, but when feeling down, moving about was the best remedy.
“How about going for a jog with Han Yu-seong?”
Because right now, I needed to draw a bigger picture.
* * *
Personally overwhelmed by resolving Winner’s Company, it was also a bustling period within the school.
When large banners hung over the main entrance, every member of the Disciplinary Committee was busy cleaning every corner of the school.
[Quite a commotion.]
“It’ll be like this for a few days.”
[Congratulations, Graduates!]
Graduation season was approaching. Typical high schools might follow the routine around exams, college applications, and then graduation, but it was different for Babel.
Founded to produce hunters, most students here entered private companies or government organizations as hunters upon graduating.
After employment, they underwent training and were swiftly deployed to real situations, making the graduation ceremony much sooner than in general high schools.
“Many representatives from renowned mercenary companies often attend graduations.”
Unlike the Babel Festival, attracting general visitors who’d heard of Babel’s fame, graduations saw more representatives from corporations or government bodies.
[So, where are you headed now?]
Yomi yawned exaggeratedly. Although I usually ran to my room after classes, today was different.
“I have an appointment.”
The rooftop, usually tightly secured, was now unlocked due to hanging banners for the rooftop ceremony.
Creaaak.
As I opened the heavy iron door, a slender silhouette came into view in the distance. A female student stood by the railing, conversing with a tiny sparrow perched on her index finger.
“Senior.”
“You’re here.”
Seo Geum-bi had been waiting for me.
When she turned to face me, the wind that had gathered at her fingertips scattered, and the sparrow—Windy—disappeared along with it.
“Have you waited long?”
“Not at all, there weren’t any classes anyway.”
As Seo Geum-bi mentioned, there weren’t any classes for seniors close to graduation, with most spending their time at home or enjoying temporary accommodations provided by the school.
“It’s remarkable to find you still engaged with the disciplinary committee.”
Admittedly, student activities like committees often served as resume enhancers. Typically, once determined a career path, seniors would delegate their positions to successors.
“I feel a sense of attachment.”
Yet, Seo Geum-bi hadn’t let go of her duties as head even till the end.
“Still, it’s funny preparing my own graduation ceremony.”
“Why, it’s charming and nice.”
“Such things have their worth when someone else does it for you.”
“I agree.”
Seo Geum-bi covered her mouth, a hearty laugh escaping. Watching her laugh like this, I realized our time together was running short.
“Are you graduating at the top of your class?”
“I got lucky.”
“Congratulations. Being a top student three years in a row, you are truly remarkable.”
“Ahem, I said I was lucky.”
Seo Geum-bi turned shyly away.
Blushing over something like this truly highlighted the contrast between her in official versus personal matters.
“Anyway, I have brought you here for a reason.”
Seo Geum-bi spoke with a serious expression.
“There’s something I must ask of you.”
“A request?”
Seo Geum-bi nodded.
Even without activating the Spirit Sight, I had an inkling of her intention.
“If possible, could you take charge of the disciplinary committee?”
“By that, do you mean—.”
“Please become the next head of the disciplinary committee.”
Her firm and sincere gaze reflected my face without a hint of doubt.