Chapter 13: A Happy Break (4)
“…So, unless it’s a private setting, avoid clapping your hands. It’s highly discouraged.”
So, that’s the story behind it.
In conclusion, clapping at someone unfamiliar was equivalent to telling them to “drop dead” or cursing them with something equally severe.
It wasn’t that clapping had always been forbidden. In this world, too, it was once considered a normal expression of celebration.
That was until an assassin group emerged, using clapping as their signal to commence operations.
As ridiculous as that sounds, their success rate was apparently 90%.
They even managed to assassinate both the Emperor and the Pope.
Knowing this, it was a little easier to understand why clapping was banned.
Still, it raised questions. Couldn’t they just improve their security instead of banning people from clapping?
The most absurd part was that banning clapping led to the assassin group’s collapse. But even after the group disappeared, the fear they’d instilled in people remained. Two hundred years later, clapping was still taboo.
I had inadvertently clapped in front of my professor earlier. Thinking about it now, I was lucky no one had clapped for me this morning when my name was called. I had felt a bit hurt, but it was probably for the best.
Beyond that, there wasn’t much else odd in the customs I’d read about. Don’t slurp when eating.
Don’t cross your legs. Don’t laugh too boisterously—basic etiquette.
Nothing required as much caution as clapping did.
These were common-sense rules, after all.
Even though I couldn’t shake off the feeling of being unfairly criticized by a fictional world, I found the book surprisingly entertaining.
After placing it back on the shelf, I noticed the clock indicating that gym class was over.
Time flew by, huh? The book hadn’t seemed that thick.
I considered leaving the library, but was there really a need? The air might be a little uncomfortable, but with so many books to read, was there any reason to go outside? I didn’t think so.
Still, my body had already wandered to the window. The scheduled activities must have ended, as I noticed some students buzzing with excitement while others slouched in exhaustion.
Among them, I spotted a small girl being dragged somewhere by a group of female students.
At a distance, I also noticed Geum Taeyang walking alone, maintaining a deliberate separation from the others. It seemed our class had finished their lesson.
The only one missing was Dogeon, which was surprising, but something else soon drew my attention away.
Geum Taeyang had entered a secluded alley and was casually approaching a woman dressed as a nun. After saying something to her, she reluctantly started following him.
Wait a second—this is definitely suspicious. Could it be one of those situations where a delinquent exploits a devout nun’s weaknesses to do something indecent in secret?
No, I’d promised myself not to judge people based on assumptions. Resolving to avoid bias, I continued watching them.
Still… It sure looked like that. Should I intervene? But what could I do? Despite being overshadowed by Professor Georg, Geum Taeyang was no pushover physically.
It felt like I’d stumbled onto the academy’s darker side. I’d known the story wasn’t all sunshine, but seeing it first hand left me unsettled.
…Maybe I could casually stroll past them, feigning coincidence.
In risqué comics, that usually made things worse, but this world wasn’t a risqué comic. Surely it was worth a shot.
Given the academy’s emphasis on reputation, Geum Taeyang would likely stop if he had even an ounce of shame or social awareness.
Though I couldn’t untangle whatever twisted relationship they had, I could at least prevent things from escalating.
While I debated, they moved deeper into the alley. Geum Taeyang walked leisurely, but the nun’s steps seemed awkward and hesitant.
Suspicion turned to certainty.
Should I “coincidentally” pass by and stop whatever’s happening? I wasn’t a man, but ignoring injustice pricked at my conscience. Even an introvert like me had a sense of right and wrong.
Not that I planned to march up and shout, “Stop!” That sounded like a surefire way to get beaten.
If I was lucky, a beating would be the worst outcome. The worst case… I didn’t want to think about it.
Was it really my place to step in? Maybe I should call a teacher instead.
But the teachers were clearly avoiding me. Hesitating any longer could result in the nun facing something humiliating or worse. Could I really just stand by?
…Alright. I made up my mind. I’d walk close enough to be noticed but far enough to maintain plausible deniability.
If nothing happened, that wasn’t my fault. If something did, I’d have stopped it. Either way, I’d win.
If I could rescue a helpless nun with just a few steps, it’d be worth the risk.
With my resolve set, I felt lighter. I headed toward the alley.
***
Ethan didn’t understand why he’d been sent to this academy.
All he knew was that the goddess had issued an oracle to dispatch another apostle to the academy where Ena resided.
He didn’t question the goddess’s will. What puzzled him was why the church had chosen him for the mission.
How could someone with his lackluster skills and achievements outrank his seniors for such an honor? The only thing he could boast of was his relatively useless ability to sense demonic energy.
It didn’t take long for him to deduce the real reason for his assignment.
The transfer student, Baek Hoyeon, shrouded in mystery save for her origin in the eastern continent, wasn’t even bothering to conceal her demonic aura.
Others, including the instructor, had likely sensed it as well. But Ethan didn’t care about that.
If I eliminated her…
A meteoric rise in rank would be guaranteed. He might even reach the top ten apostles. For Ethan, the 13th apostle, such a prospect was incredibly tempting.
Sure, he might be expelled, but that didn’t concern him. As long as it brought him closer to the divine, it was a small price to pay.
But failure would mean more than expulsion. The church would abandon him; the 13th seat among the apostles changed hands frequently.
Given her confidence in wielding demonic power openly, she must have the strength to back it up.
Ethan knew he couldn’t act recklessly. His rudimentary mana-breathing technique wouldn’t suffice.
Thus, all he could do was watch as Baek Hoyeon left the gymnasium. Even the commotion caused by a student uncovering the instructor’s tampering with the kettlebell barely registered with him. His thoughts were wholly consumed by her.
After class, Ethan retrieved a pendant—the church’s communication device for apostles.
He’d never used it before.
His assignments had always been mundane enough to handle alone.
Now was the time. Yet he hesitated.
If he asked Ena for help, they could undoubtedly subdue Baek Hoyeon. But she would likely claim most of the credit. Acting alone, however, seemed nearly impossible.
“…Sister Gloria, I have urgent news.”
Ethan exercised restraint. Better to ensure success, even if it meant sharing credit. He decided to seek assistance from the first apostle.
Gloria (through pendant): “Decatria? Call me Ena instead. There are many ears here.”
Ethan: “Yes, Ena. I’ll get straight to the point. A user of demonic power has appeared.”
Ena: “…Demonic power? At the academy?”
Ethan: “Yes. Do you know of the student named Baek Hoyeon?”
Ena: “The transfer student from today? From the eastern continent?”
Ethan: “Yes. She openly used demonic power.”
Ena: “…I’ll come to you shortly. We’ll discuss the details in person.”
Ethan pocketed the pendant and headed down the noisy corridors.
It didn’t take long to find Gloria waiting at the entrance to the alley. Walking straight toward her, Ethan spoke.
“You’ve never contacted me first before, Decatria.”
“I didn’t think I could handle this alone.”
“I thought you’d hoard all the credit for yourself. Your judgment is commendable, but… could you not present yourself so sloppily? As an agent of the divine, you should maintain your dignity.”
As they moved deeper into the alley, Ethan wondered briefly why Gloria was commenting on his appearance. He quickly brushed the thought aside.
“My duties are dictated by the goddess, but these tasks are not her explicit commands. As her servant, I refuse to tarnish her image. Looking like a ruffian is sufficient.”
“I’ll respect your perspective. But, Decatria, it seems we’re being followed.”
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