Chapter 170 – Kirin Squad Ishiba (2)

“…Have you arrived?”

In front of Cheondo, there were leftovers from the morning that hadn’t been cleared away. I usually take care of what Shiba left behind, but sometimes Cheondo, who wakes up early like this, often eats first.

“I prepared a separate meal for Master. You should eat that instead.”
“Isn’t it wasteful to throw away the leftovers? I feel more at ease this way.”

I approached and sat across from Cheondo.
She closed the magazine she was holding and placed it on the table. Then, she glanced at me with her distinctively sharp eyes.

“…Something has changed significantly. What happened?”

Soon enough, she asked.

‘I knew she would ask first.’

I thought Cheondo, with her keen eyesight, would notice first. She always picks up on my changes better than anyone else.

“Have I changed?”
“I don’t recall ever teaching you how to hide your magic power.”

“Oh, that… I trained at a retreat to emulate my master.”

I feigned nonchalance.

I maintained a poker face, trying my best to appear unfazed. Cheondo raised her eyebrows, adding a playful grin and some exaggerated movements to her expression.

“Are you trying to deceive even your master now?”
“……”
“The nature of your magic has changed from before. It’s as if you’ve easily bypassed one wall… no, two. Will you still deny it if I say it’s not so?”
“Well, that’s possible.”
“……So – ah, never mind.”

Cheondo tried to speak further, but she closed her mouth. Then, after frowning nervously, she touched her forehead with her hand.

“…I’m sorry. I’ve suddenly become sensitive.”

I received an unexpected apology in return.

“I don’t know… It’s been since yesterday. I just feel strange when I see you.”
“Really?”
“With Zodiac… you said you two had a special relationship, right?”
“Oh, yes. That’s right.”

As he nodded, Cheondo pressed his temples as if a headache was looming.

“Please be kind to me. I’m a person with many scars.”
“Indeed. As are Hwangdo and our teacher.”
“…Why are you suddenly bringing me up?”

I gazed at Cheondo calmly. The teacher’s face held an expressionless question, looking puzzled by the story he had overheard. He had well-defined features, a great sense of style, and a beautiful face.

‘Looking at him now, he has really grown.’

Despite the age difference, for some reason, I felt like I was the older one. I softly uttered her title.

“Teacher.”
“Yes?”

Cheondo. She is the heavenly being of today. She will be an immense help in changing my future. I know her abilities without having to question them. She has exceptional intuition, and she actually recognized the changes in me right after she saw me.

If I tell the truth, she’ll be on my side.

‘However…’

I drifted into thought for a moment.

Would they believe me if I revealed the past? It’s not a simple question.

‘There’s something I don’t yet know.’

The curse of the World Tree engraved upon Heaven’s body. Neither Baekyang nor I could comprehend its essence, but one thing is clear: the curse holds the will to prevent the World Trees from becoming hostile towards them.

Even if I truly want to trust someone, there are still unknown aspects. Contrary to Heaven’s intentions, interference may be occurring from somewhere. That’s why I chose to request simple cooperation from Zodiac, rather than sharing the entire story.

‘If only circumstances permitted… I would have wanted to tell the truth to my master and ask for their cooperation.’

Unless the true nature of the curse is understood or Heaven can control the curse, I cannot reveal my objective. Even I have been branded as a potential husband candidate for the World Tree, and information has leaked out without my knowledge. Imagine how it would be for others.

“Why do you stop speaking?”

I restrained the words that threatened to burst forth from my throat.

There’s still plenty of time.

“No, you just look especially beautiful today.”

“Didn’t you say you have a lover?”

“Hehehe.”

I smiled and pulled out a ring case from within my embrace. Perhaps this ring, a gift from Heaven, could provide a clue. With that thought in mind, I opened the ring case right in front of her eyes.

“Do you know what this is?”

A peach blossom ring, still unwithered and emitting a delicate pink hue. Heaven furrowed her brows as soon as she saw the case.

“Isn’t it a flower?”

Stories like movies or cartoons where objects from the past create connections and evoke memories don’t occur in reality, no matter how much one wishes for them. However, I had hoped that this ring, which Baekyang occasionally referred to as a “celebration,” might stir something within her. Disappointed by the betrayal of my own excited emotions, I couldn’t conceal my dejection.

“Yes, it’s a flower ring. It’s simply crafted from woven flowers.”

He closed the ring case and extended it to Cheondo.

“It’s a gift.”
“…For me?”
“Yes. I found it for sale in Japan. Look at it when I’m not around and think of me.”

Cheondo blinked and accepted the ring case, caressing it as if she were dumbfounded. She gently swiped the top of the case with her index finger. As she stroked it, a faint smile crossed her face.

“Well, thank you.”

Cheondo slowly blushed, as if this was the first time she had received a gift from a disciple. She was a charming teacher who couldn’t hide her joy even with such a gift.

‘…If I keep this up, reading facial expressions will become my specialty.’

Sansuyu, Hongyeon, Lee Se-Young, Cheondo, and Baekdo – they were all known for not revealing their emotions on their faces.

Starting with Sansuyu and continuing to try to communicate, her observing eyes couldn’t help but grow sharper.

*Whoo! Whoo!*

Then, the vibrating sound from her pocket. She took out her cell phone and glanced at the screen.

“Azalea: Can I see it now?
Azalea: It’s a bit… wet.

“Who is it?”
“…No, it’s just that, unlike my master, there’s one person who’s strangely honest.”

I’ll make some time to see it later.

I lightly pressed my phone’s power button and looked back at Heaven.
Heaven was still gently caressing the flower ring she had given me, a smirk on her face.

“It’s fascinating.”
“Really?”
“…This method of tying is inefficient, so it’s a technique only I use.”
“Wow!”

That’s true.

“I never thought there would be someone else like this besides me.”
“Ah…”

…That’s not it.
Heaven let out a bitter smile as she carefully placed the ring case into her embrace.

“Thank you. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to reminisce about the past.”
“Is that so?”
“Your change… will you be able to tell me about it someday?”
“Of course. When the time comes, what wouldn’t I be able to say?”

Heaven laughed.

“Please.”

She still only expressed concern with the face of her teacher looking at her young pupil.

* * * * * * *

“Come on, guys. Time to prepare for a talent show.”
“Yes!”

When Shin Hye-young, a kindergarten teacher, applauded, the kindergarteners who flocked to her began to brightly gather their instruments.

A daycare center performance.
It is the event that parents await the most, so they should prepare with even more effort.

Hye-young gently stroked Shiba’s head, which was clinging to her calf.

“Shiba, do you want to go too?”
“…Beep.”

A child who can’t yet speak well. Shin Hye-young couldn’t help but smile as she looked at Shiba.

‘…She’s so cute.’

How pretty would she be if she spoke well?
It was Shin Hye-young’s dream to hear the teacher’s words from Shiba.

Shiba was so popular in kindergarten that it was almost painful to talk about. Whether playing with clay or drawing pictures, there were always children gathered around her. When Shiba’s name was mentioned, nearly all of the boys would blush.

– What do you think of Shiba?
– Uh, um, yeah. I like Shiba.

Of course, Shiba didn’t seem particularly interested in that aspect of her popularity, but she remained the idol of their kindergarten, having captured the hearts of the boys.

‘I must teach them well.’

Having graduated from the Department of Early Childhood Education, Shin Hye-young had always wanted to teach children from a young age. She lifted Shiba, who was clutching her stockings tight enough to stretch them out.

“Beep?”
“Let’s go!”

Seeing the adorable expression on Shiba’s face brought a grin to Hye-young’s face.

‘Hehe.’

At the top of the podium, a large drum was placed. As Hye-young handed the drumsticks to Shiba, the little girl excitedly shook them, her enthusiasm infectious.

“Oh, how cute!”

When a fellow teacher chuckled at the sight, Shin Hye-young cheerfully waved her arms up and down.

“Right! We live for the joy of watching our children grow.”
“Uh, huh? Oh, that’s right…”

Unlike Shin Hye-young, who had just started working, the other teachers who knew all the dreadful aspects of young children laughed wryly.

“Hyeyoung, how long do you think you’ll keep that up?”
“I give it two months.”
“Hehehe.”

These were the whispered words among fellow teachers. Of course, they didn’t truly mean it. Even they didn’t hate the children. If there were a fire, everyone would roll up their sleeves and try to save the children. Everyone had that level of affection.

But… one can’t understand the raw energy of children without experiencing it firsthand. The little devils who sap every ounce of strength from your body with their relentless mischief!

Of course, Shin Hye-young had yet to discover that side of them. To Hye-young, the children were like chicks, who seemed as if they would follow her, calling out “Teacher!” even as they grew older.

“But Shiba is quite enduring.”
“Right? After adapting, she’s very quiet…”
“The name is… well, a bit peculiar.”

All the teachers nodded in agreement.

A name tag on Shiba’s chest read: Giraffe Class Lee Shiba.
Her father was quite handsome… but his sense of naming left much to be desired.

“By the way, have you seen Shiba’s father?”
“Oh, I know him. Did he have any accidents? He looked quite young… to already have a daughter like her.”
“I heard he’s the son of a wealthy family.”

Until now, only those who knew of Lee Si-heon’s existence seemed to be aware.
He was said to be rather handsome and well-mannered.
Nevertheless, due to his young age, hewas often discussed among the kindergarten teachers.

Shin Hye-young sighed at their idle chatter and gestured with her hand.

“Children, shall we start soon?”

“Yes!”

The kindergarten students shouted in unison.
Some kids played with the instruments, but when the song began, everyone gripped their instruments tightly and became extremely focused.

Tadaran, tadaran, ran!

Soon a nursery rhyme burst from the speaker, and Shiba raised the rod in her hand above her head.

Boom the big drum, thump thump thump!

The rod moved vigorously up and down.

Thump! Thump!

Children who were deeply curious about the sounds their actions produced couldn’t help but laugh while playing.

Shiba was no exception.

“Beep, beep~ beep~”

Three big drum beats.

The resounding drum noise filled the kindergarten.

* * * * * * *

Cheondo left due to some work, and I, left alone in the dormitory, stepped out of the room after finishing up some chores.

Thump thump.

Before going out to meet Shiba.

I knocked on the door of the dormitory where Azalea lived.

Although entering a woman’s room is prohibited by the principles of the academy dormitory, it is secretly allowed among some young professors. One could say there is some flexibility, or maybe it’s just an awkward rule.

Within seconds of waiting, Azalea opened the door and greeted him warmly.

“Are you here?”

Wearing pink cotton underwear, Azalea quickly glanced around while gripping the doorknob and blushed. Her buttocks swayed gently, and she rubbed her thighs as if in a hurry.

Stretching out her slender arms, Azalea wrapped them around his wrist and pulled. She smiled innocently, as if she had just lost her virginity.

“Have you eaten?”
“A little bit of what Shiba left.”
“Can I have more?”

With her arms folded, she affectionately rubbed her face against his shoulder.

The dormitory door closed with her sweet voice. There was a thin liquid on the corner of the shoe rack, but he tried to ignore it.

Led by Azalea, I arrived at the well-known dormitory kitchen.

Unlike my room, the impeccable cleanliness here was a testament to Azalea’s character.

A veritable feast of delicacies was spread out on the table.
Dishes that a seasoned student living alone could only dream of!

“Let’s eat together. I made it myself, but I’m not sure if it’ll suit your taste.”
“…uh, yeah.”

Azalea’s eyes, sparkling with a mischievous smile, were filled with affection and obsession of a distinct quality from Se-Young’s.