Chapter 21 – Dugyeon Nakhwa (4)

“Get up.”

*Coo-goo-goo.*

The enormous tree stirs, animated by a will of its own. The rough bark, sprouting from the roots, grazes my skin, causing blood to flow in spots.

Solid,
Heavy.

The body of the creature donning a grotesque mask belonged to a massive and repulsive demon, rather than a human being.

*Chough, chough.*

Choking on dust, I coughed and gathered magic throughout my body. Realizing the pain had vanished, I heightened my concentration and activated six spells from behind my back.

—Fireball.

With mana stored in both hands, I kicked off the ground with explosive force in my thighs, charging forward.

My target: the missed sword.

—Binding Fluid!

Roots swung in both directions. Blocking her view with a fireball, I slid to grab the sword.

My heart pounded, as if it would burst, and my boiling nerves responded to my movements.

I severed the two tendrils attempting to strike my entire body in one swift motion with my magic-infused sword.

—Slash!

The severed tendrils lay scattered haphazardly across the ceiling and walls.

The sword I gripped still radiated light.

Before I knew it, a flame-like fighting spirit surged violently throughout my body.
The optimal result of instinctive action.

Doubts lingered about utilizing the magical power I had never employed before, yet hope gradually swelled within me, the hope that I could prevail.

‘…This. It’s doable.’

In that very moment—

*Suddenly!*

The nerves throughout my body, sensing danger, tensed up. My mind boiled with tension.

A dark shadow obscured my vision.
No, it was a tree.

A prickling pain surged up my spine. I realized that, if I didn’t block it, I’d sustain a fatal injury at the very least. Instinctively, I raised my sword, but faced with the massive attack aimed at my body, my courage failed me, and I withdrew my weapon.

What approached me was the enormous hammer she had been clutching since the beginning.

…It was as large as my body. Damn it.

*Squawk!*

My vision flickered for a moment. My body flew backward, slicing through the air.

It felt as though I were caught in the midst of a medieval battlefield, my fate tied to the ignition of a powder chamber.

Eyes squeezed shut, I withstood the shock assaulting my body, and forced out a breath.

My pitiful state, writhing on the ground, was beyond words.

The pain was unbearable.

– Flash.

Oh.

“Are you okay?”
“I just fainted.”
“I know.”

Hearing my distraught response, Lee Se-Young chuckled and came over to embrace my head. Through the gradually dissolving tree bark, I could see Se-Young grinning mischievously.

“It hurts so much I could die.”
“Of course, it does. Who do you think I am? Did you think it would be easy?”

I had no idea it would be this intense.

“Am I incredibly strong? This is the power of a master~ That’s what I’m saying.”

Se-Young, proudly flexing her slender arms, giggled. I glanced at her face with an annoyed expression and then spat out, sharply.

“Then why did someone like you get assaulted by me?”
“…It’s called Hwagan.”
“Ah, I see. Got it.”

As I responded sarcastically, Se-Young raised her fist and forcefully squeezed my forehead. Hearing my pained groan, she laughed delightedly.

After our conversation, time had flown by, and it was nearly lunchtime. In the ensuing silence, I stood up and stretched my muscles.

As the atmosphere began to wind down, Se-Young, who had been observing me, spoke up softly.

“I’ll do everything I can. In three days, right?”
“The exact time and location are unknown.”
“Alright. And what about you? You’re not the type to back down just because I try to stop you, right?”

Se-Young widened her eyes, raised her finger, and tapped my forehead. It didn’t hurt because I was wearing a mask, but the sensation was peculiar.

“You know me well.”
“It seemed like it… and you appear to be quite a capable fighter.”

Se-Young seemed to have a good grasp of the potential I had demonstrated today.

The swordsmanship and combat prowess I had displayed in just a few seconds. It might take some time to adapt to this sudden change, but I believed I could learn quickly.

As I scratched my chin and shifted my body, a creaking sound resonated from my waist.

“Hehehe, does it hurt a lot?”
“No.”
“What? I just heard you. Your cheeks are swollen too. I’ll help you. What’s the next class?”

Se-Young approached me, supporting my shoulder, and tapped my chin with the side of her head. When I turned to look at her, she was smiling.

“But you’re pretty good, aren’t you? You’re not going to be underestimated. How about trying for top student next time?”

Chatter, chatter, chatter, chatter.

As I walked down to the training room, Se-Young, who had come down the stairs with rhythmic steps, tapped the hood of the luxury sedan.

It was a dream car that everyone would fantasize about at least once.

“Get in.”

Confidently, Se-Young took the driver’s seat, opened the window, and smiled provocatively.

-Giggle.

As I smiled back and sat in the passenger seat, a sweet scent wafted out of the car.

“What’s going on? You’re being so nice to me.”

I wasn’t feeling well, but maybe I was reaping the benefits from the teacher. I put on my seat belt and turned my head.

-Whoosh.

There, Se-Young, holding both sides of her skirt with her hands, used her fingertips to grasp deep into her thighs and began to lower her stockings.

“…What are you doing, teacher?”
“I dislike being sweaty. Why, does it excite you?”

-Swish, swish

The slightly damp stockings gradually slid down her elastic thighs. When she released the stockings, her attire revealed her underwear, leaving the stockings half removed.

“Hehehe. You can’t take your eyes off me.”

Her expression was that of a teasing daredevil.

It felt as if she was issuing a challenge. In response, I lowered my head to better observe her underwear.

Her vagina was faintly moist.

“Pervert.”
“Who’s the pervert? It’s wet.”
“…It’s sweat.”

Her slightly flushed face was so adorable that I almost reached out, but my body wouldn’t move. The situation was far from appropriate, and above all, I didn’t have the leisure to do such a thing.

-Squeeze

I gently pinched and stretched her cheek.

A faint sense of irritation crossed the oak tree’s face.

“-Driving Seosanihate is not a good idea.”
“That’s why I should’ve been gentler with the kid. Then I could’ve done what I wanted.”
“…”

A glimmer of regret appeared on her face and then vanished. Se-young, with her arms folded, pondered something for a moment before her face flushed red.

“What’s the matter?”
“Fine, it’s fine. Let’s go.”

Se-young, with a slight rise in warmth, picked up the car key with her right hand, started the car, and set off.

We didn’t say anything until we arrived.

The faint scent of body odor lingered at the tip of my nose.

* * * * *

Azalea couldn’t concentrate on her lessons at all this morning.

– Click, click.

Biting her nails, she tapped the cap of the mechanical pencil repeatedly. As the stinging pain drew blood from her fingertips, Azalea discreetly turned her head back while tapping her parched lips with the tip of the pen.

Beside Gu-seul, who was sleeping with her arms folded by the window seat, there was no Lee Si-heon, who was always seated there.

It was expected, but how could I possibly feel good when the one who eagerly pursued me vanished overnight? The uneaten chocolate from last night crossed my mind. Perhaps it was just my mood that made me feel a tinge of regret.

“Class is over. See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah~”

Break time. The students around me gathered and started gossiping about the mysterious masked man in our class.

-Hey, do you know? That Lee Si-heon? The one who wears a mask.
-That attention-seeker?
-Yeah, him. I heard he went into a private area with CEO Lee Seong-han yesterday.
-Really?

Each word grates on my ears. Azalea subtly furrowed her brow, and Si-woo, who was sitting next to her, cautiously asked,

“What’s wrong?”
“Huh? No, nothing.”

She offered a sweet and reassuring smile with a bright and lively tone. Despite her efforts, she couldn’t shake her thoughts about Lee Si-heon.

It wasn’t so much sadness or regret, but rather a somewhat desperate and indescribable emotion that welled up within her.

There weren’t usually men who were so assertive.

…No, it was only natural that there weren’t. Lee Si-heon’s relentless gift-giving campaign had crossed the line.

‘Enough, let’s forget about it.’

“Let’s go eat. I want to go to that pasta place we tried last time.”
“Really? Alright, let’s go.”

Nonchalantly, I grasped Si-woo’s shoulder and headed towards the main entrance. In the heart of the academy, where colossal buildings stood in rows, throngs of students had gathered to grab a meal.

It was a place befitting the term ‘education city,’ where science and capital converged.

A man and a woman approached the entrance, where seals representing each noble family were displayed.

‘Huh?’

Lee Si-heon and… Lee Se-young.

As long as they merely walked by, there shouldn’t be any issues. However, Lee Si-heon’s face was swollen and bruised. His clothes were torn in several places as well. Despite all of this, his mask remained unscathed, but there appeared to be some blood stains on his tarnished attire.

Si-woo, who had spotted Si-heon before Azalea did, rushed over to him.

“Hey, what happened to you? Are you alright?”

Se-Young awkwardly scratched her cheek in response to the worried words, and Si-heon smirked after shooting her a glare.

“It’s no big deal. Are you on your way to eat?”
“Yes, but… How did this happen?”
“Well, there was an accident at the training ground. I called the teacher for help. Isn’t that right, sir?”
“Yes, that’s right. I was so surprised when you weren’t there this morning. Don’t do that again.”

With a slightly awkward expression, Se-Young clenched her fist and lightly tapped Si-heon’s head. Only then did Si-woo let out a relieved sigh, as if finally understanding the situation.

Azalea observed their exchange from a step away, keeping quiet.

―That isn’t a sign of an accident.

Torn clothes. Traces of beatings.
It looked like a completely one-sided attack. Not something one would experience at the training ground.

‘What on earth happened yesterday?’

Her stepfather, Lee Seong-han, was exceedingly gentle toward the one he sought to protect.

Even if the person he wanted to hold close were to resist,

Lee Seong-han had no intention of inflicting any harm on the target.

That was his approach, and it had proven effective with the target. Of course, it might not be his only method, but at the very least, among the targets Azalea had seen thus far, none had been so riddled with scars.

– Thump.

A nagging doubt stabbed deep within her chest. Suspicion. Momentarily shocked, Azalea shook her head.

“Enjoy your meal. I already ate with the teacher.”
“Really? Alright. Let’s go, Azalea.”
“Uh? Yeah, sure.”

With a hardened expression, Azalea was led by Si-woo’s hand toward the main entrance.

The distance between them closed. Their shoulders bumped. And just like that, they passed by Si-heon.

“- Be careful in three days.”

A faint whisper reached her ears. Startled, Azalea turned her head back.

“Azalea, what’s wrong all of a sudden?”

Si-heon had already turned his back. The suppressed suspicion burst forth, and her quivering lips couldn’t manage to speak.

If you’re going to speak, do it properly.

Clasping one trembling hand with the other, he laid them on his chest. His mind was in turmoil.

Was this emotion occupying a corner of his heart anticipation or fear? He couldn’t tell. Azalea tried to smile at Si-woo.

“It’s no big deal.”

Si-heon offers me a favor. Even though it seems reasonable, even though everyone knows, I still have the audacity to deny it.

Azalea has always been this way.

“I can’t trust that person,” she would say, providing unconvincing reasons while distancing herself with an ugly relationship.

Those who have been betrayed know.

How easily relationships between people crumble. Abandoned by her family, who could she trust?

She only ever desired a single ally. But she was no longer someone who could accept favors as they were.

– Be cautious in three days.

Thus, Si-heon’s words, filled with goodwill, were interpreted like this within her.

“What on earth…?”

He’s lying, she thought.

It was merely a thought.