NOVEL NEXT Chapter 74
In a strange instant, Baek Seoyeon’s actions faded into a fleeting moment. In the blink of an eye, she was clasping her hands together tightly, wearing a worried expression as if she was anxious about Jin Yeseo.
Seeing that, Yeon Minha instinctively frowned. Baek Seoyeon had been a woman whose thoughts were utterly inscrutable since the first time they met. That rare display only fueled her disdain further.
Meanwhile, familiar faces of a few second-year students hovered around Baek Seoyeon. They seemed to be members of the Student Council, likely there to scout out promising new talent among the freshmen.
“Choi Ireh…”
Yeon Minha recognized one female student among them, who had her hair neatly braided and wore glasses, shooting a deadly glare in her direction.
Choi Ireh. The heir of the Seongsan Choi clan. She was the sister of Choi Woojin, who had just entered as a freshman.
Along with Kwon Yuri, she was the student who clung to Baek Seoyeon like gum. Unlike Kwon Yuri’s flowery mindset, Choi Ireh frequently threatened both Yeon Minha and Jeokhwa with her actions.
It was none other than Choi Ireh who was strongly recommending Jin Yeseo to become a member of the Student Council. She was also instrumental in creating a joint venture between Paecheon and Seongsan.
The ultimate goal of that venture was to seize the exclusive mining rights to Stellite currently held by Jeokhwa.
This right had been granted to her clan as a permanent right by the establishment of the current regime, but due to the recent series of eco-fascist mine terror attacks and the resulting mismanagement, the mining amounts had not stabilized.
Stellite was known to be the only metal that could contain particles. Because of that, it found use everywhere, from weapons to armor, but its prices had skyrocketed due to supply instability.
They were demanding the transfer of mining rights under the pretext of ending this chaos, and the voices responding to their demands had been growing louder. Rumors circulated that this agenda would be presented at the next regular assembly next month.
Although she’s been able to voice some opposition after regaining her mental stability, the situation remained bleak.
However, they couldn’t easily relinquish the mining rights. The vast fortune earned from Stellite mining was akin to Jeokhwa’s lifeblood. Moreover, while there was no physical proof, Paecheon was strongly suspected to be the mastermind behind the terror incidents.
And now, the de facto successor of Paecheon, Baek Seoyeon, was in close alignment with her.
Far from viewing them positively, her heart brimmed with a desire to tear them apart.
“What are you going to do…!”
“Phew… that was close…”
Looking down at the commotion, the Masked Male Student narrowly dodged the black flames thrown by Jin Yeseo as a trio of first-year female students gushed over him.
“…Tsk.”
Despite cheering for the same person, Yeon Minha felt deeply uncomfortable.
It was filled with nothing but girls she found detestable.
*
Thud! Whack!
Hic…!
With the sound of cracking joints, a shrill scream echoed. In an instant, she twisted away, barely avoiding the spear of black flames aimed at her.
“Why not just surrender?”
“Hah…! Hah…! Who decided that…!”
Once again, Jin Yeseo rolled around on the stone floor before staggering away. Her once-neat blonde hair was now a messy tangle. When urged to surrender, Jin Yeseo yelled in a rage, looking more disheveled than ever.
A headache brewed, and I grimaced slightly behind the mask. What should I do? I wondered if inflicting severe pain would make her give up, but surprisingly, she held her ground.
It was inconvenient to strike a vital point while ignoring the rules. Unlike with Yeon Minha, hundreds of eyes were watching.
If I pressed the blade’s edge against her neck, I could automatically win, but regrettably, my blade had long since turned to scrap, rolling around the dueling grounds.
“Hah…! Hah…!”
I checked on Jin Yeseo’s condition again. Her legs trembled, and her green eyes were losing focus, as if she was nearing her limit.
“Whew…”
There’s no other choice. She’ll likely give up after taking a few more hits. Besides, I wasn’t in a condition to keep the match going for long.
I made my decision and rushed towards Jin Yeseo once more, lifting my foot to strike her knee forcefully.
Thud!
“Ugh…!”
Jin Yeseo lost her balance and nearly tipped sideways.
Thud!
“Cough!”
Before she could crash to the ground, I delivered a powerful blow to her side. With the continuous shocks, her focus seemed to wobble, and the magic expression in her hand was losing coherence before she could finish it.
Crash! Thud!
“Surrender.”
“Cough… no… Ugh…!”
Thud! Thud!
“Surrender.”
“No… Huh… Ah…!”
Thud!
“Yield.”
“Ugh…!”
Thud! Crash! Thud!
“Ugh… surrender…”
“Enough, enough!!”
Suddenly, a deep male voice from the amplifier pierced through my concentration.
A professor from the second year, who had been overseeing the ranks, rushed toward the dueling grounds in a flurry.
“Young Yoo Jin-hyun, that’s enough. You’ve won.”
“Wait? But…”
“Jin Yeseo has already lost consciousness. She can’t continue the ranks any longer.”
Upon hearing that, I checked her condition. The blonde girl lay motionless, and for the first time, I noticed her face was smeared with blood and tears.
The examiner hastily called for the medical team and announced the results of the match through the amplifier.
“The winner, Yoo Jin-hyun!”
Then, watching Jin Yeseo being carried away, blood-soaked and receiving emergency treatment, I muttered with a heavy heart.
“This might stir up a protest from the Baekgwang…”
“I didn’t break any rules. My blade broke, and the opponent didn’t declare surrender…”
“I know, I know. That would be their perspective. After all, it’s a noble child of a powerful family lying in that state.”
He waved his hands dismissively, cutting me off.
“Honestly, I don’t get why you kept the match going until it reached that point. There’s a limit to recklessness. Anyway, you don’t need to worry. They’ll handle the complaints at the Cradle. Today’s schedule is over, so you should drop by the infirmary and get checked out.”
He patted my shoulder and left. Truth be told, I felt a bit puzzled myself. Despite nearly sobbing, she adamantly refused to surrender. It seemed like there was something she absolutely couldn’t lose.
Of course, whatever her reasons were, that was not my concern.
What mattered more was that I had achieved the victory I originally sought.
Considering my less-than-optimal physical condition, she was no easy opponent. Jin Yeseo displayed quite the seasoned moves after only a few practical experiences.
Now that I think about it, the captain had clearly stated that my inability to defeat him was due not to a lack of talent but the difference in accumulated experience.
Perhaps this applies to others as well.
Moreover, when it comes to talent or lineage,
None of my competitors were lacking in any regard compared to me.
“Hm, hm.”
I cleared my throat as someone approached. Yeon Minha hurriedly walked toward me through the dispersing crowd.
“Did you come?”
“…”
Yeon Minha didn’t respond to my greeting but glanced downward at a slight angle. Then she silently frowned, as if something displeased her.
There, the burn from earlier inflicted by Jin Yeseo’s black flames was visible.
“Senior? Is there a problem?”
“…Do you want to follow me?”
Yeon Minha didn’t answer but turned her head sharply.
“Where to?”
“You’ll find out when you see.”
“Understood…”
Just as I was about to follow the seemingly urgent Yeon Minha after letting go of my expectations,
Suddenly, my vision swirled, and my legs weakened.
It seemed that I had overexerted myself in my not-fully-recovered state.
I managed to stabilize myself and stand upright. However, Yeon Minha, who had been in front of me, seemed to have turned back around.
It looked as if she awkwardly extended her arms, as if to support me.
“Senior. Were you trying to catch me or something?”
“W-What nonsense…!”
Yeon Minha raised her voice in a flustered manner. Saying that made it even more suspicious.
Thanks to winning the important duel, I felt oddly at ease talking with Yeon Minha.
Now, the usual ticked-off tone didn’t bother me much.
“Looks like you two get along really well!”
But when I heard a familiar voice casually pointing that out, my heart turned icy in an instant.
*
Yeon Minha, who had been looking at the Masked Male Student, instantly changed her expression.
A female student, with beautiful black hair like the night sky and shimmering golden specks in her eyes, approached them from behind.
“Baek Seoyeon. What brings you here?”
Turning her head to the side, Yeon Minha scoffed in response.
“Just thought I’d drop by to offer my congratulations. Yoo Jin-hyun, your skills are truly remarkable…”
“So what? Why don’t you just mind your own business and go check on your junior? She ended up looking pretty pathetic.”
Baek Seoyeon maintained her sparkling smile. However, with the unique, sensitive perception of a spirit mage, Yeon Minha could immediately sense the slight crack in her facade.
Baek Seoyeon wasn’t in a good mood at all.
“…I was about to do just that. But isn’t this a bit excessive? Even so, we’re in the same cohort…”
“What happened during a duel can naturally occur. She lost through her own skills; what more is there to say? And don’t think she’s the only one who got hurt. I also took quite a hit.”
“…”
Yeon Minha stubbornly maintained her arrogant demeanor, shooting back as best as she could. Her mood, too, wasn’t exactly bright.
There seemed to be no clear reason for Baek Seoyeon to come down to the dueling ground. The fact that her gaze was consistently directed at the Masked Male Student, rather than herself, added to her discomfort.
“…I never knew you were this protective of your juniors.”
The girl with dark hair smiled wryly. Yeon Minha didn’t respond but merely returned a pompous sneer. Then she turned her back and led the Masked Male Student away.
“Let’s go.”
“…Yes.”
His voice sounded unexpectedly subdued. Yeon Minha only realized that he hadn’t exchanged even a polite greeting with Baek Seoyeon when she noted how he kept turning his back.
“…?”
Feeling something wasn’t right with his trembling hands, Yeon Minha grew anxious and hurried to pull him out of the dueling grounds.
There was no longer any reason to waste time and emotions in unnecessary places.
“…”
The pair of golden eyes left behind lingered until the moment their figures vanished from sight.
*
Yeon Minha took the boy to the infirmary, which was quite unexpectedly crowded.
Settling him down in a chair, she took out cotton and disinfectant herself.
“Seriously, what’s this…?”
His left thigh bore the wound he had sustained from the black flames, still glaringly visible.
“It’s not that severe. You don’t need to worry too much…”
“W-Who’s worried! It’s just that if you’re like this, it damages my reputation…”
Feeling as if she had revealed too much of her true thoughts, Yeon Minha protested with a blushing face.
“Seriously… I wasn’t expecting to fall for a guy’s bravado…”
“Really, I’ll be fine. This’ll heal in a few days…”
“That’s why I said to stall for only a few days…”
“Senior.”
“Uh, huh…?”
Caught off guard by the boy’s abrupt words that cut through their gap, Yeon Minha reacted in surprise.
“Don’t worry… I want to hear something else.”
“Uh, um…?”
At his sudden request, Yeon Minha’s eyes wandered aimlessly, lacking direction.
But somehow, feeling deeply imbued with his earnestness, her lips automatically began to form words in response.
“Y-You… did well?”
As if that was the correct answer, the boy slowly nodded and wrapped his hands around the mask.
“…Thank you.”
His fingers no longer trembled.