Capítulo 43: 457
[Chapter 129]
[Nothing Is Impossible (5)]
Late at night on Mara Island.
The students went to bed early to catch the morning boat leaving the island.
Except for the students on guard duty, few were awake at this hour.
Most collapsed into bed as soon as they lay down, unable to overcome fatigue.
"Damn... I don't want to go alone..."
Choi Ga-in was among the very few still awake.
Unlike those who devoted their remaining time to training after arriving on Mara Island, she spent a boring time doing nothing.
There was no way she had accumulated fatigue.
If there was any fatigue, it was from being unable to sleep comfortably because she disliked the bedding.
"Why did Kang Ye-seul have to sprain her ankle and make things difficult for people..."
She couldn't sleep because of the snoring students.
On top of tossing and turning, she suddenly felt the urge to use the bathroom.
Choi Ga-in snuck out of the dormitory alone in the middle of the night and was walking down the dark path.
"Damn..."
She didn't realize during the day how far the bathroom felt at night.
She thought about bringing a student on guard duty since she couldn't bring Kang Ye-seul, but even that wasn't possible.
It happened to be a male student.
As shameless as Choi Ga-in was, her pride wouldn't let her ask him to accompany her to the bathroom.
"Anyway, this is so annoying, really..."
Choi Ga-in muttered to herself to shake off her fear.
Then she recalled what happened during this year's final evaluation.
She felt it every year, but this year's final evaluation was the worst yet.
"I didn't even get to meet Eunha... It's good I became friends with Taeyang, but sometimes he's too nice for his own good."
Forming a party with On Taeyang was good.
The problem was having to be mindful of him the whole time.
Choi Ga-in, a direct descendant of Galaxy Group.
It was hard to suppress her personality even if it was to recruit a promising talent.
"But that Cho Ara bitch seems to have already caught on..."
Fortunately, she safely arrived at the bathroom.
She sighed and caught her breath.
Then, recalling Cho Ara, she frowned.
On Taeyang's childhood friend Cho Ara.
She was also a promising talent.
Unlike On Taeyang who listened to her words as they were, Cho Ara seemed to have a suspicious personality.
Her reactions were lukewarm at times.
Honestly, Choi Ga-in wondered if she needed to go this far to firmly establish her support base by recruiting such talent.
"...it sucks. Really... it sucks."
No one was watching anyway.
Choi Ga-in let out a string of curses.
Cho Ara kept disappearing at the drop of a hat, and On Taeyang was training every time he opened his eyes.
For her, watching him cross swords with students day after day was almost like torture.
"If it was Eunha, at least there would be more to see and it would be fun... Taeyang is all blood, sweat, and tears."
Choi Ga-in is from the middle school academy. Of course, she knew how to assess swordsmanship to some extent.
In her eyes, On Taeyang's swordsmanship was decent enough.
Of course, he couldn't match Eunha, and it would be hard to compare him to Mok Min-ho or Choi Eun-hyuk.
On the other hand, rumors said that Mok Min-ho and Choi Eun-hyuk were getting stronger by the day during this final evaluation.
On Taeyang seemed to be standing still.
"Honestly, I'm disappointed, On Taeyang. I thought well of you because Eunha was interested... Well, you seem to fall short of my expectations. Though your face is really handsome."
Cha Eun-woo was like that, and so was Mok Min-ho.
Choi Ga-in, who now recited the names of the two people avoiding her, left the bathroom.
She should go back and sleep.
Just then.
"..."
A monster.
Choi Ga-in suddenly spotted a monster climbing up the cliff and held her breath.
She couldn't kill it with her own power.
Aside from the monster's strength, she had only killed monsters that were nearly dead, killed by her followers.
Instead, she suppressed her presence as much as possible to avoid being detected by the creature.
I need to take a different path.
The monster, reminiscent of a small child yet with a repulsive appearance, soon discovered the path leading to the dormitory.
Choi Ga-in saw the monster heading down the path she had come from and quickly decided to take the opposite path back.
She runs.
Runs desperately.
"...Ah!"
Then she tripped on a rock, slipped, and rolled down the roadside.
Barely managing to stop rolling, she teared up.
She was covered in dirt.
Though she couldn't see clearly in the dark, she felt scraped in several places.
She got up, panting.
Fortunately, she hadn't fallen far from where she tripped.
She tried to climb back up while brushing off the dirt on her hands.
"...Huh?"
Then, sensing something's presence.
Choi Ga-in turned around in surprise.
All that was visible under the dark night sky was pitch blackness.
But when the moon, hidden by clouds, fully revealed itself, the surroundings became clearly visible.
"..."
Tree roots half-exposed above ground.
Where the moonlight shines.
The presence was felt there.
Eventually, the stem of a plant that had grown between the roots, or perhaps had been dead, moved as if stretching.
A flower bud opens.
"..."
It's a flower that seems to have absorbed the moonlight.
The white and blue petals revealed an intense presence right there.
It's extremely out of place.
However, the flower that bloomed in the darkness was mesmerizingly beautiful.
Before she knew it, she was almost unconsciously trying to pluck the flower.
As she plucked the flower—
"—Ah...!"
As soon as her fingertips touched it, all the petals fell to the ground.
She startled and stepped back in shock.
It was then.
"...What!?"
The fallen petals on the ground emit light and scatter into the air.
Then the gathered petals wrap around her wrist that she had extended forward while stepping back.
Soon, stems grew as if connecting the petals, gently tightening around her wrist.
The pure white petals clung to the stem, emitting a soft light.
"W-What is this...?"
The clouds cover the moon again.
The petals have now lost their light and become an ordinary bracelet.
Choi Ga-in caressed the bracelet.
☆
An unexpected harvest was gained.
The device, Totsuka no Tsurugi.
It's a sword skilled at absorbing mana. It's said to be able to absorb the opponent's magic into the blade and use magic that can be released at the desired timing.
Of course, in this case, there's the condition that the technique must be completely absorbed.
Besides that, it can also wield magic connected through the blade like a whip, or inject poison into opponents touched by the blade for additional damage...
From now on, I might be able to use mana crusher like a whip too.
It had quite a few additional functions.
Indeed, it could be called a device that contributed to making Hikigaya Hayato a <Dragon Slayer> before the regression.
So Eunha was already looking forward to it.
"I wonder what kind of device Haesu hyung will make using this sword as material..."
"You're always going on about swords whenever you get the chance."
There were also materials gathered so far.
Eunha planned to ask Byeok Haesu for a new sword as soon as he returned to Korea.
But Han Seohyun seemed displeased with him constantly touching the sword.
She had reprimanded him.
Eunha took his hands off the sword.
"Okay. Should I focus on you?"
"It's too late to say that now. If you're going to go on about me, do it when we're back in Korea."
"Then can I just think about the sword now and think about you in Korea?"
"Want to get in trouble?"
Tokyo, Haneda Airport.
Eunha and all the academy students were there.
It was Kaguya's consideration.
As she had declared then, she didn't forget to provide various support so the academy students could enjoy their time in Japan.
At the end, she even assigned flights as a token of gratitude to Eunha and Shin Seoyoung.
"But are you really going to stay here?"
"I still have my study abroad life left."
According to the news, YH Group's direct descendant Choi Yejang left Japan right after the incident broke out.
Also, it's said that Sirius Group Chairman Han Doyoung successfully concluded talks with Kaguya and departed two days ago.
Having heard all this news from Han Seohyun, Eunha asked her, who had come to the airport early in the morning.
If it was really okay for her not to return home.
"Even though my obligation is gone now, Sirius Group's aim for expansion into Japan remains unchanged... I want to be helpful to the group. So I'm thinking of staying here until high school."
"I see, then it can't be helped."
Han Seohyun is full of confidence.
Seeing the vitality in Han Seohyun's face, Eunha decided to respect her decision.
If she had been forced to study abroad in Japan a few years ago, this time she chose to continue studying abroad of her own volition.
So her face couldn't help but look full of energy.
"—So I'll see you next year."
"Yeah. See you next year."
Han Seohyun promises next year.
It's not too far away.
Eunha made a promise with her.
The promise they made sometime later to meet again was too vague, but this promise he's making with her now is so clear.
"Can I ask you one thing?"
"What is it?"
The check-in procedures were done.
All that's left is to enter the gate.
The two conversed with planes visible through the glass windows as a backdrop.
In the midst of this, Han Seohyun hesitated before opening her mouth.
"The fact that you stayed by my side the whole time while in Japan... Was that because I'm a direct descendant of Sirius Group, or was there another reason?"
"..."
While in Japan.
Eunha tried not to be with his friends as much as possible and became Han Seohyun's exclusive player, spending time with her.
Sometimes he played with his friends together when he couldn't resist their pestering.
He suddenly recalled what happened in Japan as he looked at her.
She waits for his answer.
Come to think of it, she had asked the same question a few years ago too.
"Of course it's because you're a direct descendant of Sirius Group."
How did he answer back then?
A mischievous feeling wells up.
Eunha answered with a chuckle.
Han Seohyun pressed her lips into a straight line with an expressionless face.
Then she pinches Eunha.
"...Don't lie. I can see right through your lies."
"Isn't this at the level of a leading question? I'm really being sincere, you know?"
"Liar."
"..."
Han Seohyun speaks as if certain.
Yet what's impressive is that she also seems to have an anxious look on her face.
Eunha stared into her eyes and sighed.
The answer was obvious.
It was the same as back then.
"—I met you because it's you. Not because you're a Sirius Group direct descendant or anything, just because it's you, Han Seohyun. Happy now?"
"...Yes. That's how you should say it. Is it that hard to say?"
"You're totally asking a leading question, what..."
"Want to get in trouble?"
After hearing Eunha's answer.
Ripples appeared in Han Seohyun's eyes. Soon she hid her agitation and scolded Eunha.
Eunha retorted playfully.
She doesn't back down either.
"But can you stop treating me like a kid? How old am I now..."
"You're still just a high school student who talks too much, aren't you?"
Seohyun takes a step forward.
Eunha, his tie grabbed, looked down at her who had come close.
Eunha saw an emotion in her eyes as if she had won.
But the game wasn't over.
This time Eunha takes a step forward.
"—I'm taller than you now. Can't you see the height difference?"
"...Ah..."
To break her poker face, Eunha decided to be bold.
He bravely placed his hand on top of the head of Han Seohyun, of all people.
Han Seohyun's face finally shows an expression he's never seen before.
"Noona, how tall are you?"
"...165..."
"Really? I'm 176 now. Tall, right? But I'll be even taller next year. You won't grow anymore, right?"
A few years ago, at the Academy Cultural Festival.
Eunha was slightly shorter than Han Seohyun.
Back then, their eye levels were about the same. In fact, Han Seohyun was a bit taller.
Back then, you looked taller.
As if I couldn't do anything about it.
When I made a promise with her then that I couldn't keep.
Eunha felt that just looking up at Han Seohyun meant he couldn't grasp his ideals.
So Han Seohyun looked like a wall.
"You're so small. To think I was blaming myself because of this height back then, really."
Now it was the opposite - she had to look up to see him.
Eunha moved the hand on her head horizontally to show her it reached his chest level.
"...I see. You've become an adult without me realizing."
Han Seohyun was dazed.
She looked up at him as if entranced.
A face Eunha had never seen before.
After staring up at him for a while, she regained her expression.
"—Is that so?"
"Huh?"
A provocative smile appears on her face.
Eunha was flustered by this unexpected reaction.
Regardless of his reaction.
Han Seohyun took another step forward, closing the remaining distance.
"If you're an adult, you should be able to handle this without flinching, right?"
"Hm? What are you saying I can do..."
"There's no one watching us now. ...Except one person."
"What are you talking about? There are so many people around who could see us..."
It happened in the blink of an eye.
She sharply pulled his tie and brushed past his lips to press her lips against his cheek.
"Can you still act nonchalant after this?"
"...Isn't this joke going too far? This is sexual harassment, sexual harassment."
"I did it as a greeting, to mean let's meet again next year."
"No, I'm telling you this is sexual harassment?"
"Then you do it to me too and we'll call it even, won't we?"
"..."
"Or you can report me if you want."
It happened in an instant.
Eunha frowned, touching his cheek where Han Seohyun's lips had been.
The joke had gone too far.
But Han Seohyun was brazen.
Eunha glared at her with a look of disbelief.
Oh?
Then Eunha noticed her neck was subtly flushed red.
Now that he looked, Han Seohyun seemed to be maintaining a poker face.
Eunha found her like this somewhat lovable, and ended up laughing.
"Really? Then I can do it too, right?"
"...What?"
"I'll do it too, so let's call it even."
He felt like teasing her.
Eunha grabbed the shoulder of Han Seohyun, who reflexively stepped back.
With his other hand, he grasped her chin.
"...Ah..."
Han Seohy
Han Seohyun lets out a small moan.
She starts to resist but then closes her eyes.
And Eunha—
"—Be careful. Even if it's a joke, this went too far. You don't do this to other people, right? You could be misunderstood, noona."
"Ow..."
Eunha lightly bumped his forehead against hers.
Suddenly released from his embrace, she stumbled backward, rubbing her forehead.
Her gaze turned sharp.
"—Don't worry about that. I won't do it to anyone but you anyway."
Han Seohyun said, her eyes intense.
Eunha remained unfazed despite her glare.
"That's good then. And you should be careful for a while. The reason for breaking off the engagement might end up being you rather than the other side..."
"Do I look like that kind of person to you?"
"...I'm sure noona knows what she's doing."
Han Seohyun speaks coolly.
To avoid provoking her further, Eunha made a gesture of raising both hands.
Eunha apologized, saying he was sorry.
She looked at him with displeasure but eventually accepted his apology.
"Anyway, I really enjoyed this time."
Time had passed before they knew it.
Han Seohyun waved to him as he stood in front of the gate.
"See you next time."
"Yeah, see you next time."
Eunha waves back.
Now he turned away from her and walked into the gate.
Now the two of them didn't make promises they couldn't keep.
What they couldn't achieve years ago, now there was nothing they couldn't achieve.
☆
At that moment.
Yoon Ibyeol was watching.
"..."
Yoon Ibyeol, who had been planning to make some excuse to enter the gate with Eunha, lost her composure the moment she saw 'that scene'.
"...That's... too much..."
Yoon Ibyeol saw.
Before Han Seohyun approached Eunha, her gaze lingered on Yoon Ibyeol nearby for a moment.
Han Seohyun had found her, mixed among people far away, with uncanny accuracy.
And Han Seohyun showed 'that scene' as if flaunting it.
"..."
Yoon Ibyeol saw.
Han Seohyun sending Eunha to the gate, then turning around to look at her.
The corners of her mouth turn up.
It looks just like she's sneering.
And it seems like she's asking.
How much can you endure?
As if testing her.
Her gaze asks.
Yoon Ibyeol's answer is—
"—That person... I hate her so much."
Yoon Ibyeol gritted her teeth.
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