“Do I… not need you anymore?”
Yoo Hana suddenly asked me with a quivering voice.
‘Why are you like this?’
Her expression seemed ready to burst into tears at any moment.
Confused by her unexpected reaction, I hastily added that I no longer needed training.
Upon hearing this, she widened her eyes and let out a light sigh as if relieved. However, she still puffed out her cheeks with a sulky expression.
“Then, why do you suddenly want to quit?”
Only then did I calmly explain.
Basically, she had become too skilled, and it would be good for her to have some time alone with her swordsmanship.
And I added that since I had just been selected as a mentor for the exchange, I would likely be short on time.
“Mentor…?”
Her eyes narrowed for a moment.
After appearing to ponder for a few seconds, she finally closed her eyes slowly.
“I understand.”
She quietly nodded in agreement and added cautiously.
“But… you have to come to morning exercises.”
I smiled softly and nodded. I had intended to keep it up anyway.
But, unexpectedly, I ended up promising her that I would “absolutely not miss” them.
Ultimately, Yoo Hana turned around with a somewhat satisfied look.
With that, she left, and I headed toward the dormitory.
On the way back to the dormitory,
the night air seeped coolly into my lungs.
All of a sudden, a strange thought crossed my mind.
‘Wait a moment.’
Yoo Hana is the heroine.
Not only Yoo Hana. Kang Ah-rin and Cheon Yeoul, too.
In the original story, these were characters that the protagonist could pursue.
Certainly, since it was a game, there were always options to not pursue them, but generally, they were linked to the protagonist.
Then, now that the protagonist is gone, what happens?
I stopped in the middle of the road. The lamplight stretched my shadow long.
I had never even thought about, let alone considered, this aspect.
“…Impossible.”
Naturally, I, who was closest to them, and trying to replace Seong Si-woo, would not be the recipient, right?
My head throbbed.
Since his disappearance, I had been making an effort to get closer to them, thinking I should fill in whatever was lacking.
As a result, we had become notably closer recently.
I recalled their faces.
Yoo Hana, Kang Ah-rin, Cheon Yeoul.
“Ahh…”
I let out a short sigh.
Is this overthinking?
For a moment, I had forgotten their exceptional level of beauty.
I wasn’t ugly, but I certainly didn’t have the same overwhelming looks as they did.
And honestly,
I had no plan to express interest or openly flirt with them like the protagonist might.
I just…
wanted to feed them good food,
help when they needed it,
save them if their lives were in danger, or better yet, prevent such situations in advance.
Lead them to become stronger, and once I judged they had grown enough, let them handle things on their own.
That was all.
It was stranger for them to feel more than mere human affection towards me.
And even if, by some chance, something like that happened…
I would find it hard to reciprocate, not because I don’t like them.
Just because… this world is what it is.
We’re still early in the game. The atmosphere has been flowing relatively peacefully so far, but…
When the real attacks and wars start, the full forces of the Demon realm will begin to move.
People dying will be a common occurrence in this world.
I am not the protagonist, and I don’t believe I can defeat demons while managing all such feelings.
Unlike the protagonist, whose happy ending is almost guaranteed, I am just giving it my best shot.
This is how I differ from the original protagonist.
I resumed my slow walk.
Soon, the dormitory came into view.
The next day, ten minutes before 10:00 a.m.
Yoon Chae-ha headed toward the auditorium.
In fact, to be precise, she had already arrived there at 9:00 a.m.
For reasons unknown even to her, things just turned out this way.
She spent her time alone on one side of the large auditorium from early morning, reading books, taking deep breaths, and fidgeting with her fingers.
Still, the strange sense of excitement wouldn’t fade.
Her heart was pounding, like a child waiting for a gift.
She attempted to analyze herself.
It’s just simple curiosity. Having found someone noteworthy to expect in Carlos, that’s all.
Nothing more, nothing less.
However—
The fact that she felt the need to explain it already pointed to a contradiction.
Time passed, and students from Gaon Academy began to trickle into the auditorium, likely those selected as mentors.
Yoon Chae-ha slowly scanned them, but she didn’t find who she was looking for.
And right at 10:00 a.m. the door opened, and he walked in.
Jung Hae-in naturally turned his head and scanned the surroundings, and soon his eyes met with hers. He smiled faintly and walked over to her.
The sound of his footsteps echoed on the auditorium floor.
Together with his presence, which was strangely imposing.
—A feel as if of a saintly aura.
Why was that?
The moment he came closer, a strange vibe emanated from him.
“Hey?”
He spoke. Aware that she had to reply reflexively despite all this,
she realized she couldn’t meet his eyes.
“Why am I like this….”
Yoon Chae-ha was perplexed herself.
An unfamiliar sensation she couldn’t explain. While her mind continued to analyze,
the result remained unclear.
She couldn’t know.
That the fragment he possessed and his “One Mind Perception” perfectly harmonized with her “A Priori,” which explores truths.
Jung Hae-in’s smile deepened. He extended his hand, as if beckoning for a handshake.
Her eyes lingered on that hand for a moment.
Slowly, slowly—
She also extended her hand—
“Ahhh…”
An involuntary sound escaped her lips.
His hand firmly, yet naturally, clasped hers and shook it lightly.
“Big…”
The first thought that crossed her mind.
Huge hands.
The deep calluses and rough scars enveloping her hand.
Traces stacked from countless swings and relentless training. Efforts accumulated in breaking through limits remained evident.
Hands that no male mage could possibly possess, even if they were reborn a thousand times.
For some reason,
holding his hand made her feel inexplicably,
stable.
By now, she couldn’t figure out what she was thinking.
Mua Pavilion, which offers a panoramic view of Gaon Academy.
This place, often visited by students for sightseeing, was unusually quiet today.
There, two women were seated.
The gentle wind swept past them.
“What do other kids think?”
Staring off into the distance, Cheon Yeoul spoke. Her gaze lingered on the empty air.
Hashion slowly turned her head.
“Kang Ah-rin doesn’t care. And… Yoo Hana, as always, full support.”
“And you?”
Cheon Yeoul asked again.
Hashion closed her eyes briefly and thought before answering calmly.
“Anyone else, I’d oppose.”
Cheon Yeoul looked at her.
Hashion maintained a moment of silence.
“But… he might be a little different.”
If it was someone with no investment value in the first place,
She’d have clenched her teeth and rejected it outright. But it wasn’t that.
Cheon Yeoul slowly closed her eyes.
And, as if trying to suppress emotion, in a low voice, she said,
“I… don’t like it.”
She clenched her hand silently.
“Further nurturing, helping someone grow, I dislike it altogether.”
She took a deep breath.
“Enough has been done already.”
Recalling the past countless times—
He lived for others. What more does he need to do?
Cheon Yeoul bit her lip.
She tried to continue speaking but choked up.
She suppressed her feelings, expressing almost as if she couldn’t bear his pity.
“At this point, receiving would be insufficient.”
With that, she got up and walked away.
-Clink.
Hashion watched as the can of coffee she left behind tilted and coffee spilled.
Cold air surrounded them.
At the spot where Cheon Yeoul had left, remained one untouched can of coffee.
She drew a deep breath.
Slowly, she raised her head.
A scene flashed through her mind.
Not the present moment.
A memory from the past.
However,
it wasn’t Hashion’s memory.
Just someone else’s memory.
*
An immense meeting room adorned with luminous magical inscriptions.
The core of the Mage Tower, where books floated about.
A woman sat across the table.
Blonde hair. Yoon Chae-ha.
She smiled and extended her hand.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Yoon Chae-ha, Tower Master. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
She extended her hand for a handshake.
However, the man did not extend his hand in return but instead gave a slight nod, maintaining a polite yet distant posture.
She paused for a moment before quietly retracting her hand and taking her seat.
Then, they moved on to the main topic. Her eyes turned orange as she nodded.
“I’ll cut to the point.”
She took a deep breath and continued methodically.
“I know about your power of Death Regression.”
She observed his expression, expecting some signs of disturbance.
But his expression did not falter at all.
Unemotional and void of reaction.
He was dry, even though his smile might have hinted at some decent impression otherwise.
He was emotionless.
Shaking herself from the eerie feeling, she continued.
“Therefore, the Mage Tower has prepared a strategy for you, which is…”
Yoon Chae-ha enthusiastically began her explanation.
Logically well-organized, her plan was undeniably persuasive to anyone who hears it.
Though it pertained to the survival of humanity, she spoke like it was a fascinating research topic, brimming with excitement.
But Jung Hae-in remained expressionless, without uttering even a single word even after she finished her explanation.
Yoon Chae-ha grew frustrated.
“How about it? Now that Seong Si-woo has betrayed, are you willing to consider joining my plan?”
Her eyes gleaming expectantly, her voice unwavering with self-assurance.
Yoon Chae-ha awaited his response with anticipation.
Jung Hae-in slightly raised his head and plainly said.
“Still, no go.”
Realizing it had been a meaningless hope, he rose from his seat.
Jung Hae-in had considered.
It was wishful thinking. Yoon Chae-ha, with her perceptive eyes,
might notice something different, right? Eventually maybe.
Direct explanation was impossible since the suppression effect of the world was far too much for her to handle.
But alas, his expectation had been excessive.
He hoped this visit, with the trouble of coming directly upon the Tower’s call, would be the last.
Without a word, Jung Hae-in turned his back.
“Hey!”
Yoon Chae-ha called out hurriedly. A sharp voice came from behind.
However, before she could speak,
He spoke first.
“Care to guess?”
For a moment, the room’s air froze. A sudden, icy chill crept down the back of her neck.
His voice, cold and dry.
“Which attempt would you think this is?”
He turned his head to look at the Tower Master, Yoon Chae-ha.
“Calling me to the mage tower and having you excitedly explain some strategy—”
His gaze pierced through her.
“How many times do you think that has happened?”
Yoon Chae-ha’s eyes grew wide. She tried to speak but no sound came out.
‘No way…’
It wasn’t entirely unforeseen. But to her eyes, there was nothing…
However, Jung Hae-in didn’t give her time to answer.
He calmly said,
“Unfortunately, this is not the first. Nor will it be the last, I’m afraid.”
“…”
“Next time, hopefully you will have a better plan.”
With that,
He exited the room.
