Iarin decided to head towards the building where Jinseong was staying.
Any particular reason for going there?
Not really.
She just thought of it.
She thought of Park Jinseong and the building and figured she’d just go.
After all, when you go for a walk, there’s not always a specific purpose, right?
It’s just because she wanted to go, something popped into her head.
Iarin going to the building where Jinseong was felt just the same way.
And so, Iarin navigated through the dimly lit street and arrived at the building where Jinseong was.
It didn’t take long since she had already mapped out a shortcut after figuring out it was where he stayed.
There were a few minor downsides, like it being a narrow gap that a single person could barely squeeze through, needing to jump from rooftop to rooftop, and passing through a labyrinthine alley, but at least her speed was overwhelming.
Speed, at least.
“Hey? Yo, look over there.”
“What? Huh?”
In other words, aside from speed, it was full of drawbacks.
Unfortunately, the area Iarin traversed was a perfect hangout for delinquent students.
A dim alley….
Wasn’t it the ideal setting for students to gather and smoke?
Moreover, since there were no CCTVs, it would be even weirder if students didn’t gather to smoke here.
“Whose girlfriend is that?”
“I don’t know, just looks like she’s passing through?”
Delinquent students showed interest in Iarin, who had suddenly appeared.
Perhaps it was because her appearance stood out even in the dark, shadowy alley.
Some of the students even stamped out their cigarettes, putting them out just in case she came closer.
But as Iarin approached….
“Ugh. Isn’t she wearing that school uniform?”
“Tsk.”
…Upon noticing the uniform she was wearing, they couldn’t help but mutter half disappointed and half annoyed words.
It was because the uniform she was wearing belonged to Seoul Specialization High School for Ability Users.
“Damn it. Those bastards again. There’s no escaping them.”
“Sigh. Let’s just let her pass peacefully. Just… peacefully.”
The curriculum at Seoul Specialization High School, often called ‘Seongteukgo’, had a high emphasis on field studies.
Things like experiencing jobs, attending classes at schools they were partnered with, receiving advice from those who’ve reached high levels, and participating in competitions were part of field studies.
Because of this nature of field study, students from Seongteukgo couldn’t help but travel across the nation and even around the world, often being seen caught up in various issues.
And of course, among these “various issues” were matters related to public safety….
The reason delinquent students flinched upon seeing the uniform from Seongteukgo was precisely this.
They were out and about enforcing public safety, digging into places here and there.
When delinquent students threatened with their fists, they’d shout nonsensical things like, “I’m seriously feeling life-threatening danger!” while using their abilities to beat them up or disappearing with things that could be used as blackmail.
And aren’t they afraid of the consequences after beating someone up?
Yes, that’s right.
At least the students from Seongteukgo didn’t have to fear the consequences.
Because Seongteukgo itself was a tremendous backing.
As a place that produced irreplaceable Ability Users, many of the graduates held high social statuses or had power and wealth, and there would be plenty who would step in if their junior students were wronged in any unfair manner.
On top of that, most of the students themselves had considerable backing, and as long as their skills and attitudes were not utterly terrible, they’d get support even without a background.
So, while the exact level of backing those who got beaten up had was unknown, unless it was truly astonishing enough to leave one speechless, losing a backing battle was unlikely.
And even if one disregarded the backing itself, going against Ability Users was a significant risk. If an Ability User went rogue and turned into an assassin, targeting the person holding a grudge along with their family would indeed be a headache.
For this reason, delinquent students decided to ignore Iarin.
She was unbelievably beautiful, but that appearance didn’t warrant the risk of being a “Seongteukgo student.”
Thus, the delinquent students became a unique background in the dark alley, while Iarin looked like an ordinary passerby wandering within that not-so-great scenery….
“Hey, wait a minute.”
Suddenly, one of the delinquent students called out to Iarin.
That call was like a huge bell breaking the silence, possessing an outstanding provocative effect that drew the heads of delinquent students blending into the background toward it.
‘This brat… can’t take his eyes off a pretty girl.’
‘Damn, my senior told me not to mess with Seongteukgo.’
The delinquent students shot glares at the one who called out to Iarin, bearing expressions akin to having chewed a fly.
And Iarin herself didn’t have a good expression either.
“What… what do you want?”
In a short and curt voice, Iarin’s words sprang forth.
The look on her face openly showed her annoyance, and her brow furrowed slightly.
Her psychology of not wanting to talk was evident as she naturally crossed her arms to cover her chest, casting an indifferent gaze at the boy as if beckoning him to just say what he had to say.
The demeanor she showed was completely different from how she behaved towards her friends or family; it was cold and ferocious.
“Oh, no. It’s just…”
“What? If you called me, just spit it out.”
Though Iarin appeared to be a pretty high school girl on the outside, because of the atmosphere, she instead looked like a fierce delinquent, while the boy who had approached her appeared as a pitiful victim caught by a delinquent.
The poor boy even slightly trembled, unable to handle Iarin’s intimidating aura….
Anyone could mistake it and think Iarin was bullying a timid boy.
“Are you… going for a courage test or something?”
The pitiful boy, weakened in front of Iarin, managed to muster the nerve to ask.
“Huh? Courage test?”
That question seemed a bit odd.
Usually, when a boy approached and asked something, he’d be asking for a number or her name.
Strangely, the boy’s question regarding a “courage test” was something that made no sense.
Iarin looked at the boy with a confused expression.
As if expecting a further explanation.
And the boy, seeing that Iarin appeared to be inviting a response, spoke a bit louder.
“Um, your direction seems to be where that building is….”
“That building?”
“Yeah. Aren’t you going to the Ghost Building for a courage test?”
Ghost Building.
Upon hearing that word, Iarin finally understood why the boy had called out to her.
“Hah.”
The Ghost Building, huh….
Isn’t there only one place around here that could possibly be called that?
Her older brother’s place.
The building where Park Jinseong stayed.
“Ghost… pfft.”
Iarin couldn’t help but burst into laughter, thinking of the dilapidated building that had become a local rumor in the neighborhood.
No way.
No matter how eerie the vibe was, could it make sense for a building with a shaman living in it to be nicknamed the Ghost Building?
Iarin couldn’t help but chuckle at what the delinquent had said.
And she thought, “I should tease my brother with that story I just heard,” while also thinking, “I need to do something to help remove that ghost building nickname.”
And, well…
In the course of helping, it’d be great if we could meet up more often and hang out somewhere together.
It seemed that since Jinseong had left, the house had grown quiet, and she had been feeling bored, so it felt like a good thing.
“Well, thanks for worrying about me, but it’s not that Ghost Building, so don’t spread such nonsense.”
With a light chuckle, Iarin said this and turned her back.
Continuing on her way.
“Hey, no! It’s really a dangerous place…! There are rumors that people who went for a courage test there have gone missing…!”
But the delinquent stubbornly grabbed Iarin again.
He was rambling on with absurd nonsensical claims about people going missing from Jinseong’s building.
“Hey, didn’t I tell you not to spread nonsense?”
Iarin threatened the delinquent by grabbing his collar to defend the real estate value of Jinseong’s building.
And she even whispered that if she heard such stories again, she’d come and beat him up.
Now those guys would undoubtedly keep their mouths shut….
Iarin thought so as she quickly escaped the alley.
That laughable nickname “Ghost Building.”
Towards the building where Jinseong was.