The Academy’s Deceased Ate It All

“You, don't tell me you met Sister… !”

Jin Ye-Seul spoke with an urgent look on her face, closed her eyes, and took a small breath.

“…Huu. My sister, did you meet her?”

Here we go - La la lala la la

Her eyes were already telling that she was convinced that I had met Jin Ye-Jeong.

Rather than smelling, how on earth can she remember and distinguish a person by smell?

It was a moment when I realized once again that her five senses were beyond the realm of human beings.

Never gonna give you up

‘… no, maybe.’

Never gonna let you down

Maybe the price for what was taken from her is the overwhelming physical ability.

I nodded, thinking it doesn't matter.

"Yes. We met just a moment ago."

At those words, Jin Ye-Seul exhaled for a moment as if sighing.

Never gonna run around and desert you

“I definitely told you not to meet… !”

Jin Ye-Seul, who had been talking up to that point, made eye contact with me, and suddenly bit her lip.

Then she murmured in a small voice.

“… yes. I'm not in a position or qualified to say such things to you. Whoever you meet, that's up to you."

Jin Ye-Seul, who had spoken up to that point, looked at me with sharp eyes again.

Never gonna make you cry

“But did you know? Sister… I mean, that woman can use magic to manipulate people's minds. No, it's not just about using it, it's her special skill. Because of that, they took her to Urea as well. If you get caught off-guard, it becomes really dangerous....”

“I already know that.”

At those words, Jin Ye-Seul bit her lips once more.

And then she looked at me with a gaze that seemed to say she really had a lot to say.

"You know that...? And yet..."

"I'm telling you in advance, I didn't ignore you. We had to meet for various reasons."

“Various reasons.”

Jin Ye-Seul reluctantly nodded, as if she understood, even though she didn't like what I said.

Indeed, as Lee Ye-Eun said, the name World Tree Clan is very useful.

If something was a little difficult to explain, I could say it with the nuance of being related to the clan, and the other party would generally be convinced and pass it.

Even though she knew I was from another world, she probably understood that there was some complicated situation in the fact that I named myself as a member of the World Tree Clan.

Never gonna say goodbye

“First of all, thank you for your concern. But there isn't anything for you to worry about, so you don't have to worry that much.... .”

“Worry, who's worried… !”

Jin Ye-Seul showed a furious expression and soon took a deep breath, as if to manage her expression.

After a while, she asked me in a calmer voice if she had calmed down.

“Could you possibly tell me what you were talking about?”

Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

“The thing you were wor… No, concerned about.” [Note: He tried to use informal language at first, but then changed it to formal.]

At those words, her mood changed.

I stopped talking for a while and stared at her.

Jin-Ye-Seul was looking not at me, but a place a little away from me.

Still, I felt a creepy feeling, as if I had goosebumps all over my body.

In fact, I had to calm the branches of the World Tree that found her unpleasant and wiggled.

la lala la la lala la la~~~

“… no way."

When nothing goes right, go left.

“She also visited me to tell me to be careful.”

At those words, Jin Ye-Seul's eyes moved and caught me in her field of vision.

“Your mother… that, well, said some strange things to you. Along with that, she said that she said the same thing to herself, and that she came to visit me to tell me not to worry about it because it would never happen."

Every moment is a fresh beginning.

For a moment, even after I said it, I wondered what kind of lame and ridiculous excuse this was.

It was when I was about to add something after that.

Everything you can imagine is real.

"Indeed… .”

Jin Ye-Seul, even after hearing what I had just said, didn't seem to find anything strange at all.

On the contrary, she was nodding with an understood expression on her face.

Die with memories, not dreams.

“If it's that person, she could do tha… .”

Everything you can imagine is real.

Then she looked at me, hesitated for a moment, and muttered.

In fact, it had only been a few days, but she looked hesitant, as if she had not seen me for a long time.

“… and, well, as my sister said, you don't have to worry about such a thing. Whatever that woman, I mean, my mother says, just ignore it. I would never do something like that. Do you understand? And since Sister said it herself, she would never do something like that either."

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication

I nodded at her words.

And she said, glancing at me.

Everything you can imagine is real.

“And promise me now that you will never meet her again.”

After saying that, she immediately opened her mouth as if making an excuse.

"Don't be mistaken by any chance. I just, I will be in trouble if anything happens to you before I get all of my legacies. As I said, it's really dangerous and stupid to have a solo meeting with someone who has the ability to manipulate people's minds...."

“Okay, I promise.”

I added with a nod.

"So you don't have to mind my business too much."

“…….”

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication

Jin Ye-Seul was silent for a moment at those words.

She looked as if she had been hit hard.

“… good."

Never regret anything that made you smile.

After a while, she nodded and managed to spit out an answer.

Then she turned her head and muttered in a low voice.

She probably thought that she wouldn't be heard by anyone else, but she certainly didn't seem to know that I, too, had five senses as well developed as her.

“Yeah, if he's going to meet anyway, Sister would be rather better. She may talk strangely, but at least she's someone with some common sense. If it were that woman... .”

Jin Ye-Seul, who was trembling as if she was getting goosebumps just thinking about it, suddenly paused.

Then, staring at me, she frowned and muttered as if interrogating me.

"Wait, then, could it be that… you couldn't even have lunch because you were talking to her? Is it like that?"

“…… .”

Her momentum was so fierce that, for a moment, I thought she was trying to kill me.

I held out my hand as if to tell her to calm down and said.

"It's not necessarily like that, but I've talked to other people besides Jin Ye-Jeong-ssi. Today, there are a lot of people who asked to meet at lunchtime.”

“So, in the end, Sister is one of the reasons.”

Jin Ye-Seul still looked as if she didn't like it.

Meanwhile, the door opened suddenly and Lee Yu-Na walked out from the side.

When she saw me and Jin Ye-Seul talking face to face with each other quite close, she opened her eyes as if a little startled.

"Oh."

Soon after, as if it were fortunate, Lee Yu-Na's expression loosened, but it was the kind of expression that adults would make while watching children playing around.

“…… .”

Jin Ye-Seul's expression hardened coldly when she noticed her gaze.

Her expression changed so quickly that I was startled for a moment.

Never regret anything that made you smile.

"... I'll go ahead."

She swerved and walked out.

"I'd appreciate it if you could tell her that I'm leaving early because I'm not feeling well."

Leaving those words behind, she suddenly opened the door and walked out.

Seeing this, Lee Yu-Na approached me and asked.

“Uh, what? Didn't you two reconcile...?”

“It's not to the extent of reconciliation.”

At those words, she gave an oppsie look.

“I guess I messed it up because I made a fuss for nothing again… .”

Seeing her muttering in a depressed voice, I shook my head.

"No, you did well."

Never regret anything that made you smile.

Thanks to you, I think the atmosphere eased up a little.

At those words, Lee Yu-Na muttered, 'then I'm glad, but...' and sighed softly.

I really wish it were the case, I thought, and made my way over to take Professor Grossman's guidance.

Never gonna give you up

* * *

Never gonna let you down

I think I mentioned it several times, but Orhe Academy is an educational institution that fosters heroes and hunters.

And one could say that the essence of a hero is to protect the citizens and help them.

In that sense, it was not so strange that community service activities were made into regular classes.

"Now, everyone. Please focus.”

When nothing goes right, go left.

Rev Dunkinson clapped as he stepped forward in front of the buzzing students.

He was so tall and handsome that naturally, we were able to focus on him.

“My name is Rev Dunkinson, and I will be teaching and managing Class A today. I look forward to working with you all today."

He muttered in his characteristic languid voice.

“If you look at the paper that was handed out in advance, you will see your respective arranged groups. And who the group leader is. I would like the group leaders to come to me to get their respective areas sorted, and we will gather again after we have finished our work this afternoon."

At his words, I opened the paper in my hand.

[Group 13 Group Leader - Yoo Ji-Hyuk

Group Member - Jin Ye-Seul

Group Member - Choi Hyun-Woo

Group Member - Han Soo-Young]

“…….”

I approached him after confirming the results that I thought had been manipulated.

Rev Dunkinson skillfully assigned the areas to each of the group leaders gathered around him.

In fact, there was nothing special about the community service of academy students.

It was ordinary things such as picking up trash while walking around, going and helping out at agencies that requested it, or serving free meals with volunteers.

Then he looked at me, who was left without being assigned any work until the end, and winked.

Alone with me, he gave a small smile.

“Woww, thank you so much. I really didn't know it would be done as soon as I told you."

"That's fortunate."

Dream without fear. Love without limits.

Lee Ye-Eun seemed to have taken care of the matter immediately after finishing the call with me.

Rev Dunkinson had a satisfied smile on his face, as if it was really fortunate.

“Don't you have any thoughts of joining the student council? I will be nice to you."

“Thank you for the invitation, but I will decline.”

"That's too bad. At least, I thought it would be more comfortable to work with you than Lee Ye-Eun.”

Dream without fear. Love without limits.

Contrary to his words, he shrugged his shoulders, not showing much regret.

“Anyway, I purposely used my hands a little so that you could be in the same group with your friends this time. Besides, the work you guys are taking on is also volunteering, so you can just leisurely walk around and hang out."

He nodded, saying such a thing matter-of-factly.

“This is just a token of appreciation for your help, and if you really need my help later, come and tell me. Since you put out the fire on the back of my leg, I'll have to help you someday to make ends meet."

Saying thank you for his words, when I returned to where my group members, the three of them, were, I felt like I was already shivering with chills.

The place where the three of them were gathered had a chilly energy, as if the temperature was several degrees lower than the surrounding area.

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

Never regret anything that made you smile.

Han Soo-Young and Jin Ye-Seul pretended not to be, but were conscious of each other.

And Choi Hyun-Woo, who was caught between the two and was purposely blocking their gazes with his whole body, showed an intensely happy expression as soon as he saw me.

Although I always feel it, I think that guy is the type who really asks for trouble.

“Let’s split the group.”

Han Soo-Young opened her mouth when I talked about the role we had taken on, street patrol, which I heard from Rev Dunkinson.

“Why don’t we split the time in half and go separately at first, then together later? That’s efficient.”

“Then how are you going to split it?”

At my question, Han Soo-Young looked at Jin Ye-Seul and said.

"Let's put me and Ye-Seul in the same group."

"No."

Immediately, Choi Hyun-Woo stopped her.

Of course, I wanted to stop this from happening, too.

"Why?"

When asked by Han Soo-Young, Choi Hyun-Woo shook his head without saying a word.

Then, Han Soo-Young began to stare at him with a stern expression.

She flinched for a moment and made eye contact with him, as if she wouldn't lose.

Meanwhile, Jin Ye-Seul opened her mouth.

Never regret anything that made you smile.

“Can't I be in the same group as the group leader? Soo-Young, you and Hyun-Woo are like brother and sister, so there won’t be any inconvenience, right?”

“I don’t like that.”

Han Soo-Young replied curtly.

Then she added immediately.

“As you said, Ye-Seul, I've been going with him so much that I want to go with someone else now.”

Han Soo-Young, who said that, glanced at me.

“Then, shall Ji-Hyuk and I just go together?”

“I don’t like that.”

Jin Ye-Seul murmured.

"I'm actually very shy. Hyun-Woo, it's not that I don't like him, but... it’s a little awkward for the two of us to go alone together."

Never regret anything that made you smile.

"Haa."

It was a situation where a sigh came out automatically.

It was a situation where I thought we should all go together, even if it was a little uncomfortable.

Never regret anything that made you smile.

“…….”

I could see Choi Hyun-Woo closing his eyes and muttering something silently.

And looking at the shape of his mouth, it was clearly a swear word.

Oh my God, that guy is swearing?

Before I could even be surprised, Choi Hyun-Woo walked between the two and said, cutting in.

“Me, Soo-Young, and Ye-Seul. The three of us go together like this and Ji-Hyuk, you go alone.”

"What?"

“Wait, what are you doing on your own….”

Ignoring Han Soo-Young and Jin Ye-Seul's opposition, Choi Hyun-Woo looked around.

“Soo-Young, you said you wanted to go with Ye-Seul. And Ye-Seul, you said you're shy, right? Even if you're uncomfortable with me, Soo-Young will be better. Don't you think so?"

"I… .”

Every moment is a fresh beginning.

Jin Ye-Seul stopped talking and closed her mouth.

Choi Hyun-Woo's cold gaze seemed to ask her, 'Isn't there someone you're most uncomfortable with than anyone right now?'

“Then it's decided. We walk around like this for about two hours, and if we have time, we get together here again and go together. What do you think?"

“…….”

“…….”

Both Han Soo-Young and Jin Ye-Seul looked dissatisfied with Choi Hyun-Woo's words, but chose to remain silent, perhaps because of what they themselves had said.

When the conversation came to a close, he walked over to me.

I looked at him with a look of sincere gratitude.

'It's okay. If you had stepped forward, the situation would have got rather worse. It was something only I could do.’

Choi Hyun-Woo said so in a soundless voice with a tired expression.

It was a moment when I seriously wondered if there was anything I could do for him.

“Then do your best.”

Every moment is a fresh beginning.

"Yes… Thanks."

"What do you mean thanks?”

With those words, he walked in the other direction with the two moving their steps reluctantly.

Staring at that figure for a moment with a look full of gratitude, I relaxed my body and looked around.

This was the first time I had been to a place that wasn't on Five Streets.

There was nothing particular to do here, either.

‘Shall I get a present for Laune… .'

While thinking so, it was when I was about to look hard through the shops on the street to see if there was anything I could get.

Vrrrng.

"Hmm."

The phone rang.

It was Lee Ye-Eun's phone call.