Chapter 1110: Woo Hyo-Yeol (17)

“This is the last time we’ll be together,” Han Seung-Yoon said.

“What do you mean this is our last time? This is only the beginning, hyung,” I argued.

“I knew you were going to say that… but we don’t know what the future has in store for us. And you’ll soon be living in a world that’s different from ours. You’ll probably forget us by then,” Han Seung-Yoon said.

“Seung-Yoon hyung, you’re teasing me right now, aren’t you? What’s with that face, noona? You don’t… agree with him, do you?” I asked.

“I’m not sure,” Lim Cheong-Ha answered.

“Come on, don’t be like this…” I said.

“I’m kidding, man. We know better than anyone that you won't do that,

hehe

,” Lim Cheong-Ha said.

“Don’t ruffle my hair like that, noona. I’m not a kid. You too, hyung,” I said.

“It’s because we’re thankful, Ki-Young,” Lim Cheong-Ha said.

“What?”

“When I first entered the academy… Actually, when I found myself in the Beginner’s Trial, I had no idea how I was going to survive this place, but I managed to figure it out thanks to you, so, of course, I’m thankful.

"I received an offer from a major familia thanks to you,” Han Seung-Yoon explained.

‘At least they’re grateful.’

“I didn’t do anything at all. You received an offer because they saw your potential,” I said.

“That’s not true,” Han Seung-Yoon denied.

“What?”

“I mean, you could be right… but I think you influenced their decision somewhat,” Han Seung-Yoon replied.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“Did you know, Ki-Young?” Lim Cheong-Ha chimed in, asking.

“Noona?”

“A graduation party at the academy is extremely rare. To be honest, a month-long training isn’t

that

amazing for them to hold a party this big at the end of it. Normally, they’d just throw you out into the continent without holding a graduation party.

"According to the rumors, many major familias supported the academy financially so that they could hold this graduation party. Do you know who they’re doing this for? The Flower and Fertility Familia is particularly—”

“It can’t be…” I mumbled, interrupting her.

“All of our party members received offers from at least mid-sized familias. I think it’s their way of saying they want to have some sort of connection with you.

"The same goes for this party. In some ways, this is bribery. The GENIUSES could have influenced them as well, but anyway, I think it’s all thanks to you,” Lim Cheong-Ha explained.

“You really think so?” I asked.

“Our Ki-Young is so smart but naive… This is what you call politics. You’re probably still too young to know. Our Ki-Young still doesn’t know the horrors of society~” Lim Cheong-Ha said.

“...”

“Look at him blushing, Seung-Yoon oppa,” Lim Cheong-Ha teased.

“Don’t tease him too much, Cheong-Ha.

Hahaha

,” Han Seung-Yoon said, laughing.

“I’m going to go check up on Hirose hyung and Xello noona,” I told them.

“No, don’t leave! You’re not upset, right? Ki-Young!” Han Seung-Yoon asked.

“I’m not upset,” I said.

“Wait, hold on, Ki-Young. I’m not trying to tease you. There’s something I want to ask you before you leave,” Han Seung-Yoon said.

“What?”

I pretended not to know, but I had an idea as to what they were going to ask.

“Regarding… that day,” Han Seung-Yoon said.

“Yes?”

“So, the day Woo Hyo-Yeol visited your room,” Han Seung-Yoon clarified.

“

Ahh

… that day,” I said.

“Isn't it time you tell us what happened that day?” he asked.

‘That may be true, but you’re being too serious.’

“I really didn’t want to ask… but it’s been bothering me,” Han Seung-Yoon confessed.

I followed Han Seung-Yoon's gaze and saw Woo Hyo-Yeol leaning against a pillar.

‘I want to know what happened.’

I had been thinking about it since then, but seeing him like that was making it harder for me to understand him. If he was really going to act like that…

‘Why did he even run away?’

I knew I was being too hasty at the time, but there wasn’t an issue with how things were going, and I was sure he felt that way as well. It wasn't like we were having a drawn-out conversation while in tears.

Our conversation was pretty simple.

I was being considerate because he never had a deep conversation with another living human being.

I was worried that he had left the academy, but ironically, the mysterious jerk was still in the academy. Not only that, he even attended the party to congratulate the people graduating from the academy, so he became even more mysterious in my eyes.

He was trying to look cool while leaning on the pillar quietly. Not only did he not eat or drink, but he didn’t even socialize. The only thing he really did was look at me once in a while, so I understood why Han Seung-Yoon and Lim Cheong-Ha were worried.

“I don’t know why, but he keeps looking this way. It’s not just today… After that day, I keep getting the feeling that he’s been looking at you,” Han Seung-Yoon said.

“It’s nothing. We just… talked about the future… that’s all,” I reassured them.

“The future?” he asked.

“Yes, but I can’t tell you the details. It’s related to the GENIUSES… Anyway, it wasn’t that serious, so you don’t have to worry,” I said.

‘I get why they find it suspicious.’

It was all because Woo Hyo-Yeol wasn't the type of person to join a party.

He was also around me while maintaining a certain distance at the same time. Why was he doing that?

“If you say it’s nothing, then I’m sure it’s nothing.

Wheeew,

I’m still worried.

Really

worried,” Han Seung-Yoon said.

“Why? Are you going to bring that up again?” I questioned.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

“That’s right. Why the hell are you not going to join the Flower and Fertility Familia?” he asked.

“To be honest, the small city of Harizel is known to be safe. I worked with them and received support from them. Also, I made this choice myself, and you promised not to talk about whether my decision was right or not,” I reminded him.

“Yeah, and we said we’d follow you,” Han Seung-Yoon said.

“You two need to seize this opportunity. I also know someone in Harizel who will help me. You said the familias had funded this party, right? Do you not realize that I’m going to get paid more than that as an adventurer?

"You said I was going to live in a different world just now, so what are you so worried about?” I asked.

“

Whoo…”

Han Seung-Yoon sighed.

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll contact you often,” I reassured them.

“Yeah, you better.”

After finishing my conversation with them, I moved to talk to the others.

Woo Hyo-Yeol also moved to the second pillar and leaned on it. At a glance, it wasn't noticeable, but for some reason, it bothered me.

I would feel a lot less frustrated if he approached me and talked to me.

‘What’s his goal?’

When looking at it on the surface level, it meant that he was still interested in me, so I was relieved about that. After all, my original goal was to put a leash on that guy somehow. His defeat at the hands of William was a bait that made him keep his eyes on me, but this time, it felt like he was keeping an eye on me.

In other words, we were observing each other.

I had no idea what he was thinking, and he would sometimes act in a strange way, so I couldn't say that this was great.

‘No, at least he seems interested in me, so I shouldn't think negatively about it.’

“Ki-Young! Over here!” Xello shouted.

“

Ah!

Xello noona,” I greeted.

“I heard the news. I heard you’re going to be working alone,” Xello said.

“I’m involved in a lot of things, so I’m not even sure if working alone is the right thing to do,” I told her.

“The small city of Harizel… That means you’ll be apart from most of the members. Don’t you think it’ll be better to work in a bigger city? That place is too—”

“It’s not that far. It’s one of the few small cities that has a warp gate connected to the central region,” I interrupted her.

‘More importantly, the city I’ve been planning to settle down in is nearby.’

“Hey, what’s wrong with him?” Xello asked.

“Who?” I asked.

“Who? I’m talking about Woo Hyo-Yeol. Be careful, Ki-Young. He’s been acting kind of strange,” Xello warned.

If even Xello noticed him, then he was definitely not hiding his actions.

“It’s like he’s watching you,” Xello said.

“What?”

‘Yeah, that’s what it looks like, damn it.’

Was there something wrong with his personality settings? Perhaps he couldn’t really trust my words. I was trying to be as careful as possible, but the unexpected time limit on my life had to have opened something unknown to me.

He was a very distrustful guy, so I assumed he needed to check everything with his own eyes to feel better.

The party continued. Those who were drunk either returned to their rooms or fell to the ground and slept just like that, but despite that, Woo Hyo-Yeol was still leaning on a pillar.

“Ki-Young, about that day…”

“You’re really drunk. You should head back to your room, noona,” I suggested.

“What? I’m not drunk yet. I’m okay, Ki-Young.

Hiccup

. Let’s drink a little more…” Xello said.

“It’s okay. I’m going to start heading back. I have a lot to prepare for tomorrow,” I told her.

“

Ah. Ahhh…

R-Right… H-Hey, Ki-Young!” Xello shouted.

“Yes?”

“I-It’s nothing. I-I’ll come out tomorrow to see you off!” Xello shouted.

“Okay, noona. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said.

It was natural for me to say goodbye to the people I made a connection with here and promise them to meet later. Of course, we’d say goodbye tomorrow as well, but I had to spend some time with my sad fans.

I was not sure whether I’d see them again, but some of them definitely looked useful.

I was finally alone as I started walking away.

One month was a long time for some and short for others. For some, this time was worthless, and for those running out of time, every second was valuable.

‘You’re watching, right?’

I couldn't see Woo Hyo-Yeol anymore, but I was sure he was watching me somewhere.

I looked at the dark sky alone and started reminiscing about the memories I made with everyone. I walked into the empty training hall alone and started swinging my sword, but I soon ran out of breath and started panting.

I looked at my sword with regret while smiling bitterly.

For me, holding a sword was already a luxury.

I started coughing, and the excessively agonized coughing contained traces of blood.

I wasn't shocked to see it, as I was already used to the sight of it.

I knew I was dying.

Ironically, it was exactly because I was dying that I could love everything.

I visited the room I stayed in for a month, the memorable places I spent with kind-hearted people, the meeting room where I had arguments with the party members, the cafeteria where I sometimes complained about the food, and the training hall where I sweated a lot.

I reminisced about the connections I had made here to keep them in my heart and burn them into the retina of my eyes.

“...”

I was crying quietly, and I was sure someone was watching me as clear tears welled up in my eyes.

“...”

Just like that, my last day at the academy came to an end.