Having all agreed to write our wills together,
we went to the Brilliant Café at Go Eunbi’s suggestion.
Even Min Arin, who didn’t like loafing around without a clear purpose, seemed intrigued and followed along instead of returning to the dorm.
‘At this rate… it’d be better to rent a room bigger than last time.’
There were eleven of us, including me.
Since there were so many people, we had to use group seating rather than regular seats.
Even then, a space fitted exactly to our numbers seemed like it would be cramped.
Since I wanted to use a room with plenty of space, I paid extra and rented a study room on the third floor.
It was a space that could accommodate twenty people.
Thanks to that, it was easy to settle in.
“Then let’s write our wills now!”
“I’ve been thinking this since earlier, but when you say we’re writing wills, it does feel a little ominous.”
“Me too. If people who don’t know hear us, won’t they think we’re strange?”
“Ordinary people probably would. …There’s a chance. Still, this is the Academy, and it’s Academy City, so I don’t think many people will misunderstand…. Or how about we just call it an assignment?”
“What does it matter if it’s a will or an assignment? I’m going to focus from now on, so don’t bother me.”
Each of us ordered drinks and desserts.
We chatted among ourselves as we wrote our wills, and sometimes wrote them in silence.
On the other hand, because we had to put our true feelings into them,
everyone tried to cover their writing so others wouldn’t accidentally see.
“I’m done.”
“…”
In that situation, the first person to put down his pen was Yong Haerang.
We raised our heads and looked at him as he put the last remaining piece of cake into his mouth.
“What did you write?”
“Me? Nothing much.”
For some reason, Yong Haerang seemed like he wouldn’t mind telling us what was in his will.
Representing everyone else’s feelings, I asked him.
Then, just as I expected, he answered with a calm face.
“To my parents.”
“…”
“Mother, Father. Your unworthy son, Yong Haerang, is going on ahead. For departing before my parents, I can only say that I am sorry for committing an unfilial act. However, Mother, Father. If I am no longer in this world, it will mean that, as a member of the chivalrous Yong family, I lived a life I was not ashamed of until the very end. So, Mother, Father, please be proud of your excellent son Yong Haerang, and bury me in a sunny spot on the family mountain. If my body cannot be found, then…”
Unlike his usual behavior,
Yong Haerang’s last words were unexpectedly solemn.
He seemed like a completely different person all of a sudden.
None of us tried to nitpick, and instead we praised him.
“It’s nothing worth making such a fuss over…”
Perhaps embarrassed, Yong Haerang rubbed the bridge of his nose.
Still, he didn’t seem to dislike it entirely, as a smile hung around his lips.
‘Compared to that, mine…’
I looked down at the will I had only written a few lines of.
Compared to Yong Haerang’s will, the sentences felt light and the contents felt lacking.
It was almost like one of those clichéd letters you wrote on Parents’ Day.
‘This won’t do. I should write it again.’
After some thought, I decided to rewrite my will from the beginning.
Go Eunbi seemed to be thinking the same thing.
“Ah, I should drink some water.”
‘Where is she going?’
Clutching the will she had been quietly writing and crumpling it up,
Go Eunbi quietly rose from her seat and headed toward the water dispenser inside the study room.
Then, pretending to drink water, she casually tossed the will in her hand into the trash can.
“Phew… Should I try writing it like Haerang did?”
‘Look at her.’
Go Eunbi returned to her seat and sat down as if nothing had happened.
She was about to write a new will.
It was the behavior of someone who believed she had pulled off the perfect crime.
But since I had witnessed the entire sequence, I could only laugh inwardly.
“Ah, I should drink some water too.”
I was curious what she had written.
Making sure Go Eunbi wouldn’t notice, I acted naturally.
After a short delay, I rose to my feet.
Using the same excuse as she had a moment ago, I walked over to the water dispenser.
‘Just what did she write?’
Pretending to drink water, I turned my back and glanced sideways at Go Eunbi, who was writing her will.
After confirming that she hadn’t noticed, I stealthily pulled the will she had thrown away out of the trash can.
I unfolded the crumpled will.
─ Will ─
Combat Department, Archery Track
Year 1, Class 8, No. 4, Go Eunbi
Mom, Dad. It’s me, Eunbi. Thank you so much for raising me until now.
I loved you both very much. And Eunjin too, who was always playing pranks.
…(omitted)…
And Eunjin.
This will probably be my last request, but I want you to destroy the computer in my room as it is, without looking at it.
You have to destroy the hard drive. Got it? I’m sure you’ll understand how I feel.
Please, for your big sister’s honor, don’t look at it. Just erase it from this world.
And I’d also like you to burn the secret space at the very bottom of my drawer, under my bed, and the second shelf inside my bookcase without looking at them.
Ah, and also…
…Eunbi.
Just how much have you been hiding?
* * *
Perhaps because some time had passed since lunch, he seemed to be getting hungry.
It was a hunger that dessert couldn’t fill.
This wouldn’t do.
Kang Hanbyeol stopped the hand that had been writing his will in elegant, flowing handwriting and spoke up.
“I’m hungry, so I’m thinking of ordering something. Does anyone else want to eat?”
“…”
The Brilliant Café also served meal items.
Deciding to order a meal, Kang Hanbyeol took a menu that happened to be nearby.
Meanwhile, the people writing their wills raised their heads from the table.
“I’m fine! I’ll pass!”
“Me too. I don’t think I’ve digested the cake I ate earlier yet.”
“We’re going to dinner in a little while anyway. Wouldn’t it be better to hold out until then?”
“I was going to at first too, but I’m too hungry. I’ll eat now and eat again later.”
Most of them, including Go Eunbi, Lisa, and Yeon Haneul, had similar reactions.
The only ones who agreed with Kang Hanbyeol were Yong Haerang, Park Sagun, and Do Gyeonwoo.
“Kang Hanbyeol! I’ll eat with you!”
“Then should I order one too? I was getting a little hungry anyway…. If I’m going to eat dinner later too, it’d be better to order something around 500 calories.”
“I was just thinking of ordering something because I was feeling peckish, so this works out.”
“You really do eat well…. Will you be able to eat dinner later?”
“Of course. Or do you want to share with me?”
“Thanks, but I’ll pass. If I eat now, I won’t be able to eat much at dinner later, and then I’ll end up binge eating at night.”
“Then just binge.”
“No, I’ll gain weight.”
“As if there’s anywhere on you that could gain weight…”
Do Gyeonwoo and Yeon Haneul were childhood friends who had known each other since they were little, weren’t they?
Just watching them talk affectionately was enough to tell they were close.
It was nice to see.
Kang Hanbyeol chuckled without the two of them noticing.
Inwardly, he also felt a little envious of them.
‘I want to be like that with Noona too…’
Kang Hanbyeol also had a childhood friend he had known since he was young.
However, they hadn’t met often, and recently, it had been quite a long time since they had last seen each other.
It couldn’t be helped.
She lived in Seoul, while he lived on Taebaeksan Mountain.
And now he had come to Academy City.
Putting aside his longing for her, who was four years older than him, he looked over the menu.
‘What should I eat…’
There were quite a few mouthwatering items.
If he had his way, he would order everything, but he had to restrain himself for the sake of dinner.
Kang Hanbyeol stared at the menu and fell into thought.
Just then, Do Gyeonwoo spoke to him.
“The hamburg steak here is good. I’m going to get that. Hanbyeol, how about you try it too? I recommend it.”
“Hamburg steak? Sure, then I’ll get that too!”
It looked appetizing in the photo, and Do Gyeonwoo had recommended it.
Kang Hanbyeol decided to order the hamburg steak.
A little later, the food they had ordered arrived.
Sizzle.
The hamburg steak made a sound on the hot stone plate that was enough to make one’s mouth water just by hearing it.
Kang Hanbyeol cut off a bite-sized piece with his fork and brought it to his lips.
The hot meat entered his mouth.
“Wow… This is delicious!”
“Right? I thought you’d like it.”
The finely minced meat mixed with his saliva, breaking apart and scattering.
The combination of sauce, meat juice, and meat seemed to send vitality through his body.
Eating it together with white rice made it excellent.
He could also place the meat on the stone plate and cook it to his liking.
Kang Hanbyeol let out an exclamation.
“…”
Meanwhile, the people who had not ordered food smelled it and unconsciously smacked their lips.
Seeing Kang Hanbyeol eat it with such admiration made them swallow their saliva.
They were starting to get hungry too.
“…Want a bite?”
“Can I?”
Do Gyeonwoo sensed Yeon Haneul’s gaze.
Since she was staring at him from right beside him, there was no way he could fail to notice.
Unable to ignore her, he held out his fork to her.
She seemed to hesitate for a moment before opening her mouth slightly and taking the food.
“Nom.”
“How is it? Good, right?”
“Yeah, it’s good.”
Yeon Haneul’s rabbit ears perked up.
Do Gyeonwoo confirmed her reaction and lightly shrugged.
But she wasn’t the only one looking at him.
“…”
There were also Go Eunbi and Lisa.
The two of them were staring intently at Do Gyeonwoo as well.
“…Do you two want some too?”
“Of course it’s our Gyeonwoo!”
“Ah, then… I’ll just have one bite.”
When Do Gyeonwoo offered with an expression that said he had no choice,
the two reacted as if they had been waiting for it, their eyes shining.
Though he smiled wryly, he gave them some of his portion.
“Ah, damn… That looks good.”
“We should’ve ordered too.”
“Gyeonwoo, let us have just one bite too…”
“Who told you not to order? I don’t have any more to spare, so you guys can watch me eat and drink water.”
“…”
The triplets also pestered him.
But unlike with the three girls, Do Gyeonwoo mercilessly cut them off.
Disappointment appeared on their faces, but there was no chance.
He silently brought the remaining hamburg steak to his own mouth.
“I’ll give each of you a bite instead. That’s fine, right?”
“Really!?”
“Hanbyeol, let’s get along from now on!”
“If you ever need our strength, just tell us!”
Taking pity on the triplets, Kang Hanbyeol shared his own portion with them.
Unlike Yeon Haneul, Go Eunbi, and Lisa, who had been like baby birds receiving food brought by their mother bird,
they brought to mind ownerless dogs wandering the streets in their shabby state.
Meanwhile, Min Arin looked displeased.
‘Did we come here to do an assignment, or did we come here to eat?’
The room was filling with the smell of food.
Feeling as if her nose were getting clogged, Min Arin furrowed her brow.
Do Gyeonwoo was a problem, and so were Yong Haerang, Kang Hanbyeol, and the others.
She didn’t like the atmosphere becoming disorderly.
So when she glared at Do Gyeonwoo as if in protest,
“What? Do you want some too? Sorry, but I don’t have any to give you. You should’ve said something a little earlier.”
“Wh-who said I wanted to eat!?”
Do Gyeonwoo, whose eyes met hers, went ahead and misunderstood as he pleased.
Min Arin snapped back, stung.
“It’s written all over your face that you’re resentful because everyone’s eating except you…”
“No, it isn’t! It isn’t, okay!? I’m telling you, it isn’t!”
“A strong denial is a strong affirmation.”
“I said it’s not!”
Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely—she swore it.
It was not that she was upset because Do Gyeonwoo had given some to everyone except her.
Soon feeling her face grow hot, Min Arin decided it would be better not to say anything at all.
‘Fine, you all can play around if you want. If your grades get ruined like that, that’s your responsibility, not mine.’
If anything, this was good.
She could get ahead of her competitors.
While they were in such a cheerful mood, she decided to finish writing her will.
At last, the will was complete.
‘Hmph, I’m sure no one wrote better than me.’
Checking whether there were any errors in spacing or spelling,
Min Arin rated the will she had poured her heart and soul into very highly.
It was a masterpiece, a work of beauty.
The morphemes, letters, words, sentences, and paragraphs were neat and outstanding.
Perhaps Hangul had, in truth, been created for her sake.
She became so absorbed and intoxicated with herself that she even entertained such a blasphemous thought.
‘As expected of me. I’m Min Arin.’
However, no matter how excellent a piece of writing might be, it had no value if others did not acknowledge it.
She couldn’t be the only one who knew.
Other people needed to know too.
“Ahem!”
“…?”
To draw people’s attention, Min Arin deliberately cleared her throat over and over, loudly enough to be heard.
The others turned their heads toward her, puzzled.
“Ah— I’m done too! It came out better than I expected.”
“….”
“I’m a little worried I might have written it too stiffly, but it should be fine, right?”
It would be too uncool to bluntly tell them to look at her will, and her personality wouldn’t allow it anyway.
Min Arin spoke in circles, waiting for the others to ask first.
“Ah, I should rest a bit now—.”
“….”
“If anyone wants to use my will as a reference, just say so…. I might be generous and let you see it.”
“….”
“…I said I might let you see it?”
Unfortunately, contrary to Min Arin’s expectations,
not a single person showed any interest.
“Um, guys…?”
“….”
“Haa…. They say if you read it aloud, you can revise it much more naturally. I should try that too.”
“….”
“To everyone of the Min Clan of the Demonic Path.”
“….”
“Greetings. I leave these words to all of you who walk the path of demonic arts and seek to illuminate the truths of the world. I am Min Arin, the little griffin of the Min Clan of the Demonic Path. First, Clan Head, I trust you have been in ever-robust health? I do not know when my final words will be made public, but….”
“….”
“Ah! I finished mine too.”
“Oh, Lisa, how did you write yours!?”
“If it’s all right, could you show us? I’d like to use it as a reference.”
“Yeah, show me too. I want to refer to it.”
“Yes, of course. I wrote mine to the nanny who raised me in the Empire since I was little, and to the people of the Empire….”
“Um, guys? Could you listen to my last words? Hm? Please…. Don’t ignore meee….”
* * *
The fourteenth floor of the Jade Dormitory, Nam Yuri’s room.
Nam Yuri had likewise received the assignment to write a will.
“Hmm….”
After finishing her morning classes, wandering around the academy with nothing to do, and returning to the dormitory in the evening, Nam Yuri silently stared at the blank sheet of paper.
“….”
A will.
A piece of writing left behind for someone in preparation for the event of one’s death.
Nam Yuri chewed over the meaning of a will as she twirled the pen in her hand.
Nothing in particular came to mind.
Even so, if she had to write something.
“Yeah, that would be better.”
The hand twirling the pen came to a stop.
For an instant, Nam Yuri’s violet eyes took on a chilling gleam.
Then, with a sneer,
she began writing without hesitation.
─ Will ─
Combat Division, Alchemy Track
First Year, Class 2, No. 13, Nam Yuri
You must be disappointed that I died.
Serves you right.
I Became the Childhood Friend of the Mid-Boss