Homecoming
With the period for correcting final exam grades over, the comprehensive grades for the first semester were announced.
The top student across all first-year tracks was, sure enough, just as the students had guessed, Yeon Haneul.
Unfortunately for Min Arin, who was in the same track as her, she only managed to place seventeenth overall and third in the magic track.
Considering she had botched the midterms, it was a considerably high grade.
Even so, as if she found it frustrating, she issued a declaration of war against Yeon Haneul.
—Don’t get cocky over this, Yeon Haneul. Just you wait. In the second semester, I’m definitely going to take the top spot from you.
Min Arin really was fiercely competitive.
But Yeon Haneul, too, never tried to soften her personality when dealing with her.
Yet her reaction that day was quite different from what I had expected.
—Oh, really? Work hard, then.
—Wh-what…? That’s it? It sounded like you just answered me half-heartedly….
—Then how should I answer? That’s all I have to say.
—….
In a blunt tone that left the other party with nothing more to say, Yeon Haneul cut the conversation off cleanly.
Min Arin was so flustered by her attitude that she ended up feeling embarrassed instead.
Finding her state strange, I subtly probed her intentions.
Then she answered in a serious tone.
—My comprehensive grade is definitely higher, but in terms of final exam scores, there wasn’t much difference between us.
—I guess Arin really did work hard.
—Yeah…. So I think I was a little cold to Arin earlier without realizing it. I shouldn’t have done that…. Arin seemed sulky earlier because she thought I was ignoring her. What should I do?
—…She seemed like she was watching your mood too, wondering if she’d done something wrong. Try talking to her casually.
—I guess I should, right? Yeah…. I should.
It seemed Yeon Haneul had felt a sense of crisis from Min Arin, who was chasing closely behind her.
The composure she used to have, when she would counter Min Arin’s provocations with her grades, had disappeared.
One could say she had begun to regard Min Arin as a true rival.
As someone who had secretly hoped there would be someone to stimulate her, I could only be pleased.
—You’ll have to work even harder next semester.
—…Yeah. I don’t want to see Arin acting smug toward me over grades.
—Haneul, you can do well. I’ll be cheering you on.
After that, Yeon Haneul and Min Arin got along reasonably well, as if nothing had ever happened.
The reason I say “reasonably” was because they still fought whenever they had the chance.
In any case, the rest of the first semester passed without anything particularly noteworthy happening.
“Don’t get too lax just because it’s vacation. Keep in mind that you are not ordinary people. I’m telling you not to neglect your training as people who will become Hunters. Rest in moderation.”
“After today, we won’t see each other for another two months, right? Everyone, don’t forget your instructors’ faces, okay? That said, don’t contact your instructors unless there’s something special going on. We’d like our private lives to be protected too!”
Today marked the end of the first semester.
That day, after going to our respective classes, we held the vacation ceremony while listening to our homeroom instructor’s precautions.
Knowing I wouldn’t have to attend classes for a while, the corners of my mouth naturally rose.
“It’s such a shame that I won’t be able to see the Witch and the Instructor for two months. I’ll miss you terribly.”
“Why don’t you wet your lips before telling such a lie? And I’m very happy that I don’t have to see you, you know? Please, don’t contact me during vacation.”
“Gyeonu, you’re saying you’ll miss your instructor? Then how about not going home during vacation and staying here? I think I’ll have to stay at the Academy for work too, so do you want to eat together whenever we have time?”
“It’s a shame, but my family is waiting for me, so I’ll just accept the sentiment.”
“Sniff…. Did you just reject me? How cruel….”
Pretending to cry wouldn’t work on me.
Watching Yu Noeul wipe the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand, I shrugged.
Starting today, I was going to fully enjoy my vacation.
* * *
During the few days before the vacation ceremony, all sorts of end-of-term parties were held throughout the Academy by family, by grade, by track, by sponsor, by club, and every other category imaginable.
Because of that, we had to be called here and there and get thoroughly drunk.
As a result, we weren’t able to leisurely enjoy time among ourselves.
It felt a little disappointing to head home immediately after the vacation ceremony.
—This won’t do! Everyone, let’s delay by one day! We still have to have our own after-party!
—I’m in! Totally in! I agree! Yes! Now I have an excuse to go back a day late!
At times like this, the person who stepped up as the representative and took charge was Go Eunbi.
Her forceful proposal gained the agreement of all of us, including Nam Yuri.
And so, as soon as the vacation ceremony ended, we spent the whole day together.
We went downtown to eat lunch and hang out, bought groceries at a mart in the evening, then gathered in my room and stayed up all night laughing and chatting like madmen.
It was truly a scene of chaos.
Since many people had returned home on the day of the vacation ceremony, the dorm supervisor never came up to stop us for being noisy.
—Pour it! Drink it! Isn’t there any stronger alcohol!?
—Haerang’s completely gone.
—You want stronger alcohol? Fine, good! I’ll synthesize even stronger alcohol right here! Leave it to me!
—I’m sleepy…. I’m going to sleep….
Among us, Yong Haerang could hold his liquor the best after Yeon Haneul and Nam Yuri.
If someone like him suddenly sprang up from his seat, stripped off his top, and got so drunk he started doing bizarre calisthenics, that said everything.
We lived by alcohol and died by alcohol.
Even Cha Eunsol, who had been trying to quietly slip away after drinking moderately and sleep in my bed, could not escape the flow.
—Eunsol! We won’t be able to see your face for the next two months, so you can’t do this! Get up!
—Ugh…. You’re so mean….
Under Go Eunbi’s lead.
Cha Eunsol was repeatedly dragged down from the bed and forced to join the drinking party.
And so, without getting any sleep, we greeted the morning in a dazed state.
Naturally, there was no way fatigue hadn’t piled up.
—…Anyone want hangover ramyeon?
—Me.
—Me too.
—Me as well.
—U-us too….
—Gyeonu, are you okay? Sit there. I’ll cook it and bring it up.
—Then… sorry, but I’ll leave it to you.
To sober up, we opened the windows and got some air, and used magic to drive away the drunkenness.
Then, half-asleep, we inhaled the hangover ramyeon Yeon Haneul had cooked for us.
Only then did we feel a little refreshed.
After that, we each returned to our rooms and prepared to go home.
“I don’t see some of the others…. What are they doing, not coming out?”
“It looks like Lisa, Eunsol, and Arin are too tired, so they’re going to take a nap before leaving. They told us to go ahead.”
“Sagun was completely out as soon as he got back to the dorm too. He didn’t respond even when I poked him, so I left him alone. I figured I’d let him sleep properly.”
Yeon Haneul and Kang Hanbyeol relayed the news.
In the end, with no other choice, those of us who remained headed to the warp gate terminal.
Among the four terminals placed throughout the Academy City, the closest one was located in District 22.
‘Maybe because we’re not the only ones ending the term, there are a lot of people who look like students.’
It wasn’t only us who had begun vacation; students from other academies were the same.
As a result, at the terminal, we could see crowds of people like us dragging suitcases toward the station.
If the warp gate terminal, which was financially quite burdensome, was like this, then the airport or harbor, which were less burdensome, were likely to be far more crowded.
We had to move carefully so we wouldn’t accidentally get separated.
Fortunately, once we entered the lounge open only to the highest rank, it became comparatively quiet.
‘The Ten Families are convenient for this reason. Wherever you go, you can receive special treatment.’
Yeon Haneul, Go Eunbi, and the triplets, who did not belong to the highest rank, were not permitted to enter in principle.
But with the authority of me, Nam Yuri, and Yong Haerang, we could grant them eligibility to enter the lounge as well.
As an aside, Kang Hanbyeol, the disciple of the Fighting Demon Seo Jeongjin, belonged to the same highest rank as us.
“Let’s rest here and get up when it’s time. There are smartphone chargers over there. Didn’t someone say earlier they needed to charge their phone? Was it Eunbi?”
“Ah, I need to charge my phone too.”
“Haneul, you sit and rest. I’ll bring it. It looks like there are simple things to eat over there too. Should I bring you something?”
“I could go get it myself… but I’ll ask you, then. Thanks, Gyeonu. I’m full, so I don’t need food, but if there’s water, could you bring me some?”
“Got it.”
The lounge had seats where one could sink into a soft sofa and look down over the terminal.
Each of us took a seat and, to kill time, watched the crowd swarming below outside the window.
Then, one by one, it became time to get up.
“The gate to Busan has begun operating. I should get going. Everyone, have a good vacation, and I’ll see you when the semester starts.”
“Yeah, see you when the semester starts. Stay healthy. But… you do know where the gate to Busan is, right? Somehow, I’m a little worried….”
“Gyeonu, Gyeonu! You don’t have to worry! I happen to be going in the same direction, so I’ll take good care of him!”
“If Yuri’s there… that’s at least better.”
“Then everyone, let’s meet after the semester starts! Don’t forget me!? Got it!?”
Yong Haerang and Nam Yuri left the lounge.
Even until the very moment she disappeared, Nam Yuri hopped up and down, raised her voice, and made everything feel hectic.
Still, perhaps because I had grown somewhat used to it now, I might suddenly find myself missing the days when she caused a commotion.
‘…No. That’s not going to happen.’
At home, I had my younger sister Yeeun too.
She wasn’t as unpredictable as Nam Yuri, but my younger sister was quite something in her own right.
Even after I returned home, there would be no time for quiet.
Meanwhile, the next person to get up was Go Eunbi.
“Ah, they say the gate toward Gangbuk is operating too. I should get going now. Guys, have a good vacation. If you have time, come hang out in my neighborhood too! Haneul, I’ll contact you when I get home!”
“Yeah, Eunbi. Take care. Let’s pick a day and go visit with Gyeonu and the twins.”
“You have a good vacation too. See you next time.”
Saying she was sad she wouldn’t see Yeon Haneul for a while, Go Eunbi hugged her tightly and rubbed against her as if trying to soothe her regret.
Only then did she leave the lounge.
At last, it was our turn to move.
“Everyone, take care! Get plenty of rest over vacation. Gyeonu, I’ll contact you.”
Kang Hanbyeol, who had followed us to see us off, said his goodbyes.
I clasped hands with him as he smiled refreshingly.
“Yeah, I’ll contact you too. Have a good vacation. If anything happens, make sure you tell me. I’ll help you.”
“It’s reassuring to hear you say that. Got it. I’m sure nothing will happen, but if something does, I’ll let you know.”
Unfortunately, while we were gone, Kang Hanbyeol would end up facing several incidents.
He would become the target of delinquent students, who could be called a chronic disease of the Academy City, and suddenly be hunted for a bounty, or he would storm into a certain clan to save people who had been forced into unjust contracts….
Other minor events awaited him as well.
‘With Hanbyeol’s skills, he can resolve them well enough, and none of them are related to a bad ending…. There’s no need for me to stay behind and suffer.’
The experiences he would surely go through during summer vacation would help Kang Hanbyeol grow.
I wished him luck.
“Hanbyeol, suffer… no, get plenty of rest.”
“You get plenty of rest too, Gyeonu!”
In any case, Gwon Boram was in the Academy City too.
As an independent patrol officer of Shield, she would work with him to resolve various incidents and accidents.
So there was no need to worry too much.
I merely had to contact Kang Hanbyeol from time to time, grasp the progress of the story, and intervene appropriately.
“See you when the semester starts.”
“Yeah!”
Kang Hanbyeol waved his hand.
After lightly responding, I turned around and soon crossed the warp gate with Yeon Haneul and the triplets.
When I opened my eyes, we had already arrived in Seoul.
* * *
After seeing the triplets off in front of the station, and sending Yeon Haneul on her way partway through, I walked the road home.
At the thought of seeing my family for the first time in a while, my steps felt nothing but light.
“Mom, I’m home.”
“Gyeonu, you’re here? It looks like you’ve grown a little taller since I last saw you.”
“I didn’t notice until Haneul told me, but I really did grow.”
“Oppa, welcome back! I missed you! And… of course you bought presents, right!?”
“I figured you’d say that, so I prepared them. They’re in my suitcase. I’ll show you later.”
My mother and Yeeun, who were at home, warmly welcomed me.
My mother had barely changed, but perhaps because Yeeun had entered a growth spurt, she had grown noticeably taller over the past few months.
“Where’s Dad?”
“He’s at the Clan. Since he’s coming from Gwacheon City, he’ll be home late tonight. So let’s have dinner when Dad gets back.”
“Gwacheon City? Why Gwacheon City instead of Songpa District…. Ah, he was put in charge of the branch there.”
Due to the incident Do Seungu caused during the midterm exams, my father had become the Regulus Clan’s Gwacheon City branch chief.
His performance had increased because of it, but in exchange, he was living busier than before.
Recalling my father’s situation, I let out a bitter smile.
Some time passed after that.
“Have you been well? Any difficulties with academy life?”
“Welcome back?”
Father returned home after finishing his Clan work.
Our family had dinner right away, sharing updates on each other’s lives.
“I’ll pour you a drink.”
“Huh, live long enough, and now the day has come when I receive a drink from you. Very well, shall I have a taste?”
“Gyeonu, can you pour one for Mom too?”
“Oppa, I’ll have Fanta!”
“Yeeun, you should pour and drink it yourself. How could you ask your oppa to do it?”
“Tch, Mom always does this to me….”
“Yeeun, give me your glass. It’s Fanta, right?”
“As expected, there’s no one but my oppa! I love you more than Mom, more than Dad!”
“…Yeeun? I was sitting here quietly. Why are you mentioning me together with Mom?”
Dinner was bustling and warm, the conversation never ceasing.
Smiles never left the faces of my family, including mine.
Just as the atmosphere was reaching its peak….
“So, Gyeonu.”
“Yes, Dad. What is it?”
My family suddenly changed their expressions and looked at me.
Then, in a serious tone, they interrogated me.
“Did nothing happen with Haneul?”
“Pardon?”
“You lived in the same dormitory as Haneul. You were in an environment where the two of you could stick together as much as you wanted, so surely something happened, right?”
“Ah….”
“Oppa, be honest. How far did you go with Haneul unnie?”
“….”
My family’s gazes were sharp.
Receiving all of their attention on my own, I couldn’t help but be extremely flustered.
It was difficult to answer readily.
This was the best I could manage to say.
“I’ll handle it myself….”
“Tch, you know Haneul’s feelings too, so how long are you planning to make her wait?”
“Making her wait too long is unattractive too. What are you going to do if you get dumped by Haneul acting like that?”
“Forget that! Next time you meet Haneul unnie, just pounce on her out of nowhere! Don’t ask or think about it!”
Why on earth….
Why is it that our family, and everyone I meet, is so interested in Haneul and me?
I really don’t understand.
‘But what is Haneul doing right now? Should I call her later?’
I Became the Mid-Boss’s Childhood Friend