That day, after finishing their Shield activity.
Do Gyeonu and his group went to a Korean BBQ restaurant for an after-party at the opposing team's suggestion.
The seating arrangement was done by mixing the teams together to promote camaraderie.
In the process, the seats next to Do Gyeonu were naturally occupied by the opposing team's leader and Baek Jimin.
“You two both worked hard today. Nothing happened in the patrol area, right? How was it, Gyeonu? It must have been your first time patrolling our area—was it unfamiliar or difficult?”
“Yes, I suppose because it’s a bustling downtown area with good public order to begin with, there wasn’t much for us to do. There was nothing out of the ordinary. And you worked hard too, senior.”
“That’s right. I have memories of often hanging out around here with friends, and since Jimin gave good directions, it didn’t feel difficult.”
The opposing team’s leader took charge so that people wouldn’t feel awkward, guiding the atmosphere along.
And while eliciting responses from those around her, subtly….
“But senior, I have a question. Was our patrol route originally….”
“Oh my, what’s this? Have you two gotten close in the meantime? Calling her ‘Jimin’ so casually by name.”
“But didn’t the team leader just call me by my name too? Well… we’re the same age and from the same system, so there were parts where we matched well, which is why we got close quickly.”
She was creating a situation trying to link Do Gyeonu and Baek Jimin together.
It wasn’t a misunderstanding.
It was unmistakable.
“….”
Yeon Haneul, who was sitting across from them, could pick up on the opposing team leader’s scheme.
She quietly sipped her alcohol as if hiding her discomfort.
*How annoying.*
In her heart of hearts, she wanted to kick her chair away and stand up right then and there.
But she was worried that she might ruin the mood, and moreover, that she might be misunderstood as a strange person.
In the end, Yeon Haneul could do nothing but suppress her emotions even as she burned up inside.
Then, Yu Gaeul called out to her.
“Haneul senior, Haneul senior.”
“Huh?”
“Let’s go to the restroom together.”
“…Yeah, okay.”
Yu Gaeul, who was sitting one seat over, quietly invited her.
Realizing that she had called her for some kind of business, Yeon Haneul quietly nodded.
Soon, the two who had risen from their seats conversed in the restroom.
Yu Gaeul spoke bluntly.
“Senior, are you just going to stay still? I’m well-versed in this kind of thing, and just looking at it, that team leader seems to be trying to set Senior Gyeonu and Snow Fairy senior up. You noticed too, right?”
“….”
“I don’t know what her intentions are, but doesn’t she have any sense? She shouldn’t be someone who doesn’t know about what’s between you and Senior Gyeonu. It doesn’t seem like Snow Fairy senior asked her to do it either, so why is she doing that?”
Yu Gaeul, who would usually playfully joke around, was for some reason angry on her behalf.
Yeon Haneul couldn’t help but feel surprised by her attitude yet grateful.
It was a small comfort.
Meanwhile, she asked as if pressing for an answer.
“Senior, are you just going to keep watching?”
“…Then what should I do? How could I possibly butt in there… I’d only end up looking like a fool for no reason.”
“I guess you’re right. This is something you can’t help but fall victim to even when you know it’s happening. Alright, then I’ll back you up, senior.”
“Huh?”
“Leave it to me. Trust me.”
“Ah… yeah… thank you….”
Yu Gaeul put strength into her eyes and suddenly grabbed Yeon Haneul’s two hands.
Yeon Haneul, whose hands were caught off guard, was overwhelmed by her momentum and nodded repeatedly.
And following her lead, she returned to the drinking table.
Perhaps because she had stepped away, the opposing team’s leader was trying even more aggressively than before to link Do Gyeonu and Baek Jimin together.
“By the way… you two look so good together sitting side by side! Oh my, come to think of it, you both come from renowned swordsmanship families, don’t you? Gyeonu is from the Divine Sword Do clan, and Jimin is from the White Sword Baek clan…. You match each other perfectly in rank without either being inferior to the other. As a couple, you’d be the strongest. Hey guys, isn’t that right? What do you think, Boram?”
“….”
The opposing team leader burst into laughter, and while her team members chimed in despite being bewildered.
Do Gyeonu, Baek Jimin, Gang Hanbyeol, and others, feeling fatigue at the repetitive pattern, were showing displeased expressions.
Yeon Haneul was the same.
At this, Yu Gaeul tried to change the topic on her behalf.
Right then.
“Junior Haneul matches him better.”
“…What?”
“….”
Kwon Boram, who had been silently drinking without hardly joining the conversation, suddenly replied.
While the opposing team leader was flustered, she continued.
“Aren’t the stories about Bunny and Rabbit famous at our Academy too? Their names go well together, and they’ve known each other for a long time; is there anyone who matches him better than Junior Haneul? Not that I’m disparaging Junior Jimin, but….”
“…No. I’m fine. I thought so from the beginning too.”
“Rather than that, it seems we’ve been wasting time on the same topic since earlier. Let’s talk about something else. If there’s no topic worth bringing up, I think it might be better to wrap things up here.”
“….”
Kwon Boram set down her glass as she said something that drew everyone’s attention.
For a moment, the people were entranced by her atmosphere and couldn’t go against her.
Then, Yu Gaeul, who had belatedly come to her senses, quickly added.
“There’s no relationship that matches Senior Gyeonu and Senior Haneul as well as theirs. I don’t know why you two are still just flirting and not dating. Ah, you’re not secretly going out without us knowing, right? Please explain! When exactly are you going to date? Don’t just keep saying not yet!”
Thanks to Kwon Boram and Yu Gaeul’s consideration.
Yeon Haneul burst into laughter.
* * *
It didn’t end with just the Shield activity.
Whether at gatherings hosted by the clan.
Or on missions conducted by the Regulus Clan to evaluate clan members enrolled in the Academy.
Or at exchange meetings between Academies that they had to attend by the clan’s order.
Under various other pretexts.
After that, Baek Jimin and I would often run into each other in not-so-coincidental ways.
Today was no different.
*They’re telling me to plan a meeting as the representative of the swordsmanship system to interact with the swordsmanship students of Geumseong Academy… and together with Baek Jimin, the representative there.*
At this point, it was impossible not to know.
The Divine Sword Do clan was now openly naming Baek Jimin, so speculation became certainty.
Unable to defy the clan’s order, she and I, who had no choice but to meet at a cafe to plan the exchange meeting, let out deep sighs.
“This is that, right? They’re trying to set you and me up somehow.”
“I think you’re right. The clan head spoke to me today. He told me to wear pretty clothes for the sake of the White Sword Baek clan’s dignity. The kid who usually looked out for my convenience even personally inspected my clothes.”
“They’re really something, I swear.”
Baek Jimin, unlike when we first met, was wearing clothes with somewhat more exposure and sparkling accessories.
She was resting her face in her hands with an unwilling expression and waved her hand.
Understanding her feelings, I clicked my tongue and sympathized.
*I don’t know whether our clan or the White Sword Baek clan started it, but to think they’d scheme something like this on their own. It’s seriously a nuisance like no other.*
Because of this, Yeon Haneul’s mood had been quite low lately.
That I had no feelings for Baek Jimin.
Despite my repeated emphasis to comfort her, she was anxious.
—…I know. I know very well… Even if you say no right now, if you keep meeting like this, feelings could develop at some point. So… it’s a bit hard.
I told her no, swore that such a thing would never happen.
No matter how much I insisted to Yeon Haneul, unfortunately, I couldn’t set her mind at ease.
*Just how should I express myself for Haneul to believe me… Should I get a recording from Jimin to prove we have nothing going on? If I did that, I’d be treated like a crazy person….*
I didn’t know.
Because of that, I had been racking my brains over this matter lately.
If there was one thing fortunate….
*Just like me, Jimin has no romantic interest in me.*
I could intuit that through our several meetings.
And I took this chance to confirm it.
“Since we’re at it, I’ll lay it all bare.”
“I was just thinking the same thing. Alright, let’s talk honestly.”
“Sorry, but I want to stay good friends like we are now; I’m not thinking of anything more than that.”
“I feel the same. I’m quite satisfied with our current relationship too. I have no desire to be in a romantic relationship with you.”
Our intentions aligned.
Baek Jimin and I, making eye contact, pulled up the corners of our mouths.
I decided to get to the main point.
“That’s great. So, want to help each other out?”
“How?”
“Both you and I are being subtly pressured by our clans to find a partner.”
“Right?”
“But I don’t even have marriage in mind yet, and I prefer a love marriage over a strategic marriage. The problem is, since you and I don’t see each other as potential partners, if we just let this fizzle out….”
“The clan would probably try to set us up with other people.”
“Right, I don’t want that. You must feel the same, Baek Jimin.”
“….”
Baek Jimin stared at me.
Then, after seemingly downing the rest of the drink in her glass, she started even chewing the ice.
“….”
Crunch, crunch.
The sound of ice being crushed could be heard.
Soon after, Baek Jimin opened her mouth.
“It’s not that I don’t want to.”
“…What?”
“As a member of the White Sword Baek clan, I will make decisions for the clan’s glory rather than myself. So if the clan forces me to marry, I’m not without thoughts of complying. In that sense, Do Gyeonu of the Divine Sword Do clan, you are ideal as a spouse. Right now, there probably isn’t a partner more suitable than you.”
“….”
“But if you didn’t have a partner, that would be one thing; I don’t want to steal a man from someone who has one. Moreover, rumors of you and Bunny are famous even in our circles; I have no desire to get between you two and get cursed at and pointed at for no reason. If you’re going to cleanly end things with Bunny, then I might consider it… but you have no intention of doing that right now, do you?”
“…That’s right.”
“That’s why you aren’t attractive to me as a spouse right now. But it’s also not like there’s a man whose conditions match yours or who catches my eye. Above all else….”
“….”
“The clan head seems to think differently, but I believe it’s still time for me to raise my worth as a swordsman. I’m saying I don’t want to be swayed by the clan telling me to meet a romantic partner like you are, at least for now.”
“Then… can I think that for now, you and I have the same goal?”
“Right, for now.”
Baek Jimin giggled.
Then, without asking for permission, she took my drink.
I looked at her chewing ice again and let out a bitter smile.
“Then we can help each other out. Until the point where we won’t be swayed by our clans.”
“You mean we should act like we have a special relationship to avoid the clan’s suspicion? Fine, I’m in favor.”
“Let’s continue to be good friends in the future too.”
There was no loss to either side.
We shook hands.
* * *
When Do Gyeonu, who had previously raided the Temple of Time, offered the Soul Compass instead of the Stake of Time.
So Hyeyul had already seen through his lie.
Nevertheless, the reason she didn’t press him and pretended to fall for it was because at the time, there hadn’t been a suitable way to respond rationally.
She had not only grasped that he didn’t have the Stake of Time, but she also knew that the Gate’s grade had been downgraded, making it impossible to obtain the Stake of Time again.
*Emotionally, I wanted to deal with Student Do Gyeonu right then and there, whether by threatening or killing him, but the fact that the Stake of Time no longer exists doesn’t change. Getting angry changes nothing.*
Do Gyeonu’s treatment could be decided at any time anyway.
What was important was the purpose for which he had handed over the Soul Compass instead of the Stake of Time.
So Hyeyul decided to pretend to be fooled by him in order to find that out first.
And so she requested an appraisal, learning the exact use of the Soul Compass.
*An artifact that finds the owner of a target… no, one that tracks even the souls of the dead….*
Despite the development of magic and science.
Even now, the truth about souls had not been clearly revealed.
It had only been definitively verified that souls exist.
And yet, the effect of the soul compass was nothing if not deeply meaningful.
“…”
If, perhaps.
If it could track the soul of a dead person.
Then perhaps she could confirm whether the soul of her younger brother, So Hye-seong, who had died long ago in the monster wave, was still wandering the world or not.
Whether, perhaps, he was by her side….
‘If I can just secure his soul, I might be able to communicate with him.’
Even knowing it was madness.
So Hye-yul could not deny her longing for her younger brother.
With the faintest shred of hope, she used the soul compass.
Reacting to the mana imbued in the keepsake, the needle of the soul compass spun round and round.
Before long.
‘It stopped.’
The needle of the soul compass came to a halt.
So Hye-yul moved blindly in the direction the needle indicated.
And that was how she found Kang Han-byeol.
“Student Han-byeol?”
“Ah, Chairwoman? Hello! It’s been a while. What brings you here?”
“…”
Looking at Kang Han-byeol, who greeted her so cheerfully.
So Hye-yul could not hide her bewilderment.
“…I wanted to look around the grounds. Where are you headed, Student Han-byeol?”
“Oh, I see. I’m off to train!”
“I see. You really are diligent, Student Han-byeol.”
Why was the needle of the soul compass pointing to Kang Han-byeol?
At first, So Hye-yul suspected it was broken.
“…”
But she could not simply write it off as a malfunction and ignore it.
She felt as though she must not.
So Hye-yul decided to use another keepsake to track her younger brother’s soul.
And every time, without fail….
‘No way…. That’s impossible.’
So Hye-yul encountered Kang Han-byeol.
In the end, it was only after the new school year began that she was able to accept the truth.
‘He was reincarnated, that child.’
Reincarnation was an unknown domain, mainly discussed among spirit masters.
Whether it truly existed had never been explained.
However, the soul compass, after dozens of experiments, was proving it.
Kang Han-byeol was her younger brother’s reincarnation.
“…”
Having focused solely on bringing her younger brother back to life, never once considering reincarnation, So Hye-yul felt as though she had been struck by lightning.
For a long time, she could not focus on work and went about in a daze.
‘So that’s why Student Han-byeol reminded me of him….’
The joy that her younger brother had been reborn, and the sorrow that the younger brother she knew no longer existed.
Caught between contradictory emotions, So Hye-yul could not find her bearings and felt restless.
At the same time, a question began to take root.
As time gradually passed and she sorted out her thoughts, she summoned Do Gyeon-woo and spoke without preamble.
“I trust you probably know very well why I called you here. I’ll ask you directly. Did you know from the beginning? How on earth? And despite knowing, you kept pretending not to know all this time? Student Do Gyeon-woo, you had better tell me honestly, without lying like last time. I have no intention of letting you gloss things over and fool me like you did then. What are you after?”
I Became the Childhood Friend of the Mid-Boss