Episode 25.
Seoyul felt her heart pounding and didn't know what to do.
'M-My lips…….'
Of course, she knew it was because of the guiding, but she still didn't know what to do with her heart racing out of control. The sensation against her lips was so vivid and hot that her face flushed red from imagination alone.
"Haa."
Nothing like that happened again afterwards, but it kept circling in her mind, leaving her heart in turmoil.
"Yul. Are you sad that Dowon isn't here?"
Hearing Seoyul's long sigh, Seonjeong approached and asked with a smile.
"Th-That's not it."
It was true that she felt empty because Dowon wasn't coming to the lab anymore. But the reason he no longer came was a good one. So it wasn't something to be sad about, but something to congratulate.
"Don't lie. You've grown close, so it's okay to feel that way."
"Is…… that okay?"
So it was okay.
Feeling slightly relieved, Seoyul smiled softly. Dowon had recovered considerably and returned to his original team. So it was a bit of a shame that she couldn't see him as often as before.
"You've had a hard time all this while. His levels have dropped quite a bit now, so he's in a stable range."
Seonjeong explained that unless he used too much ability in a hurry, there was no longer any risk of Dowon rampaging. Hearing the explanation to that point, she couldn't help but feel happy, and her mood brightened.
"That's a relief. I'll work even harder!"
"What are you planning to do by working harder here?"
Seonjeong laughed cheerfully and ruffled Seoyul's hair thoroughly. Her hair was a mess, but the gesture was full of affection, so she just giggled.
"Oh my. This cute little thing."
"Uwaaah……"
After being teased until her cheeks tingled, Seoyul was finally released. Regretting the feeling of her soft cheeks, Seonjeong opened her mouth.
"Yul. Have you thought about going to school?"
"Huh? School?"
Seoyul asked back in surprise. She wondered why those words came up so suddenly, then realized that twenty was the age when one usually attended school.
"Yeah. Now that the urgent fire has been put out."
"Ah……"
For some reason, her heart felt complicated. Seonjeong might have suggested it casually, but to her, school held quite a profound meaning.
Her mother had wanted to send Seoyul to university by any means necessary, and even when money was extorted by her father, she was someone who had desperately protected the tuition fees. So even when her stamina had dropped from forcing herself to make guiding drugs, Seoyul had studied like her life depended on it.
Because she thought…… perhaps she could fulfill her mother's wish.
But…….
'The wall of reality was high.'
Her tuition money had been discovered and snatched away by organization members. Because of that, university grew further and further away, and with the massive debt her father left behind, she had no choice but to give up.
'School. School, huh…….'
Seoyul wore a bitter smile without realizing it. Seeing that smile, Seonjeong quickly added an explanation.
"There's a specialized school for ability users sponsored by the Association. If you go there, mid-term transfers are possible immediately with Association authority, and it will help you, Yul."
He…… lp?
Seoyul tilted her head, then recalled a piece of information.
The specialized school for ability users was established for children who awakened from a young age. Not only did it have programs ranging from elementary school to university, but it was composed almost entirely of Guides and Espers.
She remembered that due to the nature of ability users not knowing when they would awaken, transfers were often made freely.
Of course, since it cost a bit more than regular schools, it was not something that applied to her.
And…….
"It's fine. I'm not really interested……."
Trailing off, Seoyul smiled faintly.
She didn't know what help it would be right now, but refusing was the correct answer. Her situation was not much different from back then.
What did school matter when she was living on subsidies with her body entrusted to the Center?
Besides, since university courses weren't mandatory, they required even more money. Even now, Seoyul relied heavily on Dowon in many ways. So she thought she couldn't become any more of a burden.
'Yes. This is right.'
Thinking she had refused rather well, Seoyul nodded. But Seonjeong seemed to think quite differently, opening her mouth with a gentle smile.
"For someone who says that, your grades were too good. How could someone not interested in university never once miss first place in all three years of high school?"
"Huh……? H-How did you……"
No, where had she heard such information?
Seoyul was startled, then immediately shook her head and corrected herself.
"That's not it…… That was only in my class. My overall ranking was……"
"It was quite a well-known school too. Would a kid with no plans for university study that hard?"
Back then, since that was the only thing she had to cling to, there had been no small amount of desperation in her efforts.
But…….
"I feel it's all such a waste. Think about it again, will you?"
Showing no intention of giving up, Seonjeong listed the benefits of attending school one after another.
"The first semester just ended, so the timing is perfect. Since kids who just awakened come in too, it's all basic classes at first. You've already learned at the Center, so you don't have to worry about keeping up. If you think you lack anything, you can take it in the second semester. And……"
Seoyul was flustered by the torrent of words. But the more she listened, the more she found herself being persuaded by Seonjeong's words.
Since this had been her only field of interest in the past, her heart was drawn to it even as she told herself she couldn't.
Among them, what piqued Seoyul's interest the most was the special preparatory course for the Korean Ability User Management Association's entrance exam, available starting from the second semester.
"The special course here is quite famous. The pass rate is quite high, so there are many kids who enroll just for this."
The Association's entrance exam.
Seoyul was temporarily registered because she currently had to guide Dowon. To be officially registered, she had to take the Association's entrance exam held once a year.
She had been thinking that it was about time to start preparing anyway, so she naturally began to get drawn into the conversation.
"The standard course is to prepare in your first year and start an internship at a guild or the Association from your second year. Above all, the biggest advantage is that the treatment you receive after graduation is much better."
Seonjeong spoke. She said theory was as important as practical experience. Especially for Guides, since they were rarely deployed to the field, professionally learning support was often more helpful than not.
"Between a Guide who only knows how to guide and a Guide who operates with various kinds of knowledge, which side do you think is better?"
Seonjeong smirked and drove in the final nail.
"Plus, the annual salary and promotions are much better on this side."
It was an obvious statement. Wasn't it natural that those with better abilities earned more and advanced faster?
But Seonjeong whispered like that to create a more dramatic effect. Because she thought that if she did this, the diligent and innocent Seoyul would come around.
And her prediction hit the mark exactly.
'Better…… did she say?'
Seoyul's eyes sparkled. Her head, which had suddenly felt so heavy, now felt completely clear.
Right. Borrowing Dowon's words from the past, she wondered if this wasn't an investment.
Though it might be a bit of a burden now, it was something that would let her earn much more in the future and quickly relieve the burden.
Moreover, Seonjeong added that the loan system was well-established, so she shouldn't worry. With even the money issue solved like that, her heart began to lean clearly to one side.
'Mother's wish…… Could I fulfill it?'
It was something she had given up on long ago. Yet now it was approaching reality once more.
Seoyul felt her heart gradually fluttering. Then Seonjeong asked once more with a smiling face.
"How about it? Want to give it a try?"
She wanted to go.
She wanted to challenge it.
One of her mother's wishes.
For a future where she could be even slightly more helpful to Dowon.
With a firm resolve, Seoyul clasped her hands tightly and answered.
"I. Want to go!"
Only then did it feel as if the time that had stopped was beginning to flow again.
* * *
With Seonjeong's help, the transfer preparations began to proceed smoothly. Related documents, information about the school, department selection, and even course registration.
Course registration was especially the hurdle; there was so much she wanted to learn that she agonized over the choices. It was clear it would have been difficult without help from beside her.
"Yul! This is a transfer celebration gift."
"Huh? A gift?"
She was already grateful for all the help she'd received, and now a gift too.
Seoyul took the pile of shopping bags in a daze.
"Ah, you really didn't have to……"
"I just wanted to give it to you. If it really bothers you, try them on now. Okay?"
"Huh?"
Try them on?
Wondering what on earth she meant, Seoyul looked inside the shopping bags. Inside were clothes and a bag.
"Oh. This is……"
"To wear to school. I chose them with my personal tastes in mind, so even if you don't like them, you absolutely have to wear them, alright?"
Seonjeong said with a mischievous smile.
'They'll definitely look good on her, won't they?'
Seonjeong recalled the cute-style clothes she had bought full of personal desire. Just imagining Seoyul walking around saying she would wear these to school was so adorable that a smile naturally escaped her.
With her good figure, they would surely suit her perfectly. They weren't that expensive either, so she thought this much wouldn't be burdensome. But she couldn't let her guard down.
Before she could refuse, Seonjeong quickly pushed her into the bathroom to try them on.
"U-Uh? D-Director!"
Having been pushed into the bathroom holding the shopping bags in her confusion, Seoyul stood there blankly, still feeling dazed.
'Really…… Is it okay to accept these?'
She thought about returning them even now, but the image of Seonjeong looking so genuinely happy made her hesitate.
"Haa……"
Resigned, she decided to add this to the list of things to repay later and carefully opened the shopping bag.