I Like You (3)

Ju Na-young trembled as if her dragon tail might burst out at any moment, overwhelmed by primal instincts.

Various thoughts overlapped in her mind.

The countless moments over the past few days when she couldn’t stop thinking about Yu Seha.

The recollection of calling Peng Jin-ah in tears due to the tilted balance.

Even the utterly shameful dream of wearing a collar and looking at Yu Seha.

Countless things merged and surged like a flood.

‘Yong-aah…!’

Clunk.

“…Yong-ah?”

However, all those desires were subdued with just one action.

Ju Na-young didn’t particularly do anything.

The one who acted was Yu Seha.

“Ju Na-young?”
“……”

Yu Seha, who was looking at her worriedly, placed his hand on her head a step faster.

Feeling the sensation flowing through her crown, Ju Na-young’s eyes widened.

‘How… is that possible?’

The <Dragon’s Greed> was too strong to be calmed by just a mere pat.

Her confusion and astonishment were soon replaced by realization as she caught the sweet scent emanating from his palm.

“Are you okay? You seemed troubled, so I infused some magic.”
“…Ah.”

Only then did she understand.
Was it an application of [Affinity]?

Thanks to it, she was finally able to rein in the inner <Crimson Dragon> that had been clawing at her restraint.

Ju Na-young glanced up.

She looked at Yu Seha, who was thinking, ‘Hmm, seems like you’re okay now.’

The impulse was gone, but her feelings had not faded.

‘Yeah.’

Ju Na-young clenched her fist.

She had to say it.

Right here, right now, with all the confidence she could muster.

‘I like you!’
I love you!
Let’s date!

Not just dating for a few months and ending it…

‘Let’s get married!’

Let’s get married as soon as we graduate from the Academy!

She will take responsibility for the future.

She promises he won’t suffer for a lifetime.

Just with her…

Someday…

No, definitely soon…

Just sincerely love their children who will be born…

Yes.

That’s what you say, Ju Na-young!

You can do it!

‘Because I’m a strong woman!’

“Y-Yu Seha!”
“Huh?”
“I-I…!!”

Thud.

However, Ju Na-young felt something blocking her, unable to utter the words that rose to her mouth.

A feeling close to fear…
Or rather, certainty washed over

‘…If I confess now…’

What would happen?

The answer was painfully clear.

He would be surprised, confused.
And then…

‘…Yu Seha tends to sort out his feelings quickly.’

He would respond soon enough.

He’d definitely say something like, ‘Thank you for liking someone like me…’

-Sorry. I don’t have such feelings yet.

…It would end like that.

Their relationship would end up awkward and strained.

‘…No.’

Ju Na-young clenched her fist.

Even after calculating, thinking, and judging in her head…

Even after thinking it through, weighing every possibility, the odds of success were slim to none.

If there were even a tiny chance, she would try to seize it, but…

‘…I must admit.’

For now…

Yu Seha didn’t see her as a woman.

Ju Na-young vaguely understood that from today’s date.

So…

‘Hold on for now.’

Ju Na-young slowly closed her eyes.

A completely different space unfolded, not the Ferris wheel from just a moment ago.

-Grrr…!

Right in front of her, a gigantic creature, at least 15 meters in size, was looking down.

A wingless, dinosaur-like red reptile.

Ju Na-young instinctively knew that this was the ‘dragon’ within, expanding its influence by recently unlocking [Breath].

Eyes burning with <Desire> pierced through Ju Na-young.

As if asking why she wasn’t pouncing on the prey right in front of her.

Yet, Ju Na-young struck the dragon’s snout as if telling it not to sulk.

-Grrr!!!

‘Don’t misunderstand.’

This was only for now.

‘Admit it.’

She accepted the truth.

She wouldn’t turn away anymore.

She wouldn’t deceive herself with hollow words.

‘I…’

***I like Yu Seha. ***
I love him.
I want to be with him.

She acknowledged and embraced her feelings.
But she had no intention of fighting a losing battle.

‘Therefore…’

Step by step, from now on.
She would steadily work her way into his heart.
It didn’t matter how long it took.

Even after graduating from the <Academy>, she would follow him and stay by his side.

‘Then…’

Someday, she would find her opening.
She would grow so significant in his life that he wouldn’t be able to live without her.

‘At that time…’

I’ll break him with all my strength.
***I’ll bite his neck. ***
Just wait until then.

‘Understood?’

-……

Ju Na-young’s mind cleared.

At that moment of resolve, she felt all the emotions and desires that had clouded her recently settle into place.

Accepting and acknowledging the desire.

Instead of being consumed, she controlled it.

Ju Na-young herself didn’t realize it, but…

This was…

The moment she succeeded in controlling the power of the <Crimson Dragon> instead of being swallowed by it for the first time.

Ju Na-young dismissed all the incoming information windows.

That wasn’t important right now.

She raised her head and smiled brightly at the worried Yu Seha.

“Ju Na-young?”
“Yonghehe…!”

Then, she moved closer and threw herself into his arms.

‘Just wrapping my arms around him isn’t enough.’

She would approach him even more assertively.
She would make him so dazed that he couldn’t escape.

Ju Na-young slid his arm into the two growing flame pouches on her chest, which were now slightly larger than before.

‘With this…’

Even someone as dense as him wouldn’t be able to ignore her anymore.

“…!”

Sure enough.

Yu Seha was momentarily flustered by the bold skinship.

He mumbled under his breath, then abruptly turned to look out the window.

There was a clear red tint on Yu Seha’s face.

Ju Na-young gave a bashful smile at the sight.

“…Hey, Yu Seha.”
“Huh, what?”
“Nickname.”
“Huh?”
“Give me a nickname too.”
“…Suddenly?”
“What’s sudden about it~ I’m the only one without a nickname? Moon Bora is Bora Bora, Ma Hana is Meowi. Then what about me?”

Yu Seha looked at her as if to say, ‘Are you a child to ask for such a thing?’

After a brief thought, he spat out a word.

A cheesy word.
But…
That made it all the more endearing.

“I love it!”
“…Are you sure that’s okay? I mean, it’s just a nickname—”
“Shhh! I love it, so it’s perfect!”

Ju Na-young rubbed her face against his arm, giggling, “Yonghehe.”

A naturally happy moment continued.

Now, Ju Na-young simply enjoyed Yu Seha’s scent, feeling happy.

However…

‘……’

The more it went on, the more Moon Bora’s face lingered in the corner of Ju Na-young’s mind.

Because she clearly understood her own emotions, she could objectively look at others.

Even if Ju Na-young was often called narrow-minded and foolish.

It didn’t mean she was oblivious.

A memory from a few days ago at a drinking gathering.
The words Moon Bora had answered back then.

-Not yet.

The meaning was clear.

‘…So Moon Bora too.’

No, correction.
She already knew.
She was just pretending not to know.

Because she didn’t want to break their friendship.
Because she didn’t want to compete with her.

But she couldn’t continue like that.

So Ju Na-young made one resolution.

Soon…

In the not-so-distant future.

To have a serious talk with Moon Bora.

‘About Yu Seha, that is.’

---

After the Ferris wheel, they left the amusement park.

The crunching leaves beneath their feet made a pleasant noise.

Ju Na-young stretched with a long yawn, while Yu Seha smiled at her.

The two shared a brief conversation, enjoying themselves after a long time.

But only for a moment.

Suddenly, a scream of ‘Meow!’ snapped their heads around like lightning.

“…Yu Seha, isn’t that Ma Hana’s voice?”
“…Yes. No doubt about it.”

Confusion clouded Yu Seha’s eyes.
Had Ma Hana been here?

They quickly headed in the direction of the sound.

And there, they really saw Ma Hana.

Wait, was that Senior Choi Mari with her?

“…Are they here for a visit?”

Just as they were about to ask what was going on.

Yu Seha realized there was another woman present.

Apparently, Ma Hana was spreading her arms to protect Choi Mari.

“…Choi Mari. You, you!”
“…D-Daram.”

Her hair was bleached pink.
Madness shone in her trembling pupils, revealing she wasn’t in her right mind.

The nun wearing the second-year badge symbolized her affiliation with <Sisterhood>.

It was Jing Daram, whom Yu Seha had decided to watch closely.

“Meow! Don’t come any clos—”
“Move aside!”
“Meow!”

Despite appearances, Jing Daram seemed strong, as she pushed Ma Hana away in an instant.

Yu Seha’s eyes darkened in anger, but Ju Na-young, who was beside him, held his hand and stopped him.

“Calm down. I’ll go check it out. Wait here.”
“……”

Ju Na-young ran towards the scene.

Meanwhile, Jing Daram was grabbing Choi Mari by the collar, shouting as if interrogating her.

“Wh-what on earth… d-did you do?”

Jing Daram’s mind was flooded with memories of the recent changes in how Choi Mari was treated.

Originally, the precarious <Grade Retention> was resolved immediately.

And her divine law, which was pathetically weak, suddenly became unbelievably strong.

Even the second-year classmates who consistently bullied Choi Mari stopped their harassment at some point.

No, on the contrary, it was clear they were trying to befriend her.

All of this was because Choi Mari fully unleashed her power with the help of Yu Seha and Ma Hana.

But to Jing Daram, such facts were of no importance.

She only cared about one thing.

Resentment towards Choi Mari.

Hatred for trying to leave her behind and rise above.

Finally…

“Y-you were… below me!!!”

It was an ugly struggle to not accept the rise of someone she deemed inferior.

Jing Daram raised her hand.
She attempted to slap Choi Mari’s cheek.

Grab.

“Stop here, senior.”
“…Wh-who are you now?!”

Ju Na-young quickly caught her wrist.

Then, she noticed Yu Seha deliberately walking slowly towards them.

Despite the expressionless face, the murderous intent glinting in his eyes…

It seemed like trouble was imminent.

‘No.’

Ju Na-young didn’t know much about this senior, but there was no doubt she was a second-year member of [Sisterhood].

If she was someone associated with the [Order], it was best not to provoke her.

“…Can’t you hear me?!”

Then Jing Daram lifted the mace from her waist.

Whoosh!

She swung it at a decent speed, but Ju Na-young dodged it effortlessly.

Now the situation was different.

“…This makes it clear. You attacked first, senior.”
“Shut up!”

Thud!!!

A lightning-fast strike.

The blow landed squarely on her face, sending Jing Daram’s body flying backward.

Blood flowed from her nose, possibly broken.

“J-Junior J-Ju Na-young!”
“Senior Mari. Step back.”
“Cough, cough!”

Jing Daram trembled as blood trickled down her nose, then flinched at the words she just heard.

“…J-Ju Na-young?”

Could it be the Ju Na-young of <Dragon Sword Mir>?

“…H-hiik…”

Maybe it was the realization that she stood no chance against such a formidable figure.

Jing Daram looked at Ju Na-young with a face full of fear, then awkwardly stood up.

She glared at Choi Mari once more before fleeing.

---

“…It’s my fault.”

A short while later.

Choi Mari, sitting on a bench, sighed and spoke quietly.

It was a story about Jing Daram.

Since I already knew the content, I listened silently without much thought.

‘A person with the same orphan background as Choi Mari.’

From childhood, their high [Divinity] value stood out and was taken in by the <Order>.

There, she and Choi Mari had risen as promising talents.

Later, their talent was recognized, and they entered the <Sisterhood>.

“She wasn’t like that from the start. She was kind, assertive, and a strong friend… but at some point, her mind began to change…”

Just like in the story.

Jing Daram was born a 2★ character.
As the term implied, her potential was limited.
According to the setting, she had a clever side and rose quickly when she was young.
But eventually, due to the limits of her talent, she faced criticism and was often ignored by others.

In that state, when Choi Mari, whom she considered beneath her, suddenly rose up, she crossed the line.

‘This isn’t good.’

The likelihood of Jing Daram’s descent into darkness starting sooner than I expected was high.

I did think about whether she could be redeemed midway.

‘It seems difficult.’

Her resentment and goals were focused more on Choi Mari’s destruction than her own preservation.

I quickly came to a conclusion.

On the way back.

I glanced at the peacefully sleeping Ju Na-young, Meowi, and Senior Mari, then dialed a number saved in my contacts.

The person on the other end was none other than Chairman Yu Neung-hae.

-Hello~ This is the always beautiful and elegant Yu Neung-hae speaking.

“Chairman, this is Yu Seha.”

Yu Neung-hae greeted me warmly, asking what was going on.

I subtly mentioned an old promise.

-Oh, of course, I remember. If there’s someone suspected to be a <Villain>, I’ll trust you… Oh, could it be?

“At the very least, I know one person who is highly likely.”

I slowly started to talk about Jing Daram.

---

About a week after the chaotic amusement park outing of the four people.

<Gonis Hunter Academy> 3rd floor classroom.

Currently, an unusual energy was swirling in this space.

Commonly referred to simply as the Research Lab, the 3rd floor of Building D.

Most cadets, and even seniors of the [Academy], considered it a mysterious place.

-I have no idea what they do there. Honestly, why does it even exist?
-Sometimes I hear strange noises, so it seems like someone’s there, but…
-I once stepped inside, and my shoes froze to the floor. I was so scared I ran away.

Lastly, there was a common opinion that everyone shared.

‘I don’t know the exact reason, but you can’t access the room in the center.’

This was due to the special formation that permeated the entire third floor.

If ‘barrier’ refers to a program that arranges magic and sets up formulas to cause phenomena desired by the spellcaster.

The formation law was a mystical power focused on distorting the laws of ‘space’ itself, making it less versatile but more powerful.

Formation law was especially valued because there were hardly any proper users.

The reason only a few individuals could access the third floor of Building D was also due to this.

It was because the one who set up the formation could distinguish between those who could enter and those who could not.

So who was the one who set it up?

It was none other than the woman currently answering calmly.

“More precisely…”

A low murmur.

It was an unremarkable remark, yet sharper and colder than anything.

Her name was Cheon Mira.

By position, she was a professor at the <Academy>.
She was in charge of a rather difficult subject, [Understandings of Yin and Yang].

Of course, it was only the subject that existed.

Not everyone could attend the class, so most cadets were unaware of its existence.

Moreover, most remembered her not by the name Cheon Mira, but rather… by the nickname [Lady Snow Ice].

Like Peng Jin-ah, she was a hunter who had reached the pinnacle of Grade A.
According to rumors, she had been active for over 80 years, essentially a living fossil.

Respected by all [Frozen Domain] hunters, she defied the passage of time, still maintaining a youthful and beautiful appearance.

She looked as if she had attained eternal youth.

And beyond Cheon Mira’s gaze, another woman was gasping for breath, stretching out both hands.

It was Moon Bora.

“Huff, huff… Yes!”

Moon Bora was drenched in sweat, letting out groans of pain.

Currently, Moon Bora was not wearing her usual dress but was draped in a white kimono similar to Cheon Mira’s.

A piece of fabric that seemed light and airy at first glance.

However, once it was wrapped around her body, the weight felt like wearing reinforced steel.

Additionally, a coldness that made her whole body shiver descended upon her.

Even with this alone, it was overwhelming, and on top of that, the <Frozen> magic that made her feel extreme cold was cast…

Naturally, Moon Bora’s hands and feet turned pale, devoid of any color.

Despite such a harsh appearance, Cheon Mira only showed a cold and ruthless side.

In Cheon Mira’s mind, the calculations had long been completed.

Even if it was painful and hard…

‘If it’s this child…’

She had the capacity to achieve it.

Cheon Mira casually continued with her next words.

“Focus. You need to gather more strength. That much is not enough.”
“…Yes!”

Kugugu!

The power of an alien coldness flowed through her grip.

A blue passion swirled in Moon Bora’s eyes.

Moon Bora slowly closed her eyes.

For a moment, she thought back to the day she had first come to this place just a few days ago.