Whirling Affection

“…Professor?”
“……”

Yu Seha’s voice reached Peng Jin-ah’s ears.

She could tell that he was surprised.

It resonated deeply within her heart.
Very deep, in every corner.

“……”

If it were the usual Peng Jin-ah, she would have quickly pulled away out of embarrassment and shyness.

She would have cleared her throat and asked a formal question like, ‘Are you okay?’

Squeeze.

However, Peng Jin-ah held Yu Seha even tighter instead.

Thump, thump.

Warm yet manly…
She could feel his heart beating in his sturdy chest trained through rigorous training.

‘Haa…’

Peng Jin-ah let out an excited breath.

In an instant, beyond her sight, she saw the heirloom her mother had passed down.
<Celestial Cloud> was there.

The treasured sword she had cherished for so long was stuck pathetically in the ground.

‘Did I let go of it…?’

It was a precious item she should have picked up immediately.

But Peng Jin-ah didn’t care.

Right now, more than that piece of metal, more than the heirloom…
Her beloved disciple, her prized student, Yu Seha, was more precious.

Drip.

Tears fell from Peng Jin-ah’s eyes unconsciously.

She didn’t know how worried she had been coming this far.

Suddenly, a massive surge of demonic energy resonated.

For a moment, she thought the large-scale <Demon> subjugation operation led by the <Dragon Sword Mir> clan master, Ju Ye-yong, from decades ago had resurfaced.

Back then, the <Demons> fought desperately without regard for means or methods.

This also led to the appearance of <Demonic Beasts>.

As she cut down the simultaneously appearing demonic beasts, Peng Jin-ah sought only Yu Seha.

And the moment she realized he was in the most dangerous center.

It felt like the sky was falling.

‘He was so powerful.’

She knew Yu Seha was strong, but he was still an unblooming flower.

Even if his talent could bloom stronger through great adversity, to Peng Jin-ah, he still seemed like a delicate flower.

In comparison, the <Demonic Energy>, which was clearly the center and source of this event, was overwhelmingly powerful.

‘It was as if the Demon King had descended.’

This was due to the resonance reaction of the fake <Soul Stone> embedded in Jing Daram’s body.

The amplification of magic caused by the unprecedented reaction of the <Fusion-Type Demon> was the reason, but Peng Jin-ah had no way of knowing these facts.

“Thank goodness, thank goodness.”
“…Professor…”

Peng Jin-ah’s shoulders trembled slightly.

Memories of her childhood spontaneously came to mind.

She remembered how helpless and powerless she felt at her mother’s death.

She was scared.
Scared that Yuseha might be severely injured. Scared that he might have died in the worst case. The fear was overwhelming.
She was worried she might lose him again this time.

‘Just barely…’

He was a precious find.
She couldn’t lose him again.
She couldn’t stand by and let him slip away right in front of her eyes again.

Peng Jin-ah, crying like a child, clung to and embraced Yu Seha’s body.

She didn’t know it, but the existence of Yu Seha had already…

Long surpassed the concept of simply being a disciple who would represent and elevate her dream.

To her, Yu Seha was…

A precious person that could not be defined.

Undoubtedly, a feeling she herself wasn’t even aware of.

Undoubtedly, it was proof of a deeply rooted emotion called ‘affection,’ tinged with pink yet carrying the sticky darkness of black.

“……”

Meanwhile, Yu Seha bowed his head in apology.

Although he didn’t know the full details, he could tell how worried she was.

He placed a hand on Peng Jin-ah’s head and patted her back.

‘Surprising.’

He thought it was surprising.

Really surprisingly, Peng Jin-ah’s shoulders were narrow.

No, it just felt smaller than expected.

Certainly, she was tall for a woman.

Then why did she feel so fragile?

Yu Seha slowly apologized.

“I’m sorry for making you worry.”
“If you understand, that’s enough… Don’t act recklessly alone again…”
“…Okay.”

“Oh my.”
“Meep! Crunch, crunch!”
“Oh my~”
“Meep! Crunch, crunch!”

Divine Light Garam and Choi Mari watched this scene with interest.

Their eyes sparkled as if they held stars.

They had the talent of causing trouble under the guise of <Malicious Marriage>.

A scene like this couldn’t help but make a girl’s heart flutter.

“Meep, meep! Senior, would you like some?”
“…Just this once, I’ll eat with you.”

Crunch crunch.

Right beside the two watching with interest.

“……”

Moon Bora looked at Peng Jin-ah, who was shedding tears, with a slightly complicated expression.

As if she couldn’t help it, a bitter smile played on her lips.

She raised a hand to her forehead and sighed deeply.

Yes, she knew.

There was a feeling of ‘maybe?’

“Indeed…”

She too…

In this situation where everyone was showing interesting reactions.

The most striking one was the red-haired woman who came to her senses belatedly.

“Yong-ah?”

Ju Na-young, who barely succeeded in escaping <Demonic Energy Intoxication>.

Her green pupils shook as if in disbelief.

“…Yong-ah?”

A small “Is it a lie?” slipped out.

“Even Peng Jin-ah unnie…”

Yu Seha?

“…Really?“

About a week had passed.

I had been immediately transferred to the hospital, and thanks to the full support of <Sisterhood>, I was able to recover quickly from my injuries.

‘Of course, I still had to be hospitalized just in case…’

The day after being admitted, Chairman Yu Neung-hae, who was drenched in sweat, visited me.

“Seha!”

As soon as Yu Neung-hae saw me, she grabbed my face with both hands.

Wow… even on a second look, she was close to 40 with not a wrinkle, still a beauty…

“The greatness of cosmetic magic and splurging…”

“…Seha? What did you just say?”
“Nothing.”
“It doesn’t seem like nothing, though?”
“Nothing.”

Additionally, Peng Jin-ah, who was watching this, pouted her lips.

She grabbed Yu Neung-hae’s shoulders and pulled her back.

“…Too close, Chairman.”

“Ah…? Peng Jin-ah~ Even if he’s your precious disciple, a jealous master is quite unsightly. A woman should not be clingy–”

“Can I quit being a professor then?”

“Waaah! Sorry! I was wrong! If you leave, our <Academy> is doomed!”

Anyway, they completed the transport of the injured, including me.

Following that, the <Order> and the <Association>, startled by Jing Daram’s massive accident, sent all kinds of people.

‘The <Order> was particularly significant.’

The <Order>, being the most powerful group, is full of arrogant folks.

They are so sluggish that they don’t move unless necessary, but…

It wasn’t just anywhere, but the <Sisterhood>.

And since the main culprit was a second-year from <Sisterhood>, they rushed over.

‘This will ensure that the <Order> can’t avoid criticism.’

I heard that other forces had already seized the opportunity to aggressively attack the <Order>.

Well, what happens to those high up isn’t really my concern.

‘…That’s not what’s important.’

What’s important is Jing Daram…

Something astonishing had happened to her.

The fact that she was actually separated.

It was just before I was transferred to the hospital.

Divine Light Garam shook her head while looking at the remaining head of Jing Daram.

“…It’s impossible to return to the original state now.”

I agreed as well.

Jing Daram was a crazy woman who embedded a very dangerous item called <Soul Stone> into her chest, making herself both a sacrifice and a vessel for descent.

She sacrificed most of her lifespan and even increased her synchronization rate.

Lastly, she even used a forbidden doping created by Moon Ha-yeon, known as [Vile Blood], which was unknown to the public.

‘It’s normal that she can’t return to her original state.’

However…

Amazingly, as soon as Divine Light Garam uttered those words, she was separated.

As if taking off a doll costume, with a crack, Jing Daram’s body sprang out from the split interior.

“…Senior, she’s separating?”
“Wh-whaat?! Whaaaaat?! Th-this can’t be h-happening?”

Jing Daram’s condition was not good, even as a figure of speech.

Her eyes had grown so large they occupied half her face.

All her limbs were gone.

The sisters were in shock at the suddenly separated appearance of Jing Daram.

Despite this, I examined Jing Daram’s body more closely.

‘…It’s strange.’

It was peculiar.
Not anything else…

When the ice Moon Bora had placed melted completely, the fact that she was separated was peculiar.

‘…Could it be?’

I glanced at Moon Bora.

Judging by her surprised look, she seemed completely unaware, but…

I was somewhat convinced.

‘The separation of Jing Daram was…’

It must be Moon Bora’s ability.

Because I played ‘GAL,’ I could tell…

The power Moon Bora would ultimately obtain.
The power completely opposite to that of her sister, Moon Ha-yeon.

‘It is already showing signs…’

And the fact that she had obtained the <Ultimate Skill>…

Moon Bora’s growth was progressing faster than I had expected.

I wanted to tell her right away, but…

‘That wouldn’t be right.’

She hadn’t yet come to terms with herself.

Although I knew everything about her, and she knew that…

Me speaking out of turn and her asking me to speak were completely different matters.

I had no intention of forcing her into something.

Therefore, I kept quiet for now.

‘If Moon Bora comes to me prepared later…’

If she asks about the past and seeks advice…

I intended to reveal everything then.

The conversation ceased for a moment.

The separated Jing Daram was immediately taken into custody by the <Association>’s inspectors.

She would be imprisoned forever in the <Awakeners>’ prison, they said.

A criminal who had committed massive terror and murder.

Furthermore, she had become a <Demon> by joining hands with a <Criminal Clan>, so the weight of her crimes was immeasurable.

However, despite the strict confinement, she would soon be released.

The reason was simple.

‘She’s going to die soon.’

She was already brain dead.

Additionally, her life expectancy was less than two years…

As proof, Jing Daram aged rapidly while being transported, later becoming unrecognizable.

“Meeep.”

Choi Mari watched Jing Daram being taken away with a troubled expression.

A hint of sadness lingered on her face, however slight.

Even though Jing Daram had tried to kill her, to Choi Mari, Jing Daram had been a childhood friend from the orphanage where they grew up together.

She was family from the same orphanage.

She could understand.
Of course, she felt no sympathy.
It was her own doing.

The separated shell of the <Chimera Griffin> was said to be transferred to the <Order> for purification and then thorough investigation.

‘The person who replaced Jing Daram’s role…’

It was nothing special.
Just an ordinary second-year female student who had been mind-controlled.
Clearly a victim, she had been moved to the <Association> for a detailed investigation just in case.

Thus, all the incidents were resolved.

After spending five days in the hospital, I was discharged.

―Meow~ Seha. Come on, say ah~.
―Yong-aah~ Yu Seha! Come on, say ah~!
―…Wh-what are you looking at? With the two of them not here, I’m the one feeding you. Come on, say ah~.
―…Guys. My arms are fine, okay? Please, when hospital food comes, don’t try to take it away and feed me, just let me eat it myself.

Hmm…

There were some subtle happenings during that time, but they weren’t important, so I’ll skip over them.

‘Oh, right.’

Before being discharged, I went to apologize to the senior with black hair lying in another hospital room.

A second-year senior named Yu Bok-hee.

She looked at me and started to tear up instead.

-I’m sorry… I was too scared.
I’m a <Templar>…
I’m supposed to protect others…
I can’t face the juniors now.

“……”

Seeing her cry, I realized once again how cruelly I had acted without remorse.

And although it was late…
I understood why my father had that expression.

‘Surely, he was worried.’

Perhaps he knew that such a disaster would happen someday.

This was also true for Professor Strict who visited me.

She told me how hard I had really worked. And… Without much rambling, she left me with a few words.

“Cadet Yu Seha… you are an excellent person. At the same time, a strong one. But…”

Others are not as great as you.

“They are…”

Not strong enough to suppress their emotions and act.

“Please, consider the hearts of ordinary people who suffer from fear and pain in front of them.”

Understand them.

“For their sake too…”

And for the future you will share with them.

I regretted.

If only I had talked with Professor Strict sooner, maybe things would have ended better.

Various thoughts, close to feelings of inferiority.

I overcame all these by figuratively slapping my own cheek.

Regretting the past serves no purpose.

And in the future…

‘I won’t make mistakes.’

I opened my eyes that I had closed.

I pulled a chair in the dormitory to me and slowly sat down.

It had certainly been a difficult trial.

Jing Daram, an unexpectedly formidable opponent.

A trial of regret where I recognized my own mistakes.

But as always.

The growth and reward after overcoming the trials were valuable.

I had just brought a hot item and placed it on the table.

My mouth watered involuntarily.

It was a small iron, music box-like container.

When I opened it, a purplish, chunky cube lay inside.

Wriggle!

Oh, it reacted immediately.

As soon as I saw the cube, the [Slasla] on my hand began to squirm.

This violet cube.

Its true identity was…

An artifact cash item that evolves pets.