Chapter 154 : Chapter 154

Chapter 154: Complicated Ties (1)

"So, ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Ha-ryeong, have you only been studying privately within your family until now?"

"...Yes. ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍My family said that would be better."

"I-na, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was your hair always red?"

"No! ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍It was originally a bit lighter, but I dyed it. It is the signature hair color of the Hong Family, but that deep red does not come out unless you are as strong as Big Sister Sera."

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was break time after a class had finished.

As ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍if they could not help but be curious about the transfer students, the cadets were gathered in small groups, chatting with the two girls.

Of course, I was not one of them.

'...Honestly, how could I join that?'

If it had been only Hong I-na, I might have joined in.

No matter the circumstances, making an acquaintance and building a connection with a prestigious family was something that would act as a benefit.

But the problem was that the presence of Baek Ha-ryeong was not exactly welcome to me.

'Well, she might be a girl who has absolutely nothing to do with it, but...'

Though I had spoken as if the entire Baek Family were trash until now, that was not necessarily the case.

No matter how much they were bound together as a family, every person was an individual, and differences in thought were bound to exist.

Even if they did not show it openly, not everyone in the family agreed with the customs of the Baek Family.

'Especially those in the branch families.'

The Baek Family was a place that distinguished between the direct lineage and branch families more than any other family.

Therefore, almost no one in the Baek Family likely even knew of Han Seora's existence.

If anyone did know, it would be the elders who decided the major and minor affairs of the family.

However.

'The situation is what it is.'

Even if that girl had no connection to it, what I had to do would not change.

In the end, I would have to flip the Baek Family upside down alongside Baek Ha-seong, and that would act as a great blow to the family.

It meant that we were in a relationship where we could never look at each other and smile.

It was then, as I sat in my seat and continued my various contemplations.

"Yu-seong, are you not interested in the transfer students?"

Did I look pitiful sitting all alone unlike the other kids?

Kim Su-hyeok approached me and spoke softly.

"...It is not that, my stomach just feels a bit upset."

"Your stomach? There was nothing strange among the things we ate for lunch."

That was because my stomach was not upset because of the food.

The situation itself was just making me feel bloated.

Well, I could not exactly say that out loud.

"I am fine, so you can go ahead."

"No. I will stay here too. Two is better than one."

"There is no need for that. You like making friends."

"Hmm? Haha, that is true, but I cannot neglect what I already have just because I am focused on something new."

What is with that cringeworthy line?

...But perhaps because it came out of Kim Su-hyeok's mouth, it did not feel cringy; instead, it felt strangely cool.

If I had said that, I probably would have been insulted.

Still, as Kim Su-hyeok said, being with someone was better than being alone. Just as I nodded, another figure approached us.

"What are you two chatting about?"

It was a voice that seemed to contain arrogance even though it was just a question.

Naturally, the owner of that voice was Ryu Jin-oh.

"I was staying here with Yu-seong because his stomach is upset."

"One would think you are his nanny."

"Haha, Yu-seong makes me anxious if I leave him alone."

I make you anxious if you leave me alone? Su-hyeok, I am not exactly fragile, you know?

'Well, I suppose it is an unavoidable reaction.'

It was not strange that he had been paying a lot of attention to me since that incident at the abandoned cathedral.

In reality, if Ha Eun-ha had not been there, I would have been as good as dead.

But that aside...

"Why are you sitting here too?"

"Do you have a complaint about me sitting here?"

"No, you could just join the group over there instead of here."

"Hmph, I am not so pathetic that I have to beg others for attention."

Then why is a guy like you sitting here?

The problem was that this was not the end.

"What are you all doing gathered here?"

"Oh, it is Jin-eon. We were just staying with Yu-seong because his stomach is upset."

"One must always take good care of one's body. I shall teach you my personal secret method."

That was Oh Jin-eon, who had returned from the restroom.

"What are you all doing here?"

"Yu-seong's stomach is upset..."

"His stomach is upset? What is bothering a man who smirked even after being stabbed by a blade?"

That was Ju Ha-yeon, who was slightly sarcastic, as if she still held a grudge about what happened back then.

"Hmm, are you guys talking about something fun?"

"It is not that, Yu-seong is..."

"T-Then should I take a look? I am at full capacity when it comes to healing!"

Even Ha Eun-ha, whose eyelids were drooping as if she had just woken up from a nap, approached me.

And.

"What are you guys doing huddled together?"

"Well..."

"Is that so? I am bored too, so I will stay for a bit before class starts."

Even Do Gang-ho, who had come to our class as if he still had no friends, joined in.

...Su-hyeok, I am afraid that a rumor about my upset stomach will spread through the entire school at this rate.

However, there was something else that was truly frightening.

'Why do they keep looking over here...?'

At some point, Hong I-na and Baek Ha-ryeong began to send intense gazes toward this direction.

Dammit, I feel like the world is dying to torment me.

***

After all the classes were finished and the afternoon assembly was over.

I visited the faculty office for a moment regarding club business, so I prepared to head home later than the other students.

According to Im Seong-cheol, Jeong Jin-myeong was going to treat the camping trip from back then as an achievement for the club or something like that.

I did not know why he specifically paid attention to such a trivial matter, but it was a welcome gesture for now.

'But why did he call for me?'

The president of the club is Kim Su-hyeok.

I am telling you, the world is definitely trying to kill me via overwork.

It was right then, as I was leaving the main building with that thought.

"Wait a minute!"

Someone called out urgently.

When I turned my head, Hong I-na was running toward me.

Arriving in front of me in an instant, she caught her breath for a moment before speaking.

"Hi. I am Hong I-na."

"I know that."

"I know you know. I said it so that you would know it once more."

...What is this? Is she a new kind of crazy person?

"Anyway, you are Choi Yu-seong, right?"

"Hmm, no."

"No?"

"Yeah. You have the wrong person."

Of course, I was indeed Choi Yu-seong.

I was just trying to avoid the current situation because she seemed a bit mentally unstable and I did not feel like talking to her.

Unfortunately, although the opponent was a bit strange, she was not a complete fool.

"Liar. I heard the other kids saying your name earlier."

"If you knew, why did you ask?"

"That is because I... no, what is with that reaction when you were the one who lied in the first place!"

Hong I-na grumbled like that and muttered to herself.

"It is just as Big Sister said. She said you are not someone to be taken lightly."

"What?"

"I heard you are the disciple of Player Shin Yu-hwan?"

I am not, though?

However, Hong I-na continued to speak as if the truth did not matter.

"Big Sister told me. She said it does not matter if I lose to anyone else, but I must never lose to the disciple of Player Shin Yu-hwan."

"......"

"So I came to check who the opponent was, and as expected, there is a sly side to you."

What on earth does she keep talking about?

Is this what people call shadow boxing?

'Wait, Hong Sera said that?'

I thought she was okay since she treated me kindly last time, but I guess that was not the case.

'But then again, looking at their personalities, it would be strange if they got along.'

Hong Sera's personality was several times tougher than this girl's.

And there was no way that... intuitive personality of Shin Yu-hwan, who did not mince words, would get along with her.

Still, I wondered if they were on too bad of terms, but I decided to just let it be.

'That aside, how should I deal with her?'

Setting aside the bad relationship between Shin Yu-hwan and Hong Sera, the current obstacle was the problem.

Seeing as she said Hong Sera was her cousin, she must have some standing within the family.

Since I had no desire to become an enemy of the Hong Family, she was quite a tricky opponent.

'I cannot treat her too poorly, but it would be a bit much to act submissively.'

However, a moment later, I realized that my worries were quite useless.

"Ahem! Well, now that I have confirmed your face, I will be going."

"Huh?"

"Our meeting was just so I could see who you were in the first place. Well then, let's do our best from now on!"

As if that really was her only business, Hong I-na left after those words.

Left standing all alone in front of the main building, I was actually at a loss for words.

"Sigh..."

How is it that these kinds of people keep sticking to me?

There should be a reasonable middle ground, but strangely, it seemed like only people leaning toward one extreme gathered around me.

Is there not an old saying by the sages that like attracts like?

It seemed that even the ancient sages occasionally made slips of the tongue.

"I am not that kind of strange person."

I am perfectly normal.

Yes, indeed.

"Anyway, I hope there is nothing more."

Well, how often would I get caught and have to listen to strange things while returning to the dormitory?

Thinking that getting caught up by strange people was over with this, I started walking toward the dormitory once again.

***

...Or so I thought just ten minutes ago.

Unfortunately, it was not the end.

"Hello. You are Cadet Choi Yu-seong, right?"

It was a question that felt like deja vu.

However, more than that, I could not help but pay attention to the identity of the woman in front of me.

"Baek Ha-ryeong?"

"You remembered me."

"No, it has not even been a day since I heard your name, so wouldn't it be strange if I forgot?"

"That is true."

Compared to earlier, it was a perfectly normal conversation.

But what did it matter if the conversation was normal?

'The person I am talking to is not.'

Of course, I do not mean the person herself is strange like Hong I-na.

This was my first time talking to her, and she was someone I had never really observed before.

She was just an incredibly uncomfortable person, as I had thought in the classroom earlier.

It was right then, as I was silently staring at Baek Ha-ryeong.

"First of all, I wanted to say that I am sorry."

"Sorry?"

"Yes. I am talking about what happened during Glory's midterm exam. I heard that Cadet Choi Yu-seong knows who the opponent you met back then was."

"Ah."

So that was it.

Hearing her words, I could roughly guess why she had come to Glory.

'Is it because they might be able to catch a trace of Baek Ha-seong if they are lucky?'

Naturally, that was an arrogant thought.

There was no way a person of Baek Ha-seong's skill would have left a trace for them to follow.

However, since there was no reason to tell her that, nor did I have any desire to, I decided to give a vague answer.

"Forget it. It is already in the past, and he is someone who is no longer connected to the Baek Family anyway."

"...Still, the fact that he is from the Baek Family is a reality."

"I said forget it. It does not matter to me, so if you are going to apologize, do it to the other kids."

"Ah..."

Oops, I intended to give a vague answer, but a sharp voice came out without me realizing it.

But what could I do?

'I do not exactly feel favorable toward her.'

I knew that not everyone in the Baek Family agreed with what happened to Han Seora.

And I did not know if this girl in front of me was involved in that matter or not.

But regardless of that, it just was not very pleasant that she was a member of the Baek Family.

It was an unavoidable phenomenon to view a person according to the character of the group they belonged to.

After a moment of quiet and cold atmosphere, it was Baek Ha-ryeong who spoke up again.

"I am sorry. I have made you uncomfortable for no reason."

"...I was not particularly uncomfortable, and if that is all you had to say, I will be going."

"In that case... could I ask you just one thing before you go?"

All of a sudden?

But if this could end the conversation.

"What are you curious about?"

"I heard that you fought him alone."

"That is true. So?"

"I want to ask what kind of person he was in Cadet Choi Yu-seong's experience."

"...What?"

I was deeply taken aback.

I had accepted a single question because I thought it would end the conversation, but I never expected a question like that.

'Anyway, she is curious about what kind of person he was.'

Normally, people do not ask such a question.

After all, Baek Ha-seong was a villain, and it was the Baek Family that had made him one.

Therefore, I felt a bit of curiosity.

"Why are you curious about that?"

"Um... is that a necessary question?"

"Of course, because your question is strange. You are a member of the Baek Family, so why would you ask such a thing in the first place?"

"......"

Baek Ha-ryeong, who had been pondering my question for a moment, finally spoke quietly.

"Could you... promise not to tell anyone else?"

"Not to tell them why you are asking that?"

"Yes. It is not a reason I want to go around telling everyone."

That was no problem.

I did not have a habit of spreading other people's secrets around.

"Alright. But I would appreciate it if you stopped speaking so formally. It is a bit uncomfortable."

I did not really mind Ju Ha-yeon because I already knew she was that kind of character, but hearing formal speech from a classmate was not great.

At my words, Baek Ha-ryeong hesitated for a moment but nodded.

"Is that okay...?"

"Is it not stranger to use formal speech in the first place?"

"I understand. Then we have a promise, right? And if I tell you the reason, you will answer my question?"

"Yeah. I got it, so just tell me quickly."

Just what on earth is she going to say that she is hesitating this much?

I already have a mountain of work to do and people to meet.

So, I waited for Baek Ha-ryeong to speak. After taking a deep breath as if she had finished preparing herself, she finally spoke.

"Actually, it is because it is the first news I have heard of my older brother in ten years, so I really wanted to know. Of course, it is a secret from the family."

"I see. Your older... Wait a second, what did you say?"

What? Did I hear that correctly?

But as if to confirm that my ears were not mistaken, Baek Ha-ryeong delivered the final confirmation shot.

"Baek Ha-seong is my biological older brother."

It was a shocking fact that I had not anticipated even in the slightest.