Chapter 4
At the playful voice, I slowly turned my gaze.
Seeing him up close, his appearance became even clearer in my eyes.
He was well over 180 centimeters tall. His soft brown eyes had a gentle shape, his bright brown hair was slightly curly, and the corners of his lips tilted upward.
Even when he seemed expressionless, he still gave off the impression of someone who naturally looked like they were smiling.
Without realizing it, I was staring at his face.
Noticing this, he glanced down at me and sent a teasing look my way.
“But you did well this morning. Why couldn’t you use your strength like that just now?”
“What does that have to do with you?”
“Ah, when you answer like that, it kind of hurts my feelings.”
He grabbed the front of his shirt near his heart and slightly furrowed his brows, as if trying to show he was wounded.
I didn’t reply.
Instead, I stepped past him.
Or rather, I was about to.
“If it were me, I think we’d work well together.”
He suddenly stepped in front of me and blocked my path.
I met his gaze with an indifferent expression.
Even though we had fought together earlier that morning, it hadn’t been long enough to say we “worked well together.” Calling it teamwork would be embarrassing.
So there was no way I would get along well with this man.
“Ah—.”
“Oh, this is exciting.”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s been a while since something like this happened. It almost feels like I’ve gone back to the old days.”
What is he even talking about?
I responded with a frown instead of words.
Then his expression suddenly became serious.
“I’m Baek Seon-woo. Twenty-five. What about you?”
Seriously… can’t he just let me go?
Most people around us had already moved on to the next location, but the two of us were still standing in front of the gymnasium.
[The Constellation “Guardian of Tae-won” slams the armrest of its chair with its fist, asking what that guy thinks he’s doing with its contractor.]
Well… it seems like he just wants to introduce himself.
Still, I didn’t know why I felt this strange sense of danger, like I shouldn’t get involved with him any further.
So I chose silence.
But simply ignoring him completely would be rude in a country known for its etiquette, so I at least gave him a small nod.
As I passed him, he let out a short laugh.
“Next time, make sure you tell me.”
Leaving that one sentence behind, he quickly walked past me with his long strides.
My feet seemed stuck to the ground as I watched his broad back grow farther away.
How should I put it…
It wasn’t that I disliked him exactly.
But something about him just felt… strange.
It left me with a very uncomfortable feeling.
* * *
Before I knew it, evening was approaching.
But the orientation still wasn’t over.
Following the directions, we moved to the academy’s central courtyard.
Several booths covered with white tents had been set up there.
With so many people gathered, it felt like a university festival.
Wow… I should probably take a taxi when I leave.
Physically I was fine.
Mentally it was another matter.
Just looking at the long lines made me feel like fainting for a moment.
While pretending to stare into the distance and stretching out a yawn, someone lightly tapped my shoulder from behind.
I turned my head slightly, but all I could see was the person’s shoulder.
So I turned my body halfway around to check.
“…Ah.”
Seriously, what is going on today?
“I got bored standing in line alone.”
So what?
The words almost slipped out, but instead I just glared at him and turned forward again.
Then a soft voice quietly reached one of my ears.
“It’s easier when you’re waiting with someone. So I waited.”
For a moment, I almost covered my ear in surprise.
[The Constellation “Guardian of Tae-won” says this is definitely a trick and that he clearly has intentions.]
[The Constellation “Guardian of Tae-won” also adds that judging by his way of speaking, he’s definitely not someone to underestimate.]
Honestly, it probably wasn’t a trick.
My ear just happened to be there.
Still, the moment I became aware that Baek Seon-woo was standing right behind me, the air felt uncomfortable.
Maybe it was just me.
But the fact that he had suddenly gone quiet made it even more suspicious.
Of course, that alone wasn’t enough reason to turn around.
Trying to ignore the strange tension, I waited as time quietly passed.
Eventually the line continued moving forward.
Then—
“By the way—”
“Ah!”
Damn, that startled me.
His low voice suddenly came from behind me, and my body jolted.
Completely caught off guard.
I finally turned around, covering my ear with my palm.
“Why do you keep doing that?”
“…I didn’t mean to scare you. Sorry.”
“No, that’s not it.”
Ha.
I barely swallowed a sigh.
Perhaps he hadn’t expected that reaction.
Baek Seon-woo’s expression froze for a moment.
Why do I suddenly feel guilty?
Was that the reaction he was aiming for?
“So what were you trying to say? It’s almost my turn.”
The line of close-range and long-range dealers had already grown shorter.
Across the courtyard, the support-class booths were nearly finished as well.
“Are you really not going to tell me your name?”
At that moment, I remembered what Baek Seon-woo had said earlier in front of the gym.
Next time, make sure you tell me.
[The Constellation “Guardian of Tae-won” complains that it warned you not to underestimate him and starts looking for something it can throw.]
Meanwhile, the people in front of me were disappearing one by one.
Once my turn came, Baek Seon-woo—who was right behind me—would naturally learn my information anyway.
So why was he so impatient?
I was just about to say exactly that.
“I want to hear it directly.”
“…”
“Can’t I?”
He spoke before I could.
At the same time, I met the eyes of the girl standing behind him.
She frowned at us as if telling us to stop already.
Well, even if we were speaking quietly, it must have been obvious.
In the end, I gestured to Baek Seon-woo.
His expression relaxed a little, and he leaned closer, bringing his ear near my lips.
I whispered as quietly as possible.
“Ju Ha-ryeong. Twenty-five. Is that enough?”
Baek Seon-woo let out a small exclamation and straightened up.
Then he nodded slightly.
“Next student!”
At the call, I stepped forward without hesitation.
“Ju Ha-ryeong. C-rank combat type, warrior class. Correct?”
“Yes.”
“Please sign next to your name here, and make sure to wear your name badge until dismissal.”
The woman inside the booth spoke quickly and handed me a small item.
Soon Baek Seon-woo took my place behind me.
I could faintly hear the same confirmation process happening for him.
At that moment, I felt several gazes land on the back of my head.
Don’t tell me I’m the only C-rank here.
The admission cutoff had been C-rank, though.
Since my father had told me nothing about the incoming students, I had to be careful.
I looked down at the badge in my hand.
C — Ju Ha-ryeong
The engraved letters on the silver background felt rough under my thumb.
Honestly, I wasn’t sure if what I was doing was the right choice.
Still thinking about it, I somehow found myself near the academy gate.
Just a few more steps and I’d be outside.
“Wait a moment—!”
Ha…
At this point, it almost felt like some elaborate strategy designed to torment me.
I stopped when I heard uneven breathing behind me.
Turning slightly, I saw Baek Seon-woo bent forward with his hands on his knees.
“How are you faster walking than I am running? I couldn’t catch you.”
His breathing sounded completely normal.
[The Constellation “Guardian of Tae-won” reluctantly gives a thumbs-up, saying the other awakened one might actually be the better actor.]
Guardian… Please don’t admit things like that so easily.
I crossed my arms and faced him fully.
A silent signal telling him to get to the point.
Baek Seon-woo suddenly extended his fist toward me.
Then he opened his clenched hand.
“I wanted to show you this.”
A small object lay on his palm.
“See you the day after tomorrow.”
With that simple farewell, Baek Seon-woo turned and left.
What kind of person is that?
In my twenty-five years of life, I had never met someone like him.
I stared at the empty space where he had been standing and shook my head.
Soon I left the academy as well.
As I glanced around, someone suddenly caught my attention.
A man dressed completely in black—from head to toe—was leaning against a wide wall beside the gate.
He must be waiting for someone.
Then our eyes met briefly.
He gave me a short nod first.
I nodded back and continued walking.
Ding!
[The Constellation “Guardian of Tae-won” seriously advises that no matter what happens, you must never fall head over heels for someone just because of their face.]
What are you talking about all of a sudden?
You’ve known me for years. I’d never do something like that.
While responding to the Guardian, I got into the taxi that had just arrived.
As the car started moving, the man still leaning against the wall slowly disappeared from view through the window.
It really felt like complete opposites.
The two men I had first encountered this morning—
standing in that exact same place.
