Episode 90: Catching a Thief (3)
A cold atmosphere swept through the class, which only had two people, Saki Ryozo and Sanhana.
“Tell me, senior. Why is your name on the faculty list?”
“… … .”
Sanhana only tilted her head slightly in response to Saki’s questioning, which was very sharp. She responded calmly, as if she had no idea what he was saying. Saki twisted her lips.
‘It was weird from the start.’
Saki Ryozo recalled his first impression of Sanhana. She was a second-year student with an ordinary appearance and atmosphere, without any special features. She seemed like she would be forgotten as soon as she turned around, like a textbook.
His personality was not bad, and his words were not frivolous. Furthermore, no matter what was said, Sanhana never added her own opinion.
Saki felt uncomfortable with the mediocrity that crossed the line. Saki’s intuition does not easily miss even the smallest things.
Once a mark is engraved in the heart, it must be observed and analyzed endlessly to be calmed down. It was an unconscious expression and remnant of surviving in the cold and harsh world of the palace.
Saki opened her eyes wide and stared at the mountain. It had a hazy appearance, as if it were buried in fog. Now that I look at it, I think it was really disgusting.
Sanhana just stared at Saki with her glasses gleaming, still keeping her mouth shut. Saki let out a dry laugh at her shameless attitude and asked.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
As she spoke, Saki tapped a piece of paper with her fingernail. Sanha moved her gaze to Saki’s fingertips. The three letters written exactly on the faculty list.
⌜Mountain One⌟
The dark, sooty glow of the setting sun spread across the classroom walls.
“No, do you just not want to talk?”
“… … .”
“San. Ha. Na. Senior. No, should I call you by your title on paper?”
Saki, who pronounces Sanhana’s name in single syllables, opened her mouth again.
“Professor Sanhana.”
“Phew.”
A dry laugh flowed out between Sanhana’s lips. Saki took a few steps back at the taunt that sent a chill down her spine. Blue hostility ignited in Saki’s eyes.
“…What are you?”
The atmosphere was tense and tense. Sanhana, who had been smiling for a while, finally opened her mouth.
“Um, Saki. I know you were tired from the meeting earlier, but aren’t you just too nervous?”
“…what?”
“Still, that’s true. I think it’s not like you to mistake people with the same name.”
As she spoke, Sanhana looked at the documents that Saki had pointed to. There was a faint smile on her lips. Saki quickly looked through the documents with a look of confusion on her face.
Saki’s pupils shook violently. The name written on the documents was definitely Sanhana. However.
‘…different.’
The person’s whereabouts and movements, written in small letters in the corner of the document, are clearly different from Sanhana’s.
Moreover, it was clearly written that Professor Dongmyeong was away on a business trip during the festival period.
‘…I missed this?’
However, the words were too small to justify self-reproach, like the terms and conditions for membership. Rather, it was enough to make Sanhana realize it after glancing at it once.
‘Could it be information manipulation?’
Since the faculty and staff’s activities and information are automatically entered into the network through the academy’s subspace system, it is nearly impossible for outside interference to occur.
Even Saki herself can only view information and cannot directly influence the system. Access to the subspace system is the exclusive right of the academy director.
Then, could Media, the current principal of the academy, be involved? I calculated the possibility, but it was extremely unlikely. Saki sweated and gathered her thoughts.
‘That’s ridiculous… … ‘
I prided myself on being meticulous to the point of being meticulous, but I missed such a small detail. It was a misjudgment that I can’t believe no matter how many times I look back on it.
Saki couldn’t hide her confusion. Then, Sanhana, who had been staring at her, spoke softly.
“It’s okay. Even you make mistakes sometimes. You’re not a machine, are you?”
Sanhana’s tone was gentle, as if she was comforting a child. Saki looked straight ahead, biting her trembling lips in embarrassment.
Sanhana’s lips held an endlessly kind smile. They were only a year apart, but her smile gave off a sense of age. I felt the wariness that had been heightened until just before dissipate.
“Saki, I don’t know about your home country of Japan, but at least in Korea, there are a lot of people with the same name. It’s three letters long, right?”
“… Ah, yes. No, yeah.”
“It’s probably because I’m so busy right after the villain countermeasure meeting. When you’re doing serious work, there are countless mistakes like this. There are enemies lurking within the Academy. I think it’s better to be on high alert like you are.”
“… … .”
“Anyway, I think the misunderstanding has been resolved, so I’ll go now.”
Unresolved thoughts and feelings of guilt lingered in her chest. Nevertheless, Saki nodded her head guiltily. The positions had been reversed.
For Saki, the feeling of being bowed down to someone was an unfamiliar one. It felt like a bitter taste on my tongue and a pungent smoke filled my chest.
Saki fought back the urge to continue the interrogation. Doing so would only add to the shame.
‘shit…….’
Sanhana smiled strangely and turned her toes toward the door. There was a brief moment of awkwardness.
Sanhana, who had reached the door, suddenly turned his head halfway and opened his mouth.
“Saki.”
“…huh?”
“As a senior in life, let me give you one piece of advice.”
Sanha had a meaningful smile on her lips. Her thick glasses sparkled for a moment before she opened her mouth softly.
“A boy who is as clueless as a swordsman won’t know unless you express your feelings directly.”
“… What, what!?”
Saki’s face turned bright red in an instant. Her words stuttered due to her trembling lips.
“I personally support you the most, Saki! Anyway, I’ll really go! Good luck on your exam-!”
“Okay, let’s go to sleep… …!”
Sanhana waves her hand in greeting and leaves the classroom. And Saki stares blankly in that direction. The dim evening casts shadows on her face.
* * *
The dawn slowly began to rise on the horizon. I sat on the railing and watched the spectacle. My eyes opened by themselves at a time when I would normally be sleeping soundly.
My eyes are dim and my body and mind are exhausted. But today, it’s really hard to keep my composure. And that’s understandable…
“Ha, final exams don’t matter, but why the group leader?”
This is Rachel.
Out of all the cadets, I was assigned to the same group as the person I least wanted to get involved with. I already had a mountain of work to do, but this unexpected stress was added on top of that.
The reason I avoid her is really simple. We don’t get along. I felt it clearly when we took the midterm exam together last time.
A personality I never want to encounter again. To be more specific, the blatant flirting he threw at me was burdensome. Seriously.
I don’t know where he got my number, but whenever he had time, he would send me tempting texts like asking me to come to his room to watch Let’s Go or to get some ramen. It looks like my number has been leaked to the public.
Of course, my reply was blocked. But still, I got texts from a different number. And each time, they even boldly revealed their real names.
When I asked Weapon, Rachel said that every time I block her, she opens a new account. And her phone too.
Rachel says, there is no man who doesn’t fall for you after ten tries.
Weapon patted my shoulder and offered me comfort. His face was filled with compassion. He added that there was nothing he could do and gave me a thumbs up to wish me peace.
As a player, I could roughly guess the intention behind Rachel’s flirting.
She doesn’t need an emotional bond with me, she just needs a strong bloodline. Loosening the collar and flirting are all for securing stronger seeds.
And somehow I ended up being targeted by Rachel. Rachel, of all people, was one of the few cadets who witnessed the duel with Knox, the mermaid subjugation, and the victory over Mao Lang.
As a member of a breeding family that longs for superior seeds, I may seem like a tasty prey.
‘Originally, the target was Leon.’
As the heart-shaped pupil flashed through my mind, my whole body trembled. If I was not careful, I would be dragged to Changseongga and come out as an empty shell. I once again steeled my resolve to brace myself.
For your information, Rachel, despite her outward appearance of having a lot of dating experience, is a virgin.
I guess the game company tried to put a twist on the character’s personality…
“Mosul… … .”
I scratched my head and laid back on the bed.
The work was so late that the weather came back to me. It was natural since I woke up three hours earlier than usual.
As I was about to close my eyes, without refusing to accept the gradually growing heavy eyelids.
Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’~ Hey!
Rolling in the deep every day~!
The sudden wake-up call from the brave idol sisters. My eyes widened at the sudden ringing of the phone. My irritated gaze immediately turned to the wall clock.
The current time is five o’clock.
Even though it’s summer, the sun rises early at dawn.
It’s too early for even a rooster to crow.
“…Who is it at this hour?”
I nervously fumbled around the nightstand and picked up my phone. The artificial light from the phone hit my eyes hard.
[Saki Ryozo]
[One-hit]
[019-XXXX-XXXX]
I opened my eyes slightly and checked to see that it was Ryozo. She often sent me pointless texts, but this was the first time she called me.
‘But he’s awake at this hour?’
That question was fleeting. Since I sleep all day long, I probably don’t have any sleep at night. I used to overhear Weapon and him talking to each other.
I looked down at my phone with empty eyes. I hesitated for a while about whether or not to answer, but then I answered the phone.
This is a call from a villain hunting meeting. It’s likely that they made the call in a hurry because they found something strange.
I’m really tired, but Ryozo must have had a hard time sleeping anyway, so it’s not something I can joke about as a manager.
“Hey, what are you doing at this hour?”
⎯What, you weren’t sleeping?
The person who called while I was sleeping said something like this… … .
I almost burst out laughing because it was so absurd. I tried to control my surging emotions and listened to him calmly.
“I woke up earlier than I thought. What about you?”
⎯I, I’m the type of person who doesn’t sleep at night.
“By the way, why are you suddenly calling at this hour? Did you find anything strange while researching the data?”
⎯… … .
When I asked that, there was a brief silence.
⎯… Do you think I only contact you when I have something to do?
A refreshing answer comes from the other end of the phone.
Come to think of it, that’s true. Given Ryozo’s cautious nature, he would explain important things verbally. When texting, he would usually joke around.
‘Then why did you call at this hour?’
When I didn’t respond, Ryozo hesitated and then blurted out.
⎯…I just called to wish you good luck on your test.
“…ah.”
I was once again surprised by the significantly changed attitude.
How could that rational and cool-headed Ryozo say such a refreshing thing?
Given her usual behavior, I think that’s a bit off. There may be other intentions, but it’s hard for me to fathom Ryozo’s true feelings.
Still, since they are words of encouragement, I should take them positively.
⎯Ah, anyway… I’ll hang up.
“for a moment.”
⎯Uh, uh, why?
“You take a good look too.”
⎯… … .
Once again, the silence of the early morning. I thought the call was disconnected, but when I looked at my phone screen, the call was still going on. I waited for an answer, feeling uneasy, and then I heard the end of the conversation.
⎯Yeah, thank you.
The phone call suddenly hangs up as soon as you finish speaking.
I scratched my chin and threw my phone on the desk.
I was thinking of sleeping a little longer, but the gentle sun showed signs of rising higher. The morning of the final exam dawned.
