Academy's Silver Gatekeeper
Ch. 126

Help Us Choose the Next Novel! 🗳️

- Monday is great! The best! -

This fucking shit. What crazy bastard is doing tea-bagging from Monday morning?

Looking slightly, one student is doing wide-area provocation on his phone.

I wondered if that bastard was doing it on purpose, so I tried to see his face.

'...Oh my.'

Looking at the student's face, I could tell immediately.

That's not wide-area provocation but tea-bagging to himself!

Haggard face with dark circles under his eyes.

Plus that drooping gait - anyone can see he's not normal.

He probably got caught up in various things all weekend.

'Come to think of it, didn't they say the exam period is the week after next?'

Even if an S-rank gets assassinated, even if gates appear ignoring suppressors.

Even if much more powerful monsters than before jump out from there.

Academy exams never stop. Right, this is Korea.

"Examiner. Doesn't that sound good?"

What bullshit is this bastard saying now?

I glared at Lee Hyunwoo walking beside me.

It's not just me. Other students hearing Lee Hyunwoo's words think the same.

What kind of crazy bastard are you to agree with liking Monday?

How did such a guy become one of the academy's promising students, they seem to think.

"I rested well all weekend, so Monday feels this light. Hahaha!"

"Yes. Yes. I'm sure. When would Lee Hyunwoo dislike any day?"

What I said with clear discomfort, obviously provoking.

But our super-positive mindset protagonist easily offset even that.

"Haha! Exactly! There are no days I dislike! No rest days either!"

This won't do. If I keep talking with this crazy bastard, I'll go crazy too.

I deliberately ignored Lee Hyunwoo and quickly entered the academy.

If I had to commute with this protagonist from the beginning...

Ugh. My eyes would tremble and hands and feet would flow. Fuck!

'But it's not like everything Lee Hyunwoo said was wrong.'

As he said, last weekend I could really rest properly.

Even though I have the mindset that 'my home is the most comfortable in the world.'

So I usually hate going outside on rest days at all.

The villa I went to following Suhyeon shattered that thought in one blow.

Now I understand people who talk about hotel vacation packages.

Not wasteful spending but a kind of capital healing?

Even if not often, sometimes having such changes wouldn't be bad.

"What is it? Examiner. This myster— ious current?"

Suddenly, Yoo Dasom's words from yesterday's breakfast came to mind.

That look was of someone who already knew everything that had happened.

Actually, Lee Hyunwoo who was there first didn't seem to know anything.

At the same time, that incident from Saturday night was also recalled.

Suhyeon asking about the reason for my favor toward her, and me answering honestly.

Then her request to close my eyes, followed by the sudden kiss.

'...Will it be okay?'

Clearly there's no problem. Neither side is a minor.

The reason I'm worried like this is probably because of some anxiety I feel.

The possibility that Suhyeon might return as the worst villain, the Crimson Witch?

Of course, that's partly there too. Originally that was her fate.

But I twisted that fate. And I'll make sure it never returns.

I'm confident. I'm confident I'll make Suhyeon remain as one beautiful ability user forever.

Then the biggest source of anxiety I feel now is indeed...

'Between Irina and Suhyeon...'

Uuung!— Uuuung!—

Speak of the devil. The caller name on the phone screen is none other than Irina.

I hesitated briefly then pressed the call button.

[ Hello. Why did you hesitate? Not answering quickly. ]

...I get goosebumps. No, how did you know I hesitated?

Could you be watching me from nearby?

Right. If it's that Irina and no one else, she could definitely do that.

It's not for nothing she's called a crazy woman. She'd do such bizarre things.

So I quickly scanned the surroundings when Irina's voice came through the phone.

[ I'm working right now, so stop looking around. I'm not even there. ]

"...Really, isn't mind reading your ability?"

[ What can I do about hearing you turn your head? And if it's our pure Seojin oppa, of course you'd think 'Maybe she's watching me from nearby!' It's obvious. ]

I have nothing to say. How is she so accurate?

Are other S-ranks like this too? At least Han Jiyoon seemed human.

"By the way, if you're at work, is it okay to just call like this?"

[ What are you saying? I'm not some slave. I'm not even in a weak position. If I want to call, I call. If I want to work, I work. What bastard would dare say anything to me? ]

"That's true."

[ ...You immediately agreed so somehow I feel bad. Well, anyway. I called because I have something to ask. Can we talk? ]

Isn't that something you say at the start of a call?

"Yes. It's possible."

[ Good. Then, what did you do where last weekend? ]

Instinctively, I shuddered without realizing it.

There's nothing to hide and I wasn't planning to hide it.

But being asked like this, I almost said 'I was at home?' without thinking.

'Calm down. That's why I brought all the kids, preparing for this.'

If I had gone alone with Suhyeon, I would have been very scared.

But I took Suhyeon plus Kang Hana, Yoo Dasom, and even Lee Hyunwoo.

No matter how anyone looks at it, it's just team unity.

Even if not, it's a picture of taking rest to get closer.

Even Irina couldn't say anything about this.

"Last weekend, I went to the villa Chairman Kang Minseong provided."

[ ...You went to the Kang family villa. ]

"Yes."

[ You wouldn't have gone alone. Be honest. Did you go alone with Kim Suhyeon, that woman? ]

"Isn't it obvious? Being able to go to that villa was thanks to Suhyeon in the first place."

[ ... ]

"Ah, don't misunderstand. It wasn't just Suhyeon and me."

At my answer, Irina asked back 'Then?'

The slight urgency felt in that voice probably isn't my imagination.

"I told you before. I decided to join Magic Tower Clan. I went with all the team members who'll be active there. Kang Hana, Yoo Dasom, and Lee Hyunwoo. Five of us total."

[ You went with team members. ]

"Yes. We closed gates together at the academy and fought monsters too. Plus we have to work together in the future, so resting together is the best way to get close."

[ Hmm. ]

As I expected, Irina couldn't say much about that part either.

What could she do when I said team members went to a villa for unity?

No matter how much of an Irina she is, saying anything about that would be clear interference.

Moreover, Irina has shown clear feelings beyond favor toward me.

I still don't understand why she has such feelings for me.

Well, she says she's a monster, the world finds it hard to accept her, and only I'm possible.

Actually, I don't seem to be on her level, but anyway that's how it is.

Anyway, that means she can't cross lines unnecessarily.

"But why are you suddenly curious about that?"

[ No. Kim Suhyeon sent me a strange message the night before last. ]

"A strange message?"

What is this suddenly? Suhyeon. What strange thing did you do without me knowing?

Surely not, right? You didn't tell Irina about what happened that night, did you?

[ She sent just one 'Lol' out of nowhere. When I asked why, next she sent 'Lol lol' and not answering anymore. Anyone can see it's suspicious, right? It feels like subtle provocation, making me feel bad. ]

"...So?"

[ What do you mean so? It's suspicious. What other reason would she suddenly provoke like that? It's definitely related to Seojin oppa. Isn't it? ]

Suhyeon... Why did you do that? Why! Didn't you know Irina is quick to notice!?

No matter how much you wanted to brag, still. Couldn't you hold back a little?

[ Hello. Why no answer? Really nothing happened? ]

"Nothing happened. How could anything happen with all the team members there?"

[ Does having a goalkeeper mean no goals? Besides, those team members wouldn't even think of being goalkeepers. If Kim Suhyeon, that fox-like woman, wanted it, there's nothing she couldn't do. ]

Damn. There's nothing wrong with that, so I can't even refute it.

[ I'll ask again, Seojin oppa. Tell me honestly. Really, nothing happened? Don't lie. I know right away. If it seems like a lie, I'll fly right there? ]

Flying here. That's not a joke or playful threat.

This woman is real. She'll really say fuck the work! and fly straight here.

So I need to act well, answer well.

Let's try self-hypnosis. Nothing happened. Nothing happened.

That day I closed my eyes and just went to sleep. Nothing happened between Suhyeon and me...

"Nothing happened. If you really don't trust me, come right now and see my face..."

[ Kwaaaaang!!— Tuuuu— ]

For a moment I thought my eardrums would burst. A loud noise came through the phone.

Startled, I checked the phone to find the call with Irina had already ended.

What? Is she really flying to where I am?

But the loud noise just now can't be explained that way.

Ttiring!—

[ Safety notice text - Elder appearance, urgent evacuation request for nearby residents ]

The moment I received that text, without hesitation, I immediately called Ma Hakjun.

"Yes, Principal. This is Baek Seojin. I'd like to take a day off today!"