novelraw Chapter 38 : Chapter 38
Chapter 38 : Chapter 38
Chapter 38: Ju Yeonhwa
“Cadet Seol Hayun and Cadet Ryu Jinwoo, at the time of the terror incident that occurred at the Zero Expo Hall, took the lead in protecting the lives of citizens despite the danger…….”
In front of the podium at the center of the auditorium stage, the principal stood neatly and raised his voice.
“……Their courage and sense of responsibility align with the educational philosophy of this academy, thus we award this certificate of commendation.”
A voice ringing out clearly.
The spotlight shone on the stage, and small applause followed consecutively from the audience seats.
The commendation ceremony began in earnest.
The protagonists were Seol Hayun and me.
Seol Hayun and I stood on the auditorium stage, where everyone's eyes were focused.
Stiff uniforms that felt uncomfortable, and people filling the auditorium.
‘……My head is going to explode at this rate.’
And amidst that, my head was throbbing like crazy.
The Mimic, now equipped with an eye, happily looked around the audience and injected me with information I didn't particularly want to know.
[Sonic Park! Jealous! Annoyed annoyed! Kkihihit!]
Like this.
It feels like my head is going to break.
The act of reading others' emotions caused a headache, and the Mimic read emotions of everyone visible without restraint.
‘At this rate, it would be better to avoid places where many people gather.’
While I was pressing my temples firmly, a woman with brilliant red hair dressed neatly in a black suit approached.
Ju Yeonhwa.
A figure who makes countless people hold their breath just by her name.
Dignity befitting the title of top-tier hero was naturally carried even in those short steps.
Being Seol Hayun's maternal grandmother as well, she stood in front of Seol Hayun with a soft smile.
At the same time, the applause grew louder.
Probably everyone is watching this scene with satisfaction.
“Receiving a commendation directly from her grandmother, the family is amazing.”
“How proud she must be? Hoho.”
Voices of academy officials sitting at the front of the auditorium were heard.
That is the general thought.
A granddaughter who performed well and a grandmother proud of that appearance.
Since that would be the appearance of a normal family.
Ju Yeonhwa's face also had a smile drawing a crescent moon, an expression dripping with pride.
[Ju Yeonhwa]
[Feeling Uncomfortable, Displeasure]
But the Eye of Deception was telling a different story.
‘She is properly angry.’
It's a place where her own granddaughter is receiving an award for merit.
Yet she is angry. Significantly at that.
And the situation on Seol Hayun's side wasn't much different either.
[Seol Hayun]
[Fear, Tension, Withdrawing]
Just like Ju Yeonhwa, Seol Hayun also didn't show it on the outside at all, but a fierce storm was raging inside her heart.
And at that moment when a strange tension settled.
- To receive a commendation for surviving luckily. It's laughable.
Ju Yeonhwa's voice was heard.
Specifically, a feeling ringing ‘inside the brain’.
Even though Ju Yeonhwa's lips didn't move at all and her expression didn't change, a voice was clearly heard.
‘Is this, Telepathy?’
An ability to convey intentions directly to the mind using magic power.
I only knew that such an ability existed, but I had never experienced Telepathy.
But it was clearly distinguished from sounds heard by ears.
- There is only one reason you receive this award. Just because you were lucky. With your skills, you didn't have the capacity to handle this incident.
Cruel words continued even after that.
The reason Ju Yeonhwa was angry was simple.
That Seol Hayun, who should have gone to the cram school originally, skipped as she pleased and went to the Demonic Beast Expo.
So she got involved in an incident she wouldn't have experienced originally.
Seol Hayun's shoulders drooped subtly.
It seemed Ju Yeonhwa didn't come to praise Seol Hayun, but was here to crush her spirit completely.
Somehow I thought she was vicious.
‘But why can I hear it too?’
She must be conveying it via Telepathy that cannot be heard nearby, conscious of the surrounding gazes.
But I am hearing it.
Just when I wondered if something was going wrong.
- You keep in mind too. Luck doesn't follow you forever.
Ah, she meant for me to hear it too.
I accepted it immediately.
- I know you played a big role. Thanks to that, Hayun must be safe. As a guardian, I express my gratitude.
The ‘Telepathy’ she handed me next was a simple thank you. A bit unexpected.
Considering Ju Yeonhwa's personality, ‘it was resolved well in the end’ doesn't mean much.
A person for whom ‘there shouldn't be a problem in the first place’ comes first.
So I thought she would blame me too, but it seems she isn't someone who goes that far blindly.
‘Anyway, since I saved Seol Hayun.’
I thought so.
- However, why was she with you there?
Until her next Telepathy was conveyed.
- Hayun was supposed to move only by the originally set route. The cram school schedule was set for the weekend. But suddenly the expo? And with a man? She never once caused trouble like this until now, but to be with you of all people…….
Along with the voice ringing in my brain, a cold gaze hidden in a smile pierced me.
- I will tell you clearly. I don't want Hayun to get tainted strangely. Whether you enticed her or it was a coincidence, I hope you don't ruin our child any further.
What kind of nonsense is this again.
Me ruining Seol Hayun?
Rather, it's the opposite. I'm saving her.
If not for me, Seol Hayun would have been taken hostage by Balzac and watched citizens turn into corpse dough right in front of her eyes.
Due to the shock received from that, she was scheduled to collapse and become a ‘Monster’ even before becoming a second year.
“I clearly said I met him by coincidence…….”
Seol Hayun opened her mouth carefully.
Trembling voice, breathless protest.
But she couldn't finish her words.
Ju Yeonhwa turned her head very slowly.
A face smiling broadly.
However, the look in her eyes surfacing above it was cold as ice.
The moment that gaze pierced Seol Hayun with a ‘snap’.
A new phrase popped up in the Eye of Deception.
[Seol Hayun's Sanity value decreases.]
[San: 56 -> 54]
‘……San?’
Sanity, meaning mental power.
In the [Heroes Zero] worldview, Sanity was an indicator gauging collapse.
The moment that becomes 0, that person collapses.
The mind completely breaks down and twists, becoming a Monster.
It's welcome news that the Eye of Deception even informs about changes in Sanity value.
The problem was that Seol Hayun's Sanity was reduced.
‘I did all sorts of things to protect that……!’
But Ju Yeonhwa was eating away at Seol Hayun's Sanity, increasing the possibility of collapse.
Furthermore, it's not a value that decreases simply because feeling bad.
Literally, it is affected only when ‘mental shock’ above a certain level is applied.
Ju Yeonhwa, just what is wrong with this human.
How does she educate normally that the kid's mentality goes out just by a look?
It came into view that Seol Hayun's shoulders flinched slightly.
Soon she closed her lips tightly and dropped her gaze to the floor.
Like a child who committed a grave mistake.
Even I standing next to her felt suffocated just by indirectly experiencing ‘Ju Yeonhwa style education’.
Surprisingly, the place where this scene is unfolding was a ‘Commendation Ceremony’.
Normally a place where one receives pure praise.
In such a place, Seol Hayun is getting scolded severely, and I am suddenly being treated as a delinquent who might ruin her child.
‘Can't even punch her in the face.’
I want to throw the commendation certificate and cause a ruckus if I followed my heart, but there are too many watching eyes.
Ju Yeonhwa didn't speak via ‘Telepathy’ for no reason.
Image is life for a hero.
Even if the inside is festering and bursting, on the outside, one must be armed with a smile, kindness, and spirit of service.
If I cause an accident for nothing, I, who have no backing, will be out immediately.
“……Thus, we award the commendation certificate to Cadet Seol Hayun. We hope you develop further in the future.”
The principal's voice rang across the auditorium.
Ju Yeonhwa headed to Seol Hayun first.
Mechanical smile and smoothly moving hands.
The shiny commendation certificate was carefully placed on Seol Hayun's hands.
Sounds of applause and camera shutters burst consecutively, and people's cheers were added.
Superficially, it was a perfect scene.
Then Ju Yeonhwa stood facing me.
“We award the commendation certificate to Cadet Ryu Jinwoo. We look forward to great performance in the future too.”
As the principal's words continued again, Ju Yeonhwa held out the commendation certificate toward me.
Let me state clearly, defying Ju Yeonhwa here is no different from a suicidal act.
‘Defying’ that is.
I quietly met eyes with Ju Yeonhwa.
And accepting the commendation certificate politely with both hands, I opened my mouth.
“Ms. Ju Yeonhwa.”
Clearly and distinctly, while showing courtesy at the same time.
“Thank you sincerely for your meaningful advice. I will take it to heart.”
I threw a word.
The silence that followed.
A momentary silence covered the auditorium.
At that moment, Seol Hayun's eyes standing next to me opened wide in a flash.
Momentarily rolled sideways toward me, they soon fell to the floor as if frozen.
The gasping breath, tightly closed lips, and that white hardened complexion alone revealed intactly that I said ‘words that shouldn't be said’.
In front of me stood Ju Yeonhwa who lost her words with a hardened face.
[Ju Yeonhwa]
[Embarrassment, Anger, Confusion]
Those emotions fell drip-drip as characters right in front of my eyes.
[Kkihihihit! Warm warm! Hot hot! It’s hot, hot!]
The crazy Mimic started giggling hovering over Ju Yeonhwa's crown.
I quietly raised the corners of my mouth.
***
“……That was a clear insult.”
Ju Yeonhwa said in a low and firm voice.
Suppressed breath settled long below her throat.
Her eyes were cold, but something slowly boiling was flashing inside them.
The principal's office where she was sitting was neat as always.
On one wall was an old wooden desk, and various documents and a small teapot were placed side by side on it.
On the opposite side, a low table used when welcoming guests and a heavy leather sofa were placed.
A room where neatness rather than extravagance, and taste rather than authority were felt first.
Principal Jang Juyoung, sitting opposite Ju Yeonhwa, held a teacup and was smiling leisurely.
“But Cadet Ryu Jinwoo didn't say so.”
“What did you say?”
“‘Thank you for your meaningful advice. I will take it to heart.’ He said like this.”
The principal put down the teacup quietly.
The saucer rang small with a tak-.
“I felt the boy's spirit and unique manners. It didn't seem like insulting particularly.”
At Principal Jang Juyoung's words, Ju Yeonhwa frowned slightly.
As if barely suppressing what was boiling inside.
Soon veins were subtly revealed on the back of her hand and her shoulders heaved.
“That's because you don't know well. Do you know what emotion I felt at that moment? I have never felt such humiliation in my life…….”
“Then, may I know what you said?”
As Ju Yeonhwa continued speaking with a venomous voice, Jang Juyoung asked calmly.
“If you said something via Telepathy, I have no way of knowing the content. Since he said meaningful advice, I become curious too.”
Ju Yeonhwa's gaze fixed on Jang Juyoung.
Watching Jang Juyoung shrugging his shoulders, her jaw muscles tightened.
“That was, not very important words. There is no need for you to know particularly.”
“Ah, then I cannot accept the word insult. Because Cadet Ryu Jinwoo clearly said he was grateful for Ms. Ju Yeonhwa's words and would take them to heart. They must have been excellent words.”
“…….”
Jang Juyoung wore a benevolent smile, but the corners of his mouth looked somewhat like a mischievous child somewhere.
Watching that appearance, Ju Yeonhwa frowned and at some moment sighed and said.
“Anyway, you are still sly as ever.”
“It is a blessing that there are things that don't change even as one gets old.”
“I wish you would change a bit!”
As if fed up, Ju Yeonhwa got up from her seat.
The sofa was pushed back making a short friction sound.
Heading towards the door with rough steps, she stopped abruptly- ttuk and threw words.
“You know what being Baekseok's disciple means, right?”
As Ju Yeonhwa turned her body, her gaze met Principal Jang Juyoung's head-on.
Tension flowed as if invisible electric current sparked between their eyes.
Ju Yeonhwa opened her mouth again.
“Did you see the Mystery Hall scene?”
“No. I heard Ms. Ju Yeonhwa saw it personally.”
“I saw it clearly.”
Ju Yeonhwa muttered lowly staring into the air as if recalling something.
“Baekseok, it was exactly like him. Enough to give goosebumps.”
At Ju Yeonhwa's words, Jang Juyoung's eyes shook minutely.
“That child is on the dangerous side.”
Ju Yeonhwa's words rang out like a declaration.
Heavy silence flowed in the room.
A moment later, the sound of turning the doorknob rang cutting the silence.
Cheolkeok-
The door closed and only the ticking sound of the clock filled the room.
Left behind, Jang Juyoung lifted the teacup again and muttered quietly.
“……He is also on the anticipated side.”