With a vaguely uncomfortable feeling, Sihyeon finished his meal, and with that same uneasy feeling, returned to the dorm. He resolved never to treat Yoo Seowoo like a paper person again. Even now, it felt like he had been completely swept around by him all day—if he ignored him twice, it seemed like he’d end up feeling this off for an entire week.
After washing up and lying down on his bed, the conversation he had with Seowoo filled his mind. Thinking it over calmly, he felt like he could at least somewhat infer Seowoo’s psychology.
He was someone who had lived his whole life receiving attention from others. For someone like that, for reasons unknown, to show interest in someone for the first time—only for that person to not care about him at all—it seemed his pride had taken a hit. One scratch from being ignored. Then another. And it seemed like it finally exploded after their recent conversation.
As Sihyeon quietly organized the situation in his head, he frowned.
“…So why the hell is he interested in me? I need to know the reason.”
It was still an unresolved question. When he asked before, all he got back was to figure it out himself.
Could it be… that he was being mocked back then?
At the thought that surfaced, Sihyeon sat up. If he asked again, Yoo Seowoo would obviously show his displeasure again. In the end, it meant he had to figure it out on his own, so Sihyeon sank into thought.
If it was because he was a new class, then Seowoo had been openly interested in him from the very beginning. He had been persistently sticking to him since then. Constantly looking after him, pushing himself in, saying ridiculous things about wanting to be doted on—it was almost like he was treating him—
Sihyeon let out a hollow laugh at that point.
No way.
Unless the genre of the novel he had transmigrated into had changed, that kind of story made no sense. After hanging around someone so absurdly outstanding, it seemed he had even developed delusions now. Shaking his head, Sihyeon closed his eyes.
No matter how much he thought about it, only ridiculous conclusions came to mind. After spending a few more minutes on it, Sihyeon eventually shook his head and cut off the train of thought.
In the end, just like before, Sihyeon withdrew from it. After drying his hair, he stared up at Haru climbing to the upper bunk. He saw Haru’s feet appear in front of him, then disappear as he climbed the ladder. Recalling what Yoo Seowoo had said, Sihyeon spoke.
“Do I… favor Haru hyung a lot?”
“And you’re calling that a question?”
“You totally favor him~”
“Ah….”
Hamin and Haeun answered in order, and after a brief pause, a shy voice followed. Even without seeing his face, Sihyeon could imagine exactly what expression Haru was making. As he glanced upward, Haeun tapped the bed frame with his foot and spoke.
“You said Haru hyung transferred in, right? So you didn’t even meet him until the entrance ceremony?”
“Right.”
“Then why do you favor him?”
“…….”
Because I picked him up.
Since he had dragged him in and placed him beside him, shouldn’t he take responsibility? Swallowing that answer, Sihyeon pulled up the blanket that had slipped halfway off the bed.
“Just because.”
“Just because?”
“I like him more than you guys.”
“Wow, I’m hurt!”
At Sihyeon’s words, Haeun clutched his chest dramatically. Looking at him like, maybe it’s actually you I dislike, Sihyeon let out a sigh.
“That’s so mean! Right, Haru hyung!”
“Huh?”
“Sihyeon! Isn’t he too much?”
“Ah….”
Haru let out an awkward sound. By now, Sihyeon could tell exactly what expression he was making just from his voice alone. Annoyed at the culprit who put Haru in that position, Sihyeon threw his pillow.
Thud.
The sound rang out, and the pillow that successfully hit its target fell from the top bunk. Gathering it up, Sihyeon returned to his bed.
“Stop bothering Haru hyung.”
“I didn’t bother him!”
“Yeah, right.”
Listening to what sounded like crocodile tears, Sihyeon gave a merciless evaluation. The boy sulking with a huff wasn’t anything new anymore. Except for the occasional chilling moment, he was childish to the extreme. Sihyeon briefly entertained the reasonable suspicion that there might be a seven-year-old kindergartener inside him before lying back down.
“So, how’s everyone doing with the dance?”
“…Shit.”
“Ah.”
“…….”
At Haeun’s single remark, three people took critical damage. Seeing their unusual reactions, Haeun, for once, didn’t press further and stayed quiet. Maybe it was because he sensed the cold killing intent rising from Hamin.
Dance.
Because of his conversation with Yoo Seowoo, he had completely forgotten about it. Grimacing, Sihyeon stared at Haeun through half-lidded eyes. It wouldn’t be a lie to say he was annoying.
Maybe I should ask Haru hyung to assassinate him later.
He muttered casually, then shook his head. Somehow, it felt like Haru would actually think about it—and then agree.
After hanging out with the Four Heavenly Kings…
Swallowing a sigh, Sihyeon buried his face in the blanket. At this rate, his childcare seemed to be heading straight toward disaster.
***
“Pya pya!”
Pia, having happily eaten mana again today, chirped in delight. As the creature rubbed its face against his hand, Sihyeon gently patted its round belly and lowered his gaze.
Starting today, the entire day was dedicated to dance practice. Which meant he’d have to stick with Yoo Seowoo all day and do that damned dance.
“Ha…”
A complicated sigh slipped out. Ever since they started preparing for the talent show, Sihyeon hadn’t gone a single day without beginning it with a sigh.
I don’t want to go.
He had no idea what that lunatic-like Yoo Seowoo from yesterday might do today. The phrase about “turning the tables” kept bothering him. Checking the time, Sihyeon saw that it was already close to the end of school arrival time. Reluctantly, he got up.
“…I’m heading out.”
“Pya pya!”
Pia saw him off as he left with low energy.
“You’re late today?”
As he stepped out after putting on his shoes, Hamin’s scolding voice rang out. Normally, Pia only took about five minutes to eat, but today it had taken ten—there was no excuse.
“You could’ve gone ahead.”
“How could I go first without you? That’d be disloyal.”
You don’t remember the day you went off for that interview?
Sihyeon frowned at Haeun’s shameless remark. Ignoring that look, Haeun asked if Pia had eaten well. In response, Sihyeon held up his finger. Faint bite marks were left on it.
“He really ate properly! By the way, when do you think he’ll be able to eat other people’s mana?”
“…Who knows.”
Glancing back toward the room, Sihyeon muttered as he thought of Pia inside.
As if there are so many people lining up to feed him.
Ever since that first time it bit his finger and sucked his mana, Pia showed absolutely no interest in anyone else’s mana. Even if others offered their hands, it would rather starve than eat. If someone else tried to feed it mana, it would go hungry all day—but the moment Sihyeon offered his hand, it would immediately chomp down and start eating. It was absurd.
In the end, he became the one who lost 20% of his mana every day.
Was it because the first mana it tasted was his?
If I’d known, I should’ve made it bite Haeun’s hand.
Regretting it belatedly, Sihyeon closed the door.
Until recently, he thought Pia would be cute even after reaching adulthood—but now, thinking about having to keep feeding it his mana even then already worried him. It even felt like Pia might become independent before reaching adulthood, leaving him with a strange, unsettled feeling. Only after hearing Haeun urging him did Sihyeon slowly start walking.
His steps were unusually slow today.
That damned talent show.
The now-familiar curse lingered in his mouth. After today, they were supposed to do a full group run-through, and dancing a couple routine in front of others felt like the most humiliating thing possible.
His head throbbing, Sihyeon steeled himself as he walked.
Let’s just get it over with quickly.
If you can’t avoid it, endure it—his strategy was simply to finish it fast and rest.
And thanks to Kang Sihyeon’s body cooperating better than expected, that strategy worked fairly well. It was the second time Sihyeon felt impressed by Kang Sihyeon’s body.
***
The nightmare-like couple dance practice ended, and the final run-through was done as well. Aside from Yoo Seowoo constantly messing around during the highlight parts, there wasn’t much of a problem.
Other than the fact that it was embarrassing.
It had already been embarrassing enough to dance in front of Class A, but thinking about dancing in front of all first-years made it feel horrifying already. He almost thought it would be better to take another Monthly Evaluation, reduce the number of people, and then go on the school trip.
This time, he couldn’t skip it like before.
It was fully funded—there was no reason not to go. He had initially set up a “frail” persona, but now that he had engraved as a Healer, pretending to be sick wouldn’t work.
The day before the school trip, after running through all kinds of thoughts, Sihyeon realized there was no way out. As he packed his suitcase, he slammed his head into it.
Thud!
“S-Sihyeon?!”
He had hit the corner, of all places. Grabbing his forehead, thinking his luck was terrible, Sihyeon heard Haru’s startled voice as he turned his head. Seeing the concern in his eyes, Sihyeon muttered that he was fine. Meanwhile, Haeun, completely unaware of his inner turmoil, had been humming excitedly for a while.
“Can you be quiet?”
“But I’m excited! I’ve never been on an S Corporation cruise before!”
“Is it that impressive?”
“…….”
“What now?”
“No, just… it really hits me again how you’re like someone detached from the mortal world.”
Detached from the mortal world. Ever since Sihyeon had said he didn’t know about S Corporation back in March, Haeun had occasionally used that phrase for him. It wasn’t a welcome nickname, so Sihyeon frowned. Meanwhile, Haeun enthusiastically explained just how amazing this school trip was. Whatever it was, it definitely sounded luxurious.
“Aren’t you excited?”
“Not really.”
“Why?”
“The talent show is on the first day.”
They were having the talent show on the first night at sea—meaning the event started right away. Tomorrow, he had to dance in front of the entire first-year class, so of course he wasn’t happy about it. At Sihyeon’s sigh, Haeun burst into laughter, clearly amused. If you looked closely, he always seemed to enjoy it when Sihyeon was suffering.
Was this how Lee Hamin usually felt?
With a faintly sympathetic gaze, Sihyeon looked at Hamin. As if sensing it, Hamin looked up from packing and frowned.
“They said we’re using the same dorm groupings for rooms there too.”
“Wow.”
“That’s the worst.”
Sihyeon and Hamin spoke at the same time. As if by agreement, both of their gazes turned to Haeun. Whatever else, being in the same room as Haeun was a tragedy. Their eyes met, and sharing a sense of mutual misery, both of them sighed and ran their hands through their hair. Meanwhile, the source of their worries, Haeun, cheerfully kept singing.
“Wah wah!”
His voice echoed through the room, sounding like barking. “Pyak pyak!” Pia cried out—no, barked—right along with him.
“What a mess.”
Rolling his eyes as he took in the scene, Sihyeon shook his head.
***
“Piii… piii…”
“It won’t stop…”
At Pia’s continuous crying, Haru spoke awkwardly. Just earlier, it had been clinging to everyone, acting cute—but now that it was time to sleep, it had suddenly started crying like this. It was almost as if it knew they were leaving for the school trip tomorrow and would be apart.
They had already arranged for a teacher staying behind at the school to take care of Pia during the trip. Concerned by how much it was crying when he wouldn’t be able to see it for a while, Sihyeon picked it up. “Pyak pyak!” Pia cried sorrowfully before burying its face in his arms.
“Stop crying.”
Still clumsy at comforting, Sihyeon gently stroked Pia. Normally, it slept on Haru’s bed, but today it kept clinging to him. As it refused to let go, Sihyeon ended up holding and soothing it until it stopped crying, then lay down on the bed with it.
“Pii…”
The sniffling creature crawled up from his hands and settled on top of his stomach. Feeling the small weight, Sihyeon let out a sigh. At least his sleeping habits weren’t rough.
“You cry too much.”
Tap, tap—he lightly poked Pia a couple of times. The creature, now done crying, let out a sharp “Pya!” Anyway, it had quite the temper. After patting it a few more times, Sihyeon closed his eyes.
On that night when Haeun said he’d be too excited to sleep, Sihyeon had said he wouldn’t be able to sleep because of nightmares.
In the deep darkness of dawn, Sihyeon truly had a nightmare.
A foreboding nightmare about a massive ship.
