Chapter 25
Seoyul didn’t know what to do as he felt his heart pounding.
‘The, the lips…’
Though he knew it was because of Guiding, he still didn’t know what to do with his arbitrarily beating heart.
The sensation of the lips was so vivid and hot that just imagining it made his face flush.
“Haah.”
Though nothing like that had happened again since then, it kept circling in his mind, making him feel troubled.
“Seoyul. Do you miss Dowoon because he’s not here?”
Having heard his long sigh, Sunjeong approached with a smile and asked.
“Th-that’s not it.”
Of course, it was true that he felt empty with Dowoon not coming to the research lab. But the reason he wasn’t coming was for a good cause.
So he shouldn’t feel sad but should congratulate him instead.
“Oh, come on. You’ve gotten quite close, so it’s okay to miss him.”
“Is… that so?”
So it’s okay then.
Seoyul felt a little relieved and smiled slightly. Dowoon had now recovered significantly and returned to his original team. So it was a bit disappointing that he couldn’t see him as often as before.
“You’ve worked hard all this time. Now the numbers have dropped considerably to a stable range.”
Sunjeong explained that there was no risk of Dowoon going berserk unless he urgently used a lot of his ability.
Hearing the explanation to that point, he felt happy for some reason.
“That’s great. I’ll work harder!”
“How much harder are you planning to work?”
Sunjeong laughed cheerfully and tousled Seoyul’s hair. Though his hair was messed up, it was full of affection, so he just chuckled.
“Oh my. You cute thing.”
“Uwaaah…”
Seoyul was finally released after being teased until his cheeks hurt. Sunjeong, seemingly reluctant to let go of the soft cheek sensation, opened her mouth.
“Seoyul. Have you ever thought about going to school?”
“What? School?”
Seoyul asked back in surprise. He wondered why she suddenly brought that up, then realized that at twenty years old, one would normally be attending school.
“Yes. Now that the urgent situation has been taken care of.”
“Ah…”
Somehow, his feelings became complicated. Though Sunjeong had casually suggested it, for him, school held quite a deep meaning.
His mother had desperately wanted to send Seoyul to college, and even when money was being extorted by his father, she fiercely protected the tuition fees.
So even when she was weakened from overexerting herself to make Guiding medicine, Seoyul studied tenaciously.
Hoping to fulfill his mother’s wish.
But…
‘The wall of reality was too high.’
The tuition money had been discovered and taken away by the organization members. As a result, college became more and more distant, and with the massive debts his father had left, he had no choice but to give up.
‘School. School…’
Seoyul unconsciously wore a bitter smile. Noticing this, Sunjeong quickly added an explanation.
“There’s a school sponsored by the Association called the Ability User Specialized School. If you go there, you could transfer in immediately with the Association’s authority, and it would be beneficial for you, Seoyul.”
Bene…ficial?
Seoyul tilted his head, then recalled a piece of information.
The Ability User Specialized School was created for children who awaken from a young age, offering education from elementary to university level, and was composed almost entirely of Guides and Espers.
He remembered that transfers were freely accommodated due to the unpredictable nature of when ability users might awaken.
Of course, since it cost a bit more than regular schools, it wasn’t applicable to him.
And…
“It’s okay. I’m not really interested…”
Seoyul trailed off and smiled slightly.
Though he wasn’t sure how it would help immediately, it was right to decline for now. His situation hadn’t particularly changed from back then.
What business did someone like him, who was living on subsidies while depending on the center, have going to school?
Moreover, since the college program wasn’t mandatory, it cost even more money. Seoyul was already relying on Dowoon in many ways. So he thought he couldn’t be more of a burden.
‘Right. This is the right choice.’
Thinking he had declined well enough, Seoyul nodded. But her thoughts seemed completely different as she spoke with a gentle smile.
“For someone not interested, your grades were too good. How could someone with no interest in college never drop from first place throughout all three years of high school?”
“What…? H-how did you…”
No, where could she have heard such information?
Seoyul was surprised, then immediately shook his head and corrected himself.
“That’s not it… that was just in my class, my overall rank…”
“And I heard your school was quite prestigious. Would someone with no plans for college study like that?”
At that time, he had desperately studied because it was the only thing he could cling to.
But…
“I’m saying this because it’s such a waste. Think about it once more, okay?”
Sunjeong, seeming unwilling to give up, listed the benefits of attending school one after another.
“The timing is perfect since the first semester just ended. The place is mainly for newly awakened kids, so it’s just basic classes at first. You’ve already learned that at the center, so you don’t have to worry about falling behind. If there’s anything you think you’re lacking, you can take it in the second semester. And…”
Seoyul was bewildered by the flood of words. But the more he listened, the more he found himself being persuaded by Sunjeong’s arguments.
Since this had been his only area of interest in the past, his heart was drawn to it even though he thought it wasn’t possible.
Among them, what enticed Seoyul’s ears the most was the special lecture for the Korean Ability Management Association’s entrance exam, which he could take from the second semester.
“The special lecture here is quite famous. The acceptance rate is quite high, so many students enroll specifically for it.”
The Association’s entrance exam.
Seoyul was currently temporarily registered because he needed to Guide Dowoon. To be officially registered, he needed to take the Association’s entrance exam held once a year.
He had been thinking that he should start preparing soon, so he naturally began to get absorbed in the conversation.
“The standard course is to prepare during the first year and then start an internship at a guild or association from the second year. Above all, the biggest advantage is that your treatment is much better after graduation.”
Sunjeong said that theory was as important as practice. Especially for Guides, since they are less often deployed in the field, specialized support training often proves more helpful than not.
“Between a Guide who only knows how to Guide and a Guide who operates with various knowledge, which would be better?”
Sunjeong smiled slyly and drove home the final decisive point.
“Plus, the salary and promotions are much better this way.”
It was an obvious statement. Naturally, those with better abilities would earn more money and get promoted faster.
But Sunjeong whispered like this to create a more dramatic effect. She thought this would convince the diligent and innocent Seoyul.
And her prediction hit the mark precisely.
‘Better…?’
Seoyul’s eyes widened. Suddenly, his head, which had felt heavy, seemed to clear.
Yes. To borrow Dowoon’s words, this might be an investment.
Though it might be a burden now, in the future, he could earn more and relieve the burden faster.
Moreover, Sunjeong added that the loan system was well-established, so he shouldn’t worry. With the money issue resolved, his heart began to lean distinctly.
‘Can I fulfill… mother’s wish?’
It was something he had given up long ago. But now it was approaching reality again.
Seoyul felt his heart racing more and more. Then Sunjeong, with a smiling face, asked once more.
“What do you think? Want to go?”
He wanted to go.
He wanted to try.
One of his mother’s wishes.
For his future where he could be of even a little more help to Dowoon someday.
Having made up his mind, Seoyul clenched his fists and answered.
“I want to go!”
Only then did he feel that time, which had been at a standstill, began to flow again.
* * *
With Sunjeong’s help, the transfer preparations began to progress smoothly. From the related documents to information about the school, department selection, and even course registration.
Course registration was especially difficult because there were too many subjects he wanted to learn. It was clear that it would have been tough without her help with various things.
“Seoyul! This is a gift to celebrate your transfer.”
“What? A gift?”
It was already grateful enough that she had helped with everything, but to even give a gift.
Seoyul accepted the pile of shopping bags with bewilderment.
“Oh, you didn’t have to…”
“I just wanted to give it to you. If you’re concerned, try it on now. Okay?”
“What?”
Try it on?
Seoyul looked inside the shopping bag, wondering what she meant. Inside were clothes and a bag.
“Oh. This is…”
“It’s for you to wear when you go to school. I chose it with my personal taste, so even if you don’t like it, you have to wear it.”
Sunjeong said with a mischievous smile.
‘It will definitely suit him well, right?’
Sunjeong recalled the cute style clothes she had bought with a lot of personal preference. Thinking about Seoyul walking around saying he’s going to school in these clothes, she thought he would look so cute that she couldn’t help but smile.
With his good physique, they would definitely suit him well. It wasn’t that expensive, and she thought this much wouldn’t be burdensome. But she couldn’t let her guard down.
Before he could refuse, Sunjeong quickly pushed him into the bathroom, telling him to try them on.
“Whoa? T-Team Leader!”
Seoyul, who had been pushed into the bathroom with the shopping bags, stood there blankly, still feeling dazed.
‘Can I… really accept this?’
He wondered if he should return them now, but the memory of Sunjeong’s joyful face made him hesitate.
“Haah…”
Inevitably deciding to add this to the list of things he needed to repay later, he began to open the shopping bags.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
