MTLNOVEL Chapter 118 - How to Face the Past (4)
It gave me goosebumps.
If it were normal, I would have told him to stop and punched him in the stomach, but because of that damn concept acting, I couldn’t even do that.
I couldn’t bring myself to curse at Fox’s face that had such joy written all over it, so I laughed back. It’s the sadness of the service industry.
“Respect, you say, how embarrassing.”
“Ahaha. The embarrassed Sister. This is a rare sight.”
Ahaha, hahahaha.
We laughed amicably. Only on the surface.
I gently grabbed Fox’s hand, pretending to be friendly, and squeezed it tightly as a warning.
He still had the smiling face.
“Don’t be so much?”
“Not sure?”
You don’t say you won’t, you rascal.
I stepped on his foot from behind so that it wouldn’t be seen, yet his face was still smiling brightly. Look at that thick face.
“So, how have you been lately?”
“I’ve been religious and working hard.”
“Religious… that’s one thing. Work?”
“Mmhm. I’m the principal’s secretary.”
In the original novel, Nika Balder clearly didn’t have a secretary because they were just a bunch of guys who lacked ability.
If I infer that the situation changed because of the irregular named ‘me’, is that overly self-conscious?
“You’ve had a hard time. Isn’t it hard to have that… religious life?”
“Not at all. If it’s to save everyone, this kind of hardship is worth it. This is my last chance, so I have to cheer up.”
What nonsense is that.
“So you should also join our Tower Sect—”
“I’ll decline!”
“For such a kind sister to reject me so cruelly… I’m so sad.”
This kid is the real deal.
I clenched my teeth inwardly as I watched Fox fake crying. The Fox that had been teasing me to death finally let me go when we reached the teleportation zone.
Bad guy.
As soon as I got off the bus, Na Yuhan sneaked up to me. Na Yuri too, as usual.
Somehow cute.
I left Fox behind, holding both Na Yuhan and Na Yuri’s hands.
Na Yuri’s face instantly filled with joy, and Na Yuhan froze for a moment in surprise before moving stiffly.
“This is too much~”
I can’t hear you, you punk. I ignored Fox’s whining.
We walked into the teleportation zone.
Even though I kicked her, Fox didn’t care and actively pretended to know us.
“H-Hello, Senior Soojung? Miss? Hmm…”
“Hearing the word ‘senior’ from your mouth gives me goosebumps. Get out of here quickly~”
“Then Senior Soojung, Senior Hana. Are you still not interested in the Tower Sect?”
“…Neither of us are interested in the cult. Stop missionary work.”
“Then how about we become closer as compatriots?”
Choi Soojung responded to him with a cold expression.
“It’s funny that you’re saying that. I don’t want to be close to you, a member of the Balder family.”
Based on their conversation, did they know each other?
Even if Choi Soojung is indirectly connected to the Balder family, what exactly is her relationship with Lee Hana?
“Do you know each other?”
“I met him when we went on vacation. He tried to spread a cult, so I beat him up. Junior, don’t get close to someone like that. You’ll get infected~”
Choi Soojung finished her sentence playfully, yet it seemed sincere.
There was even a hint of hostility in her gaze as she looked at Fox, wondering what had happened.
Now that I think about it…
Choi Soojung[We met a strange cult~ It’s annoying~]
[They kept talking nonsense like they were my kind, so I kicked them away.]
…It was like that in the message I sent before.
It seems that when I was preaching, I moved my mouth freely and touched Choi Soojung’s landmine.
After all, since it’s the ‘Balder’ family, Choi Soojung must feel uncomfortable with the fox in many ways.
Anyway, what is that damn Tower Cult religion that possessed the fox so much? How can I get it out of here by any means necessary? My head hurt.
What on earth is that religion that doesn’t even appear in the novel?
“Now, we’re here.”
While Fox was talking to Choi Soojung without getting tired and she was responding nervously, we arrived at the teleportation zone before we knew it.
As we were quietly waiting in the zone, the principal manipulated some device.
Ziiingggg—BAAM.
The complex magic devices intersected in various ways and drew a detailed magic circle for several minutes.
Originally, teleportation was a high-dimensional ability that required extremely complicated procedures.
That’s why movement items were treated with great care.
It’s not like Wild Hunters who use teleportation a lot are treated as dangerous for no reason…
…Well, is that the same for me who can buy as many movement items as I want through the meta system?
The principal enters the magic circle, and the coordinator outside shouts.
“We’ll be moving soon! Please stand by!”
Upon hearing that, we became a little nervous, looked around to make sure we didn’t leave the magic circle, and lined up neatly.
Soon, the magic circle glowed brightly and moved us inside.
The movement was instantaneous.
When I closed my eyes and opened them, a similar but strangely different space awaited us.
“Now, let’s go to the final destination. Don’t worry. It’s right nearby.”
The principal laughed and naturally led us.
I followed after holding Na Yuri and Na Yuhan’s hands like before.
Fox seemed to have stopped poking Choi Soojung, as he slowly approached me. I looked over there wondering if Choi Soojung was okay, and she was leaving her swollen tail in Lee Hana’s hands to be groomed.
…He must have been quite the troublemaker…
I wanted to tell him not to mess with my seniors, but sadly, since Na Yuhan was here, I still had to act like a sunshine character.
I slowly avoided Fox and walked towards the front where Park Siwoo was.
Park Siwoo glanced behind him and silently broke the connection between my hands and Na Yuhan, moving behind me.
Thanks, Siwoo.
“Hmm?”
I heard Fox’s nasal voice that was hidden by Park Siwoo, but I pretended not to know and grabbed Na Yuhan’s hand again, who was hesitating.
While I was urging myself to walk, worrying about this and that, the principal suddenly looked around at us and opened her mouth.
“Now that I think about it, you guys, you were also involved in the ‘Dream Letter’ incident, right? I have something to ask you about that.”
“Dream letter… Are you talking about the lucky letter?”
“That’s right.”
Na Yuhan quickly answered her words.
“So there was a huge uproar at school? They say it’s settled down, but just in case, the teachers investigated it in detail. It turned out to be Erenthos’ personal property. It’s still unknown how it ended up in the Academy.”
“Unknown…”
“Even if you try to trace the path backwards from the origin of the curse, there are many missing links, such as ‘someone put it in a bag’ or ‘it was on the desk at some point.’ If you happen to know who first brought the letter into the Academy, please let me know.”
She smiled gently, revealing her fangs.
“I’ll praise you.”
“I understand.”
“Yes!”
…Damn, the way the principal treats Na Yuhan so gently reminds me of the principal in the original novel! Stop complimenting me!
I vividly recalled ‘that scene’ from the novel, and I desperately stretched out my hands to hide my face and laughed.
This masculine scent that I felt after a long time was too painful.
As the principal said, the Awakened Management Headquarters was quite close.
We carefully entered the building where the medal award ceremony was being held.
It was indeed a medal award ceremony.
There were many people with a lot of force at first glance, and hunters who frequently appeared in the media were sitting around the round tables or walking around talking to each other.
“Wow…”
The principal laughed at the exclamation that came out without me realizing it, overwhelmed by the splendid lineup of participants.
“You don’t have to be so nervous. They’re just seniors. Just be polite.”
“Just seniors…”
At that moment, a couple of hunters approached me, all of whom were famous people who often appeared in TV commercials.
“It’s been a while, Principal!”
“Yeah, it’s been a while, everyone!”
How can those people just be seniors…?
It’s impossible.
I moved away from the prominent people approaching the principal and headed to the corner.
But was I the only one who felt this sense of discomfort?
Most of us, who were from the awakened society, seemed to know the people at the event to some extent and chatted with them quite familiarly.
In particular, various people gathered around Park Siwoo, Na Yuri, and Shin Baran.
Moreover, the introverted Min Jayoon seemed to know someone and was meeting with them.
Choi Soojung probably didn’t know anyone because of her background, but it seemed like she planned to stay with Lee Hana anyway.
Ah, I just saw Shin Baran quickly walking towards Shin Bareun.
Anyway, that siscon must have been quite anxious.
I quietly watched that natural scene of friendship.
The Awakened Society Cartel.
Actually, I only heard about it, but it didn’t really feel real, but now that I see it with my own eyes, it’s a little…
“How is it? Do you feel a sense of distance?”
“Maybe so.”
I smiled bitterly as I answered Fox’s question that was casually thrown out next to me.
I grew up in the lowest class among ordinary people, and I’m a government-sponsored awakener.
“But don’t you know anyone? You’re from the Balder family? It’s a famous family, right?”
“I’ve only been active as a shadow until now. I’ll be introduced publicly at this medal ceremony, so I don’t have a presence yet. That’s why I can be with you like this. Are you happy?”
“…Yeah. Thank you soooo much.”
“If you’re grateful, come to our Tower Sect—”
“I’ll decline.”
“If you come, you can become a savior right away. What a pity.”
“Why are you talking nonsense again? What does a savior even mean?”
“I’ll tell you when you join.”
Really, what should I do with this kid.
I laughed and watched Na Yuhan, who was dealing with strangers so well, before looking out the window.
Why is time passing so slowly?
Still, maybe because Fox was next to me. I didn’t feel that lonely.
At that moment, his device vibrated. He looked at the screen and made a subtle expression.
“Why?”
“No, I think our troublemaker will arrive soon.”
If it’s someone who’s going to send Fox a message… Nika Balder?
I recalled my plan to approach Nika Balder by revealing my ‘metasystem.’
—Metasystem.
My ability that even I don’t know exactly.
She probably wants to dig deep into this ability.
I should hide what needs to be hidden well, but I should take advantage of it as much as possible. I made up my mind again.
At that moment, I saw Na Yuhan approaching me from the other side.
He came quite close to me, but stopped when our eyes met.
Are you done with everything?
I smiled softly at him, and his hesitant feet began to move toward me again.
At that moment.
The huge double doors of the banquet hall opened roughly.
Fox muttered as if he was bewildered.
“Goodness…”
“I’m here—!”
Baaam—!
Her gorgeous platinum hair with a little bit of curl fluttered in the wind from the door. Her confident eyes, illuminated by the light of the chandelier, were shining beautifully in amethyst color.
Her beautiful platinum ears, which resembled her hair color, and her fluffy fox tail swayed and sparkled.
“Where is my fiancé?”
The head of the Balder family, Na Yuhan’s fiancée, Nika Balder appeared. The hall was instantly filled with commotion at her sudden appearance.
“Nika Balder?!”
“The new head of Balder’s family? Why are you here…?”
…It certainly seemed that she was an uninvited guest, or at least a secretly invited guest.
Nevertheless, she didn’t care at all. Her naturally confident attitude, which came from her natural status, was enviable.
Her whole body overflowed with confidence that no one would be able to reject her.
Nika looked around the hall without caring at all about the surroundings and soon found Na Yuhan.
As she strode toward him, the people around her parted like a miracle of Moses.
She stood proudly in front of Na Yuhan, who had stopped in his tracks, linking arms with him, then she spoke.
“I came because my fiancé did something great. Michael!”
“Yes, yes.”
Fox next to me let out a deep sigh and strode toward Nika.
“This is my secretary, Michael. You can leave the miscellaneous work to Michael.”
“…Alright.”
She spoke as if she was talking to Na Yuhan, but judging by the fact that she spoke loudly enough for everyone around her to hear, it seemed like she had publicly declared that Fox was her right-hand man.
Na Yuhan looked down at Nika, who was linking arms with him, yet he didn’t bother to unlink his arms.
Well, she had to make sure that he was clearly her fiancé to the outside world.
I decided to just make a shocked expression like ‘Kang Nahyun who has a crush on Na Yuhan.’
A distorted expression as if she was about to cry… A face that had been dumped… An acting that seemed to be in pain even though she knew it was fake… !
Great, this is it!
I felt like I had a neat expression on my face. I could feel Na Yuhan silently reacting as he glanced at me.
Nice. This should be a good way to appeal my character, let’s take a step back.
Contact with Nika should be planned after the medal ceremony—
“Hoo.”
…But why do you keep coming to me…?
Every time I cautiously took a step back, Nika took two steps closer.
Geez, I tried to blend in with the crowd naturally, yet Nika caused everyone to disperse!
W-What is it?
“W-What’s going on…?”
I showed a flustered look for a moment.
Despite my dilated pupils, Nika, who had come close to my nose, gently lifted my chin with her fingertips and examined me.
“You’re the one who got the elixir from somewhere.”