Chapter 17

It’s been about two weeks since I treated Seldienne to some tteokbokki.

During that time, nothing particularly eventful happened at the Academy.

I was just getting used to my new routine and continuing my normal life at the Academy.

Thanks to Rusika and Haidiera taking turns looking out for me, who had become a bit of an outsider, lunchtime was never lonely.

And surprisingly, I was regularly being called to one more place: the garden.

Seldienne couldn’t just let the fact that I treated her to a meal slip by quietly, so she invited me to a lavishly arranged meal in the garden next time as a way to repay the debt.

Her reaction was amusing and ridiculous, so when I brought a packed lunch again following the same logic, this cycle of revenge began to roll on.

Debt begets debt, and since neither of us wanted to back down from our pride, it seemed like my meal times with Seldienne would go on for a while.

Long story short, I had recently been alternating visits with Rusika, Haidiera, and Seldienne.

Compared to just sticking close to Tirisia, I could say my social circle had significantly widened.

Of course, what had changed wasn’t just about my lunch companions.

In the past, I had been like a servant, sticking closely to Tirisia, with all my attention fixated on her, just as Seldienne said.

But after parting with her, a lot began to change.

Now, my relationship with Tirisia felt like we had simply reverted back to being friends, like a year ago.

This also meant we no longer spent time together during holidays or after school at the Academy.

Now that Tirisia had another boyfriend, it was impossible to meet her one-on-one.

Tirisia didn’t bother to suggest we meet up either, perhaps wanting to maintain that boundary.

Whether that was to consider my feelings or for her own sake, I honestly didn’t know.

In any case, with our dating time and lunch together having disappeared, the only times we faced each other were during overlapping classes.

And the remaining part of our relationship was just the occasional journey to and from the Academy together.

Looking back further, there were times when Tirisia, Rusika, and I would hang out together, but those days were long gone.

Both Rusika and Tirisia had to invest a lot of time in studies and swordsmanship training to maintain top grades at the Academy, adhering strictly to their family’s expectations.

Even aside from that, with the representative duel tournament and important academic exam, the Gyeongmudaeje, coming up soon, all students were fully focused on their training.

As the fun times naturally faded away and the moments we once had as a couple vanished, I realized that surprisingly few connections remained between Tirisia and me.

While we remained friends by mutual agreement, perhaps it was like a castle built on sand, tenuous and vulnerable.

Once a wave crashes in, would there be anything left?

Such vague possibilities floated in my mind.

Maybe Tirisia would spend her leisure time with her current boyfriend.

As those moments piled up, I would gradually be pushed further into the background, just a casual acquaintance on the way to school.

While I had spent more time with her than him for now, with the position reversed, it was uncertain what future lay ahead.

Just as she had kept her distance from Rusika due to her busy life, I too would become just an ordinary friend, equal in distance to Rusika.

Little by little, as we grow apart, there might come a day when it would feel like our time together as a couple had been nothing but a lie.

Only then would I finally be able to accept that I had completely parted from her.

But in the end, even this was merely speculating on the optimistic possibility that waves wouldn’t crash down upon our future.

Just as close friends sometimes have quarrels, if any discord were to arise between Tirisia and me, that reckoning could come much sooner.

The future was still shrouded in mystery, but I couldn’t shake off the vague unease rising within me.

It felt like being surrounded by ticking time bombs just waiting to go off.

I wasn’t quite sure why.

Maybe I was the one carrying that bomb within me.

The fear that this hole in my heart could be filled with some sort of unidentified thing.

That was the only worry left for me, who solely wished for Tirisia’s happiness.

―

“Let’s just eat something.”

It seems when you’re alone, your mind wanders a lot.

What a sad sight to see someone moping around in the hallway.

Letting out a sigh while looking out the window, I started moving towards my destination again.

The place I was heading to was the rooftop of the department’s main building. The lair of the lonely wolf.

It had been a while since I decided to visit Senior Perjena.

I’d been mingling with other folks for some time, and I had a few words I needed to share with her, too.

The upper levels of the main building housed the teacher’s lounge and various administrative offices, and right below the rooftop was the principal’s office, making it a place where students seldom came during lunchtime.

As I walked alone down the quiet corridor, I was passing the principal’s office when—

Clack—

The door to the principal’s office opened, and a man stepped outside.

He spotted me as well, and we both recognized each other at the same time.

“Um…”

“Aah?”

He was someone I had seen from a distance a few times.

In fact, I’d only faced him directly once.

It was during that moment in the classroom bathed in dusk…

“Wow, what a coincidence.”

He smirked and slowly walked over to me.

A solidly built guy with a muscular physique, towering over me by at least a head. Whether from training or just natural, he sported dark skin. Clad in a loose uniform with no tie, his short blond hair looked dull and wild compared to Seldienne’s luxurious golden locks, and his three pointed piercings on his ear were a sight to behold.

With a rugged face fit for a back alley and sharp features, he always wore a haughty smile.

His dark, unreadable eyes loomed down at me.

“You doing well?”

The son of the academy’s principal. Kerg Durakal.

Current boyfriend of Tirisia, and the jerk who had taken her from me in the worst possible way.

“I’m kinda in a rush, so could you step aside?”

I had nothing to say to him, so I tried to pass by quietly.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,”

He blocked my chest with his thick, muscular arm like a wall.

“Let’s not be in such a hurry. Got it?”

“Do you have something to say?”

As I calmly stepped back and asked with no expression, he brushed his hair back and smirked wider.

“Heh, since we just happened to meet, I couldn’t help but feel a bit neglected. I mean, if you’re a childhood friend of my girlfriend, that’s kinda valuable to me, right? It stings to be ignored like that—”

“I’m not ignoring you; I’m just saying I’ll pass if there’s nothing happening.”

“Ahh, something just came to mind.”

“What’s that?”

Kerg chuckled, his breath tickling my ear as he placed a hand on my shoulder.

“You, what was it… Erto, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“I hear you still haven’t told anyone that you broke up with my girl? Is that true?”

“…Yeah, what’s the problem?”

As I replied dully, his grip on my shoulder tightened.

I felt a slight pain but maintained a thoroughly expressionless face.

“Hey, hey… are you calling that a statement?”

He bent his back slowly, aligning his gaze with mine like a predator getting ready to strike.

His black eyes glinted ominously, almost burning into my soul.

“That girl is mine now… right? Aah?”

“…”

“Start dropping pointless attachments and admit that you’re a loser in front of her. How long am I supposed to put up with this mess?”

“Hah…”

I let out a sigh and forcefully pushed his hand off my shoulder.

Looking directly into his dark gaze, I spat coldly.

“I’ve been thinking the same. Who’s going to pretend to keep dating? But that timing should be discussed with Tirisia, and I don’t think you have the authority to give orders.”

“Hoh, look at you? This is amusing!”

As he laughed with a crinkled face, Kerg bent down deep, scrutinizing my face closely.

“The coward who couldn’t squeak a word when I took his girl right out of his face is suddenly chatting away! What’s the change in heart?”

“This is just how I am. And please don’t provoke me, I’m not in the mood to fight with you.”

“Aah?”

Kerg raised his eyebrows as if he couldn’t understand my attitude, but he didn’t lose his relaxed smile.

“Now that I think about it, I wanna ask you something.”

“What is it?”

He brought his face slowly close to my ear.

I could feel something sinister writhing beneath his dark skin.

“What was it like for you… back then?”

His low voice slithered into my ear like a devil whispering.

“When she was in my arms… did it excite you? Huh?”

―

In that instant, something stirred inside me.

“Let me say just one thing since I see your face now, Senior.”

I suppressed that feeling with all my might and spoke in a calm, confident voice.

“I’m nothing but a long-time childhood friend who cares for Tirisia’s happiness more than anyone else.”

“Aah?”

Kerg looked genuinely perplexed this time, his body still as he processed my words.

“So for now, I indefinitely respect Tirisia’s choice. Be it you or anyone else.”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

“I won’t interfere with the happiness she has in her hands. Do you understand what I meant when I said I wouldn’t fight with you?”

“…You’re quite the cocky one.”

Kerg let out a scoff, appearing somewhat deflated, but I hadn’t finished yet.

“So whatever you do to me, I won’t react. It’d be a waste of time to see what entertainment you can find in me, so just don’t bother.”

“Ahh— is that so? Then fine, hush and scram. This is boring.”

Kerg waved his hand dismissively while facing the window.

“Last thing, let me say just one thing I wish for from you, Senior.”

“I said leave.”

“If you’re really in a relationship, please treat Tirisia well. Even better than I did. I hope you’re capable of that.”

“Aah? You little…”

Kerg stepped forward, grabbing me by the collar, furrowing his brow.

The stormy black eyes that were dangerously close were radiating malice.

“What’s a guy who can’t even throw a punch at the one who took his girl trying to give me orders? You looking to die?”

“I mean it. Now let me go.”

“Quit jabbering. If you have complaints, go ahead and throw a punch at me. Here, I’m giving you a shot. Go on, hit me.”

He dropped my collar and offered me his face with an outstretched hand, poking his cheek with a finger.

Haah… this guy is really a pain in the ass.

Just as I was thinking about how to get out of this situation,

“Hey, get lost.”

A cold, sharp voice rang out from behind.

“Aah?”

Both Kerg and I turned to look at the girl who appeared at the end of the hallway.

A student with two-tone short blue hair, dressed haphazardly in her school uniform, one arm stuck in her jacket while leaning against the wall.

She raised a finger to Kerg and bared her teeth in a grin.

“Or should I throw a punch for you?”

Today’s lunch partner, the Iron-Blooded Sword Mistress, Senior Perjena, had arrived.

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