Chapter 53

Iris patted her flushed forehead with her hand.

It was a reminder of the playful smack I gave her this morning.

But still, I did pressure her a bit.

It was a punishment she had to accept.

As we entered the dining hall, students bustling around were visible.

Today was the day of the summer Magung tournament.

A subtle tension permeated the entire dining hall.

When Iris appeared, all eyes shifted towards her.

Feeling the need to avoid suspicion, I obediently followed her.

“Hania, did you hear?”

“It’s a huge event!”

But perhaps because of Hania’s natural charm, her friends often approached me to chat.

“Sorry, everyone, but I’d like to focus on Magung today, so let’s talk later.”

But given it was the day of the tournament, they understood and left me alone.

“Your team placed second in the group event, didn’t it?”

“Sounds like you’re trying to make up for it by focusing harder.”

Fortunately, the incident during the group event gave my words some weight.

It was perfectly reasonable to concentrate on the tournament to redeem the humiliation.

‘I’ll just put my all into whatever I do.’

Ah, my past self.

I deserve a gold star for that.

‘After all the ups and downs, I made it through the day.’

Now it was just the tournament left to tackle.

With the climactic finale of Act 3 ahead, I felt considerable tension.

“Hania, let’s go.”

With the air thick with nerves, Iris and I headed towards the Martial Arts building.

All the students had gathered by the Martial Arts building under the professors’ guidance as we made our way to the tournament entrance.

Consequently, there was a crowd of Martial Arts students gathered in front of the building.

The tension in the air was palpable, more pronounced than usual.

I turned my gaze and spotted Hania, who was with Hannon, looking rather annoyed with her arms crossed.

It was obvious.

She wanted to be next to Iris, but since she wasn’t, she was sulking.

The Seron beside her seemed to feel quite uncomfortable, keeping his mouth tightly shut.

Ah, our Seron.

A total communication block…

“Just like Hannon.”

Suddenly, Iris whispered to me.

That annoyed expression looks just like mine?

As someone who was always wearing a kind smile, that was quite shocking.

While I was still reeling from the shock, I suddenly spotted Isabel.

Isabel tilted her head, looking at Hania, who was mimicking Hannon for some reason.

Could she possibly be noticing something?

I sincerely hoped not.

“Haa, I’m so tired.”

“Another Magung, huh?”

Meanwhile, several third-years began to appear.

Having been through enough tournaments already, they wore exasperated expressions.

Unlike the eager second years, most of the third years seemed rather resigned.

Given they were often called the weakest generation, their will to try was pretty low.

Among those third years, I spotted a silver-haired figure looking particularly cold today.

Underneath that hair were cold, cerulean eyes that felt almost ominous.

Nikita Cynthia.

I could somehow sense a chill radiating from her.

At that moment, Nikita lifted her head.

I quickly averted my gaze before our eyes met.

I felt her eyes linger on Iris before moving away.

Only I, who understood it all, could notice the subtle malice behind her gaze.

“Looks like everyone’s about here.”

In that peculiar tense moment, Professor Veganon appeared late.

Unlike usual, she was dressed tidily in a suit, releasing a yawn as she brushed it off.

Beside her stood the Martial Arts professors in charge of first and third years.

Even Veganon seemed friendly beside those professors with notoriously stern expressions.

But among them, Veganon held the highest seniority.

Behind them, assistant professors and teaching assistants were lined up in a row.

With a substantial number of people, Veganon gestured to the junior professors.

“We’re moving to the tournament entrance from now on. No chatter, everyone, let’s go.”

With the third-year professor’s words, the Martial Arts students began to move.

Given the number of us, it turned into quite a vast procession.

By now, other departments were probably also beginning to move.

Later, a massive crowd of students would surely gather in front of the tournament entrance.

As we made our way, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched from behind.

Since we started moving, it felt like someone was keeping a close eye on me.

Could anyone have noticed I’m not Hania?

Glancing around, I saw that none of the students seemed to pay attention to me.

Everyone was tightly focused on preparing for Magung.

They really had no bandwidth to spare for others.

‘In that case…’

It meant the one watching me wasn’t a student.

Widening my senses a little more, I focused on the teaching assistants.

But there was still no one looking at me there either.

Finally, when my gaze fell on the faculty, I spotted someone staring at me intently.

One of the assistant professors from the second-year Martial Arts department.

Barcob Debliju.

He was known for being the second son of the famously wealthy Count Debliju.

And I knew of one incident related to Barcob.

‘That creep’s got a thing for minors.’

There was an incident where an assistant professor from Jerion Academy got expelled for trailing students around.

This was just a short newsflash within the academy.

It wasn’t an event where users could intervene directly.

Only the resulting friction between professors and students came from it.

And that connected to why Professor Veganon became an alcoholic.

That guy was staring at me right now.

Specifically, he was looking at the shell of Hania I wore.

Chills crept up my spine.

Those burning eyes were absolutely disgusting.

‘No wonder Hania couldn’t deal with that stalker.’

With a tangle of family connections, it made sense she didn’t tackle it rashly and chose to bide her time.

The problem was, that guy was looking at me with those heated eyes.

I felt for the first time in my life a desire to survive.

“Now that we’ve arrived at the tournament, find your team members before I call you.”

At that moment, we had reached the tournament entrance.

I rushed to Iris and clung to her as soon as Professor Veganon’s order was given.

“Iris, let’s hurry.”

If I lingered too long under that gaze, I felt like I would summon some terrible disaster.

Iris seemed to recognize the tension without needing to say anything and moved along.

“Hania.”

Just then, Barcob stepped in our way, blocking us.

This crazy guy.

“Iris, may I speak with Hania for a moment?”

Barcob was staring at me with a determined look.

My hand, ready to summon disaster, was trembling.

I genuinely wanted to knock him out.

“That’s…”

Iris looked at Barcob with a perplexed expression.

Iris must have decided to keep to herself after hearing Hania intended to deal with the stalker alone.

Yet oddly, I’d ended up being pulled into the situation instead of her.

For Iris, it was a dilemma.

The students’ eyes started to gather around us.

It would be problematic if we raised any suspicions here.

“Iris, I’ll be right back.”

I decided to downplay the situation first.

Besides, since the third-years entered before us, we second-years still had some leeway.

Once I stepped up, Iris reluctantly permitted it.

“Let’s go, Professor Barcob.”

“Y-yeah.”

Barcob’s face lit up instantly.

It was the exact opposite of my own mood.

Barcob led me to a location a bit away from the crowd.

And I could feel him glancing at me occasionally.

Inside the persona I wore, a 185cm tall dark-skinned guy was hiding.

If he knew that, I couldn’t even imagine how he’d react.

“So, what’s this all about?”

My voice instinctively took on an edge.

But Barcob seemed completely unfazed by it, clearing his throat nervously.

“Hania, I heard you’re attending the Magung this time, and I just couldn’t hold back any longer.”

To be honest, attending the Magung was a given for any student at Jerion Academy.

What kind of nonsense was that?

“Magung is dangerous. If I imagine you might not return, I realize how I truly feel.”

Barcob’s chubby cheeks quivered.

My expression began to harden gradually.

No way this guy.

Was he planning to confess here?

Of all times, when I’m inside Hania?

“Wait a sec. Professor, what are you even—”

“H-Hania!”

Barcob had already made up his mind.

“I like you! I wanted to tell you this before Magung!”

What’s with an over-thirty dude gushing about feelings to a minor?

A sudden headache crashed over me, and my fists clenched.

So this was what it felt like to receive a confession to teach someone a lesson.

Now that I experienced it firsthand, I could see how dizzying it was.

“Professor Barcob, calm down.”

“Hania, just answer me. I know you have feelings for me too!”

Barcob was completely out of his mind.

It was the right moment to resolve this with extreme measures.

“Professor Barcob, Hania is in a relationship with me. This is complicated.”

A voice that I never expected resonated in my ears.

I turned my head slowly.

There stood a boy with black hair and red eyes.

Hannon Irey.

So the real Hania was here too.

“What?”

Barcob’s expression turned blank at Hania’s bombshell statement.

Hania then walked over and took my hand.

“Hania is dating me, so any confession is out of the question.”

With that, I suddenly found myself in a relationship with Hania.

No, wait, since I’m currently Hania, did I just end up in a relationship with myself?

“W-what do you mean?”

Barcob looked bewildered, alternating between our hands.

“Stop spouting nonsense! I know Hania isn’t dating anyone!”

“Oh, really? Hania and I just started dating yesterday.”

Hania shot a look my way.

It was a cue to join in.

Reluctantly, I raised our clasped hands confidently.

“Yes, Hannon confessed yesterday, and we decided to go out. So, I can’t accept your feelings, Professor Barcob.”

“T-that can’t be!”

Barcob stumbled back.

He seemed utterly devastated by the rejection.

Honestly, I wished he would just drop dead right there.

“Don’t give me that. Prove it!”

Barcob shrieked, looking ridiculous.

What do I need to prove when the parties involved are saying it themselves?

Hania sighed, seemingly tired of Barcob’s antics.

“Let’s do what we did yesterday, Hania.”

What on earth did we do yesterday?

At that moment, Hania grabbed my chin.

Whoa, now that’s a Martial Arts Deputy skill for you.

Her movements were so fast, I could hardly follow.

Hania’s face was now right in front of mine.

Our lips were nearly touching.

But somehow, our lips never actually met.

It was pure mastery.

However, since Hania’s back was to Barcob, it definitely looked like a kiss from behind.

Realizing her intentions, I slyly wrapped my arms around her back.

And that was the finish.

Barcob screamed.

“No! No way! That can’t be happening!”

Barcob bolted, unable to cope with the reality.

This was Barcob’s one and only epic heartbreak.