Chapter 65

〈Episode 66〉 Hey, Class President, don’t get in my way

Trudging along…

Young-hee started moving.

The hospital surrounded by darkness was eerily quiet.

To reach the adjacent building where Chul-soo was, she had to go outside.

There she simply walked straight ahead.

“••••••”

For some reason, Young-hee was smiling.

More accurately, only the corners of her mouth were curved into a smile.

Her eyes didn’t move at all.

Her lifeless black pupils stared straight ahead.

Chillingly maintaining that grin…

She just kept walking straight,

Her gaze fixed on the direction of Chul-soo’s room.

“…….Young-hee?”

Someone blocked her path.

Creak.

She turned her head to look at them.

It was the class president.

In her slightly tired-looking hand was a cup of coffee.

Probably taking a short break after nursing Chul-soo.

What a good kid indeed.

“Ah, class president.”

At an awkward moment, Young-hee finally spoke.

Her bright voice echoed through the night air.

The tone was unusually cheerful.

But her expression didn’t change at all.

That weird feeling made the class president raise an eyebrow.

“When did you wake up? Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m fine. I’m completely alright now.”

It was true.

She felt lighter than ever before.

She felt so good, like she could fly.

Right now, it felt like she could do anything.

“Thank goodness. But where are you going?”

“To see Chul-soo.”

After answering, Young-hee resumed walking.

She passed right by the class president.

It seemed like she was heading back into the hospital.

“Hold on a sec.”

Halt.

Young-hee turned around.

The class president was staring at her with furrowed brows.

Their gazes clashed briefly in mid-air.

“You, what’s that in your hand?”

“Huh?”

Young-hee finally looked down at her own hand.

There was a whip.

“Oh.”

That’s right.

It was the weapon someone gave her earlier.

They said to use it to kill Chul-soo.

They mentioned something about needing evidence, though she didn’t really understand what they meant.

Still, she accepted it as a present.

Since it had been a while since she last received a gift, she was happy.

And she absentmindedly brought it along.

“It’s a present.”

“Present? You’re giving this to Chul-soo?”

“Nope. It’s mine.”

Realizing it might be taken away, Young-hee tightly hugged the whip.

Seeing this, the class president’s expression twisted even more.

“…You’re definitely weird.”

“I’m not. I’m perfectly fine.”

On the contrary, she felt really good.

So good that she couldn’t think about anything else besides Chul-soo.

She wanted to see him so badly, she thought she might go crazy.

Because seeing him would make her even happier!

“You, come here for a moment.”

“Nope. I need to meet Chul-soo.”

“Sorry, but you can’t see Chul-soo.”

“Why not?”

Young-hee tilted her head in confusion.

The class president quietly gathered magic power in her hand.

A silent signal that she’d stop her by force if necessary.

“If you see Chul-soo right now…something big might happen. Even if not, you’re forbidden from visiting. Don’t want you passing out again, do we?”

Instantly, Young-hee’s face stiffened coldly.

Her unfocused eyes turned toward the class president.

An ominous chill spread from somewhere unknown.

“What? Why are you stopping me? I’ve grown to dislike you too, class president.”

Creepy.

The sudden chill running down her spine was unmistakable.

‘What is she?’

The person standing before her wasn’t Young-hee.

Though the body belonged to Young-hee, the personality inside was different.

It was almost like a completely different person.

“What are you? Who are you?”

“Heheh, what are you talking about? It’s me, class president.”

Young-hee took a step closer.

The class president could feel a chilling aura radiating from her face.

Could this girl really smile like that?

And why did Young-hee…?

What did she plan to do when she met Chul-soo?”

“Hmm? Kill him.”

She answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

As casually as picking up a coin that fell.

Madness.

Right now, nothing else could describe Young-hee.

“What…what are you saying…?”

“Class president, why have you been acting weird since earlier? Can I go already?”

“Why do you want to kill Chul-soo?”

“Reason…?”

Young-hee tilted her head in confusion.

Like she didn’t understand what he was talking about.

“Do I need one?”

“What?”

“If I listen to that person, I become happy. This is amazing. I feel incredible.”

Young-hee raised her hand.

In it was her weapon, the whip.

“So, killing Chul-soo will make me even happier.”

SWISH! The whip came flying instantly.

The class president cast her prepared magic.

-Low-Rank Magic: Magic Shield

With a clang, the shield wavered.

But then the whip twisted and lunged back at her.

“Huh?”

The whip flew like a snake and coiled around her neck.

It tightened, pressing against her throat.

Her breathing was cut off.

There was no time to react to the sudden situation.

“Gah…”

Young-hee’s original role was healer and buffer.

However, she was also uncommonly capable of direct combat.

Especially with her specialty—whip skills.

Even in the academy, she could easily defeat mid-level fighters.

“Grrk! Cough!”

“Too bad, class president. If you’d just let me go, nothing would’ve happened. Now you made me do this.”

The fallen class president desperately tried to move her body.

This wouldn’t do.

If she didn’t act, she might pass out due to lack of oxygen.

‘Dangerous…!’

The class president flicked her fingers.

The erected magic shield began spinning rapidly.

The razor-thin shield sliced through the whip like a saw.

“Cough! Huff! Huff!”

Having barely secured her airway, the class president gasped for breath.

Lifting her head, she stared at Young-hee.

Young-hee frowned at the broken whip in her hand.

“Hmph. I kinda liked that one.”

“…Whatever this is, you’re not Young-hee.”

“Hmm? What are you talking about, class president? It’s me, Young-hee, your friend.”

“Hmph. Alright, we’ll beat some sense into you and talk later.”

Magic power gathered in the class president’s hand.

She was one of the top students in the academy, a powerful magician who wouldn’t go down easily.

-Low-Rank Magic: Magic Bullet

She fired the spell from her hand.

And—

-Low-Rank Magic: Magic Bullet

-Low-Rank Magic: Magic Bullet

-Low-Rank Magic: Magic Bullet

-Low-Rank Magic: Magic Bullet

-Low-Rank Magic: Magic Bullet

Translucent magic bullets rained down on Young-hee from all directions.

There were at least ten of them.

“Waah, shiny~”

Young-hee countered with her own magic.

A wave of white rippled through the air.

-BOOM

Their spells collided.

Magic exploded mid-air, and stray bullets gouged the ground.

The scattered magic caused sand to rise in a loud roar.

-Swish!!

Taking advantage of the chaos, Young-hee’s magically recreated whip came flying.

“Hmph!”

The class president extended her hand, summoning an ice shield.

The whip froze solid the moment it touched the shield.

-Mid-Rank Magic: Chill Barrier

“Wow, that’s a tough spell, huh? Impressive, class president.”

Light gathered in Young-hee’s hand, forming a sphere before dispersing like fireflies in all directions.

At first glance, it was a beautiful sight, but the class president’s face went pale.

‘No! She planned this from the start…!’

-KABOOM!

The entire area, including where the class president stood, was obliterated.

Dust filled the air.

A shield couldn’t block this kind of omnidirectional attack.

Even casting another spell would be too late.

This should surely…

-PFFT!

Mocking her thoughts, the class president burst out of the dust cloud.

“Did you really think you could beat me with magic?!”

Her body was completely wrapped in a magical barrier.

Dual-casting.

A high-level skill that even seasoned magicians found difficult to pull off.

The class president executed it flawlessly.

-Mid-Rank Magic: Heavy Air

“Ugh!”

Under the pressure closing in from all sides, Young-hee collapsed to her knees.

This wasn’t simple gravity magic.

This spell restricted movement itself, making it impossible to escape.

The only way out was brute strength.

‘Unless it’s Yu-jin or Chul-soo… Young-hee doesn’t have that much strength.’

Sure enough, Young-hee remained motionless on her knees.

Soon, she wouldn’t even be able to move her fingers.

“Now quit. You’re not built for direct combat anyway.”

As said, Young-hee was closer to being a healer and buffer.

Even if she joined the fight, it was only for support.

Of course, she could probably take down a few regular mages.

But the class president was among the top students in the academy.

She wasn’t about to lose to this extent.

“Got it? Are you satisfied now?”

“Let’s go back, Young-hee. Go explain everything.”

Something was clearly wrong with Young-hee.

Why did she want to kill Chul-soo?

She needed to hear the whole story.

The class president approached Young-hee.

Perhaps that was a mistake.

“Why…”

“Huh?”

“Why are you stopping me?”

Black energy rippled.

Realizing what it was, the class president’s eyes widened.

“Black…magic power?”

Even at rest, an ominous aura emanated from her.

Its source, without a doubt, was Young-hee.

“I just don’t want to hurt anymore. I want to be happy! Seeing Chul-soo will solve everything…”

Young-hee’s hair seemed to ripple in the wind.

The malevolent magic power was terrifying.

The air vibrated under the pressure of the magic waves.

‘This is insane…!’

Magic overflowed from Young-hee’s body.

This wasn’t a normal situation.

There was no way a mere student like Young-hee could produce such power.

!

!……

…….

She was forcing her already fragile body beyond its limits.

Squeezing out magic far beyond her control.

‘I have to stop her!’

The class president quickly gathered her magic power.

This was dangerous.

Not only Chul-soo and others,

but even Young-hee’s life might be at risk.

She had to stop her.

Somehow, right here!

“Young-hee!”

Black magic power erupted from Young-hee’s hands.

Reacting, the class president hurriedly cast her spell.

-High-Rank Magic: Ultra Gravity

The most powerful magic she could use.

She didn’t want to accidentally kill Young-hee.

At least canceling each other out should be sufficient.

Resolved, the class president’s magic emitted light.

Or so she thought.

“…”

Involuntarily, the class president mumbled in disbelief.

Before she knew it, she was lying face-down on the ground.

Her fallen body refused to move.

She belatedly realized her magic had been overpowered.

‘I…lost? To Young-hee?’

The class president vividly remembered the moment their spells collided.

Young-hee’s black magic power.

And her Ultra Gravity.

The two spells clashed, and hers was pushed back.

She managed to deflect it slightly.

A direct hit might’ve killed her.

‘Damn it…’

Trying to stand despite herself, but her body wouldn’t budge.

Worse, her vision started blurring.

She instinctively understood she was losing consciousness.

The rough sand scratching her cheek felt sharp.

She was about to pass out.

‘Someone…someone has to stop Young-hee…!’

Her lips refused to move, but her heart screamed.

Answering that cry, someone appeared.

Probably the person Young-hee wanted to see the most.

“…Young-hee?”

It was Chul-soo.

Clearly, he had gotten up and walked over despite being bedridden moments ago.

Seeing this, the class president wanted to scream.

‘No…’

No.

Above all, Chul-soo mustn’t meet Young-hee now.

Both her reason and instincts warned that something would go wrong.

Someone had to intervene!

‘Please…’

Despite her desperate plea, the class president’s consciousness faded.

Finally, the class president completely collapsed.

Only the two of them remained in the empty space.

Young-hee smiled faintly and said,

“I missed you, Chul-soo.”

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