Chapter 18 (Continued)

 

Baek-Seo quickly rebutted with a smiling face. Her tone was clear and smooth.

 

I was at a loss for words.

 

“…….”

 

I rubbed my chin and thought.

 

She was right. I couldn’t logically argue against her.

 

We left the room and headed towards the entrance. It was still drizzling.

 

I opened the umbrella, and Baek-Seo slowly stepped under it.

 

“Excuse me.”

 

“Oh? Oh.”

 

Baek-Seo smiled brightly. Her shoulder touched mine, and her pleasant scent cut through the earthy smell, filling my senses.

 

An unexpected tension arose. I hadn’t been paying attention to the fact that I would have to share an umbrella with Baek-Seo while thinking about Anomia.

 

‘Isn’t this something that couples or people in a relationship would do…?’

 

It had been a long time since I shared an umbrella with a girl, since Kim Dalbi, and I overlooked it.

 

As we started walking, my mouth went dry. My body felt stiff.

 

If any passing students saw this, they might get the wrong idea.

 

Fortunately, it was late, and the rain meant there were fewer students around than usual. But the unease was unavoidable.

 

‘I can’t just give her the umbrella and walk alone, and buying one at a convenience store feels like a waste of money…’

 

The best option was to go home quietly and discreetly.

 

The rain was loud and heavy.

 

“…….”

 

Our arms kept brushing against each other. Sharing one umbrella made physical contact unavoidable.

 

When I tried to step away, my shoulder got wet from the rain.

 

“Leader.”

 

“Why?”

 

Baek-Seo’s soft voice gently pierced through the sound of the rain.

 

“Are you worried about looking like a couple?”

 

“!”

 

I flinched, my head dropping without even realizing it. It was a question that pierced through my psyche like a dagger.

 

I thought I was maintaining a poker face. Did it show?

 

Or was it just a coincidence that she voiced a doubt I might have been harboring?

 

Regardless, I answered as casually as I could, pretending to be unaffected.

 

“It’s not an appropriate look for the Disciplinary Committee Leader and Vice Leader. You didn’t have an umbrella, so we had no choice.”

 

“I don’t mind, even if we get misunderstood.”

 

“But I do….”

 

Baek-Seo’s radiance was too strong to be damaged by something like this, but as the leader, my dignity could be compromised.

 

“Fufu.”

 

Baek-Seo let out a low laugh, sidled closer to me, and grabbed the end of the umbrella handle that I was holding. She tilted the umbrella towards me.

 

My shoulder stayed dry, but hers started to get wet.

 

‘I should have bought a bigger umbrella.’

 

She’s really considerate. Baek-Seo never loses when it comes to showing concern for others. So, I had no choice but to walk closely with her to avoid getting wet.

 

Baek-Seo’s elbow naturally came up on top of mine. We got even closer.

 

Unintentionally, my elbow brushed against Baek-Seo’s underarm several times, feeling a soft and somewhat embarrassing sensation. However, she didn’t show any reaction.

 

She just kept her usual gentle smile and walked briskly.

 

At some point, I realized there had been a silence between us. I hadn’t noticed the awkward atmosphere because of my own tension.

 

“I think I understand something.”

 

Eventually, Baek-Seo spoke softly.

 

“Understand what?”

 

“Why people misunderstand when a boy and a girl share an umbrella.”

 

“?”

 

Why would she say that?

 

I couldn’t quite grasp her intentions.

 

Baek-Seo’s face always wore a gentle smile. But she might be feeling the same as me. This situation was quite nerve-wracking…

 

“That’s…”

 

Just as I was about to respond,

 

Vrrr.

 

My smartphone vibrated in my uniform pocket.

 

“Hold on.”

 

I wasn’t sure what to say, so I used the phone as an excuse to buy some time to think.

 

I took out my smartphone. There was a text message from Secretary Park Minhyuk.

 

“……?”

 

The message contained a photo of Minhyuk, bruised and lying on the ground. My steps halted.

 

“Leader?”

 

Baek-Seo also stopped, looking at me with a puzzled expression.

 

More messages arrived. There were coordinates and a message.

 

[The secretary is here]

 

[Bring people or call for support]

 

[Imagine what will happen to this guy]

 

“Baek-Seo.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“I have somewhere to go.”

 

I didn’t have any other thoughts.

 

My mind just went cold.

 

* * *

 

A high-rise building stood tall on the outskirts of Academy City.

 

Usually, it appeared as an abandoned building, looking like construction had halted just before completion. But its interior was intact.

 

However, today, combat drones and turrets were set up around the building, and armed Anomia members were standing guard. The forces were concentrated especially at the front entrance.

 

A gathering of forces. An explicit state of alert.

 

This was the building where Secretary Park Minhyuk had been taken. The name inscribed at the front was ‘Grey Star’.

 

Meanwhile, in an office, Anomia’s leader, dressed in combat gear and a luxurious coat, was reclining with his feet on the desk, sipping whiskey.

 

He had confirmed through drones that Ahsung High School’s Disciplinary Committee Leader, Ahn Woo-jin, was heading alone towards Grey Star. Now, Anomia would launch an all-out attack to deal with him, then retreat before Oh Baek-Seo could intervene.

 

There was a good chance Ahn Woo-jin had called for support. Although there was no sign of activity from Ahsung High School yet, if Ahn Woo-jin managed to rescue the secretary, the Disciplinary Committee might stealthily prepare and head to Grey Star.

 

But even with that risk, Ahn Woo-jin had to be dealt with. The Anomia leader considered Ahn Woo-jin a significant threat due to his intelligence capabilities.

 

He had prepared for a retreat just in case. Even if the Disciplinary Committee deployed, they would be distant enough to give his forces ample time to escape. That’s why they chose the outskirts-located Grey Star as their battleground.

 

Besides, Ahn Woo-jin had to pay for interfering with Anomia.

 

The leader thought so, sneering.

 

Vrrr.

 

The burner phone on the table vibrated. The caller ID was from Grey Star’s control room. The leader answered the call.

 

“Has Ahsung High School’s Disciplinary Committee Leader arrived?”

 

─ Y-yes, he has…!

 

Why was his voice trembling?

 

The leader paused his doubt and continued with a hint of laughter.

 

“He must be trying to sneak into the building, right? He wouldn’t commit a suicidal act by charging the front entrance alone after seeing the strength of our forces.”

 

─ He came through the front entrance….

 

“…What?”

 

The leader frowned.

 

“That can’t be right…?”

 

No matter how strong Ahn Woo-jin was, he was a 4th-level at best.

 

After seeing the forces at Grey Star, it was only natural for him to avoid a direct confrontation. It was impossible for a 4th-level alone to break through those forces.

 

‘He can’t be so foolish as to not realize his limits…’

 

And then.

 

─ Boss!

 

The subordinate in the control room urgently reported.

 

─ Most of the front entrance forces are down! They can’t hold him off…!

 

The leader’s eyes widened in shock.