Chapter 31 (Continued)

 

‘Let’s boil the water first.’

 

I filled a pot with water and set it on the burner.

 

As I watched the slowly boiling water, bubbles starting to form, my earlier worries filled my mind again.

 

‘The Head Principal….’

 

Head Principal Lee Doo-hee.

 

Her face, the elderly woman at the top of the power structure in Academy City, came to mind.

 

‘I didn’t expect someone destined to commit s*****e this year to become a problem. Is she behind Dalbi right now? Like a mastermind?’

 

If the Head Principal’s ears were spread throughout Academy City, talking about her as a mastermind wasn’t safe.

 

This place couldn’t be considered a safe zone either.

 

‘So I just need to avoid mentioning secrets.’

 

I recalled how Dalbi hinted at having a secret but never directly mentioned it.

 

As long as no crucial information was exchanged, the Head Principal seemed to avoid acting overly sensitive. Even her listening devices must have limits.

 

‘It must be tough to cover the whole Academy City, and if she makes noticeable moves, she risks backlash.’

 

Moreover.

 

‘I see why Dalbi didn’t write her secret in the letter.’

 

Dalbi could have secretly conveyed her secret through the letter without speaking.
But she didn’t.

 

‘She must have deemed it too dangerous.’

 

No matter how cautious, there was a chance I could unconsciously mention something related to the Head Principal.

 

Thus, Dalbi probably decided it was better for me not to know the secret at all to avoid burdening me with risk.

 

‘Anyway, it’s best to stay cautious until everything becomes clear. The Head Principal might attack again, so I need to be prepared. However….’

 

Considering she sent Lee Ha-min instead of a Spartoi agent, it seemed the Head Principal wasn’t desperate to get rid of me.

 

Moreover, she couldn’t completely control Kim Dalbi.

 

She wouldn’t want to risk exposing herself as the mastermind manipulating the six sinners. Taking on such a risk to target me seemed unlikely.

 

‘Is Dalbi… okay?’

 

Despite Dalbi being an enemy, I couldn’t help but worry about her.

 

Still, the hobgoblin mentioned Dalbi had a plan. I could only hope things went well for her and that she didn’t suffer under the Head Principal.
I could find out her story later.

 

‘Ugh, my head hurts….’

 

Thinking about all this made me tired.

 

I suddenly felt the weight of the day.

 

‘There’s been too much today.’

 

It was exhausting, really.

 

I needed to stop thinking and rest for a while.

 

As the water boiled vigorously, I turned off the burner and headed towards the shower to ask when she would be finished.

 

The sound of water grew louder.

 

“Leader?”

 

Before I could speak, I heard her voice. It echoed in the shower.

 

“Are you here to peek?”

 

“What?”

 

What nonsense.

 

“Hm, I could pretend I didn’t see anything.”

 

Her gentle yet playful voice made me feel as if my fatigue was slightly melting away. It was as if her voice had a healing effect.
Maybe I was releasing dopamine.

 

KkIt wasn’t strange.

 

Hearing Baek-seo’s voice usually made me feel good.

 

A smile formed on my lips.

 

“As if I came here to do that.”

 

“Gasp.”

 

An unnatural exclamation.

 

“What?”

 

“Then, should we… shower together?”

 

An unsteady voice, naturally laced with mischief.

 

“Huh.”

 

A small exclamation escaped me, caught off guard by the absurdity of it all.

 

The temptation to close my eyes and go along with the joke was strong, but I held back.

 

We weren’t dating or even sure of each other’s feelings, so seriously considering it could ruin our relationship. I had to respect the trust she had in me.

 

Besides, Baek-seo had gone through a lot today and looked exhausted. She was likely trying to lighten the mood. I had to reciprocate her effort.

 

“…Why aren’t you answering?”

 

“?”

 

Ah.

 

I was lost in thought for a moment, creating a delay.

 

She might have found it suspicious.

 

“No, I was just thinking….”

 

“Were you seriously considering it? You pervert, our leader.”

 

“Pervert…!”

 

Even jokingly being called a pervert was unacceptable.

 

I was the Disciplinary Committee Leader. I had to protect my image rigidly.

 

“Don’t push me into something strange….”

 

From inside the shower, I heard Baek-seo’s soft laugh, “Huhu.”

 

“I’m planning to make ramen for when you’re done. How much longer do you need?”

 

“About ten more minutes.”

 

“Got it. Towels are on the shelf, so make sure you grab one.”

 

“Thanks.”

 

I returned to the kitchen.

 

***

 

The shower was filled with a dense mist.

 

Naked, Baek-seo stood under the stream of water, running her fingers through her hair. She had just finished her playful conversation with Woo-jin.

 

She wiped the steam from the mirror with her hand, revealing her face. Her expression was… not great.

 

“……”

 

Kim Dalbi.

 

There was something she needed to discuss with her.

 

They finally met today but couldn’t talk.

 

Given the circumstances, it was understandable.

 

Once Dalbi had targeted Woo-jin, Baek-seo could only think of brandishing her knife. Talking could come after finding and crushing Dalbi.

 

The problem lay elsewhere.

 

Baek-seo suspected the Head Principal was involved in targeting Woo-jin.

 

A villain had aimed for Woo-jin in the Federal Council’s territory, and Dalbi had also intervened. To Baek-seo, it was a natural conclusion.

 

Why would the Head Principal target Woo-jin?

 

The exact reason was unclear.

 

One thing was certain: Woo-jin could be in danger again.

 

There was no guarantee that today’s ambush wouldn’t be repeated.

 

If possible, she considered staying with Woo-jin until the Head Principal issue was resolved.

 

“…It’s okay.”

 

Thinking of Dalbi and the Head Principal, Baek-seo whispered to herself.

 

“I’ll protect him.”

 

She had already discarded her life once.

 

There was nothing better than risking her life to protect someone she cared about.

 

“I’ll protect him….”

 

Baek-seo looked down at her hands.

 

Under the bright shower light, her calloused, pale hands were visible.

 

Whenever she looked at them, her vision would shift to a dark, asphalt road at midnight, and her hands would appear covered in blood.

 

Then in a secluded alley.

 

Then in a sealed basement.

 

Then on a rainy rooftop.

 

Her hands were always soaked in blood in front of corpses.

 

The bright red blood in her memory had faded over time, turning gray.

 

Baek-seo hated that sight.

 

It felt like her humanity was fading away.

 

The price of using her unique ability, Wun-sa.

 

It intensely revived her trauma.

 

This was bearable.

 

The only thing that intensified was the persistent sense of dread, which she could endure.

 

Severe use of her unique ability would drag out the trauma and erode her mind. She wasn’t confident she could withstand that.

 

But it was okay.

 

She only needed to protect Woo-jin.

 

That thought alone sustained her.

 

As her hands trembled uncontrollably, she clenched her fists tightly, suppressing the memories that floated to the surface.

 

“Haa.”

 

She took a deep breath, struggling to calm her emotions.

 

Finally, she finished her shower and changed into her clothes.

 

His white dress shirt.

 

His underwear.

 

The shirt’s length covered her groin area, exposing her pale legs. It gave the impression that she wasn’t wearing anything below.

 

“Somehow, this feels embarrassing….”

 

There was a reason she chose the white dress shirt.

 

A man’s dream.

 

A girl he likes wearing his dress shirt.

 

She had learned this from the internet beforehand.

 

So, she chose the white dress shirt to look nice for Woo-jin.

 

But now, seeing herself in the mirror made her blush.

 

“……?”

 

The fragrant smell caught her attention.

 

The familiar scent of fabric softener.

 

It hit her that all the clothes she was wearing belonged to Woo-jin.

 

“…Sss.”

 

She brought the sleeve to her nose and closed her eyes, savoring the scent.

 

The smell she always associated with Woo-jin filled her senses, replacing the bloody memories with a cozy feeling.

 

Just then, the sound of boiling ramen filled the air. Baek-seo finished her light makeup and headed to the kitchen.

 

Woo-jin was lost in thought the moment he saw her.