Chapter 54 – Rule 22. The Leader Stays Composed (2)

 

“Is it the next-door neighbor?”

 

Geumyang quickly covered her naked body with a towel and greeted calmly.

 

“Nice to meet you, my name is Geumyang.”

 

“……”

 

Baek-seo silently stared into Geumyang’s fierce eyes.

 

Ahn Woo-jin had never introduced Geumyang to Baek-seo. This was because Geumyang did not want it.

 

In fact, this moment was essentially their first meeting.

 

“…Who are you?”

 

Baek-seo began to speak calmly, exerting superhuman mental strength to keep her usual friendly smile on her face.

 

However, Baek-seo’s remaining hand was clenched into a tight fist behind her back. A cold shadow also loomed around her eyes.

 

It was a physical reaction she couldn’t control due to the turmoil in her chest.

 

“I already told you my name, so I guess you’re asking about something else… Well, I’m someone who’s had no choice but to take shelter in this house.”

 

Geumyang went into Woo-jin’s room and came out wearing a loose white shirt.

 

Baek-seo immediately recognized that the shirt belonged to Woo-jin.

 

Geumyang’s appearance once again shook Baek-seo’s rationality to its core.
“It’s modest, but come in.”

 

Baek-seo didn’t know why Geumyang, not the homeowner, was saying this, but she took off her shoes and went inside without a word.

 

Baek-seo had been waiting for Woo-jin to introduce her to the alchemist girl, Geumyang, who was now standing in front of her.

 

Despite the delay in their introduction, Baek-seo had understood and waited because Woo-jin had promised to introduce them.

 

Given that he had said he would introduce her, it didn’t seem like their relationship was secretive.

 

However… Baek-seo had not expected that Woo-jin and Geumyang were so comfortably close.

 

The fact that they were even living together was a shock.

 

Not wanting to reveal her emotions, Baek-seo quickly walked to the kitchen and started putting side dishes in the fridge.

 

Meanwhile, Geumyang sprawled out naturally on the living room sofa, as if it were her own home.

 

“Are you the Leader’s friend?”

 

“Not a friend.”

 

The reply was indifferent.

 

“You’re not his girlfriend either, right?”

 

Baek-seo stated with certainty.

 

“Of course not.”

 

“……”

 

“……”

 

Baek-seo hoped Geumyang would explain her relationship with Woo-jin, but no further answer came.

 

Silence ensued. Even in the uncomfortable quiet, Geumyang refrained from speaking, looking clearly annoyed.

 

In the end, Baek-seo had to continue asking questions.

 

“Are you like adopted siblings? I heard that’s common.”

 

Adopted brothers, adopted sisters.

 

In Neo Seoul, many people were without families, so such relationships were common.

 

The problem was with ‘adopted siblings.’ Especially when similar-aged men and women became adopted siblings, it often led to them becoming a couple.

 

Moreover, in Neo Seoul, novels, comics, and dramas that featured adopted siblings as a main theme were quite popular.

 

Many students even romanticized such relationships.

 

Woo-jin wouldn’t be an exception.

 

“Hmm. It’s similar, but no.”

 

Whether she should feel relieved or not….

 

Baek-seo let out a small sigh.

 

“Then what is it?”

 

“Hmmm.”

 

Geumyang stroked her chin in thought, then answered as if she had just remembered.

 

“A master-servant relationship?”

 

Baek-seo’s movements stopped abruptly.

 

* * *

 

Bzzzz.

 

A smartphone vibrated.

 

“Hmm?”

 

The caller was ‘Yoon Tae-ho.’

 

He was a friend and the student council treasurer, also a middle school classmate. He was the one who had previously informed her about the exchange meeting with the Mayeon High School Disciplinary Committee.

 

He stepped into the hallway and answered the call.

 

“Why are you calling?”

 

─ Do you have time?

 

“No. I have to prepare for exams, idiot. What’s up?”

 

─ I saw the list of transfer students for the second semester and found something strange.

 

“Why are you looking at the transfer student list?”

 

─ Because the person in charge is next to me. Does that matter?

 

To transfer to Ahsung High, one had to pass a high-level transfer exam.

 

Thus, every semester, about a dozen transfer students came and went.

 

Unless it was a notorious troublemaker with a history of breaking school rules, the disciplinary committee had no reason to care.

 

So, the ‘strange student’ Tae-ho mentioned, could it be a troublemaker?

 

“Don’t just throw work at me. I’m busy.”

 

─ You really hate it….

 

Tae-ho clicked his tongue.

 

“Tell me, what’s the problem?”

 

─ Transfers are usually to go to a better academy, right? To upgrade their academy.

 

“Of course.”

 

“And?”

 

─ But does it make sense for someone from Hanyang to come to Ahsung?

 

“……”

 

There was only one place referred to as ‘Hanyang.’

 

Hanyang Federal Academy.

 

Undoubtedly the top academy in Neo Seoul.

 

Transferring from there to Ahsung would be a downgrade.

 

It wasn’t incomprehensible, though.

 

“Why not? They might prefer to be a big fish in a small pond.”

 

─ It didn’t feel like that. And the fact that they applied for the ‘Disciplinary Committee’ also bothered me.

 

“……”

 

─ Maybe I’m just being overly sensitive.

 

Tae-ho said.

 

─ Recently, you’ve been making quite a name for yourself. Surely, you’ve made some enemies along the way, and now a transfer student from Hanyang Academy wants to join Ahsung High’s Disciplinary Committee… Doesn’t that sound suspicious?
“It sounds like you’re overanalyzing…”

 

In matters like this, Tae-ho tends to be quite sensitive.