The back of his head prickled.

Ever since the temporary classes began, Yeomyeong had felt a gaze following him.

It was different from the looks of jealousy or expectation that the students usually gave him. Much more subtle and insidious... a watchful gaze.

“I never thought I’d feel the same kind of look from the academy that I used to feel from reporters in Manju.”

Of course, Yeomyeong didn’t pay it much attention or get tense over it.

He continued with his school life as if he hadn’t noticed anything at all.

After all, it wasn’t as if he could just kill his pursuers on the spot… and, more importantly, he didn’t feel any hostility from those who were watching him.

However, when class ended and he stepped out of the main building, Yeomyeong couldn’t help but frown.

The gaze that had been just one had now doubled.

“Two? No, at least three. Maybe even more.”

Who in the world was watching him, and for what purpose?

As he pondered this, Seti, who was walking with him behind the main building, opened her mouth.

“…We've got a tail.”

She frowned, as if the back of her own head itched.

“Not just one, but two tails. They’re really going all out, even if the academy’s dealing with the aftermath of the incident.”

“…Not two, four.”

When Yeomyeong corrected the number, Seti tilted her head.

“Huh? Four?”

“Two following closely, and two watching from a distance.”

“…I can only feel two.”

“That’s because they’re not watching you. If you were in my position, you’d notice right away. It’s so blatant that it’s impossible to miss.”

“…Is it that bad?”

While Seti blinked in surprise, Yeomyeong stopped and sat down on the nearest bench.

The gazes focused on Yeomyeong shifted briefly to Seti, and she felt a chill run down her spine for a fleeting moment.

“…I was planning to meet up with my sisters, but it looks like I won’t be able to say a word like this.”

With a sigh, Seti sat down next to Yeomyeong.

Today, she’d planned to lift the ban using the Golden Seal, but with so many watchful eyes…

“Don’t worry too much about the ban. Worst case, I could sneak into the girls’ dorm at night.”

Yeomyeong said it as if it were nothing to worry about, but Seti’s eyes widened.

“Don’t even think about setting foot in the girls’ dorm. If you get caught, it won’t just end with an expulsion.”

“…Is it really that serious? Or… has someone actually tried it before?”

“Of course not! How many students here are skilled enough to sneak past the dorm matron and climb over the wall….”

There was one, right in front of her.

Narrowing her eyes, Seti repeated her warning.

“…In any case, absolutely do not come to the girls’ dorm. No matter what!”

“Fine, fine.”

Yeomyeong chuckled and nodded, and only then did Seti switch topics.

“Let’s leave the ban for later… for now, let’s figure out what to do about those on our tail.”

Before she even finished her sentence, Yeomyeong turned his head.

The first thing he noticed was an older cleaning lady in the distance, picking up trash.

She wore a white cleaning uniform and a triangular kerchief, focusing on emptying the trash can without sparing Yeomyeong or Seti a single glance.

It was an ordinary sight of a cleaner going about her work, but it wouldn’t fool Yeomyeong’s experienced eyes.

“There, that cleaning lady.”

“…Aunt Ava?”

Seti glanced at the lady, frowning as she recognized her.

“She’s been hanging around, taking her time since earlier. Is she a watcher assigned by the academy?”

“…Probably not.”

Seti seemed to know something, though she remained silent for a moment, averting her gaze from Ava before she spoke.

“Yeomyeong, have you ever heard of the Secret Society?”

“…Secret Society? First I’ve heard of it.”

“It’s an information guild founded by humans from beyond the dimensional gate. She’s a part of it too.”

That was all the explanation she offered. Yeomyeong sensed that she was deliberately holding back, but he didn’t press her further.

Instead, he turned his attention to another person who was watching him.

Hiding among the trees, a fellow student was pretending to look at his phone, yet clearly taking pictures of him.

Seti, following Yeomyeong’s gaze, raised an eyebrow as she spotted the student.

“…What’s with him? Yeomyeong, do you know him?”

“My roommate.”

“Your roommate…? Why is your roommate spying on you?”

Seti looked at him expectantly, but Yeomyeong didn’t really have an answer either.

“…Beats me. I don’t really know.”

Their conversations were limited, after all.

And since the terror incident, Yeomyeong had been staying in the VIP room rather than the dorms, making them hardly more than acquaintances.

“What’s his name?”

Turning her gaze away from the student, Seti asked.

“Baonik. Baonik Larak.”

“…Larak? Oh, that traitor family?”

Calling it a “traitor family” seemed harsh, but Yeomyeong didn’t bother to argue.

“Yeah, he told me himself that he’s from that family.”

“Oh, then it’s obvious.”

Seti tapped her lips and continued.

“He’s Jun Yunseong’s only friend. I’ve heard rumors about him, even if I hadn’t seen his face.”

“…Only friend?”

Yeomyeong’s brows furrowed slightly.

He’d sensed that Jun Yunseong was a bit of an outsider in the dorms and classes… but he hadn’t realized he was outright ostracized. In a prestigious academy, no less.

Seeing his puzzlement, Seti added briefly.

“…Talented people tend to be hated no matter where they go.”

“When there’s a swan among ducks, they usually receive admiration rather than hostility, don’t they?”

Yeomyeong replied, still not understanding, and Seti shrugged.

“Unless it’s a swan that doesn’t know how to fit in and is under the protection of the U.S. military.”

“….”

“…Not to mention the bloodline of a traitor.”

Though she spoke in a casual tone, there was an undeniable edge of hostility in her voice.

It was a familiar kind of hostility. Any Korean would despise the traitor Jeon Yunseop and his son, Jun Yunseong.

But… wasn’t Seti someone who harbored resentment toward the Korean government? Her hatred of Jun Yunseong must stem from something beyond ordinary patriotism.

Likely something related to her own background.

This wasn’t the place to dig deeper, so Yeomyeong changed the topic.

“I still don’t really understand… just because he’s Jun Yunseong’s friend, does he really have a reason to watch me?”

“Well, you almost fought with Jun Yunseong during class earlier.”

“….”

“He probably had something in mind when he picked a fight, but since the fight didn’t happen, Jun Yunseong only ended up looking foolish… maybe he’s holding a grudge over that?”

It was an unusually emotional statement for Seti. Her answer lacked her usual logic or even basic reasoning.

“…That’s quite a leap.”

“Why? It’s not strange for traitors to lick each other’s wounds, is it?”

“….”

Yeomyeong glanced down at Seti and pressed his hand against her forehead.

‘…So, she’s more emotional than I thought.’

Seti blinked, her blue eyes wide with confusion at his sudden gesture.

A moment of silence passed between them, and before it could stretch further, Yeomyeong got up and dusted off his clothes.

“Let’s just ask him directly.”

“…Huh? Ask what?”

“Let’s ask him directly why he’s watching me.”

Before Seti could respond, Yeomyeong started striding toward Baonik Larak.

It was only then that Seti realized she’d been overly emotional in her response.

‘…I shouldn’t be like this.’

She let out a small sigh and followed Yeomyeong in quick steps.

 

Baonik was startled to see Yeomyeong suddenly approaching him.

“What the… how did he notice?”

Did he realize he was being spied on? No, it had to be that.

When one reaches a certain level, even the slightest presence or faintest gaze becomes impossible to ignore.

Realizing his mistake too late, Baonik hurriedly closed his phone and adjusted his clothes.

It was too late to run. At this point, it was better to face him head-on…

“Hello, Baonik.”

Before Baonik could finish his thought, Yeomyeong was already standing in front of him.

“Oh… uh… hi.”

Contrary to the resolve he’d just mustered, he found it hard to speak.

For some reason, standing before Yeomyeong felt as daunting as facing a torturer, his tongue freezing up.

“Well…”

“I’ll be blunt. Why were you taking pictures of me?”

“Well… I, uh…”

Baonik’s voice failed him completely. Especially when he spotted Seti approaching, his jaw practically locked in place.

“It’s….”

Desperately searching for an excuse, he mumbled, but Yeomyeong waited patiently, urging him on.

“Be honest. If it’s nothing strange, I’ll let it slide.”

Though Yeomyeong’s tone was gentle, his intent was anything but. He clearly wasn’t going to let him off if he lied.

“I… uh, sorry… I was going to sell your photos….”

“Sell my photos?”

“You’re, uh, kind of famous, you know? Reporters… they pay for photos of you….”

“…Hmm.”

“I’m sorry! I just needed the money….”

A plausible excuse, hastily conjured up.

Yeomyeong squinted, assessing if he was telling the truth, while Baonik swallowed nervously.

The real reason he was following Yeomyeong wasn’t as trivial as selling photos.

Hidden Pieces.

The legendary treasures scattered around the academy—like the demon sword hidden deep in the second-year building or the fairy’s tear buried in the third-year shelter basement.

He’d been tailing Yeomyeong, hoping to capture the moment he acquired one.

He didn’t plan to confront him or snatch a Hidden Piece himself; he just wanted to catch him in the act and report it.

After all, in this world, the Hidden Pieces were considered official school property.

He figured that, if he caught Yeomyeong sneaking one, he could get him expelled… but, as things stood, that plan was crumbling. Regret flooded him as he squeezed his eyes shut.

“Damn….”

Ever since he’d found out some of the Hidden Pieces in the second-year building were stolen during the last terror attack, he’d impulsively decided to track Yeomyeong.

“What if he realizes I’m lying?”

Just as he trembled nervously under Yeomyeong’s steady gaze, a voice rang out.

“Oh my!”

Aunt Ava, who’d been collecting trash nearby, suddenly rose into the air.

It was as if an invisible force had lifted her, yet no mana was detected.

It wasn’t magic or martial arts—more of a strange phenomenon.

“Wh-what!?”

Ava flailed in shock, only to be flung into a trash can.

Crash!

Students passing by stared in shock, looking between Ava and the trash can.

But Yeomyeong, familiar with such unseen forces, sighed, knowing exactly who was behind it.

“What… what was that?”

Still oblivious, Baonik asked, eyes wide. Yeomyeong started to explain, but then, hearing approaching footsteps, he turned to Baonik.

“Baonik.”

“Y-yeah?”

“Brace yourself.”

Baonik had just opened his mouth to ask why when—

Thwack!

An invisible force struck Baonik right across the face.