Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Even if the other characters couldn't perceive it, Seo Hyun-woo knew clearly.

This world was an artificially created place, and it was only natural for the protagonist, Kang Jin-ha, to be spotlighted.

But from the moment he became Seo Hyun-woo, he couldn't simply accept that reality unconditionally.

Nothing was more precious than his own life.

'Even if the major incidents occur, things might end up very different from the original story. Situations I never anticipated might arise. But I don't give a damn about any of that. I'm just going to walk the path I believe is right.'

Seo Hyun-woo steeled his resolve once more and sank deep into the sofa.

There might be some cause for worry, but there was no need to let fear get the better of him.

He was the strongest in school and possessed a powerful special-type ability.

All he had to do was avoid repeating the mistakes the original Seo Hyun-woo had made.

"Is something wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"No, nothing's wrong. I was just lost in thought for a moment."

"You seem to get lost in thought only when you're with me."

"There's always something to think about. Isn't it the same for you?"

"Me? I wonder."

Baek Seo-yeon fiddled with the hairpin and sat back down on the sofa.

Seo Hyun-woo's words weren't entirely wrong.

A Student Council officer had quite a lot to attend to, after all.

But recently, there had been much more on her mind beyond just that.

"You've changed so much, President, that I certainly have a lot to think about."

"Since you're not openly criticizing me, I take it I can interpret that positively?"

"It would be better to interpret it negatively. Thanks to you, President, my head has become quite tangled."

Baek Seo-yeon answered in a low voice, recalling everything that had happened recently.

Not a single thing could be called typical of Seo Hyun-woo.

It was nothing but excessively impulsive, expectation-defying behavior.

"Just for today, it'd be best to clear your head in advance. I've got a bad feeling."

"A bad feeling?"

"Be careful after this evening. Being careful won't let you avoid it, but at least you can be prepared."

Seo Hyun-woo conveyed what was going to happen today in roundabout terms, his eyes dead serious.

But Baek Seo-yeon couldn't grasp his meaning and simply wore a puzzled expression.

"Is this some kind of daily horoscope?"

"Something like that. Your fortune today isn't very good. You'd be better off thinking of that hairpin as a charm to ward off bad luck."

"That's not like you, President. Do you believe in things like horoscopes?"

"It's intuition. The same way you saw through my lie."

"So you're admitting now that you don't have a girlfriend? You're revealing the truth rather late."

Baek Seo-yeon let out a wry laugh, feeling a strange sense of relief.

To be honest, she had only been guessing—she hadn't been certain.

If he was going that far, it wouldn't hurt to be careful after this evening.

"But there's no need to worry. There'll be someone to help you."

"Who's going to help me?"

"I don't know yet either. I just hope the flow holds as it should."

"......?"

Seo Hyun-woo tossed out those enigmatic words and leaned back where he sat.

Everything would be decided within tonight.

All he had to do was watch over Baek Seo-yeon and make his judgment call when the time came.

'I hope it ends well. If it ends too strangely, I'm the only one who suffers for it. Kang Jin-ha better grow up properly on his own......'

***

Dismissal time at Miterich.

At this hour, most students returned to their dormitories to rest or engage in leisure activities.

The primary goal for students ranked Full Member and below was to complete Miterich's program as quickly as possible.

Earning points through Advance Battles while not having their points stolen by other students.

From their perspective, climbing higher than their current standing was no easy feat, so they did everything they could to hold their position while thinking only of the Hunter life awaiting them after completion.

CRACKLE—! ZAP—!

The sound of electricity surging came from beyond the personal training room.

A female student in combat attire lightly shook out her hands and stepped back.

Around her, silver-white currents of electricity faintly flowed out, enveloping her entire body.

She hadn't even fully used her ability yet, but her subsidiary attribute-type ability had already manifested.

'He told me to be careful after this evening. Why would he say something like that?'

Baek Seo-yeon slowly steadied her breathing and gazed at the training dummy that had been her target.

The training dummy was slowly smoldering, still imbued with silver-white electricity.

Had she used her ability properly and discharged the current at full force, she could have likely reduced it to ashes entirely.

'Horoscopes...... That's really not like the President. Same with the birthday gift.'

Baek Seo-yeon glanced toward the changing room where her uniform hung, recalling the hairpin she had received from Seo Hyun-woo.

Even at a casual glance, she could tell it was a design that suited her.

In other words, Seo Hyun-woo had a fairly keen eye, and it was fair to say he knew her well enough.

'On top of that, he picked out something quite expensive. 184,000 won. It's not a burdensome price for me, but it's a different story for the President. He's probably living off his decorum allowance and scholarships.'

Baek Seo-yeon knew full well what kind of circumstances Seo Hyun-woo was in, which was precisely why the hairpin stirred something more in her.

Seo Hyun-woo had no one he could call family or relatives.

In other words, he had enrolled at Miterich and risen to the position of Student Council President entirely on his own strength.

'I wish he hadn't given it to me. At least then my heart would be at ease. Going out of his way for something so unnecessary......'

At the same time, the hairpin's design painted itself in her mind.

A light purple flower that was rather modest yet elegant in appearance.

On second thought, perhaps it wasn't so unnecessary after all.

'The President does have an eye for things. He seems more at ease than before, too. Should I say he's improved a lot?'

Baek Seo-yeon placed the half-charred training dummy into the disposal room and tidied up the area.

Then she headed straight to the changing room and changed into her uniform.

Finally, she fixed the light purple hairpin over the hair on the left side of her forehead and left the personal training room.

'The sun's already set. Maybe I should've headed back a little earlier?'

Baek Seo-yeon replayed the words Seo Hyun-woo had said to her as she slowly made her way forward.

It was nothing more than a simple fortune reading, but it was something he'd said for her sake.

She hadn't paid close attention, but she could follow his advice for at least one day.

'I don't sense anything unusual. Was it really just a simple horoscope after all?'

Baek Seo-yeon scanned her surroundings from time to time as she walked toward the female-only dormitory.

Besides herself, a few students who were also heading back to the dormitory late could be seen.

The streetlamps installed along the walkway scattered a faint orange glow, illuminating the path ahead.

'Tomorrow I'll have to tell him not to believe in horoscopes. No matter how much a person changes, superstition is......'

At that very moment, Baek Seo-yeon sensed something and threw herself to the side.

At the same time, something long grazed past where she had been standing.

"My Vice President...... What are you so unhappy about?"

A voice that was both low and grotesquely twisted echoed from the darkness.

Even as Baek Seo-yeon felt a sense of foreboding, her eyes shone cold as ice.

Her fingers were already instinctively tapping at her smartphone screen.

"Vice President, I wouldn't move if I were you. I have hostages."

At the word "hostages," Baek Seo-yeon's fingers froze.

Beyond the darkness where the streetlamp light didn't reach, something seemed to be writhing.

When the streetlight finally illuminated it, she saw female students ensnared in black liquid.

They showed no sign of movement—they must have been unconscious.

"Holding them hostage changes nothing. If you want something from me, release them and make your demands separately."

"Ah, I can't do that. I don't want to fight the Vice President. I don't want to hurt you."

The owner of the voice slowly revealed himself, flashing a chilling smile.

Kim Tae-jun stood there in his navy-blue uniform, torn in several places, his eyes fixed on Baek Seo-yeon.

His skin had taken on an ashen hue, and thick black veins bulged prominently across it.

From his left hand, a trail of black liquid stretched out, connected to the female students he held captive.

"What do you want badly enough to pull something like this?"

"I want you. As long as I have the Vice President, nothing else matters."

"I have no desire to be dragged off by the likes of you."

"So you're saying you don't care what happens to these students?"

"I told you before. Holding them hostage doesn't give you the advantage. Even without help, I can deal with someone like you easily."

Baek Seo-yeon lightly flicked her left hand, producing silver-white electricity.

The silver-white current traveled up her left arm and spread across her entire body.

She hadn't fully activated her ability yet, but keeping him in check shouldn't pose much difficulty.

'I need to buy time. It's nighttime and there's nobody around, but security officers are still on duty. If I hold out just a little longer, the security officers will be dispatched.'

Baek Seo-yeon felt the tension mounting as she glared at her opponent.

She couldn't predict how he would act.

But if he truly wanted her, he wouldn't needlessly harm the hostages.

"......Vice President, you think I'd back down after coming this far?"

Kim Tae-jun flashed a vicious smile and clenched his left hand.

The black liquid squirmed before shooting upward into a sharp point.

Then it struck the female student he held hostage, leaving a long gash across her body.

"Vice President, stop using your ability and come to me. If you refuse again, I'll slit this student's throat."

"......"

Baek Seo-yeon didn't so much as flinch as she turned her gaze toward the female student.

Red blood was streaming down from beyond the gash.

If left as she was, the student would bleed to death.

"Release the hostages first. There's no guarantee you'll let them go even if I come to you."

"Vice President. I'll let it slide this once, but there won't be a next time. The number of hostages whose throats I can slit is four. Do I need to cut one first before you're satisfied?"

With those words, the black liquid formed a razor-sharp shape.

It pressed close to the female student's throat, making it clear it could sever it at any moment.

At the sight, Baek Seo-yeon bit down on her lip and clenched her fist hard.

'The moment I'm caught, fighting back becomes nearly impossible. I might even be abducted before the security officers arrive. I should've listened more carefully to the President's warning.'

Baek Seo-yeon withdrew the silver-white electricity, her heart heavy with regret.

Then, step by step, she slowly began walking toward Kim Tae-jun.

The thought crossed her mind—wouldn't it be something if Seo Hyun-woo suddenly appeared? But there was no way a miracle like that would happen.

"Don't worry too much. Once you come to me, I'll let the hostages go. You're all I need. Ahh, my Vice President......"

"Hoo......"

Baek Seo-yeon let out a deep sigh and looked at the creature standing before her.

A monster steeped in twisted desire and malice was reaching its hand toward her.

At the same time, Seo Hyun-woo's face seemed to surface hazily in her mind.

"That's right. Just a little more. My Vice President......"

"She's not your Vice President—she's my Vice President. You think pulling something like this will make her give a damn about you?"

The moment Baek Seo-yeon heard that familiar voice, she stopped in her tracks.

Kim Tae-jun's eyes flew wide open as he whipped his head toward the source of the voice.

Seo Hyun-woo emerged slowly, bathed in the glow of the streetlamp.

"What? Jealous? Then go be President yourself. But you'll never have a Vice President like mine. You're way too ugly for that."