424

 [Chapter 122]

[Intentions Disguised as Goodwill (6)]

The club activities ended immediately.

Since monsters appeared due to mistakes by academy students, they couldn't continue activities.

Meanwhile, On Tae-yang who returned from the hospital had to hear harsh words from the club president.

Along with Yoon I-byeol and Lee Cheon-seo.

"...I'm sorry."

On Tae-yang who had been keeping his mouth shut apologized with his head bowed in front of the students.

Since he wouldn't raise his head, the club president couldn't scold him anymore.

"Eun-ha, you're not hurt anywhere, right?"

"Do I look like someone who would get hurt by those things?"

"Still, you never know."

Then Jung Ha-yang stroked Eun-ha's arm as he watched On Tae-yang.

She blinked her round eyes while examining Eun-ha's body back and forth.

Soon she relaxed her hardened face after confirming there were no injuries.

Nevertheless, her hand holding his forearm didn't let go.

Then she wiggled her hand.

"Why are you kneading my arm?"

"Huh? When did I?"

"You're doing it right now."

"I'm not?"

Jung Ha-yang maintained a poker face.

Eun-ha stared down at her and decided to leave her prank alone.

Meanwhile, the president who was talking with officers drew attention.

"It wasn't that there was no problem at all, but anyway good job working hard on today's activities! We'll dismiss the club activities with this, and let's all rest well over the weekend and meet next week!"

Though it was earlier than expected.

The club president announced dismissal, and students left one by one.

Of course, friends who received notice from Eun-ha in advance remained.

Though things turned out like this...

We still can't not have an after-party.

They skipped Friday classes and came out to the academy for once.

It wasn't common to meet outside since friends lived in different areas too.

They couldn't just part like this.

Moreover, it's not just us gathering, so this is an opportunity to get close with other kids too.

Friends had already agreed.

Min-ji had already reserved a place anyway.

The problem was that On Tae-yang didn't know about the after-party.

"Ha-yang, did you talk to Jo A-ra about the after-party?"

"A-ra said she wants to go to the after-party too. She'll probably be happy if we invite her. The problem is Tae-yang..."

Ha-yang trailed off.

Judging from actions so far, Jo A-ra was influenced by On Tae-yang's actions.

Even if she became closer with friends through this activity, she tended to think of On Tae-yang first.

Therefore, Tae-yang's intention to attend the after-party was most important.

"If I ask... it won't be effective, right?"

"Hmm... wouldn't it be better to have someone else ask?"

"It would be good if someone On Tae-yang doesn't dislike asks..."

Eun-ha fell into thought.

After fighting at the hospital just before, On Tae-yang wasn't even trying to look at him.

Besides that, On Tae-yang didn't seem to welcome his friends.

The only people who seemed to have no thoughts were Ariel or Yoon I-byeol who weren't close yet...

Soon Eun-ha examined the state of other friends.

While Yoon I-byeol was being comforted by Min-ji with a gloomy face, Ariel was excitedly jumping around.

"...How about asking Ariel? On Tae-yang might... since she has a good personality too."

"Ah, it looks like A-ra is going to ask now."

Just as Eun-ha was about to offer an opinion.

Seo-na suddenly spoke.

Eun-ha turned his head in the direction the fox pointed.

Jo A-ra was in the middle of approaching and speaking to On Tae-yang who was still standing rooted to the spot.

Eun-ha listened closely.

"Tae-yang, since our moods are down, why don't we go somewhere to relieve stress?"

"It's okay, what stress do I have... Since we came out early, I'll just go see Tae-hee."

"I-is that so? But Tae-hee studies late at school and comes back. Even if you go back now, won't there be no one at home?"

"Well... that's true. Should I make dinner..."

"But you'll still have a lot of time left. Rather than that, how about going together since club members are having an after-party?"

"After-party?"

"They say new members are having a welcome party, I just heard... What do you think? Shouldn't we attend these things and get close?"

"Hmm... It doesn't sound bad like you say, A-ra."

"Right?"

On Tae-yang's reaction is positive.

Eun-ha who was eavesdropping on the conversation inwardly praised Jo A-ra.

Judging from the corners of Seo-na and Ha-yang's mouths rising beside him, the two seemed to feel the same.

However, unfortunately the flow couldn't proceed as they wanted─.

"─But that after-party... Who's attending?"

"Huh? Um... W-who was it? Ahaha I suddenly can't remember."

"You with your good memory can't remember? That's impossible. Who's coming that you're acting like this?"

"Um... I-byeol said she's coming... and Gu-rae and Ariel said they're coming too..."

"You're not saying it's just the people remaining now going to the after-party, right?"

"...M-maybe?"

On Tae-yang who turned his head to check the faces of those remaining soon frowned.

Even more when his eyes met Eun-ha's.

In contrast, A-ra's face was filled with dismay.

On Tae-yang's gaze turned to her again.

"Forget it. I'll just go home and sleep. A-ra, you go if you want."

"Hey... let's not do that and attend once. The kids aren't as bad as you think..."

"So go by yourself."

"..."

On Tae-yang speaking with force in each word.

Then he turns his body abruptly.

Jo A-ra's hand trying to grab him flailed in the air in surprise.

She who was left alone flusteredly kept brushing her bangs.

"Ah, shit..."

She looks at No Eun-ha's group.

And looks at On Tae-yang moving away.

After stomping her feet and weighing her options, she finally clasped her hands towards Eun-ha and friends.

"Guys, I'm really sorry! Hey! On Tae-yang! Don't go alone, let's go together!"

Jo A-ra ran to On Tae-yang without looking back.

The corners of On Tae-yang's mouth rise as he confirms her coming to him.

As if saying I knew you'd do that.

Meanwhile, Eun-ha who lost not only On Tae-yang but Jo A-ra too contrary to his wishes could only sigh deeply.

"Anyway, it wouldn't have been fun at all if they came."

"Hmm, it's fortunate they didn't come."

"If only A-ra came..."

Min-ji showed no lingering attachment, Min-ho firmly stated his opinion.

Eun-woo seemed somewhat regretful.

The reactions of other friends weren't much different from the three.

In the end, they decided to have the after-party with the remaining people.

"─Guys! Then of course we're drinking alcohol too, right? I heard the pancake alley here is quite famous, let's go! I wanted to try makgeolli too!"

Meanwhile, the mermaid was excited to the point of being noisy.

Her volume was big so it rang loudly.

To the extent of not feeling the absence of the two people.

☆

There were club members among those attending the after-party too.

Though officers had to quickly return to the academy to report the incident, other students didn't.

Students who happened to have nothing to do or came out to the club thinking of drinking alcohol from the start slyly added to the seats.

"Huh...? What! Senior, didn't you say you had to go report to the academy!"

"Hey! When did you say you'd drink by yourselves, dragging all the club kids? Shouldn't someone supervise if you do this!"

"That's why we came to supervise. You guys, it's fine to drink alcohol, but you know you have to drink in moderation, right? If you cause trouble here too, the club could be ruined?"

Pancake alley near Hoegi Station.

Pa-rang who dropped a few drops of makgeolli remaining in the bowl on his head discovered a few seniors entering the store.

The students enthusiastically welcomed the appearance of club officers.

"Hey~, seniors! It's no fun if you just sit down sneakily! Of course you have to receive penalty drinks first, right?"

Meanwhile, Ariel comfortably dealt with middle academy graduate students without being afraid of them.

Their mouths opened wide when she suddenly put bowls in their hands and poured makgeolli.

"...That kid really knows how to have fun."

Eun-ha burst into laughter seeing her showing strange dances in front of people while holding two bottles of makgeolli.

She resembled <Mermaid > Ariel yet was completely different somewhere.

Though Ariel's personality was bright...

She gave a stronger impression of being well-mannered.

Unable to contain his excitement anymore, Jin Pa-rang appeared holding a makgeolli bottle in his mouth and two bottles in each hand.

Students clapped while giggling, and the two showed grotesque dances matching the beat.

"Ah! Ah! Si-hyeong is starting to sing! Around the neighborhood~!!"

"Ooooh! Come forward, come!"

"Singing? I'm really good at singing too!"

Now even Kang Si-hyeong.

It was truly a crucible of excitement.

Eun-ha who sat at a distant table so as not to ruin the mood laughed haha.

The table he sat at was composed only of friends who enjoyed drinking alcohol quietly.

"That Jin Pa-rang... He looks like he'll fall backwards like last time."

"That hyung is an idiot so it's okay if he gets hurt. But this is delicious. Should I bring one more chestnut flavor?"

"Yeah, you bring it."

"This ran out while pouring makgeolli for you. So shouldn't you bring some?"

"The one who wants it should bring it. I still have some left anyway..."

Separate from the boisterous atmosphere.

Eun-ha and Min-ho drank makgeolli without saying much.

Then the two childishly engaged in a battle of wits over who would bring alcohol.

"You, is it okay to treat your master like this?"

"What master... What need is there for a master at a drinking party?"

"Mok Min-ho has grown a lot."

"Provoking is useless."

In the end, the loser was Eun-ha whose bowl showed the bottom.

Mok Min-ho showed a winner's smile and pointed to the refrigerator containing alcohol with his chin.

But Eun-ha still had a trump card left.

"Eun-woo!!"

"Yes?"

Just then, Eun-woo was passing by trying to change tables.

Eun-ha called Cha Eun-woo with a gaze provoking Min-ho.

"Bring out some chestnut flavor from there."

"Huh? Okay..."

"No, Eun-woo. I'll do it."

Eun-woo tried to walk to the refrigerator without expressing any complaints.

In the end, Mok Min-ho who swallowed a groan stood up from his seat.

Tang

Then he brought an armful of makgeolli of the same flavor.

Min-ho who looked down at Eun-ha and snorted sat down.

"...Why did you bring so much?"

"I brought it out for you to drink it all, so there's no taking this back."

"Hey, this isn't just for me to drink, you have to drink too."

"No Eun-ha, you don't seem to know─."

Min-ho with a sly smile on his lips.

He leaned his body on the table and poured makgeolli into Eun-ha's bowl, then continued speaking.

"─There are many people calling for me."

"What?"

"You don't forget that I'm the 1st year representative of this club, right?"

Mok Min-ho drank the makgeolli remaining in his bowl without even properly toasting.

And with good timing─.

"─Min-ho! Come here and have a drink too! The future club president, huh? Come here and give a toast!"

"Yes, I'll come now. See?"

Mok Min-ho raised his nose.

Then he left Eun-ha's table with an extremely dignified posture.

There were many people cheering for Min-ho at tables here and there.

Min-ho who received their welcome spoke to Eun-ha while moving his lips.

See?

With those final words, Mok Min-ho left Eun-ha behind and moved between other tables.

Eun-ha who became dumbfounded had no choice but to drink makgeolli alone.

"Oh my, honey. Why are you drinking alcohol alone so lonely? But your pitiful appearance really has a feeling. Can I sit?"

"Sure, sit there."

Fortunately, Bong Gu-rae who returned from the bathroom discovered Eun-ha alone and sat down.

Gu-rae received alcohol in the bowl Min-ho was drinking from without any hesitation.

"Here, cheers."

"Cheers."

Bong Gu-rae who first offered a toast mixing in a nasal sound.

Eun-ha clinked glasses.

"Huh?"

Meanwhile, Yoon I-byeol also discovered Eun-ha while coming out of the bathroom.

While Gu-rae waved his hand in greeting, Eun-ha pointed to the seat beside him.

"Even if you go back now, the seats would be mixed again, so drink here before going."

"Hmm... Sh-should I?"

"Yeah, sit here. Actually this seat was left empty for you. Sit, sit."

"Oh my, that's right. Eun-ha was guarding the seat beside him from earlier, you know?"

"...Really? Okay, I'll go there!"

Eun-ha spoke wittily.

Bong Gu-rae gracefully waved his hands and played along.

Yoon I-byeol who was standing still pondering soon walked to his table with a bright smile.

Makgeolli went back and forth again.

Eun-ha who unexpectedly gained an opportunity to become close with the two people inwardly rejoiced.

Right then.

"─Isn't it tasteless to drink just among yourselves? Can I drink too?"

"No Eun-ha. How petty. I feel so hurt? Where in the world do you monopolize night makgeolli!"

Not only Ariel who suddenly popped up, but Jung Ha-yang who appeared without a sound quickly occupied the remaining empty seats.

"Honey, you're really popular, huh?"

Gu-rae spoke seeing him suddenly flanked by women on both sides, additionally harassed by Ariel too.

☆

Though they say the incident was somehow hushed up.

Nevertheless, the academy couldn't not give disciplinary action to the students.

Thus the three had to submit reflections and perform community service within the school.

Additionally, On Tae-yang had to complete mana control classes.

"So you all had fun playing without me?"

"Then you should have joined the club too."

"I'll pass on that club since it seems I'd be called here and there at the drop of a hat. I have no choice since I have a lot to do. But next time there's a gathering like that, invite me too."

"That depends on how you act."

On the way out after having class with Yu Do-jun.

Eun-ha ignored Yu Do-jun who heard news from last week.

Because he knew Do-jun wasn't really jealous.

"I should meet the kids you're paying attention to this time too, right? I'm

Eun-ha moved his steps to attend the next class.

Yu Do-jun who had no class refused to leave, saying he would at least see him off.

While Eun-ha was annoyed, he quietly left Do-jun alone as he chattered away beside him.

"Huh? Isn't that On Tae-yang? It seems like it seeing the ivory-haired girl next to him..."

"...You're right. But that's the faculty office, why are they there?"

Meanwhile.

Eun-ha stopped walking after discovering Tae-yang and A-ra ahead.

The two who came out of the faculty office seemed to be arguing.

Do-jun muttered as if observing them.

"From what I've heard, opinions are divided on whether On Tae-yang is a good guy or a bad guy. Eun-ha, do you know what this means?"

"What does it mean?"

"It means he's always surrounded by controversy. If you embrace him, won't you just get tired for nothing? You might even turn people who dislike him into enemies."

On Tae-yang makes one think a lot.

Eun-ha moved towards the two while letting Do-jun's words slip by.

As he went straight without changing direction, the two sensed his presence and turned their heads.

"What are you doing here?"

"...E-Eun-ha. Hello?"

"..."

The two's eyes wavered for a moment.

And On Tae-yang stood in front of Eun-ha with strength in his eyes.

He opens his mouth.

"─I just processed my withdrawal from the club. Not just me, but A-ra too."

"What? No, why..."

"Like you said, I made a mistake, so I should take responsibility. I'm taking responsibility by withdrawing from the club."

On Tae-yang's sneer.

Eun-ha frowned.

Follow-up measures for the incident had already been compromised with reflections.

There was no justification for On Tae-yang to withdraw from the club.

"It seemed we didn't get along from the start. It seems there are many kids who don't like me too. So I should leave for your sake too."

Eun-ha looked at him silently. His gaze coldly scanned On Tae-yang's figure from top to bottom.

"Don't look at me like you're evaluating me like that."

"..."

"You really... only know yourself. Do you think the world revolves around you?"

Hiding weakness with lies.

Hiding shame with arrogance.

On Tae-yang who looked like he had overcome trials put strength in his eyes while looking at Eun-ha.

The face of <Braver > that looked kind to others was dyed with hostility while looking at Eun-ha.

"My father... no. This world doesn't revolve around people like you as the center. If you keep acting like that, the day will come when you'll be punished someday."

Soon On Tae-yang who brought his face close whispered to Eun-ha.

Then he passed by him.

Eun-ha stood still until then, repeating his words over and over.

He laughed in disbelief.

So Eun-ha decided to reply to On Tae-yang walking away with heavy steps.

"─That's right. The world revolves around the sun."

On Tae-yang could be felt hesitating.

Eun-ha didn't look back.

He decided to ignore the students' gazes.

As he moved his steps, Yu Do-jun quietly matched his pace.

"But it won't be like that anymore."

A worldview where the world revolves around the sun.

However, the scientific worldview collapsed due to the calamity brought about by mana.

The world was destroyed.

Naturally, the worldview of revolving around the sun lost meaning.

"Well, what does it matter what the world revolves around? In the end, the world and sun are inside the galaxy. Right?"

"...You be quiet. It's embarrassing."

Whether to recruit On Tae-yang or not.

Eun-ha had agonized over it countless times.

Nevertheless, a conclusion didn't come out.

Even at this moment.

But if he were to draw a vague conclusion even if not certain─.

─Let's not be too obsessed with On Tae-yang.

Let's not forcibly become close and put it on hold.

To the alias <Braver >.

To the name On Tae-yang.

Eun-ha decided to no longer be endlessly obsessed.

He had many other things to do and it was too inefficient.

Moreover, he could miss On Tae-yang's other party members while paying attention to On Tae-yang.

"Phone."

"Huh?"

"Give me your phone."

"Uh... okay."

There was no response from On Tae-yang.

Eun-ha paid no attention to his presence moving further away.

Instead, he approached Jo A-ra who had been standing blankly for a while and spoke to her.

Perhaps not knowing he would speak to her, Jo A-ra who came to her senses nodded her head clumsily.

He received her smartphone and entered his number.

He called to make his phone number appear on her smartphone.

"I saved my number. I accidentally set it as speed dial number 1, but you handle that."

"...What? Number 1? No, no... what are you suddenly doing? Where do you arbitrarily take numbers like this..."

"That On Tae-yang. From what I've seen, he'll probably cause a lot of trouble."

Eun-ha suddenly cut off her words.

Looking back on past memories, On Tae-yang did cause trouble to fight against injustice.

Giving her his number was a precaution for this.

"If a problem arises that you can't resolve among yourselves, contact me. It's okay to ask if there's something you don't know too."

"...Hmm..."

"And don't try to rely too much on Choi Ga-in. Contact me since handling things could get messy unnecessarily."

"What are you plotting?"

"Plotting to become close with you guys."

"...Huh, you think someone's heart will flutter if you come in strong like that!?"

"What are you saying. Anyway. Got it?"

Jo A-ra's face turned red.

Eun-ha clicked his tongue in disbelief.

Regardless, as she was about to say something again─.

"─Jo A-ra! What are you doing not coming!?"

"T-Tae-yang...! Hey! Let's go together! I'm coming now!"

On Tae-yang called her angrily from far away.

The flustered Jo A-ra floundered then ran off without properly saying goodbye to Eun-ha.

Eun-ha quietly watched the two moving away.

It's high academy. Problems are bound to arise while here.

Jo A-ra will receive my help someday.

Intentions disguised as goodwill.

In a way, it's laying groundwork.

It would take plenty of time.

Like planting poison in Eun-woo before.

Eun-ha decided to calmly wait for that time to come.

Above all, there isn't just one fishing rod.

Again, there's a lot to do.

"Hey, aren't you late for class?"

"I know. I'll just skip it."

"You know a post went up on EveryFine saying you got a girl's number?"

"...It's fine. As long as noona and Eun-ae don't know."

"Wow! The chat room is on fire now, can you handle these guys?"

"..."

"Moreover, aren't there kids you're working on now besides these? Are their personalities okay?"

"...Can't you delete that."

"Shouldn't we think about how to efficiently clean the floor instead of trying to pick up spilled water?"

Yu Do-jun burst into laughter.