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 [Chapter 157]

[Noh Eun-ha Squad (6)]

After declaring her breakup with On Tae-yang.

Jo A-ra started wearing a golden brooch indicating she was part of the Noh Eun-ha squad.

The students' faces showed reactions like they had expected this.

This brooch also has the effect of repelling Tae-yang when worn.

I don't really like showing off, but I can't help it.

After declaring the breakup.

On Tae-yang often came to see her with various excuses.

Until now, she had to go see On Tae-yang, but now the situation was reversed.

She realized then.

How unfair her relationship with On Tae-yang had been all this time.

Ugh, it's too late to regret now.

You should have treated me better when you had the chance!

But her heart had completely turned away from On Tae-yang.

She thoroughly ignored him.

She realized that when she wore the Noh Eun-ha squad brooch, he would turn red but couldn't approach her easily.

So she always wore the brooch on her body.

This didn't change even after coming to the clan for her internship.

"─Is that the brooch?"

"Oh, this? Yes, it is. We had it made to prove our friendship. Isn't it pretty?"

"It's not for friendship, but to warn other students. That you won't stand for anyone messing with your people."

"..."

Myeongwang Clan.

Somehow Jo A-ra was the only one from the Noh Eun-ha squad to intern at Myeongwang Clan.

She was talking with Do Wan-jun, who was called one of the Twelve Zodiac <Phantasmagoria > and was also the Clan Lord.

Then Do Wan-jun pointed at the brooch attached to her school uniform.

"That kid seems quite possessive of what's his."

"Is that... so...?"

"Otherwise, he wouldn't have made brooches. Because of this, even other Clan Lords are being cautious now...."

"Really? Is that true?"

"They might lose the chance to recruit Noh Eun-ha if they accidentally offend you guys."

"...Is Eun-ha that amazing?"

"You shouldn't be asking me that, shouldn't you know better?"

"..."

Jo A-ra opened her eyes wide.

Then she convinced herself.

Our Eun-ha is strong.

And

dependable, mature....

Noh Eun-ha was indeed amazing.

Jo A-ra felt good that Do Wan-jun was praising her friend.

On the other hand, she could understand why Myeongwang Clan was treating her so politely.

It was because of this brooch.

Before coming for the internship, she had been very nervous.

She thought they would have high pride, being one of the seven S-rank clans in Korea.

But contrary to her expectations, the clan members were kind to her.

Moreover─.

─Even the Clan Lord personally trained me....

Myeongwang Clan Lord <Phantasmagoria > Do Wan-jun was very favorable towards her.

He even made time to train her today.

Do Wan-jun said─.

"─I'm trying to get something out of you later in some way, so don't feel burdened."

"...Isn't that more burdensome? I can't tell Eun-ha what to do. Not just me, but the others too, and about joining Myeongwang Clan..."

"Even if you can't join Myeongwang Clan."

"..."

"By building a relationship with you like this, it's indirectly building a relationship with Noh Eun-ha. That's enough."

Do Wan-jun didn't know how to mince words.

Jo A-ra felt half-burdened but had no choice but to resign herself to it.

"Let's get up. I'll look at it one more time."

"Clan Lord. If we could rest a little..."

"It's embarrassing to say it myself, but I'm a very busy person. I don't have much time."

"...Alright."

Do Wan-jun gets up, dusting off his bottom.

Jo A-ra, who was sitting on the floor recovering mana, sighed.

She wanted to lie down, but opportunities to learn from one of the Twelve Zodiac were rare.

So Jo A-ra had no choice but to get up.

"As I said earlier, illusion magic is magic that confuses the opponent and ultimately makes them accept the illusion as reality. Confusing the opponent means confusing various sensory information like sight, hearing, smell, taste, etc. In that sense, if you use your gift well..."

"You mean I can create magic that maximizes effects by harmonizing seemingly insignificant magics?"

"Yes, you understand well. You can ask <Empress > when you return to the academy later, she'll kindly explain. She seems to be kind to the Noh Eun-ha squad."

Do Wan-jun, who could create illusions and had eyes that could see through them, recognized Jo A-ra's qualities when they first met.

So he personally taught her, trying to make her talent bloom.

"Then I'll start."

"Alright, come."

In a way, illusion magic was related to multi-casting.

Illusion magic was essentially magic that took away human senses and controlled cognitive abilities.

Multiple magics had to be used in the process of taking away the senses.

In that sense, Do Wan-jun became the optimal teacher for her.

Gift <Quadruple >

Jo A-ra recalled the gift she became aware of thanks to Eun-ha.

She drew out mana.

The mana that rose from her fingertips soon split into two.

Memento Magia

Eventually, she grasped the pocket watch attached to her waist.

When she opened the lid of the pocket watch, the stopped hour hand began to move.

She began calculations while checking the time she could handle the pocket watch.

Just then─.

─Buzz

Her smartphone rang.

Jo A-ra, whose concentration was broken by the vibration sound, suddenly opened her eyes.

Across from her, Do Wan-jun had an unpleasant look on his face.

"W-why is this ringing?"

"Turn off your phone during training from now on."

"I'm sorry. I'll turn it off right away."

While checking Do Wan-jun's mood.

Jo A-ra hurriedly ran to pick up her blazer that had fallen on the floor.

Then she took out her smartphone and checked over 300 messages.

"When did all these come? Oh...?"

She looked at the most recent messages to roughly check the content.

And she couldn't help but be surprised at the post uploaded by Yu Do-jun.

It was an article from a newspaper that mainly dealt with the player industry.

「[Exclusive] We're dating from today. The fresh date of the Golden Generation」

- OHOH Let's go!

└What's OHOH? How do you read this?

└You read it as "Aha Aha".

└There's also a sister product "Euhng Euhng".

- I thought something was suspicious.

- Looks like what was floating around the player industry has finally burst. People who knew have known about this for a while.

- Who are these kids that they're doing this?

└Don't you know Noh Eun-ha and Ryu Yeon-hwa?

└We know our <Empress > well.

- Isn't there a photo of Eun-ah?

☆

After <Swift Sword> Byun Ji-seong lost his position as one of the Seven Lions and received disciplinary action.

There were no longer people in the clan who opposed Eun-ha.

So it seemed clan life would flow smoothly from now on, but─.

"─Explain."

"Ha-yang, I think you're misunderstanding, I wouldn't..."

"Explain, quickly."

"..."

The so-called scandal of Noh Eun-ha and Ryu Yeon-hwa.

Regulus Clan was turned upside down.

The clan members who saw the article posted on the internet were all busy whispering.

Jung Ha-yang interrogated Eun-ha.

"Was the tteokbokki you ate with Yeon-hwa unni delicious?"

"...It's a misunderstanding. I'm innocent."

"Did you also put kimbap in her mouth?"

"..."

All the clan members were watching carefully.

Unfortunately, while Ryu Yeon-hwa was out on long-term duty and not at Regulus Clan.

Jung Ha-yang berated Eun-ha in front of the clan members.

She thrust the smartphone with the article at him.

He had to explain all the photos attached to the article.

"We just ate tteokbokki together after work was done."

"But if work was over, shouldn't you have returned to the clan right away?"

"Ugh..."

Eun-ha often ate street food at nearby food carts with Ryu Yeon-hwa whenever work ended.

Apparently, they were so focused on eating that they were photographed by reporters who were lying in wait.

So Eun-ha confidently waved his hands saying he was innocent, but.

"Okay, explain."

""""..."""""

Jung Ha-yang's attitude was firm.

The Regulus Clan members, sponsored by Alice Group, didn't offer any help to Eun-ha.

The sponsor was the boss.

Eun-ha asked Eun-woo, who happened to be there, for help, but─.

"─Trash."

"Eun-woo, what did you just say..."

"Huh? Sorry. I guess my true feelings slipped out. I should go learn magic from Hye-rim unni now. Bye, take care!"

"..."

Cha Eun-woo looked at Eun-ha as if looking at trash.

Then she avoided the situation saying she had an appointment with Park Hye-rim.

In the end, Cha Eun-woo abandoned Eun-ha.

"Explain."

"..."

Meanwhile, girlfriend Ha-yang kept trying to pressure Eun-ha to explain.

Eun-ha looked around with a bitter gaze, asking for help.

Surprisingly, the clan members were just watching with great interest.

In such a situation─.

[─I'm fine!]

Han Seo-hyun contacted him.

Eun-ha felt chills down his spine.

It's hard enough dealing with Ha-yang, I can't handle Seo-hyun too.

Noh Eun-ha was cornered.

He tried to find a way out somehow.

But the contact through Fine Talk changed to a phone call.

The phone rang loudly.

"─Answer it. Isn't it Seo-hyun unni's call?"

"I-I want to focus on you..."

"Then hurry up and explain."

"..."

Jung Ha-yang's threat that wasn't a threat.

Eun-ha just smiled awkwardly.

Fortunately, there was a way out.

"─I was there with them at that time. It seems to be a photo taken when Yeon-hwa and Eun-ha were eating tteokbokki together on the way back after work ended?"

"Huh? Really?"

"That's right. Wait a moment..., I should have taken a photo. Ah, here it is."

"Hmm..., I see."

"Is the misunderstanding cleared up now? The reporter probably took photos like this. I was there with them too, you know."

"Yes. I'm sorry for misunderstanding. But if that's what it was, you should have just said so."

"Ahaha..."

Eun-ah, who couldn't stand watching anymore, stepped in and resolved Jung Ha-yang's doubts.

Eun-ah showed a photo of the three of them taken at the food cart.

Jung Ha-yang withdrew her suspicious eyes and apologized to Eun-ha.

Eun-ha just smiled awkwardly.

"Then the article was wrong after all. I'll contact dad to issue a correction..."

"There's no need for that."

"Huh? Clan Lord?"

Perhaps because he became the subject of a scandal.

While the clan members were talking among themselves, Clan Lord Gu Yeon-su, who had been out on external business, returned.

"We'll announce at the clan level that it's groundless, so don't worry. I just got a call that Alice Group will also request a correction of the article, and they said they'll file a protest too. Ah, Sirius said they'll do it too."

""""..."""""

According to Gu Yeon-su.

He says they had noticed some signs just before the article was posted.

So Regulus Clan, Alice Group, and Sirius Group decided to coordinate their response.

The clan members who heard Gu Yeon-su's explanation were at a loss for words at the sight of them dealing with a small newspaper company.

The scale was extraordinary.

"So you all return to your duties. Don't spread any strange rumors."

Gu Yeon-su dispersed the clan members.

Within 24 hours, the newspaper company posted a correction article and even attached an apology.

They even said they would dismiss the reporter who uploaded the article.

The clan members clicked their tongues seeing the process of a haughty media company issuing a correction article in less than a day.

"We shouldn't mess with Eun-ha..."

The Regulus Clan members realized.

Meanwhile, Ryu Yeon-hwa, who returned after finishing her long-term duty, treated Eun-ha awkwardly, seemingly conscious of the scandal.

On the other hand─.

"─You meet with Yeon-hwa behind my back?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You think I don't know? This wasn't taken when I was there too. Do I have to lie to Ha-yang because of you?"

"It seems to be when you and Eun-woo were dispatched to Siheung..."

"Forget the excuses. I can't say this is your fault, but still be careful. It's a problem for you, but what crime have the people who get caught up in scandals with you committed?"

"Ugh.... This is really..."

"Shh. No excuses." "Okay."

Avoiding the eyes of the clan people.

Eun-ah pinched Eun-ha.

"And Ha-yang probably knows I lied to cover for you. She let it slide because of me, not because she really believed it. You know that, right?"

"Huh?"

"Ha-yang probably let it go because she knew it wasn't a big deal. Treat Ha-yang well. And from now on, when you're alone with someone of the opposite sex, let Ha-yang or Seo-hyun know beforehand."

"...Okay. I will."

"Remember that letting small things slide can lead to trust issues later! Make sure!"

☆

Around the time the scandal was settled.

There was less than a week left of the internship period.

Clan life was quite comfortable, but now I have to go back to the academy and take classes.

Oh no, there are final exams too.

On days when his duties ended early, Eun-ha swung his sword in the underground training room.

With <Swift Sword> Byun Ji-seong gone, it was an extremely pleasant environment for training.

"Whew...."

He sweated a bucketful for the first time in a while.

After sheathing the swords in his hands, he picked up the water bottle he had placed nearby.

He gulped down the remaining water and caught his breath.

It was then.

"─Here."

"Yeon-hwa noona? Did you come to train too?"

"Yes. Are you done with work?"

"Today's work is all done."

How long had she been there?

Ryu Yeon-hwa handed him a towel.

Eun-ha, who belatedly noticed Ryu Yeon-hwa's presence, was startled and received the towel.

Soon she gave a bitter smile.

"Then I'll be going now."

"Huh? Where are you going?"

"There's only you and me in the training room. So..., just in case..."

"Ah...."

Ryu Yeon-hwa spoke sheepishly.

Hearing her words, Eun-ha recalled the scandal that had turned the clan upside down not long ago.

She was worried about becoming the subject of another scandal.

Was it Chang-jin hyung who said that?

That Yeon-hwa noona was really depressed when she heard about the scandal....

Ryu Yeon-hwa was probably shocked by the false article, something she had never experienced before.

She probably never imagined a dating rumor with her friend's younger brother would spread.

Fully understanding her feelings, he had left her alone recently when she avoided him.

But today seems okay.

Just a few days ago, Ryu Yeon-hwa would startle and disappear with her blue tail fluttering whenever their eyes met.

Compared to then, today she seemed fine enough to hand him a towel.

Of course, she still seemed to be trying to avoid the place, conscious of her surroundings.

"The training room is so big, why are you trying to go somewhere else? Stay here."

"But... is it okay?"

"There are only clan people here in the first place, is there any need to worry? Reporters can't even enter here."

"..."

As Ryu Yeon-hwa kept trying to distance herself.

For some reason, Noh Eun-ha didn't like it.

So Eun-ha said to her.

Snorting and putting on airs.

"Then want to have a match together after a long time?"

"Should we?"

Did the bravado work?

Or was the bravado seen through?

She, who had been staring blankly at Eun-ha, soon smirked.

"Here's the towel. I used it well. But isn't this your towel, noona?"

"It's okay. I don't sweat much usually anyway."

"That's nice. I sweated this much...."

"The weather has gotten hotter. Should I... cool you down?"

"That would be nice."

Eun-ha returned the towel to Yeon-hwa.

Nevertheless, sweat was still running down his face.

She looked at him pitifully and approached him closely to use magic to lower his body temperature.

Then─.

"─Noona, what are you doing right now?" "..."

Ryu Yeon-hwa stopped using magic midway.

Suddenly she smelled Eun-ha's body scent.

She was caught red-handed by Eun-ha.

Her cheeks, which met Eun-ha's gaze, gradually turned red.

"It smells good...."

"Huh? What's good about sweat smell...."

"No. It's fragrant, really."

"...Uh..., okay.... Thanks."

Ryu Yeon-hwa, showing obvious signs of embarrassment.

Eun-ha made a bewildered expression at Ryu Yeon-hwa's out-of-place behavior.

And perhaps realizing she was out of place herself─.

"─Uh...? Noona! Where are you going? Didn't you say we'd spar! That noona, she's doing it again...."

Ryu Yeon-hwa ran away in a hurry, tightly gripping the towel in her hand.

☆

The clan internship will end in a few days.

<Madam > Bebe was lost in thought.

He deserves to be called <Quick-witted >.

His battle sense is no joke.

She recalled Eun-ha's duel with <Swift Sword> Byun Ji-seong not long ago.

<Swift Sword> Byun Ji-seong was a player who received considerable attention even on the dark side.

Of course, his evaluation had to be reconsidered after he fell into hedonism.

Nevertheless, <Swift Sword>'s swordsmanship could be said to be quite amazing.

She had thought that no matter how amazing Noh Eun-ha was, he wouldn't be able to beat <Swift Sword> without using anything....

Who would have thought he'd win so easily.

But what was the reality?

Noh Eun-ha crushed <Swift Sword> too leisurely.

She, who watched the duel then, was amazed by his battle sense.

While feeling regretful.

"That's not enough to properly gauge Noh Eun-ha's skills."

<Madam > Bebe wanted to confirm Noh Eun-ha's true face.

But such an opportunity didn't come.

In the end, she had to evaluate Noh Eun-ha based on her own experience.

─It's hard to find talent like this. Even <Snow Spear> didn't show such rapid growth.

<Quick-witted > Noh Eun-ha.

She thought Noh Eun-ha was an incredible prodigy, as the player industry said.

Even <Snow Spear> wouldn't match <Quick-witted >'s talent.

The only reason <Snow Spear> wasn't falling behind in duels with <Quick-witted > was because she had more experience.

That's how <Madam > judged.

However─.

"─He's not someone who will dance to anyone's tune. That kid is too dangerous. He might become an obstacle to our work."

Before his talent fully blooms.

Noh Eun-ha must be dealt with.

Or brainwashed.

<Madam > reached a conclusion.