If you were to ask what the good points of being affiliated with the Academy were, Baek Seojin would say this:
Being able to take personal leave without worrying about others' opinions. Yes, just like today!
Kim Suhyeon had cleverly arranged Friday as a free period.
With the wish coinciding with that, Baek Seojin also decided to gladly use personal leave.
Both as an Academy examiner and as an S-rank.
"Chairman, about Suhyeon. I'd like to discuss and hear your opinion..."
She's none other than Kang Minseong's beloved granddaughter.
So with some worry, I tried to carefully mention future matters.
But what came back was Kang Minseong's hearty laughter. And this answer:
"If it's not something harmful to Suhyeon, you and Suhyeon should discuss it together. Aren't you both adults? I don't know why you're asking me about something between you two, Examiner Baek Seojin."
Instead, Kang Minseong even patted my shoulder, asking me to take good care of Suhyeon.
With tacit permission and agreement, Baek Seojin could finally steel his resolve.
Right. As he said, we're both adults, so why keep having strange worries?
Kim Suhyeon is waving both hands from over there with a bright smile.
Seeing that, Baek Seojin smiled back and approached her.
"You look pretty today."
"Yeah. Much more than usual."
You can clearly feel that she put tremendous effort into this important day.
Light pink blouse and black skirt with makeup she usually doesn't do much.
Her somewhat subdued atmosphere had transformed into a lively and vibrant feeling just for today.
"Examiner, Examiner. This is my first time going out without security!"
During the time when she was quite lacking as an ability user. Since she was still a member of the Kang family.
Above all, safety was needed, so security guards always waited around her.
Kim Suhyeon also knew this wasn't overprotection.
She just accepted that it was because she was too weak and insignificant.
However, that shield was also becoming a barrier distancing her from the world.
But there won't be such things now. There's someone more reliable than a hundred or thousand guards.
Someone who saved Kim Suhyeon from that 'Elder's' grasp several times.
Plus, her skills can now instantly subdue ordinary villains.
"Yes. Whenever I went somewhere, those people always had to follow, so I felt a bit sorry."
Kim Suhyeon, who wasn't originally outgoing and lived quietly.
When guilt toward the guards was added to that, she became even more withdrawn.
Then being kidnapped by villains and even brainwashed was her original fate.
Now she was hugging Baek Seojin's side and laughing happily.
"I heard there's a hydrangea festival going on now, Examiner. I really want to go!"
"Do whatever you want, Suhyeon. Today is your day."
Having received permission, and his feelings aren't entirely absent either.
Baek Seojin also wanted to see Kim Suhyeon's bright smile just for today.
One good thing about becoming S-rank - no restrictions on using national facilities.
Thanks to that, he could freely use portals that others grit their teeth over due to expense.
Isn't this excessive privilege? Is it okay to use it for personal gain?
If you understand what kind of existence S-rank is, you can't say such things.
This level of privilege isn't even a privilege. As long as they can keep them tied to the nation.
"Welcome to Jeju Island."
The portal manager confirmed the user was Baek Seojin and bowed nearly 90 degrees.
A natural reaction since he's S-rank, the most prominently active ability user lately.
But from Baek Seojin's perspective, this was quite burdensome.
'I want to bow back too. Ugh, uncomfortable.'
Baek Seojin, who had always either bowed first or returned bows equally.
This kind of treatment was inevitably unfamiliar to him.
Han Jiyoon and Irina said he needed to adapt, but.
"Also, from now on, wear glasses or sunglasses when going out, or wear a hat. You know why, right? Obviously to avoid troublesome situations! This oppa thinks people's attention is so great! Once you experience it, you'll know this advice becomes blood and flesh!"
Maybe because it's Jeju Island, the sunlight was a bit stronger than other places.
Thanks to that, wearing sunglasses openly was no problem.
"How do I look, Suhyeon?"
"Cool! But also a bit strange!"
"Want to wear one too? I prepared yours just in case."
From Baek Seojin's perspective, he just bought one more while buying sunglasses.
But that was received completely differently by Kim Suhyeon.
She opened her eyes wide, received the sunglasses, and trembled.
"The examiner thought of me again..."
"I'll wear them well! Examiner! I'll treasure these forever!"
No, you don't need to treasure them forever. Please don't treasure them.
Whether Kim Suhyeon knew Baek Seojin's inner thoughts or not, she just smiled.
The two who headed to where the hydrangea festival was in full swing walked slowly around holding hands.
There weren't particularly amazing events or overwhelming scenic beauty.
But Baek Seojin rather liked this current peacefulness the most.
Daily evaluations, training, and fights with villains and monsters.
There was nothing better than this to soothe his unknowingly exhausted mind and body.
Moreover, watching Kim Suhyeon continuously look at him with smiles.
He realized he was unconsciously smiling along with her smile.
Taking in the flower-filled world with their eyes, laughing with others who were happy together.
Standing in the center of that world and capturing it in a photo.
Baek Seojin, who sat down to rest briefly, carefully opened his lips.
"There's something I want to ask."
Honestly, I wondered if I should really ask this.
It might seem like I'm taking someone's feelings lightly.
I was worried about what to do if it hurt her heart.
"I know you really like me, Suhyeon. I'm very grateful and it feels good too. But... thinking about it a bit, it's somewhat like that, right? I mean this kind of thing. Fondness and goodwill can be confused. You might not have thought about it, Suhyeon, but meeting people can be different."
What Baek Seojin had been continuously worrying about and keeping in mind.
Whether his actions had unnecessarily caused Kim Suhyeon to misunderstand and ignited too big a fire.
Whether the somewhat immature girl had mistaken his goodwill for romantic feelings.
Whether such misconception might become a problem later and hurt everyone.
"You mean I like the examiner because I'm mistaking gratitude for your kindness as romantic feelings."
"If I had to compare, yes. Of course, I don't necessarily think so..."
"Is there a problem with that?"
Kim Suhyeon continued speaking nonchalantly.
"The examiner was kind to me, so I developed feelings. As a person, that's unavoidable. And if the examiner only intended to show me goodwill, you would have pushed me away somehow eventually. Not giving me hope like now."
At her words, Baek Seojin thought briefly and eventually nodded.
Right. As Kim Suhyeon said, if I really only had goodwill. Read complete versıon only at novel·fire.net
If I had no romantic feelings for Kim Suhyeon, I wouldn't have come this far.
I would have thought saving her from the Elder and changing her fate was enough.
I would have been satisfied that she became another Crimson Witch who thoroughly crushes villains and monsters, not the Crimson Witch who kills innocent people, and stepped back.
"I know. Even if not as much as I like the examiner, you definitely like me too. I can feel it. Your heart."
An appearance so different from when we first met.
Blinking briefly at that change, Baek Seojin finally admitted his defeat.
"And don't worry. I said it then, didn't I? I'll absolutely never force you to choose."
Kim Suhyeon moved a bit closer and leaned her head on Baek Seojin's shoulder.
"I know why you keep doing this. The examiner is too good a person. You're probably worried about Irina, that woman again."
"I'd like to just hug the examiner tight and say you're mine too. I want to make it so she can't even approach, let alone speak. But I don't do that. Because I shouldn't. We're not that deep in a relationship yet, and it would only make things more difficult for you."
Kim Suhyeon, who extremely dislikes and guards against Irina approaching Baek Seojin.
But she's also making efforts not to cross the line she set for herself.
Reminding herself that if she crosses that line, the one who suffers would ultimately be Baek Seojin.
"I'm more worried because you say that, Suhyeon."
"Yes? Why, why? Did I do something wrong..."
"No. The more I know Irina, the more she feels strangely childlike, but conversely, you feel more mature, Suhyeon. It's the complete opposite of the first impression."
"Is that... bad? Should I also act a bit spoiled now..."
No, no. Absolutely no need for that. Acting difficult like Irina is enough with just Irina.
With me frantically gesturing to stop her, Kim Suhyeon finally burst into laughter.
"Shall we head back?"
"Yes! To the hotel? Then I'd rather..."
"No. Not the hotel. And not your family's villa either."
Kim Suhyeon, trailing off, starts glancing at Baek Seojin.
She doesn't think he'd break his promise, but still feeling anxious.
Maybe the examiner forgot even though he definitely made a promise.
"Let's go to my house."
"You said you wanted to spend a night together. Let's go to my house."
Hearing those words, it didn't take long for Kim Suhyeon's face to turn red as if it would burst.
It was a night with the Crimson Witch.
Hotter than any other night.