Academy's Silver Gatekeeper-Chapter 75

"Or, how about we do this?"

Either unaware of or ignoring Kim Suhyeon's efforts to remain calm, Irina continued with a smile and a subtle tone.

"What if we have a duel? On the condition that if you win, I'll never cling to Seojin oppa again."

"...What?"

Kim Suhyeon's expression turned incredulous at those words.

No matter how much she had distanced herself from society, She still knew how the world worked.

Who was Irina? The ability user known as the strongest in South Korea. Though opinions were divided, she had overwhelming support. Even Elders were said to be wary of her.

Have a duel with such a person? And win? It would be perfectly justifiable to retort that she was talking nonsense.

"Hmm. Just from your expression, I can tell you're thinking 'stop talking nonsense.'"

And yet she made such a ridiculous proposal while knowing that? Kim Suhyeon's inner thoughts were clearly visible in her eyes.

Scratching her head, Irina added, "Then!" before continuing. "Let's do it this way. No time limit. You can duel whenever you want."

"Look, even so..."

"If you can inflict even one wound on my body, I'll coolly give up on Seojin oppa. I won't bother him again. Come on, that's what you want, isn't it?"

A sudden proposal with absurd content. From a third party's perspective, there couldn't be a more ridiculous offer. The most important person, Baek Seojin, had his opinion completely omitted.

And what part of Irina could be trusted to accept such a proposal? That woman always acts as she pleases, closer to a villain than anything else. What if she later says, "Huh? I never said that. I don't remember," then what?

But Kim Suhyeon didn't have time to think that far. Setting everything else aside, the only thing that registered was that this strange woman would stay away from Baek Seojin. That was all that echoed in her ears and circled in her mind.

"You'll stay away from the Examiner?"

"Yes. That much of a condition seems fair."

"..."

"But."

Irina continued with a strange smile on her face.

"Until you win, I'll do as I please."

At that, Kim Suhyeon's face twisted again. To summarize Irina's proposal:

She had to accomplish something with less than 0.1% chance of success. And until she succeeded, she had to endure continued harm.

It might be a slightly inaccurate comparison, but that's exactly how it felt. From Kim Suhyeon's perspective, what kind of proposal was this? It would be justified to reject it as an impossible condition.

However, Irina seemed to have thought of that part as well. "Don't say it's too unfavorable. If you don't accept, I'll keep sticking around Seojin oppa, you know?"

"Ah..."

"Of course, the possibility is extremely low. Yes, it is. Because I'm just that good. But didn't I tell you? Even a small wound would do. Did I say you had to defeat me? I didn't say that, did I?"

Despite coming from the "crazy blonde" Irina, her persuasion was strangely convincing. It also hit the mark by addressing the fact that Kim Suhyeon was the one in a hurry.

"You at least get a pretext to get rid of me."

"..."

"If you don't trust my word, I'll swear on my mother. This is a big deal, okay? I'm swearing on my mother in this land of Eastern courtesy, South Korea. I'm not so vicious as to betray my mother. So, does that build a little trust?"

Kim Suhyeon quietly stared at Irina.

She had no idea what this woman's ulterior motive was. What was she aiming for with such a proposal?

Rather than attempting to freely stay by Baek Seojin's side, She seemed more interested in having a duel with Kim Suhyeon.

'I should reject this. Yes, I should reject...'

Contrary to the reason whispering within her,

"Fine."

Kim Suhyeon's instinct seized Irina's proposal.

"Great. Wow, our Suhyeon. So cool, huh?"

"...Don't speak to me so casually."

"Why? It's nice to get closer by speaking like this."

"I still don't like it."

Jeez, being stubborn in the strangest places. Sigh. Inwardly grumbling, Irina shrugged her shoulders with satisfaction.

"Alright. So later when you have time, contact..."

"Where are you going?"

"Hmm? Me? I need to go home. If my mom catches me, I'll really be dead..."

"You need to duel. Where do you think you're going?"

"...Huh?"

What is she talking about now? Irina thought she must have misheard.

Have a duel? Right now? Immediately?

"Excuse me, did I hear wrong just now? I thought I heard you say we should duel."

"You heard correctly."

"..."

Upon hearing Kim Suhyeon's words, Irina stared blankly at her. Then, before she knew it, she blurted out:

"...Are you crazy?"

TN: Yes, she's crazy for the Examiner :thumbsup:

Yuyu: *slowly raising a sneaky thumbsup*

Despite taking some pride in being called the "crazy Blonde," She had believed there was no one crazier than herself in the world. Yet this woman, Kim Suhyeon, impressed even Irina.

"You want to do it right now? Are you confident? Do you perhaps think that even if you can't beat me, you can at least inflict a small scratch? Is that it?"

At Irina's question, Kim Suhyeon slowly shook her head. Then she gave an answer that left Irina even more speechless.

"I'll lose. Forget about a wound, I probably won't even touch your clothes. But I still want to do it."

She's truly insane. How can someone be so aggressively crazy?

"You said you'd give me a duel whenever I wanted. Are you forfeiting?"

And she's even subtly provoking me now. This was another reminder that she is indeed Kang Minseong's granddaughter.

Irina looked at Kim Suhyeon with disbelief. Then, shrugging her shoulders once, she spoke.

"Fine. Let's do it right now. Where?"

"It shouldn't be open to the general public."

"Right. Especially since the news would report that I caught a poor female student like a mouse."

"That doesn't sound too bad."

"...You're really going to die."

Despite Irina's fierce voice, Kim Suhyeon showed no major reaction. She guided Irina to board the car she had arrived in.

"You can come with me. There's a training hall allocated to me, we can do it there."

"Wait. You don't mean your house, right?"

"That's right."

"That's where Kang Minseong, that old man, lives. Ah... I'm really uncomfortable there. With the old man and everything."

"If you don't like it, that's fine. But then it's a forfeit..."

"I'm not forfeiting, you little... Are you trying to make me forfeit?"

"Not really."

Vrrrm—

As the two women lightly bickered, the car began to move. Leaning against the window, looking outside, Irina let out a sigh.

'I'm screwed.'

By now, my mom probably knows I've gone somewhere else. Wonder how long this will last. My back won't survive when I return.

"...Can I ask you one thing?"

As Irina sighed again, wondering how to apologize for her wrongdoing, Kim Suhyeon, who had been sitting quietly, tentatively spoke up.

"What is it?"

"...You."

"Irina. I have a name too, you know."

"...Irina. Why do you like the Examiner?"

What's this? I thought she was just some strange girl exuding bloodlust. But she has a bit of that girlish sensitivity too? Haha. How cute.

Despite being almost the same age as Kim Suhyeon, Irina answered as if she were a great senior in life.

"Do you need a reason for something like that?"

"Yes. I need one."

Wow. Look at how sharply she cuts me off. I really don't like her. Inwardly grumbling, Irina fiddled with the window.

"It's nothing special. Just, he's fascinating."

"Is that all?"

"What more do you need? He's fascinating, so I want to know more. I want to get closer because I want to know more. And for that, a romantic relationship is best, right? You're not suggesting I become a stalker, are you? I'm very different from that water ghost bastard, Kwak Hyuk."

Zing—!

The moment Irina uttered the name Kwak Hyuk, she slightly distorted her expression.

Clear killing intent. It feels like I can sense a thick smell of blood. Turning my head to check, the source was none other than Kim Suhyeon.

'...She really is as crazy as me.'

She suddenly became curious. Are there no normal people around Baek Seojin?

Starting with herself, then the surprising Kim Suhyeon. Then the water ghost stalker Kwak Hyuk, and the vengeful ghost Hyeon Sujin. Everyone who had any connection with him was in this state.

"First, you need to learn how to contain your aura."

"I'll handle it myself."

"Handle it yourself? If you leak it all like that, you're just advertising your low level. Seojin oppa might think you're sloppy, you know?"

Kim Suhyeon, who hadn't reacted to being called low-level, Immediately reacted to the next mention of Baek Seojin. Her calm eyes were now wavering.

Seeing this, Irina laughed with a "Seriously." fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

"...What about you?"

"Pardon?"

"Why are you so attached to Seojin oppa?"

Now it's your turn to answer, since I answered. To Irina's implicit meaning, Kim Suhyeon replied in a small voice.

"...He saved my life. Multiple times."

"And that's why you like him?"

Nod, nod—

"You know, that might not actually be love."

"What do you mean?"

"No, I mean, you might just want to repay your debt. Plus, you feel attracted to the person who saved you. You might be mistaking that for romantic feelings."

"Absolutely not."

Her voice was so cold it was almost frigid. Seeing this, Irina said nothing more and just smiled.

By now, the car carrying the two women had passed through the main gate and entered.

"...Ah."

Through the window, a number of servants and an old man standing in front of them. Seeing this, Irina let out a sigh.

The old man that always make her uncomfortable was waiting for her.