Chapter 41 – Dropping by the clinic

An ordinary Sunday afternoon that become a hellish scene as monsters appeared out of the blue, along with a small group of Djinn.

Ordinary citizens, killed in the ambush. Cadets offduty and without weapons, slain at the scene...

...At least, that was what should have happened.

But there were no casualties. There weren't even any wounded.

And the reason for that was one person. One cadet.

Kim Hajin.

A brave Cube Cadet near the bottom of the rankings who had grit his teeth, used whatever weapons he could and desperately fought off monsters and Djinn alike while waiting for reinforcements that seemed to never come.

And when they did, it was over.

Because he had already defeated them all. Djinn and monster.

===

Late in the evening. A private clinic in Seoul. One that Hajin had been transferred to after he fainted, and one run by Essence of Strait.

Yeonha immediately burst into the hospital room. "Hajin!"

Suho looked up, amused, and said, "Running in here like a frantic housewife..." He shifted his gaze past Yeonha to Nayun, who was casually walking inside. "Guess we're right about them, huh, Nayun?"

Nayun chuckled and said, "Oh, you have no idea. Yeonha was so panicked that she tossed a stack of bills at a person on a motorbike, shoved them off, and drove us here."

Yeonha ignored the banter and quickly gave Hajin's unconscious body a once over. After seeing that there were only superficial scrapes now, she let out a deep sigh. "...Thank god. You idiot."

Suho shook his head. "Hey, don't call Hajin an idiot. He was a hero today. Despite everything, he pulled through. Not a single person was injured, you know?"

Nayun raised an eyebrow. "Really?" She shifted her gaze down to look at Hajin and said, "Huh. Didn't think he had it in him."

Suho chuckled. "You'd be surprised, Nayun. Our friend here's put himself through the wringer recently to get stronger."

"I wouldn't call Kim Hajin my friend, Suho... But I guess I'll keep that in mind. Also, stop dropping my last name. That's just going to cause all sorts of trouble, you know?"

Suho laughed. "If Jonghak has a problem with it, he can take it up with me personally. I've been itching to fight a real spear user, you know?"

At that time, a low chuckle echoed from down the hall.

Lee walked inside and said, "Are you calling me a fake spear user now, Suho?"

"Yes. Because you're a martial artist, not a spear user." Suho pointed at Lee. "Don't think you can fool me anymore, Friend. I realized what footwork you were using now after trying it for myself."

Lee held up his hands and said, "Hey. It's not my fault people don't know how to adapt their fighting style across weapons..." He shifted his gaze to Hajin and said, "But that guy went all out, huh? I saw the news footage."

Yeonha's eyes widened. "There was news footage?"

"Huh?" Lee blinked. "Yeah. Did you rush straight here? They're airing it right now. Hajin was pretty ridiculous. Using his time slipping ability to make weapons on the fly, straining his body to whip makeshift spears and bone daggers, intercepting attacks with ridiculously precise gunfire... Honestly, I didn't think he had it in him."

Yeonha immediately stepped out of the room, her heels clicking behind her. "Father. Yes, it's me. I need a complete media blackout, now. ...Yes, it's important. That one, yes. He's mine- I mean, a future Essence of Strait prospect. We can't have his abilities leaked..."

Lee glanced back at where Yeonha left and whistled. "Wow. She has it bad, huh?"

Nayun rolled her eyes and said, "Says the one who literally babytrapped the Princess of England... Where is Rachel anyway?"

"I take offense to that. It was clearly a consensual affair in making Evandel. And she's sleeping in her dorm room with our daughter since we have class tomorrow."

Suho slowly blinked. "...I'm sorry, did I just hear something ridiculous right now?"

Lee smiled at Suho and said, "Yes. And now if it leaks, we know it came from you."

"...Oh, you sly bastard." Suho laughed. "Fine, fine. I'll keep my mouth shut."

Lee glanced over at Hajin and said, "So what's the damage for our teammate? Think he'll be out when we have combat classes?"

Suho looked towards where Yeonha's voice could still faintly be heard. Then he said, "Well, the doctor said Hajin had some pretty bad sprains and bone fractures. But considering Yeonha's reaction just now, I think it'll be fine."

"Hm..." Lee tapped his fingers against his legs and said, "Nayun, do you still have some spirit ginseng left?"

"Huh?" Nayun blinked. "...Oh. I guess I do?" She paused. Then a grin crossed her face. "Oh. Oho? You want me to do 'that' huh?"

Lee made a pair of finger guns towards Nayun. "You get me~ Let's see if Yeonha will go full jealous wife when you're handfeeding Hajin some precious herbs that definitely cost way too much money... even though we can pick it up whenever." He paused and said, "And Suho-"

"Yeah, yeah." Suho chuckled. "I'll keep my mouth shut."

"Great. I'll send you a 7-year spirit ginseng next week after I pick some more up."

Nayun opened her bag and pulled out a small spirit ginseng. "I was saving this for an emergency potion after that chaos with Evandel... but this is totally worth it."

Suho grabbed a nearby plate and plastic knife. "I'll cut it up."

Lee looked at Suho, amused. "You're actively chipping into our scheme, huh?"

Suho shrugged. "I think Yeonha and Hajin are good for each other. Also, Yeonha is clearly too stubborn to admit anything. She's the sort who won't see reason unless she comes to a conclusion in her head, you know?"

Nayun chuckled and handed the ginseng over to Suho. "You know her that well, huh?"

"Well." Suho easily sliced through the ginseng like butter, turning it into thin wafers. "We were all at the Agent Military Academy together. It's not that hard to figure people out." He paused and looked at Lee, amused. "Except for Lee here. To think you had a whole daughter and secret love affair while we were at school..."

Nayun rolled her eyes. "Tell me about it. Hey." She looked at Lee. "Just how many real secrets are you keeping anyway?"

Lee paused. Then, with a cheeky smirk, he said, "More than Suho, less than Hajin, probably?"

Suho's eyes immediately sharpened. "Is that so? Wait, less than Hajin?" He immediately looked towards Hajin. "...Huh."

"Wait, wait. What?" Nayun blinked. "What do you mean more than Suho and less than Hajin? Suho, you have secrets?"

Suho coughed, his ears turning a bit red. "...All men have secrets, Nayun." At the same time, he glared daggers at Lee.

Lee just chuckled. "What? It's true. I'm a pretty straightforward guy, you know? If you ask me a question, I won't tell a lie. I'll just tell you or say I won't answer if it's something I don't-"

Nayun immediately pointed at Lee and said, "What's your biggest secret?!"

"I was gunning for Rachel the moment I entered Cube?"

Nayun blinked. Then she gasped and said, "Wait, really?! Oh my GOD, so you WERE actually going for her? No, was all of that calculated?!"

"Yep. And now if you tell her, she'll never believe you." Lee snapped his fingers and grinned. "Bold, right?"

"...Oh, you are a DANGEROUS man." Nayun burst out laughing and said, "If Jonghak had even half of your charm, he'd actually have women all over him."

Lee nodded. "Yep. But instead all he has are his henchmen." He paused. "...But on a serious note. With the way he dresses and how he keeps glaring at guys... do you think that he swings that way?"

"Oh my GOD. Lee! Stop!" Nayun clamped a hand over her mouth, looking at Hajin.

Lee played dumb and said, "Mm, yeah. Hajin's probably Jonghak's type, huh?"

At that time, the door slammed open and Yeonha walked in. "...What utter blasphemy did I just hear?"

Nayun immediately scooped up the plate with chopped spirit ginger wafers and started handfeeding Hajin. Since the spirit ginger was so fresh and potent, the moment the wafers hit Hajin's mouth, they dissolved into magic power. "Oh, nothing. Just talking about relationships... and how Hajin is sooo capable."

Yeonha's face turned a bright red and she quickly stomped over, swiping the plate from Nayun's hands. "I-I will handle that! Hajin is my business asset, so I'll make sure he's properly maintained!"

Lee chuckled. "Right... business asset. Are you sure there isn't a 'business contract' between you two as well?"

Yeonha paused and slowly looked at Lee. "...And what is it to you if there is?"

Lee's eyes widened. Then he burst out laughing and held out his hand to Nayun. "Pay up."

"What?!" Nayun shook her head. "That doesn't count! They aren't married yet!"

"WHAT?!" Yeonha rounded on Nayun. "Marriage?! With who?! Hajin?!"

At that time, Hajin groaned, finally stirred from all the shouting. "Why am I hearing Yeonha shout my name...?"

Nayun, Suho, and Lee immediately looked at Hajin.

Nayun looked smug as a cat and said, "Yeonha? Dropping her last name entirely?"

Suho looked at how Yeonha didn't correct Hajin at all. "And Yoo Yeonha not even telling him to stop being casual with her..."

Lee chuckled and said, "Why is her voice the one you comment on first, Hajin?"

Hajin froze. Then his eyes snapped wide open as he realized everyone in the room with him.

Yeonha froze too, her face slowly turning a deep red. And then she set the plate of ginseng wafers down and started shoving Lee and Nayun away. "OUT! GET OUT! NOW! GO BACK TO CUBE ALREADY YOU RIDICULOUS PEOPLE!"

Lee laughed and said, "Fine, fine..." He looked at Nayun. "Should we head back early?"

Nayun chuckled. "Yeah. If I don't sleep soon, I might actually knock out during Post-Outcall History again..."

"Just skip it. You get three freebies per semester, you know?"

Lee rounded the corner with Nayun.

"Wait, really?" Nayun's voice drifted around the corner.

"...Does no one read the handbook?"

After Lee's words, a door opened and shut in the distance, those two heading back off to Cube.

That left just Hajin, Yeonha, and Suho together.

But Suho immediately got up and said, "I'll leave you two be. I have some studying to do anyway."

"W-Wait!" Yeonha looked towards Suho and said, "Y-You can't just leave me here alone with-"

"Catch you two tomorrow."

With those words and a cheeky smile, Suho left as well.

And then there was just Yeonha and Hajin sitting together in the room.

Alone.

With no one else.

An awkward silence filled the air... and one that wasn't going away any time soon.