Chapter 154 : Chapter 154

Chapter 154

Leaving ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the cadets in the club room, I took Cha Yeri and Gwon Chihun to a nearby emergency stairwell.

“Explain ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍in detail, both of you. An interview, all of a sudden?”

“Ah, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍well… I think I made a mistake.”

Gwon ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Chihun spoke as if confessing.

But ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍when he hesitated and failed to continue, Cha Yeri cut in with an impatient expression.

“It ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍seems Cadet Gwon Chihun boasted to everyone that he received an invitation to join.”

“What?”

“So the rumor spread that the Mystery Club is recruiting members, and the moment the campus holiday began, they rushed in like that.”

I had feared it, and of course it was true…

Last time—when the four of us, including Jeong Soyun, ate together in District 8—Cha Yeri had invited Gwon Chihun to join.

The goal had been to bring him along on the joint club exploration and somehow entangle him with Jeong Soyun.

Since Cha Yeri said she would handle it herself, I had not paid much attention.

But it seemed Gwon Chihun could not refuse the earnest invitation from both Cha Yeri and me, and went around telling the other cadets as though we had begged him.

After all, nothing was more sensational than the heir of Hyeonseong Group and a probationary investigator of the Special Affairs Division bowing to him. His mouth was never going to stay shut.

It was as inevitable as an apple falling from a tree.

I had vaguely expected it back at that District 8 meal, but still…

“Then why did they come in droves? It is one thing for the recruitment rumor to spread.”

“Are you asking because you truly do not know?”

“Yes.”

“Ha… I cannot tell whether you genuinely do not know, or whether you are pretending.”

Cha Yeri pressed her temple.

For an instant, I caught a look in her eyes that plainly said I was pathetic.

“Try deducing it with that sharp observation of yours. Why are they gathered in the club room?”

“Well, there are students from multiple year levels, a relatively high proportion from the Investigation Division, and only female cadets…”

“Exactly. Those female cadets. They gathered because of you, Ji Seokhyeon. They want to join the Mystery Club and, somehow, get along well with you.”

…What?

Wait, now that I thought about it, the female cadets who usually trailed after Cha Yeri were nowhere to be seen.

I had assumed they would want to apply first.

And considering that Gwon Chihun had no connections with female cadets, her claim sounded plausible.

“Get along well means…”

“They are going to try to seduce you, obviously. …It is irritating.”

Leaning against the stairwell railing, I muttered,

“Was I that popular? So I am actually appealing in a romantic sense?”

This time, Gwon Chihun silently furrowed his brows.

As though he found me obnoxious.

Still, if that truly was why they gathered, should Cha Yeri not have simply stated that there would be no admissions?

And it was strange that she had messaged me to come at all.

Ignoring Gwon Chihun’s glare, I looked at Cha Yeri.

“The Mystery Club is barely hanging on as it is. Would it not be better to make it clear that Gwon Chihun was a special case? Why are we bothering with interviews?”

“I was going to do exactly that, but a minor problem came up.”

A problem?

She operated her smart wearable device, and soon a notice appeared on the screen.

It was the announcement for the joint club exploration, the final schedule of this break.

When she enlarged one section, the issue became obvious at once.

“Insufficient headcount…”

“Yes. Two days ago, this notice arrived out of nowhere. It says that since there will be an academy-versus-academy event during the exploration, we should participate with an appropriate number of members.”

“If we are participating, it is a good opportunity, but…”

I trailed off and glanced at her cautiously.

Cha Yeri had been trying to tie Gwon Chihun to Jeong Soyun, worried that Jeong Soyun might show interest in me. And now she was supposed to accept all these female cadets, who had gathered to impress me, as members?

It did not add up.

Yet Cha Yeri spoke as if it did not matter.

“If we plan to continue club activities anyway, is it not more convenient to expand our membership now? And besides… it will be easier to ‘manage’ everyone at once, so it is beneficial in many ways.”

Her answer carried a strange confidence, along with a sharp, vicious edge.

I decided to pretend I had not heard it.

But setting that aside, should not such a notice have come to me, the president?

Granted, it was under her initiative that we chose to participate in the exploration, but still…

Well, taking this chance to hand her the presidency and withdraw would not be a bad idea.

With Lee Eunho absent, the Mystery Club had already lost its reason to exist.

“Since things have come to this, it is good if we gain members! Ha ha… ha… We cannot put spilled water back in the cup. Sorry.”

Gwon Chihun finally cut in, after reading the room between me and her.

At least he seemed to understand that his loose mouth had caused this situation. All the more reason to expel him before handing over the presidency.

“Cadet Gwon Chihun is right. It is difficult to reverse things now. So, let us admit all applicants while we are at it. And give me the position of vice president.”

“Vice president?”

The club’s second-in-command.

It was already the only realistic arrangement, but something about her wording felt intentional.

“Yes. It is easier to manage them that way. In many ways.”

“……”

What should I even say?

The venom in her tone grew thicker with every sentence.

“Ah! Then what about me?”

Gwon Chihun blurted out.

“What about you?”

“I want a position too… I joined earlier than the others.”

Give someone like Gwon Chihun a management role?

I ignored him and opened the stairwell door.

“For now, let us go back. They are waiting. And we will conduct the interviews, at least as a formality. Ah, Gwon Chihun. Go down to the first floor and buy some drinks.”

“Wait, why do I have to?”

“This mess happened because of you, so cooperate quietly. And who knows? Depending on how you behave, I might even give you a suitable title.”

“Well… if you ask that way, I guess I have no choice. I do not like it, though.”

“Yes, yes.”

After I sent him points through my smart wearable device, he did not even check the elevator and immediately ran down the stairs.

Despite how reluctant he had pretended to be, he moved quickly.

Cha Yeri and I returned to the club room.

The moment we entered, the noisy atmosphere quieted at once, just as before.

“Thank you for waiting. From now on, we will interview each of you one by one—”

Mid-sentence, I stopped when I spotted Do Minyeong standing at the back of the room.

It seemed she had arrived while we were holding an emergency meeting in the stairwell, but for some reason she held an application form in her hand.

“Ah… we will proceed with the interviews. First, please submit your applications to me, and…”

As I spoke, I discreetly checked Cha Yeri’s expression.

As expected, she was smiling with her eyes.

Openly displeased.

“We will begin the interviews in the order the applications were submitted.”

***

The interviews ended smoothly.

I asked simple questions about basic knowledge of mystery investigation and their reasons for applying, and as we had discussed beforehand, everyone passed.

Of course, it seemed there was at least one applicant whom one of our officers did not find agreeable, but what could be done? She had brought this upon herself.

In any case, the moment the interviews ended, I left the club room and met Do Minyeong outside the annex building, where she had been waiting.

“What happened? You did not say anything.”

“After transferring departments, I had to quit the Student Council. So I needed club activity points.”

That made sense. She was no longer the top student, so she could not keep collecting points through the Student Council.

She continued.

“But can you leave like this right away?”

“Yes. We did not actually have club activities planned for today.”

“You seem to have more time than I expected.”

“That is the Mystery Club’s one and only advantage. Freedom.”

“Perfect. Instructor Kim Seulhee said she would supervise summoning today.”

“Ah, I saw the message. We eat lunch in the lab and then go right away, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Then on the way, at the vending machine—”

Just as Do Minyeong and I were about to head to the Hall of Faith, Cha Yeri strode toward us from the annex.

She was smiling as usual, but her approach was direct, as though she were bearing down on a target.

As expected, she asked in a rather sharp tone.

“Cadet Do Minyeong, that is unexpected.”

“What do you mean?”

Do Minyeong stepped forward with a bold expression, refusing to yield to the pressure.

Cha Yeri crossed her arms and spoke.

“It is unexpected that a cadet who seemed determined to push everyone away would suddenly care about building relationships.”

“Push everyone away? That is terribly rude.”

“Is it wrong? You attended Combat Division lectures almost entirely alone.”

“There is nothing strange about a transfer student walking alone. It is better than gathering in false camaraderie like someone else.”

“What did you say?”

“Oh? Was I wrong? And despite appearances, I have a strong interest in mysteries.”

After only a few exchanges, my existence vanished from this place.

Neither of them moved, and they only glared at one another.

Their posture and expressions formed a perfect composition, like the main poster of a film.

“Ah, I did not know you were so interested in mysteries. Is that why you enrolled in the Investigation Division, where practical evaluation has little weight?”

“Of course. Thanks to that, I made many memories with Seokhyeon in the Investigation Division. I sat beside him in lectures almost every day. Would you say we were rather… special?”

“Oh my. I have been doing club activities with him since the beginning of the semester. I have memories with him as well—memories that crossed the line between life and death.”

“I see. But what will you do? I am in the same club now.”

“There are levels. I am the vice president, and you are merely a regular member.”

“Cadet Cha Yeri, do you dislike that I joined?”

“Yes.”

“Pardon?”

She answered that directly?

A response Cha Yeri would never have given in her usual state.

From the standpoint of the original author, I began to watch their anomalous behavior in silence.

“I suspect you joined for an impure purpose. One that disrupts the club’s atmosphere.”

“And are you not already clinging to him for an impure purpose?”

“Yes. That is why, for the sake of smooth club activities, you should have the sense to withdraw. For the record, I have no intention of backing down.”

“How fortunate. We feel the same. I look forward to working with you.”

The air was like thin ice beneath one’s feet.

The only saving grace was that there were scarcely any cadets wandering the grounds.

“Cadet Ji Seokhyeon, I would like to speak with you about what happened earlier.”

Cha Yeri shifted her gaze to me and spoke curtly.

But Do Minyeong cut in without hesitation.

“I am sorry, but Seokhyeon already has plans with me.”

“What?”

“Calling it ‘plans’ is strange. Every day, always, without exception, we eat lunch together. I make him a packed meal with care.”

“…!”

A spark ignited in Cha Yeri’s eyes.

A face that only I could read properly—the expression of genuine anger.

I hurried to speak.

“Cadet Cha Yeri, let us talk on the phone later. I actually have an appointment with an instructor as well. I will contact you as soon as I can.”

“Ah, of course. You have separate plans, do you not. There is no need to call. Since when have you ever called first?”

With that, she turned and walked back toward the annex.

Her back looked faintly forlorn.

With no other cadets around, I had expected her to explode with anger…

In truth, if I had taken a clear stance, their conflict would not have happened at all.

But it was difficult for me to take one side, or to reject both of them.

With the episode ahead still opaque, if either of them became uncooperative, it would be nothing but trouble.

So, at least until I resolved Lee Eunho’s matter, I needed to maintain this relationship.

Even if it led to bloodshed.

“Why are you still staring? Let us go. The instructor will be waiting.”

“Ah… right.”