Episode 74: Yang energy (4)
Most of the other teams had already finished forming their groups quickly.
So, our team decided to postpone introductions for later and first find our seats.
I went in first, taking a seat towards the inner side of the back row. Just as Yoon Chae-ha was about to follow me…
“…?”
Yu Hana moved slightly ahead, just a step faster.
A smooth yet swift acceleration—she naturally cut across Yoon Chae-ha’s path and sat beside me first.
It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that her movement carried a certain level of mystical finesse, a profound technique.
In that brief moment, Yu Hana had once again proven her growth.
As a result, Yu Hana sat next to me, with Yoon Chae-ha and her mentee, Jo Yuri, sitting beside her.
In the quiet atmosphere, Yu Hana slightly tilted her head toward me. A few strands of her hair, damp with sweat from training, slid down her cheek.
“Sorry.”
She spoke in a low voice.
“I probably smell like sweat, don’t I? I came straight here after training….”
Trailing off, she looked slightly uneasy.
“Not at all. It’s fine.”
I replied just as quietly.
In truth, it was a problem.
There was a scent, but what reached my nose wasn’t the smell of sweat. Instead, it was a faint, pleasant fragrance.
A scent that gently spread through the humid air, subtly disrupting my breathing.
Her natural fragrance was affecting me. And I was already feeling unstable as it was.
Even now, my heart was beating a little faster.
“Really? That’s a relief….”
Yu Hana smiled, her eyes slightly curving.
For some reason, her expression, mixed with a gentle eye smile, felt even closer than usual.
Moreover, the slightly loosened neckline of her training uniform—
As she leaned in, the neatly arranged fabric subtly shifted, revealing the delicate line extending from her neck downward, repeatedly drawing my gaze.
I instinctively averted my eyes and focused on the instructor in front.
“It looks like all teams have finished forming.”
Before returning to our seats, we had submitted our team roster.
On the screen, 15 teams and four names began appearing.
“Shortly, four students from Gaon Academy will be randomly assigned to each team and announced.”
The screen still showed an empty table, but it wouldn’t stay that way for long.
“You don’t need to worry too much. The team formation method for Kalos and Gaon has been applied identically. We’ve ensured complete fairness.”
At his words, several students nodded.
Overall, the teams seemed fairly balanced.
There wasn’t a team that stood out as overwhelmingly strong.
Except for one.
Joo Seo-jun and Yohan.
Those two had been grouped with Ga-il, who ranked 11th in Kalos.
And Ga-il’s mentor was a top-ranked student from Gaon as well.
A team of four men.
Kalos’ rank 1 and Gaon’s rank 2.
On the surface, it was the strongest team assembled.
I glanced sideways.
Yu Hana was still smiling, her hands neatly placed on her knees as she looked in my direction.
Meanwhile, Yoon Chae-ha was quietly talking with Jo Yuri.
‘We’re better, though.’
Both in potential and current combat strength, we weren’t falling behind.
“That’s it for today.”
The instructor concluded with his final words.
“Dismissed. Starting tomorrow, team-based activities will officially begin. Please assemble on time.”
The auditorium soon filled with the sounds of students standing up in small groups.
We remained seated.
There was no need to rush.
It was easier to leave once most people were gone.
At that moment, a presence approached.
A relaxed stride—it was Joo Seo-jun.
He slowly walked toward Yoon Chae-ha and casually raised a hand in greeting.
“Did you put together a good team?”
“Yeah.”
Yoon Chae-ha responded curtly without even turning to look at him.
Joo Seo-jun didn’t probe further. Instead, he naturally shifted his body toward me and Yu Hana.
“Hello. You must be the mentor. I haven’t had the chance to see you since you’re always out.”
He bowed his head politely as he greeted me.
Joo Seo-jun had a good personality.
No sharp edges, and he spoke with proper manners.
“And… this person is…?”
His gaze shifted to Yu Hana.
Without saying a word, Yu Hana tightened the front of her training uniform, then turned slightly and bowed her head.
“…I’m Yu Hana.”
Her voice was calm and expressionless.
Joo Seo-jun nodded once more before turning to Yoon Chae-ha.
“Are you preparing well for the individual match?”
“So-so.”
“You should be nervous. I’m really different this time.”
“Yeah.”
A short exchange.
Joo Seo-jun smirked slightly before turning around.
“I’m off~”
I watched his back carefully.
‘Yeah.’
It wasn’t just empty talk.
Joo Seo-jun was definitely showing remarkable growth.
At a pace even she wasn’t aware of.
Since coming to Gaon, Yoon Chae-ha had been trying a bit of everything—today this, tomorrow that—following whatever piqued her interest.
That approach suited her personality, but it also meant she had been somewhat neglecting her main field, magic.
Meanwhile, during that time, Joo Seo-jun must have been relentlessly closing the gap.
Perhaps this setup could also serve as a good trigger for Yoon Chae-ha.
She was always the type who needed a stimulus to improve.
“Let’s go too.”
We quietly stood up and left the auditorium.
Outside, dusk had already settled, and the corridor windows reflected the soft glow of the moonlight.
“You did well today. I’ll be counting on you from now on.”
Jo Yuri said her farewell and led the way.
“See you tomorrow. Oh, and… the fish today was… good.”
Yoon Chae-ha gave a small nod and followed her.
I remained in place for a moment, exhaling lightly.
A sense of relief spread through me—another day had ended without issue. Now, I just had to go home and rest…
But then, Yu Hana, who had been walking quietly beside me, suddenly spoke.
“Hey, Haein.”
I naturally turned my head.
“It’s been a while… but could you spar with me one-on-one?”
There was a hint of anticipation in her voice.
“During my closed training… I’ve gained something. It’s not like I’m trying to brag or anything, but… I really want to show you.”
As she spoke, her expression came into focus. A little shy, but with an earnest look in her eyes.
She seemed to want someone to acknowledge her growth.
“No other reason… You taught me swordsmanship, after all. I wanted to show you that I’ve come this far thanks to you.”
I considered rejecting her, given my current condition, but I couldn’t.
I was curious to see how much she had improved, too.
“…Alright.”
I eventually agreed.
The moment I nodded, her eyes sparkled.
“Really?”
Her voice carried pure excitement.
A moment later, she hesitated before adding,
“But… I’ve realized a lot of things, so it might take a while. We could end up practicing pretty late… is that okay?”
I thought for a moment, then glanced toward the end of the corridor.
Yoon Chae-ha and Jo Yuri were slowly walking away together.
“If it’s just the two of us staying late…”
Before Yu Hana could finish her sentence, I spoke first.
“Then how about the three of us do it together?”
“The three of us…?”
Yu Hana blinked slowly.
“I figured we might as well include Yoon Chae-ha too. I haven’t been able to mentor her for a few weeks, and I was actually planning to do that today. I feel a little bad about it.”
Yu Hana quietly looked at my face, then slowly nodded.
“Yeah… I’d like that too….”
I took out my watch and sent a short message.
[belief_]: Come back.
[summer]: Me? Why?
[belief_]: Let’s do the mentoring.
As soon as I sent the message, Yoon Chae-ha, who was about to leave at the end of the hallway, stopped in her tracks and swiftly turned her head toward me.
Then, without saying a word, she slowly began walking back.
When she got closer, she spoke.
“I thought you forgot.”
I responded casually.
“I didn’t forget.”
That was a lie.
I had actually forgotten, but thanks to Yu Hana, I remembered.
It worked out well.
To be honest, being alone with Yu Hana in the same room felt a bit burdensome, but with Yoon Chae-ha joining, it felt more manageable.
Yoon Chae-ha glanced at Yu Hana before slightly bowing her head.
Oh, so she does know how to greet people.
She’s grown up a lot.
Without another word, the three of us walked side by side.
The night air had become calmer, and the corridor leading to the training hall was completely silent.
B Wing Training Hall.
As we stepped inside, the vast space was still bustling with students in the middle of training.
We headed straight toward the deeper section of the hall.
I scanned my watch at the entrance of a private training room.
— Beep.
As the door unlocked, the interior revealed itself—state-of-the-art training equipment neatly arranged inside.
“Not bad.”
Once the door closed behind us, sensors activated, and the lights gradually turned on.
As expected, B Wing had the best facilities.
I stepped inside and turned to the two of them.
“What should we start with?”
I could review Yu Hana’s swordsmanship or help Yoon Chae-ha with mana control.
Thinking about it, I opened my mouth to speak.
“I’ll check your swordsm—”
Before I could finish my sentence, Yu Hana cut in.
“Sparring.”
I turned my head to look at her, and she was smiling at me.
“Let’s start with a spar.”
Then, she glanced at Yoon Chae-ha.
“Are you okay with that? I’d like to spar with you first.”
Yoon Chae-ha met her gaze directly.
Her crimson eyes burned with intensity.
“Yes, I’m fine with that.”
She nodded.
From her reaction earlier, it was clear that she had a strong interest in Yu Hana as well.
“Uh… sure. Do that.”
I responded vaguely and stepped back.
As I naturally shifted out of the way, the two of them moved toward opposite ends of the training room.
Standing face-to-face at their respective positions, Yu Hana lightly loosened her wrist while Yoon Chae-ha closed her eyes.
A silent tension filled the air.
‘What is this?’
An unexpected sparring match.
And just like that, I had suddenly become a spectator.
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