Episode 104: The Heroines Stole My Regression


Episode 104: Party (5)


In front of the main gate of Gaon Dormitory.


Squeak.


The limousine door opened quietly.


I stepped out slowly and closed the door behind me.


“Thank you, sir.”


I politely bowed to the chauffeur who had brought me all the way here.


Originally, I was supposed to return to Gaon via portal, but since it was late and the portal checkpoint had closed, the Yeonggwang family’s personal chauffeur had driven me here directly.


Even though I’d ridden in this car multiple times today, it still felt unfamiliar.


Both the act of riding in such a car and naturally stepping out of it—it all felt strange.


“Haah.”


A long sigh escaped me.


I took off my suit jacket and slung it over my shoulder.


I had assumed this outfit was borrowed, but Kang Arin had given it to me as a gift.


She said she bought it right away. The price… I’d rather not know.


The fatigue from today wasn’t just physical.


Of course, I had gained a lot from it, too.


Meeting face-to-face with the association president, guild leaders, and high-ranking officials from various organizations—


Being able to personally greet them and exchange names was quite a meaningful achievement.


It was something I thought I wouldn’t get a chance to do until I was more established in the future.


And above all, meeting Yu Serin on the rooftop…


That was an unexpectedly huge gain.


Judging by her state at the time, she seemed to be deeply lost or on the verge of breaking down.


If a little advice could save someone, then saving them was the right thing to do.


Of course, the choice was hers from now on.


Would she stay in her crumbling nest, living a life of comfort with broken wings until she was devoured by snakes?


Or would she leave the nest and spread those wings wide?


I was curious about that, too.


Lost in thought, I soon found myself in front of the dormitory entrance.


Since it was late, I quietly entered the passcode and stepped inside.


The familiar sound of the lock disengaging.


As soon as the door opened, a familiar scent wafted into my nose.


“…Huh?”


I stopped in my tracks.


For a moment, a chill ran down my spine.


The faint fragrance of air freshener lingering in the dorm.


Normally, I wouldn’t have thought twice about it.


Given that Gaon’s students often engage in intense training that leaves them sweaty, the academy encourages the use of air fresheners.


I usually spray some before leaving, along with airing out the room.


So I always assumed that was why the scent was there.


But this morning, I distinctly remember not spraying any—I was in a hurry and only had time to air out the room.


“……”


I quietly scanned the interior.


Everything was in its usual place.


The items on the desk were untouched, the bed was neatly made—nothing seemed amiss.


“…Must’ve been my imagination.”


Muttering to myself, I hung the suit jacket on the chair.


The air freshener scent bothered me a little, but what kind of thief would break in just to spray some and leave?


Besides, this was Gaon.


The dormitory was fully secured with magi-technological defenses.


Only a limited number of people could enter.


To bypass that, one would either have to be a resident of this building…


Or someone powerful enough to completely ignore those measures.


Just thinking about it made my head throb.


Fatigue was setting in.


The alcohol was also starting to hit me haphazardly.


I flopped onto the bed without another thought.


“…Whatever, I’ll just sleep.”


I closed my eyes.


And in that state, I fell asleep almost instantly.


***


“Ugh.”


My head pulsed slightly.


I hadn’t even drunk that much wine, but it felt oddly heavy.


Maybe it was because I mixed it with beer.


Stretching, I headed to our usual hangover soup spot.


It was the place Sung Ara had personally designated for recovery.


The restaurant was quiet, but in the distance, I spotted the group that had arrived before me.


“You’re here.”


Old Man Ha Taesung.


Beside him, Sung Ara, who had already finished half her soup, and across from them, a woman with a familiar silhouette.


“What, you guys already started eating?”


I checked the time.


I was right on schedule.


“She kept nagging that she’d throw up if we waited any longer, so we came early.”


“How much did you even drink…?”


Sung Ara seemed to have had more than expected.


Both the old man and Ara noona had been at yesterday’s party, too.


We had crossed paths, but they treated me with a strictly professional demeanor.


‘I’ll have to explain later…’


Of course, Sung Ara had given me an earful afterward.


In a way, I’d been summoned here today because of that.


“Haein!”


A familiar voice.


Turning my head, I saw Sion waving at me.


The owner of that familiar silhouette was Sion.


“You’re here too?”


“Yeah. I was craving this place’s hangover soup.”


She lightly pressed her palm to her cheek as she spoke.


“I’m really tired for some reason. Maybe I overdid it yesterday.”


“Didn’t you say you were resting at the dorm?”


I distinctly remember her bragging about napping like a lion instead of training.


“…Well… yeah, but… just… a little…”


Sion’s answer was evasive.


It was odd, but I didn’t press further.


I took my seat, and the hangover soup arrived shortly after.


Steam rose in gentle swirls. After a few spoonfuls, my body finally began to relax.


It was then.


Across from me, Sung Ara noona propped her chin on her hands and stared at me.


She was already on her second bowl of soup, and her expression had loosened up enough to carry a playful glint.


“So, Jung Haein. Care to explain?”


She raised an eyebrow, launching her interrogation.


“Well… There’s not much to explain…”


I wiped the nervous sweat off my brow and fumbled through my excuses—good opportunity, valuable experience, and so on.


When I trailed off, Ara shrugged and scooped another spoonful of soup.


Seemed like she was just teasing—she let it slide without pressing further.


“Still, the suit looked good on you.”


The quiet remark came from Sion beside me.


“You saw it?”


When I turned to her, she kept her head down, stirring her soup before answering.


“I saw the photos. Ara unnie showed me.”


“…Ah.”


“And I saw you next to Kang Arin, too.”


“……”


Her words made me fidget with my spoon.


“Just saying~”


Sion didn’t elaborate further.


I wondered how many times they’d crossed paths during joint classes—seems she and Arin were at least somewhat acquainted.


Ah, right.


Yesterday’s events resurfaced in my mind.


Since it had been bugging me, I turned back to Sung Ara and asked:


“Noona. Hypothetically, could a student break into Gaon’s dorms?”


Cough! Hack!


Next to me, Sion choked on her soup.


Must’ve gone down the wrong pipe.


“Easy there.”


I patted her back a few times while waiting for Ara’s answer.


Sung Ara was one of the top magi-tech experts in Vanquisher.


I’d heard some of her work was integrated into Gaon’s security systems.


“Huh? No way. Gaon’s defenses are no joke.”


“That’s what I figured.”


“Yeah. Unless you’re some once-in-a-century genius who can reverse-engineer high-level magic… no student could pull that off.”


“What about someone at your level?”


“Me? I could probably waltz in blindfolded.”


Ara grinned and shrugged.


Hmm.


Just as I thought.


No student would have the skill or intuition to match Sung Ara.


Must’ve been my imagination.


“…Why’d you ask that all of a sudden?”


Sion, now recovered, cautiously piped up.


“Well, I’m sure I didn’t spray any air freshener before leaving yesterday.”


“…Yeah?”


“But when I got back last night, the scent was way stronger than usual. So I just… thought I might’ve imagined it.”


I played it off casually, scooping another spoonful of soup.


“Oh… Air freshener… Got it…”


Sion nodded slowly.


“Pfft—you’re way too paranoid~”


Ara laughed it off.


I scratched my head sheepishly.


“Guess so. Must’ve been the fatigue.”


We ate in comfortable silence after that.


“Wait, isn’t it exam season? Should you guys even be out like this?”


“Exactly.”


“…Hey.”


My teasing made her flinch.


“C’mon, give us some tips for finals.”


I nudged her to share some wisdom.


She was a Gaon graduate, after all.


Might have some useful insights.


“Finals? Ugh…”


Ara shuddered like she’d just recalled a nightmare.


Understandable—Gaon’s finals were notoriously brutal.


I wasn’t looking forward to them either.


“Not much to say. You’ll do fine, but… just pace yourselves. Don’t overdo it.”


“Will do.”


“Yeah.”


Sion and I answered in unison.


Ara nodded, then slumped forward onto the table, arms sprawled out.


By now, all four of us had finished eating.


“Alright, let’s wrap up… I’m seriously gonna rest now~”


“…Sigh.”


The old man exhaled quietly and inched away from Ara.


Her free-spiritedness clashed perfectly with his disciplined demeanor.


Considering how much she must’ve drank yesterday, it was probably a disaster from his perspective.


“…Head back now.”


“Yes.”


“Okay, Grandpa.”


After quick goodbyes, the old man shuffled off with his hands behind his back.


Ara trailed behind, dragging her feet.


Note to self: Don’t end up like that as an adult.


Stepping outside, the crisp morning air brushed against my skin.


The sunlight was warm, but the breeze still carried a chill.


9 AM on a Sunday.


Even though it was the weekend, my mood wasn’t exactly bright.


A familiar weight settled on my shoulders.


‘Finals.’


Little by little, it was time to return to being a student staring down exam season.


Beside me, Sion murmured:


“Guess I should start studying soon…”


I tilted my head.


“‘Soon’ sounds good. ‘Soon’ is the right call.”


Stretching lightly, I added:


“See you tomorrow.”


“Yeah.”


With that, we went our separate ways.


Finals were already at our doorstep.


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