Chapter 326: One of the Two Will Die (7)
6ULpzVHow strange.4BR
RIJkn2bThe sound of a heartbeat echoed loudly. I couldn’t tell if it was hers or mine.MMSBh0
LVFsYvcMaybe… it was both.dEbfTdl
t8KlfT5“……”oSmsW
W9k7“……”xCh
GfcIPvAlthough the blood-freezing cold ruled Antarctica year-round, the room felt warm. She was sitting next to me on the bed, hugging one knee with her chin resting on it.5Or
pW8YuMedia’s hair slid down her slender leg, glistening as if treated with castor oil.HXUE
jJP7clMShe kept fanning herself as if to hide the blush on her cheeks, and her gaze—lost and uncertain—held a tenderness capable of disarming anyone.r9r
gh3IGMedia had been my teacher during my student days. And now being in this situation with her, how should I put it? From a moral standpoint… Well, I already had two wives.UFpFK
RhP58I’ve said it many times—trying to apply Earth’s moral standards here simply doesn’t make sense. These days, the rare thing was not legally allowing polygamy or polyandry.lJ7YTHG
xi4aWi‘It was because of the Second Great Human-Demon War, which drastically reduced the population of heroes.’8WixUd
DPMKhbAs a temporary solution, this world approved the multi-marriage system. Call it a revolutionary spirit, maybe?igyH
ei7R6I shook my head. Suppressing embarrassment with random thoughts was one of my worst habits.LlxLwXT
P7W7“Are you hot?”c5UxtJ
1CPiUpY“Ah, no. I’m fine.”Tz2
vgvX2QJ“Hmm.”gedxrJP
5K5AaAsI lifted my head awkwardly. Even though the room was spacious, it was also enclosed, so there wasn’t much to look at. I just wanted to avoid her gaze.NgN
enqW32I felt like if I didn’t, something irreversible might happen.OzYks
G5MHAnd the most surprising part was—she hadn’t even said why she came.qA2W
4uW01Bq“I heard what happened just a moment ago…”ouRPpAb
W89VdE9Media couldn’t hold back any longer and began to speak. Thanks to that, the heavy atmosphere didn’t become even more suffocating.J0s
BSMxwU“I heard you’ll be doing an exchange with Parsy Academy.”PXrYgc
jcRKawu“Ah, yes. That’s right.”Y38HMy7
Bf7umV“I knew those kids would stir up trouble, but I didn’t expect them to do it so soon.”PaCD7
jrkul“Everyone’s doing their best not to tarnish Joaquin’s reputation.”pECcdf
N5ea2a“You have Ryozo and Abel. They’ll handle it well.”6Xx2b3
sY1tojCMedia shrugged.mu4aV
1ASeaj“The director over there, is it Parsy? That guy confessed to me like ten times when we were young. He even proposed to me.”NLUkZ
opQtx“The director?”BVjp
QqVmI was surprised, and Media turned her face toward me. She was smiling with her cheek resting on her knee.qSf
i7DNSU“What? Is the generation gap that shocking? I’m telling you, that pot-bellied old man proposed to me.”AtJ1
jah“Ah, no… I don’t doubt it.”MDh9zl9
NLxAt least for the Ancients, the concept of a generation gap didn’t apply. Their longevity far surpassed even that of heroes, who lived on average 150 years.cgqV2N
YiFJBiologically speaking, Media was just over twenty.663o
PX2h3Q7‘She’s younger than me.’Qaz3
qDWveOnJust as Earth’s moral standards no longer applied here, neither did my prejudices or preconceived notions.h65J
xr7w4Qc“And besides, I’m not a director anymore, but you keep calling me that. Why? Are you trying to put distance between us?”jayH
4gl2aYThe physical distance between us was just about two handspans. Just enough that our pinkies could almost touch.VYgZ
cElzs‘This woman is going to drive me insane…’mITTf
H7FKIf you asked me if I had a first love since arriving in this world, my answer would be yes.LZd2
G4CPd0YAnd that person was, without a doubt, Media.WOJfif8
kdJ‘Although at first I was drawn to the girls in the game for their beauty—that’s why I started playing Miracle Blessing M…’PgU
ZoMTFAt the time, it was more like an uncle’s affection for a niece. There were no romantic feelings. I was just a gamer enjoying the game purely.AiZs
W8pnA…Honestly.aT8Ou2
fRRxvhOEven after being possessed, I didn’t develop any deep emotions for girls my age. There was too big a mental gap.rMs
4N8zjBut Media—she helped me live a fulfilling student life with full dedication. She always came running when something bad happened to me. As a teacher, as a senior, as a protector, she gave everything she had.cjxlajC
4nwhVXX“It’s not like I want to keep my distance or anything… really…”27qt3vU
PTbeMMy lips moved clumsily. My thoughts were tangled.nmAivY1
Cx8Media waited patiently while I mumbled. A clear smile graced her lips.gcNYhs
WtXE‘That smile—she only ever showed it to me.’h2v
rXVh2HHer second nickname was “The Tyrant.”f86T8
hpJv7They said she played favorites with me.PNbP3
bekjBut then I became the protagonist of the Second Great Human-Demon War.OqwdA
f93And with that, not only was Media vindicated, but her standing as an educator rose even higher.64N1oGS
IJCPw1‘How could I not fall for her after everything she did for me?’vOiek
Y7BsaRIn my past life and in this one, I was an orphan.PHeT2
KaYmWhat a cruel joke from fate. And yet, it was my teachers who pulled me out of the abyss and brought me into the light.KJS
30X1‘In my past life, it was Balor Joaquin.’d7E
3M6NIIn this life, that deadly beauty is Media.n27cKI
c1PI don’t know whether my feelings for her as a teacher are respect or affection.9upG
9oJcLZaThat’s how emotions are. They can’t be neatly divided into simple definitions. The dynamics of feelings are like a spiral dance—coming close, then pulling away.eQCz
ewg9‘If it were that simple, I would’ve already abandoned my humanity and ascended to godhood.’VBO
y62HHAnd then the end would never have come.Fww08
CjIr4HoBut Yu Sein never pressured me to give up my humanity.7m8Gs
t2mstOn the contrary, he implied that I should remain a lukewarm, imperfect human. If Media knew the whole truth—36F
rBTFX‘She would’ve probably said the same thing.’VAB
gWqThough with a much more intense reaction. When it comes to me, she just can’t help herself. I was moved by that Media.A8jQ1
5NUkI’m not good with words, so I struggle to express myself well.sjH9nB
YQS8I’ve heard of “siscon,” “brocon,” and “fathercon”… but is there a “teachercon”? I should look it up on the wiki.LDtSbp
WqTDBRD“It’s just that…”7zyQH
4xTliAs I tried to sort out my thoughts, I opened my mouth. The only words I managed to get out as I attempted to calm my overflowing emotions werecX73I
nPk9“…I’m sorry. It’s just a habit.”ETDD
pjdDPuThat was my level.D8Ndg
EfZ“In the end, that’s why habits are so dangerous. Once they take root, they last a lifetime.”pjwk
94Rtuv“Does that apply to Ancients too?”XMxu
FuFLif“Of course! They just live longer than humans, but Ancients are people too.”M8DiD7
AWu3jGt“Humans… usually don’t refer to others as ‘humans.’”cOVq
tzqJP“Look at this kid! Look at this kid! That’s racism! I’ve raised you wrong!”ALg8O
mJmTEoy“You’re turning your student into a racist?”iwgusL
nz1VrLRMedia wrapped her arms around my head and patted it a few times.luQZ
rfAThe tense atmosphere relaxed a bit.NqGB2
PTy1qsAfter a brief struggle, Media loosened her arms. Just as I was carefully trying to pull my head away, her hands suddenly grabbed my cheeks.Rp3f
V9jnOur eyes met at very close range. In a position where it felt like her words were going to stab directly into my retina, Media opened her mouth.iduhYo3
4ceuTn“It’s you, Geom-Ma.”QJ0mUkD
AC6PYq“…Excuse me?”5bklE
2Inml“The one who saved our Ancient ancestor from the angels.”zNI2kC
sSmBA6Ah.KMIz9
5j1wMy vision trembled for a moment.8Vnc
reqAn intense déjà vu sensation shook my brain. It was because Media’s image overlapped with that of her ancestor, Mesther.azp
jseNxp“The Poet’s Blessing isn’t really about seeing the future.”axA
sXhMSUwThat was the first time I’d heard that.qkG
JzxNYgIn Miracle Blessing M, that blessing wasn’t explained in such detail. It was just one of many.OdCYew
hLth“Ancients live far longer than humans. So, the density of each individual life is immense.”bmn
LDcoASWith my cheeks still caught, I managed to nod slightly.oZd7wQ
0zP4“The Poet’s Blessing is inheriting the memories of our ancestors. And from those memories, reviewing all of humanity’s history to foresee the future as close to reality as possible.”0DZIrq
rrrg“A kind of déjà vu, right? But a more accurate version.”zVP4x
zwkBdMedia smiled, as if she liked my comparison.Vk51ZGn
qLA5Yj“You always underestimate yourself, but you were an exceptional student. I’m human too. That’s why I used to think maybe it was just favoritism…”yyOrr4T
R6sdoE“…”ilcBLaB
BCn9“…During the research I did with my father, we took the Poet’s Blessing to its limit. And in the process, my memories regressed back to our ancestor…”dZd
y0MnI shuddered.NkEVH
WnIpohLMedia looked at me with a deep gaze and continued.4AOV0
GmdH“And there you were. Saving our ancestor from the angels.”DLbJKh
wGUxH“….”Ov39
993d“I’m not going to ask you for details. I just want you to know that I understood something—that you, Geom-Ma, possess reasons and powers even I can’t comprehend. And if that’s an accomplishment, then it’s mine.”buk0
HBWS8bT“Thank you for understanding me.”mLERsvc
bhXW“No, I’m the one who should thank you.”Z1Y6WKQ
mUScjtBMedia brought my face closer to hers.zW63XWh
Pcl3xTI tilted my head slightly downward.5qH2C4u
tB3“Thank you for saving my ancestor. And also… thank you in advance. Because I know you’ll stop the approaching apocalypse too.”g7RdmnZ
69MXShe then stroked my cheeks.9klhCv
Ds0GAr4“And more than anything, thank you for being my student. That’s what I’m most grateful for.”vh2adax
WrEdicThen our lips touched.rLKFMT
MKRA transparent string lingered between us when they parted.2knslY
RZZLXbThe bluish light coming from outside reflected off that suspended curve.AkG1L
BQuxDazed, I sat there with a muddled gaze. Soon after, I coughed awkwardly and looked at Media.CuDh6C
9oDDKWShe avoided my eyes and stood up from the bed.TFXGeU1
H1bHruBefore leaving the room, her hand—reluctant to go—grasped the doorknob several times before letting it go.sdr7
NKbJqOCAnd with her back turned to me, she spoke.7pOwCO
LmXzDjAh.ec6m2q
ouEMmm.MuDOOL
eAAjvUgh.2aSVmx7
4yuYw2Now what do I do?aQPtpf
9L7eI messed up, didn’t I?KU8YKk
bRImF“Let’s leave the next step for after the world is saved.”N4pT6jT
MwQqgA delayed but intense feeling of anxiety crept in.Q5K1
4ar9L“Are you worried that Ryozo and Abel will find out?”PVbE
DViXbNSeems like her emotions were tangled too.CBUZ1hX
UComMedia turned her head slightly and gave me a mischievous smile.jf8w
vol6V“So what if they do? What does it matter? After all…”w7i
2ww3578She was right.gP4
Un6TNfEven if they found out—4CAt2
M1rBH‘Hmmm.’s5wQE
hkTEven if by a one-in-a-million chance…kWSpo8
nh0LIf they happened to discover it by accident—RrJ
Q6pR– One of them would die. Hmmm.hfIDHd
07akzWj***i59xG0
vmhWThe father-daughter duo from Poison believed it was still too early to announce the apocalypse.OigLCZ
Vlwh0Not only was there little clear evidence, but if they were labeled as conspiracy theorists during an era of peace, their voices could lose strength later on.GIa
bp1v21e“Still, I have no intention of causing a commotion like Joaquin did. As soon as we have conclusive proof, I plan to make the announcement right after consulting with you, Heavenly Sword.”hZcht
csG30i“Gathering evidence will take some time. Maybe I’m assuming too much, but I don’t think the apocalypse is coming tomorrow—although that might be a naive assumption too—so I’ll try to move as fast as possible. So you go home immediately! What will we do if we get caught up in a scandal because of you?!”Jj21FY
EXVxcIt didn’t quite sound like something someone who had just burned down their own house would say. In any case, I couldn’t resist the pressure from the Ancient duo, so I headed straight to Joaquin Academy at dawn.Wbb00TW
7o9Jen4I was on edge the entire way.AoH6t
HixwThere were moments when weak thoughts crossed my mind, like changing course and hiding somewhere else.pw6fb8
QvRn8But then I felt pathetic for even thinking that—was I always someone who ran from things?gHq
ERuGbIn the end, I gathered my courage and entered my home—Joaquin Academy—with my head held high.mMMCp
DlZEThe golden time was short. Without wasting a second, I headed straight to the director’s office.FBu2a
NTViXV“I’ve arriv—”vak
rC3Was it intentional? Just inside the director’s office, it seemed a small reunion of old acquaintances had just begun.VWphcf
XcBLeon and Speedweapon were there again. When those two get together, something bad almost always happens.j044o
KyAzOnV“You came?”ZDerjq
U8iq0SO“We were waiting for you.”4O14G
K2El“……”hJEZhxf
7eqeQ0I was expecting a cold reception.RjR05
j8nLBut both Ryozo and his wife greeted me with the warmest expressions possible. It scared me.4PhYKHw
AEFxI thought I should run away immediately. I started seriously regretting coming back so casually.VzDM
aTVJBkIThen I felt a presence behind me.Vci
59PgR“…!”UoqGPA
scxI lowered my gaze slightly and saw a pretty crown of hair. The color swirled around her cowlick.e39
Gk3R‘Black?’mtl
RnmCOCOAs if day and night were reversing, the black faded and was replaced by white.ehHbtM
r5cA girl I had never seen before peeked her head out and looked at me playfully.SIZGxnC
m9UThen, she tilted her neck like a deer.3Aft6F
f1XgShe blinked slowly with her black lashes. Then, she opened her mouth, slowly.da3m
2Hd“Oppa.”fcNk
JW4SPrThe air turned warm in an instant.ZiZcmih
8VmNm…Something, something was very wrong.mz6J
r0i2QfWhat the hell had happened while I was gone?8BLQ2hV
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