The relationship between Baek Han-gyeol and Cha Yuna began to show signs of strain. They hadn’t completely fallen apart, but it seemed Cha Yuna had decided to take matters into her own hands after Baek Han-gyeol resisted Park Hwan-hee’s persistent persuasion. This likely led to some arguments due to their differing perspectives.
Understanding Park Hwan-hee’s strategy, I decided to intervene once again. I synchronized my schedule entirely with Baek Han-gyeol’s, ensuring I was always there during his training sessions.
Baek Han-gyeol attended every session alone, and though I occasionally saw Cha Yuna sitting next to Park Hwan-hee, trying to catch his eye, he stubbornly turned away. Yet, I could see the loneliness etched on his face.
In the meantime, I took Cha Yuna’s place, stepping in to fill the void.
This approach proved effective. Although we had grown closer before, there was still a distance between us. By looking out for him like an older brother and easing his loneliness, that gap quickly closed. To exaggerate a bit, Baek Han-gyeol began to cling to me as much as An Sol did in his prime.
As our relationship rapidly progressed, I realized I needed to contact Go Yeon-ju. It seemed better to discuss things with her beforehand rather than making decisions on the spot at the academy.
When I went to get a pass for an outing, Park Hyun-woo offered to let me use the Golden Lion’s communication facilities. I firmly declined, wary of the potential for eavesdropping or records within the clan’s facilities. It was safer to spend a little money on a one-time communication within Barbara.
After a few more attempts to persuade me, I finally secured the pass and arranged a time to communicate with Go Yeon-ju.
On the day of our scheduled call, she listened intently and then smiled, opening with a playful remark.
“Oh my. You’re crazy.”
”…”
“Oh, not you, my dear.”
“Wait a minute. What did you just call me? Did I hear that right?”
Go Yeon-ju covered her mouth, laughing.
“Let’s not dwell on the little things. Anyway, that Park Hyun-woo is quite audacious.”
“Go Yeon-ju, I don’t think this is something to take lightly.”
I chided her gently, and she quickly stopped laughing, though a smile lingered on her lips. Her expression turned serious as she spoke again.
“Suhyeon, don’t trust the Golden Lion.”
”…”
Her words were simple but carried a heavy weight. She looked at me with clear eyes and continued.
“Not deciding on the spot was a wise choice. Thank you for letting me know in advance. It gave me some time to look into things.”
“You’re the one doing all the hard work, Go Yeon-ju. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, don’t say that. Supporting a husband on a business trip is a wife’s duty, after all~.”
“Haha.”
The Shadow Queen tried to lighten the mood with a playful tone, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. There was no sign of stress on her face; instead, she gave me a reassuring smile, likely her way of telling me not to worry.
“Alright. So, we’ll meet after the eighth week?”
“Oh, are you ending the call already?”
“I have to get back.”
“Then give me a kiss before you go. I won’t let you leave otherwise.”
Go Yeon-ju pouted, pressing her lips to the crystal ball. I hesitated for a moment, then lightly touched my lips to the screen. Her eyes widened in surprise.
”…?!”
“See you next time.”
“Suhyeon? Suhyeon!”
Her voice was a mix of surprise and confusion, but I ended the call and crushed the crystal. As the shards scattered, I stepped over them and headed back to the academy. The breeze felt refreshingly cool against my face.
Time flew by, and the eighth week was drawing to a close. In fact, the training was essentially over. Special sessions had long been discontinued, and weekends were now rest days for the new recruits.
Tomorrow, Go Yeon-ju was scheduled to visit the academy. However, she planned to confront Park Hyun-woo first, so we agreed to meet later. With the day cleared, I had a few tasks to wrap up today.
“The sun’s already setting.”
I visited Baek Han-gyeol in the morning to give him some snacks I had bought during my last outing.
Seeing him tucked away in a corner of his dorm, I felt a pang of sympathy. Park Hwan-hee and Cha Yuna were relentless. Especially Park Hwan-hee, who, like me, knew how to manipulate people’s emotions. Baek Han-gyeol was someone who relied heavily on his girlfriend and felt loneliness keenly. Without my intervention, he might have succumbed to their tactics.
When I secretly handed him the snacks, Baek Han-gyeol looked up at me with a bright smile. His delicate features were striking, and for a moment, I was taken aback. He seemed eager to share the snacks with me, but I had too much to do that afternoon to indulge him.
By lunchtime, I was in a meeting for the ninth-week training, and at Seong Hyun-min’s insistence, I joined him for a meal. As more clans joined us, the meeting stretched on. I managed to excuse myself with various pretexts, finally escaping the gathering that seemed poised to last all night.
As I wrapped up the sixth day of the week (the time in Hall Plain follows modern time), I headed back to my quarters. Just as I was about to turn into the corridor, I noticed my door was wide open.
“Huh? Why are they…?”
Two users stood at my door. One was Kim Han-byeol, whom I knew well, and the other had their back to me, but their silhouette was familiar. Narrow shoulders, a gentle curve to their body, and a hesitant demeanor. I called out to them.
“Han-gyeol?”
“Oh, oppa… Instructor?”
“Ah, ah!”
I had called for Baek Han-gyeol, but both Han-byeol and Baek Han-gyeol turned to face me. Han-byeol’s expression was sharp, but she quickly looked away, flustered. Baek Han-gyeol wore a forlorn expression, but upon seeing me, his face lit up as if he’d found a savior. I walked over to them.
“What’s going on? Why are you two here?”
“Well, the new user wanted to see you, Instructor.”
Kim Han-byeol gave Baek Han-gyeol a puzzled look. Seeing their expressions, I quickly grasped the situation. If I hadn’t come out when I did, I might have missed this opportunity. I ruffled Baek Han-gyeol’s hair, feeling relieved. Han-byeol’s face showed her confusion.
“Han-gyeol, what brings you here?”
“Well, I…”
When I spoke gently, Baek Han-gyeol shyly raised his hand, revealing the snacks I had given him that morning. They were nearly untouched.
“He hasn’t eaten much. Did he bring them back to return them? Why?”
My question was answered by his next words.
“I didn’t want to eat them alone… I wanted to share them with you…”
“Hyung?”
Kim Han-byeol’s voice was sharp, and Baek Han-gyeol shrank back. Realizing the need to defuse the situation, I raised a hand to calm Han-byeol. She still looked at me with bewildered eyes.
“I told him he could call me that when we’re alone.”
“Even so… Fine. But why did you come here? This is the instructor’s quarters. New users shouldn’t…”
“I told him it was okay. There’s no rule against it, and I can make exceptions.”
“But…”
Since reuniting at the academy, Han-byeol had generally followed my lead. But today, she seemed to revert to her old self. I didn’t know why, but I wasn’t about to miss out on Baek Han-gyeol’s visit, which I had been anticipating. I placed a hand on his back and led him inside.
“Come on in.”
“Thank you.”
Baek Han-gyeol gave a small nod to Han-byeol, who was still standing there, and cautiously entered the room.
I cleared some papers off the table and invited Baek Han-gyeol to sit. He looked around the instructor’s quarters with wide eyes, clearly curious. When our eyes met, his face turned red.
The atmosphere was still a bit awkward. I poured the snacks onto the table and asked Han-byeol to get us something to drink. She sighed but complied, rummaging through the cabinets. Baek Han-gyeol watched me quietly, not yet ready to speak.
“So, I doubt you came just to share snacks. Is there something on your mind?”
Baek Han-gyeol nodded.
“Alright. What’s troubling you?”
“Well…”
Baek Han-gyeol hesitated, unable to find the words. I gave him an encouraging smile, trying to ease his nerves.
“Han-gyeol, you’ve come this far. There’s no need to hold back in front of me, right?”
“N-no!”
“Then go ahead. Speak freely.”
“The thing is… it’s about my girlfriend…”
Clang! Clatter…
A sudden noise made us both turn our heads. Han-byeol was staring at Baek Han-gyeol with a look of disbelief, having apparently dropped a drink she was carrying. I waved a hand to signal it was fine and refocused my attention.
“Oh, her? Wasn’t her name Cha Yuna? You still haven’t made up with her?”
“No. We haven’t spoken a word in the past week.”
“Really? It didn’t seem that way to me. I’ve seen you two exchange glances now and then.”
“No, that’s not it! Yuna… Yuna noona is being deceived.”
‘Here we go.’
Baek Han-gyeol sighed deeply, clearly troubled. I watched him for a moment before pouring a light green drink from the tray Han-byeol had brought. I reached for the snacks laid out before us, which were more upscale than your average treats.
I picked up a small, droplet-shaped piece and dropped it into the center of the cup. As soon as it hit the liquid, bubbles erupted like a fountain, overflowing like beer foam. I stirred the cup and handed it to Han-gyeol, who was watching with wide eyes.
“Try it. It’s a recovery drink, but with a calming effect thanks to the added crystal.”
“Wow. Thank you.”
He’d been thanking me repeatedly since earlier. I chuckled as I watched him lift the cup. After taking a sip of the frothy drink, he looked at me with eyes like a startled rabbit. I gave him a reassuring smile, and he finally relaxed, downing the rest in one go. He set the cup down, looking noticeably more at ease.
“Feeling better now?”
“Yes!”
“Good. So, can you tell me more about it?”
“Yes. Just a moment, let me gather my thoughts…”
Baek Han-gyeol closed his eyes, seemingly to organize his thoughts. Just then, I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see Han-byeol looking at me with a dazed expression. I gestured to the empty chair, and she sat down, still looking confused.
A few moments passed. As I was about to offer Han-byeol a drink, I sensed Baek Han-gyeol opening his eyes.
“So… what do you think of Park Hwan-hee?”
“Park Hwan-hee? Well, from what I’ve seen, he seems polite, well-behaved, smart, and popular. What about you, Han-byeol?”
“I don’t really pay attention to those things, but I’ve heard his grades are good.”
“Of course…”
It was a typical Han-byeol response. Baek Han-gyeol’s expression showed a hint of frustration at our answers. He muttered to himself, pouting slightly.
“Why?”
I asked, puzzled. For the first time since we met, Baek Han-gyeol frowned.
“You’re mistaken. Park Hwan-hee isn’t a good person. He’s just a hypocrite. Everyone’s being fooled by him.”
“Han-gyeol, calm down and explain. I can’t just take your word for it without any context.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. But Park Hwan-hee is really a bad guy. I’m sure of it.”
“Alright. I don’t think you’re lying. Can you tell me why you feel that way?”
“Yes. I’ll tell you now. But you have to promise to keep it a secret.”
“Of course. My lips are sealed.”
Reassured by my promise, Baek Han-gyeol’s expression softened. He seemed ready to speak but hesitated when he glanced at Kim Han-byeol. I quickly reassured him.
“It’s okay. You can talk. She’s a close friend of mine, and we’ve been through a lot together. You can trust her.”
“Oh, really? If she’s been through the rites of passage… then I feel safe telling you. What I’m about to say is related to that.”
“The rites of passage, huh… Alright, go on.”
I noticed Han-byeol’s expression tense at my words, but I was too focused on Baek Han-gyeol to dwell on it. I met his gaze, showing I was listening intently.
“It was right after I failed the rites of passage… on the first day.”
Baek Han-gyeol’s voice was low, as if he was reliving that day, his eyes half-closed in recollection.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
Phew. We’re finally nearing the end. I think we’ll be able to wrap things up in the next couple of chapters. :)
Oh, I have a question. I know some of my readers are married. I’ve always had this idealized vision of marriage since I was young. Like, when I come home from work, my foxy wife and bunny-like kids would greet me with big smiles. We’d have a delicious meal prepared by my wife, kiss the kids goodnight, and end the day whispering sweet nothings with my wife.
But all the married guys I know, and even some comments I’ve heard, always end with “Marriage is the grave of life.” Why is that? Am I wrong about marriage? ;ㅇ;
『 Reader Comments 』
Miwolya: Congratulations on being first! Haha, you always seem to dominate when the updates come at midnight. I hope you achieve your goal of being first four or five times in a row. :) Enjoy this chapter!
Sensitive: You’re pretty fast yourself, Sensitive. Haha. If anyone’s going to break Miwolya’s streak, I think it might be you.
GODTOP: Yes! I’m fine. I went to the hospital, and they said everything’s okay. What a relief~.
StrongYouth: Yes, things are about to get intense, but there’s still a bit left at the academy. If you’re feeling impatient, I recommend letting a few chapters pile up and reading them all at once. :)
ads123: Really? I have a license too, but… hmm. Do you have to pay more even if someone jaywalks? I can’t quite remember. @[email protected]
Hyun-oh: Hahaha. That was a cryptic comment. Hahaha. Right, the waist is a man’s life(?). Uh, did Ahn Hyun hurt his waist? I, I can’t remember…
KiwiMuru: If I could, I would. Not that I’m aiming for over 1,000 chapters, but I just want to see Memorize through to the end.
Seolwi: I tried to add a bit of sweetness today. Your comment about never having laughed while reading Memorize gave me a lot to think about. Thank you for the valuable feedback. (__)
What’sFun?: I’m sorry. But even if the pace is slow, I think it’s necessary. Especially the next couple of chapters are crucial for the academy. If I skip over them, there will be gaps in the story or setting later on. It means readers might not understand the story as it progresses.
And it’s the same for me. If there are gaps in the setting, I’ll feel like it doesn’t make sense when I’m writing. That makes me not want to write, leading to a desire to remake or a slump.
So I ask for your understanding regarding my shortcomings. (__)
Your recommendations and comments are the driving force behind continuous updates. (This is the truth.)
I read all the comments repeatedly.
Please don’t feel too disappointed if you’re not mentioned in the reader comments.
If you’re really curious about something, send me a message, and I’ll reply!
I hope you read the story with a relaxed mind.
Recommendations, comments, critiques, and questions are always welcome.