Chairman? Please explain that properly. What were you thinking teaching me that without telling me the precautions! When you first told me, there was definitely no mention of 'you're also within range'!

"I almost died before Hyeon Sujin using that."

"Well... isn't wind originally like that? How can you distinguish friend from foe?"

"That's right. That's correct. But you should have given some hint about that."

"I thought you would overcome even that wind. Heh heh heh."

What nonsense is this old man talking about? What do you mean overcome by calculating wind? And that's only 'wind' at most, not a 'storm.' I almost caught and cut my own lifeline trying to catch Hyeon Sujin.

"Don't think too resentfully. That means I trusted you that much!"

I almost completely disappeared without a trace after trusting that person twice. I thought it was just a storm in words, but I never knew I'd really get caught in a storm. In manga, there's magic protection for the caster and stuff.

"Didn't you survive in the end! With that, you've grown one more level! Heh heh heh!"

"...You're still immature."

Ma Hakjun, who quietly listened to my story from the side, clicks his tongue. He even goes one step further and hits the back of Kang Minseong's head on my behalf.

"Ugh! This guy! That hurts!"

"It's fortunate you know it hurts. But don't you know shame?"

"I have grievances about this one too!"

Grievances? What kind of nonsense is this? Ma Hakjun also frowns, feeling not much different from me. He even gestures as if to say let's hear those grievances.

"I naturally thought Examiner Baek Seojin would keep wandering and finally grab a clue to come find me again. It would take some time, but that guy's a genius!"

"So?"

"So when Examiner Baek came to me, I was going to show him once more, more delicately, and tell him to be careful! How was I supposed to know he'd already reach perfect mastery!"

"...Really, this guy. Making such ridiculous excuses! You should have told him from the beginning!"

You almost got me involved because of you. Ma Hakjun was furiously scolding Kang Minseong.

As expected of the dean. Caring for Academy people is the best! I'll pledge loyalty to the Academy from now on! Loyalty, loyalty!

"Um, excuse me? Isn't that not the important thing right now?"

Han Jiyoon, who said that, looks at me with a bewildered expression.

"You really succeeded in creating a 'storm.' The secret technique that even Chairman Kang Minseong's disciples and children ultimately couldn't implement and gave up on!"

"...Hmm. Hearing it like that, that's right. I forgot about that."

"Didn't I say it! I never knew he'd deploy the incantation so quickly and perfectly! I was going to give warnings later but never knew it would happen so fast!"

The gazes of the three men and women conversing pierce into me almost simultaneously. ...Hmm. Certainly, what I did would look strange.

For some, it's a secret technique created over a really long time. For others, it's a difficult technique where no matter how hard they try, they can't figure out how to approach it. But I'm deploying it just like that with a "yep."

What should I say? Should I just say I gritted my teeth and worked hard? No, no. Even I think that's too insincere an answer. No matter how much and hard you work, does that make sense?

It's not like I trained for years, just a few months at most. Others have been working for years, even decades, and are still wandering. Doing that in just two months honestly crossed the line, and crossed it hard.

Should I act crazy and say "Actually, might I be an incredibly amazing genius?" In this situation, this might be the best move...

Clatter—

"Huh? What? Why are these old men here? This isn't a senior center. And why is Jiyoon unnie here too?"

"Hey! Where have you been wandering around as a patient! Why aren't you lying down quietly?!"

"Sorry, but this super-strong Irina isn't rotted like unnie! Just resting a few days is enough to be perfectly fine like this!"

Nice timing, Irina. You're helpful at times like this too.

Irina who engaged in all sorts of provocations like senior center, rotted body. Thanks to that, all the aggro that was on me turned to that girl.

"Hey, didn't I tell you not to talk about age when we're not that far apart in age?"

"But unnie is unnie! Someone older than me!"

"This damn! Hey, come here. Patient or whatever, doesn't matter. I'll give you a gut punch."

"Hoeeee! An S-rank is hitting people here!"

I feel this anew, but her energy is really crazy. If it were me, I'd stay quiet because my body hurts, or because I'm a patient. Provoking everyone who came for hospital visits like that is also a talent.

...But why isn't Suhyeon here? She didn't bury her on the rooftop, did she?

"Be quiet. This isn't a hospital room that only Irina uses."

Fortunately, the misfortune of having to personally go to the rooftop to look didn't happen. Suhyeon, who entered the hospital room, gives Irina a sharp word. Of course, Irina doesn't even pretend to listen and is still bickering with Han Jiyoon.

"Suhyeon! I was surprised because you weren't in the hospital room. Where did you go?"

"I had something to talk about with Irina for a moment. I just had a simple conversation and came back."

"Irina didn't hit you, did she?"

I'm curious about that too. I wonder if Irina gave her a light smack. There's enough possibility since Suhyeon kept subtly scratching inside.

"No, Kang old man! I'm not some thug! I don't deal with chicks!"

"Chick! This is Kang Minseong's granddaughter, you brat!"

"Still a chick is a chick! Ah. Should I say flat-chested chick to be precise?!"

"Shut up!"

At Irina's "flat-chested" comment, Suhyeon suddenly explodes in anger. Conversely, Irina is giggling, so it seems it's already become a fixed weak point.

But... no matter how I look at it, Suhyeon is absolutely not on the small side? When we went to the villa last time, I saw her in a swimsuit so I know.

If that size is small, wouldn't she get beaten up by other women?

Honestly speaking, compared to Suhyeon, Han Jiyoon is rather...

"Right! I definitely wasn't talking about Jiyoon unnie, so don't feel hurt."

"Hey, you bitch! Didn't I tell you not to talk about chests!!"

Han Jiyoon strangling Irina's neck while exploding in anger. It seems she's also been quite tormented by Irina without knowing.

*

My body healed cleanly. Only some faint scars remain. But they say the mana influence remains, and the damage that officially went in is still there. So the doctors' conclusion is that I must rest hospitalized for at least a few more days.

'Damn.'

As soon as I heard that conclusion, I grabbed all the doctors and nurses and asked. Whether they could move me to a different room. I'd pay any amount for a single room. If not that, at least move me to a different room.

But all the answers that came back were 'impossible.' There are security issues, and other reasons that are hard to explain. The hospital people ultimately rejected all my requests and pleas.

"..."

Returning to the hospital room powerlessly, I could feel Irina staring at me. Is it my imagination that I feel "Where are you trying to run?" from that gaze? Damn.

The fortunate part was that now that hospital visits are possible, Suhyeon comes every day. She rushes over as soon as classes end and keeps me company for hours. Thanks to that, I didn't need to be in Irina alert mode all day like before.

Of course, when evening comes and Suhyeon leaves, there's no mercy.

"Tomorrow will be difficult because of group assignments. Instead, Hana unnie said she'd come, so don't worry! Yoo Dasom senior and Bronze comrade. So Lee Hyunwoo said they'd come too!"

Suhyeon seemed to have noticed my situation somewhat. So she's organizing and sending hospital visit personnel to replace her. Anyway, when she becomes an ally, she's quite reliable.

"We're here, examiner! How's your body?!"

"Let me see. Should I cast healing on you once more?"

Support troops deployed to Suhyeon's anti-Irina front line. Kang Hana and Yoo Dasom entered the hospital room and asked about my current situation. And the one guy who came with the two women...

"Examiner. Your body seems all healed, how is it? Secretly from the hospital..."

You bastard, tell me honestly. You really don't know your trait, right? Otherwise, there's no reason to stake your life on examinations like this. You don't have a third eye or something like that, do you?

"Dasom. Grab the junior's lips."

"Yes, unnie! Junior! Didn't I tell you? If you even mention the 'e' of examination, what happens!"

"Mmph! I'm saying let's do it!"

"This is a hospital, junior. I know you're an examination ghost, but please moderate it!"

Yoo Dasom says while releasing Lee Hyunwoo's lips she was holding. Every time I see him, I just think he's amazing. As expected, protagonists can't be sane.

"What are those guys?"

Irina, who was lying in bed immersed in TV, shows slight interest.

"The team members I mentioned before. Say hello. This is magic-type Kang Hana. Next to her is support-type Yoo Dasom. And the guy fiddling with his lips is weapon-type Lee Hyunwoo."

"Aha. Magic Tower boss's daughter? Next to her is Director Yoo's granddaughter."

While others go "Oh my!" when they hear Magic Tower Clan Master, Future Corporate Director, Irina talks about them like neighborhood uncles and grandfathers. Moreover, neither Kang Hana nor Yoo Dasom seemed particularly offended.

"Our Seojin oppa is popular. People keep coming for hospital visits every day."

This is all because of you. Suhyeon is in extreme alert mode. I wanted to say that, but I endured with superhuman patience. Even if I said it, she'd probably say "So? What about it?"

"We're discharging the day after tomorrow, right?"

"Yes. The day after tomorrow."

The day after tomorrow, I'll finally escape from this hellish hospital. Right now I want only one thing. I wish I could sleep peacefully at night. How long do I have to watch Irina's eyes glinting in the darkness from the bed across!

"That's good. They said they'd come once tomorrow."

"Who?"

"Who else? my mom and dad."