The Returnee Wants to Live Comfortably

The Only Good Couple Is a Dead Couple (2)

At last, December had arrived.

And with it, the cold hit in earnest.

Every breath frothed with white vapor from my mouth.

The chill was so biting that I needed to layer a parka over my winter uniform.

There were only ten days left until Christmas.

Since it was also the time when final exams ended, it felt like a dream for the students.

"Phew... I finally did it! I did it!"

Sang-ah cheered as she looked at today's exam paper, delighted.

The damned test that had tormented her all this time was finally over.

And the same went for the other students, not just Sang-ah.

They also shouted for joy on their way home.

But for Sang-ah, happiness didn't end there.

"Seongjin... I finally did it! I managed to get over the cutoff on this damned test!"

After ruining the school competition in the past, Sang-ah had tanked her evaluation scores.

To advance to high school, a basic evaluation score was required, and first-year scores were also additive.

Especially if you racked up a lot of points in the first year, you wouldn't have to worry at all in sophomore or junior year.

"Congrats. Now you won't have to struggle next year."

I praised Sang-ah, feeling proud.

For months now, Sang-ah had been getting nosebleeds at her desk, working toward higher grades.

Her determination was impressive enough that even I felt a sense of awe.

'I heard that from second year on, the questions get even harder.'

Thinking about that, it was lucky to have done well now.

According to the seniors' tales, the tests from second year are said to be a literal hellscape.

'And they say first-year questions are the easiest.'

If you don't build up enough points in freshman year, you'll be walking that hellscape barefoot.

That's why many students push themselves in the first year and slack off in the second or third.

Score badly in the first year and plan to make up for it in the second?

That'll never fly at this school.

"Does this mean I can finally take a good rest?"

Sang-ah looked at her test paper, her face filled with satisfaction.

She had only gotten two wrong, all the rest marked correct.

That was the result after checking her answers against mine.

"I've never gotten a score like this before. Thank you, Seongjin!"

"That doesn't mean you need to stick so close."

"Ah, sorry."

Unable to contain her excitement, Sang-ah clung to me.

She was, after all, just a 14-year-old girl.

But considering the gloomy childhood she had endured without growing crooked, it was something.

Her mother, I suspected, had the biggest influence.

It must have been thanks to her mother that Sang-ah had been able to hold herself together so far.

"Now that exams are over, shall we go?"

"Go where?"

When I stood up, Sang-ah asked.

To her, question marks hovering over her head, I said seriously,

"Where do you think?"

"No... No way...!"

Immediately, Sang-ah realized and went pale.

With all the year's exams over and only ten days to Christmas,

Christmas... 'They' would soon be flocking to Hand.

"Let's go!"

"..."

Sang-ah exhaled deeply, her face showing she really didn't want to go.

****

White snow fell from the sky, blanketing the land of Hand.

Christmas was nearly here.

Since it was a grand day for the world, events related to it were held often.

Students in Hand would also gather in groups for parties.

"Hyung, I'm here."

"Seongjin and Sang-ah! You two made it too."

The underground auditorium at the 3rd Academy.

There, various snacks and instant foods were arranged in rows.

Numerous students were gathered and enjoying the party.

Rather than a Christmas party, it felt more like a celebration for finishing final exams.

"Seongjin, did your finals go well?"

"I did okay, nothing special."

There was no need to say I'd done well.

"Sang-ah, what about you?"

"I did fine too."

"Haha! Then neither of you will have to suffer next year."

Go Donghyuk laughed heartily, sounding pleased. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on NoveI[F]ire.net

From his reaction, it seemed he'd done well too.

"Oh, there are friends from other schools here. Let me introduce you."

Go Donghyuk led Seongjin and Sang-ah to the front of the stage.

There sat several students who looked more dignified compared to the others.

One of them spoke to Donghyuk in a familiar tone.

"Donghyuk, who are they?"

"Come to think of it, I haven't introduced you yet! Say hi. This is Ma Seongjin."

"Ah... so you're that guy? Nice to meet you. I'm Hwang Su-hyeong of the Middle School 1."

A sturdy-looking male student named Hwang Su-hyeong offered his hand to Seongjin.

Seongjin happily accepted the handshake.

"Nice to meet you too."

"And I'll introduce the others as well."

Not only were students from the Middle School 1 present, but also from the Middle School 4 and 5.

Seongjin shook hands and greeted them all; they already knew his face.

"You're the kid who took down that Emily girl, right?"

"That's right."

"Good to meet you!"

Apparently, Emily's reputation wasn't good even in other schools.

Needless to say, students at the 3rd Academy resented her.

Thanks to that, they all expressed their gratitude to Ma Seongjin.

And Seongjin wasn't the only one famous.

"Ah! You're the 'Berserker Girl'!"

"M-me?"

"You're really famous. Can I get your autograph?"

"No way!"

Sang-ah, who had made a splash in the school competition in a 'different' way, was also famous.

And all the students gathered here were people of one mind with Go Donghyuk.

In other words...

"Now then, everyone, there's not long left until Christmas."

At some point, Go Donghyuk stood on stage and began to give a speech.

His tone was more like a preacher than a host.

"Do you know what Christmas is?"

A day to exchange presents?

A day Santa comes?

No.

"It's the day those disgusting couples multiply!!"

― Kyaaah!

The students screamed in unison at Go Donghyuk's words.

It was a cry filled with deep resentment toward couples.

"Humans are truly incomprehensible. Why do they have to snuggle up on Jesus' birthday?"

― Right!

― Disappear!

If Jesus saw such a scene, he'd probably grab a monkey wrench and turn into a demon.

On his own birthday, and they're doing that?

"But every time Christmas comes near, people succumb to that atmosphere."

Some are inevitably drawn to that scene out of envy.

So it's possible that there will be traitors who leave this group.

"Christmas is not a holy day. It's a holiday of demons leading us into corruption!"

― Right!!

"So please, do not succumb to the Devil's temptation."

Long story short: if you're caught being lovey-dovey, you're dead.

'Haaa...'

Realizing this, Sang-ah heaved a deep sigh, but it was too early to be surprised.

"Therefore... to prevent traitors, on December 24th, christmas Eve! We will gather again!"

What?

"That day, to ensure none of our number fall to evil, we'll carry out a grand ceremony together!"

A grand ceremony, my foot.

They just plan to keep everyone locked in.

"If you don't show up... you'll be branded a heretic and we'll rip out your hair one tuft at a time! Everyone, please join in!"

― Waaaaaah!

At the cheering students (cultists), Sang-ah was left speechless.

But it didn't have to be a bad thing.

Put positively, they just wanted to hold a Christmas party among themselves.

'Yeah, let's just look on the bright side.'

As Sang-ah tried to stay positive, Seongjin said,

"Sang-ah. You'll be joining too, right?"

"Me?"

Caught off-guard, Sang-ah was dumbfounded.

"Why would I...?"

"Why not? We're shipmates on the same pirate ship now."

The other students (cultists) also stared at Sang-ah.

Basically, "Be my nakama."

She tried to refuse, but her mind went blank and she stumbled over her words.

So she missed her chance to say no.

"Ooh! Kwon Sang-ah, you've decided to join us too!"

"Huh? No, I mean..."

Suddenly, Go Donghyuk burst out excitedly.

Even though Sang-ah hadn't really meant it.

― Who is she?

― Don't you know? That's the Berserker Girl.

― Ah! She's the girl from that viral video?

Whispers passed among the students (cultists).

At the mention of a dark chapter she'd rather forget, Sang-ah's face twisted.

Just searching "Berserker Girl" online would bring up mashups starring her.

― Welcome, Kwon Sang-ah!

― I loved your video!

― What'll your next act be?

― Knew you'd be on our side!

― Berserker Girl, fighting!

Sang-ah wore a helpless expression.

Her whole body sagged, and even the strength to shout was gone.

'I want to live!! Someone save me!!'

Overwhelmed with embarrassment, she could only scream inside.

****

A loud noise echoed as the airplane landed.

Passengers disembarked and filled the airport lobby.

"This way, Ma'am."

"Ah, thank you."

Among them, a girl wearing a hat passed through security.

She looked around in wonder.

There were all kinds of foreigners and people with animal-like body parts.

Though there were many diverse types, all the girl felt was joy.

"It's been so long."

It had been years since she'd set foot in Korea, so she was deeply moved.

She'd spent six years overseas, but she'd been born here.

However, not all her memories of her homeland were good.

"I guess I don't need this anymore."

Feeling stuffy, the girl took off her hat.

Beneath it, pink hair and canine ears poked out.

Her pure beauty was highlighted by her blue, shining eyes.

But despite her lovely appearance, such features had left her severely ostracized.

Simply because her hair wasn't black.

Because she had animal ears.

And a tail.

Her classmates had bullied her endlessly.

'I'm not the person I was back then.'

Just then, someone put the hat back on her head.

It was a tall man in black suit and sunglasses.

"Please refrain from taking it off carelessly."

The man spoke with a stern yet caring tone.

The girl pouted in protest.

"Do I really have to do that in Korea? I'm not some celebrity."

"In truth, your status is higher than that, Lord Sura."

"..."

The Sura Guild.

Unrivaled among China's top guilds.

This girl held a position equal to the guildmaster.

"The Holy Church has agents in countries all over the world, as you've already learned."

"That's true."

The Holy Church's network was widespread.

In Korea, they'd had their Black Flame Cult as the foothold.

But...

"But the Black Flame Cult has fallen."

With the toppling of the leadership, the subordinate factions fell apart as well.

They'd all been crushed by the Angel Guild, one of Korea's four top guilds.

"There's no cult here anymore, so isn't it fine to show my face?"

"Even so..."

"The only people who know what I look like are our executives, right?"

"... Haaa."

The girl smiled sweetly.

Since she always wore a white veil over her dress, no one knew Sura's face.

The man sighed, since her arguments were true.

"Then I'll address you differently from now on, miss."

"Yes?"

"The concept is you're a daughter from a rich family. Any problems?"

"Hmm... I like it."

The girl was pleased by the clever approach.

So she spoke in a prim, heiress-like way.

"Then, butler."

"Yes?"

"You know we still have some time before Golden Gate, right?"

"It's supposed to be held in Hand on the 31st."

"So until then, I can do what I want, right?"

There was still time before the event.

As long as she didn't do anything strange, her free time was guaranteed.

"So what would you like to do?"

In response, the girl gave a bright smile.

"There's someone I want to meet."

.

.

A short while later, the girl arrived at an apartment.

The man in the butler role could only tilt his head, not knowing what business she had here.

Entering the building, the girl rang a doorbell.

'If my memory serves...'

This was the place.

The home of the boy who had made her troubled days beautiful.

― Who is it?

From behind the door, a familiar woman's voice called out.

Taking a deep breath, the girl responded.

"Is Seongjin here by any chance?"

― Are you a friend? What's your name?

Nervously, the girl replied.

"My name is Kang Ah-rin. Do you remember me?"

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Thought so..

Also, yes, the nakama is deliberately put there by me. Deal with it..

Iykyk...

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】