The Returnee Wants to Live Comfortably

Sura Guild (1)

After the new semester started, I continued my ordinary school life.

So far, since there hadn't been any incidents or accidents related to the Sura guild, my daily routine was uneventful.

Karen and Vern occasionally updated me with information, but nothing was significant enough to grab my full attention.

At most, all I learned was that their attack was scheduled for the day the Masked Singer event would be held.

Moreover, it turned out that many of the executives would be participating in their plans this time.

'As expected, it's not easy to get major information.'

Among the executives, there was even an SS-rank hunter.

As long as such a heavyweight was nearby, gathering more intel had its limits.

But anyway, there was still plenty of time left until that day came.

All I needed was to prepare countermeasures step by step.

.

.

To Eunseol, school itself was a giant opportunity.

It was a perfect place to improve her lacking interpersonal skills after many years spent holed up at home.

During the first semester, she almost missed that precious opportunity.

She fainted at the sight of her homeroom teacher during her self-introduction.

And after finally joining the art club, she drew an inappropriate painting.

She felt so anxious back then, it was as if her soul was leaving her body.

However, starting from the second semester, she was slowly recovering her reputation.

"Eunseol, by any chance, how long can you fly?"

"Me?"

After school, at the school cafeteria in the evening.

Only students who had paid for dinner could use this area, and a senior was asking Eunseol a question.

Sung Chohyang.

That senior, with fairy wings, was famous among the third-year students.

After being introduced to her by Sang-ah from her own class, Eunseol had become close to Sung Chohyang.

"I'm not really sure about my flight speed..."

"No, not speed—how long can you stay airborne?"

"If I really try my hardest, I can stay in the air for about thirty minutes."

"Really? For me, ten minutes was my limit."

Just having wings doesn't mean you can fly freely like a bird.

While talent was important, controlling the back muscles was essential, too.

Among the middle school division students with wings, Eunseol held one of the longest flight times; it was no exaggeration to say so.

"Plus, I saw you flying during a match—you were really fast. Dodging mana bullets and arrows, everything."

"Was I that fast?"

"Of course! Even when my wings were still fine, I wasn't as quick as you."

Sung Chohyang, admitting talent can never be beaten, praised Eunseol with a gentle smile.

According to the faculty, Eunseol was the only student who could reach 'Mach' speed.

Her nickname among students was Human Jet, and that was all you needed to know.

"You don't have to praise me so much. I get tired just like anyone else the faster I fly."

Still, it was a bit embarrassing for Eunseol.

It was better than those infamous nicknames like "Eunseol the Great" or "General," but it was still a bit burdensome.

She worried that Sung Chohyang might feel a sense of loss over her own lack of talent compared to Eunseol.

"And... I'm really not that great of a person. Everyone knows I went to the recovery center in the first semester."

That incident—being suspended for drawing that inappropriate painting—was still talked about even a semester later.

It had been such a shocking painting that it caused a stir, especially among the third years.

"Oh, that thing back then?"

"And, the one who did that to your wing also got sent to the recovery center, right, Chohyang-sunbae?"

One of Chohyang's wings had been torn by some delinquent student.

Eunseol had heard about the Michael incident from Sang-ah.

Maybe because they both had suspension in common, Eunseol felt a similarity between herself and that delinquent.

"Honestly, if it weren't for Seongjin, I wouldn't have made it through school. I've just been lucky, that's all..."

"So what are you trying to say? Want me to dislike you or something?"

"..."

Sung Chohyang spoke, taking a bite of the remaining bread for dessert.

There was no way Eunseol could reply to that.

Her reason for enrolling in school was totally different from what Chohyang suggested.

"I heard you're here to build better social skills and relationships. Then you especially shouldn't show that side to others. Imagine how pitiful everyone would think you are."

"But..."

"What, are you putting yourself down because you're worried others will be jealous?"

"..."

Eunseol's lips remained firmly shut—everything Chohyang said was right.

Her true goal was to improve her social and interpersonal abilities.

But the way she currently acted was the complete opposite.

Instead of coming across as more sociable, she only revealed how much of a shut-in she really was.

"Eunseol, everyone knows about you. Great talent, but your personality doesn't match up."

She had strengths, but also serious weaknesses to offset them.

The recent slight improvement in her reputation was due solely to her skill and talent, not to her perceived reliability.

"School isn't as easy as you think. Just look at what happened to my wing for your answer."

Students are not as simple-minded as people think.

They can lash out in unpredictable ways, making it tough to stand above them.

That's why...

"You haven't done anything wrong. But saying negative things about yourself, like you just did, isn't good."

"Yes..."

"But still, don't lose heart! People don't become perfect overnight."

Encouraging her, Sung Chohyang gently patted Eunseol's back.

Then, she pulled out a bottle filled with water and set it down by Eunseol's meal tray.

"So, drink this and feel better."

"What is it?"

Inside the bottle wasn't ordinary liquid.

Its brownish-green tint made it look obviously homemade.

"It's a drink I made for my adorable underclassmen."

"You made it yourself?"

"Yeah. Just blend chocolate and broccoli, and it's finished in no time. Looks good, doesn't it?"

"..."

Again, Eunseol was lost for words.

Chocolate and broccoli—Eunseol could easily tell that pairing should never exist.

Yet, it was hard to refuse.

"Go ahead, don't be shy!"

"..."

Sung Chohyang's eyes were shining like stars.

She was practically the most popular idol at the second campus.

Could Eunseol really refuse such a request? Who knew what chaos would follow.

"Okay... I'll-I'll drink it."

Step one of surviving social life: cozy up to popular or high-status people.

That was a tip she learned from one of the Angel guild leaders.

So even if she really didn't want to drink, she had to open the bottle.

At that moment—

"Gasp!"

"Well?"

"Isn't the smell killer? Right?"

It really was a killer.

She felt like she could cross over to the afterlife and see her dead parents just from drinking it.

Regardless, with shaking hands, Eunseol gripped the bottle.

She steeled herself to risk her life, ready to gulp it down her throat.

"Don't drink that. Seriously, it'll destroy you."

"Seongjin..."

Ma Seongjin, who had appeared at the next seat, stopped her from drinking.

"Seongjin's right. Put it down, quick."

Sang-ah was with him too.

Taking her advice, Eunseol set the bottle down, and Seongjin snatched it up.

He took a sniff himself to check its ingredients.

"Hey, sunbae. Are you trying to kill your underclassman? The smell is just... ugh!"

Seongjin immediately pinched his nose and scrunched up his face.

Not even the deadliest poisons of Mewzealand's underworld could top this.

Yet Sung Chohyang argued, not seeing what the problem was.

"What's wrong with the smell? I've tasted it, and I'm fine."

"That's because you're a fairy. To everyone else's tongue, it's basically a murder weapon."

She could probably apply to be an assassin's guild recruit with that stuff.

Sung Chohyang's drinks were just undrinkable.

At that moment, Eunseol, who had just swallowed her bread, asked:

"But where's Ah-rin?"

"She said she had some other business and went off alone."

"I wonder if she ate dinner?"

She was one of the students who always trailed after Seongjin.

Now that she was missing, it felt oddly new.

"Eunseol, are you curious what Ah-rin is up to?"

"M-Me?"

Startled only for a second, Eunseol narrowed her brow and replied.

"Why would I care what she's doing? It's easier now that she's gone."

"You still don't like Ah-rin?"

"I don't care about anyone else... but she and I are still enemies."

That notorious rivalry still didn't seem any closer to being resolved.

If anything, the pranks during summer vacation had only worsened the tension.

But it wasn't to a level where blood would be drawn.

'If I had to compare it to someone...'

Ma Yunhee. Just like my little sister.

She always looks at this orabeoni like she's about to bite my head off, but in truth, she never does anything.

Lately, her rebellious phase has gotten worse, and she growls at me every time she sees me.

But really, all she does is mess around like a child.

'It's no different for Ah-rin and Eunseol.'

They glare like they're going to eat each other, but they never take it too far.

It's just like Yunhee showing off in front of me.

In the end, that relationship will probably improve soon too.

'Still, Yunhee... how dare you steal my underwear?'

Of course, this time she went over the line.

It was the first time my little sister reduced my five favorite pairs of underwear to four.

There was no way I could just let it go this time.

When I get home...

"Hm? Why are you looking around nervously?"

"Oh, there's a grain of rice on your lip..."

Sang-ah was right.

There actually was a grain of rice stuck to my lips.

After pointing it out, Sang-ah quietly went back to eating.

I wondered if maybe it really was just because of a grain of rice.

****

Within the city of Hand, there were many forests.

The biggest among them was often used as a test field or exam site for students.

The recent interschool tournament had also been held here.

Swaaaaaa—

A massive current of water crashed down under its own weight.

Standing before the grand waterfall, Ah-rin held a sword and took up her stance.

She didn't flinch at all, and there was not the slightest twitch in her ears or tail.

It was a state of perfect concentration.

She counted the falling droplets.

One drop.

Two drops.

And then, the third.

"Haaap!"

Just as the third droplet was about to fall, Ah-rin swung her sword even faster, straight ahead.

A strike performed in a state of extreme mental focus could cut through anything—even water.

Chyaaaaaak—!

Everything along the riverside was split in two.

Even the immense pressure of the waterfall was no exception.

Ah-rin watched the scene with satisfaction and smiled.

'I've gotten stronger than before.'

The more focused she was, the greater the power of her sword.

Today's demonstration was the sharpest yet.

She was able to raise her concentration thanks to her recovering mental state.

Ever since her grandparents passed, Ah-rin's mind had been a wreck.

Even now, she was very young, so how much worse must it have been back then?

She needed someone to rely on.

– I am a special person.

– I am better than others.

– I am the chosen main character.

Those were the desperate thoughts of a cornered child.

But that illusion didn't last. Even while thinking it, there were too many people weighing down on her.

Once again, Ah-rin crumbled mentally.

At a time when ending her life seemed plausible, the image of a certain boy came to mind.

A boy whose scent felt more benevolent than anyone else's in the world.

That memory helped her barely hold herself together.

Even after becoming Sura, there wasn't a single day she didn't think about that boy.

— Obsession. Obsession.

— Again, obsession.

This obsession, now part of her very being, still made Ah-rin's concentration unstable.

Yet with the boy now at her side, though the obsession remained, she no longer felt as anxious as before.

It was as if she had shaken off some lingering regret, letting her focus increase.

However... that didn't mean her mind was fully healed.

"Haaa... It's not supposed to be like this."

Ah-rin suddenly sighed and pulled something out of her pocket.

It was a pair of boxers she had confiscated from Sang-ah recently.

"Yes! Just for one month. Just one month!"

She just needed to carry it like a keepsake for that period, then return it to Sang-ah.

After that, Sang-ah would take care of the rest.

She only needed to make sure not to get caught for now...

"You've gotten better."

"...!!!"

A voice from behind startled her, nearly making her drop the underwear into the water.

Was it Seongjin? No, the voice was different.

The scent was another clue—it was someone she recognized.

Knowing who it was, Ah-rin quickly calmed her fluttering heart.

"It's been a while, Sura."

Once her bodyguard, Sura Guild's top executive Jin Rain stood behind her.