Chapter 59
Chapter 59
“Senior?”
A surprising figure stood there.
‘Did she follow me in before the barrier closed?’
I hadn’t noticed her because the interior was overflowing with the Rabbit’s spiritual energy.
“How did you get here…?”
“Your expression was too dark for someone going to meet a friend.”
Seo Geum-bi gently raised her hand and bent her index finger. A small wind bird landed on it, transforming into a gentle breeze and dispersing.
“How dreadful. I never imagined something like this would happen so close to the school…”
People were sprawled everywhere. Seo Geum-bi knelt down and placed her hand over a student’s hand.
“Luckily, it seems no one’s life is in danger. We should call the Disciplinary Committee… No, this calls for the ‘Hunter Police.’”
The Hunter Police, known as 현경 (Hyun-gyeong), are specialized police teams composed of hunters who handle incidents and matters related to monsters. Seo Geum-bi held her forehead and sighed.
“I’ll contact the Hunter Police. Please wait for a moment.”
While Seo Geum-bi made the call, I whispered to Yomi in a low voice.
“Thank goodness, Yomi.”
[Hmph, even without that help, I would have won.]
Yomi had reverted to her small, fluffball-like form while I talked with Seo Geum-bi. She turned her head away with a pout and said nothing more.
“The hunter team will be dispatched soon. It looks like we’ll have to stay here until they arrive.”
Given the time it would take for them to arrive, we were stuck at the construction site for a while.
‘Come to think of it…’
Then my eyes glanced at the clock.
[07:12]
It was already 7:12 PM. The closing ceremony had already started.
“Senior, I’ll stay here and keep watch.”
The fireworks would begin after a short preparation time following the closing ceremony. By the looks of it, they would start around 7:30 PM.
“No, I can’t allow that.”
However, Seo Geum-bi was adamant.
With her arms crossed, she clearly had no intention of backing down.
“You should return to the school and report this to the faculty office.”
“But you’ve worked so hard preparing for the fireworks.”
“It’s alright.”
Seo Geum-bi gently smiled as she placed a hand on my shoulder.
“If you can enjoy what we’ve worked so hard to prepare, that’s enough for me.”
“Senior…”
In the end, I had dragged Seo Geum-bi into this. I wanted her to enjoy the festival, but now I had ruined it.
“Then I’ll stay with y—”
Just then.
Bang!
A firework shot up beyond the outer wall of the construction site. Though the fireworks must have been bursting into colorful displays, only fragments were visible above the high walls.
Bang! Bang!
We stood there, staring blankly until the fireworks ended.
* * *
“I didn’t expect you to stay back as well, Junior.”
“As the first person to discover it, I had to stay.”
Seo Geum-bi and I walked side by side. We handed over the victims to the Hunter Police and completed a brief on-site interview.
The Hunter Police said it seemed like a monster had escaped from a nearby dungeon and attacked the people. However, they mentioned they still needed more investigation to understand why the victims were unharmed and the exact path the monster took to get there.
“At least no one was hurt. That’s a relief.”
Seo Geum-bi quietly looked up at the sky. Due to the nature of the incident, the investigation was prolonged, and it was already time for the festival cleanup to be over.
“Yes.”
No one was injured. The quest wasn’t hindered, and I confirmed the Rabbit’s presence. I also understood its intentions clearly. On balance, this incident had more advantages than disadvantages.
‘But ending it like this…’
Though Seo Geum-bi was smiling, I had a feeling that just returning to school wouldn’t suffice.
So I decided.
“Senior.”
“Yes?”
“Please spare a moment.”
“But the curfew is soon—?”
As I grabbed her wrist, Seo Geum-bi yelped. Holding her wrist, I started running back in the direction we had come from.
“Where are we going?”
“It’s not something I should say in front of the Head of the Disciplinary Committee, but I’m planning to break a few school rules right now.”
“I can’t allow tha—”
“We’re here.”
I had brought Seo Geum-bi back to the construction site from earlier. With the Hunter Police gone, there was no sign of anyone around.
“Senior, please wait here.”
“What on earth are you planning? If you break the school rules, you will be punished, even if you’re a Junior—”
“I’ll voluntarily report to the Disciplinary Committee tomorrow. But for now, please don’t ask any questions.”
With that, I entered the construction site. Thanks to my night vision, I quickly found the stairs and sprinted up to the fourth floor.
“Huff.”
“It’s dangerous, get down from there!”
Seo Geum-bi called up from below.
She seemed worried about how precarious I looked, shouting loudly, but I paid it no mind.
“Yomi, foxfire.”
I clasped my hands together in a prayer-like gesture.
This was a hand seal suited for drawing all my spiritual energy at once.
“Make them very big, and lots of them!”
Whoosh!
Countless foxfires filled the air.
They floated in the sky like lanterns,
‘This may be all I can do for now…’
Boom!
And then they burst into myriad colorful hues in the sky.
“Wow…”
Seo Geum-bi looked up at the sky, her hands clasped together. Her slightly parted lips and sparkling eyes conveyed a childlike wonder.
“Is this enough?”
Perched on the balcony, I too watched the fireworks for a while.
No, I should correct myself.
“It’s so beautiful!”
It’s more accurate to say I watched Seo Geum-bi revel in the spectacle.
Until the fireworks faded from the night sky.
* * *
“Violating curfew.”
“Yes.”
“Illegally trespassing on private property.”
“Yes…”
“Sitting on a ledge without safety equipment and setting off fireworks without permission, etc.”
“Yes…”
Right after the fireworks ended, Seo Geum-bi started listing each rule violation, ticking them off on her fingers.
“All of these are rule violations. This might even lead to a suspension.”
“I’m sorry…”
I answered in a small, crawling voice, my head hung low.
One thing I learned when I was first dragged into the Disciplinary Committee room was that Seo Geum-bi becomes incredibly strict and scary when it comes to school rules.
“As promised, I’ll voluntarily report to the Disciplinary Commi—”
“How. Ev. Er!”
Seo Geum-bi interrupted me and leaned in. Our faces were so close that our noses almost touched. Reflexively, I took a step back.
“I’ll overlook it just this once.”
Tilting her head, Seo Geum-bi looked at me with a playful expression.
“In a strict sense, I’m a co-conspirator today as well.”
“…Isn’t that an abuse of authority?”
Seo Geum-bi chuckled softly and then turned away from me.
“Thank you.”
She started with a short expression of gratitude and then stretched her neck to look up at the sky.
“I tried to act like it was nothing, but I was really disappointed. If you hadn’t been there, Ha-baek, I might have just sat down and cried my eyes out.”
I listened quietly to Seo Geum-bi. It was the first time I’d ever seen her speak so candidly about her feelings.
“So thank you.”
She turned back to me,
“For showing me the fireworks…and for creating a wonderful memory that I wouldn’t trade for anything.”
“Senior.”
Spurred on by the atmosphere, words left my mouth before I realized it.
“Sacrificing yourself for others is admirable, but there’s no need to give up on yourself because of it.”
This went for Seo Geum-bi, Han Yu-seong, and everyone else. The responsibility they felt wasn’t something high school students should bear.
“You know, I…”
Instead of answering, Seo Geum-bi reached out toward the sky. It looked like she was trying to grasp the starlight.
“I want to join the Hunter Police after graduation.”
That’s right. Seo Geum-bi would join the Hunter Police after graduation. She would go on to earn recognition for her skills and abilities, leading a successful career.
“I thought you would get scouted by various large companies, Senior…”
But the Hunter Police is, after all, a public service role. With Seo Geum-bi’s skills, she could thrive even in a private company.
“That’s right.”
Seo Geum-bi nodded.
“But I want more people to enjoy the fireworks.”
“Fireworks?”
I looked into her eyes.
In her sparkling gaze, I saw both a child’s wonder and dreams.
‘I see. To Seo Geum-bi, these aren’t just fireworks…’
A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth.
“That’s why you work so tirelessly.”
“Though I still have a long way to go.”
Seo Geum-bi brought her fingertips together and leaned in to meet my gaze.
“I’m glad I trusted you, Junior. So, about that…”
Seo Geum-bi took a step closer.
I instinctively took a step back.
‘The same distance that reminds me of Jin So-yul.’
Seo Geum-bi, pressing forward relentlessly, whispered softly into my ear.
“I want to repay you for showing me the fireworks.”
“Repay me?”
“Yes, as long as it’s something I can do.”
It seemed there were rewards beyond the quest itself.
“But I’ve already received so much from you, Senior.”
“That goes for me as well. You shouldn’t refuse a Senior’s goodwill.”
Seo Geum-bi smiled mischievously.
In that case, I wouldn’t hold back either.
‘I need to think carefully.’
Seo Geum-bi isn’t someone who speaks empty words. When she says something, it carries more weight than most people’s words.
“Then someday…”
If I could gain Seo Geum-bi’s guarantee with just one word, my answer would be this:
“When I ask for your help, will you believe in me and come running?”
Seo Geum-bi’s eyes widened.
“If I can be of any help, then of course.”
We both laughed heartily, looking into each other’s eyes.
* * *
“Daddy, where are we going?”
“We’re going to see something as beautiful as our Geum-bi.”
Young Geum-bi was being led by her parents in the middle of the night. She usually went to bed at this time, but tonight was an exception.
“Is this a school?”
“Yes, it’s a school for very talented older brothers and sisters. Who knows, maybe one day our Geum-bi will study here too.”
“I don’t want to go to school…”
Geum-bi rubbed her eyes.
Most of the people passing by were in uniforms. Even to young Geum-bi, the beige uniforms they wore looked beautiful.
“Mommy, I’m sleepy…”
“Then Daddy will give you a piggyback ride.”
Geum-bi’s father picked her up. As sleep time approached, drowsiness began to take over. Even as she walked, she was about to doze off.
Boom! Bang!
The loud noise rattled young Seo Geum-bi, causing her to flinch.
“Daddy, that sounded like thunder—”
“Come here, Geum-bi!”
Before she could finish her sentence, her father lifted her onto his shoulders, giving her a piggyback ride.
“Wow!”
It was a sight she had never seen before.
Just the change in height allowed her to see things she couldn’t before.
Boom! Bang!
Colorful fireworks painted the sky with petals of light. The drowsiness that had been weighing her down vanished in an instant at the sight of the stunning display.
“Wow, it’s so pretty…”
The beautiful sight was reflected in young Seo Geum-bi’s eyes.
Mesmerized, she watched the fireworks until they ended, gripping her father’s hair and grinning widely.
“Mommy, Daddy! I want to come here again!”
