Chapter 50 – Rule 20. The Leader Relies on the Vice Leader (3)
As usual, I arrived at the Disciplinary Committee office and sipped hot coffee.
However, unlike most mornings, today wasn’t leisurely. Practicing teleportation while commuting had drained my stamina significantly.
‘I’m going to die.’
It felt like my lifespan was being cut short.
Looking back at my past, including my previous life, I realized that nothing ever went well without giving it my all. So, I kept practicing tirelessly, as it was the only way I knew.
“......”
As I stared at my coffee cup, the memory of seeing Baek-seo’s naked body yesterday resurfaced.
‘Putting aside my disgraceful behavior...’
When I fell into Baek-seo’s shower room, I briefly saw her side.
There was some kind of drawing on her left shoulder.
Although Baek-seo quickly covered her left shoulder at the time.
‘That tattoo...’
The location and rough color were enough for me to recognize what it was.
It was a symbol unknown to the general public—a skull with fangs.
‘It wasn’t even a tattoo. It was a magical engraving of a Hound.’
A Hound of the Federal Council, an agent.
The secret tattoo of the elite unit ‘Spartoi,’ which means ‘dragon’s tooth.’
To be precise, it wasn’t a tattoo but a type of magical engraving that served as Spartoi’s proof.
I had seen it in the game.
‘This isn’t a coincidence.’
It was too precise and perfect to be a coincidence.
‘It explains a lot. Why Baek-seo is so skilled in combat.’
If I assumed Baek-seo was once a Hound, it cleared up the questions I had while preparing for the midterm exam with her. Questions like, ‘Why is Baek-seo so proficient in combat techniques?’
Spartoi are essential to Neo Seoul. They perform black ops in the underworld to protect the city.
Their training is known to be intensely rigorous.
It made sense that they focused on teaching combat techniques.
‘Then, why is Baek-seo here?’
Did she infiltrate Ahsung High School with a specific purpose as Spartoi?
Or did she leave Spartoi to lead a normal school life?
‘Probably the latter.’
If Baek-seo had a secret purpose for infiltrating Ahsung High School, she would have kept her distance from people.
But Baek-seo built a close relationship with me and even boldly moved in next door.
There was no way her goal was me.
Until last year, I hadn’t stood out at all.
I was just an extra A, with no reason for anyone to target me.
‘Baek-seo likely has a past as a Spartoi and now wants to hide it.’
Of course, there weren’t enough clues to make a clear judgment.
But.
‘For now... it’s best to pretend I don’t know.’
I didn’t want to dig into a past that Baek-seo might not want to talk about.
Moreover, the reason Han Seo-jin monitored Baek-seo, why Baek-seo might disappear later—all of these could be connected to her past as a Spartoi.
Until I could fully understand the situation, I wanted to cautiously gather clues and approach it carefully.
‘And...’
I leaned back in my chair and looked up at the ceiling.
‘How should I face Baek-seo today?’
The immediate problem was also an issue.
Seeing Baek-seo would undoubtedly remind me of yesterday’s events.
Baek-seo would feel the same.
‘I’m lucky she doesn’t see me as a villain...’
My head was a mess.
‘Maybe I should shower first.’
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First period was a participation class, so I had to go to the classroom.
It would be best to shower before going.
As I stood up to leave at the appropriate time, the office door suddenly opened with a clatter.
“Ah.”
Beyond the open door, I met Baek-seo’s eyes.
I held my breath for a moment but quickly composed my expression.
“Good morning.”
“Morning.”
We greeted each other as usual, but there was an awkward atmosphere.
“Are you leaving already?”
Baek-seo wore her usual gentle smile.
“First period is a participation class, so I’m going to shower. I sweat a bit while practicing my unique ability on the way here.”
“I see. Be careful.”
Baek-seo swiftly averted her gaze from me and walked to the sofa. Her quick steps seemed to be avoiding me.
It felt like she was moving as if evacuating from a disaster.
‘What is this distance...?’
My body stiffened, and cold sweat ran down my back.
There was an undeniable distance between us.
...
‘She’s clearly avoiding me...!’
For several days after that, Baek-seo treated me only formally.
No matter how hard I tried to change the mood, it was useless.
Whenever I brought up a slightly personal topic, Baek-seo would respond with a smile but then end the conversation.
No matter what I talked about, it always turned into a formal conversation.
‘Is she still upset?’
My mistake was significant.
It was a situation that could have traumatized her.
Even someone as seemingly perfect as Baek-seo wasn’t superhuman. My mistake might have unknowingly hurt her feelings.
And during the shower incident, I couldn’t even properly respond to Baek-seo’s joke.
I might be the one responsible for creating this awkward atmosphere.
‘What should I do...?’
How could I ease Baek-seo’s heart?
As I processed tasks in the club room on a sunset-filled evening, I agonized over it.
I had already tried giving her snacks she liked, making small compliments I usually didn’t make, and all sorts of things.
But Baek-seo still didn’t treat me as comfortably as before. Instead, she avoided eye contact and kept her distance, as if treating me like a superior at work.
‘Should I use the ‘Ahn Woo-jin use card’... No, that’s not it.’
Shaking my head, I dismissed the idea of the ‘Ahn Woo-jin use license.’
‘That would just be copying Baek-seo.’
If I did that, it would be overly cheesy.
I missed Baek-seo’s occasional naughty jokes. Please, just joke around...
As I struggled with my thoughts.
“Haaa...”
“?”
Suddenly, Baek-seo let out a long, very long sigh.
She placed her hand on her chest and closed her eyes... deeply.
It was a sigh that perfectly fit the expression ‘sighing deeply.’
“It’s done.”
“What is?”
What?
“I finally did it.”
“What do you mean...?”
Baek-seo turned her head towards me and smiled meaningfully. Her face lit up with the glow of the setting sun.
“Leader, could you come here for a moment?”
“Uh?”
Although suspicious, I approached Baek-seo.
I sat down next to her.
“Come here.”
“?”
Gently, Baek-seo placed her hand on my head and pulled me towards her.
My cheek touched Baek-seo’s soft thigh.
“There you go, good boy.”
“...?”
Out of nowhere, Baek-seo started stroking my hair while I lay on her thigh.
‘What is... going on?’
My mind was in chaos.
When I turned my gaze, I saw Baek-seo looking down at me with a satisfied expression.
It was an unexpectedly picturesque view.
“...What are you doing?”
I was bewildered. She had been treating me so formally for days, and now suddenly she was acting this way.
“I’m fulfilling my duties as the Vice Leader.”
A lap pillow?