Chapter 43
Lee Joohyun, who had locked eyes with me, excused himself from his friends and walked over. I watched him, my spoon frozen midair, half-convinced this wasn’t really happening. Joohyun exchanged a quick greeting with Hankyul before turning his full attention to me.
“Hello. You’re Yu Chanhee, right?”
I nodded, caught off guard. Joohyun didn’t seem to mind my hesitation and continued smoothly.
“You’re pretty famous. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Funny. Guess I’m really famous at this school, huh?”
Joohyun laughed. According to Hankyul, Joohyun had been the only first-grade ranker in his middle school, so it made sense he’d be compared to me. Since I had no memory of Yu Chanhee’s life before seventeen, all I could do was smile back awkwardly. Joohyun seemed genuinely interested in me—more than I expected. Instead of just saying hello and leaving, he plopped down in the chair across from me.
“Heard you switched from being a Shilder to a hunter?”
“News travels fast.”
“Faster than you think.”
“My brother and my dad are the famous ones, though.”
“Not just them.”
Joohyun glanced at Yu Hyunjae sitting beside me. If he knew about me, he likely knew about Hyunjae too. His comment was an indirect way of saying he was curious not just about my father and brother’s reputation, but also about Hyunjae—the person tangled up in their legacy. Watching their first encounter in person felt strangely surreal, like witnessing something that shouldn’t exist. In the original timeline, they wouldn’t have met until after Hyunjae killed Han Jaemin, so this moment—with me present—wasn’t supposed to happen.
“Anyway, I wanted to talk to you after hearing you were coming to the same school.”
“Oh? So, what’s the verdict? Now that you’ve talked to me.”
“Just as I imagined. Though there are some surprises.”
“Surprises?”
“Like your relationships with people.”
From the way he kept glancing at Hyunjae, it seemed Joohyun had heard rumors about my strained relationship with him. It wasn’t entirely false, but I didn’t bother correcting him.
“Not really a surprise. I’ve got a worse personality than you.”
“Who told you I’ve got a good personality?”
I jerked my chin toward Hankyul. Hankyul grinned sheepishly.
“Anyway, we’ll be seeing a lot of each other. Let’s get along.”
I hesitated before shaking Joohyun’s outstretched hand. After the selection test, the spotlight would naturally shift from me—the fake genius—to the real protagonist, Yu Hyunjae. I decided to endure this attention until then. And if things followed the novel’s plot, Joohyun might even become close to Hyunjae.
“I’m looking forward to the selection test. I’m genuinely curious about your skills.”
“You work hard too.”
“Thanks for the encouragement.”
Joohyun flashed a warm smile and walked away. Hankyul, who hadn’t said a word the whole time, swallowed hard and turned to me, his face flushed with excitement.
“You guys are so cool.”
“……What?”
“You too. You looked so confident. The confidence of someone who has it all.”
I stared at Hankyul, bewildered. Hyunjae, sitting beside me, couldn’t hold back a snort and covered his mouth with his arm. Even Hyunjae was laughing.
“Hyunjae, didn’t you think that too? Or is it just me?”
“No, I thought it was cool too.”
“Right? I’m not lying—you were so cool.”
“Yeah. Chanhee, you’re really cool.”
The lunch table had suddenly turned into a Yu Chanhee appreciation hour. I felt my face flush. This school life was strange. And I knew why it felt that way—because in my life, peace had always been a harbinger of misfortune.
***
My practical training sessions with Kim Guhyeon were nearing their end. He seemed satisfied with my progress, praising me more than usual. Of course he was. I had chosen to be his dutiful student, careful not to ruffle his feathers and doing my best to learn everything I could about him. I flashed him a polite, model-student smile.
“Your mana manipulation is almost at a hunter’s level now.”
“Is it?”
“Just remember what I’ve told you, and you’ll be fine.”
Kim Guhyeon held out his hand, signaling me to recite what he’d drilled into me. I repeated the words I’d heard a thousand times.
“How quickly you close in on your target, how hard you strike them.”
Kim Guhyeon’s expression softened with satisfaction. The happier he looked, the dirtier I felt.
“And how little you expose your weaknesses in the process.”
“That’s right.”
“You said you need all three to be perfect to get a first-grade ranking.”
Kim Guhyeon slowly surveyed the third training ground where we stood. I waited silently for whatever he would say next.
“You know how the second selection test works, right?”
“Of course.”
The second selection test was nothing like the first, where you just placed your hand on a machine. While the first test determined your grade based on raw mana levels, the second test evaluated your combat skills—how you performed in actual battle. Even a natural first-grade genius could drop to third or fourth grade if they lacked physical coordination. In my first life, Yu Hyunjae had been one of those who barely scraped through the second test. Top-ranked students sometimes even participated in gate subjugations right after the test. That’s how crucial real combat experience was.
“Even now, countless students are training to secure a higher grade.”
“I’m sure.”
“And I have to make sure you’re in the top 4% of them.”
“You’ve got quite the sense of duty.”
“It’s what your father asked of me.”
“Isn’t that a little too much loyalty?”
“Does it seem that way?”
Kim Guhyeon looked at me. His expression, usually so composed, now seemed oddly cold.
“What is your relationship with my father, exactly?”
At my question, Kim Guhyeon shrugged.
“Superior and subordinate.”
Sensing I’d find that answer lacking, he crossed his arms and pretended to think for a moment.
“Of course, at this level and with this much time served, a certain bond does develop.”
“A bond?”
“Naturally. Coworkers are still human relationships. The longer you know someone, the better you understand them.”
“I’m not really in a position to say this, but…”
Kim Guhyeon waited for me to continue.
“Do you really think my father is the type to form bonds?”
“Your father?”
“From what I’ve seen, he’s not.”
His gaze sharpened, as if trying to read my intentions. I hoped he saw me as nothing more than a rebellious teenager resenting his father.
“Of course.”
“…….”
“Your father is far more remarkable than you think.”
I had to fight to keep the scorn off my face.
***
Kim Guhyeon’s words only confirmed my suspicion: he had done something under my father’s command, and there had to be a reason he followed him so blindly. Lost in thought, I walked ahead in silence until Hyunjae suddenly asked,
“Do you like flowers?”
I paused, then answered casually.
“Not particularly.”
“You seemed to.”
“You must be mistaking me for someone else.”
I thought of the time Hyunjae used to pick flowers and leave them outside my room every day. My chest tightened. Could he be remembering that too? Hyunjae stared at me for a moment before slowly replying.
“Maybe.”
“Why the sudden question?”
A rustling sound came from Hyunjae’s other hand, and a beautifully wrapped flower appeared. I blinked at the unfamiliar bloom in front of me. Hyunjae looked slightly embarrassed as he said,
“You’ve been working hard for the selection test. For tomorrow—good luck.”
“……When did you prepare this?”
“Just… when you weren’t looking.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“Am I? I don’t think so.”
Hyunjae shook the flower at me, urging me to take it. I hesitated before slowly accepting it. The flower was a pale yellow, modest but delicately shaped. There was no way a single bloom could give off such a strong fragrance, yet I buried my nose in it and inhaled. Hyunjae watched me, then said gently,
“Don’t get hurt.”
“I can’t promise that.”
“I’m just saying what I feel.”
“…….”
“Don’t get hurt, okay?”
I looked away, afraid I might cry. The setting sun seemed redder than usual today.
