ALL NOVEL chapter 8
Chapter 8. The Fiancée
“Follow me.”
As soon as Lee Ji-an spoke those words, she turned without waiting for a reply.
She strode purposefully toward the back of a building, where few souls wandered.
*…What’s going on?*
Kim Do-jin stared at her in disbelief for a moment before reluctantly trailing behind.
Time passed, and soon—
– Thud.
Lee Ji-an halted, turning back to face him.
“…?”
Still bewildered, Kim Do-jin tilted his head in confusion. Lee Ji-an regarded him with an expression of discontent before finally speaking.
“We’re breaking off the engagement.”
In that instant, a laugh almost escaped him.
To receive a notice of broken engagement just one minute after seeing his fiancée’s face…
*But why is this happening?*
I cannot know the exact circumstances, but I had a rough idea of the reason.
‘It must be because of this rascal’s reckless behavior. The rumors of his wild escapades every weekend have spread like wildfire… And more than that, he’s supposed to be in a political marriage, yet his standing within the family is precarious.’
After harboring discontent for so long, it seemed he had recently found a better match for his political union.
“…….”
In any case, the spirit of Kim Do-jin, who secretly loved Yoon Yu-na, must have felt the same, and the current Kim Do-jin had no real reason to feel upset.
So.
“Alright.”
He accepted it coolly.
“It’s already decided… huh?”
Lee Ji-an’s expression momentarily went blank.
Did she expect him to beg or something?
“Let’s do that. Why?”
When he reiterated it clearly, Lee Ji-an’s face flushed with a mix of red and blue.
“Ah, no. Forget it, then. We’re nothing to each other now, so just know that.”
“Okay.”
“…….”
“What.”
“Is that all you have to say?”
“Yeah. What about you?”
“Nothing.”
“Alright. Then I’ll be going first.”
And thus, the conversation came to an end.
Kim Do-jin turned on his heel and began to scan the area, looking for a vending machine or a snack shop.
“…Huh!”
A moment later, he heard some muttering behind him.
‘Why are there so few vending machines? I’m dying for a soda.’
Kim Do-jin paid it no mind at all.
* * *
Before long, the remaining morning classes came to an end, and it was time to head for lunch.
Kim Do-jin straightened the collar of his freshly changed uniform and walked toward the cafeteria.
“Hey, Dojin Koon. Long time no see.”
“Are you going to eat?”
Naska, Renya, and Ryuujin had naturally sidled up beside him, striking up a conversation.
Was it because they had been on the same team once?
Unlike before, there was no hint of hesitation or discomfort in their demeanor.
“Yeah.”
Kim Dojin replied vaguely, continuing to walk, while Naska, Renya, and Ryuujin chattered on.
“Oh, but didn’t we have pretty good synergy? I’m rock solid, and you manipulate stone. How about we team up again next time?”
“If we do, I want in too.”
To that, Kim Dojin responded firmly.
“Do you even know what the next test is? We’ll see how it goes then.”
Perhaps having anticipated his response, Naska, Renya, and Ryuujin didn’t press further.
“Ugh! Fine.”
Thus, their attempt to team up again came to an end, but Naska, Renya, and Ryuujin did not leave Kim Dojin’s side.
So they walked together, chatting casually until they reached the cafeteria.
“What’s up?”
Suddenly, the ‘Woo Taesung’ gang appeared, interrupting them.
The group of delinquents that Kim Dojin usually mingled with in this possessed body.
Their deliberately rough appearance and behavior made one’s brow furrow in distaste.
“Oh? Ah, never mind. We’ll be on our way.”
“See you later.”
With an atmosphere that felt like a fight could break out at any moment, Naska, Renya, and Ryuujin hurriedly made their exit.
Kim Dojin let out a bitter smile and kept walking, this time with Woo Taesung and his gang sticking close, starting to chat him up.
“Hey, was last night fun? Damn, that was some serious action, huh? Pretty face too. How much did you spend?”
The crude jokes and curses poured out endlessly, and Kim Dojin’s irritation surged to new heights.
‘What kind of idiots did I hang out with? This level, seriously…’
He clicked his tongue inwardly, casting a disdainful glance at Woo Taesung’s gang.
How long would he have to put up with these fools?
‘Tsk…’
For now, he had to keep pretending to be this possessed Kim Dojin and assess the situation, so he couldn’t suddenly act differently.
—
‘Hah…’
Kim Do-jin, though reluctant, finally offered a half-hearted reply to the words spoken.
As they walked, they eventually arrived at the restaurant.
‘Hmm…’
The Ark’s dining hall, true to its reputation as the world’s premier institution for Awakeners, boasted the finest facilities.
Moreover, the variety and taste of the food were nothing short of exceptional, allowing for a satisfying meal.
“Kekek. So, do you know what that b*tch said?”
As expected, the presence of the local bullies soured the appetite.
Thank the heavens they weren’t in the same class.
While pondering how to maintain a suitable distance, a sudden commotion caught his attention.
“Ugh!”
From across the room, someone stumbled and fell hard to the floor.
‘Huh…’
He wondered if even a physically gifted Awakener could trip, and as he looked closer—
‘Hmm? That girl is…’
To his surprise, it was a familiar face.
“Uaaah…!”
Im So-hee, whom he had inadvertently displaced from her seat that morning.
As the eyes of the crowd turned toward her, she quickly raised her hands to shield her face.
But the problem was that her ‘Light Generation’ ability activated automatically whenever she felt embarrassed, creating a vicious cycle where her shame only drew more attention.
‘What an interesting character.’
Kim Do-jin stifled a chuckle, intending to divert his gaze and return to his meal.
But then—
“…”
Suddenly, he caught sight of Woo Tae-seong, his gaze slithering toward Im So-hee with a sinister glint.
The way he licked his lips was a telling gesture.
‘That b*stard…’
The transparent malice in his expression made Kim Do-jin’s brow furrow in distaste.
‘Could he be plotting something vile?’
Within the confines of the Ark, the likelihood of crimes like s*xual assault was nearly nonexistent.
—
As the elite from various nations gathered, the security was correspondingly tight.
Yet, the true nature of Woo Tae-sung’s abilities and just how despicable a figure he might be remained shrouded in uncertainty, leaving room for doubt.
Kim Do-jin decided to keep a wary eye on Woo Tae-sung’s sinister gaze as he finished his meal.
* * *
Time flowed, and soon the afternoon classes commenced.
The third period, the first lesson of the afternoon, was a theoretical subject titled “The History of the Era of Magic.”
The “Era of Magic” referred to the period following the first surge of magical energy known as the “Outrage” incident, which had occurred fifteen years prior, in 2022.
Immediately after the initial magical explosion dubbed “Outrage,” fissures began to appear across the globe, from which monstrous beings known as “Masu” poured forth, threatening humanity’s very existence.
These Masu, engulfed in madness, reveled solely in destruction and slaughter.
Humanity mobilized all its firepower to halt them, but tragically, conventional weapons proved ineffective against the Masu.
The “Mana Shield” enveloping their bodies rendered any attack devoid of magical energy utterly futile.
In despair, humanity believed it could not escape annihilation, yet, fortunately, that was not the case.
Individuals known as “Awakened Ones” began to emerge, capable of wielding magical powers.
These Awakened Ones fought valiantly against the Masu, each employing their unique abilities, and humanity gradually began to reclaim the lands it had lost.
Now, fifteen years later, the general narrative was that humanity had brought most of the fissures under control and was managing to fight back effectively.
Of course, this was common knowledge, and what was to be learned in this class would delve into far more intricate details.
“Where did we leave off last time?”
The instructor, having just completed the attendance check, deliberately asked the students about their progress.
“We covered Chapter 8, ‘The Conclusion of the Crusade.'”
At a student’s response, the instructor nodded and continued.
“Right. Then it’s time to discuss villains in earnest.”
The instructor manipulated the tablet before him and surveyed the students.
“Who wants to define what a villain is?”
The same student who had answered earlier raised his hand again.
“A villain is an evil person and an Awakened One. It refers to those who deny or violate the ‘International Superhuman Special Law.'”
“Well said. Now, can you tell us about some actual figures?”
“The most representative villain would be Maximilian Lavant.”
The instructor, as if expecting this, changed the screen display and began his explanation.
“Indeed. Maximilian Lavant. Once hailed as one of the ‘Four Stars,’ he transformed after the Crusade and can be considered the most iconic villain.”
Kim Do-jin let out a wry smile as he gazed at the face of Maximilian Lavant on the screen, a visage he hadn’t seen in ages.
The one who had slain him was none other than himself.
Yet the instructor continued to explain, oblivious to this truth.
“Maximilian Lavant waged war under the banner of a governing ideology and philosophy that sought to unite countless villains across the globe, and he nearly succeeded in conquering the world. If it hadn’t been for the brave stand of Cheon Sang-seok, the leader of the Celestial Guild at the time…”
At the instructor’s final words, pride flickered across the faces of the students from South Korea, who filled half the classroom.
To be the awakened one who had defended the world’s order from Maximilian Lavant, and who now stood as the strongest in the world, was indeed a point of pride in this age of magic.
“Anyway, the UN later appointed Leader Cheon Sang-seok as the inaugural director and established the International Superhuman Management Agency, ‘Order.’ Thanks to that, the world’s order has stabilized relatively well. However, villains still lurk in every corner of the globe, so it wouldn’t be surprising if another great war broke out. In fact, there was an incident where Kim Do-jin, the former vice-leader of the Celestial Guild, hid his dark intentions and attempted to assassinate Cheon Sang-seok… Isn’t that right, Kim Do-jin?”
Suddenly, the instructor turned to Kim Do-jin with a jest, prompting the students to glance at one another, chuckling nervously.
But Kim Do-jin, seated among them, could not muster a smile.
It was his story, yet it was not the truth.
“Now, let’s dive into the main topic. Everyone, please turn to Chapter 9, ‘The International Situation After the Holy War and the Establishment of the International Superhuman Special Law.’”
The instructor soon manipulated the panel and continued the lesson, while the students diligently took notes.
Of course, Kim Do-jin was no exception.
Though the history was distorted, he needed to understand what had gone wrong before he could set it right.