Rank 0 of the Awakener Special School - Chapter 49

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Awakener Special Academy Ranking: 0th Position
Chapter 49
“Captain, may I say something?”
Do Min-gi, who had been silently observing the situation, lifted his glasses with a flick of his finger.
“I think there’s a slight problem with that question, if you don’t mind my saying so.”
“What do you mean? Now that we’re all family, we should know what matters. You’re curious too, aren’t you?”
“It’s not that kind of problem. Haven’t you heard the rumor? Those two already broke their betrothal.”
Thud.
The paper cup she’d been holding slipped from her grasp.
This time it was Seol Ji-woo’s.
‘Betrothal? Broken betrothal?’
What on earth were they talking about this whole time?
Her vacant gaze shifted, and it met Nam Rae-in’s eyes.
…….
Nam Rae-in smiled softly.
The instant she saw those violet eyes, curved in the shape of a crescent moon, her mind began to spin rapidly.
Nam Rae-in.
Nam Rae-in.
……Nam Rae-in.
Ji-woo’s jaw dropped.
‘Oh.’
She remembered.
She must have been about five years old.
Back when her parents were still alive.
At that time, Ji-woo lived with her mother, father, and Ji-hyo—the four of them in a spacious countryside house.
A house they’d found almost in hiding, evading her grandfather’s gaze.
But she remembered that visitors came to that house from time to time.
Of course, whenever guests arrived, Ji-woo had to stay quietly confined to her room.
Among them, there was one person who stood out in her memory.
– Ji-woo, we’re having a guest today, so you absolutely cannot leave your room. Just like always, you know that, right?
– Who’s coming? Is it Santa Claus?
– Well, Santa comes next week. Today, Mom’s friend is visiting.
– Which friend of Mom’s?
– Aunt Soo-hyang. Can you stay alone in your room until Aunt leaves?
– Yes! I can!
That’s what she said.
But the laughter coming from outside sounded so joyful that day, and unable to contain her curiosity, she cracked open the door just a peek.
‘Wow…….’
The person glimpsed through the crack was long and elegant, beautiful like a Western actress in a movie.
She’d heard from Ji-hyo that this aunt belonged to a famous ballet company and was a world-renowned prima ballerina.
‘She’s really beautiful. She’d be even prettier up close, wouldn’t she?’
Click—Ji-woo shut the door and bounded toward the back exit.
If she went out to the garden through the back door, she could see the living room from a larger window there.
Besides, the conversation was clearer from that direction.
Ji-woo crept over and crouched down near the window.
– Do you still remember the promise? That we’d marry off our kids someday.
– Goodness, when did we make that promise?
– A promise is a promise. So what do you think? My son. Ji-hyo’s a catch, but this should work out well, don’t you think?
…A son? Marriage?
Curious, Ji-woo craned her neck to look, but unfortunately she couldn’t see the woman’s son.
The prima ballerina smiled sweetly at Ji-hyo, who was sitting beside her eating cookies.
– So why don’t you tell us, Ji-hyo?
– Yes?
– What do you think of my Rae-in?
My Rae-in.
Rae-in…….
There was no doubt. ‘Nam Rae-in’ was that prima ballerina’s son she’d spoken of back then.
‘That marriage talk back then actually proceeded to a betrothal?’
She had no idea.
She’d thought it was just something the adults were joking about. Neither her parents nor Ji-hyo had ever mentioned it.
‘Then what was that text message I saw on the phone back then?’
The message Ji-hyo had told her not to acknowledge to Nam Rae-in.
Was Ji-hyo dissatisfied with the betrothal to Nam Rae-in?
And what about the rumor of the broken betrothal?
“So? What’s the truth?”
Tae Ga-yeong pressed for an answer again.
“That is…….”
“For now, let’s shelve it.”
Just as Ji-woo hesitated over what to say, Nam Rae-in suddenly cut in.
“Shelve it?”
“It’s something adults discussed among themselves, and it seems to have confused Ji-hyo a bit. But—”
Nam Rae-in turned to Ji-woo with a pleasant smile.
“I like her.”
* * *
The sun dropped beyond the ridge.
After hastily finishing the welcome gathering, the Special Team was ready to begin the boundary patrol work around the Lake as scheduled.
The boundary patrol work would be conducted in pairs of two, according to Tae Ga-yeong’s orders.
Eight people total from the Special Team had gathered here.
Her idea was to decide their work partners by drawing lots.
“Why go through a drawing…….”
Do Min-gi, looking as though he couldn’t understand, seemed invisible to Tae Ga-yeong.
“Rae-in, do you have the cards?”
“Here.”
“Good.”
The cards that Ga-yeong received from Rae-in were Trump Cards, as everyone knew well.
Hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades.
Four pairs would be decided based on the suits drawn.
“Clubs. Who has clubs?”
“Me.”
“Damn, of all people, you?”
“I don’t like it either.”
As everyone took turns drawing cards,
Moon Yu-jin checked the back of his drawn card, then glanced up toward Ji-woo.
And a little distance away,
Tae Ga-yeong stood watching Yu-jin with her arms crossed.
‘Does Yu-jin want to be in a group with Ji-hyo?’
That’s the feeling she had.
It wasn’t a new thought.
Last weekend, when Ji-woo’s group was found unconscious at the entrance to Narak.
– ……Seol Ji-hyo.
Moon Yu-jin, who had been following behind Tae Ga-yeong, bolted from his spot.
Though he’d only been in the Special Team a short time, the two had known each other since elementary school. Their parents even had work-related dealings.
For Tae Ga-yeong, seeing Yu-jin so visibly shaken was unprecedented.
So she thought about it.
Yu-jin must have feelings for Seol Ji-hyo.
As someone who’d watched Yu-jin since childhood, she wanted to support his love.
That’s why she’d directly asked Ji-woo about her relationship with Rae-in.
…Of course, looking at the result, it had backfired.
‘I’m rooting for you, Yu-jin.’
Tae Ga-yeong cast a tender gaze toward the back of Yu-jin’s head.
If such a thing as fate existed, perhaps the two of them would draw cards of the same suit here.
Meanwhile, at the edge of Ga-yeong’s vision, Ji-woo was checking the card she’d drawn.
“Seol Ji-hyo, have you checked your card?”
Nam Rae-in approached Ji-woo.
As he drew closer, a slight awkwardness crossed Ji-woo’s face.
– I like her.
His tone was so light that it didn’t sound sincere. She hadn’t intended to take it seriously anyway.
Yet facing him now, she felt oddly uncomfortable.
‘He’s Ji-hyo’s fiancé…….’
Of course, that betrothal seemed to be in a ‘shelved’ state for some reason.
But still, it felt strange.
‘So this is what he looks like. The prima ballerina’s son.’
Nam Rae-in was certainly beautiful—delicate features and fair skin, a quintessentially handsome face.
But he bore no resemblance to the prima ballerina at all. The hair color, eye color, the whole demeanor was different, so she hadn’t noticed before…….
And he seemed far from Ji-hyo’s type. He preferred someone gentler, more innocent.
Like Bae Han-gyeol.
‘So that text message I saw on the phone back then—did Ji-hyo reject Nam Rae-in?’
Something like ‘you’re not my type.’
“If you keep staring at me like that, I’ll be embarrassed.”
Nam Rae-in laughed as if troubled.
Only then did Ji-woo snap back to attention.
“Sorry, what did you say?”
“Your card. What suit is it?”
“…Oh. Spades.”
Spades?
At that moment, Tae Ga-yeong’s ear, which had been far away, twitched.
She quickly flipped her card over to check.
The black mark at the center of Ga-yeong’s card—spades—was plainly displayed.
‘This is ridiculous.’
The heavens are truly indifferent…….
After blinking her eyes a few times, Tae Ga-yeong, accepting her fate, passed by Yu-jin while holding her card.
“…Yu-jin. Fate, you see, has a cruel side to it.”
Pat.
She tapped his back as she spoke.
“Don’t give up.”
“……Yes?”
And so, all the partners were determined.
【Diamonds】 group: Do Min-gi and Ra Jun-hyeok.
【Clubs】 group: Shin Cho-rok and Jang Yi-ro.
【Spades】 group: Seol Ji-hyo and Tae Ga-yeong.
And—
“Then the 【Hearts】 group is?”
Tae Ga-yeong asked.
Not that there was any real question about it.
Only two people remained.
…….
…….
Moon Yu-jin and Nam Rae-in.
【Hearts】 group.
Without either going first, simultaneously, the two boys’ expressions hardened grimly.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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