Rank 0 of the Awakener Special School - Chapter 80

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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 School Rank 0
Chapter 80
“…What?”
Ji-u’s expression hardened in an instant.
“You’re sure? Really a Gaon student?”
“Yes. From where I was standing, they had their back to me, so I couldn’t see their face… but that was definitely a Gaon Special School boy’s uniform.”
A month ago would have been right in the middle of the semester.
As everyone knew, Gaon strictly prohibited students from leaving campus during the school year.
Of course, exceptions existed.
Cases like Seol Ji-hyo, who’d suffered a major accident and had to be transferred to the Family Home.
Or… the Special Task Force.
Specifically, the Special Task Force assigned to external missions.
‘Could it be…’
A chill ran down her spine.
At the same time, three letters surfaced in her mind.
——’Gyeon Bo-seong’.
– They say he was already slated to be the next commander the moment he entered high school.
– Then why didn’t he become one?
– That guy mainly handles external missions rather than in-school duties.
Gyeon Bo-seong, part of the Special Task Force, primarily assigned to external missions.
The one who’d been visiting Seol Ji-hyo frequently since middle school for some reason.
…Of course, there was no certainty that the boy So-young saw was actually Gyeon Bo-seong.
But what if, by any chance, it was him?
If Gyeon Bo-seong had some connection to Seolhwa Pharmaceutical and Grandfather——.
‘That accident of Seol Ji-hyo’s might not have been simple bullying after all.’
Think about it.
The day she first learned about Seol Ji-hyo’s bullying. The day she received the Memory Card from So-young.
So-young had been clear about it.
– This incident won’t become public knowledge. Perhaps never, for as long as it matters.
– Why not?
– Because both Gaon and the Chairman wish to keep this quiet.
Both Gaon and Grandfather wanted this buried in silence.
That’s what she’d said.
Back then, Ji-u had thought it was because Grandfather was such a stern man.
But what if.
What if Grandfather himself were somehow involved in what happened to Seol Ji-hyo——.
The moment that thought crystallized, her entire body felt as though it were freezing over.
“Sister.”
Ji-u asked in a low voice.
“Is it impossible to copy Seol Ji-hyo’s memories again? Like last time?”
Even if a Memory Card made from a Core held evidentiary value, having one would be better.
Ji-u also wanted to review Seol Ji-hyo’s memories once more.
But So-young shook her head.
“The thing is… Miss Seol Ji-hyo is now in a state little different from a vegetative coma. With my Core, I have difficulty using the copy function when the target is in a completely unconscious state.”
It meant that unlike the first day, when there was at least some consciousness remaining, it was now impossible.
‘……It’s not that simple, is it.’
Ji-u clenched her fist silently.
“Then, that child you mentioned earlier? The Gaon student who was talking to Grandfather?”
Ji-u looked at So-young with an imploring gaze.
“If you didn’t see their face… was there anything else? Hair color, or any other distinguishing feature?”
“Well…….”
So-young narrowed her brow slightly, recalling that moment.
“The hair color was unclear. The surroundings were quite dark. But they were very short in height. Around the same as me, or maybe even shorter.”
“How tall are you?”
“About 160 centimeters.”
“And they were shorter than that?”
“Yes. That’s why I initially thought they were a girl, but they were wearing pants from the male uniform.”
“…….”
“Does anything strike you?”
Ji-u shook her head.
She didn’t know how tall Gyeon Bo-seong was. She’d never seen him.
But among the Gaon male students she knew of, there was no one that short.
“…I need more information.”
Ji-u murmured as if speaking to herself.
There was no clear evidence yet, but one thing was certain.
‘There’s something I don’t know. A secret.’
Seolhwa Pharmaceutical.
The bullying surrounding Seol Ji-hyo.
And that day’s accident——.
Perhaps there was a hidden conspiracy at work.
“If I come across any information, I’ll pass it along. Please… take care of yourself as well.”
“…Yes, thank you. Sister.”
At Ji-u’s thanks, So-young offered a faint smile.
* * *
After that, Ji-u turned her back on the Family Home.
Just before leaving, the executive secretary spotted Ji-u with So-young.
– Are you leaving already, Miss? The private aircraft you requested isn’t quite ready yet——.
– It’s fine.
She hadn’t meant it sincerely in the first place.
She didn’t feel comfortable boarding the private aircraft he’d arranged.
So-young gently placed a hand on Ji-u’s shoulder, shielding her from the executive secretary.
– Director, I’ll see to the young Miss.
– …….
The executive secretary didn’t object.
After that, Ji-u rode in So-young’s car to Incheon Port.
From there, she took a ferry and arrived at the island.
And so she set foot in Gaon Special School once again.
Just two days into the break.
“Oh my, you’re back already?”
The dormitory supervisor Ji-u encountered on the first floor widened her eyes in surprise.
Som-i was cradled in the supervisor’s arms, her tail wagging happily.
For the first time since leaving the Family Home, the tension in Ji-u’s face softened.
“…Hello. The Special Task Force mission meant I had to come back early anyway, so I just hurried along.”
“Ah yes, I heard about that. The Narak in Jeju Island, that situation, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Ji-u stroked Som-i’s head as she answered briefly.
Korea had three Naraks in total.
Cheongwadae, Jeju Island, and this place, Gaon.
A massive Backflow had occurred in the Jeju Narak, they said. Only recently.
Fortunately, since the Jeju Narak was in the middle of the ocean, casualties were said to be minimal.
However, a cruise ship caught in the Backflow had disappeared entirely.
The Purification Team from Cheongwadae had been deployed as a result, and Jeju Special Self-Governing Province was providing massive support, but…….
In the end, manpower was insufficient, so a request for support had come to Gaon’s Special Task Force.
Departure was next week.
Until then, she’d planned to spend time quietly at school.
“If there’s anything I can help with, please call. I have free time before the departure.”
“That’s all right. Just come down sometimes and play with her. Go rest now.”
Ji-u bowed to the supervisor and headed to her room.
Thump——
Since she had no luggage to unpack, she collapsed directly onto the bed.
“Sigh…….”
As Ji-u stared at the pure white ceiling, she raised her hand slightly.
The bite marks on the back of her hand were already fading bit by bit.
Lying there, the image of Seol Ji-hyo from the Family Home kept surfacing in her mind.
‘…I need to do something.’
She sprang up and left the room.
“Oh my, back so soon?”
As she came down the stairs, the supervisor on the first floor widened her eyes again.
“I thought I’d take Som-i for a walk. Is that all right?”
“Of course, go ahead.”
The supervisor willingly held out Som-i.
As their eyes met, the white tail swayed like a leaf.
At the sight, the tightness in her expression eased somewhat.
“Thank you. I’ll just get some air and be back.”
“Take your time; there’s no rush.”
It was fine until Ji-u left the dormitory with Som-i in her arms.
But once she stepped outside, the intense heat of summer pressed down on her. Now that she thought about it, it was already midday.
“It’s so hot. Want to play in the Back Courtyard instead?”
Pant, pant. Som-i answered by letting her tongue loll out.
She wished there was some decent shade somewhere. As she looked around the Back Courtyard——
‘Hm?’
Ji-u’s gaze stopped at one spot.
A figure suddenly caught her eye. Someone seemed to be lying beneath the shade of a tree.
‘…Who is that?’
As everyone knew, Gaon strictly prohibited students from leaving campus. That meant the only way to set foot on the mainland was twice a year, during breaks.
Few students would be foolish enough to miss that precious opportunity.
Most of them rushed away from school the moment the break began, as if someone might drag them back.
‘A staff member, perhaps?’
But a staff member didn’t seem like the type to lie around so leisurely.
With that thought, she closed the distance slightly.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, glinting off lemon-bright hair below.
‘Nam Rae-in?’
The moment she recognized him, Ji-u hesitated.
Looking again, it was definitely Nam Rae-in.
Why was he here? The Special Task Force mission doesn’t start until next week.
Could he have come back early like she did?
……Well, it didn’t matter much either way.
‘I’ll just leave him.’
There was no reason to wake someone who was sleeping.
Besides, if it was Nam Rae-in, she might get tired from unnecessary conversation.
Just as she quietly turned to leave——
“Where are you going?”
At the sudden voice, her ankles froze in place.
Lazy in tone, yet distinct and clear, nothing like someone who’d just woken.
Ji-u turned back slowly.
Nam Rae-in, who had seemed to be sleeping soundly just moments before, was now propped up on his elbows, looking directly at her.

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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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