I Don’t Want To Be An Ojakgyo

Just like any other day, he headed over to the changing room next to the shower room to wash up after eating dinner with Swan and Shuraina after class. He finished showering soon and placed a dry towel on his head as he shook his hair dry.

He was just about to leave after putting his clothes back on, when he ended up hearing what a group of boys were talking about. If it was just a regular, everyday conversation that had nothing to do with him, then he would've ignored it and moved on. But he had stopped walking as soon as he heard the word 'Shuraina' pop up in their conversation.

"Was it Shuraina? The one who's always top of her class."

"Oooh. Yeah. What about her."

"So it looked like she dropped a paper and Sabrina picked it up and it was a love letter."

"Whoa, she was interested in people too? I thought she just lived off of school. So who'd she write it to?"

"She didn't say, but it must be one of the boys she's close with. Well. She's always with those good looking kids all the time."

"Are we going to have another official campus couple then? Damn, I'm lonely."

The group left as they continued chattering away, but Hylli, who had been trying to leave, sat on one of the long benches in the changing room with a serious look on his face. He didn't seem like he would be leaving any time soon.

"Shuraina is……?"

This was the most shocking thing he had heard recently.

That Shuraina. The one that always frowned as she counted her money, and tried to figure out how to get more money for her club activity.

That Shuraina, the one that wanted to get into the notoriously difficult group of royal knights only because it was a stable government job? That Shuraina?

The one that snorted mockingly at every couple in the vicinity?

Hylli stared blankly at the floor before he huffed out a bark of incredulous laughter. Then, he got up to leave the changing room.

It was just a rumor. Hylli didn't believe it right away. His nose tickled for some reason when he remembered the 'It must be one of the boys she's close with' part of the rumor, but he soon wiped his mind clean of it before leaving.

For someone like her, who seemed like they'd die alone focusing on swords and magic, to have a crush? It didn't make sense. Moreover, she herself had said that she'd probably die alone.

Shuraina said that after retiring from knighthood, she would get her regular stipend from the government and own a fried chicken shop in a small village after. When he asked why it had to be a fried chicken shop, she said that it was the easiest option or something weird.

So, Cory and Hylli had nodded at her simple dreams for the future and nodded, stating that they'd be her regular customers. Swanhaden said that he could live on fried chicken, no, even just the pickles that came as a side dish, and Yves happily stated that he'd help her open the store.

At Shuraina's weird statement that she'd become a cook later in her life, Hylli just tried to understand Shuraina. She delved in swordsmanship, magic, and a bunch of other things, it seemed. She must be someone with a lot of dreams. Even if the truth of the matter was that Shuraina just wanted to try anything and everything that could earn a lot of cash.

Anyway, she had her fingers in so many pies that she couldn't help but be busy all the time. Because of that, he couldn't even begin to imagine that she was interested in dating or anything romantic. He just couldn't picture it.

He was trying to deny the rumors as he walked, deep in thought, when he could see Cory and Yves sitting on a bench discussing something.

Cory had become close with Yves while he was trying to figure out why the attack on his family had happened.

Yves had been his main access point for Shunivalen's items, and he had been grateful for how Yves had enthusiastically tried to help with his incidents, and he had changed a lot as a person, so Cory was a lot more relaxed when it came to Yves nowadays.

He was comfortable calling Yves 'hyung', and there were times when he just called Yvnes by his name. Cory was helping Yves, someone who was incredibly smart and talented, prevent the principal's plans from coming to fruition. Behind Shuraina's back, of course.

The job was going so smoothly that it was almost suspicious. The principal had, for some reason, stopped his operation, and had passed on his power to the vice principal.

Of course, Yves was stuck doing a lot of work in the middle of everything, though. Anyway, the incident was coming to a close. They had been worried that something would pop up, but the incident was winding down so quickly that it was anti-climactic.

Cory was handing Yves magic circles and other items that he had requested. He then took out a small box from his shirt pocket before taking out a stick-shaped snack and putting it in his mouth. Magic itself took an incredible amount of brain power, so Cory was always wanting for snacks.

Cory nibbled on the stick snack in his mouth and handed one to Yves, but Yves rejected it, saying that he already ate breakfast.

"Cory, you're close with Shuraina, right?"

After they had finished their business, Cory was about to return to the dorm when Yvnes suddenly threw a question at Cory.

"……y-yeah."

At the sudden, random change in subject, Cory hesitated for a moment before nodding. He only talked about the principal or the attack with Yves, but having such a personal topic pop up made him confused.

"We're close."

Cory had a small smile on his face as he thought about Shuraina.

At that, Yvnes put his hand in the inner pocket of his uniform jacket and took out a small piece of paper, then stared at the paper with a scowl.

He looked like he was a bit disgruntled, but Yves didn't try to hide his emotions anymore.

"Mm, then is it you?"

"What is."

"The person Shushu likes."

"………..?"

Cory stood up straight from his spot at Yves' words.

"……..?"

Cory's eyes were wide as he stared at Yves. He just stood there, staring at Yves, still shocked.

Cory took out another stick-shaped snack from his box with shaking hands as he put it in his mouth. With a crack, the snack broke into his mouth.

Cory just continued staring at Yves before he hid his face behind his hands. He sat back down on the bench and didn't move before quietly muttering to himself.

"…….no way."

Yves watched Cory's reaction with interest before smiling and letting out a puff of laughter out of his nose.

"You're right. It's a lie."

Cory, who had been in a state of disbelief but had also been incredibly excited, suddenly deflated at Yves' words. Then, Cory's expression grew fierce as he glared at Yves.

"Then, do you know who Shushu likes?"

Hylli suddenly popped out of nowhere and approached Yves.

Hylli, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, had been shocked at the part where Shushu liked Cory, then couldn't help but blurt out a question when he heard that was a lie. Hylli had a few leaves on his hair from hiding behind the leaves.

"Oh, isn't this the crown prince? Were you eavesdropping on us?"

Yves asked mockingly, chin on his hand. Hylli nodded. After revealing his shame to the general public thanks to Shuraina, Hylli had grown more confident. He admitted to eavesdropping right away as he yelled.

"Isn't it clear that it's just a rumor! For her to like someone, a bird passing by would probably squawk in laughter!"

At Hylli's loud voice, someone else popped out from nowhere.

"….."

It was Swanhaden, whose pupils seemed to be shaking erratically. His expression seemed peaceful while his eyes were shaking. His under eyes were dark, as if he hadn't been able to sleep properly recently.

Swanhaden appeared out of nowhere, silent, from time to time. He had been listening to the two's conversation near Hylli, who had also been hiding.

"….."

Swan's eyes were wide as he grabbed at Yves' collar with shaking hands. He shook Yves back and forth and spoke, voice low.

"Blow."

Swan said, glaring threateningly. Yves smirked at Swan as if he found the entire situation hilarious before he literally blew air onto his face. Swan's bangs shifted before they calmed.

"You look like you're gonna cry."

Swan's aura grew murderous at Yves' immature actions. Cory watched the entire thing before he spoke.

"You think he's only going to cry?"

Yves and Cory, both of whom were quick to figure things out, knew that Swanhaden was deeply enamored with Shuraina. Hylli was the only one who didn't understand Swanhaden's strange actions.

Hylli didn't understand the three, who seemed to take the rumors seriously.

"Tell everyone to stop joking like this. It makes no sense to begin with!"

"What about it."

"Just think about it, does Shushu look like someone who would blush and act shy?"

At Hylli's words, Cory, Yves, and Swan all seemed deep in thought. Whatever they were imagining, all of their expressions began to morph. Their reactions were immediate.

Cory's mouth was agape at Hylli's words.

"Wow…….that would be great."

Yves frowned as he muttered to himself.

"Should I just kidnap her……."

Swan covered his face with both hands and didn't say a single word. His face just turned an incredible shade of red, along with his ears. The murderous aura around him had dissipated a long time ago.

And Hylli, even though he had been the one to mention it to begin with, also blushed a bright red.

Hylli yelled loudly, fuming.

"No, wait, what's with this atmosphere?!"

The atmosphere smelled of falling flowers.

Hestia was in such shock that she couldn't think at all. Her silky pink hair was in her hands in a vice grip as she ruffled her hair angrily.

As she kept ripping out her hair, she kept repeating the same words over and over again. Hestia's eyes were glazed over.

"I'm…..I'm in trouble……"

Her green eyes peeked out between her long fingers as her pupils shook in self-reproach.

"No way. Me, because of me? Because of the things I've done?"

Hestia remembered what Shuraina had told her.

Hestia couldn't sit still as soon as she heard that Shuraina had gotten into a relationship.

Shuraina, who had always been steadfast and thoughtful when it came to relationships, had suddenly said that she had a lover and had brought over a delinquent-looking kid. Hestia felt like she was going to lose her mind.

She had argued to Shuraina about why she had accepted a confession from a kid that she didn't even know that well.

To Hestia, Shuraina was absolutely, incredibly precious. She had known that she would get a lover of her own.

But she hadn't imagined that it would happen so abruptly, and with such a baffling kid. Shuraina's lover had to be the most modest, kind, handsome, and the most skilled, talented person to exist for Hestia to accept it.

Shuraina grew angry when Hestia mocked her boyfriend. Hestia was aggrieved at how the two of them were having complications just because of that kid named Eric from the red class.

She didn't feel like chatting up the boys who tried to approach Shuraina like before, so Hestia pondered about getting Swan and the other delinquents around campus to threaten Eric.

But somehow she had known, and Shuraina had come to Hestia to plead her not to.

"Please, Hestia. Not this time, please."

Hestia felt like she had been slammed in the back of the head.

It was because of her.

"I ruined Shushu's confidence…………"

Hestia thought back to every one of Shuraina's actions.

She always wore the same clothes over and over again, claiming that it didn't matter if she dolled up. When she did get changed and was dolled up, she just awkwardly glanced at the mirror before erasing everything right away.

Everything she said about herself was negative.

Shuraina's closed off demeanor was because of her low sense of worth.

Whenever Shuraina seemed to like someone and became interested in them, Hestia always made them like her instead, and, later on, she had cruelly forced Shuraina to act as a bridge between herself and the person Shuraina had liked.

Shuraina hadn't made a fuss out of it because Hestia had been more precious to her, and, as time passed, that had become to cause of her low self-worth.

Shuraina's self-worth was low compared to her abilities, but she herself didn't realize it. Hestia hadn't realized what her actions had brought on.

Shuraina always had a tendency to become silly and too giving towards the people in her circle.

For her lover, wouldn't Shuraina place him within her circle of people and try to give him everything he wanted? Wouldn't she give too much?

From what Hestia knew, Eric wasn't a good kid. From what she had seen, he was just a regular, immature noble. Shuraina was probably aware of that too.

"Shushu's confidence……….. How do I raise it up…………"

It was essentially closing the barn door after the horse had bolted*, but Hestia still felt like something had to be done.

Shushu had asked, so she wouldn't do anything about their relationship, but…

"Aaaaaaah……. I'm gonna lose it."

Hestia wanted to cry.

Just like any other day, he headed over to the changing room next to the shower room to wash up after eating dinner with Swan and Shuraina after class. He finished showering soon and placed a dry towel on his head as he shook his hair dry.

He was just about to leave after putting his clothes back on, when he ended up hearing what a group of boys were talking about. If it was just a regular, everyday conversation that had nothing to do with him, then he would've ignored it and moved on. But he had stopped walking as soon as he heard the word 'Shuraina' pop up in their conversation.

"Was it Shuraina? The one who's always top of her class."

"Oooh. Yeah. What about her."

"So it looked like she dropped a paper and Sabrina picked it up and it was a love letter."

"Whoa, she was interested in people too? I thought she just lived off of school. So who'd she write it to?"

"She didn't say, but it must be one of the boys she's close with. Well. She's always with those good looking kids all the time."

The group left as they continued chattering away, but Hylli, who had been trying to leave, sat on one of the long benches in the changing room with a serious look on his face. He didn't seem like he would be leaving any time soon.

"Shuraina is……?"

This was the most shocking thing he had heard recently.

That Shuraina. The one that always frowned as she counted her money, and tried to figure out how to get more money for her club activity.

That Shuraina, the one that wanted to get into the notoriously difficult group of royal knights only because it was a stable government job? That Shuraina?

The one that snorted mockingly at every couple in the vicinity?

Hylli stared blankly at the floor before he huffed out a bark of incredulous laughter. Then, he got up to leave the changing room.

It was just a rumor. Hylli didn't believe it right away. His nose tickled for some reason when he remembered the 'It must be one of the boys she's close with' part of the rumor, but he soon wiped his mind clean of it before leaving.

For someone like her, who seemed like they'd die alone focusing on swords and magic, to have a crush? It didn't make sense. Moreover, she herself had said that she'd probably die alone.

Shuraina said that after retiring from knighthood, she would get her regular stipend from the government and own a fried chicken shop in a small village after. When he asked why it had to be a fried chicken shop, she said that it was the easiest option or something weird.

So, Cory and Hylli had nodded at her simple dreams for the future and nodded, stating that they'd be her regular customers. Swanhaden said that he could live on fried chicken, no, even just the pickles that came as a side dish, and Yves happily stated that he'd help her open the store.

At Shuraina's weird statement that she'd become a cook later in her life, Hylli just tried to understand Shuraina. She delved in swordsmanship, magic, and a bunch of other things, it seemed. She must be someone with a lot of dreams. Even if the truth of the matter was that Shuraina just wanted to try anything and everything that could earn a lot of cash.

Anyway, she had her fingers in so many pies that she couldn't help but be busy all the time. Because of that, he couldn't even begin to imagine that she was interested in dating or anything romantic. He just couldn't picture it.

He was trying to deny the rumors as he walked, deep in thought, when he could see Cory and Yves sitting on a bench discussing something.

Cory had become close with Yves while he was trying to figure out why the attack on his family had happened.

Yves had been his main access point for Shunivalen's items, and he had been grateful for how Yves had enthusiastically tried to help with his incidents, and he had changed a lot as a person, so Cory was a lot more relaxed when it came to Yves nowadays.

He was comfortable calling Yves 'hyung', and there were times when he just called Yvnes by his name. Cory was helping Yves, someone who was incredibly smart and talented, prevent the principal's plans from coming to fruition. Behind Shuraina's back, of course.

The job was going so smoothly that it was almost suspicious. The principal had, for some reason, stopped his operation, and had passed on his power to the vice principal.

Of course, Yves was stuck doing a lot of work in the middle of everything, though. Anyway, the incident was coming to a close. They had been worried that something would pop up, but the incident was winding down so quickly that it was anti-climactic.

Cory was handing Yves magic circles and other items that he had requested. He then took out a small box from his shirt pocket before taking out a stick-shaped snack and putting it in his mouth. Magic itself took an incredible amount of brain power, so Cory was always wanting for snacks.

Cory nibbled on the stick snack in his mouth and handed one to Yves, but Yves rejected it, saying that he already ate breakfast.

"Cory, you're close with Shuraina, right?"

After they had finished their business, Cory was about to return to the dorm when Yvnes suddenly threw a question at Cory.

"……y-yeah."

At the sudden, random change in subject, Cory hesitated for a moment before nodding. He only talked about the principal or the attack with Yves, but having such a personal topic pop up made him confused.

"We're close."

Cory had a small smile on his face as he thought about Shuraina.

At that, Yvnes put his hand in the inner pocket of his uniform jacket and took out a small piece of paper, then stared at the paper with a scowl.

He looked like he was a bit disgruntled, but Yves didn't try to hide his emotions anymore.

"Mm, then is it you?"

"What is."

"The person Shushu likes."

Cory stood up straight from his spot at Yves' words.

"……..?"

Cory's eyes were wide as he stared at Yves. He just stood there, staring at Yves, still shocked.

Cory took out another stick-shaped snack from his box with shaking hands as he put it in his mouth. With a crack, the snack broke into his mouth.

Cory just continued staring at Yves before he hid his face behind his hands. He sat back down on the bench and didn't move before quietly muttering to himself.

"…….no way."

Yves watched Cory's reaction with interest before smiling and letting out a puff of laughter out of his nose.

"You're right. It's a lie."

Cory, who had been in a state of disbelief but had also been incredibly excited, suddenly deflated at Yves' words. Then, Cory's expression grew fierce as he glared at Yves.

"Then, do you know who Shushu likes?"

Hylli suddenly popped out of nowhere and approached Yves.

Hylli, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, had been shocked at the part where Shushu liked Cory, then couldn't help but blurt out a question when he heard that was a lie. Hylli had a few leaves on his hair from hiding behind the leaves.

"Oh, isn't this the crown prince? Were you eavesdropping on us?"

Yves asked mockingly, chin on his hand. Hylli nodded. After revealing his shame to the general public thanks to Shuraina, Hylli had grown more confident. He admitted to eavesdropping right away as he yelled.

"Isn't it clear that it's just a rumor! For her to like someone, a bird passing by would probably squawk in laughter!"

At Hylli's loud voice, someone else popped out from nowhere.

"….."

It was Swanhaden, whose pupils seemed to be shaking erratically. His expression seemed peaceful while his eyes were shaking. His under eyes were dark, as if he hadn't been able to sleep properly recently.

Swanhaden appeared out of nowhere, silent, from time to time. He had been listening to the two's conversation near Hylli, who had also been hiding.

"….."

Swan's eyes were wide as he grabbed at Yves' collar with shaking hands. He shook Yves back and forth and spoke, voice low.

"Blow."

Swan said, glaring threateningly. Yves smirked at Swan as if he found the entire situation hilarious before he literally blew air onto his face. Swan's bangs shifted before they calmed.

"You look like you're gonna cry."

Swan's aura grew murderous at Yves' immature actions. Cory watched the entire thing before he spoke.

"You think he's only going to cry?"

Yves and Cory, both of whom were quick to figure things out, knew that Swanhaden was deeply enamored with Shuraina. Hylli was the only one who didn't understand Swanhaden's strange actions.

Hylli didn't understand the three, who seemed to take the rumors seriously.

"Tell everyone to stop joking like this. It makes no sense to begin with!""What about it."

"Just think about it, does Shushu look like someone who would blush and act shy?"

At Hylli's words, Cory, Yves, and Swan all seemed deep in thought. Whatever they were imagining, all of their expressions began to morph. Their reactions were immediate.

Cory's mouth was agape at Hylli's words.

"Wow…….that would be great."

Yves frowned as he muttered to himself.

"Should I just kidnap her……."

Swan covered his face with both hands and didn't say a single word. His face just turned an incredible shade of red, along with his ears. The murderous aura around him had dissipated a long time ago.

And Hylli, even though he had been the one to mention it to begin with, also blushed a bright red.

Hylli yelled loudly, fuming.

"No, wait, what's with this atmosphere?!"

The atmosphere smelled of falling flowers.

Hestia was in such shock that she couldn't think at all. Her silky pink hair was in her hands in a vice grip as she ruffled her hair angrily.

As she kept ripping out her hair, she kept repeating the same words over and over again. Hestia's eyes were glazed over.

"I'm…..I'm in trouble……"

Her green eyes peeked out between her long fingers as her pupils shook in self-reproach.

"No way. Me, because of me? Because of the things I've done?"

Hestia remembered what Shuraina had told her.

Hestia couldn't sit still as soon as she heard that Shuraina had gotten into a relationship.

Shuraina, who had always been steadfast and thoughtful when it came to relationships, had suddenly said that she had a lover and had brought over a delinquent-looking kid. Hestia felt like she was going to lose her mind.

She had argued to Shuraina about why she had accepted a confession from a kid that she didn't even know that well.

To Hestia, Shuraina was absolutely, incredibly precious. She had known that she would get a lover of her own.

But she hadn't imagined that it would happen so abruptly, and with such a baffling kid. Shuraina's lover had to be the most modest, kind, handsome, and the most skilled, talented person to exist for Hestia to accept it.

Shuraina grew angry when Hestia mocked her boyfriend. Hestia was aggrieved at how the two of them were having complications just because of that kid named Eric from the red class.

She didn't feel like chatting up the boys who tried to approach Shuraina like before, so Hestia pondered about getting Swan and the other delinquents around campus to threaten Eric.

But somehow she had known, and Shuraina had come to Hestia to plead her not to.

"Please, Hestia. Not this time, please."

Hestia felt like she had been slammed in the back of the head.

It was because of her.

"I ruined Shushu's confidence…………"

Hestia thought back to every one of Shuraina's actions.

She always wore the same clothes over and over again, claiming that it didn't matter if she dolled up. When she did get changed and was dolled up, she just awkwardly glanced at the mirror before erasing everything right away.

Everything she said about herself was negative.

Shuraina's closed off demeanor was because of her low sense of worth.

Whenever Shuraina seemed to like someone and became interested in them, Hestia always made them like her instead, and, later on, she had cruelly forced Shuraina to act as a bridge between herself and the person Shuraina had liked.

Shuraina hadn't made a fuss out of it because Hestia had been more precious to her, and, as time passed, that had become to cause of her low self-worth.

Shuraina's self-worth was low compared to her abilities, but she herself didn't realize it. Hestia hadn't realized what her actions had brought on.

Shuraina always had a tendency to become silly and too giving towards the people in her circle.

For her lover, wouldn't Shuraina place him within her circle of people and try to give him everything he wanted? Wouldn't she give too much?

From what Hestia knew, Eric wasn't a good kid. From what she had seen, he was just a regular, immature noble. Shuraina was probably aware of that too.

"Shushu's confidence……….. How do I raise it up…………"

It was essentially closing the barn door after the horse had bolted*, but Hestia still felt like something had to be done.

Shushu had asked, so she wouldn't do anything about their relationship, but…

"Aaaaaaah……. I'm gonna lose it."

Hestia wanted to cry.