## Chapter 221 – A Week (6)
“Wait, university? You’ve been going to school?”
“Well… yeah, I figured since I’m borrowing this kid’s body, I should at least do this much…”
With so much happening lately, I’d completely forgotten about Iria and Seorin.
It wasn’t just anything; Seorin was originally a university student, just like me,
and I forgot to explain that to Iria, who was temporarily using her body. What to do…
“Don’t worry too much. I explained everything about school,
and I used my power to put the information from that human’s memories into Iria.”
“…Well, that’s a relief, but… was it okay for you to go outside?”
Ilan Noona, who was watching my flustered reaction from the side, explained as if to tell me not to worry.
But what I’m worried about is something completely different. Of course, I don’t care whether Iria goes outside or not,
but the big problem now is ‘Kin,’ Theresa’s colleague, who is searching for Iria with a vengeance.
Even if it wasn’t me, at least if she went out with Ilan Noona, it would be one thing, but
if Iria, who has no means to protect her body, catches his eye…
“Master, if you’re worried about Kin, you can rest assured.
What’s important to that guy is not Iria’s soul but her body.
He may be wary of Iria’s soul being released, but he won’t try to use his power directly.”
“That’s right, he’s always been a stuck-up guy who thinks he’s so great.
He probably thinks it’s okay to just leave Iria’s soul alone, that it won’t be a problem.”
This time, Theresa, reading my expression, eased my worries about Kin, and Noona chimed in.
…Since it’s being said by two people who know Kin better than anyone, I guess I can rest assured.
“…If you say so, I guess it’s okay. So, what did you say you saw at school?”
“Well… there was definitely a woman who seemed connected to me, so I went to get a closer look.
She was a professor in our department, and she had an aura that felt like flower petals, but not quite? Do you know anything about it?”
“…..Professor?”
“Yeah.”
The words Iria threw out are fitting together in my head like a puzzle.
Seorin is in the same design department as me, and among the design department professors, the one with the aura of flower petals is…
“Huh? What is it? Do you know her?”
“…Shall we go back to school together for a bit?”
………
………
……..
Leaving Seohee’s house, I take the bus and ride down the familiar road, getting off at the bus stop in front of the school.
Looking around at the familiar road and my studio apartment, which can be seen if I go down a little further, it feels like walking the commute route.
What should I say? I didn’t have that many good memories from university, and I didn’t attend for long, so
I don’t particularly miss it or feel anything special. Just a short impression of ‘It’s been a while.’ is all.
It’s a bit past lunchtime, so I can still see students walking along the road.
But the one who stands out the most among them is, of course, Iria.
Her silver-dyed hair and bright smile are not commonly seen around here.
Just walking down the street with her, I can already feel the attention.
“…Um, so you’re saying that the professor I saw didn’t have flower petals in her body, but a fragment of Chaeyoon?”
“Yeah, that’s probably why it felt that way. The flower petals that were in that body are already dead.”
“How did that happen… But you didn’t have to come with me, why did you come?”
“Just because. It feels like it’s been a while since I’ve seen your face, so I thought I’d see it for old times’ sake.”
…That’s just an excuse, I was curious about what kind of life that ‘professor’ was living, so I followed her.
I haven’t seen her since the day I said I was dropping out, but her changed appearance was shocking.
That calm and docile woman suddenly changed and appeared at school.
And that was in just one day. Even if you look at it from a normal perspective, it feels strange,
and Chaeyoon, who has been steadily attending school, hasn’t said anything, so I wondered if she was okay? But…
After hearing the story from Iria, it suddenly occurred to me, so I decided to check it out with my own eyes.
In a way, she’s the only woman I couldn’t control…
“Oh, right. I heard from Chaeyoon that you used to go to this school too?
But why did you quit? This place seems like a really good place…”
“That’s because you haven’t seen other universities, that’s why you’re saying that.
There are plenty of schools better than this. I just quit because it didn’t suit me.”
“…Uh-huh, I see. To me, even this kind of school is amazing and great.
I’m kind of happy that humans have been able to develop this much even without us.”
“…What was your era like, anyway? The concept of teaching someone must have existed in that era too.”
“It did exist. But we weren’t at the level of math or science in this era,
we were at the level of realizing the existence of fire or that crops grow when you plant seeds…”
“……”
Chatting with Iria as we walk up the hill towards the entrance of the school.
It’s a bit funny that we’re making these kinds of jokes about the profound topic of learning and enlightenment,
but I naturally continue the conversation with her, who is enjoying her hard-won freedom.
“Anyway, do you know where that professor you saw is? Is she in class?”
“…Um… I don’t really know. First…”
Finally reaching the top of the hill and looking around the campus after a long time, I ask Iria for directions.
Of course, I know the way better than she does, but I’m an outsider now, and I don’t know all the professor’s class times.
Looking around hesitantly, I follow Iria, who takes the lead, saying, ‘Fo, follow me!’
It hasn’t been that long since I quit school, but it doesn’t seem like anything has changed.
If everything is the same, that professor should be in her office right now.
“…Um, Iria, not that way, maybe this way…”
Calling out to Iria, who is struggling to find the way, I point in a different direction,
and just as I was about to say let’s go this way, I heard voices from around us.
I don’t know where they’re watching from, who they are, or how many there are, but I can hear the voices.
It was definitely a small, whispering voice, but my sensitive hearing picked up the unpleasant sound.
‘…Wait, who is that over there? I’ve seen his face somewhere…’
‘Ah, I remember who he is, he was pretty famous for a while. The guy who’s dating that Lee Chaeyoon.
He seduced a girl who had a boyfriend, and that guy’s senior dropped out because of it.’
‘I remember too. Chaeyoon is a really nice kid, but how did she get tricked by a guy like that…
She’s completely fallen for that guy and doesn’t listen to anything anyone says, right?’
‘Wow, is he using some kind of weird drug or something? Or threatening her…
He doesn’t look like he has the face to seduce a girl like Lee Chaeyoon.’
…Old gossip that I’m hearing after a long time. It’s been quite a while since then,
but it seems like there are still students who remember that. Who are they? Are they from the same department?
‘…Oh? But isn’t that the head of the design department next to him? Maybe…’
“….Huh? What’s wrong, Chanwoo? You don’t look so good…”
“It’s nothing. Let’s just walk a little faster than that.”
“Uh-oh…?”
Taking Iria’s hand, who seems worried about me, I quickly leave the center of the campus.
Then I open the door of the lecture building that comes into view and crouch down in the corner of the hallway.
“Ah, seriously… I can’t get used to this place no matter how many times I come.”
“Uh, why? What’s wrong?”
I knew which direction the voices were coming from, but there were too many eyes watching, so I couldn’t openly retaliate.
Iria might get involved if I just listened and ignored it, so I took her and left the place.
Then, I was talking to myself, and Iria carefully asked me if I seemed upset.
“No, I just heard some shitty things… You be careful too. They saw you with me, so
strange rumors might spread, but just listen to it and ignore it. If you can’t do that, tell Chaeyoon…”
“…That you and I were together? Why is that a strange rumor?”
“Huh? Um… well… there’s that. I’ve never been one to tear people apart, so I don’t really know, but
isn’t a woman with a man who has a girlfriend not a very good thing to hear? So…”
“No, not that… I mean, I don’t really care if those rumors spread.
So other people think you and I are… like that… right?”
Iria, who is shy and awkwardly smiling, sits on the bench next to me and puts her hand on my shoulder.
“I’ve decided not to care what other people think anymore.
I like you being free-spirited. I don’t want to be stuck in that kind of frame anymore.”
“…..”
The atmosphere has become quiet and calm. Only the sound of me and Iria’s breathing can be heard in the quiet hallway,
and the distance between us, who are looking into each other’s eyes, is gradually getting closer.
“….♡”
A short kiss. After that, we move away a little and check each other’s eyes again,
then I hug her and start sharing a slightly longer and deeper kiss this time.
“…Um, chu…♡”
Iria’s hand comes up to my chest, and I also roll up her skirt with my hand.
As I rub the middle of her white panties and kiss her, the tips of my fingers become wet…
“…Wait, you there.”
“….Ugh?!”
“…Ye, yes!!”
When the atmosphere was ripe, I was startled by the voice from behind and raised my head,
and Iria stuttered and answered the voice in a loud voice without even looking back.
The owner of the voice sighed as she approached us more and more.
“…Haa, do that kind of thing at home or in a motel, not at school.
What are you two grown adults doing… I came because I felt a presence I hadn’t felt in a while, but geez…”
“…Uh? Wait…”
“It’s been a while, Chanwoo student.”
The owner of the voice was none other than the woman who was looking down at me with eyes that saw something pathetic.
The professor of the design department and Chaeyoon’s fragment, Professor Han Heeju.
