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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Debt of the Heart, Double Down!
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Gong Su-ji trained at her scheduled time. Her routine involved summoning and handling both the Water attribute spirit and the Wind attribute spirit simultaneously.
'This isn't easy.'
Contracting with spirits of two attributes hadn't been an issue at all. She seemed to have a real talent for it, pulling it off without much trouble. The real problem came afterward.
The spirits didn't obey her commands. The timid Water Spirit and the ferocious Wind Spirit just couldn't find any harmony.
Especially the Wind Spirit—it was giving her a real headache.
She'd managed to contract with two incompatible spirits. That fact alone proved her talent, but ironically, it was also stalling her growth.
The best she could manage to get out of them was "We'll obey you from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m." Gong Su-ji made full use of that window to build rapport.
'Ugh...'
She sensed Yoo Ji-hyuk entering the training grounds. That meant training was over for the day. He'd come over, strike up a conversation, and disrupt everything.
From his perspective, he probably just wanted to break down the walls between them. But every little thing he did grated on Gong Su-ji's nerves.
'We're already promised in a political marriage anyway. Do we really need to share affection too? What's the point?'
She had no desire to open up to him. That's why she never told him about her training sessions at this hour either. She knew it caused issues, but she had no intention of backing down.
A curse nearly slipped from her lips. She swallowed it back, turned her head, and scowled out from the private communion room.
'His name was Black Johnson Anaconda, right?'
A bunch of cadets were watching her train, but she ignored them. Among the crowd, she spotted a familiar black international student. She hadn't expected someone from the same year and class to take an interest in her.
Gong Su-ji had a favorable opinion of Black Johnson. There was more to learn from him than from the talentless Yoo Ji-hyuk.
Spirit possession and linking? Handling three attributes effortlessly? In her eyes, Black Johnson was no slouch in Class A.
'For now, at least.'
Being a foreigner, his Korean was rough. That dragged down his entrance scores inevitably. Still, Gong Su-ji acknowledged his power. Practical skill mattered more than theory.
She'd catch up to Black Johnson. Somehow, she'd grow stronger and claim the top spot.
That's why she'd enrolled at the Academy. Surrounding herself with cadets more talented than her—that was the Academy's greatest strength.
And what about Yoo Ji-hyuk? The son of the Warlord Na Yu-ran, yet he fell woefully short. Lacking in both skill and character.
'Haah, guess I have to step in.'
She needed to stop Yoo Ji-hyuk. To keep him from harassing the other cadets needlessly. If his reputation tanked, it'd undermine the reasons for her engagement to his family. That would hurt her too.
"What are you doing! Kill this bastard, show him how scary Korea is!"
"Mother Fucking Korea, a terrifying country where you can't even watch porn."
The atmosphere turned hostile. Fists raised, they looked ready to throw down any second. Gong Su-ji wondered if they'd really fight here. They weren't kids anymore, and there were so many eyes on them...
"One Punch Three Head."
Pak!
He threw the punch without hesitation. Yoo Ji-hyuk's lackeys crumpled like dominoes. From Gong Su-ji's view, all she could see was Black Johnson's back.
"Guhk...!"
"You slave bastard!"
"Agh, aaak! My teeth...!"
Three guys wailed from Black Johnson's punch. Not actual tears, but clutching their jaws and trembling. Gong Su-ji jolted in shock and kicked open the door to the private communion room.
"Stop it!"
Gong Su-ji grabbed Black Johnson's arm. She barely managed to stop him from decking Yoo Ji-hyuk too. Black Johnson glanced down at her.
'...Whoa, she's stacked.'
She'd met plenty of family elders. Some were battle-hardened heroes. Big, tough guys—and naturally, she compared him to them.
"Enough, just stop."
Gong Su-ji stammered, flustered. She felt oddly intimidated in front of Black Johnson. Me? The great Gong Su-ji? She mocked herself inwardly, then met his eyes.
Black Johnson glared at Yoo Ji-hyuk with murderous intent. He didn't relax his arm, but he wasn't shoving her off either. He was holding onto his reason.
"Racial discrimination, I can't tolerate that, yo."
"Hiiik...!"
Black Johnson moved to hit Yoo Ji-hyuk. Yoo Ji-hyuk shielded his face with his arms and cowered. Seeing her fiancé so pathetically terrified, Gong Su-ji clicked her tongue.
'Can't get much lower than that.'
Gong Su-ji held onto Black Johnson and spoke.
"Johnson? Johnson from Class A, right?"
"Yeah, Black Johnson here. You're Gong Su-ji. Great duel today."
"Johnson, couldn't you forgive this guy just this once?"
In Gong Su-ji's eyes, Yoo Ji-hyuk was at fault. He never wasn't, so that's why she said it. Yoo Ji-hyuk shrieked like he was having a fit.
"Gong Su-ji! Why should that bastard forgive me? I never said I'd forgive him!"
"Shut up. You started picking a fight first, so Johnson's pissed."
She didn't know the full details. Soundproofing in the communion room was solid.
But Gong Su-ji had spent plenty of time with him. She'd seen Yoo Ji-hyuk long enough to figure his fault was bigger. She apologized to Black Johnson on his behalf.
"I can't tolerate baseless discrimination. But for Su-ji's sake, I'll forgive it."
"Su-ji? Su-ji?! Did that black bastard just call me Su-ji? This fucker...!"
The moment Yoo Ji-hyuk lunged in a frenzy, a whistle pierced the air. A teacher stood at the entrance to the cadet training grounds. Someone had noticed the commotion and called them over.
Gong Su-ji clutched her throbbing forehead and scowled. What could have ended as a scuffle between cadets was spiraling out of control.
"Y-You bastards!"
Kim Deok-hwan, the second-year homeroom teacher, rushed into the cadet training grounds in a panic. He saw Yoo Ji-hyuk's gang sprawled on the ground, bleeding.
Yoo Ji-hyuk's face was pale as a ghost. Kim Deok-hwan checked on him and snapped his head up. In his mind, Black Johnson was the perpetrator.
"You, what's your name?"
"...Black Johnson. Black Johnson Anaconda."
"Johnson! Why'd you hit Cadet Yoo Ji-hyuk?"
"I didn't hit him, yo."
"Gal!"
Kim Deok-hwan bellowed. The noise made Gong Su-ji frown.
Kim Deok-hwan shot Gong Su-ji a wary glance. Against scions of Korea's top families, a teacher's status meant nothing.
"Johnson, you bastard! You swung your fist, didn't you? Think you can get away with anything just 'cause you're a foreigner?"
"Umm..."
"Come with me!"
Kim Deok-hwan herded Black Johnson along. With his shaky Korean, Black Johnson couldn't defend himself and got cornered. Gong Su-ji tried to intervene.
"Teacher, Johnson did nothing wrong. The fault lies with them."
Gong Su-ji glared at Yoo Ji-hyuk. He bulged his eyes in disbelief. His own fiancée taking the side of some black guy she barely knew.
'That... that black bastard has to pay!'
While Yoo Ji-hyuk ground his teeth, Kim Deok-hwan looked between them and surveyed the scene.
Three bleeding cadets and one clueless black international student. Who to sacrifice was obvious.
'Why me, why here...!'
Being nearby was his mistake. The report had left out context. Like a shrimp caught in a whale fight, Kim Deok-hwan's head was exploding.
"...One-sided violence occurred. Punishment for Johnson is unavoidable."
Kim Deok-hwan delivered his verdict. Seeing it through without bowing to the Fanatic Cult was his best play. The cult was half-collapsed anyway, making it possible.
Even if Gong Su-ji argued, she couldn't overcome Yoo Ji-hyuk's influence. Her words would carry no weight in the disciplinary committee.
The Oseong House's power outstripped the Fanatic Cult's—that was his conclusion.
'...She values Yoo Ji-hyuk over me.'
Gong Su-ji couldn't really argue back. Yoo Ji-hyuk alone was nothing, but his family was untouchable. As heir to the Fanatic Cult, she'd gotten engaged precisely to forge ties with the Oseong House.
"It wasn't one-sided. Yoo Ji-hyuk picked the fight first."
"That's for the disciplinary committee to decide."
Kim Deok-hwan hardened his resolve. It was out of his hands now—punishing Black Johnson was right. Yoo Ji-hyuk's expression confirmed it.
"Haah..."
Gong Su-ji shot Yoo Ji-hyuk a piercing glare. Her usually clear, radiant beauty took on a sharper edge. He flinched but still thought she was stunning.
"I absolutely can't forgive this. Even if Su-ji begs me, no way. He needs to be punished. For daring to mock me. Can't just let it slide."
"Not begging."
Gong Su-ji gave up. Helping Black Johnson was impossible. Her own power was lacking, and the Fanatic Cult was weak.
The ordeal only steeled her resolve. She'd absorb the Oseong House's influence into the Fanatic Cult, make it hers. She could endure until then.
'Gotta apologize to Black Johnson later.'
She couldn't stand owing debts. She'd make proper amends to Black Johnson for the damage caused by her idiot fiancé. Hopefully, he wouldn't lump her in with the likes of Yoo Ji-hyuk.
"Come on."
"Yes, I did nothing wrong. Yoo Ji-hyuk started with the racist remarks, yo. I'm innocent."
Black Johnson protested as he followed Kim Deok-hwan. Yoo Ji-hyuk panted raggedly but smirked through it.
The next day, the disciplinary committee results came out fast. Yoo Ji-hyuk had pushed for a swift resolution.
Cutting out all context, Black Johnson was the violent one, making Yoo Ji-hyuk the pure victim. Sorry, Black Johnson, but...
The results were posted on the first-year hallway bulletin board in the Academy's main building. Black Johnson was disciplined—with the worst penalty: rank demotion.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Dokgo Hwaryeon stared at the bulletin board. She glared so hard it was like she thought she could change the outcome through sheer willpower.
"Johnson, what the hell is this? Sudden discipline?"
"It happened, Hwaryeon."
Not even long after enrollment, and already a first-year was getting disciplined. Yoo Ji-hyuk's involvement made it inevitable. If he wanted to win somehow like this, what could she say?
'Whatever, discipline's nothing.'
Ranks could be overturned anytime. Knowing the original plot made it meaningless. What mattered was Gong Su-ji's heart.
'She can't stand owing debts.'
This happened in the original too. Yoo Ji-hyuk beat up Lee Do-jun, and Gong Su-ji offered compensation, sparking their connection.
Now with discipline added, it guaranteed a link with Gong Su-ji. Bigger debt than the original. A heart debt, doubled down.
I was satisfied with that. I could feel it even now.
"Su-ji, I took care of that bastard. Tried to get him expelled from the Academy, but being an international student blocked that."
"...Shut your mouth, you're annoying."
"This is the power of my Oseong House. Marry me, have my kids, and it'll all be yours. Tempted?"
"..."
Gong Su-ji's gaze from behind. Even with the discipline, I felt great. Had to fight back a grin.