"Have you arrived?"
In front of Cheondo were the remnants of the morning's meal that hadn't been cleaned up. Shiba usually left some food behind, which I typically took care of, but sometimes Cheondo, who woke up early, got to it first.
"I've prepared a separate portion for you, Master. You should eat that."
"Isn't it a waste to throw the leftovers away? This way feels more comfortable."
I sat down opposite Cheondo.
Cheondo closed the magazine she was reading and placed it on the table. She then scanned me with her typically sharp gaze.
"…You seem quite different. What happened?"
Eventually, she asked.
'As expected, she's the first to ask.'
I thought Cheondo, with her keen eyes, would be the first to notice. She always understood my changes the best.
"Have I changed?"
"I never taught you how to conceal your magic power."
"Oh, that… I tried to emulate you a bit and trained during the retreat."
I feigned ignorance.
I tried to keep my face as impassive as possible, mixing in a sly smile with exaggerated gestures, causing Cheondo to furrow her brows.
"Are you even trying to deceive your master now?"
"..."
"The nature of your magic power also seems different. It feels like you've easily surpassed one… no, two barriers. Are you still going to deny it?"
"Well, that might be the case."
"…So- No. Never mind."
Cheondo tried to continue speaking but suddenly stopped herself.
Then she irritably furrowed her brows and massaged her temples.
"…I'm sorry. I've suddenly become sensitive."
I hadn't expected an apology.
"I don't know… Since yesterday. Whenever I see you, I get a strange feeling."
"What?"
"You and Hwangdo are in that… that sort of relationship, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
I nodded, and Cheondo pressed her temples as if experiencing a headache.
"Take good care of her. She's been through a lot."
"Yes. Hwangdo, as well as you, Master."
"…Why bring up my story all of a sudden?"
I quietly observed Cheondo.
Listening to her own story, she wore a puzzled expression on her pretty, well-formed face.
'Looking at you now, you really have grown up well.'
Despite our age difference, it felt like I was the older one. I softly uttered her title.
"Master."
"Hmm?"
Cheondo. She was today's Cheondo.
In the future, she would be a tremendous help in changing my destiny.
Her skills are undoubtedly superior, recognized immediately after seeing my changes.
If I told her the truth, she would support me.
'But.'
I paused to think.
Would she believe me if I spoke of the past? It's not just a simple question.
'There's something I still don't know.'
The curse of the World Tree engraved on Cheondo's body.
I didn't fully understand its nature, but it was clear that the World Trees had embedded a will to prevent themselves from being antagonized.
Even if she's someone I truly wanted to trust, there were still things I didn't know about her.
Contrary to Cheondo's will, she might be interfered with from somewhere.
That's why I decided to simply request cooperation from Hwangdo rather than telling her the whole story.
'If possible… I wanted to tell the truth to the Master and ask for her cooperation.'
Unless Cheondo could control the curse, I couldn't disclose my objectives.
Even I was branded as a potential husband for the World Tree, and unknowingly, information leaked out. How much more for others?
"Why do you stop talking?"
I held back the words that were about to spill out.
There's still time.
"No. You just look beautiful today."
"…Didn't you say you had a girlfriend?"
"Keuheuheu."
I smiled and pulled out a ring case from within my jacket.
Wondering if this ring, received from Cheondo, might hold some clue.
With that half-hope, I took out the ring case and opened it right in front of her.
"Do you know what this is?"
The ring still glowed pink, unwilted like a peach blossom.
Cheondo slowly furrowed her brows as soon as she saw the case.
"Isn't it a flower?"
A story like in movies or comics, where an object from the past triggered memories.
I had hoped, as Baekyang described the ring as a 'celebration,' but feeling betrayed by my excited emotions, I couldn't hide my disappointment.
"Yes, it's a flower ring. Just made by weaving flowers together."
I closed the ring case and handed it back to Cheondo.
"It's a gift."
"…For me?"
"Yes. They were selling them in Japan. Keep it as a reminder while I'm away."
Cheondo blinked and took the ring case with a stunned look, caressing it with her index finger. A faint smile crossed her face.
"Well, thank you."
It seemed to be her first gift from a student, as Cheondo slowly blushed.
Such a cute master, unable to hide her joy from such a gift.
'…Living like this, reading facial expressions has become my specialty.'
Sansuyu, Hongyeon, Lee Seyeong, Cheondo, and Baekdo.
They were famous for not showing their emotions on their faces.
Starting with Sansuyu, trying to communicate has inevitably sharpened my observational skills.
-Woong!
At that moment, a vibrating sound came from my pocket.
I took out my phone and looked at the screen.
-Jin Dallae: Can you see me now?
-Jin Dallae: A bit… wet.
"Who is it?"
"…No, just. Unlike you, Master, there's someone who's oddly honest."
I'd make time for them later.
I lightly pressed the power button on my phone and looked back at Cheondo.
Cheondo was still fondly handling the flower ring I had given her.
"It's fascinating."
"Huh?"
"…This method of tying is inefficient, so I'm the only one who uses it."
"Oh!"
That's right.
"I didn't think there was someone else who used this method."
"Ah…"
…That's not right.
Cheondo tucked the ring case into her chest with a bitter smile.
"Thank you. It's been a while since I reminisced about the old days."
"Is that so?"
"I'll be able to tell you about my changes… someday, right?"
"Of course. What couldn't I tell you then?"
Cheondo smiled.
"Please."
She still looked at me with the worried expression of a master watching her immature student.
"Alright, kids. Ready to prepare for the talent show?"
"Yes!"
Kindergarten teacher Shin Hye-young clapped her hands, and the kindergarteners cheerfully began to gather their instruments.
A kindergarten talent show.
An event eagerly awaited by the parents, and thus, one that requires extra effort to prepare.
Hye-young gently stroked Shiba's head, which was snugly against her calf.
"Should Shiba go too?"
"…Beep."
A child who still couldn't speak well. Shin Hye-young looked at Shiba but couldn't muster a genuine smile.
'…She's really cute though.'
If only she could speak well, how lovely would that be?
Hearing 'Teacher' from Shiba was the dream of novice teacher Shin Hye-young.
Shiba was popular enough in kindergarten to make talking painful.
Whether playing with clay or drawing, there were always kids around Shiba.
When Shiba's name came up, eight out of ten boys would blush.
-What do you think about Shiba?
-Uh, um, yes. I like Shiba.
Of course, Shiba seemed completely uninterested in that sort of attention… Nevertheless, she remained the kindergarten's idol, stealing the hearts of the boys.
'I must teach her well.'
Having graduated in early childhood education, Shin Hye-young had always wanted to teach children from a very young age.
She lifted Shiba, who was gripping her stockings tightly enough to stretch them.
"Beep?"
"Let's go~"
Seeing Shiba's cute face brought a smirk to her face.
'Hehe.'
At the top of the podium, where the large drum was placed, she handed the drumsticks to Shiba, who excitedly waved them around.
"Oh, how adorable."
As a fellow teacher laughed at this sight, Shin Hye-young cheerfully waved her arms up and down.
"Right! Watching our kids really makes it all worthwhile."
"Uh, yes? Oh, right…"
Unlike Shin Hye-young, who was new to the job, other teachers, well-acquainted with the challenging aspects of little children, gave a wry smile.
"How long do you think you'll feel that way, Hye-young?"
"I give it two months."
"Kekkek."
It was a teasing conversation among colleagues, not meant to be taken seriously.
Even they didn't truly dislike the children.
Should there be a fire, everyone would roll up their sleeves to save the kids. That level of affection was common.
But… one didn't know the true nature of these little devils until they saw it firsthand.
These kids could exhaust anyone with their relentless energy and sharp minds!
Of course, Shin Hye-young hadn't yet witnessed this side.
To Hye-young, the children were like chicks that would still chirp 'Teacher!' as they followed her around, even as they grew older.
"But Shiba is really well-behaved."
"Right? She's been very quiet after settling in…"
"Her name is… uh, a bit unusual though."
All the teachers nodded in agreement.
Shiba's nametag on her chest read: Girin Class Shiba.
Her father seemed quite handsome too… but seemed to lack a sense of naming.
"Have you seen Shiba's father?"
"Ah, yes. Did she cause any trouble? He looks so young… to already have such a daughter."
"There's talk he's a rich man's son."
Only those in the know were aware of Lee Shiheon's existence.
He was quite handsome and respectable.
Yet, because he was very young, he often became a topic of conversation among the kindergarten teachers.
Shin Hye-young sighed at their gossip and gestured with her hand.
"Kids~ shall we start?"
"Yes~!"
All the kindergarteners shouted.
Some played with their instruments as toys, but once the song started, they all gripped their instruments tightly, tensed up.
-Da-ran da-ran ran!
Soon, a children's song blared from the speakers, and Shiba raised her stick over her head.
-Let the big drum resound, boom boom boom!
The stick moved up and down dramatically.
-Boom! Boom!
The children, curious about how their actions produced sound, did not lose their smiles while playing.
This was true for Shiba too.
"Beep, beep~ beep~"
Three times on the big drum.
The robust sound of the drum filled the kindergarten.
Cheondo said she had things to do and left. Left alone in the dormitory, I casually finished some chores before leaving my room.
-Thump thump.
Before heading out to meet Shiba.
I knocked on the door of the dorm room where Jin Dallae lived.
Although it was against the academy dormitory rules for men to enter women's rooms, a few young professors quietly allowed it.
Was it flexibility? Or just a clumsy rule?
It wasn't even a few seconds before Jin Dallae opened the door with a bright smile.
"Did you come… for you?"
Dressed in pink cotton underwear, Jin Dallae quickly glanced around while holding the doorknob and blushed.
Her hips swayed lightly. She rubbed her thighs together as if she was in a hurry.
Dallae reached out her delicate arm and pulled me in by my wrist, smiling innocently as if asking when she had lost her innocence.
"Have you eaten?"
"Just some leftovers from Shiba."
"…Can you eat more?"
While snuggling her face against my shoulder with affectionate eyes and arms crossed.
With a voice steeped in coquettishness, the door to the dorm room closed.
There was a thin liquid on the corner of the shoe rack, but I deliberately ignored it.
Led by Jin Dallae's hand, we arrived at the dorm kitchen, a setup I knew well.
Unlike my room, the tidiness of her place guaranteed Jin Dallae's personality.
On the table, a true feast was spread out.
Dishes that a student with several years of living alone could only dream of!
"Let's eat together. I made it myself but I'm not sure if it'll suit your taste."
"…Yeah, okay."
Jin Dallae's eyes, puckering up in a smile, radiated a type of affection and obsession distinct from that of Seyeong.