[45] There Are No Good Teams in the World [5]

There were times when the team members, including Lee Ji-han, would meet because their lectures overlapped.

However, they were unsure whether to greet each other or not due to the subtle distance between them—they knew each other's faces but weren't close.

So, before heading to courage training, the team members gathered to have a meeting among themselves.

"Alright, you ordered an Iced Americano, I got a Vanilla Latte, and over there is a Caramel Macchiato…"

Lee Ji-han arrived with both hands full of coffee.

He had pre-ordered the coffee and was waiting at the agreed meeting spot.

But why were two people missing?

He had definitely asked for their drink preferences.

"Huh? Are Yerin and Yeon-hwa not coming?"

"Didn't you see the chat? They said they couldn't make it because of scheduling conflicts."

"...Ah, right."

[Seo Yerin: I have an outdoor lecture, so I probably won't make it in time… Go ahead without me. 4:11 PM]

[Seong Yeon-hwa: Sorry, but I don't think I can make it today either! 4:15 PM]

Just because they're in the same grade doesn't mean everyone attends the same lectures.

The lecture schedule varies slightly depending on the class.

If I had known this would happen, they could've let me know earlier.

I just wasted money for nothing.

At least Seo Yerin asked for a relatively cheap hot chocolate, but Seong Yeon-hwa requested an expensive drink called an "Ice Strawberry Banana Double Shot Smoothie." What even is that?

Why is the name so long?

"This is such a waste. Can I get a refund?"

"A refund? You're not going to drink it?"

"Of course not. I'm fine with my Vanilla Latte."

"Then give it to me."

When Isis reached out her hand, Lee Ji-han hesitated for a moment before handing over the drink with the long name. It didn't seem like he could get a refund anyway, so it was fine if someone else drank it.

"You ordered a Caramel Macchiato too, isn't that too much to drink?"

"I can handle this much. I don't know about the calories, but I can definitely consume enough sugar."

"Isn't it more like consuming a lethal amount of sugar?"

Even as he said that, the drink was already in her hands.

Seeing her suck on the straw with all her might, as if someone might take it away, Lee Ji-han decided to stop thinking about it.

Fine, if you get diabetes, it's on you.

Leaving Isis behind with her hands full of sweet drinks, Lee Ji-han looked straight ahead. Noh Yura and Isabelle were sipping their drinks.

Both of them looked like they belonged in a photoshoot just by the way they drank their coffee.

But something about their atmosphere felt off.

It reminded him of the time with the teacher and Isabelle.

"So, what did you want to say to me?"

"Oh my, if someone overheard, they'd think I deliberately called you out. We're just friends hanging out."

Noh Yura approached Isabelle, who had spoken stiffly, with a friendly demeanor.

But somehow, that friendly attitude only gave off an ominous vibe.

"Ha, friends? After you picked a fight with me over chat yesterday?"

"A fight? I don't think you'll find anything like that if you check the chat."

"Not the group chat, the private one. You told me to stay away from that guy. Why do you think you can decide that for me?"

"Ah, you're talking about the teaching assistant."

Lee Ji-han felt a chill in the air as he listened to their conversation.

Even though there were no sharp objects around, their words felt like cold blades.

Ugh, I can't just jump into this conversation.

"Yeah, why do you keep associating me with that guy?"

"...That guy?"

Noh Yura suddenly glared coldly at Isabelle.

Then she covered her mouth with her sleeve and chuckled.

"Oh my, you keep calling the teaching assistant 'that guy.' Did Sirius not teach you any manners?"

"What did you say?"

"Just wondering. Do you still have feelings for the teaching assistant? Is that why you're acting so prickly? Do you want him to notice you again?"

"Are you crazy?! Why would I have feelings for that guy...?"

The tension was rising.

Startled, Lee Ji-han opened his mouth to intervene.

"Hey, let's calm down a bit. You're bothering other people..."

"Stay out of this."

"We're in the middle of a conversation here."

"...Sorry."

Lee Ji-han shut his mouth without getting a single word in properly.

A familiar face popped into his mind.

'I miss the teacher...'

Lee Ji-han stared blankly at the sky, caught between the two girls' intense energy.

Even though they were inside a café, with no blue sky or twinkling stars, he just looked up at the ceiling.

At first, it was nice being sandwiched between the girls, but now he really hated it.

Meanwhile, there was one more person silently observing the whole situation.

"Oh..."

Isis, who was munching on her Ice Strawberry Banana Double Shot Smoothie, let out an involuntary exclamation.

"This is delicious."

The team's internal conflict didn't concern her.

Lost in the complex flavor of tangy strawberries, smooth bananas, and a bitter aftertaste, she sucked on her straw.

Lee Ji-han was in a tough spot.

He really wanted to see Baek Seung-woo.

At least if the teacher were here, things wouldn't be this difficult.

What could he be doing right now?

The question suddenly crossed his mind.

***

That night, I was determined to uncover the truth behind the ghost stories.

Since I didn't have time to read the magic book tonight, I was splitting my work time into minute increments.

Let's see.

'In 12 minutes, I'll finish the report, use the remaining 8 minutes to read pages 87 to 102, print the report, and take it to the professor's lab...'

After reviewing my rough schedule, I immediately started typing away.

I skimmed through various files and organized the data coherently.

By the time I felt a pain in my fingers, I had completed the report.

I transferred the finished report to a USB and started printing.

The printer whirred noisily as it printed the report onto A4 paper.

Since there were more than a few pages to print, I started reading the magic book I had photographed earlier on my phone.

There was no time to carry around bulky books in the faculty office.

"How did my life end up like this..."

I sighed in despair.

Even as I lamented, my eyes were scanning through the magic book saved in my gallery.

I could despair and be pessimistic, but I couldn't waste the time I had to read.

Perhaps it was the mindset of someone who used time like a knife, something a normal person wouldn't have.

Before I knew it, I looked like a tired graduate student.

Even in that state, Nam Hwa-yeon complimented me, saying I had a decadent charm.

But if someone fell for me in this state, they must have some kind of sexual deviancy.

'What if they see me and think I'm a ghost?'

The thought suddenly crossed my mind, and even as I read the magic book, I checked my reflection in the camera app.

Pale skin, ruby-red eyes, and black hair.

My exhausted appearance had a certain aesthetic, but it could easily be mistaken for a ghost.

Oh well.

I'll have to eat and take a 30-minute nap before meeting the students.

As I planned my additional schedule, I quickly moved my eyes to finish reading the magic book on time.

Beep! Beep!

Just as I finished reading the assigned pages, the printing was done.

Now, I just had to deliver this to the professor.

I put my phone in my pocket and picked up the stack of documents.

"This is heavier than I thought...!"

Maybe because it was over a hundred pages.

The documents were much heavier than I expected.

So much so that my legs might give out and I could fall—

—Thud!

"...Huh?"

Did I just fall?

Why couldn't I keep my balance?

No matter how tired or heavy the load, I shouldn't have suddenly become so weak that I'd fall.

"A-Are you okay...?!"

"Haha, I'm fine. I must've tripped by mistake."

"But you fell pretty hard..."

Because I fell so dramatically in the faculty office, some of the teaching assistants couldn't help but laugh at my appearance.

The others were trying hard not to laugh, not wanting to catch my attention.

Only the woman in front of me was genuinely concerned.

Ah, she was that junior I saw before.

Someone I remembered.

A few days ago, she had asked me for help with some work.

I hadn't seen her since she got scolded by the senior. I didn't expect to meet her like this.

Just as I was about to thank her for her genuine concern—

That's when it happened.

Ugh!

A strange sensation in my throat.

I felt like vomiting, but I couldn't do it here.

At least I had to make it to the restroom...!

"Ugh! Ugh!"

I desperately ran to the restroom.

But maybe because my legs gave out, running wasn't as smooth as I hoped.

I ended up collapsing on the floor and vomiting whatever was stuck in my throat.

What is this? I definitely had breakfast this morning.

For the past few days, I hadn't had a proper meal due to work and training.

Yet, I was vomiting something from my throat and stomach.

Tears streamed down my face, and my breathing became ragged.

Something strange caught my eye.

"Ugh... what is this?"

There were no food remnants on the floor.

The vomit was filled with acidic stomach fluids and dark red blood, like burnt charcoal.

I gasped for air, feeling a sudden lack of oxygen, and tried to stay calm.

"..."

The amount of blood I vomited was more than I expected.

Was this a normal case of hemoptysis?

No, the blood was too dark for that.

There were no organ fragments or debris, so it wasn't damage to my internal organs.

Then why did I vomit this dark red blood?

Questions swirled in my mind.

'Like burnt charcoal, dark red...'

I wiped the blood on the floor with my hand.

Then I felt a burning sensation on my hand.

At that moment, I suddenly understood the situation.

"...Was it a time bomb?"

My blood is filled with yang energy due to the "Solar Severed Meridian."

Because of this, I have an incredible affinity for fire magic.

My body is essentially like a giant piece of firewood. It's only natural.

In exchange, my blood has less capacity to carry oxygen, and I suffer from the side effect of not being able to enhance my physical abilities.

Or so I had thought until now.

But I was wrong.

"The stagnation of physical abilities isn't the problem."

[You are the owner of the Solar Severed Meridian, an incurable disease where the meridians are blocked and twisted due to an overwhelming amount of yang energy. All physical abilities are restricted, and you cannot reach a certain level of power. If left untreated, it will lead to fatal consequences.]

[The fine meridians are gradually being blocked! If the fine meridians are completely blocked, the yang energy that cannot escape through the meridians will explode from within.]

'If left untreated, it will lead to fatal consequences. And it will explode from within...? This is bad, really bad.'

A terrifying message that hadn't appeared before was now added.

The restriction on physical abilities was nothing compared to this.

This is a big problem.

"I need to figure out a way to treat this body."

Even the Elixir, which claims to cure all diseases as long as you're not dead, couldn't do anything about the "Solar Severed Meridian."

There's no other method.

The only thing that comes to mind is the simple thought that if the disease is caused by yang energy, then perhaps yin energy could neutralize it.

Yin-infused food or internal elixirs can be bought with money, but an incurable disease is incurable for a reason.

A strong dose of yin energy might work as a temporary solution.

But curing the disease itself is impossible.

"...Still, I have no choice but to find a way."

Otherwise, I'll either be stabbed to death by the protagonist.

Or I'll die from illness before even reaching the mid-boss or final boss.

***

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