Awkward Conversation with Jieun

When the elevator reached the first floor, Minwoo's heart was beating rapidly. His conversation with the Dean had lightened his heart considerably, but the thought of facing his colleagues made him nervous again.

Especially Jieun.

"Go and talk to her," the Nameless Sword gently patted Minwoo's shoulder. "If you speak sincerely, she'll understand."

Minwoo took a deep breath and headed toward the main building lobby. Since it was still early morning, there were hardly any students around, and Kim Cheolsu, Park Sora, Yoon Seongmin, and Jieun were sitting on a sofa in one corner of the lobby.

"Minwoo!" Kim Cheolsu was the first to stand up and rush over. "Where have you been? We were so worried about you!"

"I'm sorry, senior," Minwoo bowed his head. "I needed some time alone to think..."

Park Sora and Yoon Seongmin also approached and surrounded Minwoo. But only Jieun remained sitting on the sofa. She was looking at Minwoo, but her eyes seemed complicated.

"Let's all sit down first," the Nameless Sword said. "We have a lot to discuss."

The Dean briefly explained the situation. The agreement with the Purification Alliance, the truth about the school, and the training plans going forward. After hearing the entire story, his colleagues' expressions were a mixture of surprise and relief.

"So we're safe now?" Park Sora asked.

"At least within the school, yes," the Dean replied. "But Minwoo will need to undergo special training going forward."

"Is there anything I can help with?" Kim Cheolsu asked eagerly.

"Of course. Your support and encouragement will be the most important medicine."

After talking for a while, the Dean left. The other colleagues also began to leave one by one as they had their own schedules.

"Minwoo, see you later in the research lab," Kim Cheolsu said lastly before leaving.

Now only Minwoo and Jieun remained in the lobby.

An awkward silence stretched on for a while. Jieun was still looking at Minwoo, but she didn't speak first.

"Jieun..." Minwoo carefully opened his mouth.

"Yeah." Jieun's response was short.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

Minwoo carefully sat down next to Jieun. He felt her flinch, but fortunately, she didn't move away.

"You were scared, weren't you?" Minwoo asked in a small voice.

Jieun didn't answer for a long time. Then she slowly nodded.

"I was scared," Jieun's voice was also small. "Really scared."

Minwoo's heart stung.

"You... seemed like a completely different person," Jieun continued. "Your voice, expression, eyes... everything seemed like someone else."

"I'm sorry... really sorry."

"Especially the way you looked at me..." Jieun's voice trembled. "As if I were some kind of bug, looking at me so coldly."

Minwoo was at a loss for words. The memories of when the Mugeukja consciousness had awakened were gradually returning. How cruel and cold he had been.

"But..." Jieun looked at Minwoo. "I knew it was still you."

"What?"

"It was a scary appearance, but it was still you. The real you, I mean."

Minwoo couldn't understand. "What do you mean? I became a completely different person..."

"No," Jieun shook her head. "I thought about it. Why you changed like that."

Jieun turned her body toward Minwoo.

"You did it to protect us, didn't you? Because there was no other way, you used that dangerous power."

"But in the process, I..."

"Yes, I was scared," Jieun honestly admitted. "But at the same time, I was grateful."

"Grateful?"

"You saved us while accepting such a terrifying transformation. Even though you didn't know what would happen to yourself."

Tears formed in Jieun's eyes.

"I... don't have that kind of courage. If I were in that situation, I would have run away."

"Jieun..."

"So I was scared but also proud at the same time," Jieun wiped her tears. "Strange, isn't it? Being scared and proud at the same time."

Minwoo felt his heart swell at Jieun's words. To think that she would understand him like this.

"But from now on..." Minwoo said with determination. "Nothing like that will ever happen again. I'll learn properly from the Dean, and I'll completely control the Mugeukja consciousness."

"Promise?" Jieun held out her pinky finger.

"Promise." Minwoo also hooked his pinky finger.

The two stayed like that for a moment with their fingers linked. Then Jieun suddenly burst into laughter.

"What? Why are you laughing?"

"Don't we look totally like kids?" Jieun said, shaking their pinky fingers. "College students making promises with pinky fingers."

Minwoo laughed along. They really did look like little children.

"But you know..." Jieun said as she let go of his finger. "I kept thinking by myself."

"About what?"

"We... seem to have become a really special relationship now."

Minwoo's heart began to race. "Special relationship?"

"Yeah. We're people who know huge secrets together that others don't know," Jieun's voice seemed a bit shy. "Being a descendant of Mugeukja, the school's real identity, combining defective martial arts..."

"They're dangerous secrets."

"That's what makes them more special," Jieun looked at Minwoo. "It's like our own world."

[Relationship Status Analysis]

Minwoo ↔ Jieun

Trust Level: 85% → 94% (Sharp increase)

Intimacy Level: 67% → 78%

New Relationship Type: Destiny Community

Romance Progress: 42% → 61% (+19%)

Special Effect: 'True Understanding' buff acquired

Minwoo deeply empathized with Jieun's words. It really was their own special world. A secret they couldn't share with anyone else.

"But Jieun," Minwoo asked carefully. "Aren't you scared? Being with me might put you in danger."

Jieun thought for a moment, then shook her head.

"I am scared. But..." Jieun looked straight into Minwoo's eyes. "I think I'd be more scared if I were alone."

"What would you be scared of?"

"That you might change like that again without me knowing."

Jieun's words hit the mark. If she wasn't by his side, if she couldn't see what was happening to him, that would be even more frightening.

"So..." Jieun continued, "I want to stay by your side. Even if it's dangerous, even if it's scary. Because that way, at least I'll know what's happening."

Minwoo felt a warm feeling spread through his chest. Her words were simple, but they contained so much meaning.

"Thank you," Minwoo said sincerely. "Really, thank you."

"For what?"

"For understanding me. For not running away."

Jieun smiled softly. "We're partners, aren't we? Partners don't abandon each other."

The morning sunlight streaming through the lobby windows seemed to bless their conversation. What had started as an awkward and painful talk had transformed into something that made their bond even stronger.

"Come on," Jieun stood up first. "Let's go to the research lab. The others are probably waiting."

"Yeah," Minwoo also stood up, feeling much lighter.

As they walked toward the research lab together, Minwoo realized that the crisis they had overcome had actually brought them closer. Sometimes, it took going through darkness to truly appreciate the light.

And Jieun was definitely a bright light in his life.

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