Wei Yan checked the list one more time.
There had been twelve candidates who passed the first audition and yet there were 13 names written on the list. When he slowly looked through the list of participants, a name entered his sight.
“Yu Kaeul…”
It was a familiar name and after looking it up, he realised that she was Yu Yeorum’s sister.
His expression crumpled viciously in an instant.
Yu Yeorum – it was an unpleasant name. If he had brought her into the Azure Dragon study group, it would have been the best possible case scenario. He had the confidence to raise her to be a top level cadet with full support both materially and spiritually.
And yet Yeorum badmouthed him with vulgar words and walked away.
After that, it was even worse.
Others spent tons of money or would treat some people with drinks to leave one line with their name on the media. However, Yu Yeorum spouted vulgar words to the reporters that came looking for her and disappeared as if she had no interest in such things – as if such things were worthless. For Wei Yan who lived while being immersed in the powers of the masses and the media, it was a fairly offensive attitude.
Not even realising that it’s an opportunity, and that it was something to be grateful for.
An immature red-haired kid…
The problem was that Yu Kaeul was Yu Yeorum’s sister. According to her profile, she was a blonde and was likewise so pretty that it aroused his greed. Just having her inside the study group would definitely get more spotlights from the media.
How did a child like this suddenly come in though?
“Producer Ha, it’s me.”
In curiosity, Wei Yan called Producer Ha Junsoo.
“There was a name I was seeing for the first time, you see.”
– Yes. You mean Cadet Yu Kaeul right?
The response came back immediately, as if he had been expecting it.
“Yes. It was a little baffling. She didn’t go through the audition like others so how did this friend come in?”
– I put her in.
“…What would that mean? There’s no way our straightforward producer got a heavier pocket or something right? Haha.”
– There must be some sort of reason right? Why are you curious about that?
His voice seemed to be drawing a line between them.
– I hope that cleared up your curiosity a little. Please don’t call me until the audition ends.
With those final words, Ha Junsoo hung up.
‘This impertinent…’
Anger soared up from the depths of his body. It heated up his stomach and rose up till it filled up his head.
It was when Wei Yan’s eyebrows were constantly twitching.
“Is anything wrong, professor?”
A cadet with black hair, wearing a uniform which was readjusted to have a lot of exposure on her own accord. When she, Gong Juhee, started a conversation with him, Wei Yan immediately flipped his expression and made a bright smile.
“Oh? Juhee, you came. It’s nothing. More importantly, did you see Alexey?”
“Of course.”
Alexey was the main declarer of last year’s entrance ceremony. Wei Yan had spent a tremendous amount of money to arrange a meeting with Gong Juhee through Alexey’s manager. However, Gong Juhee made a sneer after remembering back on the meeting.
“Well, it wasn’t much.”
“Really?”
“He told me to scream like a warrior but it didn’t really come across to me. All he had was a big body and a loud voice. Nothing but a bubble, in other words.”
“Mhmm, really? Even then, there should be some things to take in. Last year, there were also lots of amazing cadets and yet he was the one that made it through and stood on the stage. It would be beneficial to learn those emotions from him.”
In Russia, there was an assassin group of boys called ‘Xivian’ and Alexey was from that place. Ever since a young age, he had to step on top of the dead bodies of others to rise to the top.
“I don’t think there’s a need to. Is there anything I am lacking?”
With a confident voice, Gong Juhee laughed.
A renowned swordsmanship household – the Gong family was one of the top three famous households in Korea in terms of swordplay. Gong Juhee, who grew up while competing against countless brothers and sisters of the direct and the subsidiary descendents, had lots of faces.
“I received the best evaluation in the first audition as well right? Even if those guys come out again, they are all going to be at the same level. It’s like children playing around so why would I get nervous?”
“Right. This professor only believes in you, Juhee.”
“After the audition ends, just push the PR team to a corner please.”
“Of course.”
Wei Yan made eye contact with Gong Juhee’s guardian standing in the distance.
Thirteen was too much, but two or three were bound to give up on the audition themselves. As long as they had money, finding flaws and dirty rumours of others wasn’t even considered a task.
Receiving his gaze, the guardian returned a nod, signalling that things were going smoothly on their front as well. Seeing that, Wei Yan finally became at ease and turned around.
Last year, he had been exceptionally frustrated after missing out on the opportunity, but this year was different. Wei Yan decided to not worry about the means, whatever they may be, until the very end.
Now, until the day of the final audition,
There was only one day left.
***
Munch. Munch.
Gyeoul bit into the raw chestnut.
It was only possible because she was a dragon, despite being in the form of a human. Just like how squirrels ate acorns, she meticulously gnawed at the chestnut.
“Is it good?”
When Bom asked, Gyeoul threw a furtive glance to the side. Her glance ended up at the kitchen, where Yu Jitae, Yeorum and Kaeul were at. Fortunately, Yu Jitae wasn’t looking at herself so Gyeoul turned to Bom and slowly shook her head.
A raw chestnut wasn’t very nice.
Even then, she nibbled on the remaining chestnut.
“…”
Standing still like a statue, the protector quietly observed that scene. Bom did not even give it a glance but the protector was satisfied by merely watching.
– Ding Dong.
– Delivery!
Today’s dinner menu was jokbal.
Yeorum, Kaeul and Yu Jitae were sitting down in the dining room, eating their shares. Its brown, shiny appearance reminding others of puddings supplemented the deep smell of pork and the salty yet sweet scent of the sauce. Yeorum was holding and chewing on a large bone but would occasionally look at her side with a frown.
At the end of her gaze was Kaeul, trembling her fingers while holding a pair of chopsticks.
“Oi.”
“N, nn?”
“What are you doing?”
“What? W, what do you mean?”
“…”
Since last night, Kaeul’s situation was gradually turning for the worse. When Yu Jitae asked her why, a response “Me? I am normal though?” came back, and when translated, it meant that she was nervous just like how she had been for the admission interview.
However, this time, her nervousness appeared slightly worse than last time.
Drop.
The meat fell on the table and Kaeul tried to grab it again with the chopsticks but couldn’t hold a tight grip on it.
Drop.
It fell yet again.
“Aoh, this freakin.”
Yeorum bursted out in anger.
“Stop fucking around and eat with your damn hands!”
“Nn? Why?! I want to use chopsticks as well!”
After letting out a yell, Kaeul cautiously moved her fingers but the trembling did not stop. The piece of meat which travelled right up to her nose then fell around her chest area.
“Uah, my clothes! These are expensive!”
Startled, she agitatedly rose up and reached out for the tissues. However, perhaps due to twisting her foot against her own leg, she stepped on Yeorum’s foot before floundering her arms and shouting “Mummy!”. She hastily held the table next to her but ended up pressing on a side of a plate holding fermented slices of radish, which according to the laws of physics, ended up flying into the air.
The destination of the flying radish slices was Yeorum’s chin, but with her good reflexes, Yeorum dodged them with leisure.
“What a damn fiesta.”
“Uuh… Sorry. That was an accident…”
“Stop fucking around and sit down, before I actually get angry.”
“…”
Yu Jitae quietly placed a piece of meat into his mouth.
It was then.
One of the radish slices that had soared into the skies had been stuck on the bulb but it started falling down after every other piece had already done so. It was a perfect surprise attack as the piece of radish fell on Yeorum’s red hair.
Her hands holding the bone came to a stop.
“…”
Drop. Drop.
Following that was the sauce. It travelled down her forehead and rode down the bridge of the nose.
In that instant, Kaeul shot out of her seat in fright.
“Yu Kaeul.”
A deep, sunken voice escaped and Kaeul felt goosebumps rising all over her skin.
“N, nn…? I’m sorry unni…”
With an indifferent look on her face, Yeorum twitched her fingers and gestured to come closer.
“S, sorry. I’m sorry unni! It was an accident! S, save me!”
“…”
“M, m, muummm…!”
Kaeul escaped. And three seconds later, she was held captive near the shoe racks as she became a target of an arm bar technique. She resisted as much as she could while crying out “Uang!” but ended up on the ground with her head digging into the shoes.
Sitting down on her back, Yeorum opened her mouth.
“Oi, are you scared? Look at you trembling.”
“Uuh…”
“Why would you be scared? Why nervous? You are going to fail anyways.”
Although unknown whether her words were to abuse or to console, her words nonetheless continued for quite some time.
Meanwhile, Yu Jitae felt a slight doubt.
After syncing with his memories and emotions, Kaeul definitely had changed. Ahn Kimo, the owner of the public speech academy, changing his evaluations was enough of a proof. After seeing Kaeul, he asked, “But how did this happen?” and was visibly surprised. Even Yu Jitae who was clueless about public speeches also felt a previously nonexistent charisma existing inside Kaeul.
Naturally, he thought she would be happy but that wasn’t the case. On the way back from the lesson, she complained to Yu Jitae, in nervousness, that she couldn’t synchronise herself with Yu Jitae. He thought she was doing a good job but in response to his words, the baby chicken merely responded by saying, “This isn’t it though…” and tilted her head.
It was questionable for him.
If need be, Yu Jitae had been planning to reduce the number of contestants through other methods but when he asked Bom regarding it, she replied by saying that it would have negative results in the long run. Since it was a result that came from reading Providence, Yu Jitae decided to take her words in.
That seemed impossible so everything was now in Kaeul’s hands.
Tomorrow, would she be able to pull it off?
*
Kaeul most likely was extremely anxious. She was murmuring to herself despite the clock hitting past midnight before suddenly turning quiet.
Yu Jitae closed his ears immediately after and was in the middle of spending another sleepless night.
With a creak, the door was pushed open in darkness and he opened his eyes.
“Ahjussi…”
“…”
“Can I come in?”
It was Kaeul.
“Come in.”
After giving a nod, she stealthily entered his room.
“Why.”
“That, the… umm, it’s… uhh…”
She hesitated and was unable to continue her words but soon closed her mouth shut. Then, she opened her mouth with a sigh.
“I’m nervous, by a liiittle bit.”
“About not making it past the audition?”
“No, no, no. Failing is okay but…”
“Then what.”
“…I’m worried about making a mistake because of nervousness. If I can’t even perform like my practices…”
Her voice was soft, as if it was crawling on the ground.
“Is there anything difficult?”
“…Yes. I can’t fully understand the emotions yet. No, instead it feels like I lost it after grabbing it once. I definitely knew it but…”
As expected, it was the most difficult part that was proving to be a problem.
After some contemplation, Yu Jitae called her closer in.
“Come here.”
She slowly walked closer. As moonlight entered through the window, Kaeul’s endlessly quivering fingertips received the spotlight. And when she approached a step further in, a serious expression which had never been seen before entered his sight.
“Do you want to hear it one more time? The story of that friend.”
“…..Yes.”
Yu Jitae tapped the empty spot on top of the bed with his hand.
She walked up and lied down on the bed next to him, and with trembling hands, she carefully held onto his wrist. Closing his eyes, the Regressor once again reflected back on the memories of the distant past and until daybreak, he continued telling her the story.
And when day finally approached,
Her hands were no longer trembling.