The next day after we were set to return to the human world, I planned to just say a quick goodbye before leaving. But somehow news of our departure had spread throughout the village, and when we went to the road to board our vehicle, it was crowded with people who had come to see us off.

"Are you leaving, Benefactor? Aren't you going to live here?"

"Benefactor! Don't go, stay here with us! I'll treat you well!"

Some of the Dragon Blood Clan members had grown attached to us after just a few days and were asking us not to leave.

"Goodbye! Grandmother! Benefactor!"

"Goodbye, Grandmother! Goodbye, Lee Hui-hyeon! Let's meet again!"

Others were simply saying their farewells.

But these people kept calling me grandmother because of my hair color...

Ganami, who was standing behind them, spoke apologetically.

"I'm so sorry about this, Benefactor Ye-a! O Ha-ri! Susu-dori! I told you Benefactor Ye-a is not a grandmother!"

"Aaaack! I'm sorry!"

"My! My ears hurt so much!"

"I told you to apologize to Benefactor Ye-a!"

"Aaaack! We're sorryyyy!"

"We're sorryyyy!"

I was watching with satisfaction as Ganami pulled the ears of the two Dragon Blood Clan members who had called me grandmother. Meanwhile, Hanai, the real culprit behind me being called grandmother, spoke to me.

"I apologize, Benefactor Ye-a. The children really wanted to see you off."

"It's fine. I'm grateful that everyone came to see us off."

As I smiled at Hanai, Hui-hyeon bowed to both Hanai and Ganami.

"Thank you for taking care of us these past few days."

"Not at all. We're the ones who should be grateful. Thank you, Benefactor."

When Hanai bowed her head, the Dragon Blood Clan members behind her started offering their own farewells.

"You have to come back again!"

"Thank you for helping us!"

"Benefactor! Safe travels!"

"By the way, where is Yu Ji-a?"

"Huh? She was with us in the village..."

"Yu Ji-a!"

When one of the Dragon Blood Clan members called out her name, the others started calling for Yu Ji-a as well.

Seriously, this isn't a kindergarten where we're looking for a lost child.

She won't be able to hear us from the road.

Just as I was about to stop them, I saw Yu Ji-a running toward us from a distance.

"Baek...! No, Ye-a! Lee Hui-hyeon!"

Yu Ji-a, carrying something in her arms, stopped in front of us and smiled.

"Thank goodness! You haven't left yet!"

"Yu Ji-a, where did you go?"

"Here. Take this!"

What Yu Ji-a handed over was none other than rice balls.

"Yu Ji-a, did you make these?"

"Yes! I ate all the rice balls on our way here! They're not as good as the ones Han Su-a made, but they'll fill you up! Take them!"

...What's gotten into Yu Ji-a? Did she eat something weird?

But I accepted them gratefully.

"I see, you remembered that time. I'll enjoy them."

"Thank you, Yu Ji-a. We'll eat them well."

While we were exchanging goodbyes, our vehicle arrived.

"Well, it's really time for us to go now. Thank you for coming all this way to see us off."

"Not at all. Please travel safely."

"Goodbye!"

"See you again!"

"Yes, goodbye."

"Let's meet again."

And so, with the Dragon Blood Clan sending us off, we boarded the vehicle heading back to the human world.

Inside the vehicle, Hui-hyeon and I sat facing each other, talking.

"I'm glad they seem to have recovered quickly after everything that happened."

"It's better than staying depressed."

"Do you think they'll be okay?"

Hearing my worried tone, Hui-hyeon said:

"It wasn't just anyone, but Ye-a herself who took care of the aftermath. I'm sure the request for protection of the Dragon Blood Clan has been received by now, so they should be fine."

"It wasn't just anyone, but Ye-a."

For some reason, Hui-hyeon's sudden compliment made my face feel hot.

I don't usually dislike compliments, but this feels strange. What is this?

"That's right, I am pretty amazing at everything."

But since Hui-hyeon's compliment wasn't wrong, I proudly shrugged my shoulders.

Shrug, shrug.

"..."

"Why are you looking at me with that expression?"

"Nothing, it's nothing."

Hui-hyeon turned away without saying anything.

"Ow! Why did you pinch me all of a sudden?!"

"Something about your expression annoyed me."

"No, Ye-a. That was a look of admiration."

"Save your breath."

After bickering like this for a while and getting pinched several times, Hui-hyeon couldn't stand it anymore and stood up.

"Sit down, won't you?"

"I'll sit if you promise not to pinch me anymore."

"Fine, I won't pinch you anymore."

"Really? You're not just saying that and then going to pinch me anyway?"

"Hui-hyeon, I'm an exorcist of the Baek Clan. And I'm also a believer of the Won-gak Cult. Would I, as an exorcist, tell a lie?"

"...Really?"

"If you don't believe me, just keep standing."

"No, I'll sit."

And when Hui-hyeon sat down, I hit him instead.

"Ow!"

As Hui-hyeon looked at me with an aggrieved expression, I proudly said:

"I didn't say I wouldn't hit you."

"That's..."

This is the essential virtue of modern people: 'I didn't lie.'

I told Hui-hyeon I wouldn't pinch him, but I never said I wouldn't hit him.

In other words, I won the battle of wits against Hui-hyeon.

Ye-a.

Hui-hyeon rubbed his arm and said:

"Ye-a, your hands really hurt. You're good at both pinching and hitting, all-around talented Ye-a."

"..."

I hit him once more.

"Ow!"

"I feel a bit tired after using some strength."

As I stretched and spoke, Hui-hyeon gave me another strange look.

"What?"

"Nothing, it's nothing."

How bland.

I smiled at Hui-hyeon and then leaned my head against the backrest.

<>

In my dream, I was walking down a street.

A street in the real world.

But in the dream, I still looked like "Baek Ye-a."

However, I didn't look happy in the real world.

I was just taking one step after another in a miserable state.

How long had I been walking like that?

An advertisement for "Killing the Unkillable" played on an electronic billboard on the street.

A billboard showing Hui-hyeon and the heroines.

Looking at Hui-hyeon on the billboard, I murmured quietly:

'...I need to go back.'

...I need to go back.

Without fail.

<>

"Ye-a, Ye-a."

"Huh? Yes?"

"Are you okay? You were frowning in your sleep."

When I opened my eyes, I was sitting in the chartered vehicle returning to the human world.

What was that dream about?

Was it because I wanted to return to reality that I had such a dream?

I rubbed my eyes and asked Hui-hyeon:

"How long was I asleep?"

"About two hours."

"Really?"

I stretched as I answered Hui-hyeon.

"The talisman that Huye Jin gave me really works well. I never imagined I could sleep in a moving vehicle like this."

"Yeah, you threw up last time."

"..."

Well, thanks for bringing up that embarrassing memory I was trying to forget.

I guess it's considerate that he left out 'on me.'

I smiled at Hui-hyeon and said:

"Hui-hyeon, can we agree not to talk about that? It's really embarrassing every time it comes up."

At my "request," Hui-hyeon flinched slightly and said:

"...Sure, it's not a good memory anyway. Let's do that."

Ye-a.

"By the way, Ye-a. I have something to tell you."

After the vehicle had been driving for about ten more minutes, Hui-hyeon spoke to me.

"Something to tell me? What is it?"

"Can I be away from the academy for a few days?"

What came out of Hui-hyeon's mouth was quite unexpected.

"Away from the academy... Are you saying you won't be attending?"

To my question, Hui-hyeon explained defensively:

"Ah, of course I'll be back before the next practical training. I'll make sure of that. It's just that I have some exorcism-related business in another region."

Exorcism-related business in another region?

I felt a bit puzzled hearing Hui-hyeon's words.

In the game system, there are part-time jobs like spirit subjugation in other regions, but those are typically done during vacation periods.

But it's not vacation time now.

"Is it urgent?"

"Yes. It's something only I can do."

...I don't feel good about this.

If something happens to Hui-hyeon, who is still weaker than me, while he's alone in another region, it would be a serious problem.

I could forbid him from going using my authority as team leader, but the fact that he's bringing this up now means he's already made up his mind.

The fact that he didn't mention it earlier and is only bringing it up now suggests he's been thinking about it for quite some time.

After thinking for a moment, I said to Hui-hyeon:

"Alright, go ahead."

"Thanks, Ye-a."

"But you have to report to me every day about where you are and what you're doing. This is an order as your team leader."

That way, I can do something if contact is lost.

After hesitating for a moment, Hui-hyeon said:

"Okay, I understand. I'll do that."

"And one more thing."

"What is it?"

"Submit a detailed report about what you did when you return. You can do that much, right?"

That's necessary for me to authorize your official attendance at the academy.

"I understand."

"And..."

"Yes?"

"Be careful. Don't push yourself too hard."

"I will. Thank you."

Hui-hyeon smiled at me.

After that, we returned to the academy.

As I had instructed, Hui-hyeon submitted his report and temporarily left the academy.

He promised to report regularly until he returned.

Wearing the school uniform after a long time since the practical training, going to school again, and seeing the faces of classmates I hadn't seen for a while.

The time until the next practical training was supposed to be peaceful, and it should have been.

But my peace was shattered in a way I never expected.

"I looked into you. It was hard to find information about you for a successor candidate, but I eventually found out various things."

By Jin Seo-yeon, who had investigated me.

"Baek Ye-a, what are you now?"