Vol. 3 Chapter 20

"Alright, that's it for today," Professor Alden's voice broke the quiet hum of the room.

Anyone could feel the shift in the atmosphere—students perking up at the thought of the class being dismissed. And honestly, who could blame them? It’s been a long day, and for most of us, this is the last period for the day.

"Oh, before I forget, the Robotics Showcase is just two weeks away. I encourage you to approach your designs thoughtfully. While duct tape may seem like an ingenious solution under pressure, let us aim for precision and professionalism rather than the 'Frankenstein' aesthetic."

With a polite nod and a composed smile, Professor Alden stepped away from the podium and exited the room, leaving behind a group of motivated students ready to leave the class.

As I began gathering my belongings, Lenna, who had been sitting beside me throughout the class, leaned over.

"Kat, want to hang out and go shopping after this?" she asked, a smile flickering across her face as she tilted her head slightly.

I hesitated for a moment since I already had prior plans with Yuna. I glanced at Lenna, thinking how to let her down gently, but her expectant smile made it even harder. Ack, why is it so hard to say no to a friend?

Taking a quick breath to steady myself, I finally blurted out, “Sorry, I have somewhere to be.”

I braced myself for Lenna’s look of disappointment, maybe even a pout or a half-hearted ‘okay’, but instead, her smile widened into a mischievous grin that caught me completely off guard. A chill of dread crept up my spine. I’ve known her for a while and that expression... couldn't be good.

“Oh, really? Funny, because I heard a little rumor,” her grin now bordered on a smirk.

“A rumor?” I asked curiously.

I couldn’t imagine what would prompt anyone to start rumors about me. As though she had read my thoughts, Lenna elaborated.

“You’re already popular, you know. People around campus often talk about you. Apparently, a couple of students mentioned seeing you spending time with another girl over the past few days. Care to explain?”

Well, she wasn’t wrong. Ever since I won the tournament, my name had become far too familiar to students around the school. While I had grown accustomed to tuning out the whispers and casual remarks all around me, being reminded of them once more left a faint bitterness in its wake.

Still, I should keep my lips sealed. It wouldn’t do me any favors if word got out that I had been spending time with Yuna. She wants to remain anonymous while she’s here, so I wouldn’t want to blow her cover. Also, given her popularity and the legion of fervent admirers who idolize her, I don’t want to receive death threats from her fans.

Maintaining my practiced neutral expression, I replied nonchalantly, “…She’s an old acquaintance of mine.”

Lenna’s eyes narrowed slightly as she studied my face, her smirk fading into a contemplative look. It was clear she was trying to gauge the truth behind my words, but I made sure to keep my composure unwavering. After what felt like an eternity, she finally sighed, her usual playfulness returning.

“Liz would be jealous if she found out about this,” she said, her words tinged with a subtle hint of mischief.

I tilted my head, genuinely puzzled by the statement. “Jealous? Why would she be?”

Liz had always been approachable and kind to everyone. In fact, I was certain that she and Yuna would get along quite well, especially given that they were both the cheerful type and also part of the same organization. Besides, Liz always told me she idolizes Yuna, the most famous streamer today, so there’s that too.

Lenna noted my confusion and let out another, even more exaggerated sigh, shaking her head like she’d just given up on something. I was about to press her for answers when a quiet voice interrupted us.

“Uh, excuse me…”

I turned to see a boy standing just a few feet away, clutching a notebook to his chest like it was a shield. His gaze flickered between me and the floor, and the slight flush creeping up his cheeks.

“H-Hi, miss Katyusha,” he stammered, managing a nervous smile.

His voice was barely above a mumble as he continued, “I—I wanted to let you know that we have a brief meeting planned for the robotics project... Since, um, we’re part of the same group.”

I glanced toward the corner of the room he gestured to, noticing two of our group members already seated. Their focused gazes lingered in our direction, though it was subtle enough to remain polite.

“Oh, I see,” I responded, maintaining a composed demeanor.

There was little choice but to attend—it was likely a quick discussion to finalize our plans. I checked my watch discreetly and decided to inform Yuna about the delay. Retrieving my phone, I began typing a message.

With the message sent, I turned back to the boy, offering a reassuring nod. “Let’s not keep them waiting.”

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Yuna’s PoV

I slammed the buttons on the arcade machine, letting out all my frustration through my fingers. My character pulled off a killer combo—something only the pros or hardcore players could dream of doing. The computer opponent didn’t stand a chance as its health bar drained in seconds.

YOU WIN!*

The machine’s booming voice announced my victory, but honestly? It was way too easy. I leaned back and frowned at the screen.

“Tsk! Bots are no fun—they’re way too predictable. Where’s the challenge in that?”

Ugh, it’s totally her fault! What kind of person makes me wait like this? The audacity!

Thinking about it, that girl really is peculiar.

I’ve always been surrounded by people’s admiration. With my charisma, charm, and endearing appearance, I was winning over everyone, no matter who they were. I’ve got people practically lining up to get my attention.

Yet, despite all the courtesy I’m giving that girl, she has the gall to keep me waiting. It’s baffling! She chose to prioritize attending a mundane meeting over spending time with someone like me? The notion is utterly absurd!

As I leaned back, letting out a frustrated sigh, I felt a presence nearby. A man stood just a few feet away, his posture stiff, his clothes slightly disheveled, and his gaze fixed on me. He wasn’t someone I recognized, and there was something about him that immediately set me on edge.

“Uh, hey,” he said, his voice low and hesitant.

I turned toward him, noticing that he was hovering a little too close for comfort. His gaze darted nervously between me and the arcade around us, as if trying to confirm something.

“Are you… Yuna?” he asked, his voice carried an intensity that immediately put me on edge.

I hesitated for a moment, debating whether or not to speak. If I did, my voice could betray me. But as he continued to linger, his unwavering determination made it clear that silence was no longer an option.

“…Apologies, but you’ve mistaken me for someone else,” I said, deliberately masking my voice to sound as neutral as possible.

As his expression shifted almost immediately from curiosity to intense fervor, I instantly knew that this guy would be troublesome.

“That voice! I’ve heard it a thousand times! There’s no way I’m wrong—you’re Yuna!” he exclaimed, his tone rising with excitement.

His enthusiasm made me uneasy, and I glanced around, wary of attracting attention. Fortunately, the bustling background noise of the arcade seemed to shield our exchange from curious ears.

Tsk. Just my luck. One of my diehard fans. This guy wasn’t going to be easily fooled, no matter how carefully I masked my voice. It was clear I needed to handle the situation carefully and discreetly; keeping him quiet would be the first priority.

With measured composure, I reached up and removed my face mask, revealing my identity. Before he could react, I pressed a finger to my lips—a clear gesture for silence.

As his gaze met my face, his cheeks reddened instantly.

“I-I knew it! My entire day searching for you wasn’t wasted!” he exclaimed, his voice barely restrained, as if struggling to contain his excitement.

His statement sent a chill down my spine. So, this wasn’t a chance encounter? The realization unsettled me. I needed to wrap this up quickly—his behavior was setting off alarm bells.

“Oh-uhm… C-Can I make a request?” he stammered.

I tried to maintain my composure. With a practiced smile, I tilted my head just slightly, slipping into the persona expected of an idol.

“Hmm~? What is it?” I responded, masking the growing tension within me.

It’s probably the usual, a request for an autograph or perhaps a photo. Once that’s done, I could hopefully send him on his way. Katherine might arrive soon, and I wanted this encounter done by then.

“C-Can you spend some time with me? I know a good place to eat! I’ll pay for it! My treat!” His voice cracked slightly, betraying both his eagerness and apprehension.

I froze for a moment, caught off guard by his boldness.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t,” I said firmly, my polite tone conveying a finality I hoped he’d accept.

But it became clear almost immediately that he wasn’t ready to take no for an answer.

“C-Come on. Y-you like sweets, right? Or—or we could go somewhere else! I know a great spot with great scenery near here!” he pleaded, his tone growing more desperate.

My stomach churned as unease crept over me. There was no reasoning with him.

Tsk! Why did it have to be now, of all times? The one time I decided to leave my father’s pawn behind. I just want some privacy, not to feel as if my every move is watched! Is it really too much to ask?

“I really can’t. I’m waiting for somebody! Maybe some other time, okay~?” I said, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace.

I stood from my seat. My heart pounded in my chest as I grabbed my purse. I couldn’t stay here any longer. I’ll just message Katherine. We could meet somewhere else—anywhere but here.

Just as I turned to walk away, I felt a sudden, firm grip on my hand. It startled me, freezing me in place as I instinctively glanced back.

His expression had changed completely. Gone was the nervous fan whose cheeks had been flushed with excitement. Now his eyes held a strange intensity, his demeanor shifting into something far more unsettling. To make things worse, he’s way stronger than me, and I can’t shake off his grip.

“I-is… is it your boyfriend? You know that’s not good, right? You know that’s prohibited, right? You can’t date anyone! You’re an idol! What would your fans say?!” he asked, his tone cracking with desperation.

His words reverberated in my mind, triggering a wave of unresolved frustration.

He was no different from my father—a man who had loomed over the majority of my life, constantly dictating what I could and couldn’t do and shaping my choices according to his rigid expectations.

I had worked tirelessly to escape that shadow, carving my own path forward. I built the Atelier organization from the ground up and showed everyone I had what it takes to be a professional gamer, to win the AC, and rise to the top.

But now, even after achieving my dream—after proving myself to the world and becoming an AC champion—am I still stuck under someone else’s thumb?

No…

I am not an object for others to manipulate and dictate my actions.

My life is for me to decide. Not for anyone else.

The thought burned within me, igniting a fire I could no longer suppress. As if to rebel against the thing I despised the most, something inside me snapped. The carefully constructed mask I had worn for so long shattered in an instant.

“Can you get away from me, please? You’re so disgusting, I feel like vomiting,” I said, each word laced with venom.

“H-huh?” he was in shock at my words, and I could feel his grip weakening.

His expression froze in shock, his grip faltering as my words registered.

The slight hesitation was all I needed. I pulled my hand away, and with his slackened grip, I successfully freed myself. Without wasting another moment, I turned and began walking away, determined to put distance between us.

“W-wait, please,” he called out, his voice trembling with desperation as he followed closely behind.

Tsk. How persistent. It seemed I would have to take a firmer approach. I’ll make it so this guy would never think to approach me again.

I halted abruptly, turning to face him as my gaze scrutinized his every move. He doesn’t seem to be carrying any recording devices. Even if he attempted to spread what happened here to others, his words would hold no weight against the reputation I had meticulously built over the years.

“Oh, what’s this~! Are your ears just for decoration, or do you genuinely struggle with basic comprehension?” My tone dripped with ridicule while giving him a condescending smirk.

“Y-you! W-we…” he stumbled over his words, visibly thrown by the sudden shift in my demeanor.

I didn’t wait for him to recover.

“Haha~! What’s the matter? Are you a baby who can’t string proper words together without fumbling? Why don’t you just run home to your mother and beg for milk~?” I interjected sardonically.

I watched as his face turned crimson, the humiliation visibly sinking in. For a moment, he appeared lost in thought, before his embarrassment transformed into anger.

“I dedicated years of my life to you! Buying all your merchandise, watching every one of your videos, defending you from trolls online—everything! And this is how you repay me?!” he exclaimed, his voice growing louder.

Tsk! Figures—he’s one of those types. Honestly, what I’m doing is for his own good. That level of obsession is unhealthy. He should be thanking me for doing him a favor and destroying his deluded notions about me.

I met his gaze, and a faint smirk played on my lips.

“What a complete fool~! Your choices were yours alone, and now you want to pin them on me? What do your pathetic, misguided life decisions have to do with me?”

He instantly froze at my words. His head bowed as the sting of my words visibly took hold.

“Finally had it? Then leave me alone, or I’ll call the cops on you, perverted creepy stalker.” I said in a disdainful tone.

He remained unmoving. Then, as if something had clicked in his mind, he suddenly snapped his head up, his expression twisting into one of indignation.

“You… You’re not Yuna! My goddess doesn’t act like that!” he stammered, his voice trembling as he clung desperately to his delusion.

I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle at those words.

“Hahaha~! Are you really that delusional? How pathetic. As expected from a loser like you.”

My words seemed to hit him like a slap, and for a moment, he stood there in stunned silence. Had I finally broken through to him?

"How… how dare you pretend to be my goddess? I’ll… I’ll kill you for trying to destroy her image," he said coldly.

Then he unexpectedly pulled out a multi-purpose tool knife from one of his pockets.

I froze, fear gripping me as the gravity of the situation sank in. Is this really happening? Surely he’s not serious… right?

Had I gone too far? No, that wasn’t it. No rational person would hurt somebody and risk prison time over something like this. This guy is not right in the head. He probably has mental and psychological health issues. Tsk! Just my luck to encounter someone so unhinged.

I cursed myself internally. If I’d realized how dangerous he was earlier, I would’ve run as fast as I could. But now it was too late—he was poised to strike, and I wasn’t confident I could outrun him.

Turning my back without a running head start would be reckless; it could leave me vulnerable to an attack from behind.

I studied him carefully. His movements were sloppy, his form weak and uncoordinated. The anger driving him made him predictably easy to read. If I stayed focused, I could dodge his attack, then call for help.

As he lunged forward, I instinctively tried to shift my weight, to steady myself and prepare to dodge.

But my body betrayed me.

My feet… they wouldn’t move.

Panic surged through me like ice in my veins.

This wasn’t a game. This was real life. If I didn’t move, I could die. Move! Move your goddamn feet, Eun-ha Kang! Dodge!

But instead of responding, my legs trembled uncontrollably, shaking so violently that I could barely keep my balance. My breath hitched, my chest tightening as fear consumed me entirely.

I’m… scared… I don’t… I don’t want to die!

As the knife came closer to my neck, I shut my eyes, too frightened to face what was about to happen to me.

So this is how I die, huh?

I had only just gained my freedom from my father, finally breaking away from his control.

I had only just accomplished my dreams of winning the AC and leaving my mark in the professional scene.

This sucks…

KACHACK*

I felt the unmistakable warmth of hot blood splatter across my face and clothes. For a split second, I braced myself for the sharp sting of pain that I was sure would follow.

But it didn’t come.

The blood… it wasn’t mine.

I slowly opened my eyes, still trying to process what just happened. My heart was pounding like crazy, and I could barely catch my breath as I took in the scene.

It was Katherine.

Her left hand was gripping the dagger tightly, blood dripping from the nasty cut on her arm. Somehow, she managed to stop the knife mid-air, redirecting it just before it could reach my neck.

Even though she was clearly in pain, she didn’t hesitate. With her free arm, she reached into her pocket and quickly pulled out a pen. In one fluid motion, she thrust it forward, aiming directly for the crazy stalker’s eyes.

Her actions were extremely fast. They were perfectly executed, as if she had practiced the movement a thousand times before. Even with my trained eye to discern rapid attacks, I almost missed them entirely.

KACHACK*

“ARGHH!!!”

The sharp tip of the pen struck its intended target with unerring accuracy, eliciting a guttural scream of agony from the man.

The commotion we had caused began to draw attention from the few people in the arcade. Their murmurs quickly turned into alarmed exclamations as they processed the scene unfolding before them.

“What was that scream?”

“Is someone in trouble?!”

“Kyaaa! That girl is bleeding!”

“Hey, let’s help them!”

“That guy dropped a knife!”

“Call the police! Quick!”

Amid the chaos, a staff member from the arcade rushed over, seizing the opportunity to restrain the man, who was now unarmed and clutching his injured eye in pain. As if spurred into action by the staff member’s bravery, others in the crowd stepped forward to assist, working together to subdue him.

As the tension began to dissipate, I noticed Katherine turning toward me. Her usually steady eyes were clouded with concern as she scanned my face.

“Are you alright?” she asked, her voice soft yet laced with worry.

I couldn’t answer right away. My heart felt as though it had skipped a beat, and for a fleeting moment, I was overcome with awe at her actions. This girl had risked her life for me.

Get a grip, Eun-ha Kang! This isn’t the time to be awestruck!

Snapping out of my thoughts, I quickly realized the urgency of the situation. She was still bleeding, and the wound on her arm wasn’t minor. Waiting for an ambulance felt too risky—she might lose too much blood by the time it arrived. There was no time to waste.

Without responding, I gently but firmly grabbed her uninjured arm and led her toward the arcade’s exit. The late afternoon air hit us as we stepped outside, but I barely noticed it. My focus was on finding a taxi.

My hands trembled as I flagged one down, the urgency in my movements catching the driver’s attention. When the taxi screeched to a stop in front of us, the driver’s eyes widened as he took in the sight of Katherine’s injury.

“What happened to her?” he asked, his voice tinged with shock.

“Please, we need to get to the hospital,” I said, my tone frantic. “I’ll pay you double—just go!”

The promise of extra money seemed to snap him out of his shock. He nodded quickly and motioned for us to get in. I helped Katherine into the back seat, careful not to jar her injured arm.

As the car sped off towards the nearest hospital, the sight of her blood-soaked arm filled me with dread. Without hesitating, I pressed my hands firmly against the wound, doing my best to staunch the flow of blood.

“Katherine, keep your arm elevated!” I said urgently, adjusting her position as best as I could while keeping the pressure steady.

“What’s this. Not going to call me Kathy anymore?” she uncharacteristically teased.

It was clear she was attempting to lighten the mood, perhaps to distract me from the gravity of the situation. But I wasn’t amused.

“Now isn’t the time for jokes,” I replied firmly, maintaining my focus as I continued to apply pressure to her injury.

Despite her efforts to mask the pain, I could see the telltale signs—cold sweat beading on her forehead, her breathing shallow and uneven. The strain was evident, no matter how hard she tried to hide it.

Tsk! That deranged stalker. I have no intention of letting this turn into a public scandal, so I’ll leave it to my legal team to handle the matter discreetly.

I’ll ensure that he faces the full extent of the law and spends the rest of his miserable life behind bars. With numerous witnesses present and the likelihood of CCTV footage from the arcade, the evidence against him will be overwhelming.

A sudden thought came up. This large wound… could’ve been on my neck.

As I sat in silence, lost in the turmoil of my thoughts, I felt a gentle pressure against my hand. Startled, I glanced down and noticed Katherine’s uninjured hand resting on mine, her touch warm and comforting.

“…Are you alright?” she asked softly, her voice steady and reassuring.

The warmth of her gesture anchored me. I couldn’t understand why she was asking until I realized my hand was trembling uncontrollably. I must have been still shaken from what happened earlier. I just hope this doesn’t turn into a trauma.

I shook my head, trying to regain my composure.

“Tsk! Stop worrying about me and focus on yourself first! You’re the one injured here, stupid!” I snapped as my tone came off harsher than intended.

It suddenly dawned on me. In the chaos and urgency of the situation, I had completely neglected to maintain my carefully crafted, angelic idol persona.

“Oh… s-sorry! I didn’t mean to be too forward,” I apologized.

“It’s fine. Honestly, I prefer seeing this more genuine side of you,” she replied with a light chuckle.

I studied her face intently, searching for any hint of deception in her words. Yet, I found none.

Her expression was unguarded, and for the first time in the past few days we’d spent together, I saw her smile—genuine, and warm, far from her usual aloof self.

My heart skipped a beat at the sight, and I could feel a rush of heat crawling up my face. Embarrassed, I quickly turned my head away, hoping to hide the crimson flush spreading across my cheeks.

I sighed inwardly. I was right—this girl truly is peculiar. I mean, how could anyone possibly appreciate this ugly, unpolished version of me?

“What a strange girl,” I muttered under my breath, my voice barely audible over the quiet hum of the engine.