Chapter 60: I Hope You Never Pretend to Know me Again

“Ugh…”

Tears streamed down Song Mina’s cheeks. Choi Juwon’s cold words and icy gaze pierced her heart like daggers.

“Instructor… You used to teach me so passionately… We spent so much time together, how can you turn your back on me like this in an instant? At least… at least listen to my reasons… Please… sob… Please…”

Song Mina’s voice cracked with emotion. But she continued to plead, undeterred.

Choi Juwon replied,

“If you’re truly sorry, then stay out of my sight. That’s how you can atone. I won’t care about your reasons. I’ll just assume there were unavoidable circumstances, so please, don’t come looking for me. I get sick to my stomach whenever I see someone related to that day.”

Song Mina shook her head.

“Instructor… The instructor I know wasn’t this cold… sob…”

Song Mina’s soft cries and choked sobs didn’t affect Choi Juwon at all.

“You made me this way. I gave you everything. I taught you with all my heart, I shared everything I had. I never acted suspiciously towards you, I never treated you badly. That day, you didn’t believe me because of a piece of data, and this situation is the result.”

As Choi Juwon turned to leave, Song Mina desperately used magic to stop him.

[Lightning Chain]

Choi Juwon, his feet bound, looked at Song Mina incredulously.

“Ha, what are you doing?”

He then gathered Mana in his bare hand and struck the restraints.

-Kwachang-!

The restraints shattered instantly.

“This is truly disgusting. Now you’re even resorting to magic to restrain me? Just because I won’t listen to you?”

Song Mina, fearing Choi Juwon would leave, hurriedly blurted out,

“My father is the guild leader of a high-ranking guild. I told you before, right? That my father destroys everything I cherish. He tries to destroy any object, animal, or person I rely on, claiming it makes me weak.”

–Sob

Tears and snot streamed down Song Mina’s face, but she spoke quickly, without pausing to wipe them away.

“The day you left, I was truly heartbroken. I thought you must have been wrongly accused.”

Choi Juwon scoffed,

“Don’t give me that
. You sent those hate messages too, didn’t you?”

The thousands of messages Choi Juwon had received, the hateful messages telling him to die. If even a single student hadn’t sent abusive messages, he wouldn’t have received so many.

Song Mina hesitated and then confessed,

“I… I did send them. But… there was pressure from Helmunt Academy. President Baek Jooseok and several instructors said that the students had to condemn you as an example. They even threatened us with repercussions if we didn’t send the messages.”

Choi Juwon narrowed his eyes and said,

“Ah, is that what it was? So, simply put, you were concerned for your own safety?”

It was easy to say those words. She might have felt wronged. But from the perspective of the one who was hurt, such excuses meant nothing.

Even after hearing about the potential harm from her father if she associated with him, Choi Juwon had listened to Song Mina and protected her. Of course, with his immense power, her father couldn’t have actually threatened his life, but no one could predict the problems that might arise from being involved with a high-ranking guild leader. Nevertheless, Choi Juwon had taken on this risk without asking for anything in return and embraced Song Mina. Therefore, the words “I had no choice” were something Song Mina shouldn’t have said to Choi Juwon.

Song Mina sobbed,

“If it had just been Helmunt Academy’s threats, I wouldn’t have acted like that… But my father found out about you. He found out that I confided in you, that I relied on you. After that, he relentlessly forced me to send those messages filled with slander and insults. He told me to find a way to distance myself from you and act accordingly. He threatened to kill you if I didn’t. He said he would kill you just like that woman I used to rely on…”

Hearing her story, Choi Juwon approached Song Mina and spoke,

“Mina.”

Addressing her without her family name was a small change, but Song Mina looked at Choi Juwon with hopeful eyes.

“T… Tell me, Instructor.”

With tears streaming down her face, Song Mina waited for Choi Juwon to speak. He said softly,

“Mina, I understand. You had unavoidable circumstances. You didn’t believe me because of the pressure from the academy, and you sent those hateful messages because of your father. I understand. I know you didn’t mean any harm.”

“In… Instructor… Do you believe me…? sob…”

Overcome with emotion at the thought that her sincerity had finally reached him, Song Mina tried to hug Choi Juwon. But…

-Shove

Choi Juwon pushed her away with two fingers as if she were trash.

“I… Instructor… Why… Why are you doing this…? W… Weren’t you going to forgive me…?”

“No, Mina, you have to listen to the whole story. I understand you had unavoidable circumstances. I no longer have any feelings towards you, so let’s stop talking. I’m tired.”

“Y… You said you understand… sob… Instructor… If you understand, why are you looking at me like that…?”

Choi Juwon looked at Song Mina as if she were an annoying insect. He spoke,

“I’ve heard your story, so we’re strangers now. Don’t come looking for me, and don’t act like we know each other. I know you didn’t do anything wrong. I understand everything you said, so I won’t hold any feelings towards you from now on. Okay? But we’re strangers now.”

Despite saying he understood, Choi Juwon’s eyes were filled with even more disgust. He thought,

‘I had no choice. I couldn’t help it. I had to do it. Those are just the
excuses of traitors.’

Finally, Choi Juwon said,

“We’re strangers now. I’d prefer it if we never spoke again. I was never your instructor. And you were never my student. Let’s leave it at that.”

“W… Wait…!”

-Paaaaaaaaaang-!

With those words, Choi Juwon cast a fog spell. A dense fog instantly enveloped the area.

[Search]

Song Mina desperately cast a spell, but Choi Juwon had already vanished without a trace.

“Ugh…”

Song Mina suddenly felt as if she couldn’t breathe, as if her body were frozen.

-Tears streamed down her face, and her heart pounded wildly. She struggled to breathe, her head spun, and her stomach churned.

“Ugh…”

Every breath was labored. She couldn’t breathe properly. It wasn’t a magical attack. It was a temporary shock, a sudden overwhelming wave of emotions.

“Sob…”

Those who have experienced it would understand. Do you know when it hurts the most after a fight with someone you truly love and cherish?

When they despise you? When they’re angry? When they seek revenge? No.

When the person you cherished, the person you loved more than anyone, becomes a stranger.

Not an enemy filled with hatred, not a cherished friend, but a complete stranger.

-We’re strangers now. I’d prefer it if we never spoke again.

The thought that the connection with that person was completely severed brought a sorrow that felt like the world was collapsing.

-Thud

“Gasp… Gasp…”

Song Mina gasped for breath where Choi Juwon had been standing.

-Murmurs

The people around her stared strangely at Song Mina, her face streaked with tears and struggling to breathe.

-Tap Tap Tap

Song Mina ran, avoiding their gazes. Or rather, she ran to find Choi Juwon.

Choi Juwon’s presence had already vanished. But she ran in the direction her body led her. She ran even though she felt like she was suffocating. She had a feeling that if she lost Choi Juwon like this, she would truly go insane.

-Kwaang-!

After running for a long time, even using magic, she entered an abandoned factory nearby.

Naturally, Choi Juwon wasn’t there.

“Uwaaaaaaaa…”

“Uwaaaaa…”

Alone in the empty space, Song Mina cried uncontrollably.

She suddenly remembered a conversation she had with Choi Juwon in the past.

-Mina, your total Mana has increased significantly this time. As expected, hard work pays off. I’m proud of you.
-What are you talking about! It’s all thanks to you, Instructor!
-Now you’re even flattering me. You’ve changed so much since you first arrived. It’s good to see you with such a bright expression.
-It’s because you always listened to me and helped me whenever I had a hard time! Thanks to you, I think I’ve learned how to trust people. Oh, and did you know I started donating after seeing you do it?
-Oh, really? That’s wonderful.
-I’m going to help more people in need from now on. My father will go crazy if he finds out, but I’ll do it secretly. I can’t live under his shadow forever.
-That’s admirable. If you ever have any problems, let me know. I’ll help you however I can.
-Thank you, Instructor!
-You know, Instructor… I’ll have to graduate from Helmunt Academy someday, right?
-Hmm… I suppose so. Some people stay for several years, but it’s probably difficult to stay for decades.
-If… If I leave this place… will you and I become strangers?
-Haha, what are you talking about? Even if you leave this place, I’ll still be your instructor, and you’ll be my student. Forever.

Choi Juwon, who had cherished her. Song Mina had always loved his warm words and resolute actions.

However, the Choi Juwon she had just seen felt like a completely different person from the one in her memories.

-We’re strangers now. I’d prefer it if we never spoke again. I was never your instructor. And you were never my student. Let’s leave it at that.

“Ugh…”

Song Mina cried, replaying their conversations over and over in her mind. Just then…

-Creak

She heard the sound of a door opening.

“In… Instructor Choi Juwon!”

Sensing a powerful Mana signature, Song Mina thought Choi Juwon had returned and called out his name. However, standing there was a familiar middle-aged man.

“Mina. I came here after receiving a request for assistance from the broadcasting station and happened to see you.”

Song Mina’s father, Song Minchul, looked down at her with a cold expression and said,

“It seems you have some explaining to do to your father.”