<h4>Chapter 105</h4>


    The Central Library was exclusive to the Elder Council and teachers. It was connected to the general library, which the students could easily ess. By crossing the overpass between the general library and the Central Library building and opening a secured door with an ess card, one could finally reach the Central Library.


    Teachers had ess card functions built into their teacher IDs, but student council members had to obtain Central Library ess cards from the librarian each time they visited.


    After school, the first thing I did was head to the library to get an ess card from the librarian.


    The librarian scanned my face when I revealed that I was Holy Name of Charity and requested for a Central Library ess card.


    "Holy Name of Charity? Are you the new student who got elected?"


    I nodded. "Yes, I was elected recently."


    "What is your business today at the Central Library?"


    "I need to view some articles to do research for a proposal that I’mpleting on behalf of the student council."


    "Ah, a proposal... I see."


    The librarian''s tone was very stern. Even though it was our first time meeting, she seemed to be extremely nervous. I couldn''t understand why the librarian was so on edge. Perhaps there were strange rumors circting about me, or maybe the librarian had a naturally rough personality.


    As the squinting librarian typed on the keyboard, she suddenly raised her eyebrows as if she remembered something.


    "By the way, did you bring your permit?"


    "Permit? What do you mean?"


    "You need to get a permit from an elder, chairman, principal, or vice-principal. Due to the recent change in policy, I can’t let you enter if you don’t possess one."


    "Ah."


    To enter the Central Pdin Order, you needed a rmendation letter from a clergyman of an archbishop rank or higher, and to ess the Central Library, you needed another permit. It seemed that in order to enter a ce with the word <i>Central</i> attached to its name, one always needed the help from a higher up.


    The system was structured in a way where one couldn''t do anything unless they had a reliable force helping them or was exceptionally good at kissing ass.


    [The system might be in ce to maintain hierarchy within the Church. They may also be trying to create a sense ofmunity by supporting and helping one another.] Legba spoke as I walked aimlessly around the library, feeling a bit bummed. [Moreover, don''t you have a close rtionship with the chairman? If you use that connection, you’ll be fine.]


    "..." I nodded silently.


    I was somewhat familiar with Chairman Chang-Won, and with his permission, I would be able to enter the Central Library without any problem. So, I immediately headed toward the chairman''s office because I needed toplete the proposal by tomorrow.


    <i>Thump. </i>


    "Ah! ... My bad."


    In the process of making my way toward the chairman, I almost tripped over something that resembled a rock. I quickly apologized in an effort to tame the sharp gazes of the studying students and looked to identify the object that tripped me.


    The object was a foot that had peeked out from under the desk of its sleeping owner. The owner of the foot was leaning far into her chair, her hair covering her face like a blindfold. She looked like she was so deep in sleep that she wouldn''t even notice if she was picked up and carried away.


    [That posture would end up destroying the back and twisting the neck. Youngsters these days need to start fixing their sitting posture...] Legbamented.


    I felt a big generation gap from Legba when he said "youngsters these days," and it was a bit ufortable to hear, but he wasn''t entirely wrong.


    "Hey." I tapped the person’s head to wake her up.


    "Hmm..." In-Ah made a strange sound and barely managed to get up from her seat.


    She roughly brushed her messy hair and stared at me with sleepy eyes. She was frowning and seemed to not be able to see well.


    In-Ah had been slowly adjusting her posture when she eximed in surprise, “Hmm... Hmm? Oh! Wait!"


    The sharp gazes of the other diligently studying students in the library were upon us once again. In-Ah lowered her voice and apologized, bowing her head to those around her.


    "Um, let''s just head outside for now..." In-Ah whispered in my ear while ncing around.


    I nodded and quickly followed her out of the library. Even as we were leaving, I could feel the cold res of the studying students.


    <i>Clunk!</i>


    In-Ah pulled out two cans of instant coffee from a worn-out vending machine next to the library entrance. She opened one and drank it right away, and gave the other one to me. Brushing off the yellowed, dried leaves with her sleeves, In-Ah sat down on the bench and looked up at me.


    “Did you alwayse to the library? This is the first time I''ve seen you here."


    "It’s my first timeing here today."


    "Right? I would’ve remembered if I ever saw you..." In-Ah paused before finishing her sentence. "Sit down! Why are you standing like that? You’re making me anxious."


    "Why are you so angry all of a sudden..."


    "Just take a seat!"


    Unable to resist her urging, I reluctantly sat down next to her. In-Ah held the can of coffee tightly with both hands, bowed her head, and then looked up at me while taking a sip of her coffee.


    "So why did youe to the library? To study?"


    "No, I came here to do some research for the student council."


    "Ah, the student council... I thought our Sun-Woo had finally decided to start studying from today. But of course, what was I thinking!"


    Her face briefly darkened when I mentioned the student council, but then brightened up with an awkward smile. Her joking voice trembled slightly, and her tone was also somewhat awkward. It seemed like she was not pleased with me taking part in student council activities.


    "Did youe to study?" I asked, trying to change the subject.


    In-Ah nodded vigorously, crossing her legs. "Yeah, if I have nothing nned, Ie to the library to study, usually for the whole day."


    "Really? Are you sure you don’te here to take a nap?" I asked yfully.


    In-Ah avoided eye contact and brushed her hair back in a flustered manner.


    "I-I was just a little sleepy, so I took a twenty-minute... no, ten-minute nap. Before that, I was studying really hard."


    "More like sleeping really hard."


    "...I take short but deep naps. You know, managing your stamina is important for studying. I take a nap in the afternoon so that I can study untilte at night," In-Ah muttered.


    I found myselfughing unintentionally. Perhaps it was because she looked cute, chirping like a little bird while pouting her lips. Her mood seemed to worsen because she was upset about meughing, and she red at me with narrowed eyes.


    "Why are youughing? There’s no reason tough."


    "Okay, okay. Got it. I won’t."


    "Y-you’re talking to me like you would to a kid..."


    "Alright, I got it. I won''tugh."


    "...You''re stillughing!" In-Ah said, blushing.


    She was wearing an oversized ivory-colored hoodie over her school uniform, and whenever she got angry, her clothes fluttered like wings, making it even harder to hold in myughter.


    She pouted, biting her lip. Eventually, In-Ah sighed deeply, seemingly tired of being angry. She bowed her head down and took a sip of her coffee. Suddenly, she frowned and grabbed her waist.


    "Is your back okay?"


    "Yeah, it''s not that bad. Um, maybe just a little bit... Maybe I studied too hard?"


    In-Ah forced a smile, but her fingertips trembled in pain.


    "Isn''t that because of your bad posture?"


    "Huh? Maybe...?"


    "Even now, you have your legs crossed, and I noticed it when you were sleeping earlier, your posture..."


    After hearing my words, In-Ah subtly straightened her back and adjusted her skirt. "It doesn''t hurt anymore! So stop nagging."


    "I’m not nagging. I’m worried for you."


    "Who asked you to worry about me? You''re always getting admitted into hospitals yourself."


    I had nothing to say.


    "...That''s beside the point."


    "What do you mean besides the point? You''re just changing the subject because it''s inconvenient for you. And I''m really fine. I learned a new technique recently." As In-Ah said that, a faint light flowed from her fingertips. It was a minuscule amount of divine power that would go unnoticed if one didn''t concentrate.


    She drew a small blessing array the size of a thumbnail and another blessing array the size of her palm. The blessing arrays came together not long after, and the emitted light wrapped around her waist.


    "Ta-da! Now it really doesn''t hurt."


    "...What did you do?"


    I couldn''t understand what she had done. I couldn''t even distinguish whether she had used a blessing array or a healing array.


    In-Ah put on a smug smile as if to boast. "Ibined the blessing of regeneration with some healing properties. The divine power ratio was about seven to three. This way, it relieves pain, gradually heals the body, and has almost no drawbacks."


    "Can you adjust the ratio?"


    "Yeah. Just do this and this."


    I didn’t know what adjusting the ratio of divine power would do, nor did I know how to do so in the first ce. I couldn''tprehend what she was saying at all. Her exnation was too vague andplicated, making it impossible to understand what she meant.


    She looked at me and smiled bashfully. "Anyway, isn''t it amazing? I''m going to participate in the essaypetition with this as my topic. I’m going to win first ce and receive an award. I’ll be able to get first ce, right?"


    "It’s cool, but first ce...?"


    "Come on, can''t you just tell me that I’ll get first ce? At least give me some reassurance," In-Ah whined as she tapped my shoulder while her sleeves fluttered about. She had a mischievous smile.


    Iughed along with her.


    "You have a unique topic. I think you might be able to get first ce."


    "The things you have to do for onepliment..." In-Ah muttered to herself with a bitterugh. She lowered her head and looked at her wristwatch, then opened her eyes wide in surprise.


    She suddenly stood up but bent over in pain as if her back was hurting again. "Oh, no. I''ve been out for too long. I''m running short on time..."


    "Why don’t you take a break if you’re feeling unwell?" I said as I pointed at In-Ah''s back.


    She shook her head.


    "No! If I rest today, I''ll want to rest tomorrow too,” she said with a determined face.


    "Can''t you take a day off? Do it so that you can be in good condition."


    “Hm... Now that you’re saying it like that...” In-Ah stopped in her tracks and fell into deep thought.


    She had been noticeably losing weighttely. It was clear that she had been focusing on studying without eating properly during the exam period. I found outst time that she had a bad habit of skipping meals when she was engrossed in something or depressed.


    "But I still want to finish the studying I started today. I think I''ll rest tomorrow. Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," In-Ah said with a bright smile.


    I suggested she take a break because, at this rate, I thought she would end up copsing again, but she seemed determined to finish her studies for the day. A sigh involuntarily escaped my lips.


    “What if you get sick on the day of the exam?"


    "Oh, no. That won''t happen. I’m good, don’t worry. And I''m studying hard for this exam because I want to get first ce. After the exam, I''m going to let loose."


    "First ce?"


    In-Ah''s goal seemed to be ridiculously high. Well, maybe it wasn''t entirely ridiculous, considering how hard she was working. Anyway, it was a bit puzzling. She didn''t seem like the type to obsess over studying or be driven by ambition.


    "You know, maybe if I get first ce in the F.A. exam, the pdins will listen to me a bit more... I just wanted to set a big goal. If I aim for first ce, I’ll be able to get around twentieth ce, right?" Her bright smile gradually faded into an increasingly somber smile.


    I was unable to find the right words to respond with and averted my gaze. It seemed that her ambition to get first ce in the midterm exam was to ovee the frustration and defeat she had felt when she went to the Pdin Order to find her younger sister.


    I couldn''t decide whether to remain silent or to force a smile.


    In-Ah awkwardly smiled at me. "Hey, why are you acting so awkward? It''s not like this is my first rodeo."


    "..."


    "And who in the world doesn''t have a story of their own? Whether it''s you, me, or Jun-Hyuk, we all have at least one story... Well, anyway, it''s not that big of a deal, so don’t get all serious about it. Got it?" she said in a yful and cheerful tone. It seemed like she was trying to cheer me up.


    However, she wasn''t in a position tofort others, and I wasn''t in a position to beforted. She approached me with light steps and gently ced her glowing fingertips on top of my head.


    "What are you doing—"


    "Just stay still." Cutting me off, she swiftly moved her fingers above my head as if drawing a blessing array or a healing array.


    Finally, a dazzling bright light enveloped my head. For a moment, I thought I was getting a bit dizzy, but soon after, my mind cleared, and my vision became sharp.


    "How do you feel?"


    "...What changed?"


    "Does your mind feel clearer or less tired or something like that?"


    Come to think of it, my mind did feel slightly clearer. It was as if a few heavy stones that had been weighing on my mind had been lifted.


    As I nodded, In-Ah smiled innocently. "This is another new technique I learned! It''s abination between a blessing of peacefulness and healing, among other things. The concept of this technique is to heal the mind... How do you feel?"


    "I feel great."


    "Yeah? That''s a relief." In-Ah let out a sigh. "I’ve developed this blessing array specifically for you. You''ve been looking tiredtely.”


    “I look tired?”


    “Yeah. You’ve been attending meetings and studying so much. So..." In-Ah paused and looked at her watch. "...Wow, time flies by when I talk to you. I really have to go! See you tomorrow!"


    After In-Ah crumpled up the empty coffee can and threw it in the trash, she waved goodbye and entered the library.


    After shepletely disappeared from sight, I walked toward the chairman''s office. As I was making my way toward the office, my throat felt dry, so I finished drinking all the coffee from the can. And as I did, I reminisced about what In-Ah had said to me.


    "And who in the world doesn''t have a story of their own?”


    Strangely enough, I foundfort in those words. I often felt that In-Ah was skilled atforting and taking care of others. I threw up in the bathroom thinking that her sibling would have been very happy to grow up with a big sister like In-Ah.


    ***


    With heavy steps, I finally arrived at the chairman''s office.


    "Oh, the chairman is currently in a meeting..."


    The one who greeted me was not the chairman but his secretary. The chairman was in the middle of a meeting due to an unidentified disturbance that had urred within the school. The secretary told me that the meeting would likely end around seven o''clock.


    Since it was currently half past five, that meant that I wouldn''t be able to meet the chairman for about an hour and a half. I couldn’t just sit and wait in the chairman''s office for that long, so I decided it would be better to visit the underground chapel ande backter. Eventually, I left Florence Academy. and headed toward the underground chapel, making it to the deste alleyway.


    [What a waste of time,] Legba said as the sunset disappeared behind the clouds and the streetlights began to flicker alive one by one.


    I couldn''t help butugh, feeling empty inside. There were days when things went surprisingly well and days when things didn''t go well at all, and today seemed to be thetter.


    <i>Whoo!</i>


    As I walked aimlessly, a crushed can suddenly flew toward me. I ducked and avoided it. Upon closer inspection, I noticed a woman on the other side of the road, rummaging through a trash can and scattering garbage all around her.


    "stic, cans, paper, metal, bottles..."


    <i>tter!</i>


    A soda can, a stack of papers, a nail, and a soju bottle. Some things could be brushed off, others would hurt if someone got hit, and some could even cause fatal damage. The woman didn’t discriminate. She rummaged through the trash bags scattered around the alley and haphazardly threw all the garbage she could grab in her hands. I couldn’t find a single pattern in her actions.


    [She must be insane,] Legba muttered quietly.


    The woman''s appearance was truly that of a mad woman. Her hair was disheveled and scattered, her eyes were bloodshot without focus, and saliva dripped from her mouth...


    Feeling uneasy, I quickened my pace. I nned to quickly escape the alley, being careful not to attract the woman’s attention.


    <i>Smash!</i>


    At that moment, a bottle of soju fell at my feet. The madwoman nced at the scattered green ss shards on the ground, then looked at my face.


    "ss...?"


    She then slowly approached me, her shoulders shuffling as she walked. Her empty eyes were glued to my face. The teeth visible between her partially open lips were sharp and pointed, like those of a wild animal. That alone was threatening enough, but the woman even held a broken ss shard in her left hand.


    "Don''te any closer."


    "ss...? ss..." Despite my warning, the woman ignored me and silently moved closer to me.


    I sighed and looked at the ring on my left hand. The skeletal gem embedded in the center shimmered with a purple hue. The spell engraved on the skeletal gem was probably a curse of fainting or hallucination. Either way, it was enough to subdue the crazy woman.


    "Ah, today... is not my day today."


    It was incredible to see how everything was not working out today.


    <i>Crack!</i>


    I hit the ring against amppost and cracked the jewel. A thin strand-like fog started to slowly flow out of the cracks.