Chapter 10

Hazel’s hand froze mid-motion. The old woman continued speaking as if she didn’t care about Hazel’s actions.

“God never makes mistakes. It was simply destined to be that way. A fate to meet again after a very long time.”

The old woman pointed her finger at Hazel. She was clearly an ordinary swindler, yet there was an indescribable aura about her. 

The old woman clicked her tongue as she scrutinized Hazel up and down, who stood silently, unable to say a word.

“So just accept it. The more you try to reject God’s will, the more persistently fate will follow you. It’s a fate that won’t help you no matter how much you resist, so embrace it boldly.”

“That’s not true!” 

Hazel, caught up in the old woman’s momentum, finally shouted.

You don’t know anything!

However, the old woman acted as if she hadn’t heard Hazel and waved her hands dismissively. Her attitude was completely different from when she had forcefully dragged Hazel here.

“Now that your worries are resolved, off you go. I need to wrap things up and head home myself. Ah, the fee is one coin. I wasn’t lying when I said it was cheap, was I?”

The old woman grinned cheekily, baring her teeth, and Hazel let out a hollow laugh at her audacity.

After dragging me here against my will!

But one coin wasn’t an amount Hazel couldn’t afford. When Hazel pulled out a coin from her wallet, the old woman handed her a strange object.

“Since you’re my last customer, I’ll give you a special gift. If you place this by your bedside while you sleep, all your worries will be resolved.”

“What is this?”

“It’s supposed to be a secret, but I’ll tell you specially.”

The old woman’s gaze, as if about to reveal an incredible secret, made Hazel unconsciously swallow dryly.

When the old woman gestured for her to lean closer, Hazel inclined her body forward. The old woman whispered softly into her ear.

“It’s a bad luck banishing stick.”

Hazel’s eyes turned cold.

Whether she noticed or not, the old woman excitedly rambled on about how amazing the talisman was, spitting as she spoke. After a long explanation about the bad luck banishing stick, the old woman said firmly, 

“It’s most effective when it’s in direct contact with your body, but that won’t be easy for you, so just keep it close. Placing it by your bedside or carrying it in your bag would be good.”

The old woman smiled slyly, placing a finger on her lips, and shooed Hazel out. Hazel, who was hastily driven out, stared blankly at the object in her hand.

“What in the world is this…”

The item the old woman gave her was somewhat long. Curious about what was inside, Hazel carefully opened the box.

Surely, it couldn’t be something like a cursed doll?

It was cheap anyway, so it wouldn’t be a big loss no matter what it was. But if it contained something ominous, that would be a different story.

When Hazel reached into the box, she felt something blunt and solid. It didn’t seem suspicious, so she pulled it out. What emerged was an object that looked vaguely familiar.

Is she insane?

Hazel let out a hollow laugh.

A blunt, long pillar with two small round shapes attached at the bottom.

This is the bad luck banishing stick?

Should I go back and give that old woman a piece of my mind? 

Hazel turned around, but that was it. 

Fine, let’s just consider it a lost coin. 

She was too desperate to go home to bother arguing.

So Hazel unhesitatingly discarded the grotesque object in her hand.

The wooden piece, shaped exactly like a man’s g*nitalia, landed in the trash bin with a hollow sound.

***

Perhaps it was because of what happened yesterday, but her dreams weren’t pleasant.

“Why did she have to give me such a thing and unsettle me?”

Hazel sighed deeply with a tired face and slowly sat up. She wished she could sleep for a few more hours. With a face full of lingering regret, she got out of bed.

As she grabbed the edge of the blanket to tidy up her bed, something caught her eye. A blunt, long pillar. The grotesque object she had surely thrown into the trash bin last night was now sitting conspicuously on her bedside table.

“…Why is that here?”

Could someone have come in?

With a pale face, Hazel looked around, but there were no signs of an intruder.

She had definitely thrown it into the trash bin, so unless it came here on its own, someone must have brought it in. Yet, there was no trace of anyone entering.

‘It’s most effective when it’s in direct contact with your body, but that won’t be easy for you, so just keep it close. Placing it by your bedside or carrying it in your bag would be good.’

“No way. That can’t be true. I’ll just throw it away on my way to work. That should do it.”

Hazel rationalized to herself and let out a hollow laugh.

Right, it doesn’t make sense for that grotesque object to have come to me on its own. I must have been so tired that I thought I threw it away but didn’t.

Ignoring the grotesque object on her bedside table, Hazel hurried to get ready for work. Whatever strange item was in her house, she still had to go to work.

Thanks to the grotesque object waking her up, Hazel packed her things and left the house. Afraid someone might see her discarding the hideous thing, she carefully threw it into the trash bin while keeping an eye on her surroundings.

After confirming several times that the grotesque object was indeed in the trash bin, Hazel walked away with lighter steps.

The Academy was as lively and bright as ever, making her wonder if the whole incident had been a dream.

“Good morning, Professor Hoover.”

A man with his hair tied back greeted her with a bright smile. Hazel nodded slightly in response and climbed the stairs.

Sighing deeply, she headed toward her office, only to lock eyes with Enoch coming from the opposite direction.

Startled by the memory of his cold gaze, Hazel quickly averted her eyes and hurried her steps.

She regretted running away so blatantly, but it was too late to undo it.

Flustered, Hazel entered her office and glanced at the calendar on the wall. It was still April.

Enoch had been appointed as a professor at the Academy in late March, which meant there were still 11 months left before he would leave.

“Sigh…”

First loves are only beautiful when they remain as good memories.

Although certain things had happened, Hazel tried not to dwell on them too seriously and comforted herself.

The situation had already occurred, and she couldn’t just resign, so she had no choice but to wait quietly until he left the Academy.

‘Like Enoch said, even if I go somewhere and tell someone, there’s no one who would believe me. Rather, I’d rather be sued for defamation.’

A bitter smile formed on her lips as she felt the stark difference in power.

Arriving at the classroom a bit early, Hazel opened the door. Walking toward the podium, she naturally entered the room but stopped abruptly.

Why are you here…?

He was standing beside her. As if he intended to enter this classroom.

Hazel froze, her eyes wide with shock, while Enoch casually responded to her startled gaze.

“I had some free time, so I thought I’d sit in on your lecture.”

“Why you?!”

He didn’t even bring a single pen!

Unintentionally raising her voice, Hazel covered her mouth with her hand. Enoch shrugged as if he didn’t mind her reaction.

“The Dean said I could sit in on lectures if I was interested, and I like it.”

“Like what?”

“The novel by Elrand. You’re teaching it today, aren’t you?”

Pointing at the book Hazel was holding, Enoch looked at her as if there was nothing wrong.

“Well, if that’s the case…”

Hazel forced an awkward smile and averted her gaze.

There was so much she wanted to say, but with students starting to enter the classroom, she had to let it go.

Watching Enoch casually borrow paper and a pen and take a seat, Hazel felt uneasy.

It was clear he wasn’t participating in the lecture purely out of academic curiosity.