The Unsurpassed Maiden

"What were you even looking for that time when you got lost here?" The boy asks again as both of him and Mi Young walk along the narrow alley that leads to the supposedly back part of the abandoned part of the city.

"I don't know. I was curious about this city so I wandered carelessly. I was also looking for a silent location where I can read my book peacefully." Mi Young lies again. She's really getting good with lying, she realized.

"Good thing you were able to run away from the guards. They're very strict and are all skilled." The boy says with an appreciating hum. "Were you good at running or hiding?"

"I can say both." Mi Young says with a small smirk that she knows the boy can see. "Are we there yet?"

"We're close." The stranger says.

Just as he said, they arrived at the back part of the area after a few more minutes.

"Here we are." The other party says.

"Thanks for bringing me here. I hope I can repay you." Mi Young says as she walks forward.

"You're going there?"

Mi Young nodded her head. "Of course."

"Alone."

"Do you see someone with me?" Mi Young questions in another sarcastic voice.

"I know but aren't you afraid of getting caught?" The boy asks.

"Been there done that. Don't worry, it's night time so they will have a hard time catching me." The black haired girl says as she starts to move forward. She turns around to wave at the boy before saying a small "thank you" once more. After that, she faces the front and walks into the darkness to find her senior.

However, the young girl didn't even have the chance to take another step forward when a voice called her.

"Hey! Wait up!"

Mi Young stops and looks back once more. She sees the cloaked figure running towards her. Mi Young looked at him confusingly, "What? Did I forget something? Do you need payment?"

The boy sighs before rework ying to her, "No. I just decided to come with you."

"Come with me? Why? You'll get in trouble." The black haired girl tries to reason out.

"Nah. It would be rude for me to let a girl go there alone."

"That's so sweet of you but trust me, I can take care of myself." Mi Young says. Then she looks at the man from head to toe, "Not to be rude, but how can you help me with all of that?"

"Don't judge a book by its cover." The boy says with a jolly voice. "Don't worry, I'll stay out of trouble as possible. Plus, you said it yourself, it's nighttime so no one can see us."

Mi Young doesn't know what to do. Obviously, she needs to get rid of the boy since she has different reasons and she was lying about a lost wallet all the time. The black haired girl bites her lower lip, trying to decide whether to tell the boy the truth or get rid of him in another way.

"What are you waiting for?" The boy says while already taking a step forward.

Mi Young sighs before she looks at the boy with grave seriousness. "Okay. I admit, it was all a lie."

"What lie?"

"This. Everything is a lie. I'm not here to get some lost wallet okay?" The girl says.

The stranger cocks his head to the side, "So, what are you here for then?"

"I have other reasons but I still need to find something…err someone." Mi Young adds.

"Then, let's go."

"Didn't you hear what I just said?"

"I'm not deaf. I heard it pretty clearly." The stranger answers.

"Then why do you still want to go? You said it yourself earlier, this place is dangerous so why do you still want to come with me?" The black haired girl questions. She was looking at the boy with a very confused expression.

"Fine. I'll admit something too." The stranger starts to say. "When we bumped into each other earlier, I was also on my way here. So basically, I wasn't helping you at the same time 'cause my destination was also here."

Mi Young freezes as she thinks for a while. Then she realized what the other party just said, "Wait, why do you want to come here? Please tell me you are not one of the soldiers here."

The black haired girl hears the stranger chuckle before he says, "No. I'm not. I'm also someone who has to hide away from them."

"So I was right earlier? You really are a fugitive?" The black haired girl asks with wide eyes. Of all the people who she can make contact to, why a criminal who is someone the guards are after?

"No as well. So you don't have to worry about that. Let's just say, I'm a very important person who needs to be himself."

Mi Young regards the stranger for a few seconds. "Hmm…"

"What? Why are you looking at me like that? I'm telling the truth!" The stranger says.

The black haired girl sighs in defeat before she starts walking forward towards the entrance where they can enter the abandoned area. "Fine. Whatever, just don't be a nuisance and don't get caught."

"Yes ma'am!" The boy announces while giving the black haired girl a salute.

"Shush! Don't shout." Mi Young scaffolds while making a shushing sound. She sends a glare at the man before she continued walking.

Both of them were walking slowly around the street, trying so hard to hide themselves along the shadows. It'd be a huge mess if she gets caught. Mi Young remembered why she was here in the first place and couldn't help but to curse at Kwang Soo again.

"If I ever find that man, I'll definitely strangle him to death." Mi Young whispers to herself.

"Did you say something? Why do you want to strangle someone?" The stranger suddenly asks, making Mi Young jump in surprise.

"Stop being a creep! And it's none of your business!" Mi Young says while sending another glare at the stranger.

Despite his face being covered, Mi Young knows the other party was smiling at her. "Fine. Sorry. But can I ask you something?"

"What?" Mi Young questions.

"Who are you looking for? And is that person very important to you for you to really sacrifice yourself while going here alone?"

"He's not that important but if he gets caught then it's all over for me as well. I can get expelled from school if the city finds out that someone from Mistwood Academy made a huge mess." Mi Young explains. Then she remembers something again. "Plus, it's against the school rules to be here so…you know."

"Oh so you're the other student from Mistwood Academy who went here to visit the city? I'm assuming that the one you are looking for is the other student." The stranger asks./

"What do you mean 'other' student? How come you know that there was another?" Mi Young questions, completely stopping her movements.

She looks at the boy with a very scrutinizing stare, trying to figure out who is behind the cloak.

"Everyone's talking about you guys. As well as your teacher."

"Everyone?"

The man nods. "Rumors fly fast around here. Especially since there are only a few visitors who can go and went inside here." The other party says.

"Is that so?" Mi Young human, shoulders going limp as she feels a dead and heavy weight got removed from her shoulders.

"Why? Did you think I was a spy?" The boy questions with a teasing voice.

The black haired girl glares at him. "Don't start now."

Afterwards, the two of them started walking once more. They were both hiding behind abandoned houses and trying to blend with the shadows just to make sure that any soldier or spy cams doesn't catch them,

"Do you know where we are going?" The boy asks.

"Yeah. I'm trying to look for a house." Mi Young says. Then, she stops and looks at the other party. "Hey, since you are someone who knows a lot about this place, do you happen to know an abandoned house around this area that has fences?"

Mi Young sees the boy freeze, "You know about that house?"

"Uhn."

"So you know about the headquarters."

"You know about it too? I thought only a few people knew that the headquarters was hidden here?" The young student asks.

"Well, some people heard it from the rumors. But no one really believes them because they trust the High Lords and the soldiers but some people, like me, believe it to be true." The cloaked figure says.

"Why do they not want the citizens to find out about the headquarters?"

"Don't you know?" The man asks. Mi young shakes her head. The boy seemed to regard the black haired girl for a few seconds before he sighs and answers her question.. "It's because the headquarters is hiding the Mana Shell here."