The “Gap” and the “Eul” (Superior and Subordinate)

,It’s the island Ross likes, isn’t it?

I gave a wry smile at Ellie’s playful voice. The reason Ellie said that is because the final match’s stage is precisely on an island. The story of me burning down an island during the survival exam was famous in the Academy. Seeing the seniors patting my shoulder with smiles, I thought there probably wasn’t anyone in the Academy who didn’t know about it.

Before entering the match, Edward, who had received the bag, placed the bag he was carrying on the ground.

,Alright, let’s check the bag first.

Edward, after examining the inside of the bag, took out the contents one by one and handed them to Marie, who was watching nearby. It was a red ribbon and a bracelet containing the artifact obtained from the second match. After sharing the bracelet, Edward finally took out a parchment tied with a ribbon from the bag.

Edward untied the ribbon, quickly checked the contents, explained that it was the rule of the final match, and read it aloud for us who were curious.

,This final match is a competition where cooperation and competition are combined into one. In the center of the island, there exists a Kraken created with the help of the great Tower Masters-nim of each magic tower. Kraken, the king of the Naga, is awakening from the bottom of the dark sea to punish humans who have polluted the sea and is heading here. Follow your leader, cooperate or compete with other academies, defeat the Naga King Kraken, and win the Triathlon.

Edward explained about the additional points in a slightly nervous voice.

,The game ends immediately when you catch the Kraken. The participant who deals the final blow to the Kraken can earn 500 points. You get 20 points for eliminating other participants. And the mountain over there in the north is an active volcano. When the 13th tremor rings, it will cover the uninhabited island with lava.

After finishing the explanation, Edward paused to organize his thoughts, then received the red ribbon from Marie.

,Someone has to be the leader wearing the ribbon. If the opposing leader is eliminated, or if a participant in the role of leader is eliminated, you lose 300 points.

,300 points…?

Ophelia, a 4th-year senior, muttered with a frightened expression, then subtly stepped back. It seems that as a graduating class member, she doesn’t want to take on a role with high risk. The 3rd-year seniors, who are being carried along in the Triathlon, also subtly turned their gazes to us.

Edward, noticing the atmosphere, groaned and said with a helpless expression.

,The role of leader is a role with only responsibility and no benefits. If no one steps forward, I, as the most senior….

Two voices overlapped, interrupting Edward’s words.

,I-

,I’ll-

Roel and I, whose voices overlapped, looked at each other. Roel had an expression that he didn’t expect me to step forward.

,Ross, do you want to be the leader? It’ll be a lot of pressure.

To Roel, who spoke as if he would step back if I wanted to, I nodded my head without hesitation. Remembering Roel’s advice not to be half-hearted, I added in an arrogant tone.

,Rather than entrusting it to the dimwitted seniors, I think it would be better if I did it.

Cassius glared at me with an upset expression at my words, but I raised only one corner of my mouth in a sarcastic manner.

,Since Ross says he wants to do it, shouldn’t we decide on Ross as the leader if there are no other applicants?

At Roel’s words, Edward nodded and looked around. As if afraid that he would be asked to be the leader if he made eye contact, the seniors subtly turned their heads or avoided eye contact.

,It doesn’t seem like there are any other opinions. Alright, then the leader of our Transcendence Academy is Ross!

As Edward clapped, the seniors reluctantly followed suit. Edward attached the red ribbon to my helmet. Roel and Ellie watched me with their arms crossed, nodding their heads in satisfaction. It seems that lovers are lovers after all.

,Alright, now that we’ve decided on the leader, I’ll explain some additional things to be careful about.

Edward said, tapping the parchment.

,Attacking a teammate and eliminating them results in a minus 100 points. Everyone be careful when using artifacts or magic. And the most important thing in the game is the Kraken. As I said before, the participant who deals the final blow is the one who gets the extra points. In other words, they might be secretly hiding and waiting to deal the final blow.

,Then shouldn’t we watch the situation until another academy catches the Kraken?

Edward shook his head at Cassius’s words.

,No, this is a game with a time limit. When the volcano rings 13 times, lava will flow out and cover the uninhabited island. That means everyone is eliminated.

,Since we have high scores anyway, wouldn’t it be better if we all got eliminated together?

Ellie, who was next to Marie, sighed softly at Marie’s words. She had an annoyed expression.

,Did you forget? What situation we’re in right now. The academies are in a coalition. They could eliminate us first and then catch the Kraken, or they could hold us back while another team catches the Kraken. If Elassium catches the Kraken, we’ll lose in a come-from-behind victory.

Marie groaned at Edward’s words. I sighed and joined the conversation.

,There’s no need to be scared already. Our artifacts are better, and our skills aren’t lacking either.

,Yeah, everyone, there’s no need to be scared. We’ve prepared hard too. We’ve brought a lot of artifacts.

Edward, who agreed with my opinion, suggested moving to the center of the island to examine the Kraken. We need to check the situation first to make even a rough plan. Everyone nodded and took their weapons. After confirming the direction with Senior Ophelia’s magic, we moved to the center of the island.

We followed the path and climbed a hill. Looking down, this was a C-shaped island. The only thing that could be called the center of the island was the sea, and there was nothing that could be called a Kraken.

,There’s nothing here…?

Cassius said, scratching his head. Knowing the conditions for the Kraken’s appearance, I said as if guessing.

,It might appear when someone approaches, or when the volcano rings.

,I see,, Cassius nodded. I turned around and looked at the seniors and said.

,Let’s set up camp here for now. We can check when the Kraken appears, and we can also set up traps or boundary magic to prevent other teams from approaching.

,Yeah, we haven’t confirmed the location of the other teams yet, and we can’t see the Kraken, so moving rashly could be dangerous. Let’s wait here as Ross says. Ophelia, Ellie, and Cassius, set up magic around the area, and the rest of us, let’s knock down trees to make cover.

Everyone agreed with Edward’s words and started doing their assigned tasks. I watched for a moment, then quietly approached Roel, who was cutting down trees with a greatsword.

,Hyung-nim, I have something to ask you.

Roel put down the greatsword he was holding and asked with a puzzled expression.

,To me? Are you finally becoming interested in your hyung-nim?

Roel gave a playful smile, but I asked with a serious face to finally find the answer to the unresolved question.

,Why… are you trying to become stronger?

Roel clapped his hands with an impressed expression.

,Is our little brother at the age where he’s asking philosophical questions?

I sighed at his sly smile and answered.

,…I’m asking seriously.

,Hmm, then I’ll have to answer seriously.

Roel, with an even deeper smile on his face, lowered his eyes slightly and said.

,Would the answer, ‘For everyone,’ be enough?

Seeing my expression as if to say, ‘What kind of answer is that?’, Roel shrugged his shoulders, spreading his arms as if he was wronged.

,I’m serious. I want to become stronger for everyone. Because I want to protect everything I love.

At that answer, I inadvertently asked.

,From what?

A moment of silence flowed. Roel’s gaze turned to me for a moment, then answered with sharpened eyes.

,…From unseen dangers.

Roel took a step closer to me. Looking straight at me, Roel said in a low voice.

,I’m greedy, so I have a lot to protect. If I don’t prepare in advance, I might shed tears of blood and regret it later.

Roel smiled and patted my shoulder.

,You’re also becoming stronger to protect your beloved Luna, right? I feel the same way. I want to protect everyone. Sincerely.

I was a little relieved at Roel’s voice full of sincerity. Yeah, this is the Roel I knew. A hero who sacrifices himself for everyone. There must be no other reason. I looked at Roel and said with a smile.

,Can I ask you a favor?

,Of course, always rely on your hyung-nim.

I shook my head at Roel’s appearance, nodding his head as if it was obvious without even listening to what the favor was. Like Rosalyn said, I didn’t want Roel to feel any more guilt about my unfortunate upbringing.

,Hyung-nim, this isn’t an order, it’s a favor. I owe you. If I’m going to pay off the debt later, you have to ask me for something too.

After hearing my answer, Roel flinched for some reason and lowered his gaze.

,Then, if I committed a great wrong against you… if I was hiding a great wrong that couldn’t be forgiven, would you forgive me with this?

No matter what Roel did to me, our relationship wouldn’t change. It’s a clear “gap” and “eul” (superior and subordinate). I have the setting that I can’t beat Roel with anything, and my happy ending is determined by Roel’s performance. I have no choice but to accept the apology of the “gap”. It’s a frustrating situation, but this is the predetermined fate, the setting. At Roel’s serious voice, I answered in a playful voice.

,To that extent… half? No, half of half?

Roel gave a handsome smile at my joke.

,Even if it’s only that much… I’m glad if I can be forgiven.

I said with sincerity, hoping that Roel’s heart would be a little more at ease with that answer.

,Of course I’ll forgive you. Hyung-nim is my family.

But for some reason, after hearing my words, Roel only gave a bitter smile without saying anything.