episode_0025

“It’s boring.”

“…I don’t think this is what the person who is destroying all the training equipment that students have to use would say.”

“It’s so boring. Isn’t there a higher level? Is this what kids these days can do? It wasn’t like this back in our day.”

The person who grumbled and talked about the past like an old man was Rebecca.

There were private training centers for students in Academy City, and the place where Rebecca was currently grumbling was one of those private training centers.

Since most older students go on practical training during vacation, it was easy to rent a private training center.

The problem was that private training centers could not match Rebecca’s level.

I came in pretending to be a customer of the private training center and was keeping an eye on Rebecca’s actions.

“If you train like that these days, you’ll be in big trouble. In the past, the situation was so bad that there was no point in worrying about such things, but not now.”

The situation has stabilized to the extent that enlistment has been reduced to 10 years.

However, Rebecca did not like the current situation itself.

“I don’t like that! You’re complacent because the pollution rate isn’t increasing. Is it right that we have to continue to live with 60% of the land taken away? Rather, we should attack now when things are stable and clean up more land!”

“That’s because we can live well with just the land we have now.”

No matter how much the human population increases, the places where people can live are limited.

Most of the contaminated areas were uninhabitable.

‘To begin with, most of it is also the sea.’

Therefore, the military changed its goal to maintaining the status quo rather than reducing the pollution rate.

In fact, just stabilizing the pollution rate in this world required the sacrifice of many nobles.

The nobles, who were tired of the long war, wanted to enjoy peace.

“No!! Not at all. I lost the desert to that damn pollution. I need to get it back.”

“Yes, yes, I know. The desert is your homeland.”

“If you are not involved, you will probably never understand. Why you are leaving this place, which is a good place to live, and going to the desert.”

“I just don’t want you to suffer. Why should you suffer when you can live comfortably here?”

“You know, you know.”

Rebecca was sad that her goals were not understood, but she also fully understood her friend’s position.

“It’s okay, so stop worrying about me. Are you going to keep living like this? If you’ve achieved this much success, why don’t you change that attitude of hiding? Who else would have a private training center of this size on such a nice site? The other kids will want to know you! “Looking at you? It’s because you’re jealous. You dirty bastards.”

“Honestly, I’m not proud of not being able to enlist.”

Rebecca’s friend Sasha went to the academy with Rebecca in the past, but due to her lack of skills, she was not successful in enlisting and started a business.

No one likes enlisting, but there is a big difference between not joining and not being able to join.

‘Because you will be treated as a dishonorable loser.’

In cases where you cannot enter, the military tells you not to come at all because it is useless.

When you awaken, you usually develop a high level of immunity to most diseases, but even so, if you are unable to enlist because you have a chronic illness, you can be understood.

However, in Sasha’s case, he was refused enlistment due to his lack of skills, and as a result, he had to face all kinds of ridicule.

“If you’ve succeeded, you can brag about it. While you guys were making a fuss, I was such a success! Even if that’s not the case, I heard they’re holding a reunion for all of you who have been discharged from the military, so you can brag to your heart’s content there.”

“…I’m not going.”

While I was training the swordsmanship I had learned during my time as a mercenary, I sighed involuntarily at the words of my friend Rebecca, who was extremely depressed.

‘It’s a bit awkward here too.’

And Rebecca, who has a hot personality, said:

“What kind of bullshit is that? If anything, the more I do that, the more I should attend! Brag about how much money I’ve made. They’ll probably be so jealous that they’ll go crazy and jump around.”

If you see a private training center, your stomach will probably hurt even more.

Some people went to the military and hit the jackpot, but some people didn’t get accepted and couldn’t enlist, but they made money and hit the jackpot during that time.

‘It’s a loss if you don’t go for this.’

They’ll probably be so pissed off that they’ll drink the whole bottle.

On the outside, they’ll scold you.

But when I wake up the next day, I will be hit hard.

And I’m going crazy with envy.

“Ah, what can I do about this guy’s low self-esteem? Hey.”

Did you really call me?

My heart dropped as I thought they might have caught me listening to what the two were talking about.

“Did you call me?”

“Yes, you’re right, I called you. Did you hear what we were talking about?”

“It’s a situation where you can’t hear anything.”

The training hall is so large that when you speak, the entire room resonates.

“I’m sorry. We made too much noise.”

The training ground owner apologized, but Rebecca said that wasn’t the important thing.

“Can you tell me what I’ve already heard? He doesn’t believe me.”

“Stop it! It’s a nuisance.”

“What’s a nuisance? Are you uncomfortable?”

To be honest, when Rebecca spoke to me, I was scared because I thought she’d caught me following her around.

I hmmm! I cleared my throat with a cough and spoke to the training ground owner.

“No. I think it would be a good idea to go to the reunion.”

“Look!! That guy has to attend too.”

“It may be a little childish, but classics always work well.”

“That’s right! Go there and show off all the expensive clothes, expensive accessories, and even expensive handbags. Things that other people can’t easily get. You have a lot of expensive things in your closet.”

“Besides, you decorate your appearance a little too carefully. I think you’ll look quite pretty if you decorate yourself.”

“Kyaha~ You know something.”

“If you do that, the atmosphere there will probably be ruined.”

“!!!”

The training ground owner was shocked by my words, but Rebecca clenched her fist and said that was it.

“That’s right! That’s exciting!”

The fact that the military did not accept me because of my lack of skills means that I did not have a normal time during my school years.

This is because it is obvious that he would have been ignored by other students due to his skills.

“You were invited, but it looks like someone else’s party. You are turning that party upside down.”

“Wow, I got goosebumps just thinking about it. Thinking about their faces getting crumpled.”

“Lastly, if you need a private training center, stop by. Since you are a friend, I can conclude by saying that I will let you use it for free once.”

If you even break it down into small pieces, it’s the icing on the cake.

Rebecca seemed to like my idea and slapped her thigh.

“Hey, hey. Listen carefully to what that guy says. It’s amazing.”

The training ground owner’s expression brightens, as if he is slowly imagining revenge for my words.

“Wouldn’t that be too unlucky?”

“Everyone there will hate you to begin with.”

“That’s right. You were an outcast.”

“Yah…”

“They hate me even if I don’t do anything, so wouldn’t it be better to give them a reason to hate me?”

“Wow, I really like this guy! Uncle, let’s make it clear that this has already happened. I’m Rebecca! I’m a teacher at the academy.”

“This is Suhan. I run a general store.”

“Soohan? That’s a cool name. Please tell me where the general store is. I’ll go there next time! I always thought Ash was the only general store.”

“Any new customer is welcome. Since the general store just opened, it’s normal to not know anything.”

“How old are you?”

“thirty.”

“Oh! I’m also 30. We were the same age. Let’s talk!”

I shook my head at Rebecca’s refreshing suggestion.

“Because I’m a commoner.”

“Oh! Really? I thought you were a noble. And if you’re a commoner, can’t you talk to me? As long as you’re on the same page, it’s okay. So, let’s be friends. Huh?”

Surprisingly, Rebecca didn’t mind being called a commoner.

The students used the excuse of being a bit older to speak informally, but I thought that noble adults needed to be careful.

“Is this unusual? Is it usually like this?”

“What does it matter if you’re a commoner or a noble? If everyone gets along well, we’ll all be friends, right? Maybe?”

Rebecca tilted her head as if she wasn’t sure, then shrugged her shoulders.

I said I didn’t think there was any need to keep refusing when they asked me to make it easier for them first.

“Well…let’s do it. No, let’s do it.”

“Me too! Please do me a favor. Thank you for your advice.”

And the training ground owner also courageously intervened.

“Of course I have to wear Sasha too!!”

Rebecca tapped the training ground owner’s shoulder as if she was saying something new.

“You, too, tell Suhan your name.”

“My name is Sasha. No, my name is Sasha.”

I didn’t realize it because I was so focused on Rebecca, but the training ground owner’s beauty is unusual.

For reference, in this world, it is rare for a woman to be beautiful unless she is an SSR character.

However, Sasha’s appearance was so beautiful that it was hard to believe that she wasn’t an SSR character.

In particular, her long, straight pink hair and eyes were so gorgeous that I wondered why I hadn’t paid close attention to her until now.

However, his appearance was a bit cold, so it gave off the impression that it would be difficult to approach him and talk to him without a smile.

‘When I’m not talking to Rebecca, I usually have a cold expression on my face.’

It’s a private training center run by a beautiful hostess…

It was the moment I realized why this place was so popular.

⁂ ⁂ ⁂

After having a conversation with Rebecca and Shasha due to an unexpected incident.

We didn’t split up right away, but finished training and went for a drink.

It was Rebecca who first offered drinks.

It’s clear that he really liked what I said to Sasha.

It wasn’t something I had planned, but it wouldn’t hurt to build a relationship with Rebecca.

“Is the general store doing well? Should I promote it to the kids?”

Rebecca, who had been drinking, seemed to be in a good mood and said that she had something she could do for her and that she would continue to promote my general store.

“I can also recommend it to our members…”

Rebecca wasn’t the only one acting treasonous.

Sasha is timid, but she also wants to help and boasts that she can promote it.

“It’s okay. It’s been a while since I made a good friend, and I don’t want to get involved in work like that and cause problems. Even if the general store doesn’t do well, I don’t have a problem making a living. Running the general store is also something I do as a hobby. If there are too many customers, it’s annoying.”

Of course, I declined because I didn’t want too many customers.

Although the item window was overflowing with unsold items, wasn’t the general store originally intended to sell them all?

Refilling things also took a lot of work.