Ch.186Isn’t Summer Break Meant for Rest? – 2

There’s a saying about “riding the rapids.” That’s exactly what’s happening now.

[The location for the World Union Academy has been decided…]

[Work on the academy grounds has begun…]

[Each country is sending funds and construction materials to Korea…]

I remember that the official announcement was made just before the break.

And in less than a week, the location for the academy was determined.

After that, the site preparation was completed in less than a month, and buildings began to rise.

Magical support that drastically reduced what would have been an enormous construction timeline.

Monster byproducts that put ordinary construction materials to shame.

Plus elite support teams carefully selected and sent from countries around the world.

At this rate, construction would be completed even before the second semester ended.

And that’s only because the Union Academy buildings and grounds are so massive.

If it had been a smaller scale, it might have been finished within the break.

‘It’s already been a month. What kind of break is this? Damn it.’

I never expected a break where I could just rest and do nothing.

The break season isn’t a vacation, and I’m not a student anyway.

But I thought at least minimal rest would be guaranteed. Guess not. Shit.

“Whoa!”

A student who had been fumbling around finally trips over his own feet.

It’s been a month already, but he hasn’t shown much improvement.

He barely managed to win the competition to enter the Academy.

But since then, he hasn’t soared any higher and continues to struggle at the bottom.

If left like this, he’ll either be expelled before completing the semester.

Or even if he somehow graduates, he won’t receive very good treatment.

“I told you. Someone who wields a sword shouldn’t fear the sword.”

“I-I’m sorry. I’m trying to adapt, but it’s… it’s not working well.”

“Fear isn’t always bad. In fact, having fear can make you more desperate and stronger. But excessive fear is nothing but shackles.”

He probably didn’t face a life-or-death situation during the Academy entrance exam.

There was no need for that in a setting that only checks the basics.

I understand that these things can be learned while staying at the Academy.

The problem is that the world isn’t as forgiving as it used to be.

Growing even a little faster isn’t just a path to becoming more famous.

It’s become the way to live without getting hurt or dying.

“Let’s try again. This time, please, don’t be scared before you even start.”

“Yes, sir!”

The twenty-fifth attempt. But the result is the same.

At first, he seemed to hold up, but as soon as I increased the speed a bit, the same pattern repeated.

Fear makes his movements clumsy, his breathing becomes irregular, and he collapses on his own.

A situation that makes me sigh. No, a situation that’s starting to irritate me.

But I took a deep breath, mentally writing the character for “patience” several times.

‘Right, be patient. These students chose to stay here during the break instead of enjoying it.’

Most of those who haven’t reached Silver yet left the Academy to enjoy their break.

Even though Hakjun Ma personally offered to keep the Academy open during the break.

He was considerate enough to let them continue receiving evaluations to try for Silver rank.

But I guess there’s a reason why those who fall behind do so.

Only a few students who desperately want to advance to Silver remained at the Academy.

At least they have some determination. Then I should respond to that determination.

Even if it’s frustrating and seems hopeless, I shouldn’t give up.

“I-I’m sorry, Arbiter. I keep…”

“If you’re sorry, work harder. And you shouldn’t be apologizing to me.”

“Pardon?”

“You should be apologizing to your family and friends who are supporting you.”

I threw more wood into the dying flames.

Family and friends. He probably flinched at those words.

He would feel sorry toward his family and embarrassed in front of his friends.

This is what’s needed to rekindle the fading intensity.

“Again!”

I hope that by clashing again and again, he’ll eventually prove himself.

Become someone I can send off with a smile as the Gatekeeper.

“Let’s eat first, Arbiter.”

After sending yet another student back to Bronze.

Hyunwoo Lee, who had been swinging his sword in the distance, appeared before me carrying something.

Of course, during the break, the Academy cafeteria is closed too.

There’s no reason to operate the cafeteria when most students are gone.

Though some students remain in the dormitories, they have to manage their meals on their own.

So students either go to nearby restaurants to eat.

Or they prepare their own food.

Or they fill their stomachs at convenience stores.

And I—

“You know, I find it amazing every time I see it.”

“Is it that surprising that I cook?”

“Of course. I thought you’d use that time to train even more.”

Originally, I was going to bring my own packed lunch.

I was thinking of preparing plenty for Hyunwoo Lee and other students too.

But surprisingly, Hyunwoo brought lunch.

And the quality was so good that I could have mistaken it for store-bought.

Until now, all Hyunwoo had shown was being obsessed with training, just that.

I couldn’t recall any indication that he was a good cook.

But the lunch he prepared was impressive enough to make even me admire it.

Thanks to that, I didn’t have to deal with the hassle of preparing lunch while coming to work during the break.

“I’ll enjoy this.”

“Eat well and please do well in our next sparring match too.”

…Are you possibly preparing lunch as a bribe for that?

Feeding me well so I’ll use my full strength in our sparring?

If that’s really the case, it seems to be working.

“Arbiter.”

“Yes.”

“Over there.”

In the middle of lunch, Hyunwoo points somewhere.

Wondering why he suddenly did that, I turned my head and there was—

“…That’s not Rina, is it?”

“No. She’s much less pretty than Rina.”

A blonde Caucasian woman who looked just like Rina was walking around the Academy.

Behind her followed several men and women, and behind them were people in suits and sunglasses.

“They’re not villains, are they?”

“If they were villains, they wouldn’t be walking around so calmly.”

While wondering who they were and continuing to eat lunch.

Perhaps sensing our presence, the people wandering nearby approached us.

It seems I won’t be able to finish my lunch after all.

“Hello.”

The woman at the front greets us as she sees me and Hyunwoo.

Thanks to this, I realized that unlike how Rina looks, this woman’s Korean is quite awkward.

She says “Hello” but it sounds clumsy.

It suddenly felt right that a blonde, blue-eyed Westerner would speak like this.

‘Still, it’s impressive that she’s trying to speak Korean without a translator.’

Deciding to finish my meal later, I stood up.

After I greeted her, the woman fumbled with her lips a few times before speaking.

“Could you tell me where Mr. Ma’s office is?”

If she’s saying Mr. Ma, there’s only one person at the Academy that could refer to.

It seems she’s a visitor looking for Hakjun Ma, but what could this be about?

*

“Go to Korea first and meet with Mr. Ma. He could be a great help to us.”

“This is for the pride of our British Empire, which has fallen to the bottom.”

Emily, an A-grade ability user from the UK.

She visited Korea faster than anyone from other countries.

The moment the location for the Union Academy was decided to be Korea.

There was much to prepare for her home country and for their students at the Union Academy.

Additionally, she needed to request support from Korea, which had a relatively abundant number of ability users.

“It’s the place showing the most notable activity recently. It will help our British Empire, which has entered a period of stagnation, in some way. It wouldn’t be bad to interact with the Academy’s principal there.”

“And there are some people who were close to your father. If you mention your father, they might take better care of you, Emily.”

Emily’s full name was Emily Shaw.

She was the daughter of Bernard Shaw, the S-grade ability user from the UK who was recently murdered.

The sudden death of an S-grade caused a period of turmoil in the country.

Villains began operating on a large scale, creating social anxiety.

On top of that, gates and monsters suddenly became stronger, leading to all sorts of difficulties.

In particular, France had to take over gates that the UK couldn’t cover.

As a result, France’s position strengthened while the UK’s narrowed.

‘For my father, for my country. I need to establish stronger connections with Korean ability users.’

For that reason, even before the construction of the Union Academy began.

Emily brought UK students to visit the Korean Academy.

The problem was that she miscalculated the vacation period and came when students were absent.

‘I’m too late. I should have come earlier.’

While reflecting on her scheduling mistake, she was on her way to meet Hakjun Ma.

Suddenly feeling someone watching her, Emily turned her steps in that direction.

And there she met two men—

‘They’re strong!’

Setting aside why they were eating lunch in such a place.

The most surprising thing was that both men she met by chance were incredibly skilled.

Especially from the man standing on the left, she could faintly sense the aura of a powerful individual.

The same faint magical energy her father used to emit subtly.

“It seems you’re here to meet the principal. Is that right?”

Principal, principal. Yes. Mr. Ma. Hakjun Ma was in that position.

Emily nodded, indicating that was correct.

Then the powerful man gestured for her to follow him.

‘Who is he? At least A-grade. Or even higher.’

While thinking various thoughts, the group arrived in front of the principal’s office.

After being told to wait a moment, the man went inside, and shortly after.

“He says to come in.”

With those words, the closed door opened wide.

“Well. I didn’t expect you to bring them, Seojin Baek.”

The moment Hakjun Ma muttered that while looking at the British group.

Emily finally learned the identity of the man who had guided her.

‘Baek? …Baek! That’s right. The surname of the person who defeated the Elder was Baek!’

Emily looked at Seojin Baek with amazement.

To think such a big shot would be eating lunch in a corner of the Academy.