episode_0044

12 o’clock. Lunch time at Elada.

Usually, the principal of Ellada skips lunch or eats something simple like a sandwich, but sometimes he eats a regular lunch.

By simply pressing a button with your finger on the controller hanging on the wall of the principal’s office, the dean will be paged to Elada’s cafeteria and the meal will be delivered within 10 minutes.

And the meals brought by renowned chefs are placed on the huge luncheon table in the center of the principal’s office, and their fragrant aroma calls out to the owner of the food.

‘What a waste.’

After smoking a cigarette for a while, I clicked my tongue as I looked at the various dinners laid out on the large table.

Elada’s main building and the student cafeteria are at least 300 meters away.

Even if it were to run from there to this top floor of the main building, it would take more than 5 minutes, but seeing as it shows up within 10 minutes, it was clearly made in advance.

Since I don’t always eat lunch or overeat, most of it would just be thrown away, and I thought what a huge waste of resources this was.

Even so, food prices are gradually becoming more expensive.

“… Dean.”

I was moving a large German sausage from the plate across from me to the plate in front of me, cutting it with a fork and knife, and looked up in the direction where the voice came from.

There was a blonde woman wearing a tight black suit and a teacher’s badge on her chest.

However, the difference is that she always wore high-denier stockings, so even her legs were pitch black, but perhaps because the weather got warmer, the tone went down and changed to a coffee color.

“Professor Burns. You came at just the right time. Let’s have a meal together. I can’t even handle the work on the table by myself.”

He spoke bluntly to Helen, who came in during the meal. She has excellent judgment and insight. If you entered the principal’s office in this situation, there would definitely be something urgent to talk about.

She also knew that it would not be a good situation for Northmund if she showed up in a rude situation, so she bowed her head to me who greeted me in a rude tone.

“I’m really sorry for being rude while eating. But I really want to tell you this now. Please cancel the official notice attached to Elada now.”

“You mean that? The deadline promised with GDO is today.”

I used a fork to stab the cut pieces of steak on my plate.

As I lift the medium-rare piece of meat on my fork to my mouth, a faint feeling of excitement flows through my body.

Helen, who had taken a step back due to that energy, walked towards me again with a stern expression on her face. The sound of the heels clicking against the marble floor seemed to speak of her will.

“But now those children are not properly trained. Ieast… At least 3 more months have to pass! After a while, if someone from GDO comes and takes the list, there is no going back!”

“You seem to have become very attached to your students, Professor Burns. Wasn’t the espionage class not a very popular class?”

“Dean, please! These children haven’t even had proper cooperation training yet! It would be too dangerous to send it out right away.”

Seeing me smiling peacefully while eating salad with a fork, Helen raised her voice with a serious expression.

That’s right. Not long ago, Jimmy and Gideon had a proper confrontation, and although factional fighting was officially banned, they were still fighting underground.

Everyone was able to make Danjeon and turn it into a mana weapon, but that was all. Training for mass cooperation on the battlefield has not yet been properly implemented.

She is worried about it.

“What you worry about will not happen. As you know, this competition is just a big show. You won’t be sent on a dangerous mission, and I won’t make you do that.”

“But Dean… .”

“I’m telling you this, but only about 40% of those who passed the final evaluation are on the sortie list. They are all excellent guys, so there is nothing to worry about.”

“… .”

“Is it because of that child? It seems like you quite liked it.”

I knew that Jang Ah-hyeon of Taesung Group was taking her espionage lectures. I checked my grades and found out that I was an incredible honor student. The professor’s evaluation was also excellent.

There were so many good words written that I thought Helen Burns’s selfishness might have been reflected in it.

She has a sly personality, but she has grown attached to cute kittens and is worried that they might get sick.

‘She too has changed a lot in this short time.’

“This time, I’m going with you. I swear that I will never, ever let anything untoward happen. Because I am also their father.”

“… yes. sorry. I was so reckless.”

It’s sad, but as a member of society, she knows well that there are situations that cannot be helped no matter how much you want it. Besides, isn’t she the one who came to this academy by skipping the role of an intelligence agent and the International Defense Organization?

You probably know very well that this is the way of the world, and that it is the natural order of things that we as humans in difficult situations must endure.

“In any case, this sortie is simply intended to deliver a message of hope to human society. So, stop worrying and just drink the $2,500 cup of tea you drink every day. As usual, it suits you to pay for the supplies of the principal’s office.”

When I spoke with a sly smile on my face, she looked at me with a sullen look on her face.

However, seeing that there was still a small wrinkle between her eyebrows, it seemed that she had not completely shaken off all the anxiety in her heart.

They say you get more emotional as you get older, but she too… .

Secretly, I also had this rude thought that I knew would make her extremely angry if she found out.

*

The hottest place at Elm Talent Development Academy these days would definitely be the main hall of the main building.

There may be a reason why the 5-meter-tall stone statue of Northmund is located there, but it is also because new official letters are posted every day inviting cadets into a dizzying fantasy world.

And today again, students were crowded in front of the bulletin board in the main hall.

─Ah… I’m not a member, damn it… .

─I passed with pull-ups.

─What should I do… If this continues, won’t I be abandoned by Gray?

─By the way, it was put into actual combat. Honestly, I’m a little worried.

─May! It’s an honor! Of course you have to do it! Li Jiyuan’s honor is ours… .

The information was posted and pinned to a bulletin board filled with bustling crowds.

『Announcement of rankings of Elm Talent Development Academy students.』

[This is a ranking that reflects the students’ grades, sincerity, development potential, attitude, and professor evaluations to date.

The rankings are as follows.

1. Gideon Gray

2. Jimmy Ramirez

3. Han Sejun

4. Li Jiyuan

5. Jang A-hyeon

6. Ian Keller

7. Henry Wagner

8. Luke Hengistbury

9. Tania Grayson

10. Hugh Littleburn

Please check the additionally announced list from 11th to the last.

Those up to rank 50, approximately the top 40%, must participate in the award ceremony hosted by the International Defense Organization since they have faithfully completed Elada’s curriculum.

Principal Elm Northmund will be congratulating the students at the award ceremony.

In addition, it has been determined that personnel within the 50th rank can engage in combat with monsters, so it is notified that they can be deployed in battles with monsters from now on.

The relevant personnel will be trained to use the teleportation magic circle for about 60 minutes from 19:00 to 20:00, after dinner, for three days starting today.

Additionally, these personnel can independently create teams to which they will belong during battle. The person selected as team leader must speak to the instructors and receive approval.

Each team will be assigned instructors for a period of time for the purpose of combat guidance, and it is stated that discord beyond friendly competition between each team cannot be tolerated.]

─Now that I think about it, why is Brother Ramirez under Gray Guy?

─Shhh, be quiet! If you say that out loud, you’ll be in real trouble. Cliques are prohibited!

─The official document says to form a team. I guess it’s practically official anyway, right?

In the midst of all the noise, a female student with short brown hair quietly leaves the main building.

The weather in Korea, which has entered the beginning of summer, is already warm and sunny, and the heat can already be felt.

Ahyeon Jang recalled what Professor Helen Burns had quietly told her not long ago.

─Student Ahyeon Jang. You are truly an outstanding person. I have high hopes for you.

─Thank you for your kind words, Professor Burns. I am also fortunate to have a good person like you as a teacher.

─Hehe, I know these are empty words, but it still feels good, right?

Helen Burns is a professor in a department dripping with unprecedented danger called espionage.

In fact, Jang Ah-hyun’s choice of taking the intelligence class as her minor was the result of thorough calculation.

After investigating at Taesung Group’s strategy office, Jang Ah-hyun found out that she was close to Northmund’s close associates and chose her department.

Although it had an inherently spy-like feel, looking at the results, it seemed like there was never a single thing that deviated from the dean’s intentions. Actually, if something like that happened, the hero of that world wouldn’t have left it alone.

─After some time, we will hear that the team organization has been officially approved.

─Team?

─Yes. Among them, I will officially sponsor you. I saw some good sprouts, can I just leave them alone? I like you Jean.

At those words, Jang Ah-hyeon bowed her head as she expressed her gratitude and expressed her gratitude. But there was a twisted smile on her lips.

done. succeded. That was the only thought floating in her mind.

How much effort did you put into targeting her? I signed up for a stupid course, studied hard, caught the professor’s attention, kept meeting her in private under the pretense of coincidence, and used all of the group’s information to find out everything about her tastes, hobbies, eating habits, family relationships, and history with men. It was the result of research.

As a former CIA intelligence officer, I expected to face quite a bit of trouble, but it turned out to be easier than expected.

Surprisingly, it often happens that skilled intelligence agents secretly betray their country or engage in sabotage due to the convenience of everyday life.

Isn’t this something that happened even during the Cold War, when the conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union was at its peak?

Anyway, thanks to Jang A-hyeon’s hard work, Helen Burns was defeated to some extent and opened her heart to Jang A-hyeon.

However, other than these matters, Helen Burns has no business to attend to. In fact, it was closer to a person who strongly disliked it.

It is said that the face is the window to the heart. Therefore, I tried to force myself to control my mind in order to act with respect for her, but I couldn’t seem to like her.

Especially after learning that she often goes in and out of the principal’s office, where the dean she respects, is for personal business.

Or maybe it was after conducting a background investigation and discovering that Professor Burns had a small romantic interest in Dean Northmund.

Anyway, I didn’t like it.

But she still wore a mask of an impenetrable smile. Because that’s what she’s been doing as the group’s successor for a long time.

─♩♬♪♬

Suddenly her cell phone rang. The default ringtone that has been built into mobile phones since their inception. She never reveals to the public anything that could reveal her tastes, etc.

That’s because it could be a result that could strangle him later. That’s why he always preferred simple and plain attire.

Of course, that doesn’t mean she can hide her basic dignity and confidence as a noble girl. You can tell just by looking at the steps.

When she sees the name on her phone, she suddenly frowns. I don’t want to receive it.

Just looking at the name always makes my heart feel tight and reminds me of the time before when I was chained. But she couldn’t let this go on, so she pressed the green call button on her phone screen.

“Hello, father. It’s been a while.”

“Okay, it’s been a while since I heard your voice, Ahyeon.”

Her father was Jang Ho-yeon. The president of Taesung Electronics, a subsidiary of Taesung Group. A man who will soon rise to the position of chairman and become the head of Taesung Republic.

And this was the man she fiercely hated.

“I was ranked in the top five at the academy. She is also my daughter.”

The tone was clearly complimentary, but the low tone was not praising her. Rather, it was closer to a criticism.

Isn’t this the person who always said that if you’re not first, you’re worthless? Everyone except first place is forgotten.

My father’s theory was that Jang Ah-hyeon’s current position would soon be forgotten.

Moreover, speaking as if he already knew about the sexual story that was just revealed would be an unspoken threat to her.

“Yes. But what happened… .”

“Oh, that’s right. Ahyeon, why don’t you leave Ellada and come back to the group?”

“Yes?”

She felt as if something was suddenly pressing down on her chest, so she strongly clutched it. Her thin cardigan is stretched and her blouse is wrinkled by the powerful, powerful grip.

“You know. If you remain there anyway, you will be nothing more than a soldier. And your life is at risk there. Since you have already entered Elada as an Awakened and earned the title of being ranked, return to the group and complete the successor training. Shouldn’t we take over Taesung Electronics, which feeds Korea?”

“… Ah.”

For a moment she almost screamed, but held it back with desperate patience.

There was no one around. Of course, it didn’t matter who was there. I just wanted to scream out loud.

I was so heartbroken that I couldn’t speak.

“Isn’t that so? Stop playing hero and come back now. That kind of childish hero play doesn’t suit you. Because we are the ones who move the world behind the scenes. We have already talked to the agency and taken legal action, so Secretary Kim will pick you up around 4 PM. From now on, go back to your room and pack your bags.”

“… I don’t like it.”

She made a small but clear refusal. That was her first step.

This was her small but sure first step, as she had always been raised as a doll in the group and never expressed her disapproval to her parents.

My face is bright red and my hand holding the phone is shaking. There was a crack in the screen of the cell phone on which I unconsciously strained my hand to convey my rejection.

“… What?”

Was he surprised by her rejection? Or was he embarrassed by her proper expression of opinion?

“Ahyunah. What did you just say─”

“─I told you no, father. This is where I belong.”

“… It is said that people take after those around them, and it seems that the hero mentality was transferred from being around that person. Yes, do whatever you want. However, I don’t know if you can continue to play hero without Taesung’s help. If you think about it later, say it again.”

A cell phone that suddenly hangs up.

know. She knew that what she was saying was just childish whining. Having been abandoned by Tae-seong, she no longer has any value.

Like the heads of other factions, he cannot provide information about Elada or the organization, nor is it possible to provide financial support. All that remains now is a worthless little girl.

She threw away the cell phone with the blacked out screen and collapsed on the spot.

The early summer sun shines on her. In a place where the heat was strong and gradually becoming humid like a summer day, she squatted down and locked herself in her own space.

Suddenly, a shadow appeared. It was a tall man who created the shadow that could be distinguished even with eyes full of tears.

When I looked up, I saw a dignified man wearing a suit that made him feel stuffy, and the eyes peering into him beyond his face were expressionless.

“Gyo… Professor.”

“I heard a rumor that you were leaving the academy.”

There was no light in the eyes. Although she didn’t realize it, she was lifeless right now. Are you worried about your future? Are you worried that your value will disappear?

He no longer has any justice, will, or even the halo he borrowed from others.

Has the professor no longer found any value in himself?

“… But I guess that was a rumor.”

She suddenly felt something warm in her head. The person was gently stroking his head.

“Yes. You were almost disappointed. You said you would show me such achievements and then you tried to run away. It’s not like you.”

“Ha… But now I… .”

“It doesn’t matter. Do you think the words I said to you that day were the words I said after seeing your halo? Is that what has been tying you up?”

As if he were saying something so obvious, he spoke as if Taesung Group, which was like a high mountain to her, was insignificant.

It felt like she was complaining that she was pathetic for being bound by those shackles, but she was clearly getting the message right now.

“And did you think those guys were just following you, believing in your halo? Then you are underestimating yourself.”

Northmund raises his finger and points to a flower bed a little away from her. As soon as he is pointed out, a rustling sound is heard and someone appears scratching his head.

It was Han Sejun. He was scratching his head with a wry smile at the situation where everything was discovered.

“That guy was groaning while looking at you, so I put my foot down first because it was so absurd. It looks like he doesn’t know how to offer words of comfort.”

thank him At those words, Jang Ah-hyeon gave him a small silent bow.

Well, I see. When she showed no reaction to the point where it was somewhat boring, the man in the suit clicked his tongue.

There’s still a long way to go. It seemed like he was muttering quietly.

“I know the future. One day, you will become a giant bigger than them and become one of the axes that support the world. This kid is not going to stop here.”

“… The future.”

“So overcome it. This is not the wind or anything that can stop you. Despairing here is like refusing to go into the pool because you are afraid of water that is not even knee-deep.”

Then he took out a box from his inner pocket and shook it. When he put one of the white sticks sticking out of the box into his mouth, the end of it caught fire and began to smoke.

After emitting white smoke for a moment, he greets her with his eyes and then turns around and starts walking somewhere.

The sound of luxurious dress shoes hitting the sidewalk blocks rang out. But at some point, an uninvited guest joins the sound.

The sound of hard, hard rubber stepping on the floor was mixed with the sound of clicking.

The shadows of two people can be seen in front of him with his back to the sun.

“… Why are you following me? Shouldn’t you go to that guy who worried about you?”

“I’m going to where the next lecture is. There isn’t much left until the start. I happen to be in the same direction as the professor.”

As if he couldn’t spit at a smiling face, Northmund couldn’t help but smile brightly when he saw her holding her small sword in both hands and smiling brightly.

Behind the sound of shoes clicking, the only thing that could be heard was the lonely sigh of the person left behind.