episode_0096

“Hmm.”

The protagonist was standing on a transport ship pouring out supplies.

From a very high position, I quietly look down at the uninhabited island where the rain has stopped.

‘It’s getting humid up here.’

I didn’t mean for it to rain, but it was expected.

If you think of it as training, it turned out well.

“···.”

Jooyeon took out the energy bar he had kept in his pocket and put it in his mouth.

He just moves his mouth mechanically and observes the situation.

After dropping off the cadets of Class 1 yesterday, Jooyeon spent the day on the deck of the transport ship.

As an academy instructor, I think it’s a natural thing to do.

Besides, it’s not like you’re the only one suffering.

All instructors in charge of the first year students will be watching over the students without any sleep or rest until the exam is over.

‘I can breathe a little easier now that I have support.’

The Knights of Paradise are seen patrolling with their excellent flying skills.

You can also feel the instructors walking around inside the uninhabited island.

“···.”

The island in sight is quiet and without any problems.

Still, the protagonist couldn’t take his eyes off her for even a second.

Because of the vague, indistinct, vague feeling that must be said.

‘It’s ominous.’

What the protagonist felt was simply a matter of intuition.

Whenever this trend was detected, incidents always occurred regardless of severity.

Since we don’t know what’s going on, we can’t avoid it. If we stop the test, it could be the starting point of an incident.

So I just try to keep my consciousness as sharp as possible.

‘···There shouldn’t be any problems.’

This time, I really hope my worries are for nothing.

The protagonist wished so and stuffed the remaining piece of energy bar into his mouth.

*****

Red flavor spread.

I wonder what kind of delicious thing I heard.

I’m curious because I couldn’t confirm it in Abyss City. I’m excited like a child.

Crispy! Crispy!

Rohan and Ichinose, who had made their way through the grass, stopped in their tracks at the sight before their eyes.

“Huh?”

“This is···a coincidence, right? What an interesting picture.”

Hide in the grass and observe the Iron Turtles scurrying below.

Judging by the number of individuals, it appears to be a habitat.

“Are you sleeping?”

“That’s right. I said that when you sleep, you hide inside your shell.”

The center is filled with the sharp, blade-like shells of the Iron Turtle.

The largest iron turtle’s shell is perched high on the supply line, spewing out red smoke.

It’s mind-boggling how coincidences like that came about.

“Hmm··· Rather than trying hard, should I just quietly go and take it out?”

“I don’t think that’s a bad way either. It’s a tough but dull monster.”

While Rohan and Ichinose were exchanging opinions.

Two male cadets emerged confidently from the bushes on the other side.

Rohan and Ichinose stopped talking and hid to watch the two.

─ That’s an Iron Turtle, right? That thing doesn’t have any flavor when you hit it.

─ ···.

─What are you doing? Go and get it quickly.

─ Me, me!?

A clear hierarchy.

Looking at his face, he doesn’t look like a cadet from Class 1.

You may have encountered him inside Orion Academy at some point, but Rohan has no clear acquaintance with him.

What is certain is that he is neither playable nor a character you encounter during the story.

“Hmm, I’m seeing your face for the first time.”

“···One of them is a cadet from Samhwaguk.”

Ichinose let out a long sigh as if she recognized the face.

He can’t hide his tired expression just by recognizing his opponent.

“Are you a friend?”

“We’re not really friends. I’ve only seen him a few times since I’ve been following my father around to various places.”

However, Ichinose seemed to be feeling very uncomfortable and annoyed by that alone.

Rohan asked the question quietly, without even saying it out loud.

“Then there is no information to speak of?”

“Let me just mention what I know. He is the grandson of General Cheol-eung of Samhwa-guk. His name is Ok Myeong-jin. As you can see, his weapon is a spear… General Cheol-eung’s spear technique is said to use centrifugal force rather than stabbing, showing a movement closer to a stick.”

Indirect information related to a student named Ok Myeong-jin.

It’s simple and good. Since they are of the same bloodline, there is a high possibility that he directly learned the art of spearmanship.

“If General Cheol-eung is a lower rank than General, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Hey, our instructor is the best after all.”

“The main instructor’s fame is one of the top five, even within the political world of Samhwa.”

Ichinose did not hide his respect for the lead actor even as he spoke softly.

Even if he had only become a general at the age of the protagonist, he would have been considered a talent who would have gone down in the history of the Three Kingdoms. But isn’t he a genius who has overcome barriers and become a general?

Moreover, since he was still young, it was obvious that he would grow into an even greater being as time passed.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the presence of the main character was the pride of Samhwaguk.

“Anyway, that jade··· isn’t someone I can share supplies with, right?”

“Yes. You don’t have to worry about it.”

After confirming Ichinose’s intention again, Rohan.

I finished feeling my gear and got ready to go out.

─ Go quickly. If you don’t want to fall behind.

─ Okay, wait a minute!

─ If I bring it, you’ll give me some?

He was even caught pushing his teammates towards the monster with his feet.

Ichinose was about to step forward, but Rohan was the first to get up.

“Hey guys.”

““!””

At Rohan’s voice, the two men’s heads quickly turn.

But the expression was full of caution.

As Ichinose appears behind Rohan, the expression on the spear-wielding cadet’s face brightens.

“Ichinose-san! Nice to meet you here!”

“Ah, yes···.”

“Hahaha! To see supplies like mine and meet like this. Isn’t this also fate?”

“···.”

Ichinose takes a small step back.

Even when Rohan saw it from the side, it was a burdensome attitude.

I cut off the conversation because it seemed like a hybrid of things that shouldn’t be mixed.

“Enough chit-chat. I don’t plan on sharing the food, so just get out. If you’re hungry, just take off the stickers.”

“Huh?”

Ok Myeong-jin’s gaze checks Rohan, who is sitting next to Ichinose.

He quickly looks up and down and asks.

“Who are you?”

“Is it Rohan?”

Respond to honorifics with a light, polite tone.

Rohan… Rohan…? He muttered his name several times, then exchanged a few words with the male cadet next to him.

The corners of his lips rise as if he has figured out the answer.

“Teaming up with Ichinose… What a lucky guy.”

“Look at this kid’s change of stance. It’s funny.”

“Be quiet. I don’t want to talk to you, so stay out of it.”

Ok Myeong-jin set the window on the floor and fixed his gaze on Ichinose.

“Ichinose-san. How about teaming up with me?”

“Does this mean that the four of us should move together?”

“No, it’s not ‘we’, it’s ‘me’.”

Ok Myeong-jin’s partner cadet keeps his mouth shut and looks at the floor.

Ichinose raised her eyebrows, which were hidden by her bangs.

“What does that mean? Are you saying you’re going to dump your partner?”

“If you say that, doesn’t that make me look like a bad guy? I’m recommending exchanges to pursue efficiency.”

“···?”

Ichinose opened her eyes as if she didn’t understand and looked at Rohan.

Rohan shrugged his shoulders, saying he didn’t know.

“If we meet here on the last day and exchange partners again, there will be no chance of being caught. Since there are more than three cadets on the uninhabited island, the instructors won’t check in detail who you are with.”

“What is that···.”

An attitude that is incredibly confident.

Ichinose was speechless, and Rohan, who was listening from the side, let out a hollow laugh.

‘Look at this kid?’

What kind of manners is it to make such a suggestion in the presence of the person involved?

The problem is that such a group of people is quite common. Rohan feels nostalgia rather than anger.

─ Ouch!

─ Gurrr···.

The Iron Turtles, who heard the conversation from below, began to wake up one by one.

The fight was taking place between cadets, not monsters.

“What do you think, Ichinose-san?”

“Rejected.”

“You still show kindness to the underprivileged. I am once again impressed by Ichinose-san’s beautiful heart.”

“What is that···!”

Just as Ichinose was about to shout, Rohan’s hand grabbed a standard dagger.

I threw it away lightly.

Jjaeng!

Ok Myeong-jin, who had struck the dagger with a spear, looked at Rohan.

A throw without any magical power. Although it was not threatening, the intention was clear.

“What are you doing? Southerner.”

“I guess you didn’t know. That’s a southern greeting.”

Ok Myeong-jin raised the corners of her mouth in confidence that the information she heard from her partner was correct.

“You want to decide who will be the owner of the supply by force? You’re being arrogant, trusting Ichinose-sama.”

“That’s why you should have found a good match like me.”

Rohan naturally grabbed the longsword.

He blocks Ichinose’s advance with his hand and takes a step forward.

“Are you trying to do this alone? I can’t give you supplies, but I won’t kill you for the sake of Ichinose-sama.”

“Okay, okay. Thank you.”

Rohan was still suspicious as he stepped forward.

Why do they look so excited? Is this a good opportunity to beat up people?

And at that moment, Rohan ──Sreung! pulled out his longsword.

A memory flashed through my mind.

‘It feels familiar… Where have I seen this kind of atmosphere?’

I see Ok Myeong-jin.

Instead of hitting Rohan, he keeps glancing at Ichinose.

Ichinose’s awkward atmosphere, air, gaze, and attitude all fit together like a puzzle.

Rohan recalled.

‘ah!’

A past too vivid to be called deja vu.

I have experienced and seen cases exactly like this in my past life.

I’m not sure, but I think it’s likely.

My mouth opened by itself.

“You little shit… No way?”

“What? You’re not going to get scared and back out now, are you?”

Ok Myeong-jin pointed the tip of his spear at Rohan with great confidence.

The momentum of victory is already in full swing.

But that wasn’t what Rohan wanted to say.

Rohan’s gaze toward Ok Myeong-jin was already filled with pity and sympathy.

“Did you confess and get rejected?”

“···.”

It’s obvious who the subject of the confession is, even without specifying it.

At Rohan’s words, Ichinose’s whole body trembled as she recalled the past.

Ok Myeong-jin, whose past was buried deep inside was exposed, opened her mouth in a daze.

A moment of silence.

Ok Myeong-jin’s expression distorted like an evil spirit, and he grabbed the spear and jumped up.

“I’ll kill you!!!”

Anyway, one guy started to run wild.