episode_0168

The day after the ward storm passed, I was finally able to go through the discharge process and return to my crib.

I wanted to go see Mok Jin-woo right away, but the capital was currently under emergency alert due to an incident in a neighboring city. Naturally, a curfew was also issued for Yoram for a while.

But since he said it wouldn’t last long, all we can do is wait for the right time.

“Left!”

“Bow down!”

-bang!

My first class after returning was Magic Tactics. Thanks to that, I was able to loosen up my stiff body quite a bit.

The training ground. Students in teams of five formed a formation and fought fiercely. The sound of magic bullets colliding with the barrier and exploding was deafening.

In the corner, a lecture was being given to students who had already finished their training and those waiting for their turn.

“… Now, does anyone remember what I said about this situation earlier?”

In response to the professor’s question, one student quickly raised his hand and answered.

“They say that wizards who live in their own selfish ways die ten times younger than the rest.”

A faint creaking sound echoed.

“You have a good memory. Your personal score is 10.”

A middle-aged professor with a serious expression and monocle nodded.

“Among ordinary people who are not related to magic, it is often seen that magicians are perceived as invincible beings who can defeat a hundred enemies.”

He continued his explanation, walking in front of the students who were squatting with their backpacks on their backs.

“This kind of perception is not uncommon even among young magicians who have only recently become enlightened. However, this is a completely distorted perception that is distorted from the very beginning. Of course, I can’t say that there are no such people at all. Those who have overcome limitations have existed throughout history. There is someone like the headmaster right now, and there may be someone like that among you.”

Somehow, it feels like a sharp gaze from behind the glasses has passed over me.

“But now you know. You’ve already experienced several training sessions and requests. The lives of most magicians are those where you can die a violent death from a toothless, low-level demon, a third-class demon who is treated as a commoner, or even a mere mutant.”

It sounds like something I’ve heard before.

When I think about it carefully, it seems to be similar to what I heard from Professor Moon Seon-gyeong when I was scolded during my training at Cheon-gong Basin.

“What you should learn from this training is clear. While organically switching between offense and defense, you should fill in the gaps as much as possible by coordinating with others… Student Kuk Jae-ryong!!”

The professor turned around and shouted as he spoke. In the training ground, a male student who had failed to withstand the fierce attacks of the opposing team was breaking away from the line and running around in a hurry.

“You dare to think of deserting your comrades on the battlefield! You will have 20 points deducted from your personal score and be interviewed! After class, follow me to my office right away…!”

“Tsk tsk. How come that guy doesn’t change even after several months?”

As I was watching the back of the professor chasing the male student while shouting, a shadow suddenly appeared above me. The rough voice also sounded quite familiar.

A huge body, arms with well-trained muscles, and short hair. Before I knew it, Sungsan’s Choi Woo-jin had come over and plopped down next to me.

Then he showed interest in the bottle of drink I was drinking.

“Vitality supplement? Is that sponsored? I don’t think I’ve seen it before.”

“… Well, it’s similar.”

What I was drinking was the energy drink that Kwon Yuri had left behind.

After some checking, I couldn’t find any traces of any special manipulation. Rather, it was so effective that I felt sorry for doubting it. Even just drinking a small amount, I could feel a noticeable increase in energy.

I felt it was a waste to throw it away, and I thought it would be good for my body to recover, so I kept it with me.

“The design looks familiar… Wait. Isn’t that Blaine’s No. 9 series?”

Blaine…? That was definitely the name of the pharmaceutical company owned by Kwon Yuri’s family. Now that I think about it, I think Kwon Yuri said it was an energy drink produced by her family. I didn’t know Choi Woojin would recognize it at a glance.

But the next moment, at the words Choi Woo-jin spoke, I felt dizzy.

“The color there… Hey. This is top-of-the-line nectar. Where the hell did you get it? Even if you spend hundreds of millions of won, it’s a product that you can’t get because it’s fully booked.”

“Coolook…Coolook… !”

I started coughing on my own.

I have over 30 bottles that look exactly like this stacked up in my dorm room right now.

You brought me something so precious. Just as a gift to see me in the hospital?

“… ”

What on earth is that senior thinking? Even though it’s his family’s property… isn’t it a bit too much?

“Well, I guess there’s a separate purchase route for the Black Lotus. There’s no way that Kwon Yuri-senpai would have given it to me personally… ”

“… I don’t know much about that because it’s a family affair.”

I felt embarrassed and changed the subject.

“I guess the request was okay? Judging from the fact that there isn’t a single scratch.”

“Then. Unlike others, I am not weak.”

Choi Woo-jin smiled his characteristically bitter smile.

“You were definitely… dispatched as a barrier guard.”

“That’s right. I followed the reconnaissance rangers to the demon world beyond the wall. It was a unique experience. I also achieved the feat of killing three second-class demons.”

Beyond the Wall is a place I have never been to. From what I heard from the leader and his sisters, it is a place of untamed magic where barbarism and sorcery reign supreme.

Choi Woo-jin looks calm as if he just came back from a local bar.

“How was it?”

“Well… I didn’t have a good feeling about it.”

He answered with a slightly more serious expression than before.

“This reconnaissance was originally commissioned based on information received by the Northern Army Command. The demons are gathering near the barrier one after another. According to the information, a new unified leader has been established. Someone called ‘Agent’.”

“Agent?”

Somehow, that feeling doesn’t sound very good.

“I talked to the rangers, and they said there might be another invasion, like the one two years ago.”

“… ”

I feel like my head is getting a little heavy.

That horrible nightmare that took everything from me is happening again…

“Why all of a sudden? Are you scared or something?”

But Choi Woo-jin’s nagging voice wakes me from my sleep.

“This is disappointing.”

“That’s nonsense. Who’s scared… ”

“Puhhhh… Okay. Let’s do that. You know that the students of Yoram are the top priority for conscription, right? If war breaks out, we’ll definitely be at the front lines.”

When I responded right away, Choi Woo-jin burst into an irritated laugh. Thanks to that, I was able to avoid being lost in my memories again.

“Well, war is something to think about later. It’s not even certain yet. And don’t we have more important things to do?”

“Important thing?”

“It’s almost social season. I need to find a mate. A suitable mating partner.”

Out of nowhere, vulgar and inappropriate words come out of his mouth.

“Mating… what?”

“Why are you so surprised? This isn’t the first time you’ve heard this.”

Choi Woo-jin had a rather indifferent expression.

“Bloodline improvement, magic preservation. Isn’t that what you hear from adults whenever you get a chance? You have to choose carefully, right? So that you don’t get diseases like particle hypersensitivity due to wrong combinations.”

Particle hypersensitivity, particle hypersensitivity…

It’s a word I haven’t heard in a long time. The image of a skinny girl in my hazy memory instinctively comes to mind.

“… ?”

When I felt eyes on me and turned my head, Choi Woo-jin was still wearing his signature unpleasant smile as if he had something to say.

“What is it? I’m telling you clearly, I won’t duel… ”

“No, no.”

Then he waves his hand.

“That’s not what I was trying to say. It’s almost the week of the rankings anyway. If I get chosen in the draw, I have to do it even if I don’t want to.”

“… Then?”

“Ahem… ”

He cleared his throat and paused for a moment before answering. What on earth was he trying to say?

“You mean… ”

And after waiting, the words that came out of Choi Woo-jin’s mouth were something completely unexpected.

“Are you meeting someone by any chance?”

“What?”

“Are you meeting someone?”

“… None.”

I shook my head sharply. I felt a particularly empty feeling in my left hand.

“Really? Are you lying… ”

“Why are you lying about something like this?”

“Really? That’s right… Hmm… ”

Choi Woo-jin muttered with a puzzled expression.

“Then was it really just a rumor…?”

“Rumors? What?”

“You’re… No, that’s enough. Let’s stop talking.”

Choi Woo-jin hurriedly changed the subject.

“So why did you ask that?”

“… Hey.”

“Uh.”

“Do you have any plans to meet my older sister?”

“… ?”

My head is spinning. If you’re Choi Woo-jin’s older sister, it’s Choi I-re. She’s a second-year female student with an intelligent look, wearing round glasses and braided hair.

And the successor of Seongsan, who is attached to Paechon and is hostile to us in every way.

The same structure was also present in the cradle. Yeonmin-ha also expressed her hostility towards Choi I-re, who kept holding her back in the student council, whenever she had the chance.

If you think about it, Choi Woo-jin’s continued nonchalant speaking to me can be seen as rather strange.

“No, I’m dying because you’re being so hysterical these days. Why are you doing this when you rejected everyone because you didn’t like them? I really don’t understand.”

“… So why are you telling me that?”

“My older sister has a bit of a unique taste. She likes a pretty and flashy look. But… I think you look just like that.”

He gestured with his chin at the male student from earlier who had been caught by the professor and was receiving a severe punishment.

“Look at that Jae-ryong guy. He’s a member of the so-called Mado 27th Clan, and he’s acting like that. Compared to him, you… Well, you’re not as bad as me, but you’re okay.”

“… I’m the one who broke your sister’s jaw? And Seongsan and Heukryeon are completely opposite factions… ”

“The fact that he broke the jaw is proof that he is strong. And factions tend to change. Seongsan and Paechon were at odds until 50 years ago.”

It felt like a very random suggestion. Judging from the serious expression on his face, it didn’t seem like a joke.

“… ”

But I shook my head.

“I will refuse.”

“What? Think again. Honestly, there’s no one better than our older sister, right?”

“Okay. I don’t care at all.”

“Next! Choi Woojin, come forward!”

“… Tsk. It’s already my turn.”

Choi Woo-jin, who was trying to persuade him again, clicked his tongue at the professor’s call. Then he shook off his seat and got up.

“Anyway, think about it a little more. Since you’re going to be sold somewhere anyway, wouldn’t it be better to make your own decision? Rather than being dragged around by your family like Jin Ye-seo.”

And as his voice fades away, the name of someone I had momentarily forgotten comes to mind.

***

I still had my doubts. Why did he just leave after applying for an interview?

Today, there were no overlapping classes, so I didn’t run into Jinye Seo.

Well, even if that were the case, I wouldn’t have been able to ask it out loud.

There is only one place in this cradle where we can have a conversation.

“Come on! Lower your pressure!”

As soon as work was over, I headed to the old training room in Building A. As expected, the familiar shouts and the sound of blades cutting through the air resonated through the air.

There… what is this? I can smell some kind of sweet scent.

“Haa… Haa… !”

Jin Ye-seo was so absorbed in training that she didn’t even realize I had entered the training room.

But I could tell right away by looking at his expression.

What she is doing now is not pure training. Rather, it is closer to some kind of asceticism to shake off distracting thoughts.

Well, I could tell, I’ve had similar experiences countless times. Are you worried about something serious?

It doesn’t seem like the kind of worry that can be easily solved. Even though his whole body was drenched in sweat and he was panting for breath, his eyes were still filled with the shadow of agony.

-Tsk tsk. You’re really full. You’re thinking about something else when you’re only focusing on training? Come on. I’ll suck out your brain as well.

Suddenly, the captain’s voice rings in my head.

When I was just taken in by him and his sisters, he had a very unpleasant expression on his face as he watched me doing basic training while still feeling sad.

And then, under the pretext of a fight, he beat me up so badly that I was covered in dust.

… The surprising thing is that, surprisingly, the effect was extremely excellent.

Although I suffered from severe muscle pain for a day or so, I felt like I was able to concentrate better afterward.

“… ”

I don’t have any particular talent for talking. But I also don’t like listening to other people’s troubles.

Still, wouldn’t it help to at least clear your head? After all, we’ve overcome the brink of death together now.

Help me, okay? I need to stretch my body a bit anyway.

“Hey.”

“Wow… Surprise! ”

After thinking for a moment, I deliberately approached her while making noise. Then Jin Ye-seo shivered and glared at me.

“Hey! If you’re here, you should say you’re here!”

“That’s what I told you.”

I picked up an old practice blade that was lying around in a corner of the training room.

“Gap, what’s going on all of a sudden… ”

“What the heck? It’s a sparring match. Something we do every day.”

And he pointed the blade at Jin Ye-seo, who was making a bewildered expression, and said.

“Listen. I’ll listen to you.”