Rising Tensions
The first week of the User Academy had seemed to go smoothly, or so I thought. But the subtle creaks and groans hinted at the discord that would erupt in the second week. Ever since Na Seung-hye from the
Upon hearing about the incident, Park Hyun-woo displayed superhuman patience yet again. From what I heard, he politely asked Na Seung-hye to continue with the original teaching plan.
However, Na Seung-hye flatly refused Park Hyun-woo’s request. She insisted that as long as she was assigned as an instructor for the remaining nine weeks, the teaching methods were her prerogative. While technically correct, it was a legalistic excuse that anyone could see through.
Despite the watchful eyes of the Golden Lion and allied clans, Na Seung-hye pushed forward with her stance. It wasn’t mere stubbornness that allowed her to do so. On the surface, it seemed like the
In the end, the new recruits had to retake the magic theory classes, and from that moment, the barely mended rift began to widen again.
Though it was still early, signs of conflict were gradually emerging. The most evident was the uncooperative attitude towards instructor duties. While friendly clans collaborated well, others remained passive. As refusals to assist became more frequent, requests for support dwindled altogether.
At this point, even Park Hyun-woo, who had endured with great patience, finally gave up. The dissatisfaction among the clans that had been somewhat supportive of the Golden Lion’s lukewarm stance was growing. He seemed to realize that forcing the education to continue as it was could lead to another crisis.
This left me in a rather awkward position. As a member of a neutral mercenary clan, I was supposed to remain impartial, but both sides began to send me what they called “love calls.” I found myself in a dilemma. Aligning with one side would inevitably disappoint the other.
The best approach seemed to be to play both sides, but I quickly dismissed the idea. With only potential value and no solid reputation, trying to play both sides could easily backfire.
Ultimately, I had to choose a side, and after much deliberation, I decided to align with the non-participating clans. Weighing the options, it seemed more beneficial for my future endeavors.
Of course, I didn’t make it obvious. I still fulfilled my basic obligations, like responding to support requests through Kim Han-byeol. However, I mostly socialized with the non-participating clans. It might have seemed like I was leaving room for maneuver, but it was the best strategy for me at the time.
While navigating the internal politics of the academy, I didn’t forget my primary role. The uneasy expressions on the new recruits’ faces when Na Seung-hye and Jo Eun-young clashed lingered in my mind. At the center of it all was Park Hwan-hee.
When I first saw him in the plaza, I thought he was just an interesting guy. But now, I felt he was worth a closer look. I couldn’t shake the feeling that one of the many undercurrents within the academy was connected to him. So, I decided to keep a close eye on him for the time being.
During the second week, my observations of Park Hwan-hee were both intriguing and unremarkable. Outwardly, he seemed fine. He was well-mannered, polite, and academically among the top of the new recruits.
All the instructors, whether in education, control, or daily life, had nothing but praise for him. The competition to recruit him was already fierce, which spoke volumes about his reputation.
However, one thing bothered me: the new users seemed to follow him excessively. At times, he appeared more like a control instructor than a recruit. I heard he had performed admirably during the initiation rites and possessed a natural charisma, which could explain it.
But I had already checked his user information with a third eye. So, I couldn’t take his outward demeanor at face value.
Despite my efforts to gather information after the incident, the second week yielded little. The insights I gained were superficial at best. With over two months left until the academy’s completion, the growing frustration was hard to ignore.
Amidst these stifling days, I received an unexpected visit. Well, unexpected might not be the right word, as we had arranged to meet beforehand. I had simply forgotten about it due to the hectic pace of the academy.
The message came through Han-byeol the day before. The appointment was with none other than the
Upon hearing this, a plan to break through the current impasse began to form in my mind.
Today marks the end of the second week at the academy. Tomorrow, the third week begins.
The current intensity of the training is quite low compared to when I was here. Although it had increased slightly from the first week, it was more of a formal rise. The infamous training intensity of the Northern Continent was nowhere to be found.
For instance, there used to be a weekend special training where users would spar with weapons. It was a training I held in high regard, but this week, the special training was replaced with rest.
As an instructor, I didn’t mind the break, but it was bittersweet. The Northern Continent, which seemed to be on the right track during the conscription, appeared to be slowly sinking.
I sighed and left the instructor’s quarters. Kim Han-byeol was nowhere to be seen. She also had a day off today, but she hadn’t shown up by lunchtime, likely busy with something since morning.
As I headed towards the main gate, I spotted two users approaching from a distance. The moment I saw them, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
As expected, Go Yeon-ju wasn’t alone. She had brought someone else along, and upon closer inspection, I confirmed it was An Sol, as I had heard yesterday. The key point was that An Sol was holding Go Yeon-ju’s hand tightly, swinging it back and forth with a lively expression.
“Brother!”
An Sol must have seen me approaching from the opposite direction. She ran towards me with her arms wide open and hugged me. I embraced her warmly, instinctively patting her back, but—
“Sniff, sniff.”
Startled by her actions, I pulled away. An Sol looked up at me with a dissatisfied gaze. I poked her puffed-up cheek and set her down. She immediately clung to me again.
“Brother, I missed you.”
”…Oh, right.”
“Hehe.”
As I sighed deeply, Go Yeon-ju, who had closed the distance, watched us with a languid smile. Her face was filled with satisfaction, like a parent watching their child reunite with a long-lost father.
“Greetings, Mercenary Lord.”
“With that expression, your words lack any weight.”
“Oh dear, you caught me? Hoho. I missed you, Su-hyeon.”
“Yes, I missed you too… Ah, Sol, hold on. Don’t rub against me like that. Hey, hey! Where are you…!”
“Ugh. Ugh.”
Barely managing to pry An Sol off, who was rubbing her head against me with impressive speed, I finally spoke.
“I was a bit surprised when I got the message about your visit last night. Honestly, I’ve been so busy with academy matters that I forgot.”
“Oh, it’s fine. I have a rough idea of what’s going on. It’s completely cha—”
Go Yeon-ju nodded a couple of times, then stopped mid-sentence, closing her mouth. She surveyed the surroundings with a serious gaze before continuing in a noticeably lower voice.
“Su-hyeon, do you have a good place in mind? This area is too open.”
“Ah, right. I know a good spot. Let’s head there. But I’m surprised the existing users aren’t flocking around. After all, the
“Oh, that? I gave them a heads-up.”
“A heads-up?”
Go Yeon-ju sidled up to me and linked her arm with mine. She raised her left hand, revealing a large basket covered with a cloth. As I blinked in confusion, she winked and smiled softly.
“I brought a homemade lunch. You must have struggled with the academy food. You missed my cooking, didn’t you?”
“What? Um, no, not really…”
“Oh, the heads-up was nothing special. I just told them I planned to spend some quality time with you and that I’d kill anyone who interrupted for a silly reason.”
”…Let’s go.”
I quickly stopped myself from speaking and led Go Yeon-ju away. As soon as we started moving, An Sol darted between us with her nimble movements. Go Yeon-ju willingly made space, taking An Sol’s left hand, while An Sol grabbed my left hand with her free one.
“Yay! It’s a picnic! A picnic! Yay, yay!”
An Sol sang cheerfully, swinging our hands back and forth. I had asked her to be as intimidating as possible, and she used to be quite wary of Go Yeon-ju. Yet, in just two weeks, her attitude had completely flipped. It was baffling. I tilted my head and asked Go Yeon-ju.
“Go Yeon-ju, why is she so excited today?”
“Hehe, the weather is just lovely, isn’t it?”
“Did something happen while I was away?”
“Hehehe, I’m starving. Come on, let’s go. Where’s the place?”
”…”
By the time we reached the place we called the “Easter Egg,” Go Yeon-ju still hadn’t answered my questions, avoiding my gaze the entire way. My curiosity was piqued, but I decided to set it aside for now. I figured I’d find out everything eventually, and before leaving Barbara, I had asked her to mix in some encouragement with the training. Trusting that Go Yeon-ju had handled things well, I took a bite of the bread she handed me.
As I ate the food she had prepared, she filled me in on the clan members’ activities over the past two weeks.
“Everyone’s doing well. Some get scolded by me almost daily, while others just go about their usual carefree ways.”
“The one getting scolded must be Ahn Hyun. I did ask you to knock some sense into him. But who’s living so carefree?”
Instead of answering, she pointed ahead.
“Yay! Stop right there~! Stop right there~!”
”…It seems like her condition has worsened.”
An Sol was toddling around, chasing something with great enthusiasm. Watching her in disbelief, a soft voice reached my ear.
“No, it’s not quite what it seems.”
“What do you mean?”
Turning my head, I saw Go Yeon-ju’s face, no longer relaxed but focused. She continued, her sharp gaze fixed on An Sol.
“Soo-hyun, remember when I called her a lunatic before?”
“Yes, because of that incident…”
I nodded reluctantly, and Go Yeon-ju shifted her gaze from An Sol to me. After a moment of intense scrutiny, she spoke clearly.
“I take it back.”
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
I had Paldo Bibim noodles for dinner today. They tasted so good in the army, but having them again after so long, they just didn’t taste the same. Haha. Sometimes, I reminisce about the food I had in the army, and it makes my mouth water. The most memorable was the ramen cooked in a mess tin. I can never forget the taste of that steaming, spicy ramen. ㅜ.ㅠ
『 Reader Comments 』
Sensitive: Congratulations on first place! It’s both a bit disappointing and impressive. Haha. I thought I’d see a streak of four or five consecutive first places. :) Anyway, congratulations again on your first place. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
HumanLife: It’s been a while! I wondered where you were, and it turns out it was exam season. Haha. I was surprised by your long comment. :D I’ll address the points you mentioned as the story progresses. ^^ Thanks for the comment.
ads123: Happy birthday! There seem to be a lot of birthdays lately. I’m envious. My birthday is still a long way off. ㅜ.ㅠ I haven’t really celebrated it much in recent years. Sigh. -_-a
Kuroshion: Haha. If I did that, I think I’d be mobbed by readers. But at least I’m not being called a eunuch these days. Hehe.
BloodArk: Haha. Your comment made me laugh out loud. But Go Yeon-ju isn’t just harsh; she also gives encouragement and support. I wonder what An Sol has been up to?
OfficeLove19: I saw it! I wrote a response in the author’s note rather than the comments. Isn’t the note better? ㅜ.ㅠ
HyunOh: Haha. Not just women, but people of all ages and even animals… Oh, never mind. I was just rambling. Ahem.
Sereson: If you leave the first comment on a midnight release, I’ll consider it. What are you planning to say?
Repil: Your comments always make me think deeply. Haha. It’s amazing how you find so much meaning in scenes that might seem simple at first glance. :)
RaccoonWings: Thank you for the coupon. (__) I’ll try to do a continuous release. Haha. Congratulations on your new job. I want to be a working professional soon too. I imagine myself typing away at a keyboard, looking all cool. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ.
Your recommendations and comments are the driving force behind continuous releases. (This is the truth.)
I always read all the comments repeatedly.
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If you’re really curious about something, send me a message, and I’ll reply!
That’s all for today.
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