I Entered an Academy in a Ruined Game

Chapter 179 : New Semester (2)

I was heading to Gangneung Station in Park Mincheol's car.

During the entrance ceremony, we all traveled by train with armed police and Execution Force escorts.

But now, there wasn't enough security personnel to spare for such measures.

"You're really something else."

Park Mincheol, who had been humming his favorite song, said.

"What do you mean?"

"How the hell do you pull in 1.8 billion won from a single job?"

Park Mincheol chuckled, saying he was having an existential crisis about why he was working so hard.

"Hmm. I was just lucky."

"Lucky? Old Man Jang was singing your praises."

"Well, things did work out well."

"Thanks to you, my capital suddenly increased, and that's a big deal."

"Stop exaggerating."

I had been investing in Park Mincheol as soon as money came in.

'At his current pace, he's practically in money-making god mode.'

I'd even secretly stuffed the Golden Goblin's cherished doll I'd obtained from the auction house into Park Mincheol's mattress.

'That should maximize efficiency better with him than with me.'

The capital Park Mincheol earned would return to me anyway.

'Of course, he doesn't even know it's there.'

I planned to quietly take it back later if I needed it.

"By the way, you're starting your internship from this semester, right? Does that mean you can visit occasionally?"

"Well. That depends on how flexible my Squad Leader is."

"Hmm. I think I've heard that the 1st Unit has a pretty intense atmosphere."

"They're known for that."

'I don't know who I'll get assigned to.'

But whoever it was, there wasn't a single easy Squad Leader among them.

-I'll arrive in 20 minutes too

I smiled as I read the message from Lee Yu-jin.

-I'll be there in about 15 minutes?

-Oh, you're fast!

-(Startled puppy emoji)

-I'll arrive soon too

-Take your time

"Who are you messaging so excitedly?"

"Lee Yu-jin."

"Oho, things must be going well these days?"

"What do you mean, going well."

"Come on, you even went to meet her sword spirit. At this rate, don't they already consider you a potential son-in-law? She doesn't seem like someone who would bring just anyone home."

"Hyung."

"Huh?"

"You should focus on your own relationship. Chae-young-ssi was saying lately that you're frustrating."

"What? Me? What did I do! I'm perfectly fine, aren't I?"

"She says you're too oblivious. Says you're a fox in business but a bear in front of her."

"Well, kid. It's because I'm nervous. It's not like I've ever held a woman's hand before."

"Stop pretending to be innocent. The other day when you came back from your drive, the two of you..."

"Waaah!"

Park Mincheol shouted in panic.

"You, you were watching?"

"You'd been home for ages but stayed in the car for 30 minutes, so I was curious and took a peek. You two were about to kiss, weren't you?"

"Ahem, hmm. Not yet."

"Chae-young-ssi says that's exactly what frustrates her about you."

"...What if she doesn't like it?"

"And that frustrates her even more."

"...What about you?"

"Me? What about me?"

"Never mind. I'll stop talking."

❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀

The first-year cadets who had gathered after a long time were making a ruckus as they met familiar faces.

"Yo, Yu-jin-ssi! Su-hyeon-ssi! Long time no see! Long tam no si!"

Song Yu-ha was jumping up and down, waving her hands, and Su-hyeon inwardly gave a bitter smile.

'That girl.'

Knowing her situation well, Su-hyeon knew her inner state was far from okay.

'But there's nothing I can do about it right now.'

He felt the same bitterness toward Nam Tae-hoon.

"Hey, long time no see."

"You too."

"Hehehe, I heard you did something big again during the break?"

"And you were unusually quiet. What were you doing and where?"

"Officially or unofficially?"

Su-hyeon shrugged at Nam Tae-hoon's pointed question.

"Never mind."

'What's the point of asking.'

"Alright, chicks! Stop chattering and get on the bus!"

"Yes!"

"Aaaaah. The good days are over."

"It was a happy dream..."

Su-hyeon chuckled as he watched the cadets staggering like zombies, boarding the bus as if being led to slaughter.

Swoosh.

Lee Yu-jin approached his side like an assassin.

'?!'

"Shall we sit together?"

"...Sure."

Su-hyeon nodded reflexively at her suggestion, now much more comfortable with being forward.

Whoosh.

Kim A-yun, who had been trying to sneak a glance at the adjacent seat, moved away even faster than she had approached.

'Hmph, Yu-jin is so mean.'

Just as Kim A-yun was making a sad face.

"A-yun, want to sit with me? I've been abandoned by Yu-jin too!"

Song Yu-ha slipped her arm around Kim A-yun's waist.

"...Okay."

"Hey, even with that, your reaction is too different!"

"S-sorry."

"Hmph, why are you sorry! I'm just joking!"

Song Yu-ha winked at Lee Yu-jin as she pulled Kim A-yun along.

'Good luck!'

'Thanks.'

"...Hmm."

Seo Jun-seong, who had been watching the two with a complicated expression, met eyes with Hong In-hyeon.

"Why do you look so gloomy?"

"...It's nothing."

"Tch."

Hong In-hyeon snorted as he looked at Su-hyeon's back.

'That bastard. He's clearly gotten disgustingly stronger. I can sense a much more refined power than when he fought Min Hae-na-sunbae.'

It was just as he had expected.

'But the others have gotten stronger too, not just him.'

Starting with Seo Jun-seong beside him.

The auras emanating from Hwang Ji-su, Lee Yu-jin, Kwon Seung-yeon, Nam Tae-hoon, and Choi Min-a were not ordinary either.

'Damn it. This semester is going to be brutally competitive.'

❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀

As soon as I unpacked, I went to the strength training room and was working out with Kwon Seung-yeon.

"Su-hyeon! You're here!"

A massive muscular figure writhed as it walked toward us from a distance.

"Park Gangjeong-sunbae? How long have you been here?"

"...They say he lived here even during the break."

"My goodness."

Kwon Seung-yeon stuck out her tongue.

"Hmm! You didn't neglect your training during the break! I can easily see your efforts in your body!"

"Sunbae, your femoral biceps definition has become even more pronounced since I last saw you."

"Hmm! You noticed!"

"Yes. And the development of the gluteus medius, clearly visible even through clothes..."

"Hahaha! As expected!"

Park Gangjeong repeatedly pounded Su-hyeon's shoulders in satisfaction, making his body sway back and forth.

"This place is definitely the most comfortable for working out."

Kwon Seung-yeon said while adding weight plates to the barbell.

"That's true."

"Well, I still got good training in over there, thanks to Ji-su."

Kwon Seung-yeon grumbled that it became awkward later because Su-hyeon and Ji-su stopped coming, busy with their own things.

"Hwang Ji-su isn't the type to fight with physicality like us."

Su-hyeon said.

"I heard she's gotten quite strong?"

"Oh, it's no joke. That Ji-su, she seems to have been properly inspired by you."

"You're no pushover either."

"Hmph. Well, I benefited a lot from you."

Kwon Seung-yeon grinned as she showed her bracelet.

"By the way, A-yun was asking about that bracelet."

"......"

Su-hyeon cleared his throat slightly and changed the subject.

"Kim A-yun seems stronger than before too."

"Everyone's going crazy. You know this is all because of you, right?"

Su-hyeon nodded calmly at Kwon Seung-yeon's words.

"That's exactly what I was hoping for."

"You're quite unusual. Why are you happy that your competitors are getting stronger? Are you that confident?"

"It's not just that."

Su-hyeon held back his words.

'The timeline is accelerating.'

The butterfly effect of Su-hyeon becoming stronger than in previous playthroughs and achieving more accomplishments was happening everywhere.

Therefore, the cadets had to develop faster than in previous playthroughs.

'These guys are already growing at a much greater rate than their senior classes.'

Su-hyeon thought.

'But there's still a long way to go.'

While this precarious peace was maintained.

If the next generation's leaders didn't build up their strength as much as possible, it would be impossible to overcome the waves that lay ahead.

Clang!

Kim Ho-su's rapier flew through the air.

Swoosh!

Lee Yu-jin's aimed sword stopped right in front of Kim Ho-su's eyes.

"I surrender. I lost, I lost."

Kim Ho-su raised both hands.

"Yu-jin, your distance control is insane. You absolutely won't fight at my range?"

"Because I'd lose in a speed battle."

"So humble. With your ability to read presence, it's hard for me to break through anyway."

Kim Ho-su shook his head, having hit a wall.

Not to mention Lee Yu-jin's most powerful weapons: her characteristic 'Mana Penetration', her sword energy, and even the Flying Strike she showed at the beginning.

'It was overwhelming when fighting Su-hyeon too. But with the current Yu-jin...'

At the very least, it would be an intensely fierce fight?

If Su-hyeon was significantly stronger than this version of Yu-jin.

'That's really going too far, even for him.'

Kim Ho-su asked.

"Are you and Su-hyeon sparring tomorrow?"

"Probably."

"If spectators are allowed, please call me. I want to see how you two fight."

"I'll do that if Su-hyeon is okay with it."

"Tch."

Look at her still taking care of that guy.

Kim Ho-su laughed.

"I really don't understand what kind of luck that guy has."

❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀

Time flew by, and soon it was the day of the opening ceremony.

For the first time in a while, Instructor Kim Cheol-han climbed onto the podium for the morning assembly.

"Good to see you all. It's been a while."

"It's been a while, Instructor!"

"Fortunately, it seems none of you spent your break idly."

Kim Cheol-han raised the corners of his mouth after examining each cadet's eyes.

"Opportunities can only be seized by those who are prepared. Just like all of you are now."

"...?"

The cadets blinked at these mysterious words.

"A few days ago, a certain official document arrived from the Execution Force."

Kim Cheol-han paced left and right across the podium with his hands behind his back.

"As you know, the recent continuing bloodshed caused by Ma-in has pushed security forces to their limits. If this continues, there's talk of considering emergency measures equivalent to wartime conditions."

Therefore.

"The Execution Force is trying to strengthen their forces by increasing opportunities for special enrollment to attract more talent. And in this situation, the most reliable pool of personnel they can trust is none other than the academy's cadets."

"...!"

"Does that mean?!"

"Yes. An expansion of internships."

Murmur, murmur.

The cadets stirred at the unexpected news.

"After intense debate, the Instructors decided to accept this proposal. Therefore, we will select and dispatch additional cadets who have the skills for practical deployment, limited to those who volunteer."

"Woooow!"

"That's awesome!"

"I want in! I want to go to the 5th Unit!"

"I want the 11th Unit!"

"I want the 1st Unit."

"You too? Me too."

The cadets, thirsting for growth opportunities, were ecstatic about this unexpected news.

'This is really unexpected?'

Su-hyeon opened his eyes wide at a situation that had never occurred before.

'Starting from the second semester, not the second year? Even considering how dangerous the security situation has become...'

Well, the accumulated butterfly effects had reached a point where even Su-hyeon couldn't fully predict which direction they would go.

There was no point in being surprised now; nothing would change.

'But this is going to make things really interesting.'

Practical work in the field where lives were at stake.

It would clearly be a completely different experience from the study built up through the academy curriculum during the first semester.

The cadets' growth would soar to even greater heights, as if they had grown wings.

'I can't stay still either.'

Feeling the gazes of his competitors fixed on him.

Su-hyeon smiled faintly, realizing the pressure of being the one running at the very front.