novelraw Chapter 56 : Aftermath (2)
Chapter 56 : Aftermath (2)
All first-year cadets had suspended classes and were receiving treatment according to the severity of their injuries or resting on standby within the campus.
Of course, they weren't just resting comfortably; the majority of cadets were being summoned here and there to testify about what they had witnessed and the situations they had experienced.
The atmosphere throughout the academy was generally gloomy, and quite a few people had suffered great psychological shock, but.
Even amid this, stories about cadets who had performed admirably continued to circulate endlessly, bringing at least some vitality to the atmosphere.
The biggest topic was undoubtedly Seo Jun-seong, who had led the way in saving both Class 2 and Class 3.
Next came Su-hyeon, Lee Yu-jin, Hwang Ji-su, and Hong In-hyeon.
"Did you go?"
"Yes."
Lee Yu-jin nodded at Song Yu-ha's question.
"Goodness, we're injured too, how can they keep bothering us like this?"
"It's a minor injury, and given the nature of the incident..."
Lee Yu-jin smiled faintly.
"It's crazy everywhere. News and comments are exploding."
"Yes. It's an unprecedented situation. Grandfather was worried too."
"Whew, it's a blessing in disguise that it ended like this."
Song Yu-ha, who had been sighing, brightened her expression and showed her phone screen.
"By the way, Yu-jin, have you seen this article?"
"Article?"
"[Exclusive] Brave First-Year Students Who Stood Against the Ma-in Attack! The Sword God's Granddaughter Shows Off Her Martial Talent Inherited from Her Grandfather!"
It was an embarrassing article right from the title.
"W-what is this."
"There are tons more like this. There's a lot about Jun-seong and Ji-su too. 'Like father, like son,' 'The hero's son.' 'Noblesse oblige.' I wonder who came up with these titles; the wording is so classical."
"Hmm."
Lee Yu-jin crossed her arms and muttered.
"Whatever anyone says, it wouldn't have worked without Su-hyeon."
"Oh my?"
Song Yu-ha's eyes curved.
"So you're feeling left out? Aww."
"I-it's not that I feel left out. It's just not fair......"
"Hehehe. Okay, okay. I can't even make a joke."
Song Yu-ha slapped Lee Yu-jin's arm repeatedly and laughed.
"From what I can see, they seem to be showcasing the three most famous people. Maybe they're trying to divert public opinion this way?"
"...Probably so."
The two agreed.
"Thanks to this, Jun-seong and Su-hyeon have become totally hot. All the girls in our class were just talking about those two."
Perk.
Lee Yu-jin's ears physically twitched.
"...R-really?"
"Yes. Plus they're both handsome, right? While Jun-seong is more sharp and has a young master style, Su-hyeon has a cool handsome face with wild muscular beauty......"
Her perspective was detailed as always.
"I-I see."
"Of course, you and Ji-su are also super popular among the boys in our class."
"Really?"
"Yes. Some say Ji-su seems so cool that it's hard to approach her, but that's her charm, and Yu-jin gives this neat and straightforward impression......"
While the two were casually having such a conversation.
"Damn it."
Three bandages on his face, a half-cast on his arm.
Hong In-hyeon, who had been injured in several other places but declined a hospital bed and returned to the dormitory, bit his lip while reading news articles on his phone.
"Seo Jun-seong, Jeong Su-hyeon."
He was experiencing jealousy and a sense of defeat toward the two who had shown the most significant contributions and saved numerous cadets.
'While I was struggling alongside Hwang Ji-su against one Ma-in, those two guys.......'
Ha Jin-young was a terribly strong Ma-in.
Not only was his ability tricky, but his innate strength was also formidable, and he played with them by tearing open even the slightest gaps with ferocity and cunning.
Without a doubt, he was the first insurmountable wall Hong In-hyeon had ever encountered in his life.
Holding out until the end against such an enemy was certainly an achievement worthy of praise, but.
His pride was too strong to find consolation in that fact.
Moreover, the news that Ha Jin-young, who had been fleeing, was found as a corpse further irritated him.
'So I can't even get revenge. Damn it.'
"Are all these articles from Father?"
Hwang Ji-su's voice, talking on the phone with her mother, dripped with coldness.
"What's so proud about explicitly mentioning the group name for promotion?"
Her mother's tone, as if soothing a child, made her even more uncomfortable.
"So? No, seeing articles go up quickly before even receiving a call asking if I'm injured makes me feel sick to my stomach. Yes. Oh, really?"
Haah.
Hwang Ji-su, who sighed, hung up the phone.
"This is really annoying."
Kwon Seung-yeon patted her shoulder.
"Your father might have encouraged it, but that's not all there is to it. Don't get too upset."
"I know. I know. But what's there to be proud of?"
Hwang Ji-su blew a long stream of air through her nose.
"Whatever. Want to have some coffee?"
"Ooh, how about a cold brew?"
"Let's do that."
Hwang Ji-su made and drank a latte while looking at the temporary infirmary visible through the window.
"Was the Ma-in called Crusher strong?"
"It was terrible. If Su-hyeon hadn't appeared, we would all have died."
"......"
The strength of Ha Jin-young and the strength of Lee Yong-ju were probably almost equal, or perhaps Lee Yong-ju was slightly stronger.
'For that entire team to have been defeated.'
But she heard that Su-hyeon, who appeared later, overwhelmed him by triggering an unknown potential, and Lee Yu-jin, who barely maintained her strength, joined in the attack, and together they brought down Lee Yong-ju.
'That girl, I wonder if she broke through some kind of wall.'
Hwang Ji-su muttered, recalling Lee Yu-jin's eyes.
"Something about her atmosphere has changed."
"Who are you talking about?"
"Lee Yu-jin."
At that answer, Kwon Seung-yeon shrugged her shoulders.
"Considering how she looked at the end, you might be right."
"I'm still far behind."
Hwang Ji-su clenched her fist, recalling the previous battle where her weakness in close combat had been exploited.
"But next time, there won't be a chance."
The sense of defeat she felt against Jeong Su-hyeon and Lee Yu-jin.
That was becoming the driving force that fueled her.
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The next day.
"Instructor Kim, is it already alright for you to return to duty?"
"Yes. Office work is sufficient."
"I was planning to rest a bit longer, but Instructor Kim gave me such pointed looks."
"Haha. Instructor Oh, no one would say anything even if you stayed in bed."
"Ah, too much rest leads to muscle loss."
Given the situation, Kim Cheol-han and Oh Chang-seong had quickly returned to duty.
"Hmm."
Kim Cheol-han furrowed his brows as he looked at the timeline organized on a large whiteboard.
"It's complicated."
"Yes. We're organizing and compiling testimonies from everyone."
"Hmm."
As he carefully examined it, something strange caught his eye.
"What is this?"
"Ah, this? We wrote it at the Vice Principal's direction."
"Huh."
What had been organized was none other than Su-hyeon's actions.
"Are you saying all this was done by Jeong Su-hyeon alone?"
"We were shocked too."
"This is truly incredible when all put together."
Kim Cheol-han suppressed a hollow laugh and read through Su-hyeon's actions.
"Was it Jeong Su-hyeon who sent Kim Ho-su?"
"Yes. He said so himself."
When the EMP detonated, making all electronic devices completely unusable, Su-hyeon sought out Kim Ho-su, the fastest in the first year.
Then he informed him of the attack and had him tell the cadets to gather in one place to respond.
"It was an extremely tactical and rational action."
"Indeed it was."
Kim Cheol-han nodded.
"And it was also Jeong Su-hyeon's suggestion to send Seo Jun-seong to Class 2?"
"Yes."
Seo Jun-seong, who had been fighting against Lee Yong-ju, was sent to where Class 2 was at risk of complete annihilation trapped in a swamp, and he instantly reversed the situation.
"In that situation, no characteristic would have been more appropriate than Seo Jun-seong's psychokinesis."
"Yes. The only way to get out of a swamp is for someone to pull you out."
If Su-hyeon's judgment stood out up to this point.
"He faced Jang Su-il one-on-one?"
The combat ability Su-hyeon showed next made observers doubt their eyes.
"Does that make any sense?"
Oh Chang-seong, who had gone through all sorts of trouble facing that very Jang Su-il, asked with a look of disbelief.
"No, it's possible. Jang Su-il has a habit of playing with opponents he finds interesting for a long time."
The instructors nodded at Oh Chang-seong's words.
"But that itself is remarkable."
"What could be the reason for this?"
"For that, we'll just have to ask Jeong Su-hyeon directly when he wakes up."
But what was even more surprising came next.
"Jeong Su-hyeon overwhelmed Lee Yong-ju? Is that possible?"
'Crusher' Lee Yong-ju was a well-known Ma-in among the Execution Force.
"He should be rated at least B-rank, even at the lowest estimate."
Kim Cheol-han said.
"It doesn't make sense for a first-year to fight and overwhelm such a high-level Ma-in."
"Yes. In fact, cadets including Lee Yu-jin, Kwon Seung-yeon, Jeremy McGarr, Oh Min-sun, and Kim A-yun were all on the verge of being subdued."
"Of course they were! It's only natural!"
Lee Ho-seung raised his shoulders and chimed in arrogantly.
"I heard some details from Lee Yu-jin, and it seems it was likely a temporary power-up. She said he couldn't sustain it for long."
Instructor Kang Jun-man answered Kim Cheol-han's question.
"Hmm. If so, it's probably related to his characteristic."
Kim Cheol-han nodded.
"Do you think so?"
"Yes. The characteristic called Unlimited itself still has many mysteries."
"Hmm."
One instructor added the sentence 'Possibly related to his characteristic' to the whiteboard.
"Ah, and also. It's said that Jeong Su-hyeon used sword energy when fighting Lee Yong-ju."
At Kang Jun-man's words, Kim Cheol-han tilted his head.
"Sword energy? Really?"
"Yes."
"When on earth did he learn such......"
Everyone's gaze turned to Lee Ho-seung, who was quietly standing with his arms crossed and smiling broadly.
"I told you. That kid is a sword genius."
"Impressive."
Kim Cheol-han crossed his arms and continued reading the rest of the sentences.
"He subdued Lee Yong-ju through joint attacks with Lee Yu-jin, then went with Kim A-yun and Lee Yu-jin to rescue Class 3. He attacked the familiar army from both sides with Seo Jun-seong. Afterward, Team Leader Song Young-hwan, who joined in, directly subdued 'Spirit Master' Jang Ha-young and testified that he came here at Su-hyeon's request."
After reading that far, Kim Cheol-han let out a hollow laugh.
"My goodness."
"He's an amazing friend, isn't he?"
"Yes. While I was tied up with the Executioner, the cadets were running around busily saving their classmates. It makes me feel ashamed."
"Don't say that. If it weren't for you, Instructor Kim, how much blood would Kwak Hyeok-jung have spilled alone?"
Kim Cheol-han swallowed at Kang Jun-man's rebuttal.
"By the way."
Lee Ho-seung stepped forward.
"This was a real combat situation in every sense. What would have happened if active-duty personnel had performed such feats?"
"...They would have immediately received medals and been promoted."
"Hahaha."
Lee Ho-seung beamed.
"See, I told you Instructor Kim knows what's what."
"The undeniable fact is that we all owe a great debt to Cadet Jeong Su-hyeon. Without his appropriate judgments, the situation might have escalated to an uncontrollable point."
"Of course! It's truly like teacher, like student!"
Not only Su-hyeon's achievements, but.
He himself had also fought advantageously against Rusty Sword Ha Jin-su and even cut off his arm.
No one was going to complain if he puffed up his shoulders a bit.
Rather, the gazes looking at the troublesome eccentric senior were much softer than before.
"It's hard to decide how to reward him."
"This isn't a matter that can be settled with just a scholarship."
"Yes. By the way, about Raging Wolf."
Kim Cheol-han asked.
"Who was facing him before he fought Instructor Kang?"
"There hasn't been any clear testimony about that yet."
Another instructor answered.
"Apparently, he was already injured with lacerations in several places before meeting Instructor Kang, as if he had been in a fierce battle somewhere."
"Hmm."
"Maybe he fought our Su-hyeon and ran away?"
The instructors burst into laughter at Lee Ho-seung's joke.
"Hahaha! No way!"
"If that were the case, shouldn't we just graduate him and make him an instructor right away?"
"Right? Uwahaha!"
Even Lee Ho-seung himself laughed loudly, saying it was absurd, but.
It was unexpectedly an inference that pierced the truth.
"Anyway, it's truly impressive."
Kim Cheol-han, with a rare happy face, said:
"There has always been skepticism about Jeong Su-hyeon's potential and skills. But who can now deny the fact that he has become one of the most outstanding cadets alongside Seo Jun-seong, Lee Yu-jin, and Hwang Ji-su?"
"That's absolutely true."
The gem-like talents of the freshmen who would become pillars of the future.
There was probably nothing else that would make the instructors feel as proud.
"But you know."
Oh Chang-seong pointed to the top of the whiteboard and asked:
"Who fired the flare after the EMP went off?"
"Ah, about that."
An instructor from the Support Department cautiously opened his mouth.
"Eun-seo said... that flare. She said it seems like she gave it to Cadet Jeong Su-hyeon?"
"...?"
At this point, the instructors went beyond feeling proud to feeling dumbfounded.
"What the hell is this guy?"
"...Does he have some kind of prophetic ability?"
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And the next day.
Jeong Su-hyeon woke up from his long sleep.