novelraw Chapter 23 : Chapter 23
Chapter 23 : Chapter 23
Chapter 23. An Unexpected Development (1)
We shared a serious conversation about the practical training for a while, but it was only for a moment.
Remembering our original purpose, we stopped talking about classes and decided to focus on having fun.
Having enjoyed ourselves so much that our legs were trembling, we were finally able to wrap up the day around the time the sun set.
The path back to the dormitory alone after parting ways with the guys like that.
I trudged along, soothing my body that was even more exhausted than when I trained.
“Why does everyone have such good stamina?”
Now that it was time to return to the dormitory, the events of the day flashed through my mind.
As expected of Glory cadets, they played so fiercely that it felt like my entire body was screaming.
“Still, it was nice.”
My body was exhausted to its limits, but my mind actually felt clearer.
I thought having times like this occasionally would not be bad.
Considering the things I had to do in the future, a time like this would serve as a small source of vitality.
“Anyway, did they say the practical training starts on Monday?”
Because the way to the dormitory was long, various thoughts circled in my head.
One of them was the conversation about the practical training we had earlier this morning.
I recalled what that practical training was like in the novel.
“I don't think anything in particular happened.”
The practical training in the novel was an episode meant to showcase the protagonist's abilities.
To show what kind of existence Kim Su-hyeok was as a Player.
Because of that, I remembered that there was no appearance of a major crisis or anything of the sort.
“It was delayed a bit, but there shouldn't be any major problems.”
In the original story, the practical training was not delayed.
That made sense, since there was no scenario where Lee Ho-jae got attacked in the original work.
“It has only been a little over a week, so there is no way things would change drastically.”
So I just need to focus on my own practical training.
With that, I headed toward the dormitory, walking along the night path that seemed unusually darker than normal.
***
Monday, the start of a new week.
However, unlike usual, a strange tension flowed among the cadets.
The reason was precisely the real combat training starting today.
Im Seong-cheol, who briefly looked around at the cadets sitting stiffly in tension, slowly opened his mouth.
“Today, as previously discussed, there will be real combat training. Has everyone prepared properly?”
“Yes!!”
“Everyone's voices are certainly good. However, spirit alone is not enough for today's training.”
Im Seong-cheol said so while lowering his voice.
At that tone, even the sound of people gulping could be heard around the room.
“First, I must ask you all. What is a Player?”
When no one answered that question, Im Seong-cheol looked around the cadets and singled one out to ask.
“Will the cadet in the very front try answering?”
The cadet caught by Im Seong-cheol stood up from his seat in a stiff manner and began to answer the question.
“I-I believe it is an existence that must possess a spirit of sacrifice and fight for the powerless—GAK!”
He was so nervous that not only did he stutter, but he even bit his tongue.
Still, Im Seong-cheol did not laugh and replied seriously.
“That is not a wrong answer. However, it leaves something to be desired. This time, let us have another cadet answer.”
As he said that, Im Seong-cheol's gaze was directed at me this time.
Phew, I wondered why I was not getting asked any questions, but as expected, it was exactly as I thought.
I sighed inwardly and answered Im Seong-cheol's question.
“I believe a Player is an existence that is always lacking, no matter how much they prepare and prepare again.”
“Hoh?”
He made a subtle expression, perhaps pleased with my answer.
That was only natural.
‘Because I said the exact answer Im Seong-cheol wanted.’
Sure enough, Im Seong-cheol nodded in satisfaction and continued speaking.
“It is exactly as Cadet Choi Yu-seong just said. A Player is an existence that must constantly make thorough preparations.”
Saying so, he shouted at the cadets with a strong tone.
“What is the number one cause of death for Players? It is precisely death occurring inside a Gate! Did they lose their lives because they were fools?”
““No!!””
“Exactly. Despite being prepared, they had no choice but to pass away due to an unforeseen accident. That is how dangerous a Gate is. Therefore, I ask that all of you please not lose that sense of tension.”
Having said that much, Im Seong-cheol began to explain the Gate we would be entering next.
Perhaps because he brought it up after instilling a sense of alertness first, everyone's concentration had reached its peak.
“Now, the training will proceed in order by class, but there is nothing for you to worry too much about. What you must pay attention to is this exact part.”
Im Seong-cheol continued his explanation while turning on the image materials.
“The Gate shown on the screen above is where you will be going today. The location is Jeju Island, but since the distance is far, we will be traveling via portal. Any cadets have questions up to here?”
Everyone maintained their silence at those words.
“Then I will assume you understand up to this point. Next, I will explain the Gate. The Gate you will enter is an E-Rank Gate.”
Then Im Seong-cheol let out a chuckle and said.
“Considering the skills of you who have entered Glory, we skipped the F-Rank, but... if you happen to be scared, you may speak up. I will specially change that cadet's assignment to an F-Rank Gate.”
If he said it like that, who would raise their hand?
Im Seong-cheol, who usually had absolutely no change in expression, asked while even making a mocking smile, and someone would answer that they are scared?
It would be an action that amounted to nothing but saying, 'I am a coward.'
Just as I expected, no one answered Im Seong-cheol's words.
Im Seong-cheol made a satisfied face at that reaction.
“Good. It is true that a Player is an existence that must constantly make preparations, but that does not mean you should be afraid. Then, everyone will now move to the portal.”
At those words, I felt a trembling emotion that I had not revealed until now.
‘I am finally going to a real Gate now.’
I am personally going to the Gate that I had only read about in the novel.
That fact was enough to make me tremble.
One might ask what kind of nonsense that is coming from a guy who has already killed a Villain since coming to this world, but it was an entirely different matter.
Killing a Villain was an action done for a hero, and this is my own personal matter.
In front of the portal we moved to while still tense like that.
There, Im Seong-cheol left his final words while looking at the cadets.
“As the general supervisor, I will not be moving with you. Once you travel through the portal, there will be other instructors present, so you simply need to follow their instructions.”
“Yes!!!”
“All right, then everyone be careful and focus on the training.”
With that, Im Seong-cheol left the area.
The remaining cadets began to enter the portal in perfect order according to the portal manager's instructions.
‘Then shall I get going too?’
Although I was nervous, I could not avoid it anyway.
With that, I took the portal and moved to where the Gate would be.
***
‘Ugh, no matter how many times I ride this, I just cannot get used to it.’
The edge of Jeju Island, arrived at via the portal.
There, I looked around while soothing my nauseous stomach.
‘It really is desolate.’
What reflected in my eyes was a Gate situated alone in a place without a single blade of grass.
I heard that it had turned into a wasteland due to the aftermath when Gates first started appearing in the past, and it was exactly as they said.
As someone who knew the Jeju Island of the world I originally lived in, it was a place that felt somewhat foreign.
As I was looking around while recalling my old world, a strangely captivating voice could be heard from somewhere.
“Let's see... Since there are four of you, everyone has gathered.”
When I turned my head at that voice to check, what I saw was a handsome young man who looked to be in his twenties.
Given the situation, he seemed to be the instructor in charge of this Gate.
‘But four people?’
I was alone when I came through the portal.
Following the instructor's words, I turned my head and saw three other cadets besides myself.
Two male and female cadets I did not know, and...
“Ha Eun-ha?”
Perhaps having heard my voice from over there, Ha Eun-ha happily greeted me.
“Oh, what's this? I ended up in the same group as Yu-seong!”
Ha Eun-ha, looking truly energetic without any difference from usual.
However, my expression was not very good, unlike hers.
‘Why is Ha Eun-ha here?’
This is different from what I knew.
Because originally, Ha Eun-ha was supposed to be assigned to the same group as Kim Su-hyeok.
‘Even this part has changed?’
So the real combat training was delayed because of what I did, and that led to a change in the group assignments...
In a way, it was a completely understandable story.
But something felt unsettling.
Therefore, I tried to think a bit more about the reason for the change, but I could not.
It was because the instructor who approached us struck up a friendly conversation.
“Good morning, everyone. I wonder if you all ate properly before coming?”
Although I had felt it earlier, the instructor continued speaking with a strangely attractive voice.
“I am Yu-hyeon, the one in charge of you all this time. My last name is Yu, and my first name is Hyeon. I look forward to working with you.”
“We look forward to working with you too.”
“Haha, great. Everyone heard a brief explanation from your instructor in charge before coming here, right?”
The four of us nodded simultaneously at Yu-hyeon's words.
“Still, since it is a real Gate, I will explain a few additional things.”
Saying so, Yu-hyeon spoke to us about the Gate we would be entering in a soft voice.
“First off, the place you will enter is an E-Rank Dungeon Type Gate. However, there is no need to be too scared just because it is a Dungeon Type. It is a Gate that all your seniors have passed through as well.”
“Is that so.”
“Yeah. Plus, I will be accompanying you too, so you don't have to worry.”
That was certainly reassuring.
One can only become an instructor if they have a history of working as an actual Player.
If such an instructor is accompanying us, it could not be any better.
‘But why do I feel so uneasy?’
There was definitely nothing strange.
The instructor was a normal person, and it was not like Ha Eun-ha being here did not make sense.
Nevertheless, a corner of my heart felt uncomfortable.
However, due to Yu-hyeon's words cutting in right away this time as well, my thoughts could not last long.
“Then, shall we all slowly head into the Gate? Since all the other teams have probably entered by now.”
“Shouldn't we go in after discussing each other's positions among the team members first?”
“It won't be too late to do that after entering the Gate. It's not a Gate where you encounter monsters right away.”
I felt something strange and tried to refute him, but I could not.
Because the remaining three, including Ha Eun-ha, showed signs of impatience upon hearing that the other teams had already started.
Furthermore, there was nothing wrong with Yu-hyeon's words, so it was obvious that if I argued back, I would only be treated like a weirdo.
Thus, I also had no choice but to nod my head with a bewildered expression.
“Then everyone is ready, right? I will go in first, so you just need to follow me inside.”
“Understood.”
With those final words, Yu-hyeon threw his body toward the entrance of the Gate.
Following behind him, the two cadets and even Ha Eun-ha all disappeared into the Gate.
Now, I was the only one left outside.
“...No problems will arise, right?”
An anxious feeling kept nagging at me, but I could not back out now.
Even Ha Eun-ha had gone in. If a problem were to occur, I could not just leave her there alone.
“Things will work out somehow.”
Thus, I also finally pushed my body toward the Gate.
The last thing that entered my vision was the bleak and desolate land.