novelraw Chapter 24 : Chapter 24
Chapter 24 : Chapter 24
Chapter 24. An Unexpected Development (2)
While the cadets were busy moving about for their real combat training.
The Total Management Room here was also working without rest to keep up.
However, even among those busy people, there was one person who particularly stood out.
A teaching assistant, who must have run quite hard as he was sweating profusely, began to report to someone in a voice full of energy.
“With the last team just now, all cadets have finished entering the Gates!”
“Is that so.”
An instructor received the report calmly.
His identity was Im Seong-cheol, the instructor in charge of Class A and the one managing the overall operations for this real combat training.
Im Seong-cheol pondered for a moment before asking the assistant who had come to report.
“Were there any unexpected situations or anything like that?”
“Yes! No unusual situations requiring a report occurred!”
“I see...”
Hearing the assistant's words, Im Seong-cheol fell into thought once again.
At that, the assistant looked at Im Seong-cheol with a curious face and asked.
“What are you worrying about so much?”
“It is nothing major. I was just pondering where a problem might arise if one were to occur.”
“A problem? Did you see something that looked suspicious, Instructor?”
“No, even to my eyes, there were no visible elements that could become an issue. However...”
Im Seong-cheol answered the assistant's words faithfully, letting his voice trail off.
Then, he explained his concern to the assistant.
“There have been many noisy incidents lately, haven't there? So I have no choice but to be cautious.”
“Too much worry is also a problem.”
“Still, isn't it better than being complacent and then stepping in too late after an incident occurs?”
“That is true, but...”
The assistant thought about how he could ease Im Seong-cheol's worries before opening his mouth.
“Anyway, once the cadets have entered the Gates, no one can enter from the outside until they are cleared, right? So why don't you put your mind at ease?”
“Thanks to what you just said, I can do that even less now.”
“I-I am sorry! But aren't the instructors carefully selected specifically for that reason?”
The assistant was right.
Due to the previous incident, the instructors for this real combat training had been selected even more strictly.
This training was one where they had chosen only outstanding instructors, regardless of whether it was based on skill or experience.
Perhaps having put his mind at ease to some extent after hearing that, Im Seong-cheol replied with a much softer voice.
“Yes. You are right. I had too many worries.”
“Not at all!”
“Even so, if there is a place that is becoming slower than the scheduled clear time, report it immediately. You can do at least that much, right?”
“Understood. Then I will tell everyone else as well.”
The assistant gave a deep bow to Im Seong-cheol and left his seat to deliver the instructions.
Left alone, Im Seong-cheol muttered while checking the list of cadets he taught.
“I hope nothing happens.”
***
A cool breeze blowing from somewhere, and the scent of soil drifting along with that breeze.
At those foreign sensations, I immediately opened my eyes which had been closed.
The scenery that appeared after I regained my senses was enough to surprise me.
‘Is this... inside the Gate?’
Although it was not open in all directions, a meadow spread out much wider than I had expected.
If I were in a state where I knew nothing, the scenery was natural enough that it would be hard to believe this was a Gate.
‘It is significantly different from what I had thought.’
To be honest, I thought that no matter how well it was implemented, it would feel artificial.
However, I had to admit that such a thought was wrong.
Because this scenery and the sensations I was currently feeling were telling me that this place was not a fake.
‘Which makes it even more unpleasant, though.’
Gates, in the end, bring harm to the world.
Of course, there are several Gates that spit out useful things.
Because of that, there are even insane organizations that worship the Gates.
‘Even so, it is certain that they must disappear.’
It was right as I was looking at the Gate and recalling the horrors of the future.
A voice calling me could be heard from a place not too far away.
“Cadet Yu-seong!”
“Instructor?”
“Phew, I was worried because you were the only one not visible after entering the Gate.”
Yu-hyeon let out a small laugh while pretending to wipe away sweat.
Even though not a single drop of sweat was actually flowing.
‘By the way, there shouldn't have been a huge difference in when we entered.’
Is there a time difference between the outside and the Gate?
At any rate, since this part was my mistake, I bowed my head and apologized to Yu-hyeon.
“I am sorry. I entered a bit late, so it seems we got separated a little.”
“Haha, no. That can happen. The other kids are waiting over there.”
Looking toward the place Yu-hyeon mentioned, I could see the kids who had entered before me.
Judging by the fact that their faces did not look bored or annoyed, it seemed they had not been waiting for me for very long.
I felt that was a relief, at least.
“Since everyone is gathered now, shall we have a time for introductions?”
Once we were all gathered, Yu-hyeon naturally led the atmosphere.
He looked like someone who was accustomed to dealing with people.
At Yu-hyeon's words, someone immediately opened their mouth.
The protagonist was, as expected, Ha Eun-ha.
“Then I'll go first! My name is Ha Eun-ha, and my position is Supporter! I look forward to working with you~.”
Ha Eun-ha introduced herself with a voice full of energy, just like always.
I wonder where that kind of liveliness comes from.
Still, thanks to her, the awkward air felt a bit more refreshed.
Taking over that atmosphere, I continued speaking next.
“My weapon is a sword, and I can take either the frontline or rearguard, anywhere is fine.”
After that, the introductions of the remaining two also finished briefly.
Both the boy and the girl were frontline fighters who used swords.
It was a shame that the positions overlapped, but I thought it would be fine since we had a Supporter.
As long as we served our noble Supporter well, we would probably be able to clear it without any problems.
“Now then, are all the positions decided?”
Yu-hyeon, who had been watching us with a slightly bored expression, spoke to us as soon as he saw that the conversation was over.
We all nodded at his words.
“Yes, it's all finished.”
“Great. Then before we depart, I'll tell you the baseline for this training one last time.”
Yu-hyeon said so while checking his wristwatch.
“The time limit is three hours, based on reaching the place where the Boss is. Please understand that this is meant to gauge your capabilities.”
When Yu-hyeon smiled and asked for our understanding, the cadets—excluding me—nodded their heads.
I said ‘excluding me.’
Because I could not nod my head at the words just now.
‘Did I hear that wrong just now? A time limit?’
Even if it is E-Rank and a training exercise, a Gate is a Gate.
A place where it would not be strange for anything to happen.
To set a time limit in such a place was absolute nonsense.
‘In the first place, even if there was one, he should have hidden it.’
How would the cadets react upon hearing there was a time limit?
It was only natural that they would become rushed.
If that happened, problems could arise even in parts that could have been passed through without issue.
Could a human who is an instructor really not have known that? There is no way.
Most likely, with a very high probability, he said it knowing exactly what he was doing.
‘This is a bit suspicious.’
I am not sure if he is a Villain or what.
Because even if they are not Villains, there are quite a few instructors who commit bad deeds for their personal greed.
However, one thing was certain.
‘He did not say those words with good intentions.’
He must have said it with malicious intent in some direction.
But there was nothing I could do.
We were already inside the Gate, after all.
Thus, I could do nothing but silently stare at Yu-hyeon.
Not knowing my thoughts, Yu-hyeon smiled broadly and encouraged us.
“You might feel it's a bit tight, but you don't have to worry too much. Since you are Glory cadets, you'll be able to pull it off without any issues.”
At those words, I almost let out a hollow laugh.
‘Pull it off without issues, my ass.’
To spout such reckless nonsense after saying those things.
It was a miracle that I held back the hollow laugh.
While I was continuing to swear severely inside, someone tapped me.
Turning my head to check, it was Ha Eun-ha.
“What is it?”
“What do you mean, ‘what is it?’ What are you doing just standing there blankly by yourself?”
When I checked my surroundings at those words, the other two were already moving toward the interior of the Gate.
To think I lost my concentration, no matter how absurd it was.
I blamed myself and apologized to Ha Eun-ha.
“Ah, sorry.”
“Whatever, just hurry up and come. Since there isn't much time either.”
At her words, I followed Ha Eun-ha toward where the other two had gone.
I did not like the part about there not being much time, but for now, I had no choice but to keep my mouth shut.
No matter how much I said it was suspicious, it was obvious who would be treated like a crazy person in this current situation where there was no evidence.
‘So for now, I should let myself be fooled.’
But I have no intention of being fooled until the end.
I had no intention of dealing with this complacently when Ha Eun-ha's safety was at stake.
Thus, I followed closely behind Ha Eun-ha while thinking about what I should do from now on.
***
At that time.
The headquarters of the Horizon Guild located in Gangnam, which is said to be the most expensive area even in Seoul.
Two men and women were drinking tea and having a conversation there.
The one who opened her mouth first was the woman who possessed considerable beauty.
“Shin Yu-hwan. Are you trying to get a scolding from your Team Leader again by slacking off here?”
“Haha, Big Sister, you really worry too much. It's fine. At most, what else would they say besides saying they'll cut my salary?”
A conversation that seemed somewhat informal.
However, it was not as if the two individuals leading that conversation lacked formality themselves.
That made sense, since one was Shin Yu-hwan, who held the epithet of Spear God, and the other was Cha Yu-na, the Guildmaster of Horizon, the number one guild in South Korea.
“Big Sister, you really have too many naggy remarks. How are you going to meet a good man like that?”
“Hoho, shut up. I'm already anxious enough that I'll live a lonely life forever.”
While their unproductive conversation continued for a while, Cha Yu-na brought something up as if she had suddenly remembered it.
“Ah! Come to think of it, I heard you caught a major case this time. Is it true?”
“What, I heard that was confidential, how did you find out?”
“It's obviously this, of course.”
Cha Yu-na smiled while making a circle with her fingers.
At that sight, Shin Yu-hwan clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“Tsk, this is exactly why this country is no good.”
“Forget that, what kind of whim came over the great Shin Yu-hwan? A guy who only used to go out on jobs other kids brought in because he found things annoying?”
At Cha Yu-na's question, Shin Yu-hwan ate a dessert that came with the tea and replied in a tone that suggested it was no big deal.
“I just happened to stumble upon it while investigating after being asked by a boy I like.”
“A boy you like?”
“Yeah. He's a Year 1 cadet at Glory, and he's quite a decent boy. Though his rank is a bit low.”
Shin Yu-hwan laughed pleasantly, perhaps having thought of Choi Yu-seong as he said that.
Cha Yu-na made a surprised expression at Shin Yu-hwan's appearance.
‘For him to laugh like that.’
Shin Yu-hwan looked casual and boisterous on the outside.
However, Cha Yu-na knew.
That there were almost no cases where Shin Yu-hwan laughed with genuine sincerity.
Because of that, Cha Yu-na's curiosity grew even more.
‘Just what kind of child is he?’
Judging by the fact that he said the boy's rank was low, it did not seem like he was drawn to his skill.
Then, just in what part did he feel an attraction?
Cha Yu-na eventually could not hold back her curiosity and asked Shin Yu-hwan.
“Tell me a bit about what kind of kid he is.”
“Suddenly?”
“It's only natural to be curious if it's a child you'd talk about like that.”
Shin Yu-hwan pondered for a moment at her words before eventually nodding his head.
“Well, it's not like it'll cost me anything to tell you, so I guess it's fine.”
“Right, right. So hurry up and tell me.”
“Goodness, Big Sister, is the only thing that increased with your age your impatience?”
“...Do you want to get hit for what you just said, or would you prefer to speak nicely?”
“Haha! It's a joke. I'll tell you, so don't be so angry.”
Shin Yu-hwan laughed as if teasing Cha Yu-na was fun.
However, that laughter quickly disappeared.
It was an action possible only for Shin Yu-hwan, who clearly distinguished between when he should laugh and when he should be serious.
“The reason I like that boy is simple.”
Saying so, Shin Yu-hwan drained the last sip of his tea.
Then, he spoke as he set down the empty teacup.
“Because that boy and I share many similarities.”