novelraw Chapter 25 : Chapter 25
Chapter 25 : Chapter 25
Chapter 25. An Unexpected Development (3)
“What do you mean by ‘sharing many similarities’?”
Cha Yu-na found it difficult to understand the meaning behind Shin Yu-hwan’s words.
This was because, based on what he had just said, it was hard to find any common ground between Shin Yu-hwan and that boy. It was even more so considering Shin Yu-hwan had been called an elite ever since his days as a cadet.
As if sensing Cha Yu-na’s thoughts, Shin Yu-hwan continued.
“Yeah. Though I suppose a Big Sister who judges people by their appearances wouldn’t know.”
“Why do you keep making useless remarks?”
“Haha, that was a compliment, you know? To run a guild, you have to be able to judge by appearances.”
At those words, Cha Yu-na felt her hand tighten, but she endured it. She did so with the superhuman patience she had steadily built up while dealing with Shin Yu-hwan on a regular basis.
At her reaction, Shin Yu-hwan made a face as if he were bored, but he carried on with the story.
“Tsk. Big Sister, the problem is that you know me too well. Anyway, my point is this. That boy and I think alike.”
With a smile, Shin Yu-hwan asked Cha Yu-na back.
“Big Sister, what kind of person do you think I am?”
“Hmm, aren't you a crazy person?”
“Haha! Well, that is also true, but I meant besides that.”
At his words, Cha Yu-na wore an expression of disbelief.
‘And he doesn't even deny the part about being a crazy person.’
Should she consider it a relief that he knew it himself? Or should she be sad that he had no intention of fixing it even though he knew?
‘Well, putting that aside, what kind of person he is...’
It was a question that was difficult to answer honestly. The person named Shin Yu-hwan whom she had watched for a long time was, well... the type of person who was hard to describe in a positive light.
But how could she say that to his face? Calling him a crazy person as a joke and speaking seriously were two different matters.
Therefore, Cha Yu-na continued to hesitate to answer, and at that sight, Shin Yu-hwan grinned and said.
“Big Sister, the problem is that you have too much affection. Just speak your mind; why are you worrying?”
“...Shut up.”
“Hahaha, this is why I cannot help but like you, Big Sister.”
After laughing for a good while, Shin Yu-hwan finally stopped laughing upon receiving Cha Yu-na’s cold gaze. Then, he gave the answer to the question Cha Yu-na could not voice.
“I think of myself as a person who does not care about the means and methods used to achieve a goal.”
“....”
“But you see, Villains are not much different. They will do anything for their objective, right?”
“That is....”
“Then what is the difference between a Villain and me? Unfortunately, there is no major difference. It is simply a difference in our objectives.”
Shin Yu-hwan muttered self-deprecatingly while fiddling with his empty teacup. At that sight, Cha Yu-na’s expression darkened.
However, Shin Yu-hwan smiled as if there were no problem at all.
“Big Sister, don't look at me like that. I am quite satisfied with my life, after all.”
“...Sure. Good for you.”
“Haha, I already knew that.”
Shin Yu-hwan laughed pleasantly and set down the empty teacup.
“Well, the conversation wandered a bit, but what I want to say is this. The boy and I are very similar in that aspect, and I like that.”
“But aren't there many people besides that boy who fit the criteria you mentioned?”
“That is true.”
Shin Yu-hwan agreed with Cha Yu-na’s words. Only for a very brief moment, though.
“If you look at it broadly, that is. But there are almost no people who would use even themselves as a tool for their objective, right?”
“...Are you saying that boy is that kind of person?”
“Exactly.”
Nodding his head, Shin Yu-hwan recalled the day he first encountered the boy. Their first meeting at the exhibition hall where the Villains had attacked.
‘I didn't know back then.’
A fact he was only able to realize later. Was it really a coincidence that the boy was there? That a Year 1 cadet, who left the academy using a personal matter as an excuse, happened to stop by the exhibition hall and ended up meeting and fighting Villains?
Shin Yu-hwan shook his head internally.
‘There is no way such a convenient coincidence exists.’
The boy had moved while knowing everything. The fact that Villains were coming to that exhibition hall, and even the fact that he himself would come.
If that were not the case, it would be difficult to explain the boy’s composure that day.
‘I don't know how he predicted it all, though.’
In the first place, he did not even care. He was not the type of person to worry about such minute details. What he was interested in was the boy’s decisiveness and drive.
‘That drive to step forward even in a situation where he might die.’
In that case, it was one of two things. He was either a person who truly chased after justice, or a person who used even himself as a tool for his objective.
‘It is likely the latter.’
As a result of exchanging a few conversations and observing him, justice did not really suit the boy. The emotion that started as light interest had now turned into infinite curiosity.
Because of that, it was all the more necessary to watch the boy properly.
‘Until he is fully grown, that is.’
Shin Yu-hwan knew. This type of person does not collapse or bend, but they are just as easy to break. Therefore, it was perhaps natural to look after a boy who was somewhat similar to his own past.
It was then.
Cha Yu-na spoke up, breaking Shin Yu-hwan’s reverie.
“Then I should meet him once later as well.”
“Why you, Big Sister?”
“Well, if he resembles you, doesn't that mean he will grow significantly? Then I should at least introduce myself in advance. For the future of the guild, you see.”
“Haha, to think he will receive the same treatment I suffered through, I already feel pity for the boy.”
“You little bastard. Others are dying to receive it, so why are you being like this?!”
Shin Yu-hwan did not care much even if Cha Yu-na showed interest in Choi Yu-seong. Instead, he simply laughed and joked around. Considering that taking a target someone else has their eye on is bad manners in the Player industry, it was a truly lukewarm reaction.
‘Well, it's not like I necessarily need to keep him to myself.’
His job was likely just to help the boy so he would not break. Just like how he had received help from someone else in the past.
‘So please, grow well, boy.’
Shin Yu-hwan let out a boisterous laugh as he finished eating the remaining dessert. It was an action he could take only because he did not know that the boy was currently in danger of breaking.
***
While moving to clear the Gate, what I had feared eventually ended up happening.
“Ugh....”
“Tsk! Just stay still! Seriously, this is why you should listen.”
Of the two cadets who were rushing forward as if chased by time, the boy had eventually gotten injured. It was a disaster caused by him not listening to Ha Eun-ha’s order to wait for a moment when we encountered an Orc group.
Watching Ha Eun-ha diligently use her healing ability, I could not help but scowl.
‘Tsk, is he really a Glory cadet?’
No matter how much of an extra he is, he is still an official enrollee of Glory. If that is the case, he should at least know how to follow orders. To not even be able to do that...
It was a sight that was far too incomparable to the kids I was with during the cooperation training. Even if there were some parts that were slightly lacking, it was never to this extent.
‘I'm already worried to death because of Yu-hyeon, and now these guys are causing trouble too.’
Only the male cadet was injured, but the problem also lay with the female cadet. Since they both had not listened to the order, it was just that the female cadet was lucky enough not to get hurt.
The thought that those two caused the accident while Ha Eun-ha was the one suffering made irritation well up inside me.
‘I definitely have to address this.’
Ha Eun-ha did not say much, but that was because she had a kind heart, not because those two had done nothing wrong. In this kind of case, one must speak clearly so that this kind of thing does not happen next time.
I opened my mouth toward the male cadet receiving treatment and the female cadet crouching in the corner.
“Hey, you two.”
“Huh?”
“If you're going to act like that, just get the hell back to the entrance.”
At my single remark, the atmosphere froze over. Ha Eun-ha looked flustered and tried to speak to me, but I spoke faster than she could.
“You want to clear a Gate while not even listening to orders? Do you even have a conscience?”
“....”
“Even if you do this, you'll just end up dying later once you become a Player anyway, so why don't you just quit here?”
One might feel that I spoke harshly, but it was the truth. If they enter Gates like this, they will eventually end their lives in one. No, before that, if anything were to happen to Ha Eun-ha because of those two, then by my hands... Phew, I should stop here.
Fortunately, it seemed the two cadets were intellectual beings.
“Sorry... I was too rushed. I won't do it again.”
“Me too. I am truly sorry, I was just thinking about clearing it quickly.”
The two cadets apologized quickly. They knew themselves that they were in the wrong. Right, Yu-hyeon, who keeps spouting nonsense about a time limit, is the one at fault. What wrong could these kids have?
With that thought, I glanced at Yu-hyeon, who was observing us from a slight distance. Then, Yu-hyeon, who had a slight smile on his face, caught my eye.
‘That bastard....’
How dare he smile? He put Ha Eun-ha in this predicament and dares to smile?
I felt an impulse to rush at him right now, but I calmed my mind as I recalled the resolution I had made before starting.
‘I must endure.’
They say a gentleman’s revenge is not too late even if it takes ten years. In my case, it would not even take ten hours, let alone ten years, so the situation was better.
‘He will surely reveal his true colors around the Boss Room.’
There is no way he would have spouted such bullshit if that were not the case.
Therefore, I began to move once again along with Ha Eun-ha, who had finished the treatment, and the other two.
***
After that, everything went smoothly. Following Ha Eun-ha’s orders, which were appropriate for the situation even if they were still a bit awkward.
I watched Ha Eun-ha as she diligently surveyed the battlefield while dripping with sweat.
“Three Orcs coming from behind! Everyone, get ready!!”
“I-I've confirmed it!”
Her tone lacked confidence, but since that was Ha Eun-ha’s charm, I had to understand.
After a few similar battles were repeated for a while.
We were finally able to reach the threshold of the Boss Room. Just as everyone was looking at the Boss Room in tension, Ha Eun-ha spoke to me.
“Hey, you?”
“What's with the ‘hey, you?’ So, what is it?”
“That... I was a bit thankful for earlier. Thanks to you, we made it this far without any problems! Hehe.”
Ha Eun-ha said she was thankful to me with an embarrassed expression. Then, she looked at the Boss Room.
“Still, let's work hard until the very end, clear it cleanly, and go back! Got it?”
“Hmm... Yeah.”
“Why is your answer so half-hearted?!”
Well, that is because this is a scene often seen in movies. What people commonly call a death fla... No. It is best not to speak of ominous things.
When I did not give any answer, Ha Eun-ha muttered something to herself. I heard the phrase ‘a guy like Ryu Jin-oh’ in the middle, but I decided to pretend I did not hear it.
Fortunately, it was the other two cadets who mediated the situation.
“Um... Eun-ha. Why don't we head in now?”
“Right. The time seems to be running tight too.”
At the urging of the two, Ha Eun-ha stopped her muttering as if she had no choice.
“I suppose so. Then shall we give it a go, everyone? Ah! Choi Yu-seong, you come in at the very end.”
I was planning to enter last anyway since I am the rearguard even if she did not say it. But if I did not answer here, she would pout even more, so I nodded my head.
Ha Eun-ha fortunately seemed satisfied with my social savvy.
“Now, now, everyone focus and here we go~!!”
With those words from Ha Eun-ha, we entered the Boss Room.
Even at that moment, I kept my eyes on Yu-hyeon until the very end.