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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Discernment
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Despite the previous day's events, the training camp remained eerily quiet.
They must be mortified.
Fifteen of them had ganged up to beat one allocated student, only to get thoroughly thrashed themselves. It wasn't exactly something they could boast about.
Still, the atmosphere in the training camp had distinctly shifted.
One of our own campmates had been among those who rushed in.
He had boasted about teaching me a "real lesson" before heading out, but then he never returned. Instead, I came back, dragging a blood-soaked wooden sword.
Our campmates must have more or less figured it out.
That something utterly absurd had happened.
And then, the next morning.
The basic training began as usual, yet subtly different.
My muscles trembled.
I was doing squats with a massive barbell resting on my shoulders.
"Ughhh—!"
I felt my strength slowly draining away.
I felt like I was about to get crushed…
Just then.
"Hiyah! Healing!"
"Haaat! Enhance!"
Even though the instructor hadn't ordered it, the two allocated students' skills enveloped my body.
The effects were distinctly palpable, unlike before.
Of course, it wasn't extraordinary, but it was like a mouthful of water in the desert, not just a single drop.
Enough to quench my thirst, so to speak.
Even this much was more than I could ask for right now.
"You can do it!"
"You got this!"
"Huuuuh!!!!"
I gritted my teeth, squatted deep, then pushed off the floor, straightening my legs.
And immediately after, I released the barbell.
THUUUUD—!!!
It crashed to the floor behind me with a loud thud.
"Oh, how was it? Did my Healing skill work!?"
"My support skill was pretty good too, right?"
The allocated students asked, their eyes sparkling.
I looked at them with a jaded expression.
*These guys, every single set… And what's with the cheering? I almost got crushed from losing focus.*
Their sudden shift in attitude overnight was incredibly awkward.
I had apologized, feeling a bit bad that they got dragged into trouble because of me yesterday.
When they asked why I saved them, I figured I'd need their help in future training, so I said something like…
*It's only natural to save your party members when they're in danger.*
…and spouted that kind of nonsense.
It seemed to have caused a significant change in their mindset.
Of course, it probably also helped that they no longer had to cower in the camp.
*Well, at least it helps with my training.*
Getting bothered by it here would be a loss.
"Allocated students, you've changed."
Instructor Baek Seolhee seemed to notice their transformation as well, asking with interest.
"Yes, ma'am! We plan to actively participate in training from now on!"
"We'll work hard!"
The allocated students replied, their eyes firm, not with their usual lifeless gaze.
Baek Seolhee nodded with an expressionless face.
"State your names."
"...Kim Cheolhyun."
"...Kim Sohoon."
"Alright, not bad. Cadet Kim Cheolhyun, Cadet Kim Sohoon."
Finally, they were called by their names, not 'allocated student'.
It was just a casual remark, but they bit their lips tightly and trembled.
"Cadets, from now on, during basic training, you will use your skills on Cadet Jin Yuha to substitute for position training. Conversely, during position training, you will undergo basic training."
"...Yes, ma'am!"
"...Understood!"
"That concludes morning training. We will reconvene after breakfast."
With that, basic training ended.
"Leader! Wanna grab a bite…?"
"We know a great spot."
The two allocated students clung to me, annoyingly so.
I raised a finger and pointed in one direction.
There, Shin Sehee was gracefully approaching, smiling brightly.
"Eek!"
"Ugh!"
At that, the two allocated students recoiled, their faces pale as if they'd never praised her before.
It was a natural reaction, considering how they'd been targeted by Shin Sehee's fans the day before.
"Mr. Jin Yuha, you're coming again today, right?"
I gazed at Shin Sehee for a moment, then nodded.
"Yeah."
She and I walked off, leaving the two allocated students behind.
"Hehe, it seems you two have gotten closer already?"
"All thanks to you."
"Me? Thanks to me?"
Shin Sehee widened her eyes as if to ask what I meant.
Right, playing innocent, are we? I clicked my tongue.
"Tsk, never mind. So, where are we going today?"
"Today… Kimbap Heaven? That's where we're going. Dohee went there."
For now, I nodded.
* * *
And there were no surprises.
Once again, I ran into Kang Dohee inside the restaurant, and she bared her teeth at Shin Sehee, showing hostility.
"Oh my, what a coincidence?"
"Hey, Flower Patch. Why do you keep loitering around, bothering me while I eat? Can't we just mind our own business?"
"Hmm, because Mr. Jin Yuha apparently likes this?"
Shin Sehee was clearly trying to get under Kang Dohee's skin.
*And dragging me into it, no less.*
I narrowed my eyes and looked at Shin Sehee.
Yesterday, when her followers suddenly rushed at me.
I let that slide.
She had such an extreme fanbase that it was plausible for them to react when an 'allocated student' suddenly appeared nearby.
*But there's no way she didn't know about that.*
BANG—!
Kang Dohee, just like with the hamburger, grabbed only a single roll of kimbap, then roughly slammed the door shut and left.
Shin Sehee, just like the day before, calmly picked up a piece of kimbap and ate it, drawing everyone's attention.
"Hmm… this isn't great. Not as tasty as the hamburger, is it?"
"I think I need to understand your true intentions now."
I asked her in a low voice.
"My intentions?"
"Yeah, building a friendship with Kang Dohee like this makes no sense."
"There's nothing quite like sharing the same eating habits to build inner intimacy."
Shin Sehee said with a wink and a smile.
"Right now, Dohee might seem to hate it outwardly, but deep down, she's probably quite bothered by it."
Then, as if sharing a secret, she covered her mouth with her hand and whispered softly.
"She's just not a very honest person, you see."
I don't know about that.
To me, someone who knew Kang Dohee's personality, those words didn't really resonate.
It's true she's not honest, but she's also not the type to say she dislikes something she actually likes.
In those cases, she'd rather just keep her mouth shut.
"Cut the bullshit."
I deflected Shin Sehee's gaslighting.
"Ahaha, Mr. Jin Yuha. We made a deal, didn't we? I will definitely connect Dohee and you!"
She said, clenching both fists as if it didn't matter whether I suspected her or not.
"If you don't want to, you don't have to come with me starting tomorrow, you know? I can do it by myself."
*Ugh, I'm really itching for her karma retribution episode to happen.*
I thought I had put a leash on her, but it seemed to have been tied looser than I expected.
I didn't know what her method was, but Shin Sehee would definitely connect Kang Dohee and me properly.
Because when it came to deals, she didn't lie.
However, judging by the current situation, I couldn't imagine the process being clean or straightforward.
I couldn't just let her manipulate me and get away with it.
*Another leash. And I need to give her a preventative shot in advance.*
I would take only the result of Shin Sehee connecting Kang Dohee and me, and minimize Shin Sehee's malicious antics that might arise during the process.
"Shin Sehee."
I looked at her and spoke.
"Yes?"
"Let's keep eating together. Tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow too."
"Oh! Then I'd be delighted!"
Shin Sehee clapped her hands, clearly pleased.
*Would she really?*
I smirked.
And Shin Sehee, too, smiled sweetly back at me.
* * *
The preventative shot would be tomorrow morning, so first, the leash.
*Tsk, it's about time to focus on training, so I didn't want to create such a nuisance for her…*
After all the training was done, I headed towards the girls' dormitory.
I stood in front of it for a moment.
A girl who had just stepped outside looked my way.
Her eyes widened like lanterns.
"Hey, hey. Th-that, Cheonhwa!"
She tapped her friend's shoulder, fussing excitedly.
"Huh? Cheonhwa came here? He doesn't use the dorms."
"No, over there! Not Cheonhwa, the face genius who always follows him around!"
"The allocated student!?"
The girl who first made eye contact pointed at me, and the girl with her looked surprised.
"Excuse me."
"Yes, yes!? M-me?"
The girl flinched, as if she never expected me to speak to her.
"Is Cadet Lee Yuri inside, by any chance?"
"What? Who? Cheonhwa is…"
"Not Cheonhwa, Cadet Lee Yuri."
"Yuri…? Yes, she's inside, but…"
"Then, could you please call her out?"
"No way!!!!"
The two girls looked utterly shocked, then rushed into the dormitory as if their tails were on fire.
"Lee Yuriiiiiiiiii!!!!"
At the same time, a boisterous commotion erupted inside the dorm.
And a moment later, Gukbap's yelling pierced through the dorm walls and burst out.
"No, it's not like that!!!!!!"
Creak—
The dorm door opened again.
Lee Yuri emerged alone from the doorway.
She looked somehow different, as if I hadn't seen her in a long time.
I'd only ever seen her hair tied up,
but now it hung down to her waist,
and water dripped from her chin, as if she had just washed.
*She looks the same even without makeup. Maybe because she doesn't usually wear any.*
I let out a chuckle at her uncharacteristic appearance.
"Gukbap. Long time no see."
"What is it, Jin Yuha? In the middle of the night."
Her tone was chillingly subdued.
Her face also seemed to be shadowed somehow.
*Why is she in such a bad mood? Was training tough?*
"Gukbap. Why are you in such a bad mood? Did something happen?"
I asked in a concerned voice.
Lee Yuri bit her lip and glared.
"How could I hit some—!"
She abruptly tried to shout something, then clamped her mouth shut.
Hmph—
"...Never mind. What do you want? Just state your business."
Something had definitely happened, but the atmosphere suggested she wouldn't answer even if I asked.
I'd have to ask about this later, gently.
For now, my business.
"Gukbap. I need your help."