Chapter 19 – Interlude, Kill the Hero (1)
At the Hero Association's 6th-floor conference room.
"While vanquishing the monster, they also protected others from danger…"
A man who appeared to be in his mid-thirties was reciting the award ceremony speech from the podium. His name was Lee Cheol-young. He was one of the heroes affiliated with the Association, a high-ranker known as the Indomitable, having defeated numerous monsters and villains.
I surreptitiously turned my head. Next to me, Jin Soyeon was swallowing her saliva nervously, evidently not used to such occasions. She looked around anxiously, then our eyes met suddenly.
"Eek."
Jin Soyeon flinched, perhaps a bit embarrassed at being caught looking so tense. She then straightened up, trying to appear composed as she looked towards the podium. Her effort was there, but the unnaturalness remained.
'How about the other kids…'
My gaze drifted over to the rest of the children. They seemed accustomed to this sort of event, listening to the
award presenter's speech with indifferent expressions, as if it were in one ear and out the other.
"As an example and a model to society…"
I rolled my eyes. Just beyond the small podium, I caught sight of a large electronic screen.
[Commendation Ceremony]
Commendation awards. Yes, the six of us were being awarded for our role in subduing the monsters that appeared at the Union Academy.
One might question the need for commendations when we already hold temporary hero licenses and defeating monsters is part of our job as heroes.
But considering we are still students and the incident took place at the Union Academy, it seemed the award was decided upon considering the social impact and other adult circumstances.
…Such details were not present in the game. Sigh. Annoyed by the early morning rehearsal for the commendation ceremony and other such hassles. I'm really sleepy.
"…thus, the commendation is presented. Recipient Lee Siwoon."
While I was lost in thought, Lee Siwoon respectfully bowed his head and received his commendation.
Then, several cameras clicked and flashed from behind. Representatives from the Association, clans, the press, and
more were watching the ceremony. This incident had garnered significant public interest and was even being broadcast live.
"Yoo Seolhyun, et al."
Next, Yoo Seolhyun, Sunari, Yuliya, and Jin Soyeon received their commendations in turn.
Jin Soyeon, stiff with tension, shook visibly as she accepted her award. Why was she so nervous? It wasn't as if she had no experience with this. Oh right, she was like this during middle school too, wasn't she?
"Lee Jinhyuk. The content is as previously mentioned."
Finally, it was my turn. I, too, casually accepted the commendation.
Wow.
I've lived to see the day I receive a commendation. I didn't get much of this in my past life.
"With that, we conclude the commendation ceremony."
After a few more words from the presenter, the ceremony and the presentation came to an end.
The reward was ten million won per person.
A substantial sum for some, perhaps less for others. Judging by the slightly twitching corners of Jin Soyeon's mouth next to me, it seemed like a significant amount for a student.
'Phew. Is it all over?'
Suddenly, numerous individuals approached us. It was a sizable crowd, but none seemed to head my direction.
That's fine, I guess.
Looks like they're not particularly interested in me.
After all, the other kids are famous for being Lee Siwoon of the SL Group, Yoo Seolhyun of the Gaon Nuri Clan, the genius fighter Sunari, Yuliya, the disciple of the grand wizard, etc.
It was natural for the related parties to be more interested in them.
Journalists and clan representatives surrounded the others with questions, and Lee Siwoon and his group were naturally being interviewed.
Hmm… awkward.
'I feel like a spare wheel here.'
I snickered to myself and slipped away unnoticed by the crowd.
I had been a bit worried that people might take an interest in me, but fortunately(?), no one did.
If that was the case, 'they' who were probably watching this broadcast scene would be more interested in them than me.
I could feel slightly relieved at being further from the attention of those psychopathic villains…
"Jinhyuk, let's go together!"
"Eh?"
As I was making my way to the bus stop outside the Association building, Jin Soyeon's voice arrested my footsteps from behind.
She had run all the way here, breathing heavily. "Ha, ha… why aren't you answering your phone?" "Ah, sorry. I put it on silent."
I'd turned it to silent mode for the commendation ceremony.
"And you didn't do any interviews?"
"Interviews? Pssh, it just made me so nervous I thought I'd die. You know I get camera sick."
Was that a part of her character?
"Also, there's no point in getting my face known for no reason. Wouldn't a bunch of jealous girls just leave nasty comments about me? Ugh, I really can't deal with that."
She spoke as if she were a princess, but it reminded me of middle school when she was chosen as the school's promotional ambassador, and many girls jealous of her beauty bombarded her with hateful comments and text terrorism.
"Being too pretty is a curse, you know? Right?" "…"
"Hey, hey! Jinhyuk, wait for me!"
I glanced at Jin Soyeon impassively and began to walk away. Sensing this, she quickly ran after me.
"What, you can't just ignore me and walk off." "You're just talking too much today."
Jin Soyeon pouted her lips and clung to my side. "Too much? Everything I said was true."
"Yeah, yeah."
I responded nonchalantly, but despite that, Jin Soyeon's face was brimming with joy.
Clutching the commendation tightly, she seemed quite pleased with today's award.
She kept smiling by herself, so I had no choice but to ask her a question.
"So, are you really that happy about getting the award?" "Ah. Ahem."
Jin Soyeon suddenly composed herself. Flushed with a slight embarrassment, her cheeks turned a rosy shade.
"No, it's not… that I'm happy about the award per se…" She glanced at me and then smiled sheepishly.
"…It feels like I'm one step closer to my dream." "Your dream? Ah, becoming the greatest hero?"
She nodded vigorously, clutching the commendation. "More precisely, it's our dream… isn't it?"
"Our dream?"
As I asked in confusion, Jin Soyeon frowned slightly and grumbled.
"What? We both promised to become the greatest and most excellent heroes, didn't we? This commendation could be seen as the first step, right?"
"I guess."
Being an excellent hero…
Being acutely aware that it was nothing but a hollow fantasy, I could only answer with a bitter smile.
"Have you forgotten that I'm at the bottom of the Union rankings? I'd be content to just graduate and make a living…"
"Don't worry. If I succeed, I'll be sure to hire you as my sidekick."
Jin Soyeon's sidekick?
Well, she would indeed become one of South Korea's greatest heroes in the future, so being a sidekick wouldn't be so bad.
That is, of course, assuming there aren't other male protagonists by her side.
"Jinhyuk, Jinhyuk."
"What?"
"Thank you."
"For what, out of the blue?"
Suddenly, Jin Soyeon halted in her tracks. I stopped as well, turning to face her.
She lifted her head, her eyes clear and focused, and looked straight into mine.
"…Back then, my mental state was all over the place. If it hadn't been for you, I wouldn't have managed to pull myself together."
The memory of Jin Soyeon's face, petrified with fear as the monster's killing intent permeated the air, flitted across my mind.
Faced with that sticky and sinister aura for the first time, all Jin Soyeon could do was tremble uncontrollably.
And she wasn't the only one.
The other kids were also gasping for breath, unable to shake off their fear. It was a bit of a predicament, but thankfully, she regained her composure quickly.
"Honestly, when the monster appeared at the Academy, I thought I was going to die of fear. It was almost like my first real battle, having never encountered such a powerful monster unprepared before."
It was only natural for Jin Soyeon to react the way she did, considering she could have died if things had gone wrong.
"If we become heroes and start operating, we'll probably encounter many situations similar to this one, right?"
Jin Soyeon smirked wryly.
It seemed the recent event was still weighing on her mind.
Being a life-threatening struggle, it was bound to leave a vivid memory.
"But still."
Suddenly, she spoke up, looking at me determinedly. "I still want to be a hero."
Her eyes shone with steadfast resolve toward a clear goal. "Being a hero… that's my dream."
"Right."
In the future, the enemies she faced would be even stronger and more threatening than this one.
She would likely repeat the experience of being on the brink of death countless times.
Each time, she might waver, hesitate, suffer… but regardless, Jin Soyeon would never give up, just as she did today.
Yes.
Jin Soyeon is the protagonist.
The heroine chosen by this world.
The unique protagonist and the hero among heroes who would defeat countless villains—this was Jin Soyeon's destiny and future.
Night. A dark night. "I hate heroes."
Under a night sky only lit by the moonlight.
A back alley, where only musty smells and an inexplicable silence lingered, filled with shadows.
Thin clouds drifted far away, allowing a faint moonlight to briefly illuminate the grimy alley.
The dirty ground was littered with glass shards, cigarette butts, used condoms, and scraps of food waste.
And there, a girl was present.
"Why do I hate heroes, you wonder?"
The girl, reminiscent of the moon, eventually cast her gaze downward.
"Aren't you curious?"
Her white hair contrasted with Jin Soyeon's black locks.
Her eyes, subdued like the moon, contrasting with Jin Soyeon's bright, sun-like gaze.
"Huh? Why aren't you answering?"
A bloodied hero lay underfoot, and the girl with white hair grinned wickedly, as if she was truly enjoying the moment. As if she found the situation delightful.
And as if… she was a villain who relished trampling on heroes.
Chapter 20 – Interlude, Kill the Hero (2) Villain.
A term used to describe lawbreakers who exploit supernatural abilities or magical powers for their own greed.
In the past, society was thrown into chaos due to numerous villains, but in the present day, they no longer posed such a significant threat.
With the establishment of the Hero Association and extensive government support, along with the emergence of countless hero training institutions, it was no longer a conducive environment for mere criminals to run rampant.
Most villains active in South Korea were almost nothing more than petty criminals. However…
"Cough, cough… ugh." "Weak."
Bathed in the pale moonlight, a girl with dazzlingly white hair looked down emotionlessly at the man beneath her.
The man, breathing raggedly, could only muster his best effort to meet the girl's gaze with his battered face.
"You're a seasoned hero, right?"
She appeared to be in her late teens, with slender, delicate hands and feet, and lifeless eyes.
"Choi Seokhwan of the Mirinae Clan. I heard you used to be quite something."
In the alleyway smeared with crimson blood, Choi Seokhwan, known as the 'Iron Wall' within the Mirinae Clan, could do nothing but sporadically spit blood.
Despite over a decade of active hero duty, he never expected to be bested by a mere girl. Dammit.
"Cough… you damn criminal… brat…" Choi Seokhwan was no weak hero.
He had a career of bringing down double-digit numbers of villains.
He had also cleared dangerous dungeons and powerful monsters that appeared in the city several times.
It was simply that the girl was strong. Even more so.
"Is it because of the alcohol? Would the outcome have been different if you were sober?"
"Ha, ha."
Alcohol. Yes, that's right. Choi Seokhwan was drunk.
That's why he couldn't perform as usual.
If he were to console himself, he could say that he was defeated in such a sorry state because of the alcohol.
But deep down, he also thought:
He had simply been weaker. "Hey."
Suddenly.
"What do you think is the difference between heroes and villains?"
"Ha, ha, what nonsense is this all of a sudden."
"Think about it. Heroes and villains. Aren't they similar? Using powerful abilities to fulfill their own desires. Isn't that so?"
The girl's voice remained calm as she spoke.
"Didn't you, four years ago, accidentally kill a civilian while drunk on duty?"
"That's…"
A dark chapter in Choi Seokhwan's history.
The girl's unexpected mention of it naturally made his brow furrow. He wanted to shut her mouth, but his battered body was far beyond responding to his will.
"But the news reported it as a tragic accident during a fight with a villain. They conveniently left out the part about being drunk and causing trouble."
Suddenly, Choi Seokhwan clenched his teeth. Not many knew the details of the incident.
At the time, it had made some noise, but the clan's influence helped to hush it up.
How did this kid know?
"The victim's family sued you, but thanks to the Mirinae Clan's legal team, you got off with a suspended sentence for involuntary manslaughter."
"…"
"A few of the family members who didn't accept the verdict protested in front of the Mirinae Clan, but as media interest waned, they were advised to resign on grounds of document forgery and tampering by their own companies, right?"
"…"
Great power and vast wealth.
The giant clans that had amassed such resources could wield influence over industry, media, and even the legal system.
It wasn't too difficult for them to ruin a few ordinary people. "We're both the same kind of criminal scum, aren't we?" "Don't spout nonsense… ugh?!"
The girl cut him off mid-sentence, lightly stepping on his head, and continued speaking.
"Is our difference the fact that we have powerful backers to cover up our crimes? Committing crimes without leaving evidence?"
"Ugh!"
With each step, Choi Seokhwan writhed. Like a worm.
There's an old saying that even a worm will turn when trod on, but it could also mean that a worm can only wriggle when stepped on.
Yes, Choi Seokhwan was that worm.
With several broken ribs and a crushed arm and leg, he was too weak and helpless to even think of resisting, like a bug ready to be crushed.
"Do you act as a hero for wealth? Power? Fame?" "Stop, stop it, ugh! Please!"
As she pressed harder, Choi Seokhwan's front teeth began to wobble and eventually snapped off. His nose was already crushed, and his cheekbones were caving in.
Damn it, is she planning to stomp me to death? This insane…
"But you know what?"
"Ugh, ugh, cough! Stop it! Please…"
"I don't have much of a reason for being a villain. It's actually quite trivial, to be honest."
Choi Seokhwan's trembling hands attempted to push the girl's foot away, but it was futile.
His body…
His body wouldn't obey him. "You see."
The excruciating sense of his skull crushing mixed with the girl's soothing voice gently caressing his ears. So kindly.
"Please, stop! Li, li, live…" "I hate heroes."
And then, crunch! "Really."
The sound of twisting bones was loud.
Ah, but what's this? Begging for your life at the end? Disappointing. The girl shrugged her shoulders.
A hero begging for life from a villain? It was far from amusing.
Inept justice is incompetence, right?
This Choi Seokhwan was not only incompetent but also powerless.
A complete disqualification as a hero. The girl tidied up her thoughts simply.
She then slowly lifted her foot, and a few teeth stuck to the sole of her shoe. She flicked them off, and they clattered to the ground.
"Hm."
"…gurgle, gurgle."
The man convulsed, foam on his lips, his jaw crushed, and his cervical spine likely damaged.
His condition didn't look too great, but he wouldn't die. She never intended to kill him, to begin with.
Death is merely a form of rest.
The girl didn't want to give this man a peaceful rest. Pain meant being alive. She thought.
She wanted this man to keep living. On and on.
"Of course, he won't be able to act as a hero anymore."
With a faint smile, the girl rummaged through the man's pockets, pulled out his phone, and called an ambulance. Then she stepped away into the dimly lit alley.
"?"
– Ring. Ring.
Suddenly, the girl's phone rang.
Glancing at the caller ID, she recognized the name.
She pulled fresh clothes from her prepared bag, nonchalantly changed out of her bloodstained attire, and answered the call.
"What's up all of a sudden?"
"Yoo Dahee. Did you see the news today? About those Union kids getting their commendations."
"Yeah, I've seen it."
Yoo Dahee, the girl with white hair, nodded at the man's words.
The six trainees had become quite the topic for taking down a mid-to-high-level monster that appeared at the Academy.
And that had irritated her.
Especially since it was Yoo Dahee and her group who had sent the monsters to the Academy. It wasn't easy to create rifts at desired locations, so the outcome of this event was quite unsatisfying.
It ended up promoting those wannabe heroes. And she had thought at least a few would die. "I never expected all of them to survive." "Isn't it your fault for not handling it properly?"
Union Academy could be considered a cradle of sorts.
A cradle of raw gems who will take responsibility for South Korea.
"Can you believe that not a single person died after sending two monsters of that level?"
That's why Yoo Dahee had decided to trample them. Those little sparks of hope. She wanted to stomp and snuff them out before they could blaze into a roaring fire.
"I did what I was supposed to do. I corralled the finalists into the training grounds. Honestly, I didn't expect no one to die either, given there was a Minotaur and a Long-Armed Ape."
"Always something wrong, isn't there." Yoo Dahee sighed deeply.
She knew well that the supervising instructor was a high- ranker.
But the burden of the children was present.
To succeed in taking down a Minotaur under those circumstances was quite a feat indeed.
Wasn't there a saying, even rotten wood still has its uses?
"The kids did well too. Who would have thought students could take down that Long-Armed Ape."
Yoo Dahee laughed sourly at the man's words from the phone.
The world was abuzz about the so-called golden generation, and it seemed they were indeed different from those before.
…Which made her want to break them even more.
"I especially wanted to retire Hong Daye."
Despite being weakened by past trauma, Hong Daye had been a contender for the top ten.
Considering the future, it would have been beneficial in many ways to retire her.
Didn't she even manage to take down a Minotaur without proper equipment this time?
Truly an annoying woman. "What about the others?"
"Baek Yoorin is always doing her own thing, and Seong Yura is absorbed in her own world of being ostracized, right?"
Simply put, they were all doing whatever they felt like. Not that it mattered much to her.
After all, Yoo Dahee and her group were cooperating for their own ends.
They were together because they shared a common intersection of goals, yet each had different personal agendas.
"They hardly keep in touch, holed up in the academy as they are."
"Right."
The person on the phone agreed.
"Oh, that reminds me. There's this interesting kid I noticed." "Who?"
"Lee Jinhyuk, you know the guy?" "Never heard of him. Who is he?" Yoo Dahee blinked.
She thought she was aware of all the notable individuals. "Forgot? One of the kids who received the commendation." "Oh, him?"
Yoo Dahee reacted rather indifferently. Lee Jinhyuk, Lee Jinhyuk…
To be honest, was he even worth noting?
If he wasn't Lee Siwoon, Yoo Seolhyun, Sunari, or Yuliya, was there a need to remember him?
She had glanced over the students' information because of the incident, and Lee Jinhyuk's practical scores were very poor.
His theory scores were commendable, though. "So, what about him?"
"He seems useful as a brain. I watched all of Lee Jinhyuk's matches, you know? And things went exactly as he planned. I was surprised."
"Tch. Whatever."
Yoo Dahee cut him off, indicating her disinterest.
The self-proclaimed hero fan was about to launch into too much information.
He always did this when he found a hero who piqued his interest.
"The next time will be during the training camp or finals. Find out the location, the number of participants, the attending instructors, the schedule, and send it all to me."
"Okay, I got it." "Anything else…?"
"No? Well, it's getting late, I should probably hang up. I've got Academy tomorrow."
"Look at you, model student."
And that was the end of it.
Yoo Dahee stretched and hung up the call. That guy was an oddity, even to Yoo Dahee.
Unlike the other children, he had no real reason to attend the Academy but had insisted on enrolling himself.
Just because he wanted to see the hero hopefuls in person.
'Claiming to be a hero fan yet taking pleasure in ruining heroes. He's definitely not in his right mind.'
Only by overcoming trials and tribulations can one truly become a hero, right?
If they fold partway through, they were never hero material to begin with, or so his nonsensical reasoning went.
"Well anyway, were they from Teams 1 and 16? The ones who took down the ape?"
Gazing at the distant moon, she muttered to herself. "Well, they'll make for a satisfying crush."
When we meet next, I'll make sure to grind them down. Thoroughly.
Chapter 21 – Side Quest Dungeon Exploration Failure and Strategy (1)
In a grand Hanok, traditional Korean house, that exuded the ambience of ancient times, a mightily impressive pine tree stood proudly in the spacious front yard, evergreen throughout all seasons.
In a small pond encircled by a stone fence, golden carp swam amongst the ruddy lotus flowers spread out in full bloom.
Surrounding this traditional house that embraced the philosophy of Baesanimsu, meaning "with a mountain in the back and water in the front," numerous guards stood watch with an iron-clad vigilance.
This place, protected by dozens of servants and a 24-hour security system, was referred to as the "giant residence" of Yoo Gamyeong. It brought to mind the abode of a king.
"…"
The relatives of Yoo Gamyeong sat quietly at the dining table set on the maru, the wooden floor of the living room, partaking in their evening meal.
Click, clack.
The only sounds to be heard were those of chopsticks and spoons, along with the rustling of breath. An unfathomable silence filled the room, the air itself seemingly heavy.
"…Yoo Seolhyun."
The grave voice of Yoo Gamyeong resonated.
The family members flinched slightly, while Yoo Seolhyun alone placed her spoon down calmly and lifted her head to look at Yoo Gamyeong.
"Yes."
The stern, inscrutable eyes of Yoo Gamyeong met hers. "How is your academy life?"
His question was laden with multiple implications. "It's fine."
The first exams, the matches, the sudden intrusion of monsters, the commendations…
…Although Yoo Seolhyun had much she wished to discuss, she chose to bow her head in silence without further elaboration.
"That's good. Then that's enough."
Yoo Gamyeong didn't press further, as if her reply were sufficient.
"I will retire first. Continue your meal with the children." "Yes."
After the polite answer from his second daughter-in-law, Yoo Gamyeong moved away slowly. She watched his retreating figure for a moment before raising her voice. It was Seolhyun's stepmother.
"Seolhyun, I heard you received a commendation?" "Yes."
"You weren't hurt, were you?" "No."
Yoo Seolhyun responded with brief answers to her stepmother's perfunctory questions and set down her utensils.
The stepmother slightly furrowed her brows at Yoo Seolhyun, but outwardly, she maintained a cheery smile.
"I'll retire now as well." "Oh? Already?"
Soon after, Yoo Seolhyun departed as well.
She could hear the family's chatter behind her but chose to ignore it, knowing it was likely disparaging remarks about her.
"…sigh."
Having reached her own room, Yoo Seolhyun buried her face in the pillow.
"So suffocating."
Despite returning to her family home after a long time…
Just seeing those people's faces made her diaphragm hurt. She wanted no further entanglement with these family members who didn't feel like family at all.
"…"
Yoo Seolhyun clutched the plush pillow tightly, staring powerlessly at the ceiling.
Gazing at the beautiful patterns on the ceiling, she slowly closed her eyes.
The recent events briefly surfaced; the performance evaluations, the battle with the monster, the commendation…
There were many things to remember, but the most vivid was certainly the fight with the monster.
"…I really could have died, couldn't I?"
A bitter smile crossed Yoo Seolhyun's face. It was her first encounter with a monster of such level. It felt like encountering a wild beast in the mountains in the middle of the night.
In the thick, almost suffocating aura of killing intent, not only Yoo Seolhyun but also the other students couldn't calm their hearts.
Lee Siwoon, Sunari, Yuliya, and Jin Soyeon, without exception, all became increasingly submerged in an incomprehensible fear.
…Except for one.
'Come to think of it, Lee Jinhyuk seemed pretty calm, didn't he?'
Lee Jinhyuk.
He appeared to be fairly composed.
How could he be unaffected when exposed to such intense killing intent on his first real battle, while even acknowledged geniuses of the academy were floundering?
And he was too calm.
'…Thinking about it, there were many strange things about Lee Jinhyuk.'
The abilities and weaknesses of the opposing team he had shared during the performance evaluations. Startlingly accurate strategies. His composure despite being in his first life-threatening real battle. His eyes always seemed certain.
'And especially that last arrow…' That one arrow.
It was that one arrow, rushing forth like a beam of light, that refused to fade from her memory. It struck with such force that the monster vomited blood and went into a frenzy.
Despite being relatively unharmed by other attacks, how did that one arrow cause such an impact?
'Lee Jinhyuk had brushed it off as a lucky shot, but that doesn't make sense.'
His arrow was meant for sparring. Blunt and not easily imbued with magic, meaning it shouldn't have been lethal.
'But how?'
Question upon question.
Asking him would yield no straight answer. She wanted to press further, but owing her life to Lee Jinhyuk from that incident held her back from pushing too hard.
'Could it be a supernatural ability?'
It would make sense if it was a supernatural ability. There are all sorts of supernatural abilities in this world, after all. Could it be that Lee Jinhyuk was fortunate enough to possess an extraordinary one?
But Lee Jinhyuk was a non-supernatural ability user. Someone who hadn't awakened any such abilities.
…Unless he was deliberately concealing it. "Ah. My head hurts."
Yoo Seolhyun sighed.
No matter how much she thought about it, it was unclear. There was no use in pondering now. While it was true that Lee Jinhyuk seemed to have much hidden and was a suspicious character, that alone wasn't evidence of him concealing a supernatural ability.
…Though Yoo Seolhyun was half-convinced he was. 'Well, anyway, Lee Jinhyuk seems to be quite a talent.'
Regardless of whether he had a supernatural ability, he maintained composure throughout the first real battle. Some people, no matter how skilled, lose their cool in actual
combat situations, while others can judge more coldly, enhancing their abilities.
Lee Jinhyuk seemed to be the latter. He was the quickest to assess the situation and calm the others down. Such a talent and quality were essential for an operator.
Yes, quality.
Quality is a domain not easily altered by effort. One must be born with it.
'The more talent around, the better.'
Yoo Seolhyun was aware of her limits as a hero. It wasn't a matter of lacking talent. She could confidently say she wasn't far behind even when compared to Lee Siwoon.
But it wasn't a supernatural ability.
Her supernatural ability wasn't suited for combat. It was closer to that of a supporter.
That's why Yoo Seolhyun longed for a team. A team that could fill in each other's shortcomings. A team where each person's abilities and talents could synergize. Currently, Lee Jinhyuk might be a bit lacking, but depending on what he was hiding, that could change.
"Let's see how it goes."
Yoo Seolhyun hoped he was concealing many more secrets. As mentioned before, the more talent, the better.
And if it was Lee Jinhyuk…
Well, she was quite confident she could recruit him.
***
"That's it for today. Don't mess around and go straight home."
The homeroom teacher concluded the day. Despite having recently fought for their lives against a Minotaur, they seemed surprisingly well. In the original storyline, they would have been lying in a hospital bed by now.
"Soyeon, Soyeon. Want to hit the karaoke today?" "Ah, should we?"
After class, Jin Soyeon was invited to karaoke by a few students and sneakily glanced my way. Then the kids laughed and came over to me as well.
"Hey, Jinhyuk, wanna join us for karaoke?" "Ah, I have something to do today."
A male student kindly invited me, but unfortunately, I didn't have time for karaoke.
Because today…
That event is supposed to happen. The very first incident that leads to Yoo Seolhyun's downfall into villainy.
"Don't be like that; come with us."
"Sorry."
"Ah, this guy's acting pricey again."
Jin Soyeon grumbled with dissatisfaction. I could only offer a wry smile.
"I'm sorry, I really have urgent business today."
"What, you always have urgent business. Last time it was because of the performance evaluations, then it was study time, ugh, never mind."
Perhaps because I recently turned her down a few times, she seemed a bit miffed. Always making a big deal out of nothing.
"Don't get too upset. I'll get you a nice present later." With those words, I hurried off.
Jin Soyeon continued to mutter behind me, but today I couldn't afford to care.
"There she is."
Leaving the Academy building, I saw Yoo Seolhyun and a few girls in the distance.
I approached Yoo Seolhyun. "Yoo Seolhyun."
"Ah, it's you. What's up?"
"Just need to talk for a minute." "To talk?"
"Yeah."
I gave a nod and Sunari's eyes began to rise sharply, then suddenly she glared fiercely.
"Don't tell me you're confessing to Seolhyun!" "Ah, is that it? Haha."
Sunari's nonsense was met with amusement by Yoo Seolhyun. I was completely flabbergasted.
A confession, really?
"Sorry, Lee Jinhyuk. Like I said before, your face isn't my type."
"It's not a confession."
Rejected a second time. This felt familiar, didn't it? "It's something important."
"Important? Like what?"
"Dungeon."
I couldn't discuss it openly with Yoo Seolhyun's group watching.
So, I gave her a hint to catch on.
"It's about the Youngdeung Mountain Dungeon."
"!"
Yoo Seolhyun's face instantly stiffened. Since it was confidential information related to her, the fact that I came to her directly with this would naturally raise suspicions.
"I have a proposal regarding that. What do you say? Can you spare some time?"
"Huh? What's he talking about all of a sudden, Seolhyun?" "…"
Sunari blinked in confusion.
The other girls were the same. Only Yoo Seolhyun remained silent.
"Alright. Shall we move somewhere to talk?" "Wait, Seolhyun. Your next schedule is…"
"It's fine. I'll adjust the schedule myself. Go ahead, Nari. I'll talk with him for a bit and catch up. You go on as well."
"Uh, okay, got it."
After sending Sunari and her followers off, Yoo Seolhyun fixed her eyes on me.
Then she spoke. "What's with you?"
"What do you mean?"
"How much do you know? Why are you bringing up the Youngdeung Mountain Dungeon to me…?"
"We should probably find somewhere more comfortable to talk before we get into that. There are too many eyes here."
This was the Academy.
We needed to find a different place. "I know a nice cafe. Let's go there." "Fine. Let's do that."
***
"Soyeon, Soyeon." What?"
"Do you have a thing for Jinhyuk?"
"What? No, no. It's not like that between us." "Right? Because you have Siwoon."
"Siwoon and I are not like that, how many times do I have to say it?"
"Huh, maybe playing the field? You really are living up to your looks."
"Ugh, let's drop it, alright?"
"Hey, just kidding, don't be mad~." The girl giggled.
"But you know, lately Jinhyuk… huh?" "What's wrong?"
Suddenly, the girl peered intently towards the window of a cafe and cocked her head. Jin Soyeon followed her gaze.
"Huh? Jinhyuk? What's he doing in a cafe…" Suddenly.
Jin Soyeon's words halted.
Because the person Jinhyuk was with was all too familiar.
Could it be…
"Yoo Seolhyun?" No.
Why would she and Jinhyuk be meeting separately again? The performance evaluations were over, right?
Why?
Chapter 22 – Side Quest Dungeon Exploration Failure and Strategy (2)
Yoo Seolhyun.
Granddaughter of Yoo Gamyeong, a legendary figure in South Korea.
She was always surrounded by numerous children and was the embodiment of elegance and haughty beauty, a rich young lady fittingly born and bred. Her grades were outstanding both in practical and theoretical tests, and she emanated a Western allure with her beautiful appearance, full bosom, slender waist, and long legs.
Her mixed heritage of East and West, coupled with the fact that she came from a prestigious household, made her exceedingly popular among the boys. She seemed like a lady who would appear in a dramatic tale. If one were to compare purely based on popularity, she could be considered more popular than Jin Soyeon.
Although Jin Soyeon believed her own appearance to be second to none, Yoo Seolhyun had a certain decadent charm and a formidable background that drew the boys to her.
"…"
Could Lee Jinhyuk be the same? It wouldn't be strange for a healthy young man to take an interest in a beautiful woman.
However, having known him for a long time, she knew very well how indifferently he treated the opposite sex. Up until Union Academy, he had nearly always been seen only with Jin Soyeon. Lee Jinhyuk always regarded women with detachment.
But why?
Why was Lee Jinhyuk meeting privately with Yoo Seolhyun? It made sense for them to meet unavoidably during the evaluation, but now there seemed to be no reason for it, right? Jin Soyeon had never seen him out with another girl, apart from her…
"Hey? Why is Jinhyuk with Seolhyun?" "Were they that close to meet separately?"
"Oh? What's this, what's this? Is the reason Jinhyuk bailed on karaoke today because of her?"
The kids responded with a hint of curiosity. The incident involving the monster had brought Teams 1 and 16 into the spotlight, making the meeting between Lee Jinhyuk and Yoo Seolhyun a juicy piece of gossip for the others.
"Isn't that Soyeon's ex-boyfriend?" "…"
"Soyeon?"
"…Huh? Why?"
Kim Seoyoon tried to make a half-joking remark, but Jin Soyeon reacted a beat too late, as if she hadn't heard.
Kim Seoyoon couldn't help but smile wryly inwardly. Regardless of a good breakup, it wouldn't be pleasant to see an ex-boyfriend and childhood friend meeting with Yoo Seolhyun, especially since Jin Soyeon and Yoo Seolhyun had a somewhat sour relationship.
"Does it bother you a bit?"
Kim Seoyoon nodded understandingly a couple of times.
"Well, it's kind of a strange feeling to see something like that."
A strange feeling, indeed…
She felt a little flutter near her heart. Was it a feeling of unease or just general discomfort? Hard to say, but her heart felt somewhat constricted.
– Actually, I've met another girl.
– She's much prettier and nicer than you.
– Now that I'll graduate from the Academy, I should try a real romance, don't you think?
Suddenly.
Memories of Lee Jinhyuk's teasing words surfaced. She had thought them to be half-joking…
…but could it be that it was more than just idle talk?
Did he truly take an interest in Yoo Seolhyun? "…"
Ugh.
But somehow, very slightly… '…I feel let down.'
Yes. That must be it.
Perhaps she felt let down because he had found an interest in another girl and had been neglecting her lately.
The absence of Lee Jinhyuk, who had always been by her side, felt a bit empty.
And the way he immediately put Jin Soyeon on the back burner upon finding a new interest seemed a bit petty.
"…"
After all, Lee Jinhyuk, who had always viewed women like stones, was supposed to be congratulated for finally taking an interest in the opposite sex, as a childhood friend.
Regardless of Jin Soyeon's request to pretend to be lovers, Lee Jinhyuk had always been too indifferent to women.
She had even worried if he would ever be able to date properly.
But…
Why, of all people, did it have to be Yoo Seolhyun?
From the first day, Yoo Seolhyun had been somewhat annoying to her.
It didn't seem like Yoo Seolhyun had a favorable opinion of Jin Soyeon either.
Yoo Seolhyun subtly provoked Jin Soyeon, seemingly not having the nicest of personalities.
Why did Lee Jinhyuk show interest in Yoo Seolhyun out of all the girls?
"But is that really okay?" "What do you mean?"
Kim Seoyoon let out casually, and Jin Soyeon lifted her head slowly. Kim Seoyoon swallowed, wondering if she should even be saying this.
"…Soyeon, Soyeon. This is actually a secret."
Kim Seoyoon whispered into Jin Soyeon's ear, making sure the other kids wouldn't overhear.
"Seolhyun, since middle school, there have been some rumors about her and boys."
"What?"
"It's just a rumor, but… how should I put it? She gives a bit of leeway to guys who already have girlfriends, like she's tempting them, or maybe enchanting them? Anyway, there are more than a couple of couples who have been ruined because of her."
She continued to murmur softly. "But did you know?"
Kim Seoyoon glanced around to make sure no one was eavesdropping before carefully raising the topic.
"The girlfriends of those guys who were bewitched by Yoo Seolhyun were almost all girls who didn't get along with her."
"So then…"
"Right, Soyeon. Honestly, your relationship with Seolhyun is a bit strained, isn't it?"
The memory of Yoo Seolhyun casting a flirtatious glance at Lee Jinhyuk flickered through Jin Soyeon's mind.
Was it all intentional?
"Of course, it's just a rumor, so you don't need to take it too seriously. Just keep it between us, okay? Don't let anyone know you heard it from me."
"Yeah, I got it."
Jin Soyeon nodded slightly and pondered. She knew well that rumors were just rumors. After all, Jin Soyeon herself had been the target of nasty
rumors spread by jealous girls during middle school.
But the gossip about Yoo Seolhyun had a ring of credibility to it.
Or rather, she wanted to believe it.
"Hey, you guys, what's up? Aren't we going to karaoke? We're going to be late."
"Ah, sorry."
At the call of a male student, Kim Seoyoon responded with a gentle smile.
"Let's go, Soyeon. They might just be meeting for something else, right? So don't worry too much. If it really bothers you, you can always ask Jinhyuk about it later."
"…Yeah, okay."
After looking at the cafe for a moment, Jin Soyeon suddenly started walking.
As Kim Seoyoon said, nothing was decided yet.
It wasn't certain whether Lee Jinhyuk was really interested in Yoo Seolhyun, nor was it clear if Yoo Seolhyun was deliberately trying to seduce him.
She could find out everything by asking Lee Jinhyuk directly later.
"…I actually hope what Seoyoon said is true."
Jin Soyeon mused over the rumors Kim Seoyoon had mentioned about Yoo Seolhyun.
She found herself hoping they were true.
Because if the rumors were true, then Yoo Seolhyun was no different from a villainess straight out of a female-oriented novel.
Then Jin Soyeon could comfortably dislike her.
For deceiving her childhood friend, that villainess named Yoo Seolhyun.
***
In a cafe with a sleek interior and the soft aroma of coffee blending well together.
"Lee Jinhyuk."
Yoo Seolhyun and I faced each other, sitting down.
She was glaring at me with her arms crossed, apparently quite bothered by what I had said. Understandably so. The fact that Yoo Seolhyun was involved with the Youngdeung Mountain Dungeon exploration was, after all, somewhat of a secret.
But for a mere Academy classmate to suddenly start talking about the Youngdeung Mountain Dungeon, it was natural for Yoo Seolhyun to be quite guarded.
Guarded, eh.
Not a bad reaction.
At least it meant she wasn't dismissing my words outright.
The conversation that was about to unfold was a necessary prelude to what I had planned.
"What are you? How do you know that I'm involved with the Youngdeung Mountain Dungeon?"
"Before that, could you use a soundproofing spell so we don't get overheard? We don't know who might be listening."
"Tch."
Yoo Seolhyun looked at me with dissatisfaction but soon snapped her fingers, creating an opaque soundproof barrier.
Oh. Neat.
Simple magic, but she used it well. "Done. Now talk."
"Alright."
I nodded straightforwardly, thinking that now was the time to be a little shameless and assertive.
I needed to keep giving Yoo Seolhyun the impression that I was someone with something up my sleeve, to make her second-guess herself about me.
"Your unofficially managed hero team is currently attempting to conquer the Youngdeung Mountain Dungeon, right?"
"…"
Yoo Seolhyun frowned slightly but calmly nodded.
She didn't bother to hide the fact that the dungeon was being explored, as it had already been reported.
From her perspective, all she needed to hide was her involvement with the team.
"I have a proposal regarding the dungeon exploration I'd like to talk to you about."
I rummaged through my bag and pulled out a few documents.
It might be risky to reveal such information, but in order to persuade her and successfully conquer the Youngdeung Mountain Dungeon, this bait was necessary.
"…Huh?"
Yoo Seolhyun looked at the document filled with dense text for a moment, then her brows furrowed even deeper.
She seemed to have guessed what the document contained.
"The environmental details of each layer of the Youngdeung Mountain Dungeon, the types and weaknesses of the residing monsters? Recommended equipment? The location of traps and cautionary notes? What in the world…"
"That's enough."
I stopped her from reading further and put the document back in my bag.
Yoo Seolhyun appeared a bit stunned for a moment, her face reflecting a mix of surprise and confusion.
"What was that just now?"
"A strategy guide for the Youngdeung Mountain Dungeon." "How? It's impossible…"
Indeed, it was something unbelievable.
A strategy guide for a dungeon that was still being explored?
While it seemed utterly implausible, Yoo Seolhyun didn't outright deny my words after she licked her lips several times.
Because, as someone who received regular updates on the dungeon's exploration, she realized that the information I had shown matched what she knew.
"With this, the dungeon could be more easily conquered." "How do you know all this?"
Yoo Seolhyun bit her lip for a moment and then looked straight at me.
"Do you really have some kind of foresight ability?" "…Maybe. Who knows?"
I answered vaguely on purpose.
It was better to let her come to her own conclusions. If she ended up believing that I had some sort of foresight ability, it would add credibility to my words and actions in the future.
Then…
"So, you don't plan to talk? Fine."
She brushed her hair roughly, then began to speak in a low voice.
"Listen, Lee Jinhyuk." She spoke casually.
"I don't need your help."
Yoo Seolhyun's eyes sharpened even further.
"Even if the information you have is correct, it doesn't matter. The dungeon is already being conquered smoothly."
"Is that so?"
"I won't pry into how you came to know about this. But just remember this."
Yoo Seolhyun leaned in closer, her gaze fierce.
"It would be in your best interest not to blabber around that I'm managing a team. Got it?"
"Of course." A warning.
Yoo Seolhyun was giving me a warning.
If I went around carelessly talking, she would find a way to restrain me.
It was a threat I couldn't take lightly because she genuinely had the means to wield her family's power.
'Her family's power.'
Yoo Seolhyun's influence indeed stemmed from her background.
She could use her clan's power more proactively compared to Lee Siwoon of SL Group or Kang Daehan of the HanYoung Clan.
Especially since she was already involved in clan affairs.
'I might have given Yoo Seolhyun too much information.'
Frankly, if she had ill intentions, she could use her family's influence to extract all my information.
It was truly risky to disclose so much to someone with such a powerful backing.
But I was certain.
Yoo Seolhyun would not resort to such methods. This wasn't baseless faith or irresponsible trust.
It was because I already knew her character settings.
Moreover, I had studied Yoo Seolhyun's tendencies, personality, and behavior through months of observation, comparing them with her character settings.
And after synthesizing all the internal and external information I had, I came to this conclusion.
'Besides, I've saved Yoo Seolhyun before.'
Having once saved her from a near-death encounter with the long-armed ape, as long as I stayed within appropriate boundaries, Yoo Seolhyun would not cross the line either.
No matter her setting as a villainess, it's not like her to milk her life's savior for information.
Ah, of course, assuming she hasn't turned to villainy.
'Besides, Yoo Seolhyun has a strong desire for talented people. She wouldn't want to sour relations with someone who might be of use in the future.'
She must hold a not-so-bad opinion of me after the past few months' events.
Plus, having shown that I seemed to know the future today, considering Yoo Seolhyun's personality, she wouldn't cut open the goose that lays golden eggs.
She would aim to maintain a good relationship and seek mutual transactions.
And that was exactly what I wanted.
I needed her family's influence to make proper use of the wealth of information I had.
It would benefit me to gain power, and it would benefit her to gain information.
Both of us had commodities that could facilitate a positive relationship.
'And it's necessary to open up this much info if Yoo Seolhyun is to ask for a reward after safely conquering the Youngdeung Mountain Dungeon.'
Apart from aiding her in the dungeon conquest, deep within the Youngdeung Mountain Dungeon lay 'that item'.
An item I desperately wanted to retrieve.
As I currently lacked the power to conquer the dungeon alone.
"Sigh. Sorry. I think I talked too much. I got a bit too sensitive since you knew about those things."
"…"
"Honestly, I'm curious about the source of that document you showed… but it's not like I can force it out of you."
"…"
I listened to Yoo Seolhyun and surreptitiously checked the time.
It seemed like it was almost the time.
I still remembered it as it was a cutscene that had replayed dozens of times when I had played this game multiple times in the past.
When the tragic news would reach Yoo Seolhyun.
"If you've said all you need to, I'll get going…"
– Ring. Ring.
The phone suddenly rang out.
Yoo Seolhyun checked inside her bag. It was her phone ringing.
Ah, has it finally come?
"Go ahead and answer it. Could be an urgent call."
Yoo Seolhyun checked the caller ID and then picked up the phone with a slightly furrowed brow.
It must have been unsettling for her to receive a call from a team member in the midst of dungeon exploration.
"…Hello? Yes, I've finished at the Academy. But… why. Ah, yes?"
After a while on the phone, Yoo Seolhyun's eyes trembled incessantly.
"…"
How much time had passed since she started talking?
Suddenly hanging up, Yoo Seolhyun slumped powerlessly back into her chair.
"Are you okay?" "…Ah."
Responding to me, Yoo Seolhyun slowly lifted her head.
"…This is all too timely to be just a coincidence. You wouldn't happen to…?"
"I'm not sure what you mean…" I trailed off, then continued.
"…Have you decided to accept my proposal?"
Chapter 23 – Side Quest Dungeon Exploration Failure and Strategy (3)
Inductive reasoning is, put simply, the process of thinking, "It was correct in the past, so it will be correct in the future."
Throughout my time at the Academy, I've dropped many hints for Yoo Seolhyun.
The weaknesses and flaws of the opposing team. Highly successful strategies and tactics.
The hero team that Yoo Seolhyun secretly manages.
Methods to conquer the dungeon they are currently exploring, and so on.
Considering all these clues, it's highly likely that Yoo Seolhyun would come to a particular conclusion: foresight into the future.
Given that the setting of this world does not exclude the existence of those with the supernatural ability of future prediction, it wouldn't be too strange for Yoo Seolhyun to commit this inductive fallacy.
Of course, there are plenty of reasons to argue against it.
If I truly had the ability to foresee the future, there would be many actions I wouldn't have taken or things I would have done differently.
However, Yoo Seolhyun is a person with considerable pride.
Such individuals tend to select information that supports their logic to maintain their self-esteem and dismiss information that does not.
It's a psychological defense mechanism similar to how people on the internet tend to remember and focus only on comments that acknowledge their logic when their arguments are refuted.
This can lead to confirmation bias, meaning one tends to believe only what they want to believe.
'…Well, I'm not really in a position to talk.' T h i s w a s c o pi e d from k ingm t l . or g
Most people make judgments based on experience, and I
am not free from the fallacy of induction.
Haven't I, too, trusted my past life's memories and acted upon them?
Strategies for performance evaluations, strategies against the long-armed ape, methods to persuade Yoo Seolhyun, and so on…
If my memories from a past life were incorrect, I would have undoubtedly found myself in a series of awkward situations.
What if the weaknesses of the long-armed ape were different from what was in the game?
Even though I moved after a comprehensive compilation and comparison of various pieces of information from both my past and present lives, the risks remained unchanged.
Moreover, just because my past life's memories have been accurate so far doesn't guarantee they'll continue to be correct in the future.
Given the stakes of potentially risking my life, I need to be more careful.
'…Of course, that doesn't mean I can stop believing in my past life's memories altogether.'
Because so far, all the information has been accurate.
While I need to be wary of the fallacy of induction, that doesn't mean I should completely distrust my past life's memories.
Without leveraging those memories, it would be very difficult to handle what lies ahead.
These memories from the past life are both my greatest advantage and my most powerful weapon.
To survive, paradoxically, I needed to risk my life and confront dangers to prove my reasoning.
So, what's most necessary for me now is not to tremble at the possibility that my past life's memories might be right or wrong.
Instead, I need to find a 'way' to use my past life's memories as much as possible, and if things go wrong, to
protect myself from threats.
And obtaining this way requires conquering the Youngdeung Mountain Dungeon.
Based on the combined information from my past and present lives, there is a very high probability that the item I want is lying dormant within that dungeon.
That item which has the potential to create numerous variables.
Ah, but if not… "…Lee Jinhyuk." "…"
Pulled from my thoughts by Yoo Seolhyun's languid voice, I raised my head slightly to look at her.
Yoo Seolhyun began to speak, looking lost, drained, and perplexed, gazing momentarily into the void.
"The exploration of the Youngdeung Mountain Dungeon was something I pushed through with a bit too aggressively."
Her voice resonated in my ears like a droplet falling into a still lake, creating ripples across the surface.
"Considering the dungeon's size, magic density, and internal environment, as well as the monsters that appeared at the entrance, I judged that it was feasible to conquer."
As Yoo Seolhyun said, the Youngdeung Mountain Dungeon was not particularly difficult to overcome.
Except for a few traps and boss monsters.
"I was confident. I had been receiving regular updates saying that the exploration was progressing smoothly."
Then Yoo Seolhyun let out a deep sigh and licked her lips.
"But I've just been contacted. Not only did the dungeon conquest fail, but several heroes have gone missing."
This was the so-called rescue quest.
Considering my past life's memories, there were only four days left.
"A rescue team is being hastily assembled… after gathering more accurate information and preparing various equipment, it seems the team will depart tomorrow."
If the protagonist doesn't intervene and the story follows its official trajectory, the next rescue operation will likely end in failure.
"Since I unofficially approved and am managing the dungeon exploration, I can't escape internal responsibility… I'll probably be torn apart here and there."
Poorly enough, she would be the first to receive attacks from her own family.
From her siblings, who could be considered her rivals.
"And simply securing the missing personnel won't be enough to alleviate the current situation. Unless the dungeon is completely conquered."
The thought of compensating for a mistake with a success was an incredibly risky notion, but it revealed just how anxious she currently was.
"So, I really need that document you showed me earlier… As ridiculous as it seems."
Yoo Seolhyun then said to me with a calm gaze.
"But don't you think the situation is a bit strange? Your insistence on meeting me today, and showing me that document…"
"…"
Yoo Seolhyun was looking at me with skeptical eyes. She must have a lot on her mind.
Wondering if I really have the power to predict the future.
But to explain the current situation, future prediction seemed the most plausible.
"Did you really know in advance? That it would turn out like this?"
"Hmm."
I paused for a moment.
Despite leaking various clues, I had not explicitly admitted to having the power of foresight from the beginning because saying it outright would have diminished the objective credibility and, considering Yoo Seolhyun's personality, might have led to even greater suspicion.
She might have also demanded unnecessary proof of my predictive abilities.
Maintaining an ambiguous stance while subtly leading her to her own conclusions seemed a much better approach.
But by now, it seemed safe enough to falsely admit that I had the power of foresight.
It looked like Yoo Seolhyun already firmly believed that I possessed it.
With that level of belief, it was better to admit it.
And considering the direction of the story, it would be more
effective to base it on the premise that I have the power of foresight.
"…I've built up quite a bit, but it's probably done, right? Can I reveal it now?"
I finally made a decision.
Admitting to having this false ability would add more credibility to my words.
If she believed it without any particular doubts.
"Well, having come this far, it would be strange to keep being vague. You're right, Yoo Seolhyun."
"!"
"I knew to some extent." "Then…"
"I can't use it whenever I want. There are certain conditions. Ah, of course, the conditions are a secret."
In reality, those with the power of foresight couldn't perfectly control their predictions, and each had their own set of triggering conditions.
"Besides, there's no need to overthink it right now. You need this information, and I want something in return from you.
Let's make it a kind of trade."
I quickly changed the subject. There were many things I wanted to gain from trading with her and many things I needed to obtain.
"You might have doubts about my ability. Just because a few things fit, you can't trust everything. But what have you got to lose?"
Yoo Seolhyun remained silent, just listening.
"Even if you're familiar with the contents of this document, there should be no harm."
Of course, if what's noted as a weakness isn't actually a weakness, there could be trouble, but I trusted Yoo Seolhyun to discern between reliable information and what could potentially be dangerous.
"The choice is yours." "Haah."
Yoo Seolhyun seemed to be conflicted, then finally let out a weary sigh.
Without much information about the dungeon, she would naturally want as much new information as possible for the rescue mission.
Even if the source of that information might be a bit uncertain.
"I can't just share this document with my team members… it looks like I'll have to go into the dungeon myself."
As if she had planned to enter all along.
Your supernatural ability would be quite useful in exploring dungeons.
And she must feel a sense of guilt and responsibility for the missing heroes.
"Will you be okay? The Academy might not look kindly on it. And if a student participates, public opinion might get noisy."
"It's not illegal, is it? I even have a temporary hero license, so I don't need to worry about public opinion."
If Yoo Seolhyun, a student of Union Academy, personally participated in the rescue team, it could lead to gossip, but for her, as long as the fact that she managed the team didn't come to light, it was fine.
"And Lee Jinhyuk." "Huh?"
"Why did you reveal your ability to me?" Her gaze was flecked with curiosity.
"Did you ever think I might force you to spill information?" "…"
You are also somewhat aware that you can be quite mean.
"If you really could predict the future, you would know how dangerous your actions are, wouldn't you? That's why you've kept it a secret until now?"
She was right.
Everyone would want a power like future prediction.
That means many would be compelled to force it out of someone.
"Or…"
She glanced at me once.
"…you revealed it because you knew I wouldn't do that?" "…"
Well, I was pretty confident.
I'm not memorizing your character setting for nothing, after all.
I've heard about you from various places and have been observing you for months…
Considering everything, I don't think you would force me as long as I am cooperative.
"That's a scary thought. I'll just trust you. We're classmates, after all."
"Not very smart for someone who's usually top of the class."
Yoo Seolhyun responded as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing.
It was a 'dumb' answer, but I didn't sense any mocking in her tone.
"So what… tell me. You mentioned wanting a reward?" "Hmm."
What could I ask for from Yoo Seolhyun in exchange for the dungeon guide?
The answer had been clear from the beginning.
If it hadn't been for the situation, where she was desperate because of the failed exploration, she might not have accepted the terms.
"Is it okay if I have two conditions?"
"As long as they're not too demanding."
"Alright, first… I want the right to choose one item from the ones obtained in the Youngdeung Mountain Dungeon."
"…Euh?"
Yoo Seolhyun tilted her head at my request for priority in selecting an item from the dungeon loot, then smiled as if she had guessed why I proposed this trade.
"I don't have the authority to freely distribute the loot from the dungeon, but I could force it if I had to… Or I could divert something aside for you."
"Is that so?"
"And you… you seem to know what kind of item is in there, don't you?"
Despite the somewhat mischievous question, I took it in stride.
"So, what will you do?"
"Well, okay. Rescue comes first after all."
She nodded readily. Rescue and conquest were the priorities, after all.
'Considering Yoo Seolhyun's personality, she wouldn't go back on her word if a desirable item came up.'
If the dungeon is cleared using the information I provided, she wouldn't want to upset me – someone with the power of foresight – over just one item.
Ah, of course, it's quite a nice item, even if I called it just 'some item'.
"And the second condition is that you stop harassing Jin Soyeon."
"Huh?"
Yoo Seolhyun blinked, seemingly caught off guard by the sudden request.
"That's your second condition?"
"I know you don't like Soyeon, but lay off her from now on." "…"
After a brief silence, she scratched her cheek.
"You're thinking a lot about someone you've broken up with."
"I've said a few times that it wasn't a bad breakup. And she's a childhood friend."
"Childhood friend…"
After a moment's thought, Yoo Seolhyun nodded. "Fine, I'll do that."
"You're not denying you harassed her?" I shook my head in disbelief.
"Anyway, I'll give you the information." "Okay."
Yoo Seolhyun, who had received the carefully crafted Youngdeung Mountain Dungeon guide from me, flipped through the pages for a short while.
Then suddenly.
"Lee Jinhyuk. You wanted to make a deal with me, right?"
Yoo Seolhyun, having looked away from the document, spoke to me.
"It seems like you want something in the dungeon, and since you don't have the confidence to conquer it alone, you passed the information to me, right? You're planning to use my team to get it."
"You, could it be…"
"Don't misunderstand. I'm not suddenly going to do something drastic or change my mind. It's just…"
Yoo Seolhyun immediately contradicted me, trailing off slowly before moving her lips again.
"…I want to add one more thing to our deal." "Another condition?"
"Yeah."
The moment she began to speak, she opened her mouth. "Let's go to the dungeon together."
Her unexpected proposal left me momentarily silent.
Go to the dungeon together? With me?
"I glanced over the information you gave, and it looks good. But wouldn't it be easier if you came along?"
"…"
"I'll hire you as a tactical advisor. Ah, and I'll pay you handsomely. How about 50% of the individual rewards I'll get?"
"…That's a lot of compensation."
Splitting personal rewards 50-50?
Converted into money, that would be a significant amount. Dungeons usually have a lot of valuable items. Not all dungeons, but Youngdeung Mountain Dungeon, for sure.
"Of course, you can refuse. This is an additional deal, as I said. I think the information you provided should be enough for the dungeon conquest."
"I can refuse?"
That's a ridiculous suggestion.
Yoo Seolhyun is indirectly asking a question. Can she trust the information I provided?
Can she trust my abilities? Am I confident?
To give Yoo Seolhyun more trust and belief, participating together might be a good idea. If I refuse here, it might have some negative long-term effects.
'Is she thinking it's better for me to be there as a precaution for any unforeseen situations?'
After all, she believes I'm a person with the power of foresight.
The negative effects of falsely revealing my powers are already surfacing.
"I can't use it in the dungeon."
"Oh, really? Is the activation condition like a precognitive dream that requires sleep? I remember there was a person with that kind of power in the past."
"Maybe."
"Anyway, it doesn't matter. I rate your tactical skills highly, regardless of whether you can use precognitive abilities."
"Aren't there veteran heroes in the rescue team? And if they include a student like me, it'll cause a lot of internal fuss, right?"
"You don't need to worry about that." Yoo Seolhyun presses again.
"So, are you going to participate or not?" "…"
Honestly, I didn't want to participate.
Of course, dungeons were not a place to enter with a light heart. Especially a dungeon dangerous enough that active heroes could go missing. The game's difficulty was low, but reality could be different.
And the boss monster of the dungeon was a tough opponent.
It looked quite creepy in the game; I remember squinting my eyes in disgust, and if I were to see it in reality…
'But it's also an opportunity to see how active heroes form teams and act.'
I already knew the strategy, and perhaps I could gain some safe(?) experience in conquering dungeons…
Thinking ahead, maybe it wouldn't be too bad to have a preliminary experience?
'But still…' "Lee Jinhyuk?"
'Wait, if I'm careful with the boss monster and traps, it might be okay…'
"Are you listening to me?" 'Ah, I'm conflicted.'
Suddenly… "Lee Jinhyuk." "Ah."
"What are you brooding over? Is it such a difficult decision?" "…It's not easy to decide to participate in a dungeon."
I sighed deeply. Okay, what the heck.
Think of it as gaining some experience in advance.
With many challenges ahead, such as monsters, villains, dungeons, and more, the experience of working with veteran heroes would undoubtedly be beneficial.
"Alright, I'll participate."
"Heh heh. Good decision."
"We're invading with the rescue team tomorrow, right?"
"Yes. And I'll text you later about some things you need to know."
I nodded and thought… '…It should be fine, right?'
This would be my first time entering a dungeon, so naturally, I was a bit worried.
Chapter 24 – Side Quest Dungeon Exploration Failure and Strategy (4)
Before Union Academy's morning assembly, the students were abuzz discussing their favorite celebrities, the latest movies, and the upcoming midterm exams. The classroom was filled with the vibrant white noise of chattering students, as if affirming that this was how student life should be. Under normal circumstances, Jin Soyeon would have been gossiping with her classmates until the teacher arrived. However, for some reason, she was silently frowning at her phone screen, paying close attention to it. This was because her childhood friend had not yet arrived at school.
"He's quite late today. What's up with him?"
Jin Soyeon shook her head slightly, wondering why he hadn't shown up yet. She glanced at the time.
"Oh, has it gotten this late already?"
"There's less than five minutes until assembly…"
The homeroom teacher would likely be here soon. If he didn't hurry, he might be late for school. Considering her childhood friend had never missed a day of middle school, receiving perfect attendance awards, it was particularly puzzling why he was so late today.
"He's not reading my messages, and he's not answering my calls. What in the world is he doing?"
Despite her attempts to reach out, there was no response. It wasn't like Lee Jinhyuk to oversleep. All Jin Soyeon could do was float question marks above her head.
"…Everyone, take your seats."
The teacher had arrived in the classroom. Hong Daye, who usually had a drowsy look in her eyes, yawned once then casually scanned the faces of her students.
"Attendance check… Ah, what a bother."
Seemingly annoyed by the tedious task of calling out attendance numbers, Hong Daye muttered to herself before lazily asking the students.
"Is anyone absent or late today?"
"Teacher, I think Lee Jinhyuk and Yoo Seolhyun are both absent."
At a male student's response, Jin Soyeon swiftly turned her head.
What? Not just Lee Jinhyuk, but Yoo Seolhyun too? Both of them late at the same time? What's going on? "Ah, those two…"
Hong Daye hesitated for a moment, as if she had heard something from the two students beforehand.
Should she tell them? Wait.
Was there any need to explain? Let's just gloss over it. "…They're absent due to personal reasons."
"Both of them?" "Yes, yes."
Hong Daye was dismissive, it was clear she didn't want to deal with a barrage of questions.
"Those two are absent? What happened?"
"What? Lee Jinhyuk is absent? He's never been late since middle school…"
"Yoo Seolhyun? Today?"
The students murmured and buzzed with curiosity. "Ah, wait."
Was it then?
"I saw those two at a cafe yesterday?" "Really? For real?"
One of the students who had gone to karaoke with Jin Soyeon the day before added fuel to the fire. The other students' eyes lit up with interest.
A young man and woman from the Academy meeting outside of school could imply many things. And since it involved Yoo Seolhyun, one of the beauties of Class 1-1, and a rich young lady, their curiosity was piqued.
"Those two, why? Could it be a date?" "Look at Lee Jinhyuk doing well for himself."
"Nah, that's nonsense. Why would Yoo Seolhyun meet Lee Jinhyuk?"
"Both absent today… suspicious, huh? Hehe." "Boys always think of strange things."
While the students were discussing this and that… "…".
Jin Soyeon remained silent.
She had no choice but to be quiet. She was lost in a swamp of thoughts.
'Absent? Lee Jinhyuk and Yoo Seolhyun?'
Their simultaneous absence was quite unexpected. And so, she suspected.
'Is it merely a coincidence?'
No. It couldn't just be a coincidence. The timing was too odd.
Yesterday, for some reason, the two of them had a secret(?) meeting…
And now they were both absent the next day. It would be strange not to be suspicious.
"Ah, really. Why can't he contact me at a time like this?" She blamed the silent phone.
If only he had contacted her, she wouldn't feel so uneasy.
Aside from the absence, it was strange that there was no contact at all.
Could something have happened?
Or was he intentionally avoiding contact? Ah. What am I thinking?
Jin Soyeon shook her head abruptly.
It was impossible for Lee Jinhyuk to deliberately ignore her calls.
There was no reason for him to do so. And if he had intended to avoid her, he would have simply turned off his phone…
Maybe he just hasn't seen my text… "Huh?"
Suddenly, Jin Soyeon's train of thought was interrupted. "Wait a minute?"
Because strange puzzle pieces were coming together in her mind.
"Wait, hold on."
An affection that might be blooming.
Meeting at a cafe after school.
The next day's absenteeism of the two. Not responding to contact.
…What could all these imply?
Puzzle pieces began to fit together, rushing toward one conclusion.
The more she tried not to think about it, the clearer the picture became, gradually revealing itself to Jin Soyeon.
But then.
– Ding. Ding. "Uh…!"
Startled by the sudden text tone, Jin Soyeon's shoulders twitched and she shivered.
What, what? You startled me.
Looking at the standby screen, it seemed to be Lee Jinhyuk.
Sneaking a look at the homeroom teacher, Jin Soyeon peeked under her desk to check the message.
Then, Lee Jinhyuk's concise message casually entered her view.
– Yeah? Why did you call?
An infuriatingly flat sentence.
Why call? Does he really not know?
– Aren't you coming to the Academy?
– Lol, I'm sick. Gtg. Sick? Is he ill?
He seemed fine yesterday. Jin Soyeon blinked in slight confusion but continued to text.
– What's with the sickness? You used to come even with the flu in middle school.
– I did it for the record back then.
At Lee Jinhyuk's response, Jin Soyeon couldn't help but smirk wryly.
He used to care a lot about his record. For entering Union Academy.
– Anyway, I'm gonna take some medicine and sleep. Bye.
– What? Wait a minute.
– See you tomorrow.
– Hey!
She sent another message, but it was met with silence. There was more she wanted to ask.
Really, doing whatever he pleases! "Ah, really, he's ignoring me again." "That's tough."
A shadow loomed over Jin Soyeon's head. When she slowly raised her head, she met eyes with Hong Daye, who had approached quite close. Ahaha. Erm. Jin Soyeon laughed awkwardly.
It seemed that she was caught using her phone secretly. "Who are you texting so eagerly? Are you in a relationship?" "No, teacher."
"Fine. Put your phone away and pay attention. You understand?"
"…Yes."
Jin Soyeon nodded slightly, and Hong Daye walked back to the podium, rubbing her sleepy eyes. She wasn't the type to be so proactive as to confiscate phones.
"Well. That's it for the assembly. Everyone get ready for the next class."
Hong Daye waved her hand, signaling the end of the assembly, and Jin Soyeon watched her before sighing deeply.
"Sick, huh… That can happen. It's possible."
There was no way to know whether Lee Jinhyuk was genuinely ill or not.
But Jin Soyeon decided to trust her childhood friend.
The likelihood that he was absent because of Yoo Seolhyun was lower than the possibility that he was not.
So now, she decided to stop these pointless thoughts and focus on her studies.
Shamefully, she had allowed herself a bit of a foolish fantasy, but she knew well enough that the Lee Jinhyuk she knew would never do such a thing.
Right. Surely that's the case.
Maybe she should just prepare for the next class?
The next class involved physical training at the practice field. It would be tough. She didn't like the idea of sweating first thing in the morning…
"…".
Why?
Why is it still bothering me? Is it a woman's intuition?
Something unsettling and uncomfortable was slowly simmering inside her, causing Jin Soyeon's heart to be in turmoil, leaving her feeling restless and annoyed.
Why, though?
It was an illogical feeling that she couldn't articulate, and she hated it intensely.
Because it made her feel bad.
Really bad.
***
Inside the Gaon Nuri Clan's headquarters. Lee Jinhyuk was fiddling with his phone.
He hadn't noticed because it was on silent, but there were texts and a missed call from Jin Soyeon.
Why so many texts?
Maybe because he didn't go to the Academy today? "Lee Jinhyuk."
"Huh? What?"
"What are you doing?"
"Just got a text from Soyeon." "Euh?"
"I guess because I skipped school today."
After sending a few more messages, Lee Jinhyuk put his phone away.
He certainly couldn't just blurt out, "Actually, I'm going to conquer the dungeon with Yoo Seolhyun. So I can't go to the Academy. Haha."
Eventually, the truth would naturally come to light, but saying it now would only invite more questioning.
So Lee Jinhyuk had casually claimed to be sick.
"So, are you done with your business?" "Yes."
"Then let's go."
Following behind Yoo Seolhyun, he walked forward. Stomp, stomp.
How long had they walked?
They arrived at a room that resembled a conference space. "…Hm?"
"Oh, you're here."
"Ah, is that the guy who got the commendation?"
Five heroes were sitting in chairs, murmuring amongst themselves.
It was a mixed team comprised of three men and two women.
They were the team members who would join him in the dungeon exploration and rescue mission.
'Meeting these people in person feels strange.' Characters he'd encountered quite a lot in the game. They were essentially NPCs, extras if you must say.
However, they were decently capable NPC allies when it came to conquering the Youngdeung Mountain Dungeon.
Their levels were also quite high.
And when leveling up, he had relied on them as a sort of bus…
"You're the guy who's supposed to come today, right?"
While he was lost in thought, a woman with a clear voice addressed him first. Lee Jinhyuk naturally turned his head toward her.
She appeared to be in her late twenties, with shoulder- length hair. Let's see…
Her name was Han Seowoo, right?
"Lee Jinhyuk, let me introduce you. This is Han Seowoo, the hero who will lead the Youngdeung Mountain rescue team."
"Hello?"
With a brief introduction from Yoo Seolhyun, Han Seowoo raised her hand in greeting.
"Hello, my name is Lee Jinhyuk. Nice to meet you."
"Ah, yes. Lee Jinhyuk. I heard about you yesterday. Top of the class in theory, right? You must've studied hard?"
Han Seowoo greeted him warmly, nodding, but Lee Jinhyuk knew well that the current arrangement wasn't to her liking.
After all, they had selected suitable heroes from those available only to have a Union Academy trainee unexpectedly added to the mix.
It must have seemed ridiculous to Han Seowoo, but she had reluctantly accepted him at the request of Yoo Seolhyun, who was in charge of managing the team.
'In the end, she's just a field manager who has to follow orders from above.'
Just one of the many members of the Gaon Nuri Clan.
She might hold the title of team leader, but it was granted by Yoo Seolhyun, and she couldn't easily refuse the words of Yoo Seolhyun, who would one day be a higher-up.
"This is Park Sangcheol, the hero, and he's the vanguard… meaning the tank of the team."
"Hello, Mr. Lee Jinhyuk. I've heard a lot about you. You were recognized for your merit in monster subjugation and received a commendation, right? Please take good care of us today."
Park Sangcheol, in his early thirties, approached Lee Jinhyuk with a friendly manner, even using honorifics due to his gentle personality and amiable looks, making him quite popular among the Gaon Nuri Clan members.
"Yes, hero Park Sangcheol. I'm looking forward to working with you."
"Ahaha, hero? You can just call me 'uncle' if you want."
And then Yoo Seolhyun introduced the other team members, one by one.
Oh Jeongnam, the header; Baek San, the damage dealer; and Erina, the magic supporter, among others.
He was introduced to all five team members. You might call them semi-elite.
They were quite the capable group.
No matter where they went, they were people who would do at least their share of work.
"I know I've already explained to you yesterday, but there might be some who still don't understand why a trainee has joined the rescue team."
Some looked indifferent, but Han Seowoo had a somewhat sullen expression.
"Let me say this once more: the documents related to the dungeon that I distributed to you yesterday include information and footage of the dungeon's terrain, features, environment, monsters, traps, scale, and so on, which Lee Jinhyuk has analyzed like this…"
Yoo Seolhyun explained once again why Lee Jinhyuk was participating and how he could be of help.
She needed to reinforce this to the team members before entering the dungeon.
After all, it was to ensure a minimum 'plausibility' for Lee Jinhyuk's future actions.
Of course, no matter what, she couldn't entirely avoid their suspicions.
"…That's why we've accepted Lee Jinhyuk as a team member."
"Okay, we've heard enough, you can stop now."
Han Seowoo responded somewhat gruffly. Honestly, she was displeased.
Bringing an amateur to a site fraught with variables was dangerous.
Especially a hero hopeful with no real combat experience would surely freeze up under the formidable aura of a monster.
One wrong move and it could lead to disaster.
'Right, he's the one who fought the monkey monster, right?'
It was hard to believe.
The Black Hand Long-Armed Monkey was a formidable monster.
Han Seowoo herself wouldn't be confident in winning a one- on-one battle with it.
The children's victory over the monkey monster must have been due to the help of High Ranker Hong Daye and a series of fortunate incidents.
The media may claim that the kids worked together to defeat it, but one couldn't take such words at face value.
Surely, this Lee Jinhyuk kid must have just gotten lucky by catching a ride on the bus. Even so, surviving a fight with the Long-Armed Monkey was respectable.
'Having faced the monkey monster in combat, he shouldn't freeze up from its deadly aura…'
Yes. That was enough.
Initially, Han Seowoo had no expectations of him.
She just hoped he wouldn't cause any trouble or do anything rash.
"Okay. Let's briefly go over the dungeon exploration plan and then do a final check of our equipment."
"Sure."
However, less than two hours after entering the dungeon, Han Seowoo had to change her opinion.
Because…
'…What? What on earth is this kid?'
What Lee Jinhyuk showed was beyond imagination.