Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Training Camp (1)
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"How long are you going to keep wandering around with that mask on?"
As I washed up and put on my mask to head to the academy, Baek Do, who had been eyeing my face suspiciously from the morning, spoke up.
"Pardon? What brings that up all of a sudden?"
"I'm asking why you're wearing a mask you don't even need."
"Oh, this?"
I tapped the innocent mask on my face for no reason.
"You don't think it suits you well or something, do you?"
"No way."
Whenever I put it on, my charm plummeted. It might have suited me back in my ugly days, but not with my current face.
But there was a reason for wearing the mask.
It assisted in manipulating mana, making it an essential artifact for matches or fights.
"Back in the day, I couldn't fight without it, so I always wore it. It became a habit."
"You don't need it now, do you?"
That was true.
I wasn't the kind of guy who'd get pushed around anywhere anymore.
The mask was really just out of habit now; there wasn't any special reason.
If I had to make one up, it was the item I was most attached to among my possessions?
Maybe because I'd been using it since I arrived here—my hand kept going to it.
"There was a time when I was really ugly."
"I know. You still look ugly to me."
"......Anyway. Back then, I faced all sorts of discrimination, and the mask helped. Wearing it changed me from a criminal suspect to just a suspicious guy."
"Then take it off now. Honestly, it looks too frivolous."
"Thanks for the concern."
Baek Do pouted her lower lip and turned her head away.
'Well... it's about time I stopped wearing it.'
As I stroked the mask, I felt a faint crack through the surface with my fingertips.
'Does the mask look that bad?'
"Hmm."
I examined the mask in the mirror, checking it this way and that.
My body had slimmed down now, with solid muscles, so anything I wore fit perfectly.
"Should I go without it today?"
It should be fine once in a while.
I set the mask down and styled my hair appropriately.
Shedding the familiar stuffiness made me feel awkward yet strangely excited as I looked in the mirror. Baek Do, standing beside me, covered her mouth and gagged.
"Ugh..."
She told me to take it off, so why that face?
Annoyed, I smacked her fully exposed pale leg. Enraged, Baek Do kicked me in the solar plexus with her foot.
"Ack!"
Tears welled up a bit.
What a mess from the morning.
......No, it was just everyday life.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ -Gulp, gulp.
The cold mineral water pleasantly quenched her parched throat.
Waiting since 6 a.m. Azalea steadied her mind while eyeing the empty seat next to Bead.
A little closer than usual. Naturally.
One step nearer than other times—she recalled Bead's advice to tilt her head back with her ear exposed and flash a bright smile.
Bead, catching her eye, mouthed words silently.
Fighting. The word made her blush unnecessarily, so she turned her head away.
-Rumble.
The door opened right on cue.
Azalea tore her gaze from Bead and looked forward.
At the same moment.
A female cadet nearby, who had been chatting idly, let out a dazed sound.
"...Huh."
The young man who walked in, chin held high, was a very unfamiliar face to the cadets.
A few cadets murmured at his sudden entrance without regard for the timing.
"Who's that? A professor?"
"Looks our age. From another class?"
The murmurs spread, drawing eyes forward amid ripples of curiosity and interest that washed like waves to the back of the classroom.
What would normally end with a few whispers spread because of the man's handsome features.
'Lee Si-heon?'
Azalea, watching him, doubted her own eyes for a moment.
The shock was so intense that her earlier resolve and thoughts vanished entirely.
'Am I seeing things?'
But Azalea soon refused to accept the reality.
A person's appearance couldn't change that drastically in such a short time.
"Oh, you came without the mask today?"
Impossible.
That was her thought until Jeong Si-woo raised his hand and spoke to him.
"You all better now?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?"
The two exchanged light greetings and bantered playfully, as if they'd grown close lately.
The class buzzed once more at the sight.
Rumors about Lee Si-heon's looks had circulated, but few cadets had seen him in person.
Lately, rumors of his skills had overshadowed his appearance.
"Whoa, jackpot."
"Why'd he wear a mask if he's that hot?"
A few cadets' snide remarks—or genuine admiration—pierced Azalea's ears.
-Glance.
Lee Si-heon eyed Azalea sidelong with uneasy eyes.
Her obsession hadn't improved yet.
"......Huh?"
But Azalea wasn't obsessed; she was simply too flustered by the situation to hide it.
She hadn't witnessed the changes moment by moment like Lee Se-young or the peaches, nor seen an improved version from the start like Cornus.
The image of Lee Si-heon in Azalea's mind was objectively unremarkable, regardless of her tastes.
She couldn't help but be shocked—and neither could anyone else there.
"Puhahaha, what? Finally showed your face? Sent the mask for cleaning?"
"Ah, the mask? I noticed some cracks this time."
"Aww~ But you're so handsome!"
Jeong Si-woo and Bead reacted in turn, and sociable cadets joined the conversation.
Saw your last match—great stuff.
You're strong.
Starting with tournament impressions, it led to casual chit-chat.
Jeong Si-woo, standing beside Lee Si-heon and steering the talk, was thrilled beyond reason—noisier than high school girls debating idols.
Whispers spread: When did those two get so chummy? The odd vibe soon blended naturally.
Every Day would be lively for a while.
"Oh, right. Everyone else gave me their numbers, but not you, Si-heon. Can I get yours?"
Azalea stared blankly at Lee Si-heon until a female cadet's blatant flirting snapped her back.
The change in appearance wasn't what mattered to her now.
Lee Si-heon giggling and chatting with a girl he'd just met.
Azalea felt anxiety squeezing her chest.
She quickly identified the emotion.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ El Academy's training camp wasn't much different from high school or middle school field trips.
If anything, the difference was adults versus teens partying. More like a company MT, perhaps.
I'd find out since I had no experience, but the posted schedule painted a clear picture.
-11:00~12:00 Arrival, assign dorms
-1:00 Lunch
-2:00 Group teams & cheers
-3:00~5:00 Group games
-6:00~7:00 Dinner & rest
And so on.
Gamble for meal choices, pricey soju, or whiskey. Build bonds over evening drinks.
Of course, it differed greatly from ordinary MTs or camps.
Day 2? 12:00 Sparring.
'These battle-crazed maniacs... Do they get thorns on their asses if they don't fight for a day?'
The organizers pushing fistfights even at camp was vivid.
Checking Every Day on my phone, seniors' gems of advice filled the screen.
📰 Every Day Post -Rookie cadets, know why Day 2 sparring exists? It's to settle fights from the previous night's drinking ㅋㅋㅋㅋ If you're pissed, beat 'em yourself ㅋㅋㅋㅋ [Comments 10] 💬 Comments — Anonymous1 For real ㅋㅋ Last year, swordsmanship sect argument led to a Day 2 fight—legendary. — Anonymous2 What? For real? — Anonymous3 ↳ Reply Yeah, definitely watch—it’s fun. 📰 Every Day Post -Training camp reminds me of that. Went to the bathroom at night and heard moans outside... Was so shocked I couldn’t sleep. [Comments 21] 💬 Comments — Anonymous1 Shocked me at first too, but now it’s just funny. — Anonymous2 ↳ Reply 2222 Just chuckle, they're wild, and move on. — Anonymous3 ↳ Reply 333333 Personal faves ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ — Anonymous4 ↳ Reply 4444 If you do it, use protection properly. Don’t get swept up in the mood. Academy classes are brutal enough without pregnancy. Aside from a few events, it stayed within reasonable bounds.
Later days included helpful stuff like meetings with successful hunters, backed by the World Tree Foundation's massive funds. Get drunk, eat, and play for a few days.
'The problem is something else...'
My head spun with concerns everywhere.
That damn girl situation.
I couldn't even have a proper encounter with Azalea before boarding the plane for the camp.
'Azalea...'
I needed time to think.
'Well.'
I'd caused an incident while drunk... and my words were plenty misleading.
Still. I always spoke politely and never showed it, so maybe that's why—I didn't see Azalea romantically in everyday life.
Of course, I liked her as a person.
Our meetings started rough, but I knew her true nature was kind.
If she weren't upright, I wouldn't be wracked with guilt, agonizing alone.
I respected and genuinely liked that about her.
But that made her obsession all the less welcome.
'I'm grateful, but...'
Huang Dao too, Lee Se-young too—why did girls like me?
I turned to Lee Se-young, sipping wine in the seat beside me.
"...Why are your eyes so wide? Horny again?"
"......"
First class on the plane.
Normally, cadets would huddle noisily, but Lee Se-young's behind-the-scenes work made this happen.
I knew some nobles took private jets, but I didn't expect to be one.
And Lee Se-young pulling it off without asking was impressive.
"No, just happy to be together after so long."
"Eww. Haven't seen you in a while, and you've gotten so sappy? That's not you."
"Then what should I say?"
"Hmm... Slut? Heh."
I'm dizzy.
I chuckled wryly and roughly cut into the steak before me, taking a bite.
With so many thoughts, I couldn't tell if food was going in my mouth or nose.
"Why? More worries?"
As I finished eating haphazardly, Se-young probed gently.
"Ah, caught me?"
"Obvious. Girl troubles again?"
"......"
"See? I told you before. You're destined to be a playboy, no matter what."
No excuse.
Lee Se-young reached out with a bittersweet yet bright expression, tapping my cheek.
"But you come when I call, so you must like me."
Well...
I nodded, and she leaned in close.
A brief silence hung between us.
An intense exchange passed quickly.
"That's enough for Teacher."
She murmured softly, then pulled back laughing slyly.
The warmth lingered on my lips.
-Gulp.
I swallowed the wine that had entered my mouth. Rich grape flavor.
Her mischievous smile was so pretty.
She playfully patted my back and grinned.
"So, how many more? Who?"
"No more..."
"Don't dodge—say it straight. Or I'll get mad."
"Just one for now."
"For now?"
"Future's uncertain."
"Cheeky bastard."
Se-young raised her half-full wine glass and eyed me.
I lifted mine too. She clinked hers roughly against it at eye level.
-Clink.
Pleasant ring of glass.
"Follow your heart."
Grateful, but I couldn't agree with adding lovers being fine.
"I'd go mad if Teacher saw another guy."
"Won't happen, so relax. I'm a pure-love girl."
"...Why tell me it's okay for you to see others?"
A bit teasingly, but Se-young just smiled brightly.
"Hmm~ Can't handle your lust?"
Playful answer.
She still hid her deepest truth well.
Whatever it was.
"Sigh."
I sighed and brought the wine glass to my lips.
......No more deep thoughts.
Wasting this special day would be a loss.
I tilted the glass and sipped.
This moment—sharing drinks on a plane.
A memory laced with joy amid the lingering aftertaste.