Chapter 126
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 126: How to Face the Past (12)
“Borim. I don't think this is the time for that. Please focus on the exam.”
“...Ha, this is why you were bullied! You have no intention of listening to what others say, you unsociable—”
“Should I go first?”
As Min Jaeyun remained completely unfazed, Choi Borim seemed quite flustered. She grit her teeth and raised her two-handed sword.
“You seem pretty confident?!”
Choi Borim rushed in violently.
Two swords thrust threateningly, but Min Jaeyun avoided them without even her breathing getting ragged.
“Everyone will hate you soon! No one will be left by your side!”
“Are you done talking?”
Min Jaeyun lightly caught Choi Borim’s swords with her gloved hands.
“I-Iik…!”
Cracks spread across the two swords.
Soon, with a crunch, the swords shattered to pieces.
When the swords broke, Choi Borim's eyes widened in surprise, but, befitting a Hunter-aspirant, she quickly abandoned the hilts and threw herself backward.
She grit her teeth and poured items out of her Inventory.
They were all Holy attribute attack items. The polar opposite of Min Jaeyun’s Dark attribute.
“Ha, so much talk from someone who’s already been abandoned once! You’re trash! You always will be, and you’ll live that kind of life! Who would like someone like you?”
“Yeah. Maybe that’s how it looked to you. Since I was just a worthless kid who couldn't even control her curse.”
The shining, sword-shaped items from the Inventory danced sharply and rushed straight at Min Jaeyun.
Choi Borim shrieked, indiscriminately throwing glowing bombs on top of them.
As if she wanted to deny the existence of Min Jaeyun, who remained so calm even at this moment.
Min Jaeyun leisurely avoided the flood of items and, one step at a time, approached Choi Borim.
“But even so, that didn’t make it okay for you to use me, betray me, and hurt me.”
She said quietly.
Strong, hard eyes fixed on Choi Borim.
Paang—!
Streaks of holy light exploded in all directions.
But even amidst it all, Min Jaeyun’s eyes shone the most beautifully.
“That’s why I hate you. And now, I’m going to leave you in the past and find my own happiness. I can do that.”
She declared.
Her fists crushed the swords of light, one by one.
Seeing this, Choi Borim threw all her remaining items in a last-ditch effort.
“Don't come! You, you, someone like you…!”
“...You were such an insignificant person, yet I clung to you as if you were everything. As if the world would collapse if I didn't receive your love.”
But all of it was blocked by Min Jaeyun's mana.
Finally arriving right in front of Choi Borim, Min Jaeyun gave a faint, sad smile.
“But it’s okay now.”
At last, her fist cut through the air and flew at Choi Borim.
“Because I am someone worthy of being loved!”
Min Jaeyun smiled.
“Because I learned that from everyone!”
It was a lovely smile, where no darkness lingered.
“Choi Borim, unable to fight! Min Jaeyun wins!”
And only after seeing that smile did I think, You’re really going to be okay now.
That made me truly happy.
“You did great! You did so well!!!”
Shin Baran shouted joyfully, jumping up and down.
The usual Shin Baran wouldn't have acted so undignified. She must have been really worried about Jaeyun, as she was pouring out praise, completely ignoring her surroundings.
Normally, those two would never have gotten this close.
If someone were to ask what’s so good about painstakingly changing the path already laid out by the 'original novel', I would pick your smile without hesitation.
I’d pick that happy-looking smile.
So, I have no regrets about changing the story.
I remembered the comments I saw before.
The people who were puzzled about why I'd stop Lee Hana's curse by giving her a precious item, or why I'd bother bringing in Min Jaeyun who was so difficult to handle. The people who criticized it as a 'frustrating plot' (goguma) and 'inefficient'.
Even though I fully expected that kind of reaction, I went ahead and did it without hesitation.
Right, this is the kind of person I am.
A person who changes the story at will for my own happiness, and the happiness of my people.
I'll keep doing it.
Because I know what’s more important than anything else.
I made my resolve.
The special evaluation ended with Choi Borim, who had been defeated so unsightly, as the last challenger.
“You worked so hard…!” “Amazing!”
I also showered Min Jaeyun with praise.
When did she grow up so much? I couldn't be more pleased.
[A Story Fragment has been added!] [Currently collected Story Fragments: 11]
[Story Fragment / Unconfirmed]
In a deserted corner of a hallway, Choi Borim was muttering lowly, a towel draped over her head.
“No way…!”
To think I lost to that half-wit!
It was an unbelievable reality.
Such a crushing defeat was not in her plan.
Choi Borim denied reality, spewing curses at Min Jaeyun.
“What? Why is she so confident? Min Jaeyun, of all people! No, in the first place, why can't I get into Class A? Even that pathetic Government-Sponsored Awakened kid made it! This shouldn't be happening!”
“What shouldn't be?”
A dapper-looking someone stopped in front of Choi Borim.
“...!”
Choi Borim, momentarily flustered, raised her head.
That someone was Mihail Balder.
“S-Sunbae…”
“You lost because you are weak. You can gain nothing because you are weak. That is all.”
Choi Borim flared up at those words.
I know! I know I'm not good enough! Isn't that why I'm trying my best!
“I-I know that! That's why I'm trying, isn't it? If I can just get into Class A! If I can just get into that 'noble' clique and receive support from a prestigious family, I can become strong too!!”
“...Is that your effort?”
“It's better than pointlessly repeating hopeless training! You wouldn't know the difference between an Awakened from the Awakened Society and a Government-Sponsored Awakened, Sunbae! You're saying that because you don't know!!”
“Yes. That is correct. Which is why I am looking at you with such a patronizing gaze.”
Choi Borim grit her teeth.
This was why those from the Awakened Society who knew nothing were so annoying.
They can't conceive of the difference created by environment, no matter how much effort one puts in, and just talk about effort, effort, effort!
Just as Choi Borim, unable to control her temper, was about to snap,
“And with that patronizing pity, I am about to tell you a way to become strong.”
Mihail Balder said something completely unexpected and held out a piece of paper to Choi Borim.
She accepted it, bewildered. It was a letter. Stamped with an insignia of a tower and a ten-tailed fox.
“...What is this?”
“A letter that will show you the past and the future. It is a trigger that will show you the previous world you do not remember.”
“...?”
“And it is a letter that will allow you to become strong. Sleep with it for one week, then come to me, and I will provide the support you desire.”
“...I can get stronger? And you'll give me support?”
“Yes. Well, I know your type well. The type of person who can only strive desperately for their own sake. This is a special measure just for you.”
But Choi Borim, already fixated on the word 'support', just stared intently at the letter.
“Really? If I just sleep with this, I can get the Balder Family's support?”
“...Well, you may think as you wish.”
Mihail Balder did not explicitly confirm it was support from the 'Balder' family, but Choi Borim's mind arbitrarily leaped to that conclusion.
Isn't this Mihail Balder! The subordinate that Nika Balder always keeps by her side!
I don't know what this is, but I've definitely been chosen!
If so, there was no time to hesitate.
“Wait!”
Choi Borim hastily stuffed the letter away and ran off to her dormitory.
Mihail Balder saw her off with a cold, mirthless smile.
However, when they met again a week later, the situation was very different.
“No way. It's true? All of it? Then... Then it shouldn't be like this!”
“It is true. All of it. You don't want to die, do you? If not, then you just need to act as I request.”
Mihail Balder replied indifferently to Choi Borim, who was shouting with hollow eyes.
Then he held out his hand.
“Let's save the world. For your own survival.”
A sly smile punctuated his last words.
Behind him, on a wide desk, countless identical letters were piled high.
[A Story Fragment has been added!] [Currently collected Story Fragments: 12]
[Story Fragment / Unconfirmed]
“—And so, a proposal has been made to deploy a portion of the first-year Class A students to the field as a form of practical training.”
“First-years? It’s still a bit much to deploy first-years…”
“Won’t the party taught by Yggdrasil be acceptable?”
At the other person's proposal, the Principal's expression hardened instantly. But Yggdrasil replied as if it didn't matter.
“Hm. Indeed. There shouldn't be a major problem.”
“Lady Yggdrasil!”
“I know. Instead, we'll have them stationed in the rear. And unfortunately, the other students are still lacking, so I am against sending them to the field.”
“The rear….”
The Principal let out a deep sigh and said.
“The students cannot remain in the field indefinitely. You haven't forgotten the promise to have them return to the academy immediately once the current situation is generally resolved, have you?”
“The field situation is urgent, so it can't be helped. It's true that the burden on the front lines has eased considerably since the second and third-years joined. Isn't this precisely the kind of crisis situation the nation supports the academy with enormous funds to prepare for?”
“Even so, proposing to deploy first-years is really crossing the line. ...Even if first-years are deployed, it must be to the rear, and only for a short time as an extended form of their existing field training.”
“Umm… Understood. That alone should be helpful enough. Then, let's first send the party of those children who served as examinees this time, as a trial.”
The other person seemed determined to deploy Yggdrasil's disciples, at the very least, to the field. The Principal gave him a reluctant look, but the man was resolute, as if his face were made of iron.
The Principal finally couldn't hold back and brought it up.
“For the past 7 years, haven't we established a system for researchers to also have basic combat skills and be able to act as a reserve force! You should be utilizing the reserves, not sending students to the front lines!”
As soon as that topic was raised, the man answered, startled as if he’d been burned.
“That… you know, don't you. Among the researchers, many are assigned to important research that cannot be delayed… Ahem, so it's a bit… We are also seriously reviewing plans to utilize the reserve force.”
“……”
That damn cartel.
The so-called ‘higher-ups’ among the researchers seemed unwilling to go to the field themselves.
Many of them considered going to the field a troublesome and lowly job.
The problem with this matter was the fact that the high-ranking government officials with final decision-making power and the researcher cartel that held enormous finances through technology were closely connected.
Hiding behind students for the sake of their own reputation, or to spare their own lives. It was just deplorable that they were one of the two main pillars leading the Hunter world.
In the end, after a long discussion, they compromised.
“...Yes. Understood.”
There had better not be any problems.
The Principal held back a sigh and looked down at the documents of the children who had been chosen for deployment.
Even if we're short-staffed because of this unusual situation, to conscript students... Is this really right?