191. Hell Training (1)

"Kang Do-hee! Watch your feet, seriously!!"

"Lee Yu-ri, focus! You're losing all the aggro!"

"Sofia, you're too fast!! I told you not to waste heals!!!"

"Ga-eul sunbae⋯⋯!! Please!"

Velvet Academy's holographic training ground.

A sharp voice filled the space one after another.

Huff—

Huff—

Drenched in sweat from the high-intensity training, every party member collapsed where they stood.

And I couldn't hide my hardened expression as I watched them.

'What is wrong with everyone?'

Of course, I get it.

I understand they need time to adjust since their stats suddenly jumped by 4%. And Ichika, a Special role, just joined us, so naturally they'd find it awkward to set up formations differently than before.

Yeah, I'm well aware of things like that. Still.

'Seriously, what is wrong with all of them?'

The most disappointing part for me was their focus.

Training to build a new formation and synchronize. A situation where no amount of concentration would ever be enough, yet there was this scattered atmosphere the whole time, like their minds were somewhere else. I wondered if Ichika was the issue, so I tried running the training without her, but it was the same.

Kang Do-hee, rushing out solo and getting fatally injured as if she'd completely forgotten all the synchronization we'd built up until now. Sofia, missing every heal timing I'd drilled into her so persistently and even letting her accuracy waver to the point of healing the enemy monsters. Im Ga-eul, spamming skills and burning through who knows how many Magic Stones already. And on top of that, even that reliable Gukbap.

'⋯⋯No, we went to Jukai Forest, and they've come back weaker.'

Not knowing why they were acting like this made it even more frustrating.

"Sigh, seriously, what's up with you all? You gotta give me something to go on here."

Even though I'd already asked the same question several times, they remained silent. If someone would just give me a straight answer, I could pinpoint the cause and fix it, but their silence only piled on the suffocation.

"Hah—. Seriously, what the hell is this⋯⋯."

It was just as I ordered the party to rest, pinching the bridge of my nose and letting out a deep sigh.

Poke.

Poke.

'Hm?'

I felt someone poking me from behind with a finger, so I turned to look. There stood a blue-haired person with an expressionless face.

Ichika.

My stiff face relaxed a little when I saw her.

It was because, despite being new and undergoing her adjustment period, she was showing the most normal performance out of everyone.

Of course, her field of vision wasn't wide enough yet, so her timing and positioning for laying down shadows were off, but it was well within acceptable limits.

"Ah, Ichika. I'm sorry. We're not normally like this⋯⋯. And this isn't because of you, so please don't worry about it too much."

Honestly, I was embarrassed for her to see this. I'd gone on and on about how amazing Utopia was to recruit her, and this is the pathetic state we show her?

I had no excuse. Not even if I had ten mouths.

"It's okay."

Ichika nodded at me with an attitude that said there was no need to worry.

"Do you need help now?"

"Huh? Help? Ichika, if you just keep doing what you're doing now⋯⋯."

"No, other people."

"Other people?"

"So I called. Friend."

"Friend⋯⋯?"

I tilted my head, listening to her.

'Everything about her is great, but⋯⋯. Her communication skills and sense of personal space are a little⋯⋯.'

Even now, Ichika was standing right up against me, talking.

'Anyway, a friend? Does Ichika have a friend here?'

That was when it happened.

Beep—

[ Utopia Party member, Cadet Shin Se-hee. Permission to enter granted. ]

An artificial woman's voice rang out from the empty air.

Hummm—

As the barrier withdrew, a person walked into the training ground. It was Shin Se-hee.

At her sudden appearance, my eyes went wide.

'Huh? Didn't she say she was busy today with Ichika's enrollment stuff?'

*

Shin Se-hee, who had entered after getting Ichika's call, walked in with her arms crossed, her heels clicking sharply as she maintained a perfectly straight posture.

Pfft—

Shin Se-hee let out a laugh as she slowly scanned the party members.

'What a mess. I can roughly tell what happened just by looking at the state of things right now.'

Just by sweeping her gaze over the atmosphere inside the training ground and the party members' conditions, she could grasp that today's training had not gone well. And on top of that, she could even deduce the cause.

'You all can't get a hold of yourselves because of Jin Yu-ha's affection ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠issue, isn't that right?'

She understood. If she hadn't heard from Ichika about the others' affection scores, she probably would've had her mind elsewhere too, unable to focus on her tasks like them.

'Actually, the way to solve this is extremely simple.'

Just reveal everything.

It was 4% for everyone except Ichika anyway. If she revealed that fact, the useless thoughts plaguing them as they agonized over who might have a higher score would vanish in an instant.

'But, this is a joker card I've been holding onto for a while. It'd be a waste to use it here.'

Was there a three-birds-with-one-stone plan where she could solve Utopia's situation while appealing to Jin Yu-ha with her competence, all without revealing her hand?

Shin Se-hee's mind worked rapidly as she observed the party members.

'Hmm, now that I think about it, that person was also wearing a ring, wasn't she?'

Then, a person's face flashed through her mind. It was Baek Seol-hee, who had suddenly interposed herself between Jin Yu-ha and herself the day before.

And Shin Se-hee hadn't missed the ring on Baek Seol-hee's hand.

She still didn't know Baek Seol-hee's affection score. And investigating her carelessly was an entirely different level of danger compared to the other party members.

'If I use that person, this might just work out well?'

"Hey, Jin Yu-ha."

Shin Se-hee called out to Jin Yu-ha first.

"Uh, Shin Se-hee. What brings you here? I heard you were busy today."

"Ah, my friend asked for help."

"⋯⋯Friend?"

At that, Jin Yu-ha followed Shin Se-hee's gaze and turned to look behind him. There was Ichika, wearing an expressionless face and making a V sign with her fingers.

"When on earth did you two⋯⋯."

"Jin Yu-ha, what did you talk about with the Instructor yesterday? I think there might be a way to solve the current situation."

Shin Se-hee cut Jin Yu-ha off and got straight to the point.

"Ah, that is⋯⋯."

And Jin Yu-ha told Shin Se-hee about what happened the day before. That she was also affected by the ring. And that it had earned him her displeasure.

But as she listened, Shin Se-hee wore a peculiar smile at the corners of her lips.

'Hmm, I don't think that's the reason the Instructor was angry⋯⋯.'

With her sharp intuition, Shin Se-hee had accurately grasped Baek Seol-hee's current situation.

* * *

"⋯⋯No, Squad Leader, an expensive item a boy would like? How the hell are we supposed to know that?"

"Yeah! You've been working us to the bone and never give us time to shop or anything!"

"I haven't even been on a single date with a nice guy since I joined the Demonized Human Extermination Squad!"

"So you did date before joining?"

"⋯⋯Shut your trap."

The night before, Baek Seol-hee had boldly stormed off, declaring she'd show Jin Yu-ha a lesson with money. Rina would probably know the most about expensive gifts, but there was no way she could ask her. In the end, the only people she could ask were roughly her squad members from the Demonized Human Extermination Squad.

However, the squad members always had virtually no personal life due to their work dealing with Demonized Humans. They were just as clueless about men as she was.

'Tsk, none of you are any help⋯⋯.'

Bzzzzzzzt—

A vibration buzzed as she was clicking her tongue. Baek Seol-hee pulled her phone out of her pocket.

'Hm? This one is⋯⋯. Shin Se-hee?'

Although they were an instructor and a cadet, it was from someone she had no particular reason to be in contact with. Baek Seol-hee tilted her head and turned on her phone.

【Blossom ✿】 ─ Instructor, do you have a moment to talk?

【Baek Seol-hee】 ─ What is it.

【Blossom ✿】 ─ I'd like to propose a trade.

Baek Seol-hee frowned at the text from Shin Se-hee.

'A trade⋯⋯?'

If she remembered correctly, this one was pretty twisted on the inside. She'd left her alone because it wasn't directed at her disciple, but she wasn't exactly Baek Seol-hee's preferred type. That such a person would suddenly propose a trade to her was beyond suspicious.

【Baek Seol-hee】 ─ Trade?

【Blossom ✿】 ─ Yes. I think you'd hate me beating around the bush, so I'll get straight to it. What I'm offering is a way to raise Jin Yu-ha's affection.

'What⋯⋯!?'

Baek Seol-hee's pupils flinched and grew wider.

【Blossom ✿】 ─ And what I'll receive in return is info on what percentage the Instructor's abilities increased by. How does that sound?

【Baek Seol-hee】 ─ Then you also tell me how much your ability went up.

【Blossom ✿】 ─ That wouldn't be a fair trade. I'm offering a way to raise affection. You'll have to put up a bit more, won't you?

【Baek Seol-hee】 ─ I know how much Chairwoman Rina's stats have increased.

【Blossom ✿】 ─ ⋯⋯Deal.

* * *

Shin Se-hee, who had been doing something alone on her phone for a long while, suddenly let out a creepy laugh— fufufu—.

"⋯⋯Ha, seriously. Chairwoman Rina should just stick to managing the academy. Tch, did she use charm magic or something? 7%? What on earth has she done behind the scenes to get such a ridiculous figure? Is it because she's a national hero that they're throwing in the admiration factor as a bonus? Or is it—"

"⋯⋯Shin Se-hee?"

I called out to her as she suddenly started muttering to herself. At that, she whipped her head around and smoothed out her expression.

"Ah, yes? Did you call?"

"Didn't you say you had a method?"

"Ah, I made a call about that. In conclusion, it's hell training."

"⋯⋯Hell training?"

I tilted my head.

"Yes. Hell training supervised by Instructor Baek Seol-hee."

"⋯⋯!"

I was genuinely shocked. That Shin Se-hee had requested hell training from my Master. And that my Master had actually accepted it.

'My Master always absolutely refused no matter how much I begged her to also watch over the others⋯⋯?'

"Yes, Jin Yu-ha. Anyway, didn't you say that Instructor Baek Seol-hee told you to prepare yourself for the next lesson?"

"⋯⋯Uh, yeah."

"So, all of us in Utopia are going to take it together."

"Oh. A-are you sure it'll be okay? The Instructor's training is seriously no joke⋯⋯. If someone like that told us to prepare ourselves⋯⋯."

I asked back in a worried voice. But Shin Se-hee resolutely shook her head.

"There's nothing quite like her training to snap us out of this complacency, is there?"

"Ah, well, that's true."

"And every manual Jin Yu-ha uses to train us is something you learned from her anyway."

"⋯⋯True."

"That being the case, learning from the original is definitely more reliable. And⋯⋯."

Shin Se-hee suddenly lowered her voice and spoke.

"Wouldn't taking that hell training together, rather than suffering it alone, be even more beneficial for you, Jin Yu-ha?"

My eyes flew open. It was true that the day before, after hearing my Master's words about seeing me in the next lesson, I'd lost sleep from worrying about what kind of training awaited me this time.

But the entire Utopia Party is going to take it together?

'Right⋯⋯. The Instructor's training would definitely straighten out slackened ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠minds. Because you die if you don't focus. And since we're taking it together, we can be each other's support, and that training won't be concentrated solely on me!?'

The more I thought about it, the more it was truly a kill-two-birds, no, a kill-three-birds plan.

Absolutely, I didn't have even the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠slightest thought of not wanting to die alone.

Not even a little bit.

Grab!

I seized Shin Se-hee's arm and declared.

"⋯⋯Shin Se-hee! You're seriously the best!!!"

"Hehe—"

In return, Shin Se-hee gave a light, shy smile.

She glanced back at Ichika and spoke with her eyes.

'This is how you do politics, Ichika.'

Ichika nodded and raised a thumb.

"Definitely. Glad you're ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on our side. Good."