You Bastard... Could It Be?
Juyeon stood atop the transport ship, supplies spilling out below her.
From her lofty vantage point, she gazed down at the uninhabited island now free of rain.
It’s gotten this humid already.
She hadn’t timed it for the rain, but it was within expectations.
If she thought of it as training, it was almost a good thing.
“...”
Juyeon pulled an energy bar from her pocket and stuck it in her mouth.
She chewed mechanically, eyes fixed on the situation below.
After dropping off Class 1’s cadets yesterday, she’d spent the night on the ship’s deck.
As an academy instructor, it was only natural.
And she wasn’t the only one suffering.
All the instructors handling the first-years planned to watch over the cadets without sleep or rest until the exam ended.
At least with backup, I can breathe a little easier.
The Paradise Knights patrolled with their exceptional flight skills, visible in the distance.
She could sense other instructors moving through the island’s interior as well.
“...”
The island in her view was peacefully quiet, no issues in sight.
Yet Juyeon couldn’t tear her eyes away for even a second.
It was a vague, indistinct sensation—something ominous.
What she felt was pure instinct.
Whenever she sensed this kind of flow, something always happened, big or small.
She couldn’t avoid it without knowing what it was. Halting the exam might even spark the incident itself.
So she kept her senses razor-sharp.
...I hope nothing happens.
This time, she prayed it was just needless worry.
Juyeon shoved the last piece of the energy bar into her mouth.
Red-flavored supplies.
What tasty goodies might be inside?
She couldn’t check in Abyss City, so curiosity bubbled up like a kid’s excitement.
Crunch! Rustle!
Rohan and Ichinose pushed through the underbrush, then froze at the sight before them.
“Huh?”
“This... has to be a coincidence, right? What an amazing picture.”
They hid in the bushes, observing the swarm of Iron Turtles below.
The numbers suggested a habitat.
“They’re sleeping, yeah?”
“Probably. They hide in their shells when they sleep, remember?”
Dead center among the razor-sharp shells of the Iron Turtles sat the supply crate, belching red smoke.
How it landed in that perfect spot was a miracle of coincidence.
“Hmm... Instead of fighting, maybe we just sneak in and grab it quietly?”
“Not a bad idea. They’re tough but slow.”
As Rohan and Ichinose exchanged thoughts—
Two male cadets emerged boldly from the opposite brush.
Rohan and Ichinose fell silent, watching from hiding.
—Iron Turtles? Those things suck to hit.
—...
—What’re you waiting for? Go grab it.
—M-Me!?
A clear hierarchy.
Not Class 1 cadets, from their faces.
Rohan might’ve crossed paths with them in Orion Academy, but no clear memory.
Definitely not playable characters or story NPCs.
“Hmm, new faces.”
“...One’s from Samhwa Nation.”
Ichinose sighed deeply, recognizing one.
She didn’t hide her fatigue at just spotting him.
“Friends?”
“Not really. I’ve seen him a few times tagging along with my dad at events.”
Her discomfort seemed stronger than that, but Rohan didn’t press.
He asked quietly instead.
“No real info on him, then?”
“From what I know, he’s Iron Eagle General’s grandson. Ok Myeongjin. Weapon’s a spear, as you see... Grandpa’s style uses centrifugal force for staff-like moves over thrusting.”
Concise and useful. Same bloodline meant he likely inherited the spear arts directly.
“Iron Eagle’s below Grand General, right?”
“Yes.”
“Man, our instructor’s still the best.”
“Instructor Juyeon’s reputation puts her in the top five even among Samhwa’s political elite.”
Ichinose spoke softly, her respect for Juyeon plain.
Becoming a general at her age was historic in Samhwa. Surpassing that to Grand General? A genius.
And young enough to grow even greater.
Juyeon was Samhwa’s pride.
“Anyway, no reason to share supplies with that Ok... whatever.”
“Right. Ignore them.”
Rohan confirmed her stance, then prepped his gear to move.
—Hurry up. Unless you wanna die.
—W-Wait!
—Grab it, and I’ll cut you a share.
He even shoved his partner toward the monsters with his foot.
Ichinose tensed to intervene, but Rohan calmed her and stood first.
“Hey, guys.”
“!!”
Their heads snapped toward Rohan’s voice.
Guards up—but when Ichinose appeared behind him, the spear guy’s face lit up.
“Lady Ichinose! Fancy meeting you here!”
“Oh, uh...”
“Haha! Fate brings us together over the same supplies. Destiny, right?”
“...”
Ichinose took a subtle step back.
Even Rohan felt the creep factor from beside her.
Like a bad mix of traits that shouldn’t blend. He cut in.
“Enough chit-chat. No sharing supplies, so back off. Hungry? Peel stickers off trees or something.”
“Hm?”
Ok Myeongjin’s eyes shifted to Rohan beside her.
Quick scan top to bottom.
“Who’re you?”
“Rohan.”
Casual honorifics met with the same.
Rohan... Rohan...? He muttered the name, whispering to his partner.
Then smirked.
“Teaming with Lady Ichinose... lucky bastard.”
“Look at this guy switching stances. Hilarious.”
“Shut it. No talking to you, so scram.”
Ok planted his spear, eyes locked on Ichinose.
“Lady Ichinose. Team up with me?”
“You mean all four of us together?”
“No. Not us. Just me.”
His partner shut up, staring at the ground.
Ichinose’s hidden brows furrowed.
“What? You ditching your partner?”
“Don’t make me sound like the bad guy. I’m proposing a swap for efficiency.”
“...?”
Ichinose glanced at Rohan, confused.
He shrugged: Beats me.
“Meet back here on the last day, swap partners—no one’ll notice. Thousands of cadets on this island; instructors won’t check pairs closely.”
“That’s...”
Utter shamelessness.
Ichinose was speechless; Rohan snorted.
This bastard?
Proposing that right in front of everyone? What manners?
Worse, guys like this were common. Nostalgia mixed with his annoyance.
—Grreeeek!
—Grrrr...
Iron Turtles stirred below from the voices—but the standoff was between cadets.
“Well, Lady Ichinose?”
“I refuse.”
“Ever compassionate to the unfortunate. Inspired by your kind heart once more.”
“What the—!”
As Ichinose bristled, Rohan gripped a supply dagger.
Tossed it lightly.
Ting!
Ok deflected it with his spear, glaring at Rohan.
No mana in the throw. Non-threatening, but intent clear.
“What’s that? Southern trash.”
“Didn’t know? Southern greeting.”
Partner’s intel checked out; Ok smirked viciously.
“Gonna fight for the supplies? Cocky, banking on Lady Ichinose.”
“Shoulda picked a better partner like me.”
Rohan drew his longsword smoothly.
Blocked Ichinose from stepping up, advanced a step.
“Trying to play hero alone? Can’t give up supplies, but for her sake, I won’t kill ya.”
“Yeah, yeah. Thanks.”
Rohan wondered as he moved.
Why so hyped? Beating people that fun?
—Shing! As he drew—
A memory flashed.
Something familiar... seen this vibe before?
He eyed Ok.
Not focused on Rohan—the threat—but glancing at Ichinose.
Her awkwardness, the air, the looks, the attitude—puzzle pieces clicked.
Rohan remembered.
Ah!
Too vivid for déjà vu.
He’d lived it in a past life, seen it too.
High chance.
Mouth opened on its own.
“You bastard... could it be?”
“What? Backing out scared now?”
Ok pointed his spear tip, brimming with victory.
But that wasn’t Rohan’s point.
Pity and sympathy filled his gaze on Ok.
“Confessed and got dumped, huh?”
“...”
No need to name her.
Ichinose shuddered, past surfacing.
Ok gaped, secret exposed.
Silence.
His face twisted demonically; he gripped his spear and leaped.
“I’ll kill youuuu!!!”
Anyway, one guy lost it.