No One Was Hurt
At this rate, I was genuinely about to get branded a murderer.
I had to deny the act of murder one more time.
"It's called mana overload. Didn't you learn that in middle school theory class?"
Come on, at least say something that makes sense. Cha Hyun-woo, knocked out cold by a single kick from me?
Even an S-Class hero couldn't pull that off. The sheer absurdity of it didn't even leave room for a laugh.
"He's not actually dead, is he?"
"He's not getting up even after a few slaps to the face. Someone grab a water bottle and dump cold water on him."
"Yeah, I think he's really gone."
They could run their mouths all day — nobody was listening.
"Ugh…"
Once the commotion settled, I crooked a finger at Na Eun-sol.
A small tremor ran through her body at the gesture.
"M-me? W-why?"
Why was she so worked up?
I spoke with the intent of snapping her out of it.
"Stop fretting and come here."
She fidgeted for a moment, then slowly started walking.
Thud. Thud.
Fine. All of it was fine.
Except for one thing that grated on me: her attitude.
She was walking over with her arms deliberately crossed, putting on airs.
Still sulking over last time, huh.
But then a few tiny tremors flickered through her forearms, and suddenly the arrogance looked more cute than anything.
I hid a smile and said,
"Uncross your arms."
"…"
"I won't say it twice."
"I was cold."
"I didn't ask. Uncross them."
"I was going to anyway."
"Don't talk back."
"…Yes."
Na Eun-sol arrived in front of me with both hands folded neatly together.
I let out a satisfied smile at the sight.
"I'm taking this one to the infirmary. While I'm gone, you're in charge. Keep the kids under control."
"Me?"
"I said I won't say it twice."
"…Always picking on me…"
Na Eun-sol muttered something under her breath, but I paid it no mind.
I hoisted Cha Hyun-woo onto my back with some effort and pushed through the crowd.
"Instructor, I'll carry him!"
A few students offered to take him instead. I turned them all down.
I need treatment too.
When I'd blocked Cha Hyun-woo's sword with the wooden blade earlier, I'd twisted my wrist. I hadn't shown it, but honestly, it hurt like hell.
So under the pretense of delivering him to the infirmary, I fully intended to get myself patched up as well.
"Instructor."
Shin Na-yul had somehow drawn close, looking up at me with worried eyes.
She spoke in a small voice.
"A-are you okay?"
Honestly, I wanted to scream right then and there.
But showing any sign of pain would render everything I'd built up so far completely pointless, so I clenched my teeth.
Wrist or no wrist — image came first.
I gave a slight nod.
"I'm fine."
"But that wrist looks like it really hurts…"
How did she even notice that?
Well, Shin Na-yul did have sharp eyes. It wasn't impossible.
"Don't worry about it. It's just a sprain."
"No! Let me at least put some spit on it—"
"That's enough."
Spit? What spit.
Was she trying to get someone locked up?
The gymnasium, still packed with cadets.
The moment Cheon Hae-beom left, the students erupted into chatter like bamboo shoots after rain.
"Is Cha Hyun-woo out of his mind? There's a line, you know."
"Right? The instructor wasn't even wearing protective gear."
"So what's going to happen to Cha Hyun-woo?"
At that question, no one was quick to speak.
Lee Ha-na murmured quietly,
"Disciplinary action is a lock. Could even go as far as suspension."
This wasn't something that could just be brushed aside.
A cadet had gone beyond talking back to an instructor — he'd attacked with killing intent.
And not during the duel, but after it had already ended, when the instructor was completely unguarded.
"Yeah… that's rough."
"What are you talking about? He brought it on himself."
"Ugh, I saw it coming the second he started mouthing off. Tsk tsk."
They fretted over Cha Hyun-woo's future — and in doing so, forgot one crucial thing.
"But did you see Instructor Cheon Hae-beom? Wasn't that insane?"
"I know, right?! I thought the rumors were exaggerated, but not even close."
"That's real style. He said cadet safety comes first and didn't throw a single attack — just dodged everything."
"Well, he did land that one kick at the end."
Boys and girls alike buzzed with talk of Cheon Hae-beom.
The skill he'd displayed had been that astonishing a spectacle.
Ugh, such drama queens.
Na Eun-sol shook her head at the chattering cadets.
While she was lost in idle thoughts, Lee Ha-na grabbed her by the wrist.
"Eun-sol, wanna go check on Cha Hyun-woo?"
"What? Go see that rude bastard?"
"Aww, come on. That's part of his charm. Let's go together, okay?"
"No. Go by yourself. Just looking at his face makes my blood boil."
After a stretch of coaxing that went nowhere, Lee Ha-na finally gave up.
"Tch. Fine. But where's Instructor Cheon Hae-beom?"
"How should I know. Probably took Cha Hyun-woo to the infirmary…"
Na Eun-sol trailed off, then continued in an awkwardly forced voice.
"Ahem. Ha-na, do you actually know where the infirmary is?"
"Huh? Of course I do."
"No, you don't. You look like you don't. I'll go with you."
"…Huh? Uh, okay. Thanks."
Lee Ha-na agreed to the company with a vaguely sheepish look.
The two of them were exchanging words and heading out of the gymnasium when Shin Na-yul suddenly stepped into their path.
"Um… can I come too?"
A question mark practically popped over Na Eun-sol's head.
Who is this?
They'd been classmates for an entire semester, yet she'd never once crossed paths with her.
Was she even in the same class?
Na Eun-sol shot Shin Na-yul a questioning look.
Shin Na-yul misread the meaning and stammered,
"W-well, as the referee, I have some responsibility for the injury, so…"
Was she actually feeling guilty about Cha Hyun-woo getting hurt?
Sure, a referee bore some responsibility, but the real cause of what just happened was Cha Hyun-woo's sudden outburst.
And yet she was still taking the blame on herself. What an exhausting way to live, Na Eun-sol thought.
"Whatever. Do what you want."
"Huh? Na-eun? Nice, nice! Na-eun's coming too!"
In contrast to Na Eun-sol's frosty reply, Lee Ha-na lit up with excitement.
"You know, I've never heard you talk before! Your voice is so pretty!"
"Huh?"
"I'm seriously having an eargasm right now~ From now on, talk more often, Na-eun. That voice is a total waste of talent!"
"U-umm…"
It was Na-yul, not Na-eun.
Shin Na-yul felt a twinge of disappointment, but she swallowed it down.
Making a fuss over something so small would just make her look petty, and it would put Lee Ha-na on the spot.
"Wow, your cheeks look so soft. Can I just poke them once? I feel like my finger would sink right in."
"Ugh, shut up. Can we just walk quietly? You're giving me a headache."
"Na-eun, cut her some slack. Eun-sol's just like that."
"R-really?"
"What?"
"N-no, I mean… sorry. For the mix-up."
As a friendless loner, Shin Na-yul found the whole situation painfully awkward.
She was grateful that Lee Ha-na was being so friendly, of course — but awkward was still awkward.
And so the three of them left, chatting as they went.
After walking for some time, they arrived right outside the infirmary and pushed the door open without hesitation.
Cha Hyun-woo was lying on the bed. Beside him sat Cheon Hae-beom.
Cheon Hae-beom, currently yawning as if he had all the time in the world.
Na Eun-sol pretended not to care as she stole glances at him.
How did he do that?
Those lightning-fast movements he'd shown in the duel just now — what even were they?
A skill drawn from attribute mana?
Or the fruit of endless, grinding training?
As expected…
He was someone far beyond the likes of her to even begin to measure.
Na Eun-sol gazed at him with eyes full of admiration.
Ah, when do I bring it up…
It was Cheon Hae-beom who had advised her to take up the sword.
No one else had ever recognized her talent.
She wanted to ask him to evaluate her swordsmanship — but she kept hesitating.
"I-Instructor."
Cheon Hae-beom's gaze shifted toward Na Eun-sol.
She flinched and turned her head away.
"What is it?"
"I-I wanted to ask for your help—"
"Why are you all here?"
Cheon Hae-beom hadn't heard a word of what she'd said.
Na Eun-sol went silent as a stone.
…It's always like this.
At this point, was he doing it on purpose?
"What business do you have here?"
Cheon Hae-beom asked them calmly.
Na Eun-sol's lips moved soundlessly. Shin Na-yul fumbled for words and spoke up.
"I… came to find something…"
With that, she headed deeper into the infirmary.
Lee Ha-na followed up right after.
"Instructor. Is Cha Hyun-woo getting expelled?"
Given everything that had happened, it seemed all but certain.
"Expelled?"
Cheon Hae-beom scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Yes. At the very least, he'll get suspended, right?"
"There's no reason to suspend him. No one got hurt, after all."
"What?"
A dazed sound slipped from Lee Ha-na's mouth.
Na Eun-sol had half-assumed Cha Hyun-woo's punishment herself, so she couldn't help being surprised either.
"That Cha Hyun-woo. He's probably taking this hard."
Cheon Hae-beom stood and looked down at Cha Hyun-woo.
"Stay by his side until he wakes up. And when he does, give him some comfort."
With those final words, Cheon Hae-beom left.
Rattle— Click!
The moment the door shut, Lee Ha-na gushed at full volume.
"Waaah… holy crap. That was so hot! Eun-sol, did you hear what the instructor just said? Wasn't that insanely cool?"
Finally recognizing the instructor's true worth, were they?
Na Eun-sol felt proud on his behalf.
"Too bad~ If he weren't the instructor, I'd jump him in a heartbeat. Hehe."
Na Eun-sol whipped around in a full-blown fit.
"W-what?! Are you insane?! J-jump him?!"
"Huh?"
"You! Do you want to get expelled?!"
"What? Why are you taking it so seriously?"
"B-because you said something weird about jumping the instructor…!"
"I said if he weren't the instructor! That's what I said."
That was the moment Cha Hyun-woo groaned and shifted on the bed.
"Haa…"
"Huh? He's up! Hey, Cha Hyun-woo! You okay?"
"I've been awake for a while."
"Huh? Then why were you pretending to be out cold?"
At that, Cha Hyun-woo's mouth clamped shut.
Na Eun-sol tossed a jab his way.
"You. You got scared of the instructor, didn't you?"
—Flinch.
Cha Hyun-woo's eyes flared as he glared at Na Eun-sol.
"Shut up. I might not touch the instructor, but I could tear someone like you apart without breaking a sweat."
"Tsk…"
The atmosphere was turning ugly when a random girl cadet suddenly cut in.
"Instructor! Here's the red ointment. Uh…?"
Shin Na-yul appeared holding a strange little bottle of medicine.
"Huh? Na-eun, what's that?"
"This? It's… red ointment… want some?"
Shin Na-yul babbled something incoherent.
She was so flustered she didn't even know what she was saying.
"N-no, wait. The instructor is the one who needs it! Do you know where he went?"
"The instructor? He just left."
"He left?"
"Yep yep. Why?"
"Ah, n-never mind. Then I'll go too!"
Leaving only those words behind, Shin Na-yul dashed out.
"What was that about."
"Hey, Cha Hyun-woo. You shouldn't talk to Na-yul like that! She's the reason you're still alive, you know."
"Stop yapping. You're giving me a headache."
"Ugh… thick-headed as ever."
"You two get out of here too. I'm going to sleep."
Cha Hyun-woo scratched his head, then settled back onto the bed.
Watching his uncharacteristically softened demeanor, Na Eun-sol narrowed her eyes.
What's with him now. What a sight.
Na Eun-sol and Cha Hyun-woo.
The two of them were alumni of the same Special Superhuman Management School.
So Na Eun-sol had a solid read on what kind of person Cha Hyun-woo was — but his behavior right now didn't match her expectations at all.
"I said get out already."
Normally he would have been yelling his head off and making a scene. Today he was oddly quiet.
"Ugh, fine, we're going. Come on, Eun-sol."
"Yeah."
Na Eun-sol shook her head to clear her thoughts and started walking.
Lee Ha-na followed after her.
—Click.
The infirmary door shut behind them.
Now Cha Hyun-woo was alone inside.
He replayed the words Cheon Hae-beom had spoken earlier.
—An instructor's highest duty is the safety of his cadets.
Other things he'd heard from the man over time surfaced as well.
Turning them over in his mind, Cha Hyun-woo felt something surge up in his chest.
"Bullshit."
But Cha Hyun-woo was never honest with his feelings, so he muttered a string of rough curses instead.