Chapter 218: Omen
Chapter 218: Omen
“I promise. I’ll never abandon you again. So please, help me. No, just trust me one more time. If I can have you with me, it’ll be a huge help to my current, uncertain plans. If you really can’t trust me, then you don’t have to. Your girlfriend came to me herself. You can just think of it as trusting her, can’t you?”
“Yu…na…?”
“That’s right. You told me yourself when we were on night watch together that first day. That she’s a woman who has always devoted herself to you since you were kids. You can’t even trust her?”
“Ugh… That’s…”
Baek Hangyul’s words faltered, as if he were letting out a faint groan. Thinking he had almost won him over, a subtle smile flickered across Park Hwanhee’s face. Just as Baek Hangyul’s hand, which was planted on the ground, began to move, I felt someone gently push my back. Startled, I turned my head to see Ahn Sol, her hands clasped, mouthing “Fighting!” at me.
This brat?
“Ah.”
I was pushed forward, but I managed to regain my balance within two steps. However, the sound of my footsteps echoed in the quiet surroundings, inevitably drawing their attention.
Both Park Hwanhee, who had been wearing a triumphant smile, and the wavering Baek Hangyul turned their heads toward me in surprise. I met their gazes with a calm expression.
“This is a pretty secluded spot. How did new Users find their way here?”
“Gr-greetings, Lord of the Mercenary Clan.”
“H-hiik.”
Well, look at this guy.
Park Hwanhee’s expression faltered for a moment, but he quickly composed himself and stood up. I was slightly impressed that he knew my exact clan name and title. I didn’t know the details of his plan, but I could tell he had already put some sort of scheme into motion.
After staring intently at Park Hwanhee for a moment, I slowly opened my mouth.
“You’re not wrong, but you shouldn’t address me like that given your status. Right now, I’m officially a Discipline Instructor.”
“Ah, my apologies. It’s just that I’ve heard so much about you from the other instructors. Haha. I’ve been wanting to meet you.”
Compared to the affable Park Hwanhee, Baek Hangyul just gulped and stared at me. I hadn’t noticed from behind, but seeing his face from the front, I saw he had a kind and gentle face. But since I had already checked his Player Status, there was no chance of mistaking his gender. For the record, he was still sitting on the ground.
With a personality like this, he would’ve had a hard time shaking off the Rite of Passage’s boss monster… Tsk. Is he the type to be like this normally, but then do a complete 180 when he gets fixated on something?
Looking at Baek Hangyul, I was suddenly reminded of Ahn Sol on the first day of the Rite of Passage. I clicked my tongue inwardly, then activated a bit of my magic power as I spoke.
“I’m scheduled to participate in the upcoming Mental Training sessions anyway, so you’ll be seeing me a few times whether you like it or not. By the way, even the instructors don’t come here often. May I ask why you two were here?”
“Th-that’s…”
“Ah, could it be that? It’s fine, you can tell me.”
“Hey, no way. I have a perfectly normal view of romance. Hahaha!”
I deliberately gave him an out, and Park Hwanhee was quick to take it. I let out a small smirk before continuing in a voice that might have sounded a bit stern.
“Good to hear. In any case, it’s fine to walk around the dorms, but it doesn’t look good for new Users to be in such a remote place.”
“Yes, I’m sorry. We’ll head back right now. Come on, Hangyul. Let’s go.”
“I, I…”
Park Hwanhee replied immediately and looked down at Baek Hangyul. But Baek Hangyul just mumbled, his face a mask of indecision. Park Hwanhee glanced between me and him for a moment, then bowed deeply and started walking away. He must have had some lingering feelings since the deal was about to be sealed, but he was acting quite decisively.
As Park Hwanhee disappeared into the distance, I heard Baek Hangyul let out a sigh of relief. It seemed he would have rather died than take that hand, but the mention of his girlfriend had made him waver, and he had almost been swept up by the atmosphere. I could guess as much from the fact that he hadn't taken Park Hwanhee's outstretched hand in the end.
The nuisance was gone. Only then could I examine Baek Hangyul more closely.
Awakened Secret Class, Aegis. An Awakened Secret Class wasn’t fundamentally different from other Secret Classes. There was, however, one key difference: the method of acquisition.
Normally, one could obtain a Secret Class by acquiring an item containing its settings, like equipment, a book, or a jewel. In that respect, it was no different from a Rare Class. But Awakened Secret or Awakened Rare Classes didn’t require an item. I knew that as long as certain conditions were met, a class could evolve even without an item containing its settings.
That was the extent of my knowledge on Awakened Secret Classes. I didn’t know any more details. That was because, in the first playthrough, an Awakened Secret Class had appeared only twice. And even those Awakened Users had only mentioned the difference in acquisition method; they never revealed the detailed process.
After roughly organizing my thoughts on Awakened Classes, I sighed and looked down at the User before me.
I have to recruit Baek Hangyul, no matter what.
Possessing a rare support-type class, rather than a common combat-type, his value was immense. In other words, recruiting him was essential.
Of course, there were some unsettling aspects. The biggest among them was the fact that Aegis had appeared now. It was a class that had existed in the first playthrough, but as I recalled, it hadn’t appeared until at least a few years later. And at that time, the User who had inherited Aegis was definitely a woman.
Sigh. I don’t know.
Countless thoughts on what could have happened swirled in my head, but I decided to put them aside for now. It wasn’t the first or second time the future had been twisted, and I had something more important right in front of me.
I had personally experienced, to my very bones, just how powerful the Aegis was in group combat. Whether it was the first playthrough or not, now that I had found him, recruiting him was the only logical choice.
I suddenly noticed him looking up at me, blinking. I immediately relaxed the stern expression I had worn while dealing with Park Hwanhee and adopted a much gentler one. Then I asked in a kindly voice as I helped Baek Hangyul to his feet.
“Why are you still sitting on the ground? Are you hurt somewhere? Are you not feeling well?”
“Wh-what? Ah, no! S-s-s-sorry!”
He flinched in surprise as I pulled him up. I patted his shoulder a few times as if to say it was okay. Baek Hangyul just watched my expression and gave an awkward smile, then finally spoke in a cautious voice.
“Um, are you really the Lord of the Mercenary Clan?”
“Yes. But how did you know?”
“Y-yes! I heard a lot from the instructors. They said that even though you’re a Year 0 User just like us, you’ve achieved so much… And I heard you have a Secret Class…”
Baek Hangyul put particular emphasis on the words “Secret Class.” Guessing what he was thinking, I let a faint smile play on my lips before letting out a small laugh. I nodded lightly in response.
“Haha. It’s nothing that special, but it’s a little embarrassing to hear you say it like that. Well, if you all work hard, you can definitely do as much as I have.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Though I’m sure you’re all very confused right now. I heard all the new recruits this time are working hard. Anyway, that aside, I only just got here so I don’t know the full story… but you weren’t being bullied, were you?”
“What? Ah, no! Absolutely not. We were just having a little argument…”
“Well, if you say so. I understand. I’ll be participating in the Mental Training sessions often, so we’ll see plenty of each other. If it’s difficult to talk now, I hope you’ll tell me later. I’m a Discipline Instructor, and I also handle Training and Lifestyle duties. You can signal me during a session or come to my quarters. My room is on the first floor.”
“Ah, y-yes! Thank you.”
Baek Hangyul nodded repeatedly as if it were a great honor. As he did, I could see a strange sense of kinship in the way he looked at me. I thought this wasn’t a bad development. Rather than rushing things, it seemed better to approach him slowly, leaving some room by implying we had similarities (though honestly, we weren’t similar at all).
I acted like a friendly older brother and encouraged Baek Hangyul. Thankfully, it seemed to work to some extent, as he shed some of his initial awkwardness and even showed a genuine smile once or twice.
“It looks like it’ll be dinnertime soon. Head back early, and work hard since training starts again tomorrow.”
“Y-yes! Thank you. Then I’ll be on my way…!”
I offered to walk him to the dorms, but he vehemently waved his hands in refusal, so I had no choice but to let him go alone. I watched him walk, almost jogging, to the left, and the moment his body disappeared down the narrow path, I let out a long sigh.
I felt like some of the questions that had been shrouding the User Academy had finally been answered.
*
“You worked hard, Orabeoni.”
“What do you mean? You worked harder than I did.”
“Heehee. Did I do a good job?”
“Yes, yes. Our lucky charm is the best.”
Thanks to Ahn Sol pushing me at the perfect moment, I was able to thwart Park Hwanhee’s scheme. Moreover, I was able to unravel some of the frustrating issues that had seen no progress until now.
Park Hwanhee’s plan. The new Users’ complicity. Some kind of deal. And Baek Hangyul, the Aegis. I had gathered a lot of information today, so I needed time to organize it calmly. There were also a few things I needed to add to my future plans. With a sudden increase in things to do, a cheerful hum escaped my lips.
“Hehe. Seeing you in a good mood makes me happy too, Orabeoni.”
Ahn Sol kept saying sweet things, acting cute with me. Her sharp demeanor from before had vanished without a trace, and she was back to the original, dazed Ahn Sol. I gently stroked her hair as we exited the narrow path. Ahn Sol wrapped an arm around my waist, making it awkward to walk, but for today, I decided to let it slide.
By the time we got out, the sun was beginning to set. The rest area, which had been packed with new Users, was now considerably empty. It seemed everyone had gone to prepare for dinner.
It was about time to send Ko Yeonju and Ahn Sol back. Ko Yeonju had probably finished her business by now and would be waiting at the Easter Egg. Thinking she must have been waiting for a while, I was about to hurry in that direction.
Tap! Tatatap!
“Hic.”
Suddenly, I sensed someone bursting out of the narrow path to the side, letting out a sob. Startled, I turned my head and saw a familiar User. It was none other than Kim Hanbyul, who hadn’t been seen since this morning. It seemed she had emerged from the path on the right not long after I had come out of the one on the left.
In that moment, I remembered the path straight ahead that I had chosen not to take earlier. What if I had chosen that path back then…?
She, too, seemed to have noticed me as she ran out, for she stopped in her tracks and turned her head. The moment I saw her face, I frowned slightly.
She was covering her mouth with one hand. Her usually cold and haughty eyes were filled with sorrow, and her cheeks were stained with tear tracks. That wasn’t all. Though she was covering her mouth, she couldn’t completely hide the reddish handprint peeking out from above her fingers.
“Ah…!”
“Ah…?”
Kim Hanbyul and Ahn Sol seemed to recognize each other, letting out simultaneous sounds of surprise. Hanbyul’s gaze shifted from Ahn Sol back to me. She bit her lip hard, then turned and started running forward.
“O-Orabeoni. Just now… was that Big Sis Hanbyul?”
I didn’t answer. I just stroked Ahn Sol’s hair a few times, blankly watching her forlorn figure as she ran away.