Ryu Family Trip # 3
Ryu Family Trip # 3
"I’ll admit, I’m the type teachers tend to favor. But ma’am, were you, by any chance, Instructor Lee So-ra’s subordinate?"
Instructor Lee So-ra looks like she's in her twenties, but she's definitely older than that.
Superhuman society.
Aging hits the Awakened much more slowly than ordinary people. Just look at the Sovereign Commander. In the media, his face looks like he's barely in his mid-thirties.
Even that first-generation war hero, the guy who led the charge in the Superhuman Coup, looks absurdly young for his age. He's practically the king of Korea, so you know the stress has to be crushing, and yet he doesn't look old at all.
I still haven't heard of any Awakened person reaching actual old age. That's how slowly they age. And of course, the Chairwoman also looks young.
Anyway.
I'm intensely curious about the instructor's real age.
Mr. Ham acts all stiff around her, and Ryuna does too. Everyone is super deferential to her. Especially Ham Woong-cheol—that bastard just has an old face, plain and simple.
"Well, yeah. We were both in the Special Operations Division. She joined before me and was in an earlier cohort."
"Thought so... Wait, by cohort? Is that place seriously run on a cohort system? Watching Instructor Lee So-ra, she seemed more like she just wields absolute unchecked power."
"Ah, it feels that way, doesn't it? You're right. It's not purely a cohort system. Honestly, you could say strength and ability take priority there."
Yeah, that tracks.
The instructor's a retired agent, and nobody can stop her when she throws her weight around. That's how the nation's most critical agency operates. You could say Korean superhuman society as a whole runs on the same principle.
"But common sense and courtesy always exist. Violate them, and you'll regret it."
"The way Agent Ham Woong-cheol did."
"Yeah, exactly... heh."
"Hm?"
Ryuna broke off mid-answer and turned her head to the side. I looked, wondering if something was there, but saw nothing.
"So, ma'am, did you work with the instructor back in your Special Operations Division days?"
"That's classified. I can't disclose that."
"Ah, my mistake."
"No, it's fine."
She smiled like it was no big deal.
"So, Geun-cheol, are you that curious about Instructor Lee?"
"Come on, isn't she incredible? She's practically an idol—it's only natural to be curious."
Turns out she even has an internet fan café, and I joined it. I even posted an intro, wrote ten posts, left ten comments, and leveled up my account.
"Hehehe, I see. Well, it was the same back in the Special Operations Division. Instructor Lee was incredibly popular, among superhumans and civilians alike. Everyone adored her."
You have to be seriously cool for that.
Popularity like that is inevitable.
The way she was beating the crap out of Woong-cheol was so damn cool—honestly, it felt like watching a genuinely hardcore idol in action.
"She retired because of an ugly incident... but the Special Operations Division agents still miss Instructor Lee to this day."
That level of devotion.
But an ugly incident, huh.
"About that ugly incident."
There's some chatter about it on the internet.
Obviously, since nothing's been officially announced, it's all speculation. Whatever happened, Agent Lee So-ra retiring was a huge deal.
"There's a lot of talk online."
"Nothing concrete, though."
"Of course. It'd be classified. I'm curious, but I'm not tactless enough to ask. That's probably top-secret."
"Oh my, didn't you just ask?"
Ryuna snorted like it was hilarious.
"Hehe, no way."
"Basically, almost every agent already knows. It's not something they're actively hiding—it's just not something worth bringing up."
You've got my full attention now, lady.
Please tell me.
"That's the face of someone dying of curiosity."
"I am dying of curiosity right now!"
"Well, you're Cheon-hwi's friend. I suppose it's alright to tell you."
She's actually going to tell me!
"Geun-cheol. Do you think the world is safe?"
Ryuna's demeanor shifted slightly.
I can't pinpoint exactly what the vibe was, but it felt like that specific aura agents from an intelligence agency carry.
"Well... it is dangerous. But considering nothing world-ending has happened yet, it seems livable."
"Yeah. Thank you for thinking that. Honestly, whether it's Special Operations Division or a foreign intelligence bureau, everyone's basically working toward that same goal."
The fact that she's saying this probably means the world has even bigger threats.
"The Gate Incident is nothing. There are far more dangerous things. An A-rank monsterkin crossing over with a capable leader and weapons... A monster of equivalent rank trying to tear apart a dimension. That kind of stuff happens a lot."
"What... wait, aren't the heroes supposed to handle that?"
"Heroes handle the stuff that's visible on the surface."
"Ah."
Meaning the more dangerous, covert stuff is handled by Special Operations Division.
Yeah, that makes sense. Wait. Does that mean they know something about the doomed future I'm aware of?
"There are plenty of secret and far more dangerous things. Instructor Lee was badly traumatized while handling that kind of work. That’s why she retired."
"Wait, traumatized?"
Someone as tough as the instructor—not some ditch-digging corporal—is suffering from trauma?
That's hard to swallow.
"She seems like the kind of person a blade wouldn't even scratch..."
"Hehe. Right? But no matter how strong you are, your mind can't always be invincible."
"That's true."
That's how I ended up chatting with Ryuna about this and that. But as I listened, it was all Special Operations Division stories.
"So, Geun-cheol, how about it? Apply for Special Operations Division after graduation?"
"From what I can tell, that job seems way too brutal. I think it'd be tough."
"Hehe, is that so? If you ever change your mind, let me know."
I really doubt I'll change my mind... So that's why she only talked about Special Operations Division. She was subtly trying to recruit me.
"Oh, and Geun-cheol? Those villains you and the others captured alive? Special Operations Division is interrogating them all. A national-level bounty should be coming your way soon."
"I knew it! I figured!"
A bounty is sweet as hell.
"But, uh, is it going well? They were activating some Self-Destruct Art while going on about a Prophet or whatever."
"Special Operations Division manages all of that. Hmm, since you're involved, I'll tell you this much. That prisoner was a superhuman from the Villain Alliance. But from what we're hearing, a being called the Prophet seems to have become their leader."
"The Prophet?"
She can't go into details, apparently.
"Be careful. You disrupted their plans, so Geun-cheol, you might have become a target."
"A target...! Wait, but didn't every single person on-site die or get captured? How could I become a target..."
"Yeah. That's true. Still, I'm just telling you to be careful."
I suppose I should be.
"Besides, academy cadets are all targets to begin with. If villains are hatching evil schemes, it wouldn't be strange for them to commit terror attacks against cadets, right?"
"Understood. I'll stay on guard."
So I need to factor in the possibility of a villain assault.
Ryuna told me more about that world afterward.
Like how they use drug-soaked humans as disposable killers, then discard them. Or how they traffic children from third-world countries to use as child soldiers or assassins.
If someone stumbles after you on the street, be careful.
"That's why we fought a Drug War once. Back then, there really were an enormous number of addicts."
"That's terrifying."
In the past, villains and monsterkin aggressively spread drugs throughout every country to spike crime rates and acquire killers they could easily use up and throw away.
Of course, that's been crushed for now.
But they'll resurface eventually. Villains and monsterkin alike keep endlessly working to manufacture and distribute outlandish new drugs.
* * *
"Ugh... Father. I'm just getting in the water and moving around. Why do you insist there's some deep meaning to it?"
Ryu was visibly reluctant to get in the water.
Seeing him like that makes an urge to force him in boil up inside me.
"Hey, you brat. A student is supposed to get in the water and play during vacation—that's how you get healthy. A guy who spends all vacation stuck at home... Don't gripe now that you're here, just enjoy it. Cheon-hwi, you need to learn to enjoy things like fun. You hear me? Get in."
"Haah, fine."
"Did you just sigh in front of your father?"
"Yes, sir."
Sighing, Ryu trudged away with a sour face.
"Geun-cheol, let's go."
"Good. Let's deliver this."
Meanwhile, A-yeong and I had already prepared a present for him.
Specifically, a yellow duck tube.
Ryu is gonna completely freak when he sees this thing.
"Hehehe, one hundred percent freak-out. One hundred percent."
"Of course he will. But he can't refuse. If he throws it away, I'll tell Dad."
"That is diabolical...!"
She's his sister, but they're total opposites! Not only forcing him to hold this embarrassing tube—if he refuses, she'll tattle to their dad!
"If my little sister gave it to him asking to play together, and he threw it away, that would mean huge trouble. And this weird guy here knows, so there won't be a problem."
"That's seriously calculated. Are all little sisters like this?"
"If you live with that brother of mine long enough, you'll realize you have no choice but to become like this."
"I already know. Let's go. Hey! Ryu!"
Ryu was already swimming.
—Splash splash!
The bastard even put on swim goggles and was swimming properly. Classic behavior from guys like him. Bitches like crazy but gets really into it once he starts. He's seriously looking like he's having the time of his life.
"Ryu!"
—Kerplunk!
I grabbed the tube and immediately launched myself at him.
"Whoosh!"
That signature cold mountain valley water slammed my whole body. But it was just a pleasant shock. Leaning on the duck tube, I powerfully paddled over to Ryu.
"Ryu! Ryuuuu!"
"Ptuh... Wh-what do you want? What's with you? Why are your eyes spinning like you're cross-eyed...!"
Pausing his stroke, Ryu took off his goggles and stared at me, still wearing a supremely disdainful face.
"Ryu! Take this! A-yeong gave it to me, said you'd need it!"
"That's... a duck tube! You insane bastard! Do I look like I'd use this piece of crap?!"
"No, she said it's for you, didn't I?"
"I don't need it! This garbage!"
—Yoink!
Ryu snatched the duck tube from me and immediately hurled it away!
"Ack! Hey! You threw it?! Your sister brought it thinking of you!"
"If she'd really been thinking of me, she would've at least gotten a normal tube! Would she bring this stupid elementary-school duck tube?!"
He is absolutely throwing a fit!
"I don't care!"
So I just scooped up a palmful of water and blasted him in the face.
—Pow!
"Gaaahk!"
A superhuman sneak attack backed by superhuman strength. Ryu took a truckload of water straight to the face and went reeling backward from the pressure.
"Whoa! Hey! Look! Your attacks landed, dumbass! That's what a one-rank difference will do to you!"
"Hrrrk...! You goddamn son of a bitch! I'll kill you!"
And Ryu, getting a grip, started blasting water back at me like a cannon, just absolutely hammering me!
—Swoooosh!
—Swoooosh!
—Swoooosh!
For a second, my mind went blank.
"Wait, what—what the—glub!"
Is this bastard seriously splashing with his hands? It's so damn overwhelming...! It feels like a continuous tsunami going off right in my face!
"Hah! You goddamn Taliban bastard! You can't do a thing! This is the difference in skill between you and me!"
This bastard's having the time of his life!
"Like riding in a car you're not used to, you might as well get your fill of water! A scrub like you, filling your belly with water, is the natural order of things!"
"Hrk...! You bastard!"
I instantly pulled up my mana, kicked off, and executed an evasive maneuver to the left!
—Boom!
I surged up like the goddamn Little Mermaid emerging from the deep. The moment I evaded, I slapped the water's surface with my palm and counterattacked Ryu.
—Swoooosh!
A water cannon shot out instantly.
It looked like simple horseplay, but I was going all-out. The effort that went into that water cannon was immense. I fired it by moving my strength and mana with maximum efficiency!
But.
"A-hahahaha!"
Ryu burst into raucous laughter.
—Bwooooom!
The bastard launched himself off the riverbed and straight into the air like he was ascending to heaven...!
"Insane! You crazy bastard! How'd you get that kind of lift from underwater...!"
"Truly awe-inspiring, isn't it? The difference between a worthless scrub like you and a true master like me. You sure did yap a lot. Now it's over!"
"This bastard's completely amped up! Save me!"
Ryu, this bastard, is fully hyped up right now...!
Fighting a hyped-up guy in the water never ends well!
—Splash!
I immediately kicked off the water and fled.
—Whoooosh!
But Ryu's kick flew faster.
—BwooooooOOOOOOM!
He slammed a kick right behind me like a meteor, and at the same time, the spray erupted like a bomb had gone off, creating a damn tidal wave effect.
"Aaaaaaaargh!"
Because of that.
I couldn't withstand the impact and went flying.
—Splash!
Holy shitfuck, getting blown away by a water fight. That's a first in my life. More to the point. This bastard Ryu... it's just a water fight, and he's insane. His mana control ability is on a completely different dimension from mine.
What kind of move would it take to beat this guy?
"You bastard! That was a foul, man!"
"Heh... hehehe! Ahh, we don't even need to spar? Since even in this child's play, you're below me."
—Plunk.
In the end, I splashed back onto the water's surface.
"Argh! Look at this bastard mocking me!"
For real, though, I swallowed a ton of water.
I won't be able to eat until I drain all of it out.
"Cough! Cough!"
Somehow, I think I swallowed more water here than I ever did at the beach. Genuinely astonishing. Anyway, I was coughing and spitting up water when.
—Bubble bubble.
The duck tube drifted right past me.
This'll do it!
"A-yeong! Ryu threw the tube and flung me away too!!!"
I immediately called out to Ryu A-yeong, who was watching from the pebble shore way over there. A-yeong shot to her feet the second she heard me.
—Thwack!
She flashed me a thumbs-up, then sprinted toward where her dad was.