Combined Class #6
Combined Class #6
I had no choice but to declare defeat.
"I surrender! If you're going full Leona-Woong-cheol on me, I have no choice!"
"Yay!"
At my surrender, Leona jumped up and down in glee. Hiding it from someone who wanted to know that badly...
That's just inhumane.
"Seriously! It's so much better when you're this cool about it! I've been dying of curiosity, you know!"
"Alright, alright. Calm down. I'll show you."
"Hm? Show me?"
But Leona tilted her head, and then—
"Hahhk...!"
—she suddenly sucked in a breath.
"What now?"
"I-I need to prepare myself! Mentally!"
"Prepare for what! Just look! At my... shame!"
—Shrrrip!
I ripped my top off on the spot!
"Look at me! I said look at me!"
"Kyaaa!"
Leona screamed and covered her eyes with both hands. Fingers spread wide, naturally. Anyway. I wasn't wearing my underarmor right now.
It got damaged, so I sent it in for repairs. Which meant I could finally show Leona the wound.
"Leona, behold what you wanted to see...!"
The gash had almost completely healed. Sure, a big scar remained, but that's no problem.
"..."
Leona stared at my wound, face still half-covered by her hands. Then—
—slowly,
she lowered her hands and spoke with a blank expression.
"Hmm, Kim Geun-cheol? You said this was a training injury?"
"Yeah. Told you. I went a little overboard and got hurt. And look. It healed up fast. A little blood, nothing serious."
"I see."
—Slowly,
Leona reached out and gently touched the scar.
"Doesn't it hurt?"
"Tickles."
"'Tickles,' my ass! It's creepy, so knock off that cutesy tone!"
"'Kay."
"Again! You did it again! How long is a grown guy gonna keep acting cute?! You want a Fist Kiss?!"
"Alright, alright!"
Anyway, Leona seemed satisfied.
"Well, let's leave it at that, then. Seeing it fully healed is a relief."
"Right?"
"By the way, Kim Geun-cheol?"
I turned to grab my clothes, and Leona called from behind.
"Yeah."
"I always say this, but let me know if you ever need help. What are friends for? I can take your side in most things."
"Man, that's embarrassing to hear. Heh-heh-heh, I got it. If anything comes up, I'll definitely ask."
"Do that. Anyway, break's almost over. Let's head back."
"Yeah."
We didn't get the discussion I'd planned, but Leona's curiosity was resolved, so that's a win.
We went back and focused on training again.
* * *
"Go on in, Kim Geun-cheol! Lee Si-hoo, take care!"
"Hey! Don't get all pouty just 'cause we're not sparring today!"
"Fine!"
After class.
I said goodbye to the others and headed toward the dorms with Si-hoo.
Leona was grinning ear to ear—totally satisfied now that her curiosity was put to rest. Honestly, the wound was mostly healed anyway. Nothing suspect about it at this point.
She might've just been extra smiley out of embarrassment, too.
"Whew, rough day. Si-hoo, how was it for you?"
"Simple. To be honest, it's well beneath my level."
Lee Si-hoo said that with total arrogance...!
"You arrogant bastard!"
"It's not like that. I meant purely combat-wise. Aside from that, the experience of coordinating with other types of Awakened is worthwhile."
He had a point.
This VR training was dead simple compared to my personal skill level. In a real fight, I'm confident I'd do just as well.
But the key was learning to synch up with a team.
"Yeah. Being strong alone won't get you anywhere. Just building up your own power isn't the answer. Even the Sovereign Commander, strong as he is, didn't go it alone—he built his own faction."
Si-hoo nodded at that.
"In the end, the most important thing... yeah. I think it's the concept of 'together.'"
"Whoa. Lee Si-hoo, saying good stuff for once."
"Geun-cheol. You make it sound like I never say anything good."
Si-hoo's eyes narrowed.
"When did I say otherwise? Anyway, school really does help. That 'together' mindset—that's the most important value."
You can't hog everything for yourself.
In the end, everyone has to combine their strength. That's just how life works, isn't it?
"It's not exactly something I realized because of class. If anything, Geun-cheol, you—"
"Me?"
What was he gonna say?
"Ah, n-never mind! More importantly! How's Park Ha-yul doing?"
Park Ha-yul?
"No, Si-hoo. Please. I'm begging you."
"Hmm?"
"Can't you at least ask about Ma O-hun too?"
"I don't need the black wings guy!"
Why does everyone ignore Ma O-hun.
"Forget it! Ah, Geun-cheol. I'm gonna rest a bit, then go train some more. You?"
"I'm taking the night off. Gotta manage my condition."
"Do that. Meals... well, nothing we can do about that. Let's eat separately."
"Got it."
I parted ways with Si-hoo and went into my room.
* * *
"Ahh."
After a refreshing shower, sitting in front of my computer, I felt all my fatigue melt away. And before me sat a cola—in a glass I'd chilled in the freezer, no less.
—Click.
I hopped online and started searching up monster info, weapons, that kind of thing to enjoy my free time. This is what real rest looks like.
But then.
"Geun. Cheol. Op. Pa."
"Hahhk!"
An ominous voice whispered right into my ear!
"Hey!"
Kitty had appeared out of nowhere behind me and hugged me while whispering!
"Who told you to pop up out of the blue!"
"Give me chocolate!"
"What?"
"Give me chocolate!"
I turned around to see Kitty with her hands behind her back, grinning brightly, hitting me with a classic line straight out of post-war Korea.
"Ah, you want chocolate. Halloween's a ways off, but... hold on."
I pulled a choco bar out of my drawer and handed it over.
—Rrrrip!
Kitty snatched it, expertly peeled off the wrapper, held it in both hands, and started munching like it was the most delicious thing on Earth. Nom-nom-nom.
—Om-nom-nom.
What is she, a plump squirrel?
"It's yummy!"
An excellent review.
"Long time no see, Geun-cheol."
She finally greeted me after finishing the whole bar.
"Kitty, didn't you miss me?"
"Your greeting's pretty late there, Kitty. Is chocolate more important to you than me?"
"That's not true. I definitely don't think of Geun-cheol as a gold piggy bank or a chocolate-bar piggy bank."
"That's exactly what you're thinking, you little brat!"
Gaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Fine. Anyway, long time no see. You've been scarce lately—another job?"
"Yep. That's right. The VP gave the order."
"Who does she think she is, ordering me around!"
Unbelievable!
This woman's got another annoying thing for me!
"It can't be helped. You're not going to ignore it, Geun-cheol."
"That's true. Anyway, what are the orders?"
"She says a Fragment's going to appear soon. A pretty big Fragment."
What.
"What?"
I tensed up.
A big Fragment?
But my quest window hasn't changed at all?
"A big Fragment, huh."
"Yeah."
This is suspicious.
"Wait, hey. Kitty. Wouldn't it be faster for the VP to go grab it herself? I mean, she's S-rank if nothing else. Instead of sending me, she could pop over in one second, snatch it up, and be done. Is there a reason she's ordering me specifically?"
When I asked, Kitty tilted her head gently and said,
"Hmm, is that how it is? But Geun-cheol, what matters isn't that. What matters is that the VP gave you the order."
"I mean, sure..."
This seems like a pretty big deal, so why give the order to me?
She could handle it herself in no time.
Unless... there's some important reason she can't retrieve the Fragment directly? If that's the case, should I use that to play psychological warfare?
"So where's it supposed to appear?"
"She'll tell you when the time comes. This is a sort of advance notice."
"Ooh. So the VP can predict things too, huh."
Even though my status window hasn't reacted yet.
"Maybe? Anyway, stay alert."
Pretty strange situation.
"All right, then, Geun-cheol. Kitty's off now."
"You're here, so at least eat before you go."
"Eat?"
"I'll make spicy stir-fried pork."
It's dinnertime for me, too.
"Spicy stir-fried pork?"
So I treated Kitty to spicy stir-fried pork. She spent the whole time hovering behind my back, watching and being a nuisance, but—
"It's yummy!"
—the verdict was an overwhelming thumbs-up.
* * *
The next day.
VR class again, same as always.
"Ma-O-Ha! Let's give it our best today!"
"What...?"
"I said let's work hard. Why, Ha-yul?"
"Um, uh... Geun-cheol... I wish you wouldn't give us a name..."
"Oh-ho! Park Ha-yul!"
She probably said that because she hates being lumped in with Ma O-hun, but honestly, this change is nothing but a joy to me.
Park Ha-yul, who couldn't even express her own opinion and used to stammer, has finally—through my leadership—learned to assert herself!
I'm so moved.
"Self-assertion! You've learned to assert yourself!"
"Th-that's not it..."
When I loudly praised her, Ha-yul got embarrassed and rubbed her own shoulder. Anyway, this is a good change.
"Don't. Using someone's name to assert yourself. It's bad. My feelings."
"Go ahead. Flying Pig. Quiet."
"That's not what I'm saying! The way you use inversion! And I told you! Stop! Calling me a pig!"
"Yeah. Schwarz Flügel."
Weirdly, he takes hits just like Mun Min does.
"Anyway, Ha-yul? Hate to break it to you, but as my squadmates, you two need tighter teamwork. If you hate the Ma-O-Ha Duo, I'll call you the O-hun Ha-yul Duo."
"I said no...! Stop making up names...!"
Ha-yul was practically trembling with distress, but I've already figured it out.
Approaching her like this is exactly how I get the timid Ha-yul to assert herself more.
As squad leader, I can do anything to turn my squad members into more combat-ready beings.
"Alright, let the fun VR training commence! Team Park-Ha-O-Hun! Let's go!"
"Noooo...!"
"Tch!"
And with that, we all put on our Headgear and ran through the usual drills.
About two hours of grueling training later, we wrapped up.
No feedback needed. Everyone executed the plan perfectly. I can clearly feel our coordination getting smoother these days.
"Heh-heh-heh, good work, everyone. It's break time, so go rest up."
I said that and immediately went to find Leona.
"But that bastard Ahn Do-min..."
He's not pulling some weird crap again, is he?
Thinking that, I pressed the bell.
—Ding.
"Who is it?"
Sure enough, Ahn Do-min answered.
"Me. Geun-cheol. Open the door."
"...Wait."
Oh, he's opening it right away today?
—Whirr.
After a moment, the door opened. But as I tried to go in, guess what. Ahn Do-min came out instead.
"What? Why?"
"Look, Warrior Class 5th rank? Kainus is busy with training right now."
"And?"
"If you have something to say, could you tell me from now on?"
"What?"
This bastard—what's his deal?
"If you have business with Kainus, tell me, her squad leader. I'll relay it."
What kind of bullshit is this?
"Hey. Why would I go through you? I can just tell her directly."
"It's a problem. You keep coming by. It disrupts the training flow. And it's bad for squad unity. If you've got nothing to say, can you turn around and leave? We're busy."
"Cut the crap and move, asshole."
Arguing with a guy like this is guaranteed to be exhausting. I shoved him aside to go in, but he quickly blocked the door.
"I told you I'd relay it personally. Why don't you get that? If you've got something to say, say it to me."
"Oh, for fuck's— hey."
Annoying as hell.
—Grip.
"Agh!"
I grabbed Ahn Do-min by the forearm, shoved him out of the way, and walked inside. As if some scrawny Mage Class guy is gonna beat me with strength.
"What's your deal? This psycho bastard's got a seriously messed-up personality. I don't wanna waste words, so just get lost. What kind of squad leader acts like this?"
"Tch... you son of a...!"
Ahn Do-min, pushed outside, glared at me before slinking off somewhere.
"Total psycho, I swear."
Instructor Kawar, please do something about these kids, I beg you.
"Ah, Kim Geun-cheol! You're here!"
"Yeah. Leona. I'm here."
When I walked in, Leona greeted me with a bright smile. At the same time, the girl named Alice, standing beside her, also said hello.
"Hi."
Oh, fuck.
That startled me.
A Western girl who looked like a painting greeted me with that trademark big-nose accent. Not some forced accent like Brian's—this was genuine native English speaker intonation.
"What's this. Why are you greeting me in English? You Brian?"
"Please don't compare me to that psycho."
"So you two already know each other. Get along, okay? She's kind of a refugee, so she gets lonely."
"Be quiet."
She really is a native speaker.
"You two finally meet. This is Alice, same squad. Anyway, Kim Geun-cheol! Let's go outside for a minute!"
"Sure."
So I went outside with Leona, and we grabbed drinks and talked.
The topic was Alice.
"She's just average. If her abilities had parameters, I'd call them a small, regular pentagon—a textbook-average ranged-type Awakened."
"From what you're saying, she can carry her weight but doesn't excel at anything."
"Exactly. You've got a good eye."
An average ability user who has no real weaknesses but does everything at a middling level—that's Alice.
She said she's from the U.S., apparently... Brian barely knows anything about that culture, so maybe later I can hear a bit about America from her.
From what I know, the U.S. has now shifted into a Superhuman Democracy, where only superhumans hold the right to vote.
"What about Ahn Do-min?"
"He leans a bit heavily toward offense, I'd say. He claims he's got high potential, but I'm not so sure."
"Really?"
Apart from that, nothing especially notable about him.
From what I've seen, he comes off as a massive psycho, though.
Like, the way he was making a fuss earlier... he's got a heavy sense of authority or something.
"Well, see you at lunch!"
"Yeah."
After a bit more discussion with Leona, we parted ways.
* * *
After class.
"Time to head home."
Today, Yu-ri said she's just going straight back because there's some event at the dojang. And Si-hoo—that icon of faith and trust—said she wanted to focus on personal training. So I chatted with Leona for a bit before leaving. But then—
"Hey, you."
Ahn Do-min appeared from over there.
"What's this bastard want? You call me?"
"I did."
Sounding irritated, Ahn Do-min smirked and walked up to me.
Is this about earlier?
"Why are you calling me?"
He's kinda psycho, so I was starting to worry I'd picked a fight with the wrong guy. I'm getting all shaky and nervous here... please. Someone. Anyone. Save me.
"Warrior Class 5th rank. You."
"Yeah. Me."
"You get called tactless a lot, don't you?"
The hell is with this guy?