Training Camp # 12
Training Camp # 12
I told my friends the whole story. I'll admit I went too far. But how exactly was I supposed to hold back in that situation? So I've got nothing to hide.
I laid it all out honestly.
"Hm."
Leona, who'd been listening with her arms crossed, nodded.
"Yes. Once you're a superhuman, you can't let an insult like that slide. You have to make an example of them."
Surprisingly, Leona sympathized.
"Uh, Leona? I'm the one who started the whole mess, so maybe I shouldn't say this, but is it really okay for the class president to agree with me?"
"But Mun Min insulted you first, didn't he? And he dragged us into it."
"Well yeah."
"Honestly, if it were me, I would've beaten him without mercy too."
Leona said it with a nod.
"It's also my duty as class president."
That's a duty?
"Anyway, hearing the story, I do think it was a little harsh. But he's a superhuman, so he ought to take it. If one superhuman insults another, how could anyone just let it slide?"
Leona is way more supportive than I expected.
Still, the idea that you can't let it slide when one superhuman insults another—Leona said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. And it did feel like common sense here.
"On the flip side, if Kim Geun-cheol ever insulted someone for some petty reason, then of course Kim Geun-cheol should get beaten too."
"Yeah. That's fair. Obviously."
An insult always demands a price.
Except that kind of thinking definitely doesn't fly in modern society. Vigilante justice is considered a serious evil. Even if you're insulted, you're supposed to suck it up no matter what. No violence allowed, ever.
So ever since I became an adult, I've basically never used violence.
When I was a minor, I could ignore those laws because the penalties weren't that severe, so I went wild. But once I became an adult, I couldn't get the law's protection anymore, so I cut out the violence.
That was all there was to it.
The ones who ganged up on people and beat them were the ones throwing around the fact that they were minors. So wasn't it my job to use the fact that I was a minor to beat them right back? Obviously, if you keep doing that as an adult, you end up with a criminal record, no questions asked.
"Leona. That's exactly what I think."
But this place isn't the modern society I used to live in.
It's a society ruled by superhumans. The political system itself is an absolute dictatorship that's light-years away from democracy. Sovereign Commander Kim Ik-su has the unconditional support of the first-generation Awakened, and he massacred civilians during the coup.
"Yeah. I understand where Kim Geun-cheol was coming from."
Take Instructor Lee So-ra. She's proof.
The teachers where I lived never sympathized with me... they just told me to endure it even if I got hit. They always said whoever got hit was in the wrong. They'd ask me what I did wrong. So I made the other guy the one who got hit, and then they blamed me all over again.
But Instructor Lee So-ra sympathized with me.
The very philosophy toward violence was fundamentally different from where I lived.
"I, too, am the child of an aristocratic family that rules over Europe. I cannot imagine myself being insulted for some trifling reason and then just walking away. It's a matter of family honor. Obviously, punishment is required."
"Thanks, Leona. For saying that."
"Heh, don't mention it. It's only natural."
She was listening to my story dead serious and talking it through with me. Is she an actual angel? I was so grateful I almost teared up.
"But Kim Geun-cheol? If Mun Min had been a civilian instead of a superhuman, I never could have seen you in a positive light."
Well, sure.
"Superhumans and civilians are different. They aren't equal at all. For a superhuman to commit assault against a civilian who isn't their equal is a truly evil act. It's no different from bullying the weak. Civilians are meant to be protected."
"Ah."
On this point, Leona's conviction was stronger than I imagined. Guess she really is a young lady from a noble family. She must've been taught this since childhood.
"You're right about that. I beat him up that badly because Mun Min's a superhuman like me. If he'd been a civilian, I would've just restrained him and stopped there."
"Admirable. I thought you had caused some kind of catastrophe. My heart practically sank."
"Heh-heh, well, I guess this still counts as a bit of a catastrophe. Anyway, I made up with him. I apologized."
"Then it's fine. It wasn't a good thing, but Kim Geun-cheol did what he had to do."
—Pat, pat.
Leona patted my shoulder as she said it.
"But, Kim Geun-cheol."
"Mm? What?"
"Do you maybe... have something building up inside? Anger, for instance."
She had a worried face.
Nah, nothing like that.
"Hey. Leona. You think I've got something like that? There's no way."
"Is that so... Well, then, get some good rest today."
"I will. Thanks for hearing me out."
Class was long over for today.
"Hey."
"Huh? Woo Yu-ri, what's up?"
"I, well, I get it."
"You get it?"
"I mean, shit. If the guy was being a dick, what else can you do? He had it coming. You did good. Superhumans can beat on each other, no problem. It's not like they're civilians. You screw up, you get your ass kicked."
She was talking in a grumbly kind of way, but there was worry for me seeping through the tone. This girl, honestly. Her eyes are sharp, but she's a sweet person underneath.
"Heh-heh, and here our Yu-ri is being sympathetic too."
I really did pick my friends well.
These wonderful bastards.
"I would've done about the same. And anyway... everyone's got anger or rage or whatever bottled up inside, right?"
—Grip.
Yu-ri grabbed my shoulder.
"Hm?"
"So I get it. The guy who started it was in the wrong, wasn't he?"
"Yu-ri, you're way too sweet, you know that?"
"Bullshit. Hey, Leona. We heard the whole story, so let's go. If we stay any longer and get caught, we'll be in trouble."
"We should. Anyway, Kim Geun-cheol? I understand everything, so let's go do some volunteer work next time."
"You got it!"
The two girls said their goodbyes and went outside.
"Phew."
That left me alone with Si-hoo.
"Si-hoo?"
But Si-hoo had his arms crossed and was deep in thought about something. When I called his name again, he opened his eyes and spoke.
"Geun-cheol."
"Y-yeah?"
"I still think beating up a friend was wrong. Even if you hit him, you could've just restrained him and stopped, right?"
"That's... well. I guess that approach existed too. But Si-hoo. Sometimes you know better and still have to do it."
Me, just restrain and stop Mun Min with my skill level?
Impossible.
If I'd pulled my punches and he got back up, I would've been the one who got beaten worse. Mun Min was a cut above me in raw ability.
"Even so. If it were me, I would've just restrained him. You went too far this time, Geun-cheol. Obviously, if someone cursed me out for no reason and then dragged my friends into it, I'd be furious too. But violence that crosses the line is still wrong."
Here it comes.
Si-hoo's gaze is way too intense...!
Yeah, fine. I admit it, to some extent. Once I had him pinned, I should've left it alone. That would be the normal common sense.
"Ugh... yeah. You're right. Si-hoo, you're right. I should've beaten him less. Honestly, pounding him all the way to the end was my bad."
"Right?"
"Yeah."
"So what should you do about it?"
Looks like he's fully intending to scold me. Well, what can I do? Si-hoo is correct.
"From now on... I should make sure I don't do that, right?"
"Exactly, Geun-cheol. This is the first time, so it can happen. But if the same thing happens again, you just restrain them and stop. Got it?"
"Fine."
"Promise me."
—Thrust.
Si-hoo held out his fist to me...!
"C'mon, what's with the cheesy pinky promise?"
"Geun-cheol. Hurry up. My fist is crying right now. Literally."
Wait, that wasn't a pinky, it was a fist?
"Okay! Okay! I promise!"
I hooked his pinky right away and promised!
"And go make up with Mun Min properly. Honestly, isn't the 'making up' just him playing along because he's scared after getting beaten up so badly by Geun-cheol?"
I've got a feeling that might be the case.
"Fine. I'll do that. I'll see him again and talk. Ah, Si-hoo. I'm gonna go wash up first then?"
"I trust you, Geun-cheol."
"Got it, man."
I got up and headed for the showers.
"Phew."
Leona, Yu-ri, Si-hoo. And Instructor Lee So-ra too. Every single one of them listened to me with genuine concern.
I'm so damn grateful it makes my back prickle with heat. If those friends told me all that, then... yeah, I should try to control myself better next time. Whatever else happens, I can't disappoint the people who understood me.
But still.
It still bothers me.
"..."
That strange sense of certainty I felt back then.
* * *
I had a dream that night.
Mun Min appeared in it.
"This asshole?"
He was collapsed at my feet. Did he collapse because I beat him up? Is the beating from today showing up as a dream now? Beating a guy in my dream too... now I kinda feel bad.
Except, even as I felt sorry, I also felt anger. In a way, that makes sense. Thinking that, I turned my head and saw the area around me was in ruins. As always, there was no context to the dream. After collapsed Mun Min, ruins. What a typical nonsense dream.
And then I woke up.
* * *
"You. What exactly happened?"
When we gathered in the morning, Ryu came up to me with an annoyed look.
"Our Mister Dragon is curious about that?"
"Drop the dragon crap! What exactly happened!"
"Nothing much."
Since he seems curious, I'd better explain. The look on Ryu's face said he was dying of curiosity.
"You remember early in the semester when you went berserk screaming 'I'll kill you!' at me?"
"Th-that was!"
"Similar deal. Except the circumstances are a little different. The guy suddenly started insulting me, so I yelled 'I'll kill you!' and beat the crap out of him. What else."
"I see."
Ryu nodded.
"Understood."
"Yeah. You get it?"
"But this time, it seems you stood and fought. You did not flee screeching like a barbarian as you did last time?"
"Heh-heh. Hey. You think I just run away every single time? When the fight is doable, I actually fight."
"Hah. Are you saying I am not a doable opponent?"
"It's about needing a different approach to the fight. I adjust my strategy based on the opponent."
Ryu, I can't beat. So I fought dirty. Mun Min, the guy was doable, so I fought him.
You gotta know the difference.
Right?
It was the same back when I used to scrap. The guys who rolled in packs and ganged up on you—you had to wait until they were alone. How are you supposed to win solo against a gang beatdown?
"Alright, good morning. Did everyone sleep well? I hope you did. Because today is the day we begin the deserted island survival experience."
The cadets buzzed at Instructor Lee So-ra's announcement.