A Newcomer Emitting an Unwittingly Lewd Scent
“Can I sit next to you?”
I looked at Cheok Jiyeon for a moment. Upon closer inspection, her hand was trembling slightly. ‘Is she nervous because I spoke to her?’ I had the thought for a split second, but quickly brushed it aside. A woman who casually dealt with yokai like that had no reason to be tense over something so trivial. ‘Or perhaps she wants to get close to the top student and the second place holder.’ I remembered that Cheok Jiyeon had no close friends at the company either. It seemed like she was approaching because the top student looked aloof as well. In any case, I couldn't refuse this. It wasn't because I feared the sword strapped to her waist, but because I was a good-hearted person.
“Sure, of course it's fine.”
Nodding, I answered, and Cheok Jiyeon immediately sat down beside me.
“……”
“……”
I thought she had something to say, but she didn't utter a word. ‘Did she really just want to sit next to me?’ Well, with me being lonely and alone, having such a beautiful woman beside me wasn't bad at all. Since I knew her personality, I felt even more at ease. Cheok Jiyeon wasn't a character deeply involved in the main story, so it was fine to get close. ‘With Cheok Jiyeon beside me, I would stand out less.’
“Wow, look. They're sitting together.”
“Bombs and bombs together.”
“Don’t get too close. We might get caught in the crossfire too.”
...Conversely, the more people gathered here, the more suspicious the group might look. But I decided not to worry about that for now.
“Um…”
Then, Cheok Jiyeon cautiously opened her mouth.
“Um, do you have any food you dislike?”
“Huh? Food?”
I nodded. It was as if it was the most important thing in the world. Cheok Jiyeon nodded with an extremely serious face. ‘What’s this? Is this a pre-friendship probe?’ Since there was nothing to hide, I decided to answer.
“There’s nothing I’m picky about. I eat anything.”
“Ah... Then, what do you like?”
“Kimchi jjigae and ramen?”
“Will you be moving your body urgently or doing intense exercise?”
“Huh... I do jogging every morning and go to the gym in the evening, but I wouldn’t call it intense.”
“I see.”
Cheok Jiyeon nodded with a satisfied expression. ‘Is this okay? I don’t understand why she’s asking these questions.’
We spent the time with some trivial small talk. It was good to become friends with a new colleague. ‘She asked me first. It seems Jiyeon is also somewhat sociable.’ She was just cosplaying as an aloof type. The real aloof type was the one who would bite and run away.
As the seats started to fill up, the door opened and someone entered. The students who checked who the instructor was gasped in admiration.
“Wow! It’s Han Sujin!”
“Really? I only saw her on TV!”
If someone thought of an old professor when hearing the term instructor or exorcist, they were mistaken. The proportion of young people among exorcists was much higher. Physical strength was also an important factor in resolving anomalies. Among them, the exorcists who represented ‘physical strength’ or ‘martial arts’ would all pick this person.
“Nice to meet you all. I am Han Sujin, who leads the Martial Combat Division at Cheonjihae.”
A beauty with short black hair and a healthy physique. At the same time, she boasted proportions like a model made from exercise. She was so attractive that one might think she was the embodiment of health.
“Wow, that body is real?”
“How much exercise does it take to make such a toned body?”
“Cool…”
Not only the men, but the women were also looking at her with envious eyes. To me as well, that body was definitely cool. It was at the level where it wouldn't be out of place as a magazine model. ‘So this is Han Sujin...’
The exorcist who represented ‘martial arts’ even at Cheonjihae. The methods to tackle anomalies varied greatly among exorcists. Some used swords, some used amulets, some used spirit commands. There were even cases where they pressed with spiritual power itself. Han Sujin's specialty was the body and martial skills forged through various training. To put it bluntly, she was the type who exorcised ghosts by ‘beating’ them. ‘Among users, there were people who said it was a reward and asked to be beaten themselves.’
Han Sujin smiled brightly and stood with her back straight on the stage. Even with that simple action, cheers erupted.
“There are many energetic trainees this time. I like it.”
Han Sujin said and looked around us once. As expected, since she was a professional exorcist from Cheonjihae, she had a relaxed air.
“But energy and willpower alone cannot defeat anomalies.”
At the same time as Han Sujin explained, she slowly walked towards us.
“In a state of depleted physical strength, willpower and endurance also decline. Without the armor of health and physical strength, the exorcism techniques we are proud of are nothing but paper.”
Cheok Jiyeon next to me nodded. As a representative of the martial arts faction, she probably had something to empathize with.
“A strong soul dwells in a strong body! It's a truth that's insufficient even if emphasized many times.”
But I couldn't be as happy as others. Because that person... was famous as a great Spartan even at Cheonjihae.
“...In that sense, learning in this classroom is the limit.”
Han Sujin said with a bright smile.
“What’s the matter? Everyone, stand up. First, run and sweat a bit.”
“Hah! Hah! I'm dying...!”
“W-When are you going to stop running?”
“Don’t tell me! I’m going to die!”
After that, all the trainees were running in the training ground prepared inside Cheonjihae. The large exorcism corporation Cheonjihae had a training ground. Normally, it was used for company festivals or sports days. But Han Sujin used it for training like this.
“Hmm.”
Under the glaring sun in the training ground, Han Sujin stood with her arms crossed, watching the trainees. If one expected a kind lesson just because it was ‘training’, it was a mistake. The proportion of interns among Cheonjihae trainees was less than 50%. In other words, half of them would not complete the training period and drop out. Each of these classes was a process of evaluating the trainees. At the same time, it was a place where each team leader marked future employees.
‘If someone stands out here, it should be Cheok Jiyeon.’ The sole survivor of the fallen Cheok clan and the family head. The exorcism method and swordsmanship using swords as the main weapon was famous in the industry. One of the families representing the martial arts faction. As the only successor there, her basic physical strength was excellent.
‘She was running much faster and farther than others, yet showed no sign of fatigue. It seemed she was seriously training even before.’ She was a raw stone that was already trained enough. There were unstable elements, but she was the type that would grow on its own if left alone. If brought to the team, she would definitely be more than one person. ‘A genius of this level as the second place. This quarter must be full of talented people.’
Since she was the second place, the top student was also in this class. This time's top student was Nam Dohyeong. Han Sujin's gaze naturally turned to him.
‘Compared to him, the top student doesn't seem particularly special...’ He was running hard, but that was it. In terms of pure physical strength, he was inferior to the other trainees. Personally, I wanted to give him points for diligence, but... It was a problem that he didn't have sufficient physical strength prepared.
Among the Cheonjihae trainees, there were many who were already active as exorcists. ‘Is it a type that relies more on spiritual power or techniques than physical body? It's not bad, but it's not the talent I want.’ Moreover, I had seen the top student before. The one who had almost missed the written exam. I was surprised to hear he got the top spot, but... ‘Compared to that spirit, he's ordinary.’
With a regretful heart, I looked at the top student. The sight of him running with a face like he was about to die, sweating profusely, was exactly my type.
“Eh? Wait.”
While looking at the top student, I suddenly noticed something strange. ‘He wasn't using spiritual power at all?’ The physical abilities of exorcists are affected by spiritual power. It was thanks to this that they could show superhuman strength and stamina. But from this top student now... no spiritual power was felt at all. As if he had no spiritual power or couldn't use it, like a normal person!
‘But as a Cheonjihae new hire, and especially the top student, how could that be?’ Those who had reached a certain level of spiritual ability would unconsciously leak spiritual power. Even just Cheok Jiyeon with sufficient physical strength was unconsciously using spiritual power. It was impossible not to feel spiritual power like that... unless she hadn't done such training before. ‘I’m already familiar with this kind of training. Even my Spartan-style class is just daily life for this trainee...’
Gulp.
Han Sujin unconsciously swallowed her saliva. Now that I knew the truth, the sight of her sweat-soaked clothes and rough breathing felt incredibly lewd. A chill ran down my spine. ‘Kyuuk!’
Ignoring the evaluation, she was training by restraining her spiritual power for her own growth. How lewd could this new trainee be! ‘I can teach you anything about physical strength and martial arts. But it's impossible to truly understand the mindset in its true meaning.’ The spirit and mindset as a martial artist. That alone had to be understood on one's own. I had actually taught a few guys I liked before. But most of them quickly gave up training, saying it was too hard. In that sense, what about this top student. Wasn't his spiritual power already complete to the point where I didn't need to teach more? The remaining lack could be filled by myself. Rather, for that reason, it was even more delicious... no, it was a trainee worth teaching.
‘Depending on the view, it might be a talent surpassing Cheok Jiyeon...’ Grit! Grit! Grit! That was the ironclad rule that Han Sujin, representing the martial arts faction, valued the most. ‘I want to teach her properly once. No, it would be fun to work together too.’ Honestly, teaching types like Cheok Jiyeon was not fun. Such types were already complete, so to speak. It required experience and time, and there wasn't much more to teach. There was also family heritage technique, so it was hard to touch lightly. ‘But the top student shows no such sign. Probably a type who trained alone. It doesn't seem like she learned other martial arts.’ It meant that only she could be dyed in her own color! That fact made Han Sujin more excited than anything. ‘That girl is definitely mine! No, I will definitely make her walk the path of martial arts and make her my disciple!’
Han Sujin hid her perverted inner thoughts while looking at Nam Dohyeong. And Nam Dohyeong, who didn't know this fact even in his dreams. ‘Hah! Hah! I'm dying from the effort! I did exercise seriously too. Why are these guys so physically fit!’ Just running with all his might, complaining about his talentless body. Just because he didn't want to be the first to fall, since he was the top student.