The Expanding Illusion
I collapsed to the floor after the sudden burst of exercise, panting heavily.
It was fortunate that I wasn't the only one suffering like this.
"Ugh... I really feel like I'm going to die..."
"How far did you run?"
"Water... water..."
Everyone else had sprawled out or lay sprawled across the floor, sweat pouring down their bodies.
The only person who looked completely fine was Cheok Jiyeon.
She stood there with just a few droplets of sweat clinging to her, radiating an effortless poise and striking beauty.
'How does she manage to run so hard and only end up with a few beads of sweat?'
I wondered how she maintained that level after any kind of training.
It seemed Cheonjihae really was a gathering place for monsters, and the saying was not an exaggeration.
"Everyone worked hard. Please drink the drinks here. Replenishing fluids, minerals, and protein after exercise is essential."
Staff members moved among us, handing out drinks.
Given the scale of Cheonjihae, there were even instructors assisting.
The instructors themselves had originally been professional exorcists.
'My throat feels a little better now.'
It had been tough, but the exercise effect was undeniable.
If I kept this up, my body would definitely become strong.
Since I was going to be working here anyway, I should take care of my health too...
"Trainee Nam Dohyeong."
"Ah, yes!"
I shot upright at the call from instructor Han Sujin.
'How does this person remember my name so clearly?'
Did she remember it separately because I was the top student?
I had heard that if a professor remembers your name, it's over for you.
"Your running form was very impressive. Being the top student, you clearly have spirit."
"Ah, no! I just ran hard following the others."
"Huhuhu! And you're modest about it too. I like that even more?"
Han Sujin took out a towel and personally wiped the sweat from my cheek.
Eh... what? If she does this, it feels incredibly burdensome.
"The attitude of studying hard is a quality essential for an exorcist. Do you have any intention of delving into the martial combat division?"
"Ah... I see, martial combat."
Honestly, I had zero intention of going into martial combat.
But if I said that here, I would be marked, right?
I was an adult who had learned social life.
"If it's okay, I would like to learn various things under Team Leader Han Ji-min, a representative martial exorcist of Korea."
I said I wanted to learn, but I didn't say I would join.
This was social life learned from my previous life!
I had tried to phrase it as vaguely as possible.
Han Sujin nodded, satisfied.
"Is that so? Having the will to learn is wonderful?"
...What? Since the answer was predetermined, did I just have to answer?
Han Sujin smiled at me.
At that moment—
Paaang!
Her fist flew toward me at a terrifying speed.
It was so fast I couldn't even react, let alone see it.
The fist stopped just 1cm in front of my nose.
'What, what?'
I couldn't even notice the preparatory motion, let alone the fist itself.
Would a skilled boxing champion really do this?
Too surprised, I froze without reacting.
Rather, Cheok Jiyeon next to me reflexively placed her hand on the sword she carried.
"Huhuhu! As expected, amazing?"
Looking at my frozen state, Han Ji-min smiled with delight.
"You didn't even flinch. Did you realize it was a sincere attack?"
Huh? What?
"Even so, people should at least twitch a little. Like at the entrance ceremony. You seem to have good guts. Sharp senses too."
What are you talking about.
I just couldn't do anything because your fist was too fast, right?
But Han Ji-min misunderstood my reaction and nodded.
"I won't apologize for testing you. I wanted to check your level once."
It seemed like an apology, so she reached out and began massaging my shoulder.
'Wow, what is this... It's so refreshing...!'
Even just massaging, the muscle fatigue vanished.
A strange addiction and thrilling pleasure!
My head became hazy as if I had taken sleeping powder.
"My shoulders are a bit tense. Do you study a lot?"
"Ah.... yes... I'm studying hard about exorcism..."
"Even the top student is different. You'll have fun building your body too."
She kneaded.
Han Sujin massaged my shoulders, neck, and back.
Even with light pressure, my body gradually melted.
"If it's okay, consider delving into the martial combat side. Of course, you're already doing well, but if it were me, I could help develop your talent more."
"Yes... I understand..."
If I could receive this massage every day, I almost said I would go into martial combat.
It seemed the team leaders at Cheonjihae were skilled at charming people too.
'Hey... but why me specifically?'
They didn't usually scout people like Cheok Jiyeon?
I didn't understand why they were targeting me with my Instant Death one-trick.
"Well then, work hard. The suggestion just now is sincere, so think about it seriously."
Han Sujin patted my shoulder and left.
Her smiling, turning body was honestly super cool.
...Then, the burning gazes from around me came.
"What? Is she giving special treatment because she's the top student?"
"Is it Cheonjihae? No way."
"Even if I don't know what, I'm envious as hell. She already got her eyes stamped by the instructor."
I guess the saying that the roughest stone is the one that fits is true.
From the first class, jealousy poured out when the team leader showed interest.
'What did I do...'
I had just gritted my teeth and run.
I wanted to ask why she liked me.
"...It seems Team Leader Han Sujin really likes you."
"Huh? Ah... I see."
Cheok Jiyeon, who had approached, said.
"She even gave you a massage on purpose."
"Yeah. It was really refreshing."
"Was it good?"
"Huh?"
"I said, was it good?"
Cheok Jiyeon looked at me with cold eyes.
'No, why are you looking at me like that...'
****
Although I experienced many things, the martial combat class ended safely.
The problem was that there was still more class left.
'From the first class being this tough, how will the next be?'
The next class was the curse arts class.
I might think exorcists don't deal with curses, but in modern times, curses are recognized as one of the exorcism techniques.
'Actually, it's not really anomalies, but in reality, it's mainly used against bad shamans.'
Still, I couldn't ignore it.
Shamans were dangerous beings as much as anomalies.
What they mainly used was curses.
To prevent that, it was essential to know about curses.
...I remembered it was in the game.
'Is it like studying poison to prevent poison.'
Because of this, curse arts was considered a very important field.
Right away, Cheonjihae included curse arts as mandatory education.
Anyway, for that reason, I entered the designated curse arts classroom.
The trainees who saw me turned their bodies and avoided me.
'Man, if someone sees me, they'll think I'm a bad guy.'
Especially, the curse class time was divided from Cheok Jiyeon.
Just when I thought I'd have to sit alone.
At that moment, I saw a familiar face.
'Oh, it's Yu Eunhye.'
The only trainee I had greeted and talked to at the entrance ceremony.
I had also liked the character a lot in the original game.
Perhaps because I knew about her dirt-spoon background.
Unlike others, she gave off a feeling of being approachable.
'We're in similar situations.'
Yu Eunhye was sitting alone in the corner of the classroom.
With her usual lack of confidence, head bowed in an anxious expression.
As I said, many exorcists who joined Cheonjihae had already done external activities.
That meant, without knowing, there were already connections or factions.
'Someone like me with no connections and Yu Eunhye would have trouble mixing in.'
Even among exorcists, competition and discrimination were common.
I got marked because of that, but even Yu Eunhye, a dirt-spoon, might be somewhat isolated, though not completely ostracized.
'Originally, the true friends of otakus are other otakus.'
With that otaku-like judgment, I approached Yu Eunhye. Do you know about the lecture?
"Can I sit next to you?"
"Yes, yes?!"
Yu Eunhye, startled, looked up at me in surprise.
She was cute, like a hamster wearing clogs.
"Of course! There's space here."
"Thank you."
I sat next to Yu Eunhye.
Yu Eunhye looked for signs that this meeting was awkward.
"Ah, there! Congratulations on being the top student! At that time, I was so surprised I couldn't say anything...!"
"Thank you. Ah, but let's use casual speech. We're colleagues after all."
"W-well... then..."
"Yeah. Let's be casual with each other. We're joining friends."
Yu Eunhye had a dazed expression for a moment.
Then, scratching her head, she smiled awkwardly.
"Hehe! This is the first time I've made a company friend."
Umm~ This feeling of healing.
This was the correct company life.
Yu Eunhye seemed a bit excited when she got a conversation partner.
"The curse class, how will it be? I'm looking forward to it."
"Ah... It would be better not to expect too much."
While we were chatting.
The classroom door opened with a creak.
"Hello~ Nice to meet you all!"
The curse arts class instructor was a woman with striking long hair.
The woman waved her hand widely towards the trainees.
Her lively atmosphere, her voice.
She didn't seem related to curses at all.
'Indeed, all the characters that appear often have strong personalities and are attractive.'
But I couldn't be careless.
Because the users nicknamed this woman 'Sadistic Exorcist'.
"I am 'Mi Shin-ah', the curse arts instructor. Please take care of me from now on~"
Smiling brightly and bowing her head to greet.
Perhaps because of her bright face and demeanor, everyone let out applause mixed with relief and joy.
"Although this time we met as trainees and instructors, and I don't know if we'll be on the same team in the future. I think the harmony among exorcists is important. You all agree, right?"
Wink! Mi Shin-ah winked.
Then, a thunderous cheer erupted from the trainees, especially the men.
"Huhuhu! I'm glad the reaction is good. Let's stay close from now on."
While saying that, Mi Shin-ah took out cookies.
"This is a cookie I'm giving to get closer. I don't know the taste since I'm a beginner, but... if you all eat and write your impressions, I'd be grateful."
"Ooh~!"
Even though it was the first class, she was distributing food too.
The trainees cheered again.
Especially Yu Eunhye's eyes sparkled.
"Give all the cookies! The curse arts instructor is a good person!"
"Ah... umm."
Yu Eunhye held the received cookies with both hands.
I immediately stopped her from unwrapping them.
"Wait a minute. Don't eat that yet."
"Huh? Why?"
Yu Eunhye made a hamster face like she had her sunflower seeds taken.
"Wow~ Delicious."
"Sweet. It hits my taste perfectly."
The ones who received cookies first were already eating and sighing at the taste.
"Everyone else is eating..."
Yu Eunhye looked at it with a sad face, but I stopped her with a serious face.
So, all the others except us ate all the cookies.
Mi Shin-ah, looking at that, smiled brightly.
"Huhuhu! Did everyone enjoy it?"
"Yes~"
"Good! Then, let me say one more thing to you all."
Mi Shin-ah said without smiling.
"Are you all idiots?"
The sudden curse made the classroom atmosphere drop.
Mi Shin-ah, unfazed, crossed her arms and walked between the trainees.
"I know that I'm the curse arts exorcist, right? If someone who gives that is eaten without purifying or calming emotions?"
At that moment.
"Kyaaak!"
"Au!"
The trainees started clutching their chests in pain.
Some couldn't hold back and slammed their faces on the desks.
"Huhuhu..."
Mi Shin-ah, smiling at that, tapped one of the cookies she was holding with her finger and broke it into small pieces.
"Actually, this cookie has a mild curse in it. If I were a shaman coming to terrorize you? You would all be dead."
Swallow.
The trainees swallowed dry saliva.
Even the gift for the first class had traps and lessons.
I wouldn't have known that the cookie I ate without thinking had such intentions.
"Curses are like that. I don't know when or where they'll target us. If you relax, they'll take your life in an instant. But-"
As Mi Shin-ah was speaking, she smiled at the trainees.
More precisely, she smiled while looking at 'me'.
" It seems there's someone here who accurately understood my intentions. The first time in Cheonjihae history."