Chapter 111
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Did You Come Here to Play?
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Camp day two. Morning training session.
"……."
"……."
Haneul and So-yeon were just exchanging glances with each other.
So-yeon aside, even the usually chatty Haneul had her lips sealed tight. To Su-hyeon, it was clear this situation wasn't normal at all.
"……Ga-eun."
Su-hyeon spoke in a plaintive tone.
"Why, Su-hyeon? Is something bothering you?"
"If you keep hovering like this, I can't stack the blocks."
Ga-eun had Su-hyeon tucked between her legs like a mother bird incubating her egg.
"Where? I'll do it for you."
"No……."
Su-hyeon's brows furrowed slightly.
She looked pretty annoyed.
This session was about turning into a Gate core and building the interior yourself.
They'd show photos of monsters or animals, and you'd learn hands-on how to stack blocks for the most efficient paths, attacks, and defenses—more practical than theory.
Carmen had said that once you got used to it, in real combat, you'd instinctively predict the next structure.
Like increasing your options for illusions or forks in the road?
It was a kind of putting yourself in the enemy's shoes.
The blocks used in class were fascinating too.
Smooth surfaces with no grooves, yet they'd stick perfectly anywhere you pressed them together.
The only issue was they seemed more like toys than anything serious.
"Sigh……."
Su-hyeon let out a deep breath.
Other teams had already built something massive.
Theirs was dragging along.
Of course, bigger didn't mean more points.
'Why is she acting like this today?'
Running? She was fine then.
Su-hyeon had run surprisingly well.
Su-hyeon had even peeled off to the side in case she tripped and got hurt, but her worries were unfounded—Su-hyeon kept perfect pace with a steady trot.
Her small lungs couldn't be helped physically, but they weren't sprinting full tilt anyway.
……Maybe since breakfast?
Ga-eun would check after every bite if she'd eaten properly.
If the next spoonful was even a second late, she'd glance over slyly.
And when Su-hyeon set her spoon down, Ga-eun would shove a glass of water at her in case she choked.
Maybe because those two had turned the camp upside down that morning, everyone who passed by gave them a look.
Sure enough…….
Something must be up.
And understandably so—Ga-eun's morning display was like a mother who'd lost her young child.
"……It's a bit much right now."
"Yeah, we'll ask later."
Not just the girls whispering, but even guys who'd tried approaching backed off at Ga-eun's overprotectiveness.
"Argh, Ga-eun, go over there! Seriously!"
Finally snapping at the irritated Su-hyeon, So-yeon muttered.
"Still, there are upsides."
"Huh? Like what?"
"Yeah, um… she's still too pure for guys…."
So-yeon nodded toward the boys' team chatting away.
Haneul responded with an uncle-like gesture and laughed.
"Heh heh, our So-yeon's still so innocent!"
"Ahem, I'm only 19. This is normal."
"Y-yeah, model student."
"Ugh, seriously."
The morning training passed peacefully and languidly.
The rest of the schedule wasn't much different.
Before long, the camp had morphed into something like a recreation outing or variety show.
The instructors kept shooting Carmen questioning looks.
"Instructor Carmen. Is this really how it's supposed to be?"
"Hm?"
A young instructor called out to Carmen.
He looked pretty dissatisfied with the current state.
"A camp run by the Association turning into… this? We're not here to play—what is this?"
Carmen eyed his face closely.
These instructors were Hunters pulled from various places.
True to form, with Camellia covering most sponsorship funds, many facilities and personnel came from Camellia or allied guilds.
Instructors included.
To avoid any gripes, few were actually from Camellia itself.
Anyway, this guy wasn't one of them.
"Hm. I recall you all granting me full authority last night."
"That was because of your experience. But what is this mess? Do they teach like this in the Marines?"
"Of course not."
"Then why…!"
As the instructor's voice rose, Carmen turned and met his eyes.
That alone deflated the man's momentum.
"You must think I'm a pushover. And here I came at your invitation."
"……."
"There's a limit to throwing tantrums after dragging us here for less than a week. Participants vary wildly in level, age, gender—what do you expect to teach in just three days?"
"…That's why we called you."
"So I'm doing it my way, aren't I?"
"But this way, what about our preparations? Participants expect scientific analysis with cutting-edge gear…."
"Then why not speak up last night? You handed it off to me, said it was fine, and went to bed. Hard to believe that's coming from you now."
"Ahem, but there's such a thing as common sense…."
"Common sense, eh? Fine."
Carmen crossed her arms and scanned the instructor up and down.
At a glance, A-rank.
Strong by common standards.
Just blinded by something, clouding his judgment—but that's personal.
"Are you stronger than me?"
"Pardon? What does that have to…."
"Answer. Can you beat me here and now?"
His sharp mind reflexively analyzed her power and calculated win rates.
The result….
"……."
As he stayed silent, Carmen nodded.
"Being strong doesn't mean you teach well. Then, do you have more instructor experience than me?"
He couldn't answer that either.
He'd only done a few part-time gigs, never a real instructor.
Meanwhile, Carmen had been a veteran by the time he hit A-rank.
"Lastly, have you produced more Hunters than me?"
"……."
"By your logic, with superior strength, experience, and results, I'm right."
Having steamrolled with three strikes, Carmen turned to the other instructors.
"Any other objections?"
"Do as you please, Instructor Carmen."
The Camellia instructor smiled and shut down the dissent.
"Then, settled."
Carmen moved on to the next program.
This time, it was about who could activate the magic stone on the ceiling fastest.
No tools allowed—just body and mana.
No ability use, no brute force with raw strength.
C-ranks and above could barely reach by jumping in place.
Groups 1 and 2 were done.
Finally, Group 3—Su-hyeon's team.
"Alright, everyone freeze…."
The instructor raised his hand, and tension crackled through the air.
Beep!
Rumble—
"Not there—lower, lower!"
"Stretch your back more. Can't reach!"
The whistle blew, and chaos erupted as they scrambled for positions.
"Kyaa!"
"Ugh, damn, this is heavy… Should've eaten less breakfast!"
The standard method so far was stacking a human pyramid to touch the ceiling stone….
"Instructor, isn't this unfair for female Hunter teams?"
A female Hunter grumbled amid the mess.
As she said, smaller women seemed disadvantaged.
But Carmen shook her head firmly.
"No, not at all. And if you're thinking that, consider women's lighter weight. Hunter strength isn't tied to build."
She was right.
If a man and woman had equal power, you'd place the woman higher.
Not quotas or favoritism—pure logic.
Same strength, smaller and more flexible? Obviously superior.
So for the struggling Su-hyeon team.
They had plenty of strength.
Ga-eun was B-rank with body enhancement—could handle all three easily.
Haneul was C-rank, legs only, but reinforcement type.
Su-hyeon was so light it wasn't an issue.
Worry more about her floating off like a dandelion seed.
The problem was height.
Exclude Ga-eun, and they were all short.
So-yeon hit average, but Haneul wrecked the curve.
And Su-hyeon, proving there's always a bottom, was floor-level.
Unless they balanced like circus performers on hands, impossible.
"Ah!"
Then Haneul had a brainstorm and linked arms with the group.
Su-hyeon couldn't reach, so the three squatted.
"What's up? Got a good idea?"
So-yeon whispered, scared of other teams stealing it.
"Everyone's overthinking it."
"What?"
Su-hyeon blinked.
Tension eased, but excitement gleamed in her eyes.
"The method! It said activate the stone—not build a human tower!"
"Oh……!"
"I figured it was balance training."
"So, what's the key method?"
As Ga-eun asked, Haneul grinned wickedly.
"Don't freak out."
Whisper whisper….
Su-hyeon's eyes widened; Ga-eun's face hardened.
"Absolutely not. Too dangerous."
"What? Look, shock-absorbing mats everywhere."
So-yeon poked the floor in agreement.
Material like modern Guard armor covered it.
"Yeah, even an elephant would be fine."
"…Still, what if."
"No other way. This is it."
"I'll jump myself…."
"Four meters straight up? Pure rank and ability abuse."
"……Fine."
"Su-hyeon…."
As Ga-eun kept fretting, Su-hyeon stepped up.
This would mean a day under Ga-eun's watch.
No thanks.
"Ga-eun, I'm not here to be babied."
Ga-eun was speechless at her firm gaze.
Finally, she nodded weakly.
"……Okay."
"Okay—our Su-hyeon's awesome! Now, don't worry too much, ma'am?"
"…Who're you calling mom."
The four huddled for a quick strategy huddle.
Moments later.
The three formed a circle, arms extended inward.
"Wait, hold on…! No, let's rethink this—it feels wrong…!"
"Su-hyeon, focus—look at Haneul!"
Su-hyeon squatted atop, facing Haneul.
Haneul's plan: human catapult.
Hard to aim throwing an adult, but tiny Su-hyeon? Easy.
But… with shaky ground below, scary.
"It's fine! If you fall, I'll catch you!"
"Promise not to drop me first…!"
"Well, you gotta fall to come down?"
"No!"
Ga-eun alone could toss her like a shot put.
But accuracy and safety favored this.
"This good?"
"A bit higher."
"Like this?"
"Perfect. Don't throw too hard."
"Got it."
"Eeee…!"
Ignoring her, the three shuffled crab-like for adjustments.
The Su-hyeon launcher was ready.
"One, two, three—jump on three! Got it?"
"……Hic."
"Ready—one, two, three!"
Once.
"Hieeek!"
Su-hyeon shot up three meters, flailed, and dropped.
"Not like that! Su-hyeon! Eyes on the stone!"
"Wait, this isn't working—aaah!!"
"One, two, three!"
Twice.
"Hngg…."
"Open your eyes, Su-hyeon unnie!"
"Again—legs too…!"
Three times!
"Urgh…."
Third try—Su-hyeon popped her eyes open.
The stone rushed close.
Faded stone on a fishing line, right at her forehead…!
"Yaaah—got i…hot…!"
"Whoa!"
"Kyaa!"
"Success!" "…Huh?"
But an unexpected snag.
Others snapped it like fruit; Su-hyeon, too light, dangled.
"Uh, um?"
Su-hyeon dangled from the five-meter ceiling.
Ah, string length—4.5 meters?
Su-hyeon peeked down.
Her legs swung vividly.
Friends blurred below.
Everyone stared up.
"Hyaaaah!!"
"Haneul unnie, now what?"
"Uh, oof…? Didn't think of this…."
Haneul scratched her head at So-yeon's jab.
"Yes, this team passes. Good work."
The instructor checked and left smugly.
"W-wait, just going…?"
"Stone lit up."
"But……."
Haneul gawked; he winked annoyingly and vanished.
He was the high-rank Camellia guy who'd smoothed things earlier.
"That jerk…."
Su-hyeon still dangled high.
"Help…!!! Ladder! Ladder!"
The line swayed with every scream, eyes shut.
"Su-hyeon, just let go! I'll catch you!"
"Hnnngh!!"
Other participants rushed over at the commotion.
"You again!"
"It's fine! We'll catch you!"
"Let go!"
Like wedding guests awaiting the bouquet, hands reached for her.
A bizarre human flower bloomed.
"Sorry, make way…!"
"Oh, sure!"
"Everyone, move!"
"Hup…!"
Finally, Su-hyeon leaped into Ga-eun's arms and returned to earth.