Chapter 145: Omen
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 145: Omen
"Cadet Baek Tae-yang, has all the praise I’ve given you for your outstanding performance and growth turned into poison? How could you do this!"
"I am sorry, sir."
"No matter if Cadet Kim Min-su struck first, does it make sense for you to retaliate in kind?"
"I am sorry, sir."
Since early morning, I had been standing in the middle of a conference room packed with instructors, begging for forgiveness.
That damn bastard.
Of course, I had expected this when I headed to school, so I didn't feel particularly wronged.
Regardless of the circumstances, it was a fact that two Always-Active Main Skill holders had brawled in the hallway, and that was an incredibly dangerous situation.
I didn't feel the slightest bit of resentment; in fact, I took the stance that receiving punishment was only natural.
However, I never dreamed that Kim Min-su would skip school.
How pathetic can he be?
He couldn't even confess to a girl, and just because he got thrashed all day by his punching bag, he doesn't show up to the Academy?
And he’s supposed to be the protagonist?
Because Kim Min-su was absent, I was taking the full brunt of the criticism. Since I couldn't deflect the blame onto the guy who threw the first punch, there was nothing I could do.
After being lectured for a long while, Cheon Hae-il finally brought the matter to a close.
"I hope nothing like this happens again. We’re letting it slide this time because of your usual exemplary conduct... but keep in mind that you could have put other cadets in danger."
"Thank you, sir. I will make sure it never happens again."
"That will be all. Everyone is dismissed."
""Yes, sir!""
At Cheon Hae-il’s word, everyone dispersed, and the situation came to an end.
Good thing I built up some credit.
If it weren't for the good image I’d cultivated, I might have faced suspension. If I were suspended, I wouldn't be able to participate in the Joint Training, which meant I wouldn't even be able to talk to the Saintess properly.
Those were things I couldn't afford to trade, not even for the satisfaction of giving Kim Min-su a good thrashing.
By the way, I can't look Jang Du-cheol in the eye.
I didn't have the courage to face my own homeroom teacher. Of course, it was entirely Jang Du-cheol’s fault for having a crush and not making it obvious, but...
Perhaps because I felt a bit sorry for him, a hint of sympathy stirred within me.
"Cadet Baek Tae-yang, stay behind for a moment."
"Yes, sir."
Just as I was about to follow the other instructors out, Cheon Hae-il stopped me.
Jang Du-cheol stayed behind too.
Of all people, it had to be him.
I lowered my head, afraid my emotions might show on my face, and waited for one of them to speak first.
"The scolding is over, so you don't have to stand there like a criminal, Baek Tae-yang."
"Haha, well, doesn't everyone make mistakes when they're young? Besides, that fellow Min-su didn't even show up... Consider yourself to have suffered enough."
"Thank you for saying that, sir."
I certainly had suffered. Strictly speaking, Kim Min-su started it.
He should have just stayed quiet and cried like he used to, why did he have to charge at me...
It wasn't that I couldn't lift my head because of the hallway incident, but staying hunched over any longer would look strange. I lifted my head, avoiding Jang Du-cheol as much as possible, and fixed my gaze on Cheon Hae-il.
"The reason I called you is... well, you can probably guess, but it’s about the Joint Training."
"The Joint Training, sir?"
"Normally, we prioritize safety for the Joint Training to the point where one might wonder if it's even necessary to be that cautious."
"However, we’ve recently received information that a new faction has suddenly emerged."
"A new faction...?"
"We haven't been able to identify them yet, but one thing is certain: they are more dangerous than Noble."
A new faction more dangerous than Noble? What kind of bolt from the blue was this?
Just how many settings did the author cram into this world?
There wasn't a single day that passed quietly. Seeing as they were mentioning this new faction in the context of the Joint Training, there was only one thing they were going to say next.
"It will be difficult for the instructors to conduct the training properly if they are constantly hovering around the Saintess... So, Baek Tae-yang, I want you to provide her with close-proximity protection."
"We’ll handle the team assignments and everything else on our end. You just focus on protecting her."
The 'Saintess Escort Event' that usually belongs to a protagonist was coming to me? Could this also be a butterfly effect from stealing 40% of the Protagonist Share?
And Kim Min-su’s treatment has changed that much.
I didn't notice it when I only had 20%, but after taking 40%, the way people treated Kim Min-su was completely different. In the past, even if he caused a scene in the hallway and skipped school, the air would have been filled with the instructors' worried whispers, saying things like "he must be badly hurt" or "he overexerted his power."
Now, he was being treated like a total delinquent.
A thug who went on a rampage, beat someone up, and then ditched school. That was his current status.
I don't know where this is headed.
But one thing was certain. I could stay close to the Saintess.
That’s all that matters.
Kim Min-su wouldn't even be able to have a proper conversation with her.
*
"Perkus!"
"...Yes, Saintess."
"I can't tell you right now, but just know that I have a reason to be very angry with you! It’s a really, really big deal!"
"I understand."
Another restless day.
Perkus let out a deep sigh as he checked the Joint Training schedule.
It’s the day after tomorrow...
At first, he had been thrilled at the prospect of witnessing the dramatic moment when the Hero and the Saintess would meet. To meet the protagonists of the revelation in person, talk to them, and have in-depth discussions about the salvation of this world...
What a constructive process that would be. It wouldn't even end there; they could go further. By clearing high-difficulty Gates in various countries, they could clearly announce the existence of a new flame of hope.
It was the perfect path to becoming a true object of faith.
Or rather, it had been the perfect path.
I have a bad feeling about this.
Starting yesterday, doubts about the Hero had suddenly begun to sprout. Can a Hero be a Hero from the very beginning? Is it right to be called a Hero without having done anything?
Even the Saintess, who spent all day on the computer, had taken a very long time to be called 'Saintess.' It wasn't until she was called 'Saintess' by others—not by her own choice, but by the will of the people she saved.
By walking a noble path, moving forward even as her fingernails were torn off and she shed tears of blood. That was how she came to be called the Saintess by all.
But the Hero?
A Hero who has done nothing...
He became the Hero simply because his Main Skill was named 'Hero.' No one questioned it, and no one found it strange.
Maybe it’s just me...
There was no need to stir up trouble just because of a strange feeling. After reaching that conclusion, Perkus packed his things.
A third faction...
He prepared for every possible contingency.
While Perkus was busy packing, the Saintess was equally restless.
To think I couldn't witness that with my own eyes...
She was so frustrated and indignant that she gritted her teeth.
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[Lately, only bad things happen to me. Why is this happening?] - [Doctor Curiosity] Sweet Cadet
-This is Sweet Cadet’s 10,049th worry post-
Hello. I’m posting quite solemnly today.
Sigh... I haven't had many worries lately. Because once I confess, everything will be over.
If I go to her with a heart full of love and confess, everything will succeed and end on a heartwarming note, right?
But that wasn't the case.
The girl I love was already in another man's arms, laughing and chatting away.
I thought I had given her plenty of signs and openings beforehand, and even expressed my affection quite boldly.
When she said she was sleeping on Sunday, I just left her alone.
Even when she said she was busy, I just let it go.
I believed that was true sweetness.
Not being obsessive, and to become a ray of sunshine for her, I even carefully selected and sent her funny videos trending on social media.
I approached her with the intention of laughing together by using some internet memes, but sigh...
She was stolen from me.
And I told the guy who stole her:
"Hey, make her happy."
Then, didn't that guy just start mocking and teasing me?
So we had a fight.
Although I was hurt a lot, I can only imagine how big of a wound that guy must have suffered if I’m in this state...
Hehe, I trust you can guess.
So today... I didn't even go to the Academy.
The weather is nice... and since I have the wounds of ordeal (it’s definitely not because of the injuries from the fight)...
So lately, I really wonder why nothing I do works out... what the problem is... I think about these things.
Now all I have left is the rich girl who acts all 'tsun-tsun' and the chaste woman who loves me passionately...
If you think there’s a problem, please leave an answer immediately. I will definitely take it to heart.
[Answers 0] [Likes 0] [Dislikes 1] [Comments 1]
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ㄴㅇㅇ:: lol I think you’ll be fine if you just cure your delusional disorder? Stop with the disgusting talk. [Report 1]
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He got beaten up, lost the girl... and he’s even refusing to go to school because of it?
And to think she couldn't witness that live. This was all Perkus’s fault.
Mean Perkus. If only he had let her go to the Academy, she could have seen all that juicy drama!
The Saintess pushed her regret aside and calmly scrolled down. Since she had commented on a question post, she had to leave a comment in one more place.
Scroll, pause.
"Huh? It’s not here?"
Why was there no reply post today?
She lamented her sad life—missing out on the fun and not even getting a reply post—and flopped onto her bed.
Finally, the day after tomorrow.
Since the Joint Training was starting, she needed to rot away in laziness as much as possible right now.