Chapter 41
Tuesday.
The counter-terrorism tactical training, which had been temporarily suspended, resumed this week.
The position of tactical instructor was still vacant, so other instructors took turns leading the training.
For reference, this week’s training was supervised by the shooting instructor, Oh Hyeokmin.
From the perspective of someone who ranked last in practical skills, nothing was more burdensome than cooperative training with other cadets.
No matter how much I poured my heart and soul into the effort, my contribution was insignificant from the team members' perspective.
“Team No. 18, all members deceased and survivor rescue failed. Time taken: 22 minutes, 01.53 seconds.”
“Ah, damn it! What exactly are you? Did I tell you to carry the patient, or to provide cover with tactical maneuvers? You were only carrying one first aid kit, yet you moved like a slug...!”
“Haa... It's obviously last place. What are you going to do now? How will you take responsibility if I can't graduate because of you? I mean, if you can't even follow along carrying the lightest thing, what are you even trying to do?”
“Let's stop, getting angry won't change anything. Just consider it bad luck. Ugh, how did they even get into Hero Prep?”
“...”
The objective of this training was to rescue an injured patient and retreat while avoiding enemy blockade lines.
...But, as expected, my pathetic physical abilities completely ruined the operation. I could only feign the most apologetic expression amidst the torrent of curses.
The only saving grace was that all the cadets on my team were from the Support Division, so I didn't know any of their faces. Of course, it was clear that news of this would spread throughout the entire Support Division starting today.
“Team No. 18, please exit the training ground. Any discord within the team will result in a deduction.”
“Tch, where did this bastard even roll in from?”
“I heard rumors about that guy in the Investigation Division too. Gwon Chihun said he was trash.”
“Let's just leave. If we linger any longer, we'll really get points deducted.”
“...”
The contempt was familiar. I, too, found myself pathetic, so no rebellious thoughts arose. These kinds of exercises would continue to negatively affect the team in various ways in the future.
Still, if I were to make an excuse, it would be that the aftereffects of my training with An Hwigom continued all day. The training time had been reduced to from 1 to 3 AM, but during those two hours, I was mercilessly beaten. I wondered what weapon that old man couldn't handle, as he tormented me with all sorts of tools. Due to the fatigue that even healing potions couldn't alleviate, I was now checking into the infirmary before the new medical instructor.
And another excuse was my relationship with Lee Eunho. Truly, this was a problem that drained all my energy. The original story primarily progressed through the Mystery Club, so Lee Eunho's departure was like a high-speed train derailing.
A high-speed train with a very stubborn engineer aboard. Of course, his withdrawal was still pending. From Park Cheolyeong's perspective, Lee Eunho was still a card with usefulness remaining.
“His erratic behavior might accelerate the plot...”
As I pondered this, leaving the training ground, a Main Episode arrived, as if mocking my concerns.
<Main Episode>
Title: Countdown
Characters: Lee Eunho
Reward: Remake Coins
Subtitle: Countdown.
As expected, it was an episode that surfaced after overturning several sub-episodes.
[The difficulty of the Main Episode is adjusted in proportion to the usage of Remake Coins.]
[Remake Coins used for this episode: 13,225]
[Applied intervention rate: 16.365%]
Moreover, the intervention rate was 16%. A number not to be underestimated.
As our team exited the training ground and reached the waiting room, the cadets’ smartwatches simultaneously vibrated, as if sensing the episode.
“What is it? A school-wide announcement?”
“The sender is strange, though?”
The atmosphere in the waiting room was somewhat chaotic. I checked my smartwatch a moment later.
-Count 9: ‘71109’ confessed to Student Council President Yu Hyeonjeong but was rejected.
The message content was utterly out of the blue. Not just the content, but also the fact that it was an anonymous message. After all, the school's communication network, in principle, did not allow anonymity.
“...It seems the intervention rate wasn't applied to the message.”
71109.
Among the 71st-term cadets who were first-years this year, he was the 109th in admission rank. Furthermore, he was the same target as in the original story. I calmly looked around and fixed my gaze on the cadet whose ears were particularly flushed.
Gwon Chihun.
“...”
He was acting guilty, like a thief.
***
A day after the episode, Countdown, began. The impact of the first count, which was akin to the prelude, was somewhat lukewarm. This was because Yu Hyeonjeong receiving a confession from someone was not surprising.
On the contrary, the school atmosphere was filled with sympathy for Gwon Chihun, who had been sacrificed by the 'anonymous messenger'. And that sympathy was now shifting into an atmosphere of speculation about who the messenger might be.
“They don't even doubt the credibility of the revelation, do they...”
I was secretly observing some Support Division seniors near the Hall of Faith, the main building of the Support Division. This was to verify the protagonist of the next count, 8.
The timing of the countdown was random, but I could roughly estimate the time by following the narrative in the original story.
Sure enough, a vibration soon reached my wrist.
-Count 8: ‘69288’ repeatedly extorted points from new cadets.
This time, the revelation was that a third-year cadet had extorted points from a first-year cadet. One of the Support Division seniors I was observing shouted and bristled.
“W-what kind of nonsense is this! When did I ever extort anyone! It wasn't me! On what grounds, anyway...!”
An extra with the student ID number 69288, which had not been mentioned by name. After confirming that it matched the original story, I left the spot without hesitation.
“Then next is 7.”
The estimated time was around 1 PM tomorrow. The location was the stair landing of the Hall of Truth, also known as the Tower of Magic.
However, since Count 8 had been verified, there was no need to observe it directly. Now, all I had to do was quietly monitor Lee Eunho's movements.
***
In the Hall of Protection, the main building of the Combat Division. Cha Yeri and her friends walked down the spacious hallway toward the next lecture room.
“Did you hear the news? Someone is exposing things in order of student ID number.”
“Oh! I heard that too. The Countdown, right?”
“Yes, isn't it just awful? It means someone is watching us. Ugh...”
“I heard that because of the point-extortion revelation yesterday, related testimonies are coming out. So the exposer isn't making things up at all.”
“Then it's not just someone else's problem anymore. Hmm... Next is number 7, so...”
The two cadets, deep in conversation, turned to Cha Yeri, who had been walking silently down the corridor.
“...Yes? What is it?”
“Ms. Yeri, your student ID number was definitely 7, right?”
Cha Yeri's student ID was 71007. The cadets following her wore somewhat serious expressions, but Cha Yeri smiled as if unconcerned.
“I don't believe in such things. It must be some ill-natured person's prank.”
“It's good if Ms. Yeri thinks so, but...”
“Even if something like that were to happen, there's nothing to fear, is there?”
“That's right! There are few cadets as exemplary and irreproachable in school as Ms. Yeri!”
Flattery that could make one's skin crawl. Cha Yeri showed a faint smile and calmly brushed it off.
“Ah! More importantly, the instructor gave us an assignment last week...”
It was at that moment.
The cadets in the hallway felt a vibration on their wrists.
VIBRATE.
Though she pretended otherwise, Cha Yeri raised her wrist faster than anyone, driven by anxiety.
-Count 7: ‘71007’ is in a private relationship with Investigation cadet Ji Seokhyeon.
The message contained her exact student ID number.
“Th-that Ji Seokhyeon from the Investigation Division, then...”
“He's the cadet involved in that campus assault case! That is, the one from the Mystery Investigation Club...”
Once again, the group's gaze focused on Cha Yeri. With a different atmosphere than before. Cha Yeri, who had been staring at the message, finally raised her head.
“What? What did you say?”
“You said you weren't well acquainted with that person last time... I think. Ah...! It must be that the exposer mentioned Ms. Yeri on purpose to attract attention! They're deliberately using her recognition! ...T-that's because Ms. Yeri couldn't possibly have lied, right?”
The persistent questions continued.
“That's right, Ms. Yeri?”
“...”
***
I stood up abruptly, alone, like a madman, knocking over a classroom chair. This was because I had read a message I had not anticipated at all.
-Count 7: ‘71007’ is in a private relationship with Investigation cadet Ji Seokhyeon.
And it happened during a lecture by Jeong Harin, the Investigation instructor rumored to be quite strict.
“Cadet Ji Seokhyeon, I understand something happened, so please calm down and sit.”
Even Jeong Harin seemed inclined to overlook it this time. This was because everyone in the classroom saw the same message and was equally staring at me. In addition, I began to hear curses openly directed at me.
“He’s crazy. Now he's even touching Hyeonseong?”
“What? Wasn't he and Do Minyeong a thing?”
“Shh, watch your mouth. Did you forget that if you're involved with that bastard, nothing good comes of it?”
“Ah, Kim Muung, Choi Jaejin... Well, their tongues are as sharp as a snake's.”
Amidst the blatant whispers, Gwon Chihun’s voice was surprisingly absent. He was merely sending me a sympathetic look from afar. Is this some kind of camaraderie between victims of exposure?
“...”
I sat down again and focused on my thoughts, ignoring the chaotic atmosphere. The fact that my name was mentioned in this message meant that the intervention rate had been applied. The worrying point was the possibility of the message content changing further. This situation could potentially overturn the entire episode...
Whether she knew I was racking my brains or not, Do Minyeong, who was sitting next to me, sneered spitefully.
“When did you two get so close?”
“We aren't.”
“So, your persistent efforts paid off?”
“I said we aren't.”
“But it's quite unexpected.”
“No... What?”
“That you like such a brazen personality.”
***
It was past 11 PM. In this Hero Prep, where young people were entangled, the most secluded place was none other than near the main gate. The main gate, staffed by Guards, was adorned with massive sculptures and elaborate decorations, showcasing Hero Prep's grandeur, but it completely lacked convenience facilities for cadets. There was just a single unmanned convenience store in a corner of the facility, occasionally used by Guards and facility managers.
“You really found a place like this.”
I leaned against the back of the convenience store, waiting for someone. Specifically, someone who preferred not to be seen by people. However, it wasn't me who was waiting. A quiet voice emanated from the nearby bushes.
“First, I'll ask one thing. Was that your doing?”
Her unique clear voice and uniquely arrogant tone. It was Cha Yeri, without needing to check her identity.
“What? Are you suspecting me now?”
“Yes, as far as I know, there’s no one more suspicious than you. At least in Seoul.”
What kind of prejudice do you have?
“Does it even make sense for me to expose myself?”
“You might have sacrificed yourself for a purpose.”
“What purpose?”
“...Like having ulterior motives for me.”
A momentary scoff escaped me. It was so absurd.
“I guarantee it. I don't like brazen personalities like yours. And what nerve would a social care beneficiary, desperate to graduate, have to do something like this?”
“So, encountering you at the arcade was a coincidence.”
“Yes, clearly.”
“And this was a coincidence too.”
“To be precise, it was bad luck.”
Cha Yeri cautiously revealed herself. However, she remained hidden in the shadows, maintaining a distinct distance between us.
“Alright, I'll believe you. Even though it's a bit unsettling.”
If it's unsettling, why believe me?
“So, why did you call me out here?”
“To clear my name. Both yours and mine... No, from my perspective, it's an uncomfortable rumor.”
“...”
“So, cooperate with me to find the mastermind behind this.”
“Haa...”
I heard enough and turned to leave. I had a premonition that I would get involved in something tiresome just by listening. Finding the exposer was troublesome enough, but to put our heads together with the difficult Cha Yeri? Sorry, but there was no reason for me to privately discuss, cooperate, or collaborate with her. The Mystery Club would get involved anyway.
Had I taken three or four steps to leave first? Cha Yeri swiftly approached, grabbed my shoulder, and pressed me against the wall.
“W-what are you doing?”
“Cooperate when I ask nicely.”
“You say ‘ask nicely,’ but you're pushing me against a wall?”
“You were also used in the exposure, weren't you? Why are you reacting so lukewarmly?”
“Well, it's because I have a reputation that isn't affected no matter how many times I'm used in such exposures.”
“...You really are the worst. To demean yourself like that.”
“I don't know, where I come from, they call that being realistic.”
If I had to describe Cha Yeri's gaze at that moment, it was contempt. A disdain, as if looking at an underdeveloped human. However, even if I hadn't transmigrated, Ji Seokhyeon, from the outskirts of Seoul, wouldn't have moved without financial incentive. He wouldn't have been bound by honor and reputation like some others.
Cha Yeri seemed to resign herself to my firm stance, removing her hand from my shoulder and speaking.
“What exactly will it take for you to cooperate?”
“Now that sounds a bit nicer.”
“...You know what? Whenever you open your mouth, I always want to put a bullet through that furrow in your brow.”
“Are you suddenly threatening me?”
“It's just my honest thought.”
Cha Yeri being honest... That was rather chilling in many ways.
Come to think of it, this situation wasn't entirely bad. It would be bothersome, but if the opponent was Cha Yeri, the crumbs falling would be considerable.
Perhaps getting entangled with her wouldn't be so bad. I feigned a troubled expression and spoke in a reluctant voice.
“Well, alright, but on one condition. A condition for me to cooperate with you.”
“A condition?”
“Yes, it won't be a burden for you either.”