Chapter 48
White Bottle, Hero Preparatory School's branch in the 4th Scholastic District. Do Minyeong sat by a window on the third floor.
‘No reply, then...’
Today was the day they were supposed to meet for their criminal psychology group assignment. However, group members Ji Seokhyeon and Gwon Chihun were both late, as if they had conspired.
‘Even if Gwon Chihun is like that, I didn't expect Ji Seokhyeon to be unreachable.’
Perhaps it was because I had evaluated Ji Seokhyeon highly all this time. I felt a strange sense of betrayal. Of course, whether my group members came or not, I could just quietly do my part of the assignment and leave, but this place wasn't suitable for Do Minyeong at the moment.
After all, coming to a cafe with someone and drinking coffee was something she couldn't have imagined before entering Hero Prep. The two cups of coffee placed across from her proved it.
She had arrived first, so she had ordered in advance for the group members who would arrive later. It was the result of her ignorance, wondering if it wouldn't be considerate to lessen the other person's trouble.
Do Minyeong had traveled to various countries and experienced diverse cultures since childhood, but she wasn't actually familiar with Seoul's customs.
To be precise, it had only been two months since she entered the country. If Ji Seokhyeon hadn't constantly talked about sparkling coffee, which wasn't even on the menu, she wouldn't have embarked on such a reckless adventure.
‘What a waste of points...’
Current time: 3:21 PM. Even though it was Saturday, when many cadets went off-campus, the cafe was quite crowded. So much so that she felt self-conscious occupying a table alone.
‘Maybe I should have just borrowed Instructor Kim Seulhee’s research lab...’
Do Minyeong typed on her laptop with a brazen expression.
‘I'll wait ten more minutes. If they don't come by then, I'll really take their names off the list.’
About five minutes passed.
“Direct descendant... right?”
The chair opposite was pulled back. At the same time, an unfamiliar man sat down, continuing with a sly expression.
“We're academy seniors and juniors, so we can drop formalities, right? Nice to meet you, I'm Lee Ukjin, a third-year from the Support Division.”
“What is it?”
“Nothing, no impure intentions. But do you know that all the cadets on this floor are talking about you, whether they know it or not?”
“No, more importantly, if you have no other business, would you mind vacating this seat? My group assignment members are supposed to arrive.”
Lee Ukjin stared at the two cups of coffee on the table, then tilted his head.
“I've been watching for a while, and it doesn't look like anyone's coming. Why don't we chat for a bit? I have a lot of questions about you.”
“I don't have any, Senior.”
“Wow, you're really cold. But I heard you're desperately accumulating points? Are you also thinking of transferring to the Combat Division?”
“I don't want to talk about personal matters.”
“I heard you're not even participating in club activities... Why? If you ignore club activity points, you'll be pushed out of the rankings at the end of the semester, you know?”
“...”
“So, how about joining our club? If it's you, I can arrange some points. I'm the club leader, after all.”
According to school rules, it was impossible for a club leader to distribute points. Do Minyeong calmly retorted.
“What's the club name?”
“Oh! Interested, are you? We're the Social Club. As the name suggests, our goal is to foster close relationships, like a tight-knit family. If you want... we could even have a deeper relationship.”
“Social Club... I've heard that name before. One of the six clubs operating without reporting to the Student Council.”
“...Huh?”
“Senior Lee Ukjin, club leader of the Social Club, from the Support Division, the Student Council will contact you on Monday. Regarding the club's disbandment and rule violations. After all, I am a member of the Student Council.”
“W-what?! The top first-year in the Investigation Division should be some weird boy...!”
Lee Ukjin was flustered. Do Minyeong pressed on, as if she had been waiting.
“School Rule Article 8, Paragraph 11: A cadet belonging to a group that operates without reporting to the Student Council and violates school rules may be subject to a maximum of 15 days of suspension.”
“No, to be precise, we're not a club activity; we're just a gathering of like-minded individuals, you could say...”
“You can make your excuses when the deliberation is held. For now, please vacate the seat. I trust you understand, Senior, after I've said this much.”
“...”
The surroundings began to murmur. The atmosphere was not favorable for Lee Ukjin. He gave a wry smile and rose from his chair. At the same time, he muttered something under his breath, and the sentence clearly reached Do Minyeong's ears.
“Tch, abandoned b***h...”
Abandoned b***h. Was he trying to say that she had been ostracized by her only relative? Or was he referring to being ignored by those who revered the Sword Saint? Whatever his intention, it was enough to make Do Minyeong's expression turn chillingly cold. Enough to make onlookers feel a shiver.
“...What did you just say?”
“Hmph, you're abandoned by your classmates anyway, aren't you? Leaving coffee for people who aren't even coming. What are you playing house?”
Do Minyeong stood up abruptly.
“Would you take that back?”
“What, are you going to defy your senior? What will happen if your image, which is already at rock bottom, gets even more damaged, direct descendant?”
“...”
Do Minyeong was conflicted. What repercussions would she face if she struck the senior in front of her? She replayed a few thoughts in a short time, but there was no benefit whatsoever. At most, a feeling of satisfaction. She couldn't abandon the resolutions she had made upon returning to Seoul for the sake of immediate gratification.
‘It's frustrating, but getting caught up in something like this would only be my loss.’
As she tried to suppress her anger, a cadet who had just climbed the stairs to the third floor spoke to Lee Ukjin.
“It's not playing house; it's a group assignment, Senior Lee Ukjin from the Support Division.”
It was Ji Seokhyeon. The one who had ghosted them without replying. He had arrived at the meeting place in 25 minutes.
“...Y-you, who are you?”
“I'm Ji Seokhyeon, from the Investigation Division. By the way, is it alright for you to be walking around like this?”
“What?”
“Your student ID was 69288, wasn't it, the second victim exposed by the Countdown. According to the exposure, you've been extorting points from new cadets... Isn't that at least expulsion-worthy?”
“A-are you cornering someone with such a rumor right now? Do you know who I am?”
“I don't know, I've never heard of you. If you're going to make advances on the Sword Saint's direct descendant, your parents must be at least guild masters of A-rank Hunter guilds, right?”
Lee Ukjin approached Ji Seokhyeon and grabbed him by the collar.
“This bastard, he really...!”
“It would be best if they were at least that. To insult the Sword Saint and survive in this world, you'll need more than just one or two powerful parents backing you.”
“Ugh...!”
“Hit me, I'm a social care beneficiary with no repercussions. Will your influential parents get in trouble if you hit a social care beneficiary? Ah! You might get expelled. If you're unlucky, your family register might even be removed.”
What was Ji Seokhyeon thinking, provoking Lee Ukjin like that? Do Minyeong had tried to understand Ji Seokhyeon several times so far, but all attempts had failed. From the beginning, such a personality archetype didn't even exist in her experience. The most free individual in Hero Prep, the pinnacle of bloodlines, despite being a despised social care beneficiary.
‘Perhaps it's not a matter of personality.’
These were actions impossible without the confidence that he was superior to other cadets. Lee Ukjin clenched his fist as if he was about to strike at any moment.
TREMBLE.
At that moment, a scoff emanated from one of the onlookers. The sound quickly spread, turning into criticisms of Lee Ukjin, and soon the atmosphere leaned toward pressuring Lee Ukjin. Lee Ukjin pushed Ji Seokhyeon away, as if chased by the pressure of the atmosphere.
“You, I'll definitely remember this...! It would be best if you don't even think about setting foot in this world.”
“Ah...! So your parents weren't guild masters, but Director-Generals, then?”
“...Bastard.”
Lee Ukjin descended the stairs with angry strides. Glaring at Ji Seokhyeon until the very end. The observing cadets threw remarks at Ji Seokhyeon.
“Hey junior, don't mind what that guy says. They're usually worthless types anyway.”
“Yeah, those Social Club guys are usually bad news. Just consider it bad luck.”
“Last time, they picked a fight with first-year Gong Minwu and got beaten, didn't they?”
“They're like pufferfish. Guys who have nothing but cling to famous people for no reason.”
The atmosphere became naturally awkward. However, Ji Seokhyeon approached Do Minyeong without boasting or putting on airs.
“Sorry I'm late. I guess I was tired from yesterday.”
A plain apology. Do Minyeong zoned out for a few seconds before speaking a moment later.
“Oh? Oh... It's fine now that you're here.”
“I don't think doing the assignment in this atmosphere is a good idea. Should we go somewhere else?”
“Yes, I'll contact Instructor Kim Seulhee.”
“Then, since we're going to the Hall of Faith anyway, let's stop by the Hall of Justice.”
“Why?”
“We need to catch that bastard Gwon Chihun.”
Ji Seokhyeon curled one corner of his mouth.
“I have a feeling he's slacking off there.”
***
Monday.
Outdoor Training Ground No. 3, where the Weaponry Skills lecture was in full swing.
Yesterday, as expected, the fourth Countdown victim appeared. One of the Combat Division seniors. Because the revelations continued, voices calling for the exposer to be revealed were growing among the cadets, but the instructors remained silent.
From the start, it was ludicrous for instructors, who were mere employees, to move without Vice Principal Park Cheolyeong's permission.
Therefore, the instructors maintained the stance that they would not proceed with an investigation unless the victims of the exposure wished it.
Of course, the victims were ignoring it, claiming it was just rumors. If they moved claiming to be unfairly treated, it would only exacerbate misunderstandings. Moreover, if the exposer possessed evidence that it wasn't a rumor, it was clear that they would be treated poorly.
Yu Hyeonjeong and the Mystery Club were trying to figure it out in their own ways... Well. Since I myself was intentionally avoiding Cha Yeri, it wasn't likely to be progressing well. In any case, I, who had been mentioned twice in the Countdown revelations, was focusing on my studies relatively peacefully.
“Why don't you buy a firearm now?”
“You joke well.”
“I'm serious, though...”
Weaponry Skills, instructed by Training Instructor An Hwigom, was a lecture where students sparred to snatch bells from other cadets. My opponent today was none other than Do Minyeong.
Usually, I would have scoffed and pretended not to notice, but after several weeks of lectures and perhaps finding no suitable sparring partners, she had approached me first. For me, it was a great opportunity that I couldn't refuse.
Although Do Minyeong had never learned the Sword Saint Kim Yuseong's sword, she possessed quite decent swordsmanship skills through her independent efforts. If she had a decent ability, she would have entered not as an Investigation cadet but as a Combat cadet. For all I know, her swordsmanship fundamentals were the best among her peers.
“One more time first.”
“This time, I'll really cut you.”
“It's okay, I'm used to getting hit.”
“...Huh?”
“No, no.”
Do Minyeong's swordsmanship was close to perfect in its fundamentals. It might be presumptuous for me, who had never even learned how to swing a sword, to evaluate it, but there were openings in her movements. For example, it felt like she was practicing swordsmanship even during a spar. In other words, a lack of real combat experience.
No matter how sharp a blade, if it's swung in a predetermined trajectory, predicting the next movement isn't difficult.
Moreover, my stats, focused on Agility, were specialized in exploiting an opponent's openings. First, I needed to learn her swordsmanship patterns. I adjusted my grip on the training sword and said, “Here I come.”
Just as I was about to kick off the ground to charge at Do Minyeong... The smartwatches of the cadets in the training ground vibrated simultaneously.
VIBRATE.
Perfect timing. Do Minyeong raised her wrist first, and I followed, checking the message.
-Count 3: ‘71003’ has killed someone.
A sensational message. It was a revelation that the third-ranked cadet in the 71st term had committed murder.
First in admission rank: Lee Eunho.
Second in admission rank: Top student Kim Dasol from the Support Division.
And third in rank was...
Everyone usually knew the top-ranked individuals without needing to look them up. Sure enough, the cadets' gazes focused on Gong Minwu on the training stage.
“...”
“...”
Gong Minwu, who checked the message a moment later, calmly righted his spear and quietly spoke to his sparring partner, who had just fallen.
“Bell.”