Chapter 23
“What does that mean?”
Jung Eunyoung, who had been walking toward Yeonwoo with her stance still askew, raised her voice so everyone could hear.
“I mean, come on. An S-class Esper Kang Chahun calls a C-zone Esper ‘hyung’ just because he taught him a few things? Does that make any sense?”
Park Seohyun’s expression hardened at Jung Eunyoung’s words. Yeonwoo grabbed Park Seohyun’s arm as she was about to step forward, and kept his eyes lowered as he waited for Jung Eunyoung’s next words.
“Everyone here knows that Han Yeonwoo is Han Yeonhwa’s brother. Kang Chahun is S-class. If he’s S-class, he’s obviously going to be the protagonist in the books Han Yeonhwa writes, so you’re saying you just pretended not to know? Come on, just tell the truth. You approached him knowing all of this.”
As if not actually expecting an answer, her follow-up came immediately. Right, this would be how normal people would react.
Wait, but how dare she call my sister by her name so casually? Espers used formal speech with each other as a sign of mutual respect, adding “Esper” after names. The fact that she called Chahun “Esper” but just used Yeonhwa’s name plainly showed she clearly had an issue with Yeonhwa.
Suppressing a sigh, Yeonwoo looked around. Not only those who had witnessed the incident in the cafeteria, but even those who hadn’t been present were whispering while looking at Yeonwoo.
“Ah… I didn’t realize everyone was seeing things that way.”
Jung Eunyoung let out a small snort as Yeonwoo ran his hand down his cheek.
“I’ve never approached anyone with such intentions… If I had wanted to approach someone with those intentions…”
Yeonwoo trailed off, glancing to one side. People following Yeonwoo’s gaze looked around, trying to figure out who Yeonwoo had been looking at. Though they had sworn not to ask Esper Han Yeonwoo any questions when contracting with the Center, everyone was desperate to know their futures.
Zone C became noisy as people tried to identify which ability user Yeonwoo would have approached with such intentions. Those standing where Yeonwoo’s gaze had landed unconsciously felt proud, while those who could only see the back of Yeonwoo’s head didn’t hide their dejected expressions.
“Well, I don’t have the temperament of a moth that dives into flames without knowing what lies ahead.”
At Yeonwoo’s bright smile, those who recalled the fates of people who had tried to change their futures began to retreat cautiously.
“There are… people… who were willing to burn themselves to death to try to change the future.”
Ignoring the sweat pooling in his palm, Yeonwoo swallowed dryly and forced a smile.
“You all know what kind of future those people met. Why would I try to change the future? I’m satisfied with my lot in life. Well, some people might not be.”
Like those around you.
“I’m not that stupid.”
Though he didn’t want a commotion, he had no habit of backing down from a fight someone else had started. Under Yeonwoo’s blatant stare, Jung Eunyoung glared with wide eyes.
“That’s enough.”
Jung Eunyoung, who had been fumbling over the top of her auxiliary bag as if about to charge forward at any moment, was restrained by Bae Jaeyoung and glared at Yeonwoo with bloodshot eyes. What are you going to do by glaring like that? Waving with an eye-smile, Yeonwoo looked at Lee Subin, who was gesturing to him. After asking Park Seohyun’s permission to follow the beckoning toward him, Yeonwoo left the training ground.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
Smiling gently to keep his eyes from becoming pointed, Yeonwoo gritted his teeth inwardly. They weren’t worth getting angry over. Weren’t they the type who blamed others first without reflecting on themselves? Having been blamed more than once or twice, Yeonwoo and Yeonhwa could laugh this off. It’s not like they were chasing him with knives demanding he resurrect the dead.
“Actually, ever since she found out I was your classmate from military academy, she’s been questioning me so persistently that I wondered if she was interested in Yeonhwa, but her eyes were completely crazed. It reminded me of the incident when Yeonhwa was almost kidnapped during military academy… Just in case, I denied knowing anything.”
“That must have been tough. Are the kids from other zones being detained too?”
“Woogeon was too busy training so nothing like that happened to him. I don’t know about Zone B kids. Anyway, it seems Esper Jung Eunyoung’s family lost their abilities back then. I was going to warn you to be careful, but the incident has already happened.”
Seeing Lee Subin’s dispirited face, Yeonwoo deliberately smiled broadly.
“Were there only one or two people like that? I was wondering why she suddenly picked a fight, but now that I know the reason, I feel better.”
Despite Yeonwoo’s smiling face, Lee Subin patted his back, telling him to stay strong.
“Then we’ll be training together the week after next?”
Looking forward to practicing together after so long. As the training start bell rang, Yeonwoo entered the training ground while chatting amicably.
Hmm.
The gazes directed at Yeonwoo were unfriendly. The fact that such gazes persisted despite him leaving after clearing the atmosphere… Biting the tip of his tongue, Yeonwoo looked at Jung Eunyoung, who was smiling and waving just as Yeonwoo had done earlier.
Most were looking at Yeonwoo with expressions of “maybe, surely not,” but there was a group glaring at him with faces that said “as expected.” They were team members who had accumulated penalty points and been excluded from virtual dungeon training.
“Attention, everyone.”
The training director clapped to gather attention and opened a palm-sized bag. When the training director pulled out a drawer as tall as himself by inserting his finger into the bag, exclamations of wonder erupted from all around. The ability users who gathered around gazed at the drawer shimmering with a peculiar light, their eyes sparkling.
Park Seohyun nodded excitedly at Choi Dongwon’s question about whether this was the inventory rewarded from dungeons.
“From today, we will be conducting combat training.”
As the training director flicked his finger, the drawer opened one compartment at a time. Weapons of various types were displayed in each drawer. The training director looked around at the ability users, excited by the news of new training, and handed out small beads to each of them.
“Let mana flow into it like you would fill a mana ball. As I always say, there’s no need to put in too much—hey, you there. Listen to the explanation first.”
Screams erupted from various places as magical beasts emerged from the beads. The training director gestured for team members who were screaming to step back and set up a defense barrier to contain the magical beasts.
“These are not real magical beasts but hologram magical beasts created for virtual dungeons. There’s no risk of injury, but getting hit feels quite unpleasant, so please avoid it as best you can. It’s good to try to catch the magical beasts, but please be aware of whether there are team members nearby and whether you’re attacking a team member or a magical beast. Come forward one by one and choose your weapons. Esper Han Yeonwoo.”
Called by name, Yeonwoo, who had been examining the inside of the drawer, grasped a dagger that wrapped around his hand and stepped back. Choi Dongwon stood next to Yeonwoo with an excited face, holding two shields.
“Don’t forget to return the weapons when training ends. It’s fine to use the training tools roughly. However, if you lose them, you won’t just receive penalty points—you’ll have to give up your turn to those people resting over there.”
At those words, Park Seohyun, who had been selecting a weapon with a flushed face, returned with a pinwheel. After Jo Heeseo, who had mocked asking what that was, and finally Bae Jaeyoung had chosen their weapons, Park Seohyun, who was holding the bead, settled in a corner of the training ground.
“Let’s secure some space first before infusing mana.”
At Park Seohyun’s words, Choi Dongwon began setting up defensive barriers. Through the transparent barriers, a group of ability users could be seen approaching the training director. Though Yeonwoo tried not to listen to what they were discussing, his ears, which had become sensitive upon awakening as an Esper, caught the conversation.
“Could we perhaps know why Esper Han Yeonwoo’s team was chosen first?”
It was a voice that felt both polite and sarcastic. Even before that voice finished its question, a soft “heh” laugh was heard from the training director.
“Ask directly. Are you asking if I gave Esper Han Yeonwoo preferential treatment?”
At the training director’s question, the ability users kept their mouths shut. The fact that they didn’t even make a formal denial saying it wasn’t that suggested they were asking with certainty. They must be looking at the training director with faces asking if that’s right.
This isn’t even funny. Is virtual dungeon training all the benefit one gets for being Han Yeonhwa’s family? Isn’t that undervaluing Yeonhwa too much?
If he were going to ride on Yeonhwa’s name, he wouldn’t be training in Zone C. He probably wouldn’t be living in a one-room apartment that would be packed with just three people lying down. How many guild masters would have been bowing to Yeonwoo, saying they had built a full villa mansion and he just needed to come?
What’s a full villa mansion? He would have taken the hand of the Muyeong Guild Master when he offered a shining card saying he would grant anything Yeonwoo wanted.
How dare they equate Yeonhwa with a mere virtual dungeon?
“Isn’t it?”
The training director sighed at the brazenly stubborn question from someone who mistakenly thought they had driven home a point, and looked at Yeonwoo, who had settled in one corner. There were too many gazes directed at Yeonwoo, who was calmly preparing for training as if he couldn’t hear anything.
“Focus.”
The Center Director slapped his hands together and scanned the ability users who couldn’t even hide their unsteady gazes with contemptuous eyes.
“Didn’t you discard the illusion that you were exceptionally talented when you graduated from military academy or academy?”
Suddenly, why bring that up…? As voices of discontent flowed from somewhere, pouts appeared here and there. Human greed is something that can’t be abandoned or discarded even if one tries. The ability users of Zone C were comparing themselves, thinking “at least I’m better than that person.”
“Could anyone who has ever organized the training tools please raise your hand?”
The training director’s finger was pointing at the training tool organizer. Park Seohyun gestured as if asking why Yeonwoo wasn’t raising his hand, but Yeonwoo just curled his fingertips and smiled.
“Those who left without organizing the training tools—if you have any decency, keep your mouths shut.”
At the scathing voice, people who had been pouting subtly bit their lips.
“While you all abandoned the training ground, Esper Han Yeonwoo was the only one who organized the scattered training tools.”
At the training director’s words, Yeonwoo’s ears heated up. He was anxious that the next words might be telling others to follow Yeonwoo’s example. The training director, who sighed loudly enough for everyone to hear, looked at the ability users who had come to complain with a cold gaze.
“Are you satisfied?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
