Chapter 13
“On top of that, there were strange signs at the western training center recently. Just numbers, but still. They seem eager to hear more about the situation.”
“I gave them the report they asked for, what more do they want? They’re so incompetent.”
“…”
“Sigh, Dohyun.”
“Yes, Senior.”
“Don’t you think it’s about time for humanity to go extinct?”
“Senior!”
Dohyun shouted back, unusually loud for him. Jungwook frowned and glared at him.
“I’m just saying…”
“Coming from you, Senior, it sounds serious.”
“Ugh, you’re so noisy.”
“Ah! There’s one more thing. I received a call this morning. They said someone from the Guard Association headquarters will be visiting soon. It’s been a while since we’ve had new Guards, and their abilities this time are quite exceptional.”
“They’re probably coming to show off and sit in those fancy chairs again.”
“Senior, please…”
Dohyun looked at Jungwook as if he was afraid someone might hear him.
“And exceptional? There are only a few worth watching.”
Dohyun’s eyes widened at Jungwook’s words.
Jungwook always used to say, “There’s no one worth training,” after the new recruit presentations.
The fact that he said there were only a few worth watching meant that there were actually a few talented individuals who had caught his eye.
“I guess it must be those four that caught your eye, Senior?”
The four who had been talked about since registration because of their outstanding skills from the start. The four who had shown unprecedented potential in the preliminary tests.
Dohyun spoke as if he had guessed it.
“It is four, but…”
“As expected.”
Jungwook glanced at Dohyun’s profile, who was already convinced without hearing him out, and closed his mouth as if he was annoyed.
There was no need to say that it wasn’t the four he was thinking of.
After Jungwook left the auditorium, another instructor came in and gave a brief presentation.
It was about the rules they had to follow during the month-long training camp, the penalties for violations, a guide to the building, and information related to the schedule.
Sehyun’s expression was dark as she came out, holding the handout in one hand.
‘I was stupid.’
Sehyun recalled the test.
Even in her terrified state when the monster appeared, she had noticed something.
The monster didn’t have a shadow.
And when the monster swung its club and struck the floor, there was a deafening sound, but the floor wasn’t damaged. There should have been at least a mark where the club hit the floor, but the floor was spotless, as if it had been cleaned.
That’s how she realized it was a monster created by technology.
However, despite realizing it, her mind, overwhelmed by fear, couldn’t make a rational judgment.
The moment the monster’s club shattered the wall, she unconsciously tried to escape through the opening. Then, when she realized something was wrong, Jungwook’s words came to mind.
‘Do not step out of the square frame drawn on the floor.’
This is another test!
But by the time she realized it, she had already slipped, and her hand had crossed the line of the square frame.
Even if she hadn’t crossed the line, if she had hesitated any longer, the monster’s club would have struck her head.
Either way, there was no way she could have avoided getting an F grade.
‘I had too many weaknesses.’
Sehyun clenched her left hand, which had touched the floor, as she reflected on her movements.
If she was going to be a Guard, she had to get a high grade. She knew from experience that getting a mediocre grade would only lead to hardship.
How can I use the unavailable skill? And how can I acquire other skills?
As she was walking, deep in thought, the tip of a shoe entered her field of vision. It was a shiny, polished shoe.
Who in their right mind would wear dress shoes to a training camp? she wondered.
“Kim Sehyun.”
“…”
A familiar voice pierced her ears.
“It really is you.”
Thump.
Her heart skipped a beat a moment later.
How could she forget that voice?
The voice she didn’t want to remember, but which came to mind instantly.
Sehyun slowly raised her head and saw the man standing in front of her. The man was smiling, but there was no warmth in his smile.
“Fancy seeing you here.”
“…”
“I was wondering how you were doing… It’s nice to see you, really.”
The man greeted her in a friendly tone, as if he had met an old friend.
Shin Jooho…
Sehyun just stared at him silently, and he chuckled.
“Why aren’t you returning my greeting? It’s not like you’ve lost your voice.”
At Jooho’s words, Sehyun raised her head and met his gaze with a hardened expression. Just making eye contact brought back vivid memories, like photographs flashing before her eyes.
Short, painful memories that held no joy.
Moments where he always smiled, and she cried until she couldn’t cry anymore.
If it hadn’t been for her aunt, she would have been broken, because of him and his family.
Sehyun’s face became expressionless. As she tried to walk past him as if he were invisible, Jooho blocked her path in a blink of an eye.
“Hey, I’m talking to you.”
“…”
“You’re making me cry.”
Jooho’s eyes glinted dangerously. Sehyun’s gaze turned cold at his chilling look.
“Shin Jooho.”
“Wow, you said my name.”
Jooho was genuinely impressed.
“Just get lost.”
“Wow, Kim Sehyun, you never give up, do you?”
Jooho looked at Sehyun and smiled, genuinely impressed. At that moment,
Sehyun flinched as a shadow fell over her and quickly looked up.
Jooho’s hand, which had been tucked in his pants pocket a moment ago, was now in the air.
A sharp memory flashed through her mind.
Her swollen cheek and the ringing in her ear. And the muffled curses she had heard amidst it all.
Sehyun instinctively created distance between them and glared at Jooho.
“Ah, was that a dodge?”
“…”
“Wow, you’re faster than I thought. Maybe because you pushed off the ground and jumped back.”
Sehyun’s face hardened slightly at Jooho’s leisurely comment. He had read her dodge. That meant dodging was pointless.
“But of all the skills you could have Awakened to, it had to be dodge? It suits you so well, don’t you think? Or is it tailored for me? I mean, it would be so boring if you just stood there and took my hits now that I’m a Guard. Don’t you think?”
“You haven’t changed.”
“…”
“You’re still…”
“…”
Jooho’s face hardened at Sehyun’s words. Seeing his expression, Sehyun smiled faintly on purpose. Jooho’s face contorted in anger.
“Looks like you’ve forgotten those memories.”
A menacing aura emanated from Jooho.
“You seem to have forgotten. Any act of violence other than sparring during this month-long training will result in disqualification from becoming a Guard. I’m fine with it, but it won’t be good for you if you get kicked out.”
“It won’t be good for you either. You must have struggled to become a Guard. You can’t just give up so easily, can you?”
“…”
“And you think you can act tough relying on that? What are you going to do in a month?”
Jooho asked with a low chuckle.
His eyes gleamed as he spoke about a month later. Sehyun cursed inwardly but didn’t avoid his gaze.
Jooho smiled, seeming satisfied.
“Right, even after all this, Kim Sehyun, you’re still not intimidated. I love that about you.”
His tone was so bright that anyone listening would think he was encouraging her.
“It makes it more fun to crush you.”
Sehyun flicked her ear in front of Jooho, as if she had heard something dirty. Even at that small reaction, Jooho smirked.
“Shin Jooho!”
“What are you doing?”
A few of the trainees who had received an A grade called out to Jooho from their group.
“Yeah, I’m coming.”
Jooho smiled at his group, but his face turned cold as soon as he turned his head back.
He cursed silently, as if annoyed, and looked at Sehyun with a hardened expression.
The fact that he couldn’t show his annoyance meant he was wary of someone.
“Sigh, what a shame. See you around.”
Jooho turned around with a smile. Sehyun, watching his retreating figure, ran her hand over her face.
…Ah, the twitch.
Her left eyelid twitched under her palm.
“Sigh.”
Sehyun let out a breath she had been holding after Jooho completely disappeared.
Painful memories flooded her mind.
The punches raining down on her and the kicks that trampled her.
Memories so cruel that she wondered how a human could do that to another human.
The agonizing moments when she wished for death, but it never came.
Days that were a living hell.
“Sigh.”
What bad luck.
To run into Shin Jooho here of all places.
Moreover, Shin Jooho was an A-grade. Although the current grades didn’t represent everything, it meant that he was most likely stronger than her at this point.
“There’s no solution…”
Sehyun muttered softly and then stopped. Her eyes narrowed as if lost in thought.
Was there really no solution?
Shin Jooho was stronger than her…
If he was stronger…
“Ah.”
A short gasp escaped her lips as if she had realized something. Her eyes sparkled as she turned around.
A reckless but surefire method.
A faint smile spread across Sehyun’s lips.
Sehyun glanced at the room as she opened the door to go for breakfast.
Jieun, wearing a hoodie pulled low over her head, was standing by the door like a scarecrow, staring at her.
Sehyun flinched.
Jieun quickly averted her gaze as their eyes met.
It was an ambiguous action, as if she didn’t want Sehyun to talk to her but also wanted her to.
Sehyun hesitated for a moment and then turned around abruptly.
“Aren’t you going for breakfast?”
Sehyun asked, and Jieun flinched and looked at her.
“What? M, me?”
“Yes.”
“C, can I go with you?”
…That wasn’t an invitation to go together.
Hmm, was he a past lover?