The Returnee Wants to Live Comfortably

Bus Driver Kwon Sang-ah

What is the most important aspect when playing in a team match?

No matter what anyone says, naturally, the most important thing is the teamwork among team members.

Figuring out what specs each person has and what skills they use is just basic.

It's also necessary to know how those abilities are wielded in real situations.

What if someone misuses their ability and gets in the way of their own team?

'That's what people usually call a troll.'

Even a single mistake can make a winning strategy collapse like a jenga tower.

To prevent such trolling, teams must always consult with each other before a match begins.

The interschool competition followed that structure perfectly as well.

"Seongjin, did you participate in the interschool competition this time?"

Choi Sangbaek, who sat across from me in our dormitory, asked.

Since it was the weekend and I was feeling idle, I answered with a bored expression.

"I did."

"How was it? Was it tough?"

"No, it was easy."

Naturally, our team took first place.

Unless I deliberately let someone else win, there was no way a team I belonged to would lose.

Having led an army before, managing teammates was an easy task for me now.

"Surviving in that forest for five hours isn't exactly easy, though."

"Come to think of it, you must have tried it last year, too, right, senior?"

"Aigoo... Back then, it was pure hell. We only ended up with clueless idiots in our team."

"And now?"

"Same as before. That's why I'm just lying around doing nothing."

Choi Sangbaek lamented that the outcome depended on luck, calling it a 'crappy game'.

Competitions that organize people into teams like this have always made people's blood boil, past or present.

I could only respect athletes who regularly had to compete in team events with large crowds.

"You must be happy. You get to play in the next match, too."

Finishing the interschool competition once didn't mean it was over.

If you win, you move on to compete against the next team, then the next—

Until only one team remains.

Of course, the team that remains at the end earns the highest evaluation.

"Wait, isn't today the day Sang-ah has her interschool competition?"

"Really? Then turn it on quickly."

Sang-ah's team's match was about to start.

The interschool competition could be watched in real time through the dormitory TV or on Hand's community app.

As soon as I turned on the TV, the forest located at the outskirts of Hand—the exam field—came into view.

Just then, Sang-ah's face appeared enlarged onscreen.

Seeing her expression, I sensed a bad omen.

'I really hope nothing goes wrong this time.'

****

The format for this interschool competition was base capture.

You win by breaking the giant mana stone at the enemy team's base.

The rules were similar to a certain globally popular game.

That's what the team members were thinking as well.

"No matter how I look at it, this is just like an AOS game."

"You mean that game?"

"Yeah, so let's play the same way. I made it to Diamond rank just yesterday."

"Right, there's no reason to overthink it."

The four team members seemed to treat the interschool competition as a joke, comparing it to that game.

Sang-ah, the team leader, let out a big sigh as she watched their behavior.

The more she thought about what happened last night, the more speechless she became.

She had stayed up late conducting research for the match, while those guys did nothing but play games.

'Patience, breathe, just hold on.'

Sang-ah closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Something inside her was bubbling up like lava, but she steadied herself with deep breaths.

Though she just wanted to scream at that moment, the match would soon begin.

Letting her anger explode now would only make things worse.

"Everyone, gather around."

Sang-ah called her noisy teammates over.

Then she started to share the information she'd found out late last night.

"I looked into the opposing team. They're good at stealth and hiding their presence."

"Like ninjas?"

"Yes! Actually, it is pretty similar."

At least they seemed to understand this part.

She thought they were finally getting on the same page, but then—

"If they're ninjas, do you think they'll use something like the Rasengan?"

"Nah, chidori is way cooler."

"Chidori my ass. If it's not Tailed Beast Balls, it's irrelevant."

The team members suddenly started talking about completely unrelated comic stuff.

Sang-ah's temper started to flare at their random tangent.

"Excuse me... can you please...! Just be quiet for a bit...! Okay?"

Sang-ah bit her lips as she spoke.

Hearing her barely restrained anger, her teammates finally fell silent.

"Let me explain again. The students on the other team are stealth experts, so assassination is probably their specialty. They'll move in secretly before you even notice, so be careful."

The other team was known to sneak up and try to "assassinate" as soon as they found their target.

Of course, since it was a student competition, "assassinate" just meant knocking out, not actual killing.

"So how do we deal with that?"

"When they approach, I'll use my hearing to keep watch. I'll signal you before you get knocked out—each of you can take on one of them."

With Sang-ah's keen hearing, she could notice the enemy's approach.

Sensing their movements would help prevent any team members from being taken out.

"So... you mean we really have to fight?"

When the senior in second year complained, Sang-ah's temper flared again.

"Of course you have to fight. Why else did you come here?"

"..."

This time she made her anger clear, and the team members fell silent.

She could guess their intentions just by their faces.

It was obvious they planned to hide behind the leader and freeload off her efforts.

This was what people called "being carried on the bus."

Sang-ah deeply regretted becoming the team leader, but it was too late for regrets. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the novᴇlfire.net

"The enemy we have to fight isn't just the other team."

"Ah, right, there are monsters, too, right?"

"Yes. They're called Holy Bats—yellow bat monsters. If one of them spots us, they'll swarm over and attack."

Even making eye contact with just one of those guys was like poking a beehive.

When that happened, they'd come swarming like piranhas, so hiding was essential.

On top of that, they loved cheese—just smelling it would make them rush over.

.

.

Finally, Sang-ah's team's interschool competition began.

They moved according to Sang-ah's instructions.

The enemy base was 2 km away, and no one knew what might be on the way.

They needed a scout to find possible obstacles.

"Haa..."

That scout turned out to be Sang-ah.

When she realized she was alone, she sighed and approached a tree.

And then—

"Aaaargh!! Seriously!!"

KWAANG—!!

Her fist, swung in frustration, created a huge shockwave.

The tree in front of her was sent flying, and the ground beyond was gouged deeply.

She thought she was going to lose her mind.

Because of those jerks, she felt choked up.

'I want to kill them all.'

Such anger hadn't risen in her since facing her brother and father.

How could five people be so useless that none could be relied on?

No wonder she didn't trust them enough and went scouting herself.

"Well, I still have to do it."

The giant jewel at the base was protected by a barrier.

They had to destroy suppressors scattered around to disable the barrier.

That let her scout safely.

There were no deliberate traps within the field,

but she spotted plenty of vicious monster packs wandering around.

She even saw the presence of an elite monster.

'Is that guy supposed to be like Baron Nashor?'

An extra-large bat monster resting in a giant nest.

Its strength was estimated to be comparable to an A-rank.

If defeated, it would grant teammates a buff and heal all their wounds.

'If we could take it down, it'd be a cheat code.'

After finishing her scouting, Sang-ah returned to the base.

Luckily, none of the monsters had spotted her, so she didn't lead any back.

But a shocking disaster was waiting for her.

"Aaaargh! Leader! Help!"

"Why the hell did these guys suddenly appear?!"

Countless Holy Bats were swarming the base.

Just like a swarm of bees, they were savagely biting into the base.

"What the..."

Sang-ah's eyes shook at the absurd sight.

Monsters wouldn't attack the base for no reason.

What the hell went wrong?

"Leader! Something's up!"

Her teammate, a second-year female senior, ran up to Sang-ah.

When Sang-ah asked what happened, she answered.

"I have no idea what triggered this. We just... ate bread while you were gone..."

"Bread?"

"Yeah. Here, look."

The bread she held gave off a rich tomato aroma.

It was okay to bring small amounts of food for students' calorie needs.

But Sang-ah frowned at the sight of the bread.

"This is pizza bread."

"Yeah, that's all it is. Just bread."

"Don't you know pizza bread has cheese in it?"

"Huh? Is that a problem...?"

"..."

When the girl spoke like she was completely clueless, Sang-ah was speechless.

The other team members also held up the same bread, and it reeked of cheese.

"Let me ask something."

"Seriously? Now?"

"When I explained about those bats earlier, what did I say?"

"Um..."

She made a serious face and thought hard.

After wracking her brain, she finally said,

"Sorry, I forgot."

"..."

At that moment, a fire ignited within Sang-ah.

It was as if a fuse had been lit, and something was about to explode.

Getting more agitated, Sang-ah bit her lips.

"I told you those things love cheese."

"D-did you?"

"..."

She'd struggled to research alone, explained everything alone.

And yet, no one listened at all.

They heard nothing and did nothing themselves.

Why the hell were they even part of this team?

― CRASH.

― CRASH.

Then the bats started breaking something else.

It was a small pillar set up next to the base—a suppressor that kept the base's barrier intact.

― CRASH!

― CRASH!

Eventually, the bats destroyed the suppressor, causing the barrier to vanish.

With this, the base became completely defenseless.

"We're done for, leader!"

"Do something!"

"Leader!~"

It was total chaos—practically a disaster zone.

Something snapped in Sang-ah's mind as she took in the scene.

Something inside her that restrained herself—something she must never let go of, even for her own sake.

"Ha... hahaha..."

The last thread of her reason.

"Hahahahaha...."

Once it broke—

"Ahahahahaha!!"

There was only one answer.

"You sons of bitches!!"

A roar, like a dragon's cry, resounded through the forest.

At the same time, Sang-ah's horns grew longer and scales sprouted along her arms.

Sensing the danger, the bats all rushed at Sang-ah.

But the flames she released turned them to ash within moments.

"Whoa! As expected of our leader!"

"We knew we could count on you!"

Seeing the monsters destroyed in a single blow, the teammates cheered.

"Leader, you're the best! Huh? Leader?"

"Why are you suddenly—?"

But their joy soon turned to terror.

Sang-ah grabbed one team member by the collar and lifted him up.

Then she slammed him face-first into the ground like a nail.

"Damn, I should've just done this from the start..."

"Leader...?"

"You, come here too."

A fierce gleam flashed in her eyes.

Belatedly realizing the danger, her team members ran for their lives.

At that point, the match or score didn't matter.

They instinctively knew it was time to just run away.

They fled desperately and hid under a large rock.

"What the hell is wrong with our leader?"

"How would we know?"

Then—

"Hide, hide well... I see your hair..."

Sang-ah's voice, reminiscent of a vengeful ghost, echoed.

She looked so inhuman, completely having lost her senses.

The team members, trembling, accidentally made a sound.

"Found... you."

Sang-ah's face appeared above the rock.

"Kyaaaah!"

A scream, like the closing scene of a horror movie, rang out through the forest.

"Kyahahahaha!! Today, you all die and I die, too!!"

At the same time, Sang-ah's mad laughter echoed.

.

.

"Um... senior, do we really need to fight them?"

"My thoughts exactly..."

The opposing team, watching the scene from hiding, was horrified.

"Should we try talking to her?"

"Are you crazy? If you want to die, be my guest."

****

"Lee Sujin, Kang Geumji, Marvin Hagler, Seo Hee-je."

Sung Chohyang, sitting in the dormitory, checked the four team members' names on her tablet.

These were the names of the teammates in the group where her dear junior, Kwon Sang-ah, was the team leader.

"I knew it'd be them."

Chohyang knew about them already, so she was hardly surprised.

To be precise, she meant two second-year seniors: Marvin Hagler and Seo Hee-je.

"Those idiots must've tried to freeload off Sang-ah again."

They were famous for it even in last year's interschool competition.

They pushed all their work onto the team leader, then sat back and did nothing.

From the looks of it, they pulled the same stunt this year.

"Letting the leader do all the work while they sponge off the evaluation points."

At this point, it was a habitual crime.

Chohyang almost felt sorry for Sang-ah for being assigned to the same group with those guys.

But, seeing the interschool competition broadcast on TV, she knew things weren't looking easy for those guys, either.

"That's what happens, in the end."

On TV, Sang-ah, now berserk with fury, was bullying her team members.

Chohyang felt a bit sorry, but at the same time, quite satisfied.

"It's okay, Sang-ah. This wasn't your fault."

Since things had come to this,

She hoped Sang-ah would give her teammates a taste of a different kind of 'bus ride'.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

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