Chapter 122 : Chapter 122
Chapter 122: In Order to Become Stronger (1)
Contrary to the commotion that had occurred, the award ceremony ended faster than expected. This was because when the merits were discussed, my actions were explained similarly to those of the other students, as we could not reveal that it was Baek Ha-seong who had appeared during the final exams.
In truth, since so many cadets were there, anyone who needed to know likely already did...
'But making an official announcement is a different matter.'
It basically meant: "Just keep it to yourselves." That was likely the gist of it. This, too, must have been influenced by the Baek family.
'It is not a problem I need to think about right now, anyway.'
From the moment I spoke with Baek Ha-seong, I was destined to become entangled with him. Therefore, it was better to focus on the present for now. With that thought, I looked at the students who were chatting boisterously.
"Congratulations on getting your medals, everyone! They look great on you!"
"Haha, thank you."
Kim Su-hyeok was answering every single cadet who approached to offer congratulations. It must have been exhausting, yet seeing him respond to every person was truly impressive.
'In contrast, Ryu Jin-oh is clearly annoyed.'
He was practically radiating an aura telling everyone not to come near him. Still, a few tactless students continued to talk to him. For example...
"Jin-oh! Try this. You have not eaten anything yet."
"…I will take care of myself, so be quiet."
"What are you talking about? It is a party; you should enjoy yourself. Here! Hurry up and try it. I am telling you, this is delicious!"
"Dammit..."
Specifically, Kim Su-hyeok, who was brightly smiling and persistently sticking to Ryu Jin-oh. As expected of our protagonist, he was truly clueless about social cues, except when it came to combat. However, I agreed with Kim Su-hyeok's sentiment.
'It is only right to enjoy yourself at a party.'
Do they not say to treat people well while they are around instead of regretting it after they are gone? I did not think that was the right phrase for this situation, but I agreed with enjoying the moment regardless. Therefore, just as I was about to grab a dish Kim Su-hyeok had recommended to enjoy the party myself...
"Are you all having a good time?"
A woman approached us, followed by a man. If it had been anyone else, I would have finished what I was about to eat, but I could not do that now.
"Did you come personally, Guildmaster Cha Yu-na?"
Since the Guildmaster of the nation's top guild had arrived in person, how could I shove food into my mouth? It might have been fine in a private setting, but in a place like this with so many watchful eyes, it felt inappropriate.
"Yes. Even if I am busy, I can make time to come here."
"Well, the Guildmaster nagged me so much that I had no choice but to make time."
"Hoho. Deok-pal. Be quiet if you have even a shred of tact."
Cha Yu-na threatened him with a smile in response to Oh Deok-pal's words. Finding the scene amusing, I greeted Oh Deok-pal, whom I had not seen in a while.
"It has been a long time. Have you been well?"
"Me? I have just been spending my time listening to the Guildmaster's nagging. Have you been well, Yu-seong?"
"I am still alive, so I suppose I have been well."
"Guffaw! I see. Well, as long as a Player is breathing, they are doing fine."
His sly nature remained unchanged. But it did not really matter.
'In fact, it is better to see it that way.'
He was turning a potentially heavy atmosphere into a light one. That slyness was something I could easily tolerate for that alone. Well... I did not know if he was doing it intentionally or not.
"By the way, did you have to come over here?"
"Hmm? Am I making you uncomfortable? I thought we were close."
"No. It is not that I am uncomfortable, it is just..."
I trailed off and shifted my gaze slightly. Cha Yu-na, following my eyes, finally wore an expression that showed she understood.
"I see. You do not want to receive too much attention."
"It is a bit burdensome."
The Guildmaster of Horizon had come directly to us. Because of that, even if people were not staring openly, all eyes were focused in our direction. It was one thing for people to hear reports that we had a connection, but showing it directly in a public setting was a different matter. However, looking at Cha Yu-na's expression...
"You came here with that intention from the start, didn't you?"
It seemed she had no intention of going anywhere else. The faint smile on her face made it clear to anyone that this was a calculated move. Cha Yu-na did not seem to have any intention of hiding it either, as she immediately agreed with my words.
"Of course. Shouldn't I clearly show that Horizon has already marked you first?"
"I do not recall saying I was going to Horizon yet."
"Oh my. Then are you saying you want to go to a guild other than Horizon?"
Cha Yu-na spoke as if challenging me to try, her smile suggesting she found the situation amusing. I was slightly taken aback by her confidence, but it was actually a natural reaction.
'Horizon is not just number one; it is an untouchable number one.'
While it was not a guild with a long history, its achievements were overwhelmingly in first place. Horizon was a place with power that no other guild could dare to rival. Therefore, even if her brazenness was irritating, I could not deny it.
"Then, could you perhaps go to the others?"
"Hmm? Is there a reason for that?"
"I feel like a conversation with the Guildmaster of Horizon is a bit too much for someone ranked 899th."
At my words, Cha Yu-na countered as if asking what I was talking about.
"Is there anyone in this place who would actually care about that?"
"Pardon?"
"They might not know if they lacked information, but everyone likely knows by now. They know that you are no longer just some low-ranking cadet."
"……."
"Look. Even if you ignore the people invited today, the way the other cadets look at you has changed long ago, hasn't it?"
I had been pretending not to notice, but Cha Yu-na's words were true. Compared to the entrance ceremony, the way people looked at me had changed to an incomparable degree.
'Actually, it was not a sudden change.'
The incident with Do Gang-ho and Lee Ho-jae, the first real combat gate training incident, the midterm exams, and so on. Through various incidents, I had noticed that the gazes directed at me were shifting. Since I am also human, it was natural for me to perceive the eyes of those around me. I had simply been pretending not to notice because the change had not been massive.
'But the final exam incident must have played a huge role.'
The guy who risked his life to stop an S-Rank villain. That was how the cadets were describing me. The reason there was no jealousy in the gazes directed at me was likely because of that as well. They, more than anyone else, had been the ones involved.
'Well, I suppose it is a good change.'
It was much better than receiving ill-intentioned stares. Whatever the case, we were people who had to spend time together in this Academy, and we were those who would stand together when disaster struck in the future. It was just that this kind of attention felt burdensome since it had been a long time. However, it would be strange to keep pretending not to notice when Cha Yu-na was being so direct. Therefore, I nodded moderately at her words.
"I am aware."
"Hmm, I did not know this, but you have a bit of a cocky side, don't you, Yu-seong?"
"Did you not just tell me to look for myself?"
"Well, yes, but I did not expect you to say it so bluntly."
"Humility is not always a virtue."
"Fufu, that is true. In fact, it is more annoying when someone knows but pretends they do not."
I expected her to answer like that. Are gates not places where unexpected situations occur constantly? As the person in overall charge of those who made clearing such gates their profession, she was not the type to enjoy speaking in circles. However, even so, I could not change what I had said to Cha Yu-na.
"Still, I would be grateful if you could go to the others for now."
"Even though you know it is not 'too much' for you, you still insist?"
"Besides that, I have a prior engagement."
"A prior engagement?"
"Yes. I have a conversation I postponed earlier."
It was not exactly an excuse. Even now, Yu-hyeon was continuously sending signals with his eyes from some distance away. It seemed Cha Yu-na had finally detected that gaze as well.
"I did not realize it was true that you wanted to go to a guild other than Horizon."
"It is not like that. He is just someone I already knew."
"Is that so? I did not think you had many connections, but it seems you know someone quite outstanding."
"Can you feel that?"
"No."
She said no. Wasn't this the part where she was supposed to say she could feel it? However, I had no choice but to be convinced by Cha Yu-na's following words.
"Sometimes, it is more frightening when you feel nothing at all than when you feel something."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Players above a certain level naturally become very sensitive to presences. I am the same. Yet, since I felt nothing, he must naturally be an outstanding person."
Indeed, looking at it that way, she was not wrong. In fact, even though Yu-hyeon was a cultist, it was true that he was outstanding. Well, since I was not yet "above a certain level" as Cha Yu-na mentioned, I only understood it intellectually and did not quite know what the feeling was.
"Then, may I move to the other spot first?"
"Why do you need my permission? We did not have an appointment to meet in the first place."
"Still, there are matters of courtesy. Anyway, I will take that as your permission and go."
"But is it alright not to say anything to your friends? Especially Cadet Su-hyeok; I think he will look for you later."
When I turned my head at her words, I saw Kim Su-hyeok and the others engaged in intense conversation. And they weren't talking to just cadets or ordinary guild members, but to Hero-Rank Players. I had not noticed because I was focused on Cha Yu-na, but they were having a quite difficult time as well.
"If he looks for me later, could you please tell him separately? I do not want to step into that circle."
"Hmm. I do not mind, but..."
"Then, I leave it to you."
With those words, I bowed to express my gratitude and left the spot. Looking at how Cha Yu-na trailed off, it was clear I would be held back again if I stayed. That would be a bit problematic.
'Yu-hyeon surely did not come all this way just to see my face.'
He must have come here personally because he had something to convey. And whatever he had to say was surely not the kind of thing that could wait leisurely. If it were that kind of conversation, he would not have come here while risking being caught. Therefore, I needed to speak with Yu-hyeon as quickly as possible.
'Besides, I have something to say on my end as well.'
Unlike Yu-hyeon, what I had to say was not something I had originally thought of or planned. However, since he happened to have come looking for me, there was no reason to waste this opportunity.
'The golden opportunity to become stronger, that is.'
My goal was to receive instruction from him. Of course, I could ask the instructors or Shin Yu-hwan. However, in my judgment, there was no one more suitable than Yu-hyeon.
'He is a skilled person who does not fall behind Shin Yu-hwan, and his main weapon is the sword.'
Was that not a perfectly suitable case for learning? Well, Yu-hyeon had not accepted yet, and there was no guarantee he would be a good teacher...
'But I have nothing to lose.'
And besides that, I had about two more things to ask him. Therefore, I moved my feet quickly toward Yu-hyeon to save even a little more time.
In order to stop relying helplessly on the mercy of others as I had been, and to become someone who could lead the situation even a little bit.