Chapter 124 : Chapter 124
Chapter 124: Vacation
Evening had arrived, and the bright sun had begun its slow descent. After finishing the brief but intense conversation with Yu-hyeon and wrapping up the party, I dragged my exhausted body back to the dormitory.
"Whew. I did not expect there to be a second round of partying."
There was a good reason for my exhaustion. The party did not simply end when the official ceremony was over. While the invited dignitaries had returned home, the remaining cadets were still riding the high of the event. Consequently, I had no choice but to be dragged along by Kim Su-hyeok and play until my mind went hazy.
"Still, it was fun, so I guess it is fine."
Although it was mentally draining, I think I enjoyed myself more than I expected. In particular, watching Ryu Jin-oh grumble and snap at everyone was a delightful source of entertainment.
"Spending time with the guys is always great."
However, I had to put those feelings aside for a moment. What is the reason that rest is so sweet? Is it not because it is short and intense? Therefore, it was time to start thinking about the future.
"Right. Especially since it is now vacation season."
The vacation ceremony was scheduled for a week later. Someone might wonder if it was not okay to play a bit more since it was vacation. Of course, at a normal school, vacation would be an extension of rest—going on trips with family or finding things to do with friends. Unfortunately, such romantic notions of vacation did not exist at Glory.
"It is an extension of growth."
Well, I put it that way, but it was not as if anything was strictly mandatory. There would be no problem if someone simply wanted to play.
"But if they were the type of people to just play around, they would not have come to Glory in the first place."
If this were a place where one could come while playing as much as they wanted, it would not be called a prestigious academy. Glory Academy was a place where only those with outstanding talent and the effort to back it up gathered. Therefore, even if it was not mandatory, I doubted there was anyone who would spend their vacation just messing around.
"And I have to work even harder, like a dog."
Even if I borrowed the power of heroes, the vessel was still my own body. Thus, I had finally reached a level of physical ability that allowed me to be called a cadet of Glory. However, that did not mean I could afford to take things easy.
"I do not want to become a Player who just occupies a decent spot somewhere."
Satisfaction is a relative thing that changes based on one's goals. I must be able to protect the heroes I admire in the future; how could I be satisfied just because I achieved stats that were not embarrassing for a Glory cadet? Objectively speaking, that was nonsense, and I could not accept it myself.
"So, I have to use this opportunity to pull my strength up."
For me, more than for the other students, the Academy was not necessarily the best place to grow. The primary reason was that I could not use the Embodiment of Admiration properly for fear of being caught, even though it was essentially my main power.
'That is also one of the reasons I asked that guy, Yu-hyeon.'
When there are things that must be hidden, constraints inevitably arise when trying to do one's best. Therefore, this upcoming vacation period was a golden opportunity for me to pursue rapid growth.
"That is also when I promised to meet Yu-hyeon again."
He seemed to be planning something, and I was a bit nervous about what he might be preparing.
"For now, I should finish everything I need to handle."
Part of me wanted to focus solely on my own growth, but things in life are rarely that simple.
"I have to meet the Puppeteer, and I need to talk to Baek Ha-seong. I also have to tell the guys that I will be busy during the vacation..."
On top of that, I had to decline Cha Yu-na's invitation to come to Horizon during the break.
...Hmm.
Listing it all out like this, I realized I had an absurd amount of things to do. They say the hardest thing in life is managing connections, and that was not wrong at all. It seemed there would be no room for rest during the week remaining until vacation.
***
...Or so I thought a week ago.
Time vanished into thin air, and the vacation ceremony had already begun.
'...What is this?'
It was not as if time was sugar water; how could it melt away like this? I thought I would have no room to rest, but I did not realize I would not have even a single moment to spare.
'All I can remember is feeling the sorrow of being in the service industry...'
I had to listen to all sorts of nonsense from the Puppeteer because I did not answer her calls properly. I got nagged again while getting Baek Ha-seong's contact information through her. And then, when I tried to contact Cha Yu-na, I got criticized by the Puppeteer for being full of myself when I did not even answer her own calls... Wait a minute.
'Is this woman for real?'
Now that I think about it, all the stress I received was because of the Puppeteer. How is it that every single thing is connected to her without exception?
'Whew. I was the one who messed up first, so let's just endure it.'
Even if I had my reasons, I was the one who did not answer the calls first. Therefore, enduring it was the right course of action. Even though I was harassed to the point where I worried about my hair falling out... she was still a valuable connection, right? She always acted flighty, but if you actually looked into it, that crazy woman was still an S-Rank villain.
I was silently carving the character for "patience" into my heart when it happened.
"Good morning, everyone."
Im Seong-cheol entered the classroom with his usual expressionless face. He gave a brief greeting and went straight to the point.
"Several months have passed, and a semester has already ended. It is time for the vacation ceremony."
"……."
"It was a short time, but it was truly tumultuous. Many incidents occurred that should never have happened."
There was a distinct sense of bitterness in Im Seong-cheol's voice.
'I heard he was the most proactive during the final exams.'
He probably sounded like that now because he had been unable to do anything back then despite his efforts. It was a very characteristic look for Im Seong-cheol, but it was not exactly pleasant to see. I did not particularly want to see him struggling mentally. However, what could I do? I had no way to help him. Therefore, the right move was to stay quiet and not interfere.
"First, I will discuss the most important matter: grades. The practical test from the final exams will be excluded from the final grades."
No cadet seemed surprised by those words. It would have been nonsensical to convert moments where they had to fight villains for their lives into academic grades.
"Therefore, grades will be replaced by the results of the practical and mock training sessions held during the semester. If there are any objections, please raise your hand."
Since it was the most rational method under the current circumstances, no one expressed dissatisfaction. Im Seong-cheol nodded and continued.
"Next is regarding the vacation."
This was something I already knew to some extent. Those who wanted to stay at the Academy during the break could stay and use the training facilities. And since instructors would be working normal hours, students could ask for guidance if they wished, and so on. It was all the usual, predictable stuff. However, not everything was predictable.
"Just because it is vacation does not mean you should become lazy. Therefore, there will be one mandatory call-up during the break."
'A call-up? There was no such thing before.'
One of Glory's policies was freedom. One of the main principles Glory promoted was that growth manifests through freedom, not a forced environment. Yet, they were calling us up during vacation, not even during the semester? My doubt was soon cleared.
"Tumultuous incidents have been occurring frequently of late. Because of this, the Academy is also on high alert. You can think of the call-up during vacation as a so-called special lecture."
Indeed. That reason explained it.
'It takes time to prepare, but doing it during the semester would ruin the scheduled classes.'
It was a sufficiently rational plan. The only problem would be the cadets' reaction, but...
"Yes, sir!!"
Everyone nodded without showing any sign of displeasure. Well, these were people who had no intention of playing during vacation anyway. It was a completely normal reaction.
"Good. Then, that is all for the announcements."
Usually, Im Seong-cheol would have ended it there. It was his ironclad rule to avoid unnecessary talk as much as possible to avoid wasting the cadets' time. However, Im Seong-cheol scanned the cadets as if he had something more to say. A very brief moment passed. Then, Im Seong-cheol's closed mouth slowly opened.
"It might be ridiculous for me to say this after I failed to protect you properly, but there is one thing I really wanted to say."
"……."
"I hope everyone stays safe during the vacation and that we meet again without any trouble. That is all."
After saying that, Im Seong-cheol immediately left the classroom. Since Glory's vacation ceremony ended with the homeroom instructor saying a few words in the classroom, the cadets could leave now. However, no one stood up from their seats.
"Did you hear that? I did not expect to hear something like that from the instructor."
"I know. He always says only what is necessary, so I thought it would be the same this time."
"It feels even better because someone who usually isn't like that said it. Haha!"
Everyone was reflecting on the words Im Seong-cheol had left behind. And I was the same.
'It certainly feels good.'
Entering vacation after receiving Im Seong-cheol's sincere concern. In many ways, it felt like it would be a decent vacation.
***
"He should be here by now."
After the short but sufficiently impactful vacation ceremony ended, I took a portal out of Glory and settled down in a cafe in the city. There was only one reason.
"Just when is that guy Yu-hyeon coming?"
It was already ten minutes past the time we had agreed to meet. I had even cut my conversations short with Kim Su-hyeok and the others to get here quickly and keep the appointment.
"Well, it is not as if we are parting for years, so there was no need for a long conversation."
Glory's vacation was two months. They said the call-up would start exactly halfway through the break. Therefore, since I would not be seeing them for essentially a month, there was no need for a lengthy farewell. Besides, everyone except Ju Ha-yeon said they would be learning at Horizon during the break, so I could go see them whenever I wanted.
"Still, people have feelings."
I had come here after barely setting those feelings aside, yet this guy Yu-hyeon showed no sign of arriving. I was mentally listing insults directed at Yu-hyeon when it happened.
—DING!
The bell rang as the cafe door opened. At the same time, I finally heard the voice I had been waiting for.
"Haha, I am a bit late. Have you been waiting long?"
Yu-hyeon approached my seat while scratching his head awkwardly. I thought about getting a little angry at his innocent act... but considering I was about to become his student, I decided it was better to endure it. I did not want to be put through the wringer for something unnecessary.
"No. Only a few minutes have passed."
"I see. Still, I am sorry for being late. I was busy preparing some things."
"Preparing?"
He looked quite light-bodied for someone who was "preparing" things.
"It is all in here."
"Ah."
Yu-hyeon tapped his arm. I had momentarily forgotten about the existence of the spatial storage artifact.
"But do you really need preparations?"
"Is that not obvious? To get meaningful results in one month, one needs solid preparation."
"Hmm..."
I suppose that could be true. I had originally planned to spend the entire vacation on this, but because of the call-up, I had hastily changed the plan to one month.
'Well, I am sure he prepared well on his own.'
Even if our relationship was a tightrope walk, we were still in a friendly partnership. It was strange to criticize someone who had even come prepared to teach me earnestly.
"Then, can we head out right away?"
"Yes. I have already set the entire schedule. You do not need to worry about things like accommodation, either."
"That is good, at least."
I had more money than before, but it still felt like a waste to spend it on things like lodging.
"Then let's head out immediately. It will be more beneficial to start as soon as possible."
"Haha, what great passion."
With those words, I immediately stood up and followed Yu-hyeon out of the cafe. It was only after arriving at the place Yu-hyeon had prepared that I lateley regretted my choices.
I should have asked Yu-hyeon what his prepared plan was.
If I had known it would be like this, I would have taken the time to enjoy one last cup of Americano in peace.