“I’ll do anything, just tell me. I will, I really will.”
“But sorry, once you become a trainee, even if you hate it, the amount of menial tasks will increase. Our school is practically like the military now.”
Park Jinsung earnestly pleaded, but the 10th Platoon Leader also earnestly refused.
It was a pointless struggle. The 10th Platoon Leader’s answer was already predetermined, and all Jinsung had to do was acknowledge it.
“But I still want to go. There’s only two years left now.”
“Jinsung, have you ever thought about the fact that there are still two years left? It’s only early April, let’s transfer quickly. Okay?”
Jinsung tried hard to lift the corners of his mouth to find some relief. But he couldn’t stop his cheeks from twitching.
“Ah, as a teacher, shouldn’t you acknowledge the potential the student has? What if I suddenly get better at it?”
“Huh? Poo-haha-haha-haha-haha!”
The 10th Platoon Leader made eye contact with Jinsung for the first time, drooling even.
“Wow! It’s our Jinsung after all! I’ll even take a joke from Jinsung?! Great, I liked it. I’ll take responsibility and send you to a good school.”
Watching the rampaging 10th Platoon Leader, Jinsung recalled the wise words his father had given him when he was young.
[Son, life is all about having leisure.]
Jinsung heard those words when he was only seven years old in kindergarten.
He remembered it despite being young, probably because he heard it so many times. Every time he heard those words, he remembered his father getting scolded by his mother.
Let’s straighten your stiff shoulders. You should always smile brightly wherever and whenever.
“Teacher, um, if my grades improve from now on, can I continue going to school?”
“Huh?”
“When I first entered elementary school, my parents were really happy. Especially my mom. I still can’t forget the taste of the sausage she made back then.”
“As the students are divided into ranks, your school life will become harder. You know that I can’t take care of everything for you, right?”
Of course, the 10th Platoon Leader knew Jinsung’s life when attending the school. Is a teacher who tolerates school violence really a teacher?
“Ah, I see. You just don’t want to have an F-class in your class, right?”
If Jinsung agrees, he’ll probably give up on going to school. After all, he is a hopeless F-class soul with no way out.
Jinsung easily saw through the 10th Platoon Leader’s thoughts. Perhaps the 10th Platoon Leader secretly hoped that he would catch on.
Even the other teachers in the staff room avoided Jinsung’s gaze. They had chosen to be Platoon Leaders rather than teachers.
In that case, Jinsung also had to choose to be a trainee rather than a student. That way, he could survive in this foolish school that clumsily imitates the military.
“Teacher… I must graduate from this school.”
“Jinsung, you silly kid. I’ll find another good school for you.”
“Teacher, please don’t misunderstand. I’m just purely curious.”
“Huh?”
“Do you think souls have different ranks?”
“Haha-haha-haha! You said it, right? Of course, they exist.”
“Oh, I see. But I don’t think they do.”
Park Jinsung unilaterally ended the conversation.
He cautiously grabbed the doorknob, afraid that the staff room door might slam shut.
***
“All right, class is over. Report the headcount quickly, skip the salute.”
“10th Platoon 1st Squad! Total strength 10! Exclusions 0! Current strength 10!”
“10th Platoon 2nd Squad! Total strength 11! Exclusions 0! Current strength 11!”
The squad leaders of Class 2-10 reported the headcount to the ethics teacher.
The criteria for the squad leaders were extremely simple.
For each division of 1st Squad, 2nd Squad, 3rd Squad, and 4th Squad in each class, they simply selected one representative for each squad.
“Now that we’re doing it, it really feels like playing soldiers…”
Park Jinsung secretly suppressed his laughter.
Although they claimed to select squad leaders based on overall combat capabilities, it wasn’t a particularly convincing choice.
Instead, it felt like factions were forming even within this narrow space.
“Aren’t you going to report, 3rd Squad?”
“Ugh. Teacher, do we really have to?”
“Is the 10th Platoon 3rd Squad leader Byun Kiyoung? Do it quickly.”
“Ugh. Total strength 10. Exclusions 2, reasons for exclusion: one person is pooping, one person would be nice if they disappeared. Current strength 8. Report finished!”
The entire classroom burst into laughter due to the amusing report.
The current strength of the 3rd Squad was nine, including Park Jinsung. One person was actually on a fast-track trip to the restroom.
“Hey, Byun Kiyoung. Your squad currently has nine members.”
“Teacher, should we include trainees in the platoon? Ugh, that’s not necessary, right?”
“Ha-ha. I got it. Continue with the 4th Squad, report.”
Even the ethics teacher couldn’t hide his chuckle.
After being designated as a military school, there wasn’t much change in the classes surprisingly. Only the frequency increased a bit, with combat units having more combat training and medical units having more medical training. Even the current ethics class was using the same old textbook.
“That’s it for today’s class. After this, the school will start a small event.”
The students, who were quiet until then, erupted in excitement.
Yeeaaahhhh!!
The noise that was limited to Class 10 shook the entire hallway. It seemed like other classes were also discussing the event.
The ethics teacher continued speaking with a dramatic tone.
“Suddenly, we have headhunters hiding in our school. Even the school authorities don’t know where they’re hiding. It seems like they want to see how you react when the situation changes rapidly.”
“Teacher, can you quickly get to the point?”
Byun Kiyoung straightened his slouching posture.
“1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders will have a squad battle. The opponents for the battle have already been decided.”
“Huh. Don’t tell me the headhunters singled us out?”
“That’s right.”
“Ugh. So it’s a battle among the 3rd graders?”
The heated atmosphere that had quickly risen cooled down just as fast, like water evaporating from a pot.
The reason for designating the school as a military school was also because of the exceptional abilities of the 3rd graders. The headhunters who wanted to see talented individuals wouldn’t be interested in the lower grades.
“Yes. Time will pass quickly.”
Park Jinsung expressed his gratitude for the temporary peace by resting his head on the desk.
“Byun Kiyoung, were you a C-minus Edeyan?”
“Why do you ask?”
When the ethics teacher suddenly mentioned a fact, Byun Kiyoung’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What’s your overall combat ability?”
“What? I can defeat anyone, no matter who the opponent is.”
“Great. The first battle will be between your squad and the 1st Squad of the 3rd graders.”
“Huh?!”
Byun Kiyoung, taken aback, quickly stood up from his chair.
“What’s going on?”
Park Jinsung, who was lying down to rest, furrowed his brows and assessed the situation.
“Wait a minute. Byun Kiyoung’s squad? Our squad? Oh boy.”
Despite Park Jinsung’s exclusion, all the students were busy talking among themselves. Confusion was evident on their faces.
“All of you, except for the 3rd Squad, go outside. The 3rd Squad will depart from here in 20 minutes.”
“Do your best, 3rd Squad. Haha. Don’t show off too much, trainee.”
“Poor sergeants, they have to face a trainee! I feel sorry for the sergeants.”
Other squad members personally encouraged Park Jinsung, the trainee.
“Oh no… Out of all the 3rd graders…”
Byun Kiyoung murmured, unable to escape from the shock.
“This is insane. How can we win with an F-class trainee?”
“Do the higher-ranked individuals just want to see us humiliated?”
“Can’t we make our inevitable defeat look cool?”
“Are you an idiot?! We have an F-class trainee. How can we have a cool defeat?”
Other squad members were in the same mindset. They were discussing their certain defeat with fervor, showing no sign of wanting to increase their chances of winning.
“Hey, trash.”
Byun Kiyoung called out to Park Jinsung, who was lying on the desk.
“Huh? Did you call me, squad leader?”
“You’re pretending to be polite, you trash. Do you want to die before the battle even starts?”
“Well, whether I get beaten by the sergeants or by the privates, it’s all the same, isn’t it, sir?”
Park Jinsung replied with a nonchalant smile.
“Oh? Is that so? Well then, as the 3rd Squad Leader of the 10th Platoon, I’ll give you a role, even as trash. Can you handle it? Hehe.”
“Oh no. If you order me, I’ll do it, somehow.”
Byun Kiyoung firmly grabbed Park Jinsung’s collar.
“From now on, you’re my exclusive shield. Got it, trainee?”
“Understood, sir…”
The 20 minutes for strategy seemed quite absurdly vanished. The 3rd Squad, suffering in anguish from worry, could only await their inevitable torment.
Haewoon High School had a characteristic of having a relatively small playground. The place was impressive with earth dug up by Edeyans every day.
The playground was filled with nearly a thousand people.
Approximately 300 students from the 1st grade, 300 from the 2nd grade, and about 300 from the 3rd grade. Perhaps because they were playing soldiers, the playground was surprisingly quiet.
“Ah, ah.”
Only the voice of the physical education teacher holding the microphone resounded through the playground, creating a cozy atmosphere.
“It’s really starting…”
All the students came out, and even the principal appeared in the distance. No matter how much it was to Park Jinsung, he couldn’t help but be curious about which neighborhood the headhunters came from.
“The 1st Squad Leader of the 3rd Company and the 3rd Squad Leader of the 10th Platoon, step forward.”
“Tch.”
In response to the call of the physical education teacher, Byun Kiyoung walked hesitantly.
No matter where you looked, the playground was filled with students in black school uniforms, except for one empty spot right in the center.
It was a colosseum filled with a crowd. Park Jinsung and the rest of the squad members instinctively felt that this was their public execution ground.
The physical education teacher who was in the colosseum grabbed the shoulders of Class 3-1, 1st Squad Leader, and Class 2-10, 3rd Squad Leader.
“Sungho, no, is it now Sergeant Ahn Sungho? Show off your skills to your heart’s content. The headhunters are only watching you 3rd graders, so it’ll be a great opportunity. Our school’s Teacher Yang is waiting anyway, so there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
“I will fight fairly with the other squad members.”
The gaze of the physical education teacher was solely focused on Sergeant Ahn Sungho. He didn’t even spare a glance towards Private Byun Kiyoung.
“I hope the 2nd graders don’t finish too quickly. Got it?”
“Tch…”
Byun Kiyoung openly disregarded the physical education teacher, but there was no sense of intimidation whatsoever.
“Now, let the rest of the squad members come in!”
The physical education teacher only patted the shoulders of Sergeant Ahn Sungho until the end.
Before they formed their formations, Sergeant Ahn Sungho approached Byun Kiyoung, who was disheartened.
“Don’t worry, 2nd grader. I’ll do my best too.”
“I’m more worried about that. Even though I know the famous Sergeant in our school, how can I make use of it?”
“When you go into battle, the reputation you’ve gained before becomes utterly useless.”
“See, see? Even the Sergeant thinks of reputation.”
“You shouldn’t underestimate the enemy, but there’s no need to overestimate them either. That’s my advice.”
“Yes, sir. Please give us just the right amount of support.”
Despite the confident entrance of the 3rd graders, the 2nd graders stood out as noticeably weaker.
“Hmm, feels like being dragged into a slaughterhouse.”
Park Jinsung suddenly felt a heavy burden on his shoulders.
“Stay strong! F-class! Don’t die!”
“Make the 3rd graders work hard enough!”
The cheers of the students, disguised as encouragement, were overwhelming. Everyone was busy trying to undermine Park Jinsung in any way possible.
As he observed, he noticed that insults were also flying around from both the 1st graders and the 3rd graders.
It was worse than being pelted with stones. The vague malice aimed at Park Jinsung attacked him with even greater force.
Edeya is the manifestation of the soul’s will. In other words, as an F-class, he was a scavenger with an F-class soul. From the moment he was born, he was stamped with the label of garbage.
“…Fierce, isn’t it?”
Park Jinsung responded to the students’ verbal abuse with a bright smile.
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