“Oh, Oh, Chief Advisor. It’s quite surprising to have someone of your stature visit such a humble place.”
“Haha! My visit here is a secret, so there’s no need to be flustered.”
Lee Shin, the Chief Military Advisor of South Korea, had arrived at the principal’s office.
As one of the key figures behind the planning of the Haeun Special Education Brigade, Lee Shin liked to personally handle any matter that came his way. However, the high position he had achieved sometimes hindered his movements.
The fact that the Chief Military Advisor had visited a mere high school would surely attract not only various media outlets but also the attention of powerful nations. Lee Shin’s actions had already reached a level of significance in international relations between countries.
Thus, the fact that Lee Shin had intervened in the Haeun Special Education Brigade, his visit, and even his interest in the institution, were all kept secret.
It was an entirely confidential situation from the start to the finish.
“Already May, isn’t it? My apologies for the late visit. I actually wanted to come since the first day of the military system’s implementation.”
“Oh! No, not at all! There was no need for you to come!”
“By the way, I requested some files.”
“Here. Here they are!”
Lee Shin was 43 years old, while the principal was 51. Even a principal of much older age was overwhelmed by Lee Shin’s imposing presence.
“Hmm, is this the famous student, Ahn Sungho?”
Lee Shin took a look at Ahn Sungho’s profile.
[Ahn Sungho]
Grade 12, Height 185cm, Weight 80kg
World Soul Unit Rating System: B-
Comprehensive Combat Abilities: A+
Rank: Corporal
Affiliation: Haeun Special Education Brigade 3rd Company 1st Platoon 1st Squad Leader
Awards: 3rd place in the national combat mock exam in March of this year. Champion of the 35th and 36th Regional High School Battle. Champion of the 35th and 36th High School Student Squad Battle. Best Combatant in the 35th and 36th National High School Competition.
Notable Achievements: Youngest black belt in Korea for Jujitsu. Taebaek Jangsa Champion in the national weight-class wrestling competition. 4th Dan in the Korean Judo Association.
“This student is outstanding enough to compete on a global scale. Hoho! He is our pride in this school, no, in this brigade!”
“But interestingly, he had no awards during middle school. How fascinating.”
“Well, that’s because our Haeun Brigade’s education is something special, don’t you think? Hoho!”
The principal burst into laughter, causing the table to shake slightly.
Looking at Ahn Sungho’s achievements only up to middle school, it seemed that everything in his profile would need to be erased. He had almost no awards at all.
“Perhaps he has gained some enlightenment.”
Lee Shin chuckled to himself.
However, after becoming a high school student, everything changed.
He had never missed being ranked 1st in the region even once. His various athletic achievements continued to pile up.
Lee Shin was genuinely amazed at Ahn Sungho’s abilities and the sweat he must have invested to achieve them.
“Excellent. Besides his outstanding combat abilities in the world soul unit rating, his physical capabilities are also remarkable. This kid… it’s beyond the level of an ordinary student, isn’t it?”
“Hoho! Yes, that’s why he’s even more remarkable. If his world soul unit rating was just a little better, he might have achieved feats as remarkable as yours, Sir.”
“…No, Ahn Sungho could reach this level precisely because he is rated B-.”
Lost in his thoughts, Lee Shin unintentionally murmured to himself.
“S-Sir?”
“…Undoubtedly, he must have gained some kind of enlightenment around the end of middle school. That’s why he’s reached this… Yes, yes? Oh, I apologize, Principal. I inadvertently spoke out of turn. What were you saying?”
“Oh, no! It’s not an intrusion, Sir!”
Lee Shin was grateful for the luck that led him to meet such humble teachers.
Even under the subordination of such pitiful teachers, 300 students suitable for the rank of corporal emerged. It was certain that all students must have been inspired by the existence of Ahn Sungho.
South Korea is indeed a peculiar country.
Even under systems that always fall short, individuals at the very top of the world emerge. This is true in a country with a population no larger than a mouse’s droppings.
“Hmm, this is interesting.”
Lee Shin discovered the profile at the very bottom. Thanks to the principal’s awkward chuckle, the file seemed to have popped out.
“Oh! You don’t need to read that one, Sir.”
“Park… Jinsung…?”
“He’s the lucky one who managed to join our Brigade. He’ll probably wash out on his own soon.”
[Park Jinsung]
Grade 10, Height 170cm, Weight 64kg
World Soul Unit Rating (Edeya): F
Overall Combat Ability: F
Rank: Trainee
Affiliation: Haeun Special Education Battalion, 2nd Company, 10th Platoon, 3rd Squad Member
Compared to Ahn Sungho, it was an incredibly dismal description. It blatantly emphasized the beauty of empty space. Even the physical balance he possessed was severely lacking.
“We have trainees in the Brigade as well?”
“He’s a student who lags behind even the first-year students in growth. He couldn’t even attain a rank. We had to force him into the combat squad, but truthfully, he lags even behind the training squad when it comes to combat ability.”
“Hmm. Is this student’s past history summarized on the back page?”
“Yes? Uh, yes… but do you really need to read it?”
Lee Shin checked Park Jinsung’s past history. It was summarized just as briefly as the profile.
At the age of eight, he witnessed his parents being killed during a robbery, which left him in shock and unable to manifest his Edeya.
Afterward, he was left in the care of an F-rated Edeya uncle and aunt, who subjected him to prolonged abuse.
At the age of ten, another robbery occurred, during which the uncle and aunt suffered severe mental trauma and were sent to a mental hospital. On the same day, his Edeya finally manifested.
“Principal, normally Edeya manifests at the age of eight, right?”
The predetermined soul that was present from birth takes form at the age of eight in Korean age.
Whether sooner or later, it will definitely manifest at the age of eight. This rule had no exceptions worldwide.
“Yes, that’s usually the case.”
“Are the robbers who attacked him at the age of eight and ten the same person?”
“I don’t have detailed information, but most likely, they were different individuals. In fact, neither of them was caught.”
The principal spoke with little interest.
“His Edeya that manifested later is rated F… Was his overall combat ability also F since the age of ten?”
“Yes, he barely made it into our Brigade because the 12th and 13th education courses overlapped. In normal circumstances, he wouldn’t even dare to apply.”
“Is it possible that he deliberately hid his abilities?”
Lee Shin’s eyes sharpened with the question.
“I find it hard to believe. I’ve heard that he has never won a single battle, including all exams and mock battles.”
“Well… deliberately getting a failing grade is an extremely difficult task. In Korea, the infrastructure is small, so it’s not easy to hide one’s Edeya. There’s hardly anyone who would go to such lengths to conceal it.”
“Pardon? What did you say, Sir?”
“Oh, nothing. I just think I’d like to see Park Jinsung in person at least once.”
As Lee Shin organized the profiles on the table, he spoke.
He planned to take them to his office and read them carefully whenever he had the chance. Every student’s potential from first to third grade was precious to him.
The principal, who had been silently observing Lee Shin, spoke very cautiously.
“But, Sir.”
“Yes, what is it, Principal?”
“Why did you decide to introduce the military system?”
“….”
Lee Shin, who was organizing the profiles, looked up at the principal in silence.
“Oh, I apologize! That was an unnecessary question!”
“It’s just my personal opinion, so I’d prefer if you don’t share it elsewhere.”
“Of course! I’ll take it to my grave!”
“It’s been quite some time since we implemented the regular education system.”
In the background of their conversation, the decision to introduce the military system remained a mystery.
Lee Shin began organizing the profiles again, and there was something overwhelming about his small hand movements.
“Do you think there might be a problem with the education system?”
“It’s not that. I just thought that experimental judgment might be necessary in response to North Korea’s provocations.”
“I see…”
“There will undoubtedly be many side effects. Perhaps I may be ruining the bright futures of the students. However…”
“However?”
“But through this new system, there will surely be students bidding farewell to the miserable conditions they were in.”
As Lee Shin set aside Park Jinsung’s file, he spoke.
* * *
“Hmm… This stubborn dirt won’t come off.”
As soon as Park Jinsung entered the classroom, he diligently started wiping the blackboard with the eraser.
“Nowadays, don’t they use whiteboard markers and erasers? Sigh.”
He wondered why he was bothering himself with using chalk when whiteboard markers were available.
After finishing the cleaning, Park Jinsung decided to hide in the restroom for a while. Since he had also cleaned the restroom from time to time, it was a perfect hiding spot.
“Attention!”
As he entered the first stall, Park Jinsung confidently shouted.
The restroom tiles, and even the toilet seat, were shining brightly. Thinking that he had done all of this by himself, he felt a sense of pride.
“Such a satisfying level of cleanliness.”
Park Jinsung sat comfortably on the toilet seat, stretching himself out.
An empty restroom felt surprisingly cozy. He had even grown accustomed to the smell of ammonia, finding it oddly comforting.
“This is almost more comfortable than home. Sigh, feeling a bit self-conscious now.”
Bam, papapapam. Papapararararara.
As some time passed, he heard the bugle call that was usually only used in the military. It meant that the first-year students would start their morning exercise at 8:40 AM, the second-year students at 8:50 AM, and now, the platoon leaders, who were once his peers, would begin their run on the now transformed sports field.
Under the command of each squad leader, they would run and return on their own.
“Hey, you trash! Are you late again?”
As soon as he spotted Park Jinsung, Byun Kiyoung started a confrontation. Byun Kiyoung might not know, but Park Jinsung had arrived at school at a whopping 7:30 AM.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Corporal Byun.”
“Corporal? Are you kidding, trash? Say it again.”
“I’m sorry, Corporal Byun, sir.”
“Ugh, why do you do this to your fellow classmates?”
“And now you’re even getting my rank wrong while calling me an ‘ill snake’?”
“Oh my! Did you become a Corporal, Byun Kiyoung?! Congratulations! Salute! Congratulations!”
In response to the sarcastic congratulations, Park Jinsung intentionally performed an exaggerated salute.
Private Byun Kiyoung had been promoted in rank after the last battle. If it weren’t for Corporal Ahn Sungho stepping up, Byun Kiyoung’s promotion to Lance Corporal would have had quite an impact.
[Taking out what was hidden and swinging it.]
World Soul Grade Unit Rating System (Edea): B⁺
Overall Combat Ability: ?
Byun Kiyoung had previously been assessed as a C⁺ grade Edea user. He struggled even with small trees, let alone rocks.
In Park Jinsung’s view, he had undoubtedly been purposely hiding his abilities all this time.
“Come on, trash. Gather the other squad members.”
“Yes, Corporal!”
Corporal-nim, Corporal-saem, Corporal.
“Do you really want to get slapped this early in the morning?”
“Hmph! I’ll gather them quickly!”
Before Park Jinsung could receive another slap, he swiftly left the scene.
Despite the unchanged perception of Park Jinsung, his role in the battles with the 3rd-year students had subtly grown. The direct physical aggression towards him had decreased, which was probably why the 2nd-year students managed to win this time, thanks to Park Jinsung’s contributions.
[He can’t fight for his life, but he managed to hold his own. It’s a different story when he faces us.]
[He’s good at catching people off guard, huh?]
[Next time, I’ll rely on him to be my shield.]
Even the squad’s evaluation of him had improved. Whether it was genuine or not, not receiving as much verbal abuse was still an improvement.
However, despite not being physically beaten, Park Jinsung’s situation hadn’t changed much. He was still assigned to various tasks and chores.
Even the platoon leader, who was supposed to be in charge of the 10th platoon, appointed Park Jinsung as the janitor.
It was simply a form of violence and torment in a different shape. Considering that Park Jinsung was the lowest-ranking trainee, it was truly cruel.
“Trainee! Get some printouts, textbooks, and extra chalk from the bookstore!”
“Do this, do that, and also handle that! And so on.” Park Jinsung was frequently bombarded with tasks.
By this point, there wasn’t much difference between being beaten and doing the work.
“Should I gather our squad members soon?”
Still, doing the tasks was a tad, just a little bit more comfortable.
Because the body was always itchy. Working hard is much better for consuming energy than getting hit.
“Respected squad members! Gather around!”
Park Jinsung gathered the members of the squad.
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