“How dare this trash…!”
“What?! Trash?!”
As Byun Kiyoung got heated, the students in uniforms on the other side also flared up.
The situation quickly escalated, reminiscent of a student brawl. They stood off against each other, exchanging hostile glances and almost coming to blows.
“Hey hey, calm down, everyone.”
From the midst of the uniformed students, a good-looking male student stepped forward.
With a sly smile, he gave off vibes that could be seen as charming or irritating, depending on the observer.
“Wow, he’s handsome.”
“Why don’t we have someone like him in our squad?”
The female students whispered among themselves, their faces turning red. Well, at least he wasn’t entirely off-putting.
“Ahaha, my name is Lee Sunghwa. We are students from Seojung High School. Nice to meet you, Haeun Platoon.”
“Enough with the noise and explain the situation, trash.”
“Hey, Lee Sunghwa, move. This guy has been insufferable from the start!”
Byun Kiyoung’s remark quickly soured the mood again. The pointless squabble seemed relentless.
“Come on, don’t do this.”
Lee Sunghwa, still wearing his smile, tried to diffuse the tension. It was a decent attempt, except it had no discernible effect.
“Hey! Haeun Platoon! You really want to try us?”
“Hehe, there’s a lot to pick from on these streets.”
“Hey, squad leader, take it easy. Don’t you realize we’re losing points right now? And you, Seojung High, ease up a bit too.”
Unable to stand by any longer, Seyun stepped in to mediate.
“Tsk, trashy girl.”
“Woah! You’re Kim Seyun?! Nice to meet you! I’m Lee Sunghwa!”
Finally, the pointless argument seemed to come to an end. Whether it was the platoon or the school, everyone’s attention was now solely on the fair-skinned “ghost”.
She was the only one here with a visual presence that overshadowed Lee Sunghwa. Even passersby on the street couldn’t help but sneak glances at Kim Seyun.
It wasn’t just her appearance; she radiated the calm confidence of an apex predator.
Despite the many eyes on her, Kim Seyun spoke with poise, “We, from the 2nd Battalion, 10th Platoon of Haeun, came here for joint training with the medical team. But instead of the medical team, why are there Seojung High students here?”
“Ahaha, ‘why Seojung High students?’ you ask. That’s a bit disappointing.”
“Can we know the reason?”
“Hmm.”
Lee Sunghwa turned to face his fellow students.
“Huh? Mr. Lee Sunghwa?”
“Nice to meet you. We are that medical team. Let’s do our best.”
* * *
Lee Sunghwa kindly shared all the information he knew. He then whispered to Kim Seyun that their meeting seemed to have materialized thanks to her.
“We also don’t know why the venue is a bank. We just heard we’d be paired with Haeun. In my opinion, it seems like a result of intertwined interests between the battalion, the school, and the bank.”
True to Lee Sunghwa’s words, the discussions with the bank had already been concluded. The exchange indeed went smoothly, largely credited to Kim Seyun.
It was a win-win.
Both the battalion and the school saw this training as an excellent publicity opportunity, and the bank also expected a boost in its image. But…
Holding a medical training session in a bank? Does that even make sense?
Moreover, what can students, who are unaware of the full situation, possibly accomplish?
What joint medical training?
The students were unwittingly dragged into the adults’ affairs.
From now on, the students had to be tenacious in thinking about what’s ahead. After all, this session counted toward their evaluation.
“Even if it’s in a bank, we have to show that we can achieve something.”
Lee Sunghwa said to his squad members with a broad smile.
Upon entering the bank, they were immediately greeted by the security staff. As expected, there seemed to be no other customers inside.
“You must be the students we were expecting.”
The security staff were all uniformly dressed in suits and all had imposing statures. Their mere presence was as intimidating as a sheer mountain cliff.
Most of the students and squad members were overwhelmed by the adults’ professionalism.
All but one.
“Hello. I am Corporal Kim Seyun, from the 3rd Squad of the 10th Platoon of the 2nd Company of Haeun Special Education Battalion.”
“Oh! Such a pretty face. Aren’t you scared of us?”
“Why should I be scared? Instead, if there are any tasks we should be responsible for, please let us know.”
Kim Seyun, who could even challenge Sergeant Ahn Sungho, was confident even in front of the professionals.
“Hahaha! I like you! When you grow up, I’d want to hire you for our bank.”
“I respectfully decline.”
“You’ve got quite the confidence for someone so young.”
The source of Kim Seyun’s confidence was simple.
People with strong power and confidence have a different aura about them.
Clearly, there was no one whose presence felt stronger than Kim Seyun’s.
“If you have no instructions for us, may we take our defensive positions?”
“Hah! You said your name is Kim Seyun? Soldiers, even young ones, are indeed different. Alright, alright. Do as you wish.”
The security staff kept emphasizing how young the squad members were, implying they weren’t regarded as equals.
“Aw, so cute. Did you come from Seojung High?”
“They’re from Haeun Battalion. I want to wear a combat uniform too.”
The female staff at the reception desk looked like they might even pat their heads.
As expected, the lesson was merely symbolic.
No one truly engaged with the students or squad members. They mostly repeated phrases like “I was like that at their age.” Some staff just bluntly told them to kill time.
“This… doesn’t feel right. Hey, Mr. Lee Sunghwa.”
“Hey, hey, Seyun. Just call me Sunghwa.”
“Then, hey, Lee Sunghwa.”
“……”
Kim Seyun took it upon herself to play the role of problem solver. When it’s time to rest, they should at least make it look like they’re resting with a purpose.
If it’s all for show, it’s wise to also do some image-making for the bank staff.
She divided the Seojung High students into four and assimilated them into various squads.
Each squad decided to manage their points separately. By now, they even wondered if the teachers were around.
‘I wonder if the teachers will even show up??’
Park Jinsung looked at the empty office floor and thought. The teachers didn’t even provide a basic timeline for their arrival.
Initially, the squads pretended to patrol, protect, and do various tasks. Of course, none of it was related to first aid.
“Your teachers probably went for a coffee by now. So, you guys can just relax.”
“Want some snacks? Maybe a drink?”
With the staff’s lax response, the students and squad members also let their guards down.
In the end, no matter how the squads acted, there was no change.
Some acted as if they had come strictly for leisure. Then, the staff would offer them more snacks.
Park Jinsung sneaked to a corner and discreetly took out a hand grip strengthener, hoping to go unnoticed.
‘Well, this might be okay too.’
“Hello!”
“Huh?! Oh, hi…”
Lee Sunghwa, who had been briefly wandering away from the group, specifically approached where Park Jinsung was and greeted him with a smile.
“I saw you hanging out with Corporal Kim Seyun. You were together earlier, right?”
“Oh! You’re more proactive than I thought. Our vice leader is indeed pretty. How about it, should I formally introduce you?”
“Hahaha! I didn’t know you were that close. No, no. That’s not it.”
Kim Seyun seemed to have also relaxed a bit, as she was having coffee with the staff members.
She had long abandoned the kendo equipment she had brought with her. Considering everything was in disarray, it seemed like she deemed it relatively fine.
Park Jinsung tilted his head, looking at Lee Sunghwa.
“Do you have any other business with me?”
“Actually, I had something to see you about. Ahaha. I felt that way just moments ago.”
“Eh? Not many people take an interest in me. I’m sorry, but are you, by any chance… from that group of people…?”
“No, I’m not! I came over because you looked a bit isolated! I like things that stand out, you know?!”
“Oh! Were you also suffering from ‘chuunibyou’?”
“Ahaha… no, I wasn’t…”
“Then, what is it? I don’t have any food.”
“Ahaha… you’re quite unique, aren’t you?”
Being rumored as ‘Grade F’ from a young age, even small acts of kindness were rare for Park Jinsung. An ordinary approach like Lee Sunghwa’s was an unfamiliar thing for him.
“So, would you like a drink?”
“Why are you using formal speech? We’re in the same grade. Just speak casually.”
“I’m comfortable this way.”
“Is this casual… or formal…? There was a vending machine over there earlier.”
Lee Sunghwa grabbed Park Jinsung and headed toward the revolving door at the back of the building.
“Do we not have to report to our leader or vice leadert?”
“It should be fine. More importantly, what’s your name?”
Lee Sunghwa seemed fascinated by Park Jinsung’s carefree demeanor.
For one, Park Jinsung didn’t wear any rank insignia.
And from his third-person perspective, it strangely seemed like he was being deliberately ostracized. The Haeun High students acted snobbishly only when dealing with Park Jinsung.
Yet, curiously enough.
Only Kim Seyun treated Park Jinsung normally. Upon closer inspection, it seemed Kim Seyun was actually somewhat wary of Park Jinsung.
“Could it be… Is she relying on him?”
“Do you have a hobby of talking to yourself, Lee Sunghwa?”
“Ah! Sorry!”
The two chose refreshing carbonated drinks. After an awkward toast, they both felt the same exhilaration.
“Ah, refreshing.”
“But why are you so relaxed, Jinsung?”
“Huh? I just pretend to be. It’s a principle of mine.”
“Really? What’s your combat rank?”
“F-rank.”
The usually aloof Park Jinsung showed a rare serious expression.
“You’re lying.”
“Even in Edeya, F-rank.”
“You’re making fun of me, right?”
“F in Edeya, F in overall combat ability. F-rank two-time champion. Double F-rank, Twin F-rank.”
“……”
Lee Sunghwa seemed momentarily lost, forcing Park Jinsung to awkwardly continue the conversation.
“I have a question. Why is this a first aid class? I’d at least pretend to understand if it was a joint patrol class.”
“The existence of an F-rank… Uh, huh? Oh, they probably think that just interacting with each other is beneficial. We were told it was a joint combat class. But then…”
“From your hesitation, were you implying something about your preferences? I respect it, but I don’t want to be a target.”
“No! I like girls too, okay?!”
“Then what is it?”
Whirl. Thud, thud, thud.
The can thrown by Park Jinsung bounced twice precisely against the wall before landing in the trash can.
“Wow. How did you do that?”
“What’s it to you? Are you worried about my future prospects?”
“Uh…? Haha. That came out of nowhere.”
“You’ve got the wrong person. What could you possibly want from a two-time champion?”
“No, I think I found the right one.”
Whirl. Thud, thud, thunk.
The can Lee Sunghwa threw didn’t even come close to the trash bin. It landed far away, forcing him to go retrieve it.
“I’m not really in a position to give advice.”
“Actually… I’m so weak that I switched to medical aid. But Jinsung, you’re F-rank. I wonder how you even remain there.”
“You’re really asking? It’s obviously nepotism. I was lucky to get into the combat unit when the training program changed.”
“…Your unit seems to rely on you quite a bit, Jinsung.”
“Do you have an edeya, Lee Sunghwa?”
“Me? My edeya is…”
[Hands Become Blades]
World Soul Grade System: C⁺
“That’s a good Edeya, right? It seems like it has a lot of potential.”
“I’ve been hearing that for years. My ability has never improved.”
“So, you want to transfer to the combat unit? Learn from the know-how of an F-rank who manages to hang on there?”
“That’s right.”
Lee Sunghwa felt a considerable pang of guilt for revealing his intentions.
“In my opinion, medical aid is much better. It’s about saving people.”
“Is it?”
“I think the medical unit is a hundred, a thousand times better. Haha. It’s probably not something someone in the combat unit should say.”
“……”
“But whether it’s the combat unit or the medical unit, I don’t think the advanced training is that important. Someday, even someone like me can save a life.”
“AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!”
Before Jinsung could finish his sentence, a sharp scream echoed through the air.
Crash!
The rather sturdy main entrance shattered as if hit by a minor earthquake, leaving a gaping hole. This allowed the terrifying uninvited guest to enter.
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