Olivine Dormitory.
Gang Hanbyeol went in search of the room number matching the number written on his card.
When he held the card to the sensor on the doorknob, a green light came on, and he heard the lock disengage from inside.
Click.
This must be the right room.
Gang Hanbyeol gently pulled down the doorknob and stepped inside.
“Wow, this is nice.”
He set down the bag slung over his shoulder and let go of the handle of his suitcase, exclaiming in admiration.
Compared to the house where he had lived on Mount Taebaek, the room was considerably cramped.
A wardrobe, desk, and chair occupied one wall, while a bunk bed took up the opposite wall, leaving little space to move around.
In terms of width, perhaps two adult men could lie down side by side.
Even so, Gang Hanbyeol did not mind.
If anything, the facilities in the room were far better than those in the house he had lived in until now.
Whoosh.
“Oh… The water pressure’s good, too.”
Because he had lived in the mountains all this time, he had often had trouble with the plumbing.
The water pressure had been so weak that sometimes he had to wash with a mere trickle, and there had even been times when the water stopped flowing in the middle of washing dishes, forcing him to go out to the stream to finish them.
Above all, the toilet had been a problem.
It clogged countless times, and every time it did, he had to unclog it himself.
Naturally, there was no chance his master would step in, so all of it had been Gang Hanbyeol’s responsibility.
‘Judging by how well the toilet flushes… it probably won’t clog under normal circumstances.’
Those who could handle mana to a certain degree could use it to deal with the body’s natural functions.
However, using that method over the long term only harmed one’s internal organs and, furthermore, distanced one from being human.
Eating, sleeping, and relieving oneself could be called the desires of living creatures.
Humans, beings endowed with both emotion and reason and capable of thought, were no exception.
To cut away one’s desires was practically the same as giving up on being oneself.
It meant becoming something other than human.
Taken to its extreme, one would become a being incapable of understanding human desires and emotions.
In his master’s words, one would become a monster wearing a human mask.
―Never forget that you are human. The end of those who become lost in the mysteries of mana is never a good one.
That had been the teaching of his master, Seo Jeongjin.
Gang Hanbyeol followed that teaching.
Magic originated from imagination, to begin with, and varied imagination arose from emotion.
No one could expect varied imagination from a human who had severed his desires and lost his emotions.
Even to achieve magical accomplishments, one had to know how to remain on the proper path.
After looking around the bathroom with satisfaction, he returned to where he had left his luggage.
‘Looks like the guy sharing the room with me has gone somewhere.’
His gaze turned toward the bunk bed.
Clothes had been left on the lower bunk.
There was also a suitcase nearby, so it seemed that his roommate had arrived before him.
Since he was nowhere to be seen inside the room, he was probably outside.
It seemed they would have to introduce themselves later.
Having reached that conclusion, Gang Hanbyeol decided to start unpacking.
‘I’d like to use the lower bunk, but I can’t help it. I’ll take the upper one.’
Unfortunately, his roommate had already claimed the lower bunk.
Regretfully, Gang Hanbyeol decided to use the upper bunk.
After climbing onto it, he placed his personal belongings on the shelf installed in the wall.
Among them was the most recent photograph he had taken with his master.
Looking at the picture, he made a vow.
“Just you wait. I’ll prove that there’s no one in this world stronger than you, Master.”
The Demon Fighter Seo Jeongjin, regarded as a level below the heads of the Ten Great Families.
His disciple, Gang Hanbyeol, dreamed of becoming the strongest and changing the world’s perception of his master.
Before long, Gang Hanbyeol climbed down from the bed and finished organizing his luggage.
Since he had not brought much, it did not take long.
With nothing else to do, he went out onto the balcony to enjoy the night breeze.
‘So I’ll be spending three years here.’
Lights could be seen in the darkness.
They came from the other dormitories.
Gang Hanbyeol stared blankly at the view.
It was then that the door opened.
“Oh, you’re my roommate. Hi.”
A male student wearing thin-rimmed glasses stood there.
Carrying heavy-looking bags in both hands, he greeted Gang Hanbyeol.
He had a sociable appearance.
“Hi! Let’s get along well this semester! My name’s Gang Hanbyeol.”
“I’m Bak Sagun. My discipline is shield arts. I hope we get along.”
“If you practice shield arts, you’re aiming to become a Guardian, right? It seems like it would suit you.”
“Thanks for saying that. What discipline are you entering under? You seem like a swordsman….”
“That’s right. For now, I’m entering under the swordsmanship discipline.”
“For now?”
“If there’s another discipline that suits me better, I might switch.”
“That might be true in a middle academy, but I think it’d be better to stick with one discipline as much as possible…. Or you could major in multiple disciplines. Ah, sorry. I think I’m meddling too much for a first meeting.”
“I don’t mind that kind of thing, so it’s fine. Feel free to speak your mind. I’ll do the same.”
Standing in front of the bunk bed, the two shook hands.
They exchanged names and introduced themselves.
As befitted someone aspiring to become a Guardian, Bak Sagun was taller than Gang Hanbyeol and had broad shoulders, giving him a dependable appearance.
However, he was not particularly muscular, but rather on the lean side.
His bespectacled face gave him an intellectual air.
He was unlike the image generally associated with a typical Guardian.
He was a man of unexpected contrasts.
At that moment, he pushed up the frame of his glasses.
“By the way, you said your name was Gang Hanbyeol, right? If I remember correctly, the Demon Fighter’s disciple had the same name as you. Could it be….”
“That’s right. He’s my master.”
“…I knew it was you. Good heavens, I can’t believe my roommate is the Demon Fighter’s disciple….”
With his eyes hidden behind gleaming lenses, Bak Sagun recognized Gang Hanbyeol’s identity and tugged up the corners of his mouth with evident curiosity.
He openly showed his goodwill.
“I must be lucky. Since we’ve met like this, let’s become good friends. By the way, you only arrived recently, right? You haven’t gone shopping yet, have you?”
“Shopping?”
“You can’t send everything you use at home to the dormitory, so you have to buy necessities separately. I’m on my way back from downtown after buying the things I need to live here…. Don’t you have anything you need to buy, too?”
“Hmm, I suppose so. I hadn’t thought about it….”
“I’m planning to go downtown again tomorrow to buy the things I couldn’t get today. If you have time, would you like to come with me? I can show you around.”
“Huh? Really? I’d be glad if you did.”
Bak Sagun made the offer warmly.
Since Gang Hanbyeol had wanted to look around the Academy City, he had no reason to refuse.
He readily accepted.
“Then shall we leave after breakfast tomorrow morning? If there’s anything you don’t know, ask me. It’s a little embarrassing to say this myself, but I know a lot of random things. About the Academy City, the Geumgang Academy, and the students entering this year. I’ll tell you whatever I know.”
“Really? Then do you know who the strongest person at Geumgang Academy is?”
Gang Hanbyeol did not know much about the world known as the Academy City.
What Bak Sagun had said was more than enough to pique his interest.
Bak Sagun, meanwhile, welcomed the question with delight.
He simply loved explaining things.
“If you’re asking about the strongest person here, that would have to be the chairwoman. Chairwoman So Hyeyul, who bears the title Witch of the Stars, is….”
“What about among the students?”
“Among all the grades, it would be student council president Do Sieun, who took office this year. The Divine Sword Do clan’s Thunderbolt Flower. No one would disagree, whether you’re talking about her reputation or her skill. Apparently, even the members of the Ten Great Families in the same year defer to President Do Sieun. She’s ranked first, so there’s really no need to say more.”
“Being ranked first means… she’s the strongest at this academy, right?”
“That’s right. If you exaggerate a little, you could even say she’s number one among all the students at the academies in the Academy City. She’s ranked first at the best academy in the Academy City, after all.”
“Then what about among the first-years?”
“Hmm…. There isn’t enough information about the first-years yet to make a definite judgment. Still, based on the entrance examination results, the top scorer and runner-up are the most likely candidates at present. After them come the top students in the ten disciplines.”
“Who are the top scorer and runner-up?”
“The top scorer is Yeon Haneul from the magic discipline. She’s famous as the disciple of the Witch of Seven Colors.”
“She’s from the magic discipline…. Is there no one from swordsmanship? What about the runner-up?”
“The runner-up is from swordsmanship. He’s also from the Divine Sword Do clan, like President Do Sieun.”
“What’s his name?”
Seo Jeongjin was often compared to the heads of the Ten Great Families of his generation.
Whenever that happened, he was generally regarded as their equal or inferior.
Naturally, as his disciple, Gang Hanbyeol could not help but be interested in them.
Especially the head of the Divine Sword Do clan.
―If I had to choose the opponent I would be most wary of in a battle where life and death hang in the balance, I’d choose that bastard Do Yeik. The current head of the Divine Sword Do clan. He’s an exceptionally unpredictable fellow.
―Even compared to you, Master?
―Of course I’m more unpredictable! But if I rely on all sorts of tricks, that bastard solves everything with swordsmanship alone. There’s probably no one in this world who can match him with a sword.
Seo Jeongjin had held Do Yeik, the head of the Divine Sword Do clan, in such high regard.
That was why Gang Hanbyeol felt a desire to compete with the member of the Divine Sword Do clan who would live in the same generation as him.
He listened closely to the name that came from Bak Sagun’s mouth.
“His name is Do Gyeonu. Before the entrance examination, people mocked him with nicknames like Rabbit and Lion Cub, but after entering as the runner-up, he proved his skill to be something no one could look down on. In my opinion… his potential might rival that of President Do Sieun. It might even surpass hers.”
“…His name is Do Gyeonu.”
Do Sieun and Do Gyeonu.
Gang Hanbyeol repeated the two names to himself so that he would not forget them.
He looked forward to the moment he would meet them.
* * *
The morning of the entrance ceremony dawned.
I had to wake up after receiving a wake-up call from Yeon Haneul.
My voice was thick with sleep.
“Hello….”
[Did you sleep well? It’s time to get up now. Come on, wake up.]
“…Haneul, is that you? What time is it?”
[As for what time it is right now….]
“I’m going to sleep for ten more minutes…. So wake me up in ten minutes….”
[Whew… I knew this would happen. Exactly ten minutes?]
“Yeah….”
The night before, Yong Haerang had barged in.
He said he was too excited about the entrance ceremony tomorrow to sleep, but… no, that bastard dragged me to the gym.
Before I knew it, I had to work out with him and sweat until dawn.
After moving my body that hard, it was only natural that I was exhausted.
I pleaded with Yeon Haneul in my dazed state, then promptly lost consciousness.
I had intended to sleep soundly for those ten minutes, but ten minutes was far too short.
She called me again.
“Ugh….”
[Ten minutes have passed. Now get up.]
“Just five more minutes….”
[No. We’re already very late.]
“….”
[You’re not sleeping right now, are you? You can’t sleep. Don’t sleep. Wake up. Gyeonu? You have to go to school.]
“We don’t go to school anymore….”
[Get up, Gyeonu. We have to go to the academy.]
“I want to graduate already….”
[We haven’t even entered yet.]
“Phew….”
[Good boy. Gyeonu, you have to get up now. If you keep sleeping, do I need to give you a spanking?]
“…Haneul.”
[Yes? Are you awake? Why?]
“Your voice is pretty.”
[…What? Why are you saying that first thing in the morning! You startled me!]
“It sounds like a lullaby when I hear it by my ear….”
[No! Don’t sleep! Open your eyes!]
“I’ll leave the entrance ceremony oath to you….”
[No. You can’t…. Little Do Gyeonu, please don’t do this. Get up….]
“Goodbye, everyone. I’m casting off all the shackles and restraints of this world….”
[…Looks like you’re awake. Are you going to keep fooling around?]
“Talking to you woke me up. Did you sleep well?”
[Hmph. Yeah.]
I switched the call to speakerphone.
Then I stretched and got out of bed.
When I drew back the curtains, a bright sky befitting the entrance ceremony spread before me.
“The weather’s nice today.”
[It’s nice that it isn’t cold, too. Go wash up, hurry.]
“I suppose I should. Where shall we meet?”
[In front of the elevator. I’ll wait there around the time you come out.]
“Got it. See you later.”
[Don’t forget to put on your school uniform.]
“Yes, I’m hanging up.”
[Okay.]
One, two, three….
I counted to ten in my head, as if leaving an afterglow, and hung up.
Because she didn’t like it when I ended calls right away.
I didn’t know why, but if I hung up immediately, she would either sulk or pout, even if she didn’t openly complain about it.
‘On the other hand, if I count to ten before hanging up, she treats me a little better that day.’
Having known Yeon Haneul for five years, I had come to discover things like this about her.
I had mastered the workings of her mind.
If something like Yeon Haneul Psychology existed, there probably wouldn’t be anyone who could match me.
I gave a soft chuckle and thoroughly washed myself in the bathroom.
After drying my hair and body, I sprayed on some body spray.
It was body spray I had bought at the recommendation of Yeon Haneul, Go Eunbi, and Lisa.
‘It does smell nice.’
I didn’t know which of them had picked the scent.
I hadn’t paid it any attention before using it, but smelling nice made me feel refreshed.
It seemed worth the money, considering how expensive it was.
Soon, I changed into my school uniform.
“Hmm…. Not bad.”
Standing in front of the full-length mirror, I carefully checked my outfit.
A white shirt and a red tie.
A beige vest over it.
A gray blazer as my outerwear.
Navy slacks for the bottom.
As someone who had been a veteran of the game, it felt strange to be wearing the school uniform that appeared in it.
It wasn’t bad. No, I liked it.
I turned away from the mirror, put on my black boots, and left.
[Hello?]
“Haneul, I’m out now.”
[Got it. Then I’ll leave too.]
I called Yeon Haneul.
Then I walked toward the elevators.
When I pressed the button for the first floor, the elevator stopped immediately on the floor below.
The doors opened, and Yeon Haneul was standing there.
“...”
“What’s wrong?”
“No…. It’s just that the uniform suits you.”
“Really? Thanks.”
“Yeah, you look good.”
“...It’s not like this is the first time you’ve seen me in it. You saw me when we got our uniforms together last time….”
“What I saw then and what I’m seeing now are different. Besides, you hadn’t had it altered back then.”
Female students could choose to wear either trousers or a skirt.
The trousers were the same as the ones I was wearing, while the skirt was a bright, pale pink like the one Yeon Haneul had on.
She was wearing black stockings below.
Meanwhile, instead of a red tie, she wore a red ribbon around her neck.
I stared at her for quite a while.
She also looked me up and down intently.
Her red eyes moved from top to bottom as if scanning me.
“Your tie is loose. You need to tie it properly.”
“My neck feels constricted, so I tied it like this.”
“You have to take the oath at the entrance ceremony later. You can’t look like that.”
“Then I’ll fix it when we get th—”
“...Never mind. It looks nice and neat. And you sprayed body spray, didn’t you? It smells good.”
“Really?”
Before I could finish speaking, Yeon Haneul stepped closer and reached out to tighten my tie.
After checking me over again, she wore a satisfied expression.
She even smiled after stepping closer and taking a sniff.
“It’s still a little constricting….”
“Just keep it like that for today.”
I rubbed the back of my neck, where Yeon Haneul’s warmth lingered.
I wanted to loosen my tie, but unfortunately, I couldn’t bring myself to do so under her watchful eye.
Soon, the elevator stopped.
We headed to the dining hall on the first floor.
“It’s nice that there aren’t many people.”
“We came out an hour early.”
Since we were entering the academy as the top and second-place students, we had to attend a rehearsal for the entrance ceremony.
So we had gotten up an hour early and come down to eat breakfast.
We looked around the quiet dining hall, picked up trays, and served ourselves food.
There were two types of breakfast.
A typical Korean meal consisting of fried eggs, stir-fried sausage, kimchi, soup, and rice.
And a Western-style meal with scrambled eggs, sliced bread, rolls, cereal and milk, bacon, and various jams.
Apart from those two options, there were also different kinds of cup noodles in a corner.
Of course, I had no intention of eating cup noodles first thing in the morning.
I chose the Korean meal, while Yeon Haneul chose the Western one, and we found a seat.
“Taking the oath at the entrance ceremony…. I don’t want to….”
“You’re still saying that? Just accept it already. It’ll get better after you practice.”
“Do you really think so? It will, right?”
“Let’s just eat for now.”
“I’m too nervous to eat.”
“Can I have a roll, then?”
“...You really do eat well first thing in the morning.”
“People live on the strength they get from food.”
There was also a drink bar.
Partway through breakfast, I got up and brought a drink for Yeon Haneul as well.
“Here, drink this at least.”
“Thanks. It’s nice that the tea is warm.”
“Let’s stay seated, and get up when it’s time.”
“Okay.”
Before we knew it, we had finished breakfast.
We sat facing the window, sipping our drinks and chatting quietly.
The reason we weren’t going straight to the rehearsal was partly because there was still time, but also because of the class assignments that were about to be announced.
“The announcement will be in three minutes.”
“Ugh…. I hope we’re in the same class.”
“It would be nice if that happened, but….”
Yeon Haneul clearly wanted to be in the same class as me.
Unfortunately, the odds were slim.
‘There are more than fifty classes….’
Each class had fifty students, which meant there were at least 2,500 first-year students in total.
It would be close to a miracle for the two of us to end up in the same class.
“But we’ve been in the same class all the way from fifth grade until now.”
“Well… That’s true. But, Haneul, this time—”
“Are you trying to jinx it? Or do you not want to be in the same class as me?”
“...No. Of course I want to be in the same class as you.”
Yeon Haneul glared at me.
I shook my head so as not to provoke her.
Then I quickly tried to placate her.
“Let’s pray that a miracle happens again, just like it has all this time.”
“Yeah. Please… Miracle, happen….”
Yeon Haneul placed her smartphone on the table and clasped her hands.
She looked cute.
While she was praying with her eyes closed, I secretly took a picture of her.
At last, it was time for the class assignments to be announced.
We went to the Geumgang Academy website and found the notice about the class assignments.
We pressed the “Check Results” button.
An information entry form appeared.
[Name]:
[Date of Birth (8 digits)]:
[Check Results]
We entered our names and dates of birth.
All that remained was to press the button to check the results.
“When I say one, two, three, we check at the same time. Got it?”
“Got it. But even if we do that, the result—”
“Shh.”
“Let’s press it while praying for a miracle.”
“Good idea.”
Yeon Haneul took a deep breath.
We placed our smartphones on the table and bent our heads together.
Soon, she gave the signal.
“Miracle, please happen. One.”
“Miracle, happen….”
“Twwwo. Please, please, miracle….”
“...”
“Three! Miracle, please!”
Almost simultaneously.
We pressed the button to check the results.
Maybe the server was having trouble because everyone else was checking their classes, too.
The screen remained white, and nothing happened.
“Please let a miracle happen….”
“...”
Yeon Haneul continued praying in the meantime.
Then, a moment later, the screen changed, and the class assignments appeared.
We hurriedly checked our classes.
[We’re cheering you on for the year ahead. Student Dogyeonwoo has been assigned to Class 17 of the first year.]
[We’re cheering you on for the year ahead. Student Yeon Haneul has been assigned to Class 8 of the first year.]
“...”
Silence fell.
I watched Yeon Haneul, who couldn’t take her eyes off the screen.
“The miracle… didn’t happen….”
Yeon Haneul’s pupils began to tremble.
She spoke in a quivering voice.
“I need a diaper….”
Her rabbit ears drooped as.
Yeon Haneul began to whimper.
I Became the Childhood Friend of the Mid-Boss