Yoon sniffed his scent.
"You just come from training?"
"Like I'd just be hanging around."
"...You're relentless. You could take a day off, you know."
Chae Nayun shot a deliberate glance.
"More importantly, what brings you here? This is really unexpected."
To Gim Suho, Chae Nayun simply being here was a mystery. She was famous for eating every meal at a restaurant—meaning she kept her distance from free cafeterias like this one.
"Just because. I realized something during this exam. That my palate could become poison."
Chae Nayun muttered this with due seriousness, but Yu Yeonha's sharp retort followed immediately.
"For someone who had such a realization, you only took three spoonfuls and didn't touch the rest?"
"...I wasn't very hungry."
At Chae Nayun's excuse, Gim Suho smiled faintly and picked up his spoon.
Yu Yeonha and Chae Nayun glanced at Gim Suho, then met each other's eyes again.
In truth, Yu Yeonha and Chae Nayun were having a conversation typical of girls their age. The central figure of that topic—a web of subtle yet sensitive emotions and secrets—was 'Gim Hajin.'
A mischievous thought suddenly occurred to Yu Yeonha. She tapped on Gim Suho's table.
"Gim Suho?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you close with Gim Hajin?"
Rather than him, it was Chae Nayun who reacted to that question. She frowned and glared at Yu Yeonha.
"We're not that close."
"No. But among the guys, you're probably the closest to him, right?"
"Huh?"
Gim Suho tilted his head at those words. Yu Yeonha smiled and continued.
"Isn't it strange? In our class, hardly anyone has actually talked to Gim Hajin. Guy or girl. He never approaches anyone first, and if someone approaches him, he reacts coldly until they back off on their own."
By now, Chae Nayun's face had contorted. Yu Yeonha was scheming to reveal to Gim Suho everything she and Chae Nayun had discussed, while pretending otherwise.
"But there's someone Gim Hajin shows interest in first. Do you know who?"
Gim Suho watched Yu Yeonha silently, then gave a faint smile.
"Of course I know. I'm not oblivious."
"...Really?"
"Haah."
At that, Chae Nayun let out a troubled breath and pressed on her temple. In contrast, Yu Yeonha's face brimmed with even greater interest.
"Who is it?"
Instead of answering, Gim Suho looked at Chae Nayun. Chae Nayun also looked at Gim Suho. Their eyes met. That was answer enough.
"...Argh."
Chae Nayun grabbed her head and leaned back against the chair. But as if she had quickly found a counterattack, her eyes sparkled and she fired a shot at Yu Yeonha.
"Hey, Yu Yeonha, wait. But wasn't Gim Hajin close with you at first?"
"He approached me to get something out of me."
Yu Yeonha cut her off decisively. It was true that Gim Hajin had approached her. But that interest had vanished as cleanly as if washed away after receiving the Desert Vulture. Of course, she didn't feel regretful. Rather, it was the clean resolution she preferred.
Having deflected lightly, Yu Yeonha asked Chae Nayun again.
"So, what are you going to do?"
"Do about what."
Chae Nayun didn't answer. Because she was conscious of Gim Suho beside her. She glanced at him and asked, partly to provoke a bit of jealousy.
"...Hey. What do you think?"
"About what."
Gim Suho's answer was very innocent and guileless.
"Right. You said you're single since birth."
"You too."
"What. I'm not. When I was seven..."
"Hey~ so you guys didn't go either."
I Yeonghan suddenly appeared from somewhere. He sat down next to Yu Yeonha. She showed her displeasure and pulled her chair sideways.
"I Yeonghan, you didn't go either?"
"Yeah. What's the point of going. It's just boring."
"You should've gone."
"...Aren't you being too harsh?"
Just then, the cafeteria's main door opened again. Beyond it, Gim Hajin revealed himself. Speak of the tiger, and it appears. As if he had come from training like Gim Suho, he swept back his still-damp hair and pulled out a meal ticket.
I Yeonghan laughed hollowly.
"So he was here too. Well, at least he's trying hard in life."
Yu Yeonha felt deep scorn at that tone, as if he were talking down to someone beneath him. Trying hard in life, my ass.
"Worry about your own life."
"Huh? I am trying hard. My final exam scores are way higher than his."
"...Right. Live your whole life obsessing over grades like that."
Just then, Gim Hajin received a packaged meal and looked back. His gaze lingered for a moment on the group where Chae Nayun was. After that, he left quickly, but Yu Yeonha made an uncharacteristic fuss.
"Right? Even now, he only looked at Nayun before leaving."
"Argh. I get it, so stop it, okay?"
I Yeonghan butted in with wide eyes.
"What do you get? Does Chae Nayun like Gim Hajin?"
"No, that's bullshit. I Yeonghan, get lost."
Chae Nayun reacted hypersensitively. It was partly because Gim Suho was beside her, but mainly because I Yeonghan had a motor attached to his mouth. However, Yu Yeonha tossed him fodder.
"No. We're speculating it's the opposite."
"Ah, really? Gim Hajin likes Chae Nayun? But didn't you two fight like cats and dogs? For love to bloom while fighting like in a drama... the gap between you two is too big, isn't it? It doesn't make sense for 4th place and 934th place. If it were our Suho, maybe—"
As he continued speaking, Chae Nayun's murderous intent reached him, so I Yeonghan quickly changed course.
"Get lost."
Chae Nayun spat roughly. Still, slightly curious, she stole a glance in the direction Gim Hajin had left. But Gim Hajin was also looking this way, so their eyes met exactly. Chae Nayun quickly averted her gaze and scratched her face for no reason.
* * *
—...The gap between them is too big? It doesn't make sense for 4th place and 934th place. If it were our Suho, maybe.
"What are they talking about."
Since it was the tail end of the conversation, I couldn't grasp the context. Still, it seemed they hadn't caught on that the food was for two people, so that was enough. I don't care anymore whether they talk behind my back or not.
I returned to my dorm with the packaged food.
The moment I opened the door, Evangel came rushing out. I quickly closed the door first.
"Daddy~"
"It's not Daddy, it's Uncle."
I picked up Evangel and set the food down on the table.
"I bought food, okay? But before eating, let's test what you've been practicing."
"Okay!"
I sat Evangel on the sofa. Evangel had a body that didn't need to eat, but I had prepared this deliberately to motivate her with delicious food. She could taste the flavor even if she didn't need the meal itself.
"Okay, good. Let's start with this one first."
I projected a cute cat photo with my smartwatch.
Evangel changed her form to match the photo. Aside from her fur being golden, she was a perfect cat.
"Oh~ good. Now a bird."
At my words, Evangel changed into a cute bunting. She was a bit large, about the size of six rice balls clumped together, but this much was within acceptable range.
"Aw, you did great."
I stroked her small head. Evangel changed back to human form and giggled.
"Did I do good?"
"Of course."
As expected, maybe because she's Rachel's bloodline(?), she listens very well.
While showering Evangel with praise, my smartwatch suddenly rang.
[At 6 PM tomorrow, each guild has announced the 'Cadet Experience List.' Cadets included on the list will be contacted via smartwatch shortly.]
Guild experience.
As simple as its name.
It was a system created to let cadets with nothing to do during vacation observe the work of active heroes.
But well, it didn't apply to me.
Domestic guilds had the right to pick three cadets from 1st and 2nd years in order of guild ranking. So 1st years were usually cut off within the top 300. No matter how well I did on the finals, it wasn't enough to get into the top 300, so I wouldn't be included.
The moment I thought that, the alarm rang once more.
[Gim Hajin — Strait of Essence]
[If you do not wish to participate in the experience, please contact us separately.]
"...Huh?"
What. Why did Strait of Essence choose me? This shouldn't be possible.
"Ah."
But I soon understood. Because I recalled the existence of a woman who held strange delusions about me.
"It was Yu Yeonha."
As the guild master's daughter, she would have this much authority. But isn't this a bit too much of an abuse of power? What if something happens during the succession struggle later.
* * *
Blazing sunlight and a blue sky. After a long while, Seoul's weather was clear and warm. The only thing weighing on my mind was Evangel, whom I had left at home. I had taught her firmly not to go outside anywhere, but I was still anxious. Is this what a father's heart feels like?
"You've come?"
Yu Yeonha approached me, who had been pacing near Gwanghwamun, the meeting place. She tilted her head as she looked at me.
"Wow. I'm surprised."
"About what."
"I thought you would refuse."
Saying so, she pursed her lips.
I was going to do that at first too, but I suddenly grew curious about what kind of work heroes do, so I just accepted. There must be other duties besides those I had set.
"There's one more person coming, but it looks like they'll be a while, so shall we go first?"
"I don't mind."
"Then let's go."
At the same time, a limousine slid to a stop in front of us. It was an extravagantly long, luxurious vehicle that one would only see in movies.
The driver got out of the limousine's front seat and opened the rear door.
"Get in."
I got into the limousine with Yu Yeonha. The car seat was incredibly soft. The moment I sat, drowsiness crept in.
"Let's depart."
At Yu Yeonha's words, the driver gripped the wheel. The limousine moved without the slightest tremor and soon arrived at the Strait of Essence's guild building.
As expected, the building of the world's 2nd-ranked guild was special starting from its exterior design. Not a single ornament seemed wasted; the exterior was geometric yet beautiful. That towering building was probably a cutting-edge structure incorporating magic engineering technology.
"Let's go in~"
Yu Yeonha guided me inside the building. The lobby spreading before my eyes the moment I entered was truly vast. It felt like stepping into a concert hall.
"Hero offices are from the 2nd floor, but from the 1st to 4th floors here, there's nothing much. It gets serious from the 5th floor. The 1st floor is just the lobby, lounge, training room, and sparring hall. Ah, there's a sports field too."
I was too busy looking around the 1st floor interior, which she had called 'nothing much.' Marble tiles and refined interior. Furthermore, looking far into the distance, a grassy field like a soccer pitch was spread out. It was an 'indoor sports field,' no less.
"For now, let's go meet the hero in charge."
"...Ah. Right."
It was a guild experience. Yu Yeonha was so familiar with everything that I thought she was the one in charge of me.
Yu Yeonha and I stood together in front of the elevator.
"Ah. By the way, the person who hasn't arrived yet isn't Chae Nayun."
"Huh? Oh, okay."
What was that supposed to mean out of nowhere.
I answered without much thought, but Yu Yeonha watched me meaningfully before breaking into a smirk.
Ding—
The elevator arrived just then, and Yu Yeonha pressed the 3rd floor. The elevator doors opened. First, a very large circular lobby and office doors sporadically placed along the lobby walls came into view.
"Follow me."
I followed Yu Yeonha and arrived in front of an office. It was an office with a doorplate reading A-35.
"Honestly, the experience program isn't anything special. Today we'll just look around inside, tomorrow we'll interact with another guild, and if there's a dispatch call, we follow along. That's all."
Saying so, Yu Yeonha opened the door.
Contrary to its exterior, the office interior was quite spacious. The office owner's personality seemed quite gentle; there were plants under the window and various documents were neatly organized on the desk.
"Have you heard of Bak Sangho?"
"Uh... I think I have."
"Mr. Sangho is quite a high-ranking hero."
In truth, it wasn't just 'heard of him'; I knew him better than Yu Yeonha did.
Bak Sangho. Right now he volunteered to be Yu Yeonha's left arm, but inside he was very treacherous. Not that he was a Villain, but he was someone who would stab Yu Yeonha in the back later. Quite fiercely.
"Right. I heard you did well on the final exam this time."
“It was 67 points, though.”
“If you wanted to place in the middle ranks, I think you should have earned about 20 points less than that. Other guilds are starting to take notice of you now.”
“······.”
“You don’t like standing out, do you? That’s why I’m telling you on purpose.”
I decided not to respond to these strange remarks Yu Yeonha occasionally threw at me.
End
“Oh, my. You were already inside.”
While we were in the middle of looking around, the office door opened. Beyond it stood someone who appeared to be Park Sangho.
“Hello.”
Park Sangho smiled and held out his hand. Park Sangho gave a fairly good impression. Like an older brother from next door, one might say. Completely at odds with the sinister nature inside him.
“You’re Hajin, correct?”
“Yes.”
I took Park Sangho’s hand.
“And Miss Yeonha, we’ve met before.”
Yu Yeonha merely lifted the corners of her mouth in a silent smile. Park Sangho draped his jacket over a chair, then tapped the stack of documents.
“This may be called a hero ‘experience’ in name, but as you can see, a surprising amount of our work is done indoors. That’s the reason four to five clerks are assigned to team-leader-level heroes who use A-rank offices.”
Park Sangho’s gentle voice continued.
“Dungeon raids, hunting monsters of intermediate-high rank and above, and so on—all of it can only be carried out after analysis is completed in this office. In other words, the more flawless the administrative work, the safer the field becomes. And, hmm······ for now, let’s head outside. The office is boring.”
Park Sangho hurriedly led us out. Yu Yeonha followed obediently, but my gaze lingered on the safe installed inside his drawer. In there was probably the dirt Park Sangho had gathered on Yu Yeonha’s family.
“Mr. Hajin?”
“Ah, yes.”
At Park Sangho’s call, I hastily followed after him.
“Oh, right. There are also regular summons orders. You know, Sinuiju and Hamgyeongbuk-do up north—honestly, those aren’t our lands anymore. You could call them the land of monsters.”
Even as we walked, Park Sangho shared useful information.
“Around 3,000 heroes nationwide are dispatched in rotation for three days every month. By reducing the monsters’ numbers in advance, we prevent them from being pushed out. Once you’re appointed as a hero, you’ll probably go once or twice a year.”
Park Sangho’s legs stopped at the far end of the third floor.
It was in front of a door with a nameplate that read “Analysis Room.”
“This is the first place I wanted to show you. I heard Mr. Hajin ranked first in theory?”
Park Sangho opened the door.
The analysis room was more ordinary than I had expected. In the open space were desks, chairs, and benches, and here and there stood computers that looked incredibly high-end.
“There’s a separate conference room farther in as well. It’s huge, isn’t it?”
Park Sangho added, as if boasting.
Just as he said, the analysis room was quite large, and there were a fair number of heroes inside. Each of them was engrossed in their own work in their own way.
“Oh, Sangho. Looks like the kids are here?”
Just then, a female hero spoke to him. The woman, who had been looking through documents until just now, referred to Yu Yeonha and me together.
“Ah, yeah. Mr. Hajin, Miss Yeonha. This is Hero Lee Jina. She’s intermediate-high rank.”
“Hello. Since two out of the three are girls······ Kim Hajin must be you over there?”
“Ah, yes.”
“The world sure has changed. Rank 934 is coming to experience our guild and all. I wonder whose favor that was.”
Lee Jina expressed her dissatisfaction indirectly. However, the target of that dissatisfaction was not me, but Yu Yeonha. Yu Yeonha, too, did not look at Lee Jina with particularly friendly eyes.
In reality, Lee Jina was currently part of Vice Leader Jeong Hoseok’s faction. However, later on, she would switch over to Yu Yeonha’s line and rise to the position of vice leader herself, so she could definitely be called a notable named character within this guild.
“Still, Mr. Hajin ranked first in theory.”
Park Sangho defended me in his own way.
“Haha, first in theory? Impressive. I was first in theory too. But at the cadet level, there’s not much to learn anyway, so don’t get too full of yourself.”
Lee Jina chuckled and took off her glasses. Then she tapped the document she had just been reading.
“Then, Mr. Kim Hajin, first in theory? Want to take a look at this?”
“Hey, hey. What is it—”