I'm not sure of the surname, but anyway, Chanwoong.
If my memory serves me right, that was definitely his name. Kang Sihyun, locking eyes with the boy who had been gossiping about him in the cafeteria earlier, confirmed that he was avoiding his gaze. It seemed he didn't have the nerve to insult him to his face like he did in the cafeteria. Kang Sihyun concluded upon seeing Chanwoong casually chatting with his friends.
"Can we have a dedicated room for Class A in the cafeteria?"
"A room exclusively for Class A?"
"Yes. We would appreciate it if no one else could enter except us."
Sometimes, the stares of other kids could be burdensome.
Throughout the response, Kang Sihyun's gaze was fixed on Chanwoong. The boy, whether embarrassed or ashamed, didn't lift his head.
If they were going to treat Class A differently as a special group anyway, Sihyun wanted to receive proper treatment. It was unfair to accept the stares, attention, jealousy, and envy from other kids when he couldn't even receive that kind of treatment.
After finishing his words and looking at the principal, Sihyun waited for a moment of contemplation from the principal towards the Class A students.
"Do other Class A students agree with Sihyun's suggestion?"
"Yes."
"It doesn't matter."
"We should eat comfortably."
Their hesitant responses, coupled with their uneasy tone, also nailed Chanwoong with their stares. Sihyun could hear them questioning what had been done to him by the people around Chanwoong. He waited for the inevitable acceptance.
All of Class A agreed, without exception.
The principal himself believed that capable individuals deserved proper treatment. Otherwise, they wouldn't have added A+ and S ranks separately in the end-of-month evaluations.
Confident that his wish would be granted, considering various circumstances, Sihyun had uttered his wish. And as expected, after a brief moment of contemplation, the principal gave a clear approval. Sihyun, who would now have at least a comfortable environment during meals, breathed a sigh of relief.
It was then that a voice calming the atmosphere was heard.
"Sihyun."
"Yes?"
"Didn't you... want to change your weapon last time?"
"…Ah."
He realized it instantly.
He had wanted to change the pink staff that Hamin often teased him about. It had been something he'd been thinking about since the beginning of the semester, but he had postponed it because there were more pressing matters.
That meant he would have to use this staff until at least the next end-of-month evaluation.
"Are you stupid? How could you forget that again?"
Hamin seized the opportunity to ridicule him. Feeling unjust, Sihyun turned his head and looked at Gunwoo. Come to think of it, Baek Geonu's shield was given to him by Ruth. A thought flashed through his mind.
If there was someone who could provide him with a staff, it was him. Someone who had already said he would support him during the contract period.
Iha Hyuk.
If he told him he wanted a new staff, he would gladly provide one. Despite his awkwardness, he was generous to talented individuals. No, if he showed his staff to Iha Hyuk, who had already mocked him for carrying this around without saying anything, he would probably understand without Sihyun having to say anything.
Thinking that Iha Hyuk's taste wasn't bad, he felt relieved, which had seemed like a failure and embarrassment just moments ago.
Of course, there was a rule within the school that only weapons provided by the school should be used. So, even if he told Iha Hyuk, it wasn't over. To use a different weapon, he needed the school's permission, but Iha Hyuk seemed capable of persuading the teachers, unlike others.
Of course, Baek Geonu's shield had been broken.
... Should I break my staff too?
Lost in thought, Kang Sihyun was pulled out of his reverie by Haru. When he regained his senses, he noticed that the kids from Class D had already returned to their halves.
With Haru's guidance, Sihyun arrived at Class A and checked the next schedule. He had about 20 minutes until the next class, which was a regular class starting from the second period after the break.
As the door closed, and the kids drew the curtains, the children gathered around him. Feeling a faint déjà vu, Sihyun thought about telling them about what he had learned, considering, "Maybe it's time to let them know," speaking like a gang leader, he thought of Down and Ruth.
If what he had to say was meant only for them, he needed to promise to keep it a secret. He wouldn't go as far as drafting a confidentiality agreement.
"Why so secretive?" asked Haeun.
"Especially you, Kang Haewoon."
"Why me?"
"You too, Yoo Seowoo."
"I won't tell if you don't want me to."
After giving warnings to the main characters, Sihyun nodded to everyone else that they would keep it a secret. Considering seriously whether to sign a confidentiality agreement, Sihyun hesitated before slowly opening his mouth. As he began to explain what he knew about skill creation, Hamin was the first to express doubt.
"How do you know that?"
"Just... had a sudden curiosity."
"...."
Though he answered when asked, Hamin's expression was far from pleased. He seemed rather annoyed.
"Why that expression?"
"Just... unlucky."
"What?"
For once, the words Sihyun usually directed at Hamin were now said by Hamin to himself. Wondering where exactly he was unlucky, Sihyun furrowed his eyebrows. Down rested his chin on the table and nodded slowly.
"Yeah, unlucky indeed."
"Right. I feel like I've just seen that. Like the Seoul National University student who casually said in an interview that he just studied and got in as top of the class."
"That makes me feel unlucky."
Down, Haeun, and Jihye all agreed with Hamin's opinion. As Sihyun looked incredulous, Seowoo changed the subject slightly to lighten the mood.
"So, was that why you used to go to the training room in the early morning?"
"Yeah, something like that."
"And when you told us not to come and used the training room alone?"
"Yeah."
"Ah...."
Haru sighed softly. When his gaze turned towards Sihyun as he spoke a little louder, Sihyun lowered his head as if trying to escape. It seemed he felt disappointed or hurt, maybe even a bruised ego. As he was about to voice his doubts with a wry smile, kids who were interested in skill creation started debating various skills they could create according to their classes.
***
Remembering Ruth's promise to come during personal training time and his request not to come in after telling the kids not to come in, Sihyun entered the training room. He hadn't expected Ruth to be waiting for him until evening. It was unexpected.
"You came early."
"I had to come early."
"Ah...."
Ruth's words reminded Sihyun that she would be leaving today. She wasn't someone he thought about much when she wasn't around, but he felt like he might think of her a little more after today. She was a person who had a strong presence, so forgetting about her completely was difficult.
In a way, she was more like a teacher than the school, which had nothing to offer but theoretical studies, intense training, and monthly evaluations. He became a bit more careful about what he said, considering her more of a teacher. As he pondered what to say for a farewell, Ruth's hand rose above his head with a faint laugh.
"Why, you don't want me to leave?"
"Not to that extent."
She didn't hold on as if pleading for him not to go. Feeling a bit disappointed but willing to send him off safely, Ruth, pressing his head firmly as if rejecting, sat down. Sihyun settled beside him, tidying up his messy hair with his hand.
"I've talked with Redem, and it's true that irregular activities are increasing abnormally in both Korea and the United States. I heard that irregulars from other countries like India and China are also flocking in."
"Other countries?"
While irregulars sometimes traveled to different places through rifts, it was rare for them to move countries entirely. Confused, Sihyun was about to ask when Ruth, shaking her head, grabbed his wrist. Sihyun, who gave his hand at her urging, looked at Ruth as she seemed to be checking his pulse.
"After all, irregulars are targeting triple or higher awakened. That's the only thing we have in common."
"...."
"So, kiddo, try to avoid your fourth awakening if possible. If my theory is correct, the moment you open the way through your fourth awakening, you'll become a target, and irregulars will flock to you. It's not about resolving mana collisions. Even I can't win against multiple catastrophes, let alone you, who has just been born and can barely walk, defeating catastrophes."
It was true. If several irregulars above danger level targeted him, who couldn't handle even a danger level alone, he would die quickly. When he didn't immediately respond, Ruth, warningly, tightened her grip on Sihyun's wrist and spoke.
"And then, all your regrets, and even you."
Everyone will die, kiddo.
It was a confident statement. Though eerie, it wasn't an inaccurate prediction, so Sihyun decided to forget about being quadruple. Only after answering obediently did Ruth finally release his hand, exhaling a sigh. She seemed troubled by the situation as well.
"I'm trying to find out as much as possible about why they're targeting us. Don't worry too much. Stay within the school if possible. Even if the catastrophe class can't stop above danger level, we can stop everything below that. And. Be careful of strangers."
"Me?"
"Don't follow someone just because they offer you candy. Overseas guild movements have been suspicious lately. The US is handling it from my side, so it's not a concern, but I can't afford to pay attention to other countries."
In short, it was a warning to be careful not to be kidnapped by overseas guilds. Agreeing to avoid foreigners and dodge them on sight, Sihyun was stroked by the man who spoke admirably. It felt like receiving a touch from his father, whom he had never received before.
Remembering what he hadn't been able to say to Ruth as she was about to leave, he grabbed her. When the man asked why, Sihyun told him about what happened in the orc stronghold. Ruth, who hesitated for a moment, nodded her head, saying she should have told him sooner.
"If you need to go somewhere, let me know. I'll take you there."
"Thank you."
Be careful. Saying that, Ruth waved her hand and disappeared from the training room. Feeling the training room suddenly empty with just one person gone, Sihyun recalled what had happened so far.
Venom's appearance.
The irregulars' abnormal behavior.
Mana collisions.
Haru's suspicious behavior.
And,
Strange dreams.
The dream he had after rescuing Haru was still vivid. Thinking of the huge eyes without equal, Sihyun pressed his hand tightly, feeling the impending doom. As he pressed the area between his thumb and index finger with his hand, the skin turned white. Looking down at it, Sihyun took a long breath.
Something was wrong.
As if something was definitely going to happen.
But he didn't know what would happen, so he couldn't see any way to deal with it. Sihyun touched his forehead and closed his eyes. All he could hope for in this situation was that everything would turn out okay.
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