End-of-Month Evaluation: Partner Collaboration (2)
[End-of-Month Evaluation Notice]
1st Year 1st Semester 5th End-of-Month Evaluation
Topic: Partner Collaboration
Details: Work together with your partner to defeat an Irregular. The Irregular grades that need to be defeated are as follows:
D-D partners are to defeat Repression Class Irregulars.
D-C partners are to defeat Repression Class Irregulars.
D-B partners are to defeat Repression Class Irregular groups.
C-C partners are to defeat Repression Class Irregular groups.
C-B partners are to defeat Warning Class Irregulars.
C-A partners are to defeat Warning Class Irregular groups.
B-B partners are to defeat Warning Class Irregular groups.
B-A partners are to defeat Pre-Hazard Class Irregulars.
A-A partners are to defeat Hazard Class Irregulars.
The grades will be evaluated based on the time taken to defeat the Irregulars. Teams facing Hazard Class Irregulars will be provided with radios separately.
Type: Partner Evaluation
Date: November 29th
"So, we have to deal with Hazard Class, huh?"
While training together, Haewoon brushed his chin as he read the detailed end-of-month evaluation notice that had arrived unexpectedly. Kang Sihyun, who was examining the lengthy notice more attentively than usual, focused particularly on the A-A partner section. Perhaps because it was the fifth end-of-month evaluation, the difficulty seemed to have increased by one level according to individual levels and partner combinations.
Hazard Class Irregular.
Just reading the words naturally brought to mind Venom, the Hazard Class Irregular they had encountered most recently. According to Ruth, Venom seemed to be particularly difficult even among Hazard Class, so unless they encountered someone as stubborn, defeating him should be possible. As Haewoon thought about it, looking at the flyer, he absentmindedly tousled his hair, which was sticking up.
"It might be tough."
"Since it's only one entity, we might be able to manage."
"Who said I can't handle it? I just think it might be a bit challenging, that's all."
The boy replied defensively as he adjusted his weapon. In his hand was a high-quality sword awarded as a prize for the athletic competition. As Kang Sihyun, who was proficient in both fighting and tanking, looked at the sturdy sword, he soon glanced down at his own palm. He too held a new weapon.
A white staff.
It wasn't the ridiculous-looking pink staff, but an elegant pure white one. It didn't seem bad at all, especially with the blue gem embedded on the staff adding to its elegance. Kang Sihyun couldn't help but smile with satisfaction, but Haewoon pouted, saying, "Sihyun's identity is disappearing!" in disappointment.
"Now that the flyer's out, shall we head back to our training rooms? You've seen your new weapons."
Seowoo, who was wielding his sword, suggested. Since the purpose of this gathering was to demonstrate skills with new weapons, Kang Sihyun, who agreed, checked the date on his phone. With less than a week until the evaluation, there was no time to spare for idle chatter with eight people gathered here. Moreover, except for Jihye and Daun, everyone here had to face Hazard Class Irregulars. It meant they needed to prepare more thoroughly than before.
Knowing this fact, everyone nodded in agreement and made preparations to leave obediently. Kang Sihyun, intrigued by his own staff, cast a purification spell at Haewoon's request for one more healing skill. A white light emanated from the staff, illuminating the training room. Impressed, Haewoon licked his lips as he looked at the new staff. Kang Sihyun, thinking that Haewoon, who already had a good staff, was being greedy, lightly tapped Haewoon's head with the gem part of the staff.
"Ow!"
"Stop gawking and go back to your training room."
Flicking his hand as if sprinkling salt, he spoke, and Haewoon, who pouted like a child, was led away by Geonu. Daun and Jihye also found their respective partners and left, and Haru and Seowoo, after exchanging glances, nodded once before leaving the training room. It was a mystery why they had partnered up if they disliked each other so much.
"Looks like it's just us."
Scanning the now quiet training room, Haemin, who had been holding his breath, raised an eyebrow.
"You have a subtle way of speaking sometimes."
"What about it?"
"...Forget it."
Exhaling, the boy glanced at the flyer again. Hearing Haemin muttering about the end-of-month evaluation notice, Kang Sihyun took a seat on the bench.
"...They're really Hazard Class Irregulars."
"It's about time we dealt with them."
When they reached the second year, they had to face Warning Class or higher Irregulars during guild training and were even mobilized to seal rifts. So, at this point in the second half of the first year, it wasn't strange for only A-class to deal with Hazard Class Irregulars. After all, A-class was considered Pre-A class when evaluated, so it wasn't too much for two of them to deal with a single Hazard Class Irregular.
But that didn't mean they could afford to be complacent.
"Will we be directly engaging them again?"
"Isn't it time to graduate from virtual reality?"
"Just asked in case. It doesn't specify which Irregular we'll be facing, does it?"
"It seems they'll inform us two days before the end-of-month evaluation."
Having carefully read the notice, Haemin replied. Since they had to practice without knowing who their opponents would be, there were limits to strategizing. For now, until the target for Irregular elimination was decided, they had to focus on building a solid foundation. As Kang Sihyun spoke, Haemin suddenly sighed, catching his attention.
The exhale was so heavy it seemed to sink into the ground, furrowing Kang Sihyun's brows.
"Why the sigh?"
He asked as if prompting for an answer, and Haemin's tone became sharper. He hadn't been bad at all, and it was Haemin who had requested partnership first. Yet, now that the day of the partnership evaluation had come, his reaction seemed regretful, making it hard to judge.
"What's the matter?"
As there were no discernible clues, Najik looked at Sihyun with a complex gaze, emitting a sigh and taking up a bench with a troubled expression.
"You never seem to finish these evaluations without a hitch."
"..."
"I feel like something always happens whenever I'm with you during these evaluations."
"It seems like it's because of you."
Najik retorted, though inwardly feeling embarrassed. Truthfully, there was only one evaluation that had ended smoothly, the first monthly evaluation. Upon closer examination, even that hadn't ended entirely without incident. Meeting someone consumed by inferiority, encountering Pia, collapsing in the orc stronghold, encountering Venom — by now, it seemed like a whirlwind of incidents and accidents.
One's life couldn't always be smooth sailing, but somehow, Sihyun's life seemed to have more twists and turns than most.
Reflecting on various events, Najik's response seemed reasonable, so Sihyun chuckled and ran a hand through his black hair, disheveling it.
"If something happens again this time, just change your name to 'Kang Jaerang.'"
"What are you saying? You should watch yourself."
Brushing off his hand, Sihyun replied, advising Najik to offer water as an offering and pray every day if he wanted to receive good evaluations. He retorted, asking if overturning water meant changing his name. It was a childish conversation, so Sihyun, trying to be serious, began to counter but ended up bursting into laughter.
"Isn't this conversation a bit...?"
"Why, you're only seventeen."
"The level of conversation seems to be that of an elementary school student."
"Isn't this Hyung trying to accommodate you?"
"If your birthday's in April, what about it?"
"Then when's yours?"
"Mine is..."
As Sihyun hesitated to answer, Najik blinked. Instead of immediately replying, Najik's lips curved slightly upwards.
"What's this? It seems like I'm your hyung."
Shrugging his shoulders, Najik continued, teasing Sihyun to call him hyung. It was nonsense, but Sihyun wrinkled his brow and protested, kicking Najik's foot lightly when he approached.
"Anyway, I'm the hyung here."
"Ah, I see. That's why, when's your birthday?"
"Ah, just."
"Ah, come on."
Sihyun frowned at Najik, imitating his displeasing tone. When he kicked Najik's foot a bit harder, Najik chuckled and nudged Sihyun back. The playful exchange escalated slightly. By the end, when they both held their respective weapons in their hands, Sihyun, who had finally regained his senses, realized the situation and burst into a laugh.
There was something infectious about being with Najik.
"What are you doing?"
He stood up abruptly, then hesitated, and sat back down on the bench. Looking at Najik, who had sidled up to take the seat next to him, Sihyun frowned, his face filled with lingering mischief.
"I feel even more childish when I'm with you."
"Are you blaming me for your childishness?"
Najik chuckled at Sihyun's somewhat serious words. Despite avoiding his gaze whenever he could before, Najik now met Sihyun's eyes without flinching. Watching him observe, Najik narrowed his eyes, slightly puzzled.
"Why."
"..."
"...Stop treating me like a zoo monkey and just talk, okay?"
Najik squirmed under Sihyun's gaze, who was silently observing him. As he observed Najik's reaction, Sihyun's brows furrowed, and for a moment, he covered his blue eyes with his eyelids.
"I feel comfortable with you too."
When with you, I feel at ease.
There was no immunity for exchanging words like "friend" or "precious" with Najik. It wasn't that kind of relationship where they exchanged such awkward words. Was it because of the recent emergence of mischief, or because he wanted to be sure that there was a place for him here? With a question in mind, a nightmare suddenly came to Sihyun's mind, and he swallowed a breath, momentarily covering his blue eyes with his eyelids before looking at Najik.
"I want you to feel a little uncomfortable around me."
...It's easier.
Najik replied as if talking to himself, his voice trailing off. It was a response given almost in soliloquy, and Sihyun chuckled softly. He was well aware that it wasn't the only reason, judging by Najik's reaction during the sports competition. Despite knowing that, why did he ask again? Was it because of the mischief that had gradually emerged recently, or because he wanted reassurance that there was a place for him here? As he pondered these questions, Sihyun looked at Najik.
"I hope you become a little uncomfortable around me too."
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