As soon as Kang Sihyun arrived at the guild, he wanted to rest, but the moment he got out of the car, he realized that sweet respite was out of reach. Despite the world being in such a state, the media still operated, and a crowd of people with cameras thronged in front of the Redem Guild.
"There, the Redem Guild!"
"They're here!"
"They've arrived!"
One might think they were celebrities arriving.
No, perhaps more than celebrities.
As Kang Sihyun and his party stepped out of the car, the crowd that had been encircling the Redem building started snapping photos and throwing questions and cheers.
"Mr. Guild Master of Redem, how did the battle go?"
"What happened to the catastrophe-class?"
"Are there any injuries? Any casualties?"
"What's the situation at Incheon Airport?"
"Mr. Guild Master of Redem!"
"Mr. Sihyun!"
"You're a Quadruple, when will the fourth Awakening Mark...?"
The barrage of questions was deafening. Kang Sihyun, with a weary look, stared back at the reporters, eager to grab any bit of information. Haehyuk then placed his hand on Kang Sihyun and Hamin's shoulders with a gentle smile.
"These kids just finished their first battle. We'll take questions after they've had some rest."
And that was it.
Haehyuk, without a moment's hesitation, left the reporters who seemed to have been waiting for hours and headed straight for the building's entrance. The dawn sky was dark. Kang Sihyun, looking at those who must have waited at least five hours, made eye contact with one of the reporters and quickly looked away.
"Just a moment!"
"Mr. Guild Master of Redem!"
"When will the rest be...?"
They were not the type to back down easily. No wonder some Awakened Individuals refer to the Awakened media as leeches. As Haehyuk skillfully avoided the interview using rest as a shield, the reporters doggedly inquired when the rest would end and when the press conference would be held. Kang Sihyun, without realizing, shook his head and moved towards the inside of the building where the reporters' voices couldn't reach.
"These media-crazed fools."
Hamin clucked his tongue like an old man scolding the reporters. Kang Sihyun, agreeing with him, glanced at the reporters who couldn't enter the building and were stopped by other Awakened Individuals. Just making eye contact seemed to amplify their shouts and cheers. Kang Sihyun, with a disgusted expression, followed Haehyuk.
Eight Awakened Individuals who had returned from battling a catastrophe-class climbed into the elevator.
"It happens every time we fight a catastrophe-class, so get used to it."
"Yes."
Yes?
He reflexively responded and then winced, looking up at Haehyuk. Why was he being told to naturally adapt? Was he really planning to turn them into a team specialized in dealing with catastrophe-classes? As he narrowed his eyes in thought, the elevator dinged and stopped.
Before Kang Sihyun could question further, a man moved out and entered his office. Without saying a word, he disappeared, and Kang Sihyun turned to look at the others.
No commands were given, but it seemed they instinctively knew what to do. The group, like a line of ants, entered the office.
"Ah, feel free to sit down. Are we gangsters or something?"
The man invited them to sit as Haehyuk stood in front of the long couch. Kang Sihyun looked at the couch, gauging the others' reactions. Indeed, the couch in front of them was wide, but not wide enough for eight people to sit comfortably side by side. At least two of them would have to sit on the couch Haehyuk was sitting on. It was when people's eyes started to roam.
Thump.
"......?"
Suddenly, Seohyun stepped forward a couple of steps, breaking from the line. It didn't seem like he moved voluntarily. At that moment, people quickly thought.
Thump.
Thump.
Haeyeon and Yeonjeong also were pushed forward. Seeing those who were involuntarily pushed forward by others, Haehyuk smiled with his eyes.
"Hahaha...."
The guild members responded with awkward laughter. The man tilted his head, and those who had opened their mouths to speak walked to the sofa instead. Kang Sihyun saw those who were pushed next to Haehyuk clenching their fists.
Knowing who had pushed them, Kang Sihyun turned his head and shifted his gaze. Hamin and Haneul pushed others towards Haehyuk's side, yet they looked utterly relaxed, if not refreshed.
Those who had chosen their sacrificial lambs sat on the sofa as if nothing had happened. Kang Sihyun, who
had been standing dumbfounded, was also pulled by Hamin and sat down as if being dragged.
Haehyuk scanned those seated and then spoke.
"Good work. I'll handle the reporters, so you all enjoy the two days of rest that have been given. The reward for handling the catastrophe-class will be deposited by this evening."
The mention of "this evening" caused some confusion until they realized it was already dawn, having lost track of time during the journey.
"It's late, so let's just do a brief briefing and end it."
"Yes."
That was a relief to hear. Kang Sihyun, who had hardly slept in the car, was glad Haehyuk decided to end it early. Given Haehyuk's nature, it seemed unlikely he would drag the briefing on. Kang Sihyun quietly listened to the man's words.
He opened his mouth, naming each team member and pointing out their deficiencies in the recent battle. Kang Sihyun was criticized for overthinking during combat and sometimes being complacent.
"A single moment of complacency can lead to death, and we're not here to die, are we?"
He spoke softly yet chillingly. Acknowledging his rashness, Kang Sihyun responded in a subdued voice. Haehyuk then turned to the next person, Haru.
"Haru, you're clumsy at cooperating."
"......"
"You don't know when or how to support others, so your attempts to help actually end up harming the team. You can't always fight alone. Learn how to cooperate and support more."
"Yes."
"And Hamin..."
Not overdoing it nor underdoing it, the team nodded in agreement to the crisp and straightforward feedback they received. Hamin was the only one who did not acknowledge it.
No, it wasn’t that he didn’t acknowledge it; he was more discontent because he was aware of it. After all, Hamin was someone who particularly disliked Haehyuk’s words to the point of irritation.
However, Haehyuk didn’t pay much attention to such a boy. The man who had said his piece as if it was up to each individual to accept it, straightened up from leaning against the sofa.
“We’ve had our meeting and now it’s already 2 AM. Let’s call it a day and go rest.”
With a clap of his hands, the man wrapped up the situation and stood up. Kang Sihyun, a bit more spirited than usual at the thought of finally being able to rest, led the way to their lodgings. If Haehyuk had asked him to stay a bit longer, he would have wanted to run away, but fortunately, Haehyuk did not call him back.
Kang Sihyun’s face, which had been lit with a faint smile, hardened upon reaching his room.
“You’re just getting here?”
“……”
As soon as he opened the door, he stopped in his tracks at the voice that greeted him. Stiff as a robot, he stepped back to check the room number.
It was indeed their room. Blinking twice and confirming again, Kang Sihyun wondered if his ears were deceiving him and looked further inside.
Five children sitting on three beds looked back at him. There were supposed to be only three residents, yet here were five, and of the supposed residents, two were already here.
Swallowing, Kang Sihyun faced the Class A students who were using his room as their own. Their eyes met.
“Welcome back, Sihyun!”
“We have something to talk about, don’t we?”
“Any injuries?”
“You came back safely.”
The voices of four people followed in sequence. And then,
“What, you got scared and checked the room number when you saw me?”
The voice of a girl, sounding like a street thug, reached him. It was the voice Kang Sihyun had heard just moments ago.
Haeun, Seowoo, Geonu, Jihye, and even Daun.
Excluding the three who had been summoned for the catastrophe-class extermination, the five were comfortably occupying the beds. Their presence and tone were menacing, making Kang Sihyun reflect on what he might have done wrong as Haru and Hamin entered the room, removing their shoes and joining the Class A group. Now, Kang Sihyun was the only first-year Class A student not present.
Their eyes full of dissatisfaction bore into him as if it was alright to call it malevolent, still occupying someone else’s room despite the time having passed midnight. Kang Sihyun glanced at the faces of the children as if gauging their mood and slowly opened his mouth.
“…It’s dawn now.”
“Dawn?”
“……”
“Dawn? So that’s what’s important to you right now?”
Daun seemed even more fierce than before, despite just a few hours of separation. Even Jihye, who would come second in handling Daun, was soothing the angrily pouting girl in a calm tone. Still, Daun was fuming, and Kang Sihyun hesitated at the entrance, unable to enter or leave, when Jihye reached out to pat Daun’s shoulder.
“Daun, be nice, let's overlook it just this once. Just once. We’re nice, so maybe we should… overlook it?”
“What?”
The conclusion was bizarrely voiced out loud. Kang Sihyun, dumbfounded, looked at the girl with her hair tied high, reaching her chest, and as she caught Kang Sihyun’s gaze, she quietly smiled.
“Should we overlook Kang Sihyun, who rushed to the Guild Master alone intending to deal with the catastrophe-class without telling us?”
That was the beginning.
“To think you said you wouldn’t hide even the trivial things, yet a catastrophe-class? You didn’t give us any heads-up about dealing with a catastrophe-class? I’d rather believe Yoo Seowoo was a gentle lamb than your word.”
“Why bring me into it, Daun.”
“This time it’s Sihyun’s fault!”
“It wasn’t like I was dragged along…”
“See, I told you we’d talk later.”
The room quickly became noisy. Kang Sihyun, facing the criticism from the children, recalled the memories that had evaporated while dealing with the crisis.
He remembered the shocked faces of the children, unaware that he had grabbed Haehyuk’s collar to join the team dealing with Caris.
“Ah…”
Kang Sihyun let out a sigh-like sound.
Just as he was about to open
his mouth in an attempt to make an excuse, the most composed boy spoke up.
“Kang Sihyun.”
“……”
“Come here.”
Kang Sihyun, who had been standing as if he would leave and sleep in another room, was called by Geonu. Feeling as if his true intentions were seen through, Kang Sihyun reluctantly moved and quietly murmured.
“Guys, I’m tired…”
The children were overly concerned about his health. Hoping for some leniency by mentioning his fatigue and glancing at them, Kang Sihyun firmly closed his mouth.
It was because he saw Daun smirking with disbelief.
If he spoke, he would be admitting guilt.
Understanding the situation, he swallowed his breath.
Somehow, even after finishing the talk with Haehyuk, he felt unusually good. Could his life really be that lucky?
Sleep was out of the question.
Facing the seven pairs of eyes that were not smiling in the slightest, Kang Sihyun had a feeling.
He might just spend a day of his vacation sleeping.
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