Having forgotten the departure date, it seems you were heavily focused on training. From what I've heard, it appears the efforts were quite fruitful.
"Not a waste of time, then."
"Thankfully, that's the case. It's a pity that one rumor has disappeared, but are you okay, Kang Sihyun?"
Leaning against the doorframe, someone tapped their chin, speaking. As their eyes met, the purple pupils curved. Kang Sihyun could easily deduce which rumor Haehyuk was referring to.
"I didn't know you enjoyed such rumors."
"They make for an interesting reaction."
"Ah, I see."
It was best not to engage in such moments. Giving only brief responses and avoiding showing any displeasure or anger was the best strategy, as it would only feed Haehyuk the reaction he desired. As the training room began to tidy up, there was another knock on the door.
"Pack up your stuff and come down to the main gate by 3 PM. We've decided to depart by 3:30 PM, so try not to be late."
Checking the wristwatch, it was 11:20 AM. Having intermittently packed up the things moved from Redem over the past month, there was ample time. Assuming nothing unexpected happened, being late seemed unlikely. Acknowledging the instruction, Haehyuk disappeared from the training room with a satisfied look.
"You talk quite casually with the guild master."
"The atmosphere doesn't really call for formality."
"The disadvantaged should be more considerate, what can you do."
Haemin added a teasing comment to Jinhyuk's murmuring. Kang Sihyun didn't affirm or deny the statement. It was a presumptuous thing for a guild member to say, but after all, he was Haehyuk's younger brother, and technically, it wasn't incorrect.
"It's already time to leave."
"It's ridiculous that none of us remembered the departure date."
"Being summoned to the training room the moment we wake up every morning, it's no wonder our sense of time is blurred."
"So, it's my fault?"
It would be more accurate to call it a benefit rather than a fault. Thanks to Kang Sihyun's self-sacrificing spirit, holding the Muam guild members for practice daily, and also taking care of the A-grade kids, their skills improved significantly.
Raising an eyebrow as if to say, "Did someone think they were waking up at 6:30 AM out of enjoyment?" Suhwoo shrugged his shoulders. The boy who had been avoiding attention stealthily moved behind Haru. After glaring at the cowardly boy for a moment, Kang Sihyun then looked at the Muam guild members who had finished tidying up.
"Since you've all been briefed, let's meet at the main gate after packing up."
"Thank you for your efforts."
"Thank you for your efforts."
"..."
"What's wrong?"
Haemin nudged Kang Sihyun, who stood still, receiving the greetings. Kang Sihyun muttered quietly, gazing at the Muam and A-grade kids with a forlorn look.
"Just. Wondering why nobody's awarded me the Nobel Peace Prize yet."
It was satisfying to see the two guilds, which could have been fighting from their first meeting, now standing side by side, bowing and respectfully greeting each other.
What about the guild master of Muam?
Instead of paying lip service to him for promoting harmony by working tirelessly, he hoped for some form of reward for his unrequested efforts. Since joining Muam, it seemed all he had done was endure hardship, Kang Sihyun left the training room with a click of his tongue, remembering Haehyuk's laughing face.
Heading back to his room, he decided to shower and pack first. Thinking it would be more convenient to start with packing, he left his wet hair be, only for Suhwoo to come over and dry it for him.
"Are you planning to catch a cold before we even leave, packing like this?"
"I shook it off a bit."
"Shaking is not enough, you should dry it."
"Packing first feels more comforting."
Replying almost to himself, he checked the necessary items. The sound of vigorous towel-drying came from above his head. Yoo Seowoo's hands felt so comforting that Kang Sihyun had no intention of pushing him away.
While jotting down a list of items to pack in a notebook, Suhwoo, who had been towel-drying his hair, also wiped the water off his face.
"Your hair has grown a lot."
"I was thinking of trimming my bangs before we leave. They've been getting in the way."
"Why? It might look cute if you just push it back."
"?"
"How about tying your bangs back? It could look adorable."
Though the suggestion sounded playful, a sincere undertone was also felt. Imagining himself with tied-back bangs, Kang SSihyun frowned. It sounded utterly absurd.
"If that's your taste, you do it to your hair."
Pushing away his hand with a look of disgust, Suhwoo laughed awkwardly. The hair was somewhat dry after being towel-dried a few more times. Though it was still damp, it was no longer dripping, allowing Kang Sihyun to focus on packing his belongings. Suhwoo, handling the wet towel, looked disappointed.
"Aren't you going to dry it more?"
"I need to pack."
"That's too bad."
"You're making a fuss. Yoo Seowoo, why don't you pack your things?"
Haemin, following suit, chided the boy. In response, Suhwoo, sitting casually on the sofa, glanced at a suitcase placed in the corner of the room.
"I've already packed, so I'm free."
"Forgot the departure date, though?"
"Packing early just makes things easier for me."
Despite the triviality of the matter, Haemin looked annoyed. Anticipating another quarrel, Kang Sihyun quietly called Haru to his side and they packed together.
It seemed better to maintain peace on this side, given the commotion elsewhere.
Arriving at the main gate by 3 PM, they saw the two guild leaders waiting in front of a car.
Beside Haehyuk, who was expected to pack minimally, there was surprisingly a rather large suitcase. Approaching him, Kang Sihyun commented with an unexpected expression.
"You've packed quite a lot."
"We'll be there for three months. Can't live on the sea, better to have too much than too little."
That made sense.
If it were a trip to another country, necessities could be bought there, but setting off across the vast ocean required thorough preparation. Kang Sihyun nodded in agreement, catching Taeju's waving hand in his peripheral vision. Doubting his own eyes, he saw a backpack that seemed suitable for a hiker attached to Taeju.
Is that all his luggage?
Though slightly larger than a typical hiking backpack, it was significantly smaller compared to Haehyuk's luggage. Unable to ignore him after making eye contact, Kang Sihyun nodded in greeting and eyed the colorful straps of Taeju's backpack with a troubled look.
"The guild master of Muam seems to have packed quite lightly. Is that all your luggage?"
"We've arranged a decent ship to take us. Basic necessities like robes should be available there, so I didn't need to bring many clothes. It's not a vacation, so there's no need to carry a lot. Right?"
The remark was ripe for misunderstanding. Just after discussing the abundance of Haehyuk's luggage, such a comment could misconstrue Haehyuk's preparations.
Laughing off the situation, it didn't seem like Taeju had malicious intent, but the comment was indeed unfortunate.
Glancing sideways, as if used to such situations, Haehyuk smiled.
The expression, almost enlightened, made Kang Sihyun feel sympathy for Haehyuk for the first time, considering their complex relationship and the kindness Haehyuk had shown him in the past.
"Are we all ready to board the car?"
"Ah, wait a moment. My brother hasn't arrived yet."
Covering for the giggling Taeju, Haehyuk spoke up, and Jinhyuk raised his hand. It seemed one person was missing, likely Inhyuk hadn't arrived yet.
Feeling the guild leaders' eyes on him, Jinhyuk awkwardly apologized. Haehyuk, checking his watch, reassured with a friendly smile that it was still before 3:30 PM, not too late. As he pointed towards the gate, everyone's gaze shifted to the Muam guild's main entrance, where Inhyuk approached, dragging a suitcase, wearing a scarf.
Why would he wear a scarf?
The Muam guild master wore a Hawaiian shirt with black trousers and a hiking bag, and here was Inhyuk wearing a scarf. The fashion sense of Muam people seemed to have its own unique world, utterly incomprehensible.
After loading Inhyuk's suitcase into the trunk and apologizing, they finally split into cars according to their guilds and set off for the harbor. After a non-stop drive of about three hours, they arrived near the harbor.
The moment Kang Sihyun set foot on the ground, he felt his heart beat faintly.
"..."
Was this his first time since then?
The ocean seen from the roadside, as suggested by Haehyuk, would undoubtedly differ. Being on a ship meant being over the sea, so the experience was bound to be unique. He moistened his dry lips with his tongue.
It was fine seeing the sea from the car. However, now, being so close brought a hint of unease. Taking a deep breath, the A-grade kids stood by his side, examining his expression for any signs of distress.
"Are you okay?"
Haru asked, holding his hand. Compared to his own unease, Haru seemed more anxious, which embarrassed Kang Sihyun a bit. He nodded to reassure the boy, but that wasn't enough to calm Haru down. As they followed the staff's guidance, Haru, along with Suhwoo and Haemin, remained visibly concerned.
Their worry, in turn, began to affect Kang Sihyun.
What if he hadn't truly overcome his trauma? Thoughts of possibly fainting again and being sent back to Redem crossed his mind, prompting him to take several deep breaths.
Sweat seemed to form in the palm of his hand held by Suhwoo and Haru.
Embarrassed, he attempted to withdraw his hand, but the two boys wouldn't allow it. Eventually, Kang Sihyun, gripping their hands, swallowed his nervousness as they approached the ship.
"Just a moment."
"Why? Is something wrong? Are you feeling okay?"
"Is it too hard?"
"Are you very scared?"
With just a single utterance, the three kids bombarded him with questions. Under different circumstances, Kang Sihyun might have laughed off their concern, but now, he listened to the sound of the waves crashing as he looked down.
"...I'll close my eyes for a bit."
Whether it was due to nerves or fear, he felt a slight sweat. Not wanting to risk fainting while climbing the stairs, he firmly held their hands and communicated his intention. Haru and Haemin tightened their grip in response, while Suhwoo nodded from behind, ready to catch him if he fell.
It seemed they were prepared to support him in case he stumbled.
Before closing his eyes, Kang Sihyun took one last look at their faces, finding unnecessary strength in their concern, and then hesitantly shut his eyes. Guided by the children's instructions, he felt Haehyuk's gaze on him, even though he couldn't see it.
The area around his forehead felt warm, but he ignored it and continued walking. Despite the physical proximity being the same, the sound of waves felt closer than before.
Finally, having climbed all the stairs onto the ship, Kang Sihyun twitched his lips. His eyelids trembled slightly. He was still okay for now, so he wriggled his fingers, prompting a soft voice to reach him.
"Open your eyes, Kang Sihyun."
"Just a moment, please. Let me prepare..."
"I think you'll be okay."
Haru, with an unusual assertiveness, seemed to be encouraging Kang Sihyun to trust him, squeezing his hand with conviction. Hesitant, Kang Sihyun turned his head upwards and slowly lifted his eyelids.
As his trembling eyelashes rose and his vision cleared, the blue waves pushed aside the lingering blue in Kang Sihyun's eyes and filled them with clarity.
"Ah..."
It was the sea he hadn't seen in a long time, vast and welcoming.
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