25 – Hero (8)

Baek So-ah grabbed Seo Han-bit by the collar and dragged him out of the hospital room.

There was no time to dry.

I couldn’t understand what the situation was, so I just stared blankly at the scene.

Had it been about ten minutes?

drooling-

The door to the hospital room opened, and Baek So-ah was the only one who returned.

“Seo Hanbit-nim…, no, Seo Han-bit?”

“I only slapped one more cheek and sent it off.”

“···why?”

“I saw you went up. That year made things complicated. All of your injuries are because of that bitch.”

Were you angry about that?

Well, that’s right.

Seo Han-bit, who had a blood phobia, fell into a panic and even healed the monsters.

Even so, I had no intention of blaming Seo Han-bit or criticizing him.

You didn’t do that on purpose, did you?

It was also something I did to heal myself.

In any case, it is an undeniable fact that Seo Han-bit pooped…

It’s already in the past, and the situation has been resolved without incident, but is there any need to hold them accountable?

The reason why the situation has become complicated can be seen that Baek Chi-yeol’s stake is greater, but it was not fair to say something only to Seo Han-bit.

Of course, I was also a human being, so at the time, I was a bit overheated.

Right now, I don’t really have any feelings, so I’m just passing on for good.

Contrary to me

Even though Baek So-ah’s mouth sticks out a couple of feet.

“And you, Lee Hyeon-seong, said you blocked the attack with your whole body to save that bitch? what kind of hero are you Same with me, why do you keep acting like that?”

The stern face that had not been shown recently reappeared.

…it’s really scary.

Small flames flickering around Baek So-ah’s body.

It was a phenomenon that appeared whenever emotions were intensified.

She’s not my mother, so I don’t know why she’s so angry, but first of all, I needed to correct the situation that happened yesterday.

“A child. There seems to be a misunderstanding.”

“What misunderstanding?”

Let’s hear it.

It was just that expression.

I explained the situation step by step without disturbing Baek So-ah as much as possible.

Of course, we also included talk about savvy.

Because Baek So-ah got the heat and beat Seo Han-bit in this part.

Even after explaining all that, the answer that came back was cold.

“…Still, it’s true that that bitch healed all the monsters. Every single thing I did wrong should be punished.”

attitude that he did nothing wrong.

I think putting the flame on my fist when putting the uppercut was overkill, but I decided not to apologize to Seo Han-bit.

There is no particular reason for me to take the side of Seo Hanbit here.

with a small sigh.

I nodded roughly and decided to ask why I was here and not in Japan.

“Rather than that, how about dispatching to Japan?”

“On the day of departure, I asked for the dispatch period to be reduced to three days. That’s why I came back today.”

I thought my friend came out of nowhere because he was hurt again.

I guess that was an overdone delusion.

Baek So-ah’s early return is a trend that did not exist in the original work, but the future is something that can easily change even with a small action, so I was thinking about that.

“Aren’t you asking why I asked for a shorter period?”

Baek So-ah first induced a question.

No, rather than inducing, he seemed to be itching to speak.

I was about to say ‘I’m not really curious?’ but for some reason I thought I’d get an uppercut too, so I asked with a genuinely curious expression on my face.

“Why did you ask for a reduction?”

“You said you’d be lonely the other day. So I told my dad that I wanted to come back early.”

“…”

“it’s impressive?”

why is he like this

Don’t you want to tell me the right reason?

It was a joke that wasn’t very funny.

“So what is the real reason?”

“You just said it.”

“Yes, let’s say that.”

If you don’t want to tell me, don’t ask me to ask.

She’s a woman you don’t even know.

“ah. don’t believe it if you don’t want to believe it Anyway, since I answered your question, can I ask you something?”

Was that the purpose…

I don’t know what question you’re asking, but it seemed like a very sensitive issue when I saw you asking while doing preliminary work like this.

just as expected.

“What happened inside the shield yesterday?”

A question popped up that was difficult to answer.

I couldn’t explain this straight away.

Because Baek So-ah is not close enough to share the details of the injection casually.

Right now, our relationship is nothing more than a friend we hang out with at the academy.

‘I’m sure the academy will ask me anyway… I’ll have to come up with an appropriate lie for this moment.’

I put on a troubled expression for a moment, then maintained my poker face again.

However, Baek So-ah swallowed a cough and continued, as if she had caught that moment with a hawk’s eye.

“done. You can’t say it if you don’t want to. I didn’t know it would be such a difficult question to answer.”

The more I got to know her, the more caring she was, unlike Baek So-ah in the original story. I feel like my personality is getting more and more harmful.

Of course, Seo Han-bit’s assault case was a bit sudden, but…

let’s just skip that

Because Baek So-ah had been disapproving of Seo Han-bit from before.

I smiled awkwardly and accepted Baek So-ah’s consideration.

“···sorry. I’ll tell you later.”

It wasn’t empty talk.

If you get a little closer here, the day will come to talk to you one day.

“And thank you.”

“yes? what?”

“I just thank you all. The way he came to visit me in the hospital, and the way he even made friends with me, who had a bad reputation at the academy.”

I thought he would hate it because he said something a little cheesy, but Baek So-ah’s reaction was surprisingly not bad.

“If you’re grateful, then you can shoot at the canteen later.”

I’m not saying to shoot food stamps, perhaps because of my own consideration.

I didn’t have enough time to buy a meal ticket yet, so I smiled shyly and replied that I’d make about five pizza buns.

I can’t help it even if it looks small…

Baek So-ah smiled and put the wrapped box she had brought as a present for her illness on the shelf.

“I will put this here.”

After that, he quietly made eye contact with me and we talked more.

“And don’t worry, I don’t have as bad a reputation as you think. Of course, it’s only within the academy.”

It was another strange sound.

Because I felt that there was no progress at all in improving my reputation until now.

Not to mention the same freshman, upperclassmen averted their eyes when they saw me.

Like you don’t want to face filth.

Could it be that those gazes were my illusion?

Maybe it was simply that he averted his eyes because he had a stern look.

Well, I lived a sincere life, but it’s normal to get a little better.

“I’m glad then. But what does it mean to be limited to the academy…”

“ah. Ignore that because it was just a comment.”

I think I know even if I don’t talk.

Perhaps it means that public opinion on the bulletin board is still in the gutter.

The other day, out of curiosity, I checked the academy’s homepage a few times, and the comments on my profile were very spectacle.

I was resistant to bad comments, so there was no damage.

Still, his reputation at the academy has improved, so it doesn’t matter.

Above all, there was not a single student who did not have malicious comments.

That Kim Soo-han is also suffering from malicious comments, so I said everything.

“Then I have to report back to the association, so I’ll go. Have a good rest today and see you tomorrow.”

Baek So-ah looked at the gift box she had handed her, raised the corner of her mouth slightly, and left the hospital room waving her hand.

While emphasizing the fact that it was heard here before the association.

***

While living with Lee Hyeon-seong, Baek So-ah realized that she had made a big mistake.

No matter how you look at it, the attitude of treating him as a friend rather than a crush.

Lee Hyun-seong’s actions did not reveal even a hint of love.

Realizing that I had been delusional all this time alone, I shuddered with shame, but on the other hand, I also felt sad.

Seeing how he confessed, he must have liked himself, but to think of it so quickly.

Of course, he was the one who refused to confess, so he couldn’t reveal his regret.

Since when did you stop thinking about yourself?

I was thinking such meaningless thoughts.

At least until he protected himself in the dungeon, he thought that his heart would have remained. There was no way he could protect an unfeeling opponent even at the cost of his body.

But that wasn’t it either.

After returning from dispatch.

I heard that a dungeon break had occurred at the academy for the first time in decades, and that Lee Hyeon-seong was also caught up in the incident.

There, while trying to protect Seohanbit, his whole body was pierced.

The emotions I felt after hearing those words were varied.

80% worried about Lee Hyun-sung.

10% hatred for incompetent Seo Han-bit.

And the other emotion was jealousy.

Why did you protect the letter?

It doesn’t matter if you die or not, right?

Wasn’t it just me doing that?

Horrible thoughts ran through my head.

Even if he calmly controlled his mind, he couldn’t understand Lee Hyun-sung’s actions.

Seo Han-bit always disapproved of Lee Hyeon-seong.

Even in Dalian, they quarreled over trivial matters.

According to Baek Chi-yeol, he even mocked him by telling him to be friendly with lower-ranking students.

He was a crazy bitch who even stalked Lee Hyun-seong, no matter what he was thinking.

Living outside the academy could be dangerous, so I secretly attached an association employee who could protect Lee Hyun-seong after school, and I knew it because I received a report that Seo Han-bit was also following him.

Unlike himself, it was clear that he never had good intentions.

When he thought that Lee Hyeon-seong had sacrificed himself to save that bitch, he felt sick.

But the truth was a bit different.

‘······This was also my misunderstanding. Why am I like this these days?’

It was only to block the attack by using a monster with similar abilities to the doppelganger.

‘Well, there’s no way Hyeonseong sacrificed his body to save a bitch like that.’

After knowing the truth, I was strangely calm. no, it even got worse.

Even in this assault case, I was even happy to see that he did not defend Seo Han-bit.

Lee Hyeon-seong had no interest in that rotten bitch.

It was just an action that was no different from saving a passing dog.

Baek So-ah, who finished her own judgment, recalled Lee Hyun-seong’s words of gratitude for being her friend.

‘What are you thankful for… Rather, I am grateful.’

although not for a long time,

While living together, Lee Hyun-seong accepted all of his actions.

bloody behavior.

habitual profanity.

Lee Hyun-seong didn’t show a figure that anyone would click his tongue on.

Of course, Lee Hyun-seong also felt anxious that he might be chewing on himself from behind like the members of the Association.

Until that day when I accidentally overheard the conversation between Lee Hyeon-seong and Baek Chi-yeol.

[Fuck. Didn’t I warn you to stop flirting?]

The academy students who glanced at me were displeased and threatened me by the collar.

Baek So-ah accidentally punched Lee Hyun-seong, who was trying to restrain her.

I immediately apologized, but I was worried.

I secretly followed her to the health room with a vague sense of anxiety about what to do if we broke up because of this.

From there, I heard Lee Hyun-seong’s voice answering Baek Chi-yeol.

[Hyunseong, are you okay? No, Baek So-ah, he will endure a little bit…]

[It was an angry situation. This time, you looked at me openly as if you were watching animals in a zoo.]

[Still, if I had killed my temper a little, you wouldn’t have been hurt.]

[It’s not intentional, it’s a mistake, so what? Soah, he also did everything because we thought of him, but let’s not go so far as to gossip about it. Do you chew with your friends?]

[Ah, no gossip. That’s just how it is.]

[Anyway, don’t talk too much. If you get to know him, he’s a soft-hearted and kind kid.]

[You say your stomach is weak…?]

[maybe.]

Even in a place where he is not confident, he does not spit out gossip.

Recalling the past, where she arbitrarily concluded that Lee Hyun-seong’s actions were fake, Baek So-ah felt sorry for herself.

After that, I found myself gradually opening my heart to Lee Hyun-seong.

The time we spent together got longer.

It was only once, but we enjoyed shopping together.

Then, when I saw Lee Hyeon-seong, who had become infinitely good, I felt worried.

It’s good that people change.

but.

‘You’ve become extremely kind.’

Such a personality was likely to be easily used by bad people.

to prevent such misfortunes from occurring.

This time, he decided to protect Lee Hyun-seong.

He vowed to filter out all the humans who approached him while hiding his sinister intentions.

It was part of that to prevent clumps of filth like the yellow light from sticking to it.

The justification was sufficient.

Because Lee Hyun-sung and himself are friends.

***

A teacher’s room where silence flows.

Only the sound of tapping on the keyboard fills the space.

widely.

Now even that one noise has come to an end,

Professor Choo Min-guk, who had tapped the desk with his fingers a couple of times, sighed deeply and turned the chair.

“Do you have any regrets about your decision?”

The subject of the question was Baek Chi-yeol, who stood with his head bowed as if he had become a sinner.

“Yeah···.”

It seems that there is no room for restocking.

Baek Chi-yeol nodded his head without hesitation.

“···okay. The withdrawal case will be formally processed tomorrow. You have worked hard so far.”

“Thank you so far.”

Baek Chi-yeol came out of the teachers’ room and walked down the hallway.

I kept walking while staring at the ground.

Took.

I accidentally bumped into a student passing by.

“ah···. sorry.”

I quickly raised my head and apologized, but

“I buried the f*cking filth.”

“Hey, throw away your clothes. I’m going to move the pad lip bottle.”

The collided student and his friend ridiculed Baek Chi-yeol as if they were worms, and slapped each other on the shoulder again.

Baek Chi-yeol walked again weakly as if he was accustomed to it.

Lee Hyun-sung and Baek So-ah.

What I’ve always been through when I’m not with those two.

Even if there was no visible bullying, there were some students who implicitly persecuted them in this way.

The group he used to hang out with was one of them.

The justification was that Baek Chi-yeol had done a pad lip, but it was just an excuse.

They needed something to chew on, and Baek Chi-yeol, who had a dwarf body, was the only suitable target rather than Lee Hyeon-seong, who had a rough impression.

Of course, this bullying was not the reason for dropping out.

Still, when he was with Lee Hyun-seong, he didn’t touch himself.

The reason I decided to drop out was because I thought being a searcher wasn’t right for me.

Baek Chi-yeol felt it desperately when he saw Rainbow Bird right in front of his eyes.

Being frightened by seeing monsters, he said that he was not suitable as a searcher.

Moreover, the ranking is also 59th.

He lost to Lee Hyeon-seong in Dalian, so he was virtually in the bottom, and unlike Lee Hyeon-seong, who continued to develop, he showed infinitely poor growth.

In the end, after much thought, Baek Chi-yeol decided to drop out.

*

*

*

Baek Chi-yeol told Lee Hyun-seong that he had dropped out while visiting the hospital.

All reasons were also explained.

“Did you discuss with your parents?”

“yes.”

“If I drop out, how will I pay off my debt? It wouldn’t be a penny or two.”

“First of all, my parents decided to pay me back. I will work hard to pay my parents back step by step.”

Lee Hyun-seong scratched his head, then stared at Baek Chi-yeol, who was downcast.

“Is that so… If something doesn’t seem right for you, there’s nothing you can do about it. Because there are many jobs in the world.”

Lee Hyeon-seong respected Baek Chi-yeol’s choice because he judged that it was not something to discuss.

“Even when you go out, call me sometimes.”

“Can I…?”

“What can we do with friends? You do it if you feel like it.”

“… friend, that’s right.”

Baek Chi-yeol smiled bitterly.

and recalled the past.

[You’re a bastard without a mother!]

‘If I had been wise, would I have been able to forgive myself then?’

He shook his head.

I didn’t think of myself as such a big person.

‘Even if I forgave him, I wouldn’t have been able to keep him as a friend.’

Indeed, I couldn’t help but respect a man named Lee Hyun-seong.

And thank you.

It was all thanks to Lee Hyun-seong that I was able to endure life in the academy until now.

If he hadn’t saved himself.

The persecution of the other students would have been worse, and they would not have had the courage to endure it.

So Lee Hyun-seong was no different from his savior.

After Baek Chi-yeol finished his reminiscence, he thanked Lee Hyeon-seong.

“thanks.”

“yes? what?”

“just. Thank you for making friends with a guy like me.”

“This sounds like something I said to Baek So-ah earlier…. Being in the opposite position makes me very shriveled up.”

The two looked at each other with smiles on their faces.

“Sit down and eat some fruit and go.”

“···yes.”

after.

Baek Chi-yeol sat down and silently forgot a tangerine while Lee Hyun-seong watched a video about the academy incident on his cell phone.

『Daehan Academy Freshman Ranking No. 1 Kim Soo-han! Subdue the 4-star boss of the 1st class dungeon with the divine beast ‘Baekho’!』

It was a video with this title.

In the video, a man and a woman were having a heated discussion praising Kim Soo-han.

[They say that monsters in the dungeon materialize and become more powerful. Then, can you explain the level of danger of the monsters that Suhan Kim subdued?]

[Yes. The manticore that Kim Soo-han explorer subdued this time is a low-class 4-star monster, but considering that it has materialized, I think it can be designated as a medium-level risk.]

“Eh. If it’s a lower level, it’s a lower level, but what is it that can be seen as an intermediate level? Even if it materialized and became a little stronger, it wouldn’t be as good as an intermediate level.”

[There are various speculations about this dungeon break. What do you think about this?]

[The Academy says that the cause has not been revealed yet. It’s not certain, but my guess is that it was artificially intervened by some kind of force…]

“It’s a piece of shit not to be revealed…”

Baek Chi-yeol, who stared at Lee Hyeon-seong while watching the video, got up from his seat and packed his things.

“…then I’ll go now.”

“uh? Yes, go in carefully. Be sure to contact me.”

I said goodbye and left the hospital room.

“Kim Soo-han has become quite a hero.”

Baek Chi-yeol heard the words mixed with Lee Hyun-sung’s self-talk, paused once, and then turned his head.

‘A hero…’

Then, examining Lee Hyun-seong’s face again, he smiled and left.

Leaving a small word so that Lee Hyun-seong couldn’t hear it.

“… you were a hero to me.”

hero (complete)

—

“Academy 1st year total”

【60 people】

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*

*

*

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“Academy 1st year total”

【59 people】

[Withdrawal 1]

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