RE: Player again

273

[Chapter 092] [Evil for Evil (2)]

The 2nd semester comprehensive ability evaluation was actually conducted over 5 days.

Middle school academy students had to camp on the highway for 2 days.

They stayed one day on the Northern Arterial Road and one day at a rest area on the Yangyang Expressway.

They couldn't sleep properly due to the presence of monsters that became more ferocious at night.

Moreover, the toilets and shower facilities provided at the rest areas were outdated, so students complained.

However, they were academy students aiming to become Players.

Unlike usual, conveniences were not allowed for them during the comprehensive ability evaluation.

The instructors sternly scolded the students.

So by the morning of the third day, they no longer whined even if they woke up in a shabby state.

Anyway, it was over once the troublesome ones were placated.

There were a few students at the academy that even the instructors were reluctant to deal with.

They were the direct descendants of business groups ranked in the top 10 domestically.

Choi Ga-in of Galaxy Group.

Jung Ha-yang of Alice Group.

Kim Geon-ung of KK Group.

Plus Yoo Do-jun of Yeongwon Group.

The instructors gave some conveniences to the four.

But Ha-yang didn't accept conveniences while the other three took them for granted.

They also pressured those in their factions to prepare the optimal environment for them.

Of course, Yoo Do-jun only accepted conveniences. Unlike other direct descendants, he had no particular power or followers.

"Why don't you have any? Eun-ha here is your exclusive."

"Yeah, shut up."

Students who boarded the bus early in the morning drove down the Yangyang Expressway and got off in the middle of the highway.

Just then, Yoo Do-jun who spotted Eun-ha came to Class 6 grinning.

Eun-ha's mood soured from the morning seeing Yoo Do-jun smiling with unreadable intentions.

Yoo Do-jun was a person who needed to be careful around as much as possible.

How much trouble he had gone through before the regression.

Eun-ha raised his guard.

"I hear Seo-hyun noona is going to study abroad in Japan next year? Then there won't be anyone who can directly protect you, so how about becoming my exclusive?" "There's one more direct descendant in Sirius, you know?"

"Han Seo-yeon noona? That noona is hmm... it would be better not to get involved with her, that noona is a fox, a fox."

"I know."

Yoo Do-jun advised furrowing his brow.

It seemed his wariness of Han Seo-yeon hadn't changed in this life or the previous one.

Come to think of it, he and Han Seo-yeon were similar types.

Just that the two had never joined forces in the previous life.

Because Yeongwon Group supported the government, while Sirius Group turned its back on the government.

As a result, the two always met in opposing positions.

"And if not Sirius Group, you'd enter Alice Group, why would I enter Yeongwon Group?"

"I know, I was just probing."

But Yoo Do-jun quickly changed his attitude.

Eun-ha was just bewildered.

However, judging Yoo Do-jun's personality, it would be right that he probed lightly.

Saying it's fine whether he enters Yeongwon Group or not.

Anyway, he had promised Yoo Do-jun.

Even if he didn't become his exclusive, Eun-ha promised to be Yoo Do-jun's chess piece.

So it didn't matter to Yoo Do-jun whether he made him his exclusive or not.

It might be better not to.

Because he was currently establishing his position within Yeongwon Group.

If he popped out in that situation, he would be nailed down.

Then Yoo Do-jun's intention was...

Ah, so that's it.

Eun-ha finally grasped his intention.

He noticed several people approaching him.

Three were familiar faces.

Choi Ga-in, Kim Geon-ung, and the 1st year representative of Dangun Group.

The rest must be representatives of other business groups.

They hesitated at a certain distance and turned their backs.

Choi Ga-in was panting while swinging her arms and legs.

They probably intended to propose scouting at a place where all the students were gathered.

Yoo Do-jun who keenly grasped that threw out a proposal first so other groups couldn't touch him.

And Eun-ha firmly rejected in front of everyone.

"You owe me one, remember." "Creating a debt yourself..."

"Hey, it's still clearly a debt."

"Ha-yang would have helped even if you didn't, you know?" "You would have had to be surrounded by them until Ha-yang came from far away?"

Eun-ha couldn't deny it for a moment.

He couldn't deny that he prevented a troublesome situation in advance.

"So just help me with one thing." "...What?"

"We'll be doing a mountain march from today, so I should build connections with promising kids on this occasion." "And?" "I trust my eyes. And I trust your eyes that I'm sure can recognize promising talents." "Hah..."

The mountain march will be very difficult.

So if he can become close with promising talents and further borrow their strength, he won't have such a hard time during the mountain march.

However, Eun-ha thought it was necessary to attach Players who could be helpful around Yoo Do-jun, separate from that.

"...I could tell you if you don't question the kids I choose." "Why would I question them?"

"Where are your classmates?" "Over there." "Hmm... Ah, he's there by chance. You must make him your ally no matter what." "What? Him?"

Eun-ha pointed at a male student wearing brown horn-rimmed glasses.

He looked like he would have a cold personality at a glance.

Moreover, he was a student sponsored by Yeongwon Group.

Yoo Do-jun made a troubled expression and groaned.

"He's... his skills are fine but it won't work. Another direct descendant in the group..."

"Yoo Do-jun." "Huh?"

Eun-ha knew too.

That that student entered the academy to monitor Yoo Do-jun.

However, that student had considerable skills.

Above all, he was deeply loyal.

To the point he would even risk death for Yoo Do-jun in the previous life.

"You want to become king, don't you? Isn't that right?" "...That's right."

A figurative expression.

Yoo Do-jun quietly nodded.

"If you're going to be that person, shouldn't you have the capacity to even draw in the enemy's people to your side? Moreover, you're not going to be king of a small country, but king of a great country, right?"

"..."

That student wasn't in a state of pledging loyalty to anyone yet.

It was just that his father was pledging loyalty to another direct descendant.

So Yoo Do-jun somehow drew him to his side in the previous life.

"...Alright."

Eventually Yoo Do-jun answered seriously.

Eun-ha quietly told him about students who had been helpful to his friend while recalling his future.

Shortly after─

""""─We will now begin the mountain march!""""

The instructors shouted from up ahead.

The students began climbing Seoraksan from the middle of the Yangyang Expressway.

☆

The Slayers' detection nets were densely spread deep into Seoraksan.

And Telepaths were lying in wait at regular points to quickly relay information caught in the detection nets.

"...Did you see?"

"Yeah, I saw."

Most people who set foot on Seoraksan didn't notice the detection nets due to the mana circulating around the Seoraksan area.

Like now.

Those climbing the mountain from the morning were advancing without knowing they were caught in a spider web.

Their number was about 300.

But there was no reason to be scared.

Because most of them were not Players but academy students.

"Come to think of it, the academy had comprehensive evaluations at this time..."

"...This works out well."

Slayers watching the situation from atop trees gleamed their eyes.

Usually they would have quietly passed over the academy's annual event.

Because there was nothing to gain from touching the academy.

If they made a mistake, a search order for Seoraksan could come down from the Mana Management Organization.

Students were beings that shouldn't be touched as much as possible.

If only the Slayers weren't suffering from food shortages currently.

"...What do you think?"

"It's better to ask the village first."

"Does it seem possible?"

"It seems possible. How many of us are there?"

The Slayers hiding on Seoraksan were currently considerable in number.

That became the cause of food shortages, but now it was becoming the strength to attack the academy.

Surely everyone would agree.

The problem was the veteran Players escorting that procession.

The Players hired by the academy weren't many in number, but they were people with seasoned skills.

Occasionally Named Players were noticeable among them.

"By Mana Management Organization rank... those guys were definitely S-rank, and those guys over there are about A-rank? Looking at it, some seem to be B-rank..."

The Hunter looking through binoculars opened his mouth seeing the Players guarding the surroundings.

S-rank and A-rank Players weren't opponents that could be easily taken down.

If they were simply Slayers.

"...How many S-ranks were there among those who were humiliated in Uijeongbu and fled here?"

"...Was it 8?"

"That should be enough." "...More than enough. Would someone judged as S-rank in Changhe Clan be the same as someone just judged S-rank by the Mana Management Organization? Moreover, there are guys who were in Dangun Clan here too..."

"I guess you're right."

The Navigator's words were essentially a signal.

The Telepath sent telepathy to another Telepath located nearby.

[This is C-3, Weasel. Reporting. Currently middle school academy 1st year students are heading towards Osaek-ri. The number of students is about 300, and they seem to be conducting a mountain march in 10 classes.

Currently estimating 11 instructors... I think there are a few more below.

Currently assessing the number of crows hired by the academy. Estimating a mix of S, A, B ranks.

Request confirmation from the Navigator positioned at the next path. Also...]

Telepathy was communication that could never be detected by detection nets.

Only the person receiving the telepathy could grasp the telepathy.

That's why the academy students didn't realize the existence of telepathy ringing here and there on Seoraksan.

☆

November, it was a time when the weather was getting chilly.

Even more so if it was a mountain.

However, students carrying heavy backpacks were climbing the treacherous path while gasping for breath.

After , there was no such thing as hiking trails for hikers on Seoraksan.

Monsters frequently moved their territories, and dungeons often existed in the middle of paths used long ago.

As a result, paths people could walk on became monster territories, or treacherous paths that were animal territories became hiking trails.

"Secure your body tightly! You could fall down if you make a mistake!"

Occasionally they had to climb cliffs.

Those who tightly secured their bodies to ropes somehow had to climb the cliffs.

The instructors didn't accept students' complaints and whining from the start of the mountain march.

Direct descendants were no exception.

Once they entered the mountain, students now had no choice but to rely on them.

So direct descendants had to find ways on their own.

For example, in Choi Ga-in's case.

"...I hate it! I can't do it! I won't do it! I'm saying I can't do it anymore!"

"G-Ga-in, let's endure a little more. I'm sure the instructors will let us rest if we go a little further. So, okay?"

"Cha Eun-woo, you... who are you siding with in front of me?"

"...U-Um? That's not it..."

"This is really annoying."

Choi Ga-in vented her irritation at Cha Eun-woo who was trying to soothe her somehow.

Eun-woo hadn't left Choi Ga-in's side for a moment since the mountain march started.

When she got angry saying her luggage was heavy, She even put her luggage in her backpack.

Moreover, She stopped several times in between to coax and soothe her, and exerted strength pushing her back.

In reality, Cha Eun-woo herself had the hardest time.

He had already given all the water he had to Choi Ga-in, and his legs supporting the luggage were even trembling.

"...Then I'll push from below. Is that okay?"

"Are you telling me to climb that cliff carrying this heavy luggage? What if I fall? Can you take responsibility?"

"That's..."

"Ah, I don't know. My shoulders are so heavy I can't stand anymore. I don't think I can go unless someone carries it for me."

"..."

Eun-woo couldn't even wipe the sweat gathered on her chin.

He just looked at the backpack Choi Ga-in put down on the ground with trembling eyes.

The deliberation didn't last long.

This was all Eun-woo could do.

"...Then I'll carry your luggage too, Ga-in. Can you climb up then?"

"Hmm... really?"

Choi Ga-in didn't ask if it would be difficult.

As if that was natural.

She was about to casually hand over the backpack to Cha Eun-woo.

"─I'll carry this."

Just then, Mok Min-ho who returned after distributing water to students sponsored by Galaxy Group snatched her backpack.

Then he handed her a water bottle.

"Oh my, thank you. I'll drink it well."

"...It's nothing."

He who turned his back on her took the backpack to those sponsored by Galaxy Group.

Students looked at Mok Min-ho with uneasy faces.

"...Are you just going to watch?"

It was Mok Min-ho's instruction.

Students who usually followed Min-ho took the initiative to take out some items from the backpack and put them in their own backpacks.

Students who had been watching finally came forward to pack luggage too.

But they grumbled in barely audible voices and spoke harshly.

Mok Min-ho pretended not to notice that.

On the other hand, Cha Eun-woo fidgeted unable to settle down.

As if he should be the one carrying it.

Like he had some obsessive-compulsive disorder.

"M-Min-ho. The kids are having a hard time... just let me carry it. You must be tired too since you have to stand at the front."

"Cha Eun-woo."

"..."

"I've told you many times, haven't I? Don't try to take on everything yourself. They just eat what's given to them. You have to make them work as much as they eat."

"But... I feel so sorry making the kids do work." "Then what about you?" "..."

Mok Min-ho's question striking in.

Eun-woo was at a loss for words.

She who showed emotional fluctuation for a moment couldn't continue speaking for a moment.

Then like she usually smiled.

She lifted the corners of her mouth while conscious of that.

"─I'm fine."

"I'm not fine."

"..."

This time Min-ho didn't wait for her answer.

He climbed the cliff first among those sponsored by Galaxy Group, carrying a backpack that had become even heavier than before.

While pulling the rope tying Choi Ga-in from above.

"Geon-ung, isn't your backpack heavy?"

"Why the backpack?" "I talked with the kids and we're trying to share the luggage among ourselves..."

In another place, students sponsored by KK Group and Kim Geon-ung were talking.

Students who had assisted Kim Geon-ung since childhood voluntarily tried to carry his backpack.

"...No, it's fine. This is something I have to do. I'll just accept your feelings."

Kim Geon-ung wanted to set a good example.

That's why he reluctantly climbed the cliff carrying his backpack.

"...Please give me your backpack."

"Okay, thanks." "...It's nothing."

Meanwhile, Yoo Do-jun handed over his backpack to the student Eun-ha said he must draw in.

The student who received the backpack made a disgruntled expression for a moment.

Because he thought he would refuse at least once.

But Yoo Do-jun handed over the backpack without hesitation.

In the end, Yoo Do-jun was no different from other direct descendants of Yeongwon Group.

Or so he thought.

"You're having a hard time because of me. Is it difficult?"

"No, it's not."

"What I can do for you now is... I'm sorry but this is all I have right now. At least eat this."

"..."

But Yoo Do-jun held out a chocolate bar to him who had climbed up with difficulty.

A third generation chaebol giving just one chocolate bar.

And saying he was being generous too.

He was unpretentious in a way that didn't match the image of Yeongwon Group's direct descendant at all.

Yet it strangely suited him well.

Soon the boy who had been staring at the chocolate bar for a while adjusted his brown horn-rimmed glasses and bit into the chocolate bar Yoo Do-jun had unwrapped for him.

"─As for Ha-yang... there's no need to worry."

Meanwhile, Eun-ha who had climbed the cliff before anyone else was watching this whole scene.

Down below, Ha-yang was trying to climb the cliff alone somehow, shaking off the Alice Group students.

There was even a situation where she almost fell after slipping midway.

Still, she was climbing up the cliff with her lips tightly shut, appropriately distributing mana.

There's too much snow though...

Eventually all the other friends climbed up the cliff too.

Eun-ha who took his eyes off them soon looked around at the distant surroundings.

There was no way he wouldn't have noticed the killing intent pricking the back of his neck.

Slayers had been following with killing intent from the entrance of Seoraksan.

The Players hired by the academy must have realized the Slayers' existence too.

But they weren't being very wary of the Slayers.

Because those guys couldn't harm academy students anyway.

Unless they went crazy.

So the Players were only making minimal preparations.

The same went for Eun-ha.

There's no need to provoke those guys needlessly.

Seoraksan was no different from the Slayers' exclusive stage.

There was nothing good that could come from provoking them here.

Anyway, those guys won't show themselves to students throughout the comprehensive ability evaluation.

But why are they so persistent...?

Even so, the Slayers kept watching.

As if observing prey's behavior.

...It must be my imagination.

It must be my imagination.

Those guys know well too.

That if they attack academy students, opinions will come out that the country needs to turn Seoraksan upside down.

They won't do something that sells their own lives.

Probably.

"Still, I should tell the kids not to let their guard down since we don't know."

It was fortunate at least.

That his friends had devices.

He decided to warn them to never let go of them during the mountain march period.

But they keep being annoyingly persistent?

Even if those guys attack.

Then we just need to kill them all.

We'll only counter evil with evil.