RE: Player again

361

[Chapter 107]

[Hell is Always Near (5)]

Third day of the final evaluation.

Deokjeok Island was noisy from the morning. Monsters inhabiting the island started moving noisily.

Because helicopters were flying around the airspace of Deokjeok Island making propeller rotation sounds.

"...It's this way."

Students didn't not know what it meant.

The food prepared by the middle school academy had finally arrived.

Actually, helicopters flew through the air and dropped something here and there on the island before disappearing.

And Hayang who was watching closely identified food dropped in the closest position to where the party was staying.

Minho's instructions were immediate.

"Jin Parang! You stick close to Hayang and transmit telepathy clearly. Don't try to come forward during that time."

"Tsk, fine."

"Kim Minji, you block the path so other kids can't follow us just in case."

"Okay."

"Eunwoo, you come slowly from behind. It's okay to come late, so match Gain's pace."

"Yeah, I'll do that."

Immediately the party left the beach where it was easy to notice monsters' existence with the surroundings wide open.

Even Choi Gain didn't complain this time.

She was also interested in the food dropped by helicopters because she hadn't eaten properly.

"...11 o'clock direction. Two monsters approaching. They're going in the same direction as us."

[Two monsters confirmed at 11 o'clock. It seems we'll encounter them soon!]

"Kim Minji. Please check. Eunwoo, you take care of Gain well."

Hayang's detection net had never been wrong.

Friends who had formed a party with her for days immediately took battle stances upon receiving her instructions.

Sure enough.

They encountered monsters not long after.

But they were no match for them.

Because while Minji checked one, Minho bisected the other with a swing of his sword.

Moreover, Eunwoo cast buffs, and Hayang killed the one Minji was facing with magic.

Like that, they killed monsters that kept popping up in quick succession, and finally discovered a trunk hanging on a tree.

"There it is!"

"Found it!"

""""......!!""""

"Jin Parang!"

"Ow!"

When the party arrived in front of the tree.

They encountered others who discovered the trunk from another direction and arrived almost simultaneously.

Students who confirmed each other's faces from afar were agitated for a moment, then tried to climb the tree to snatch the trunk without anyone being first.

Minho also urgently called Parang's name.

Parang also ran out shouting a battle cry as if determined not to lose.

And simultaneously─

─Magic Beanstalk

Hayang threw beans she prepared before the final evaluation towards the direction Parang was running.

The beans she threw suddenly sprouted and stretched up to where the trunk was hanging.

And Jin Parang ran up the thickly grown stalk and hugged the trunk.

"Hmph! This is ours! Get lost!"

""""...Kuk...!""""

Jin Parang who curled his body and slid down the beanstalk stalk at the end.

He who confidently hugged the trunk looked down on those who became dumbfounded while climbing the tree.

According to final evaluation regulations, trunks couldn't be seized.

"What? Not leaving? I'll definitely...!"

"Jin Parang, don't pick fights. They can't touch us anyway."

"That's right, there's no need for stupid oppa to create fights unnecessarily."

Nevertheless, those who lived on the island for days without properly washing or eating couldn't shake off lingering attachment looking at the trunk Parang hugged.

Students belonging to different parties each tried to figure out how to snatch it somehow while glancing at each other.

"You guys, don't you know who I am? You're going to keep acting like this?"

Despite Choi Gain speaking irritably.

They hesitated to step back but soon swallowed saliva and planted their feet on the ground.

Rather, they even stepped forward.

As a result, each party was automatically forming a formation surrounding Minho's party.

Moreover, parties that arrived late took the same action.

"These bastards really..."

Jin Parang who was annoyed by their attitude growled while baring his canines.

As if ready to beat them down anytime Minho's order fell.

...Is there no choice?

And given how the situation flowed, Minho finally had to make a decision too.

He who applied strength to his hand gripping the sword hilt finally concluded he had no choice but to fight them.

Right at that moment─

"─No. Wait a moment."

Hayang who had been quiet until then stopped him.

Unlike other party members, she was looking at a doll approaching from over there with a calm face.

Soon there was a rustling sound, and a new party appeared.

"...You were here too."

KK Group's direct descendant Kim Geunwoong.

He who appeared leading party members advanced on the path other parties made way for.

As if they had formed an alliance.

Other parties' members revered Kim Geunwoong like their leader.

"This works out well."

He who soon stood in front of Mok Minho examined party members' faces one by one and opened his mouth.

"It's a shame Noh Eunha's party isn't here... But I think we can do it if you're here. We were a bit uneasy with just us."

Kim Geunwoong who suddenly brought up the topic immediately directed his gaze at Jung Hayang.

Even though the party leader was Mok Minho.

Even though Galaxy Group's direct descendant was also in the party.

Kim Geunwoong had already grasped who held the highest decision-making power in Mok Minho's party.

Actually, although Minho was the party leader, he couldn't treat Alice Group's direct descendant Jung Hayang carelessly.

"Let's join hands with us. Of course, you take the food according to regulations."

"...What's the matter?"

In a way, a deal between direct descendants.

Hayang expressed doubt at Kim Geunwoong's sudden proposal while not showing weakness.

"We found a flag. But it's in monsters' lair... It seems we can't do anything unless we all join forces."

The existence of a flag.

Even without that, Mok Minho's party had been searching for flags hidden somewhere after arriving on Deokjeok Island.

So it was understandable for them including her to be interested that Kim Geunwoong knew where a flag was.

However, she had something to check and move on.

"Then who will take the flag?"

"Whoever gets their hands on it first after defeating the monsters there, of course. Naturally, snatching from each other is prohibited."

"Hmm..."

"How about it? Want to do one job together? Call?"

Kim Geunwoong raising the corners of his mouth.

The answer was decided anyway.

Hayang answered him on behalf of party members' intentions.

"─Okay, call."

☆

Grandfather was Japanese.

When occurred, grandfather who was staying in Korea went to the front lines to protect the country along with other foreigners.

Moon Jun-i.

Nam Gungseongwoon.

Baek Seojin.

What grandfather who shared the same battlefield as those called living legends obtained after protecting people was very trivial things.

People who prioritized their own safety pushed all foreigners who protected the country half voluntarily, half involuntarily into Itaewon.

What foreigners who met disaster in this land obtained after the world was destroyed was just permission to live in this land.

Grandfather who didn't gain any epithets despite achieving brilliant merits limped for his whole life.

'Don't try to just pull with strength. You have to pull thinking your whole body has become a bow.'

Grandfather who never longed for his homeland until the day he left the world earnestly taught his granddaughter who lost her father and mother to monsters.

She who was born as a Korean in this land and had parents who were proud of Korea learned archery following her grandfather.

Although her surname and name were in Japanese.

She never thought of herself as Japanese.

But the world was different.

'Kids like you should take care of kids wandering the streets with money to live on...'

'You go back to your country!'

'Damn... How can we afford to help you when it's hard for us to make a living?'

'Honestly... You're a bit uncomfortable.'

Contempt and discrimination.

What country wouldn't do that?

Nevertheless, she was shocked by unreasonable emotions directed at foreigners.

Nevertheless, grandfather laughed heartily.

No matter how much contempt he received and was insulted, grandfather never expressed hurt feelings until the day he left the world.

He just said.

'They will realize how shameful their actions were someday when the world gets better.'

'But I don't like it.'

'Then should we fight the same way? You might become the same person doing that, Kaede.'

'......'

'Those people are just hurting inside. They're just tormenting others because it's hard living in this world.'

'Why us? Do we just have to endure it?'

Then grandfather smiled bitterly and didn't say anything.

He just reached out his large hand and stroked her head.

'─Hey, Kaede.'

'Yes, grandfather.'

The day grandfather passed away.

The large hand that stroked her head sometime was now a skinny branch stroking her head.

'You just endure a little. If you endure, someday will come when you're accepted by people in the world.'

'......'

'Someday... There will be friends who approach you. I hope you won't try to distance yourself saying you dislike people then too.'

'......'

'...Don't get angry at people in the world. There's no one wrong, okay?'

'...Yes.'

Then Kaede lied in response for grandfather's sake.

Nevertheless, grandfather smiled with satisfaction.

'─いい*だね。'

─Good child.

For some reason, the last words grandfather uttered were in Japanese.

With those final words, she suddenly had a thought.

Perhaps grandfather actually wanted to return to Japan.

Perhaps he tried not to think about Japan because he couldn't leave for Japan.

Perhaps there was no place for grandfather even if he returned to Japan.

She couldn't know.

She couldn't know, but there were things she could know.

That the world doesn't try to know at all about the death of a foreigner who saved the world even while limping.

That in a world that was destroyed once, foreigners are just social minorities who receive discrimination no matter how hard they try.

Nevertheless, that foreigners have no choice but to become players who kill monsters to be recognized as citizens.

So she decided to become a player.

She resolved to live as the world wanted while holding the only hero who ended without an epithet in her heart.

'Why do you use a bow?'

'It's completely outdated.'

'A kid like that wants to be a ranger?'

Hoshimiya Kaede, her reason for holding a bow was special.

One was that she was familiar with the bow she learned from grandfather since childhood, and because she could recall memories of grandfather.

No matter what others said.

She adhered to the bow.

And showed commensurate results.

Endless effort bloomed talent, and determination not to live being despised created skill.

She came to be known as a promising rookie at the academy through her strength alone.

And there were others called promising rookies just like her in the same class.

She hated them so much.

Those born in good families who grew up comfortably receiving good education without effort...

They belonged to the type of people she hated most.

Those accustomed to ordering others from birth couldn't know the hardships of those below.

Those who received good environments in good environments couldn't have tried hard enough to collapse from exhaustion.

Nevertheless, they received treatment from others just for existing, and received envy not contempt.

Therefore, she hated them.

Ironically, while receiving sponsorship from those she hated.

Nevertheless, that was just that.

Anyway, she avoided them as much as possible throughout the semester.

Because she didn't even want to see their faces.

Among them, there was one person she especially hated─

─Noh Eunha.

Noh Eunha who went around causing trouble at the academy because his parents held executive positions in Sirius Group.

Just because he grew up in a good environment, he treated those below him too harshly.

Even with such power, he only trampled on others.

Even though that wasn't obtained through effort at all.

'If a fight breaks out between groups... Would it be beneficial to abandon you... or protect you to the end?'

Actually, Kaede judged Eunha based on rumors flowing in the academy.

But rumors and reality weren't that different.

He was too arrogant and haughty when she met him at the end-of-semester party.

And Kaede finally realized he wasn't different from rumors after seeing him abusing Yeongwon Card's direct descendant.

'What!? Is this all you're capable of?'

Just because he had a good environment.

Noh Eunha was intoxicated with his power and tormented those weaker than him.

Noh Eunha was arrogant.

Had a rotten personality.

Didn't know how to consider others.

Anyway, I don't want to associate with him.

She despised Noh Eunha.

She also despised Noh Eunha's friends who always stood by his side.

Especially those who tried to ride through life by sucking up to him instead of making efforts despite being in similar circumstances as her.

They also had bad rumors.

Perhaps the saying birds of a feather flock together wasn't completely wrong.

She thought that and distanced herself from them.

But Kaede realized they weren't as bad as rumors while being together with them.

"─Are you very tired?"

"...No. I'm fine."

She who was standing guard snapped out of her thoughts when Seona who was warming herself by the bonfire suddenly spoke.

Ayin who wrapped her body in a blanket rubbed her eyes repeatedly and yawned softly.

"It's okay to say you're tired when you're tired. Eunha won't say anything about that."

Guard duty was done in pairs of 2.

Seona who stood guard alongside her smiled gently.

"...Thanks. But I'm really okay."

"Is that really true?"

"Yeah."

Seona knew how to consider others well.

Kaede learned that she was unexpectedly shy while forming a party this time.

Not just her.

Others were the same too.

"Ugh... I wish the final evaluation would end soon. My body is so stiff."

"Me too."

"I'm so hungry too. ...Should we eat the fish we caught during the day?"

"What if that guy says something..."

"It's okay. We'll go on strike then."

Choi Eunhyeok showed what vitality was just by being close.

He created a fun atmosphere and tried to take care of her so she wouldn't be left out in the party.

"Did you hear that sound just now?"

"I guess Bae Subin is snoring again."

"Subin must have been very tired too."

Bae Subin was someone who hated losing to death.

And she didn't stand by when those close to her suffered losses either.

"Since Dojun caught a lot, we can eat fish for breakfast tomorrow too. Hey, Kaede. What do you want to eat? Sea bream? Flatfish?"

"...Then flatfish."

Yoo Dojun often bragged about money.

But strangely, his money talk didn't sound bad.

He was a really optimistic and strange person.

And Eunha─

"─Oh? Are you eating sashimi? I want to eat too."

"Don't you need to sleep?"

"Let's wake up a bit late tomorrow. We've arrived at Deokjeok Island anyway."

Eunha was a hard worker unlike his appearance.

She realized while forming a party with him this time that he overworked himself even more while overworking party members.

That's why other students don't stubbornly rebel against Eunha.

She was shocked that he born in a good environment didn't neglect effort even more than herself.

Now she didn't know well.

"Why? Is there something on my face?"

"...Yeah. You have eye boogers."

"Ah, really?"

Noh Eunha who tries to take care of party members subtly while seeming indifferent

Eunha Noh, who acts indifferent but secretly tries to take care of his party members.

A person who appears to have a personality that always takes care of his own people.

Hoshimiya Kaede watched him quietly as he came out of the tent.

"…Hey. Be quiet. Let's go to sleep, please," Eunha said.

"Yoo Do-jun, you come out too. Let's eat."

"…Huh? Captain, what are you eating?"

"Are you the only ones who get to eat so well?"

Soon, the party members woke up one by one and gathered in front of the campfire.

Somehow, the five of them ended up sitting around eating a midnight snack.

They were exhausted all day from having to travel from Heukdo to Deokjeokdo, but they still enjoyed the night with much chatter.

The same went for Hoshimiya Kaede.

"Hey, what does this say in Japanese?" someone asked.

"You can figure that out yourself," Eunha replied.

"Oh my… why is that kid so sharp? He's going to get stabbed."

"Ah, I want to stab Noh Eun-ha to death."

"…Captain. Why do I feel like I'll die if I stay next to you?" Eunhyuk asked.

"But Eunhyuk, why do you sneak up next to me?" Eunha retorted.

It was a time to treat each other as equals.

She enjoyed that time.

Enough to make the corners of her mouth turn up without her realizing it.