RE: Player again

265

[Chapter 090] [An Unwanted Reunion]

Boring.

It was boring.

Twelve Seats Kang Hyeon-cheol had been unable to leave the Blaze Clan hall for days.

He was just lying sprawled out staring at the ceiling in the training room that was a study in name only.

"...I'm bored to death."

He scratched his ear.

If there was a room of time and mind, he thought it might be a place like this.

"Isn't there anything fun?"

On the first day, he thought it wouldn't be bad to be confined to the training room.

He had thought he could just focus on training and get stronger.

But Kang Hyeon-cheol was someone who didn't get fired up without an opponent.

He was born with the temperament of a fighter by nature.

There was no way such a person could train alone.

As a result, he had accomplished nothing in the 5 days that passed.

Except for eating meals brought by clan members at set times.

At one point he was so bored he even thought about having mock battles with the clan members who brought meals.

Of course, he gave up on that idea when he realized the clan members bringing meals weren't Players specializing in combat roles.

"...How much longer does this house arrest have left?"

He who was lying sprawled out on the floor in a big X shape muttered while looking up at the ceiling.

Blaze Clan was currently one of eight clans given an S-rank in this country.

At the same time, it was also the clan currently causing the most incidents and accidents in this country.

To the point where just compiling the accidents caused by Blaze Clan alone would make several thick files.

And most of the incidents caused by Blaze Clan were caused by Twelve Seats Kang Hyeon-cheol.

"Two days... Right, let's just endure for two more days."

Just until recently, he had burned down several nearby houses while facing a group of 5th tier monsters.

The number of people taken to the hospital caught up in his flames was greater than the number of people killed by monsters.

Naturally, Blaze Clan as well as the Mana Management Organization were bombarded with criticism from residents of the area and citizens.

In response, Mana Management Organization Minister Moon Jun ordered house arrest for him, the Blaze Clan Lord.

It was an extremely unusual occurrence to issue house arrest to the Clan Lord of a prominent clan in South Korea.

It could be said that the problems Kang Hyeon-cheol had repeatedly caused had reached a point where they could no longer be covered up.

It made sense.

A Twelve Seats who should be protecting the nation's peace and safety was doing things that threatened citizens.

Kang Hyeon-cheol's actions were no different from shaking the foundations of the Twelve Seats.

Kang Hyeon-cheol knew that too, so he accepted the house arrest.

He just had to endure for a week.

"...When will two days pass?"

However, Kang Hyeon-cheol was now intensely regretting the choice he made then.

He had somehow endured for 5 days.

But thinking about the remaining 2 days felt like tears were clouding his vision.

...I'm going to turn into a dried up squid at this rate, damn it.

No matter how I think about it, this won't do.

I need to have a talk with that old man.

He had endured as much as he could.

The citizens would understand just from the fact that he, a Twelve Seats and Blaze Clan Lord, had endured this far.

Having decided that, Kang Hyeon-cheol boldly resolved to break through head-on.

To break house arrest and go to the Mana Management Organization to demand its withdrawal.

It would have been an action that would greatly shock the Blaze Clan sub-lord if he had heard.

Since this punishment also involved Fairy Im Ga-eul.

"...Huh?"

"...Why are you standing in front of the door?"

Fortunately, Blaze Clan wouldn't incur the Fairy's wrath.

Because Kang Hyeon-cheol who couldn't endure any longer met Park Hye-rim as he was about to leave the training room that was a study in name only.

Twelve Seats Park Hye-rim.

She who was also a member of Regulus Clan looked up at him right in front of her with round eyes wide open.

"I'm asking why you're standing in front of the door?"

"..."

Park Hye-rim who tilted her head asked Kang Hyeon-cheol whose thoughts had stopped.

"Perhaps..."

Soon she furrowed her brow.

She who had known him since becoming a Twelve Seats quickly grasped the situation seeing him struggling to find words.

"You weren't thinking of breaking house arrest and going outside, were you?"

"...Ah, no! I was just moving to stretch for a bit!" "...Really?"

"...R-Really, I'm telling you..."

Kang Hyeon-cheol hurriedly made excuses.

Nevertheless, Park Hye-rim didn't withdraw her suspicious gaze.

He who was avoiding her piercing gaze this way and that decided to change the subject for now.

"More importantly, why are you here? Don't you know this is Blaze Clan? Without anyone's permission..."

"Didn't you tell me before to just come and go freely? Saying there's nothing to steal here anyway..."

"Anyway! What brings you here?"

"You were under house arrest for 5 days... You seem more energetic than I thought."

Park Hye-rim who ignored the blazing Kang Hyeon-cheol and spoke bluntly.

She who had been staring intently at him soon smiled and turned her body.

Swaying her long hair that flowed down to her waist like waves.

"Are you hungry? Let's go outside. Let's go eat some delicious army base stew."

"Hey, don't you know I'm under house arrest?"

"That house arrest has just been lifted, I came to tell you."

"What? What do you mean? Why is the house arrest suddenly lifted?"

What on earth does this mean?

Kang Hyeon-cheol asked back as if he couldn't understand even after hearing what he had desperately hoped for.

Regardless, Park Hye-rim walked outside.

In the end, he who was groaning had no choice but to step outside the door.

"You know the academy invites one Twelve Seats around this time every year, right?"

"Of course I know. Didn't you go last year because of that?"

"Huh? I'm surprised. That you remember such things..." "Somehow I feel offended, Park Hye-rim?"

Kang Hyeon-cheol frowned while calling her name.

Park Hye-rim ignored those words.

She just gave eye greetings by nodding her head to Blaze Clan members she encountered while walking down the corridor.

"You've been invited this year."

"Huh? Me? Why?"

"Well, you're under house arrest now too... From the Mana Management Organization's perspective, they probably decided to send you to the academy with the desire to get you away from the field."

The fundamental reason was that words came out saying Kang Hyeon-cheol shouldn't be treated like this anymore.

Now that Nam Gung Seong-un had retired, there were no Twelve Seats who could replace him as a dealer besides Lee Do-jin and a few others.

They couldn't keep treating him who would be called a symbol of South Korea like this.

However, Park Hye-rim didn't tell him the fundamental reason.

It's not like he'd understand even if I told him anyway.

She knew.

That Kang Hyeon-cheol's head was only filled with thoughts of fighting.

And occasionally eating Korean food.

So it was better to tell difficult things to Blaze Clan's sub-lord rather than him.

"Anyway, you're saying the house arrest is lifted? That's one good thing. It might be boring spending time at the academy, but it's better than killing time here."

"Don't cause problems there since you're not going to fight."

"...That's right. If it's the academy, there might be some promising kids..."

"Please don't cause problems."

Kang Hyeon-cheol who suddenly stopped walking fell into thought.

Park Hye-rim who sensed something pleaded desperately as if lamenting.

But her voice no longer reached Kang Hyeon-cheol.

"...Excuse me?"

"I wonder how strong the kids called promising talents are."

"Excuse me?"

"Right, I'll have a match with them first and if they show promise, I'll offer them to join the clan..." "Kang Hyeon-cheol Player?"

"Wait, come to think of it, I think I heard that brat also entered the academy this year..."

"...Hyeon-cheol oppa?"

"Huh? What did you say?"

There's no answer even when called.

So Park Hye-rim took special measures.

And Kang Hyeon-cheol finally reacted to the words she uttered after chewing her lips several times.

"...Kang Hyeon-cheol Player."

"That's strange? Did I mishear? Well, whatever."

He who shrugged his shoulders patted her shoulder with his hand as he passed by.

"Let's hurry and go eat army base stew. Thanks, I'll eat well."

"...Again, again, again! Are you telling me to pay again!?"

"Ha, why are you getting so angry? I can just buy you coffee instead."

Park Hye-rim was dumbfounded.

When she was about to open her mouth to protest, he was already walking far away.

Again, again, again!

She who stomped the floor several times with her feet chased after him while panting.

It was always like this.

☆

Late September.

The cultural festival was approaching.

The academy opened its interior to the general public every year around this time.

Because Players were considered scary beings who kill monsters to ordinary people.

Sometimes they were seen as thugs who just go around killing monsters or causing problems in society.

In reality, the existence of Players was extremely ambiguous.

Highly skilled Players were always in the spotlight from people, but on the contrary, Players who weren't were nothing more than swordsmen who took down monsters.

Not all Players were admired by people.

And not all Players died honorably.

That's why the academy held a cultural festival every year so that the existence of Players could get closer to ordinary people.

"This year's cultural festival... There's nothing particularly eye-catching."

Meanwhile, Eun-ha leaned back in his chair after receiving materials distributed by the class 6 president.

When it came to the highlight of the academy cultural festival, it could naturally be said to be the division competition and comprehensive ability competition.

The division competition where students could freely showcase what they learned at the academy to the public.

And the comprehensive ability competition that determined the best student of the year using all their abilities.

Winners of the two competitions were awarded hard-to-obtain artifacts or elixirs.

Sound of Mind for the division competition, and Lizard Archer's Hand Shield for the comprehensive ability competition...

Those are things I don't need.

Anyway, middle school academy students could only participate in the division competition.

He who lost interest after checking the winning prizes decided to just watch the meeting led by the class 6 president.

"─Then class 1-6 will sell gun-mandu at the cultural festival."

"But aren't we academy students? How does gun-mandu make sense?"

"Then what can we 1st years show people?" "That's right, let's just sell food comfortably."

"Ah, gun-mandu sounds delicious."

Eun-ha didn't speak at the meeting.

He just confirmed that class 1-6 decided to sell gun-mandu at the cultural festival.

It wasn't a bad choice.

He who had experienced the cultural festival in his previous life knew very well that booths showing Players' abilities became spectacles for people.

In that sense, selling gun-mandu clearly wouldn't attract much interest from people.

Then I should take a comfortable role here to have less trouble...

For now, Eun-ha himself was also a class 6 student.

He couldn't just skip out carelessly.

It was better to take on a job that was as comfortable as possible.

"Then for the water duty..."

"Me."

""""..."""""

The water duty role of regularly checking inside the refrigerator and buying water when it runs out.

Eun-ha quickly raised his hand as soon as the role that looked comfortable even at a glance came up.

Then students who were about to raise their hands quietly lowered them.

Since he who had been quietly staying in his seat all this time suddenly raised his hand high, the students had no choice but to quietly back down.

He had established himself as someone not to be messed with in class 1-6.

They all knew his skills very well.

"O-Okay. Then Eun-ha will do it."

The class 1-6 president didn't make any objections either.

Perhaps it was a good thing.

If he who the class 6 students found difficult to deal with took on the water duty, they wouldn't have to clash with him for the most part.

So some students sighed in relief.

I wonder what plans the other kids have for the class.

There probably won't be any comfortable jobs like mine.

Eun-ha buried his head on the desk.

He was certain he would be able to rest comfortably while skipping classes at this year's cultural festival.

☆

There were no classes that day.

The instructors postponed classes so each class's students could prepare for the cultural festival.

So Eun-ha who had time left headed to the training building for training.

Since all the other kids said they had things to do...

Among his friends, there was no one else who got a job that was as good as nonexistent.

The other friends seemed to be busy preparing for the cultural festival.

It wasn't just his friends.

The training building felt unusually quiet today.

Ryu Yeon-hwa who trained together every morning had just contacted saying she couldn't do afternoon training together because she was planning for the cultural festival.

I'll just train alone then.

He decided to conceptualize a new magic on this occasion.

There was something he felt during the summer training camp.

That the power he needed wasn't power to kill monsters, but power to protect himself.

If he hadn't used Pride's Counterattack when he was dragged underwater then, he would have had to take considerable risk.

At that time, he desperately realized.

That he needed magic to protect himself.

It can't just be simple protective magic.

Mana had to be consumed to maintain barriers.

Therefore, protective magic that created barriers would be unusable even if he conceptualized it.

Then it was better to create protective magic that consumed little mana and blocked partially or temporarily.

Or create magic that countered damage like Pride's Counterattack.

"Is it... possible?"

Counter magic basically had to intervene in magic other than one's own, and had to have detailed knowledge of the magic to be countered.

However, it was usually difficult to have detailed knowledge of others' magic.

If I engrave the image with the sensation of using Pride's Counterattack...

Eun-ha fingered the necklace with a jewel containing a reddish light.

He vaguely remembered the sensation he saw with his eyes and experienced with his body when activating magic through the artifact.

Even if just a tiny part of that.

Eun-ha thought that if he could understand even just that, he might be able to get a clue for conceptualizing counter magic.

I guess I have no choice but to think about conceptualizing protective magic first.

Anyway, to conceptualize counter magic, there needed to be magic to counter.

Eun-ha decided to ask Eun-a or Ryu Yeon-hwa later while doing training he could do alone.

He spread his feet shoulder-width apart, slightly bent his knees and lowered his posture.

And gripped Black Thorn.

Now, assuming an opponent is attacking from the front─

─Huh?

He suddenly felt heat.

Eun-ha reflexively turned his back.

...What!?

Flames rushing in like an arrow.

His reaction was too late.

He who belatedly deployed a barrier gritted his teeth while looking beyond the endlessly surging flames.

Where on earth did these flames appear from?

...Kuk...!

That question was soon resolved.

As the flames gradually weakened, a silhouette flickered beyond them.

Eun-ha deployed detection nets.

It wasn't a monster.

It was a person.

No, no.

He denied it.

It wasn't a person.

What jumped out

What emerged from the flames was─.

"─It's been a while. Do you remember me?"

─It was an ugly squid.

Eun-ha, who confirmed that the other person was Kang Hyeon-cheol, shouted without hesitation.

"─Who are you!?"

"Huh? Don't you remember Choco Pie?"

It's Choco Pie.

I didn't even remember.

I had no intention of remembering.

It was originally over once it entered the stomach.