Excessive forced marches are more likely to become harmful.
Because of that, now that finals are over, all the training we used to do every day has been completely stopped.
Still, it felt like a waste of time to do nothing, so I took Seo Ye-in with me and headed to the special training room.
With the mindset of building up even a little more mana while resting.
“…….”
Seo Ye-in was rolling around with her head resting on the Kim Ho pillow.
She had been sleeping as much as she wanted over the past few days, so she wasn’t lacking sleep, but she seemed to enjoy just idling like this.
I threw in a comment.
“If I leave you alone, you’ll stay like this all day.”
“Sounds good……”
“Should we just spend the vacation resting here too?”
“Shall we…….”
“I’ll just go follow Qyu Qyu noona and come back.”
“……?”
Seo Ye-in’s half-closed eyes suddenly lifted.
She stared straight at me and said,
“Go together.”
“You’ll get busy if you come though?”
It’s someone else’s house, so we can’t just laze around freely.
And I don’t intend to let that happen either.
After pausing for about two seconds, Seo Ye-in answered,
“……Let’s go together.”
“Why do you want to go together?”
“……? I don’t know.”
“I thought you’d obviously say it’s because of the Kim Ho pillow.”
Seo Ye-in looked up at me quietly.
Soon, she gently shook her head.
“……Another reason.”
“What is it?”
“……? I don’t know.”
“If you don’t know, who does?”
“……? I don’t know.”
In summary, the main reason wasn’t the Kim Ho pillow but something else, though she didn’t really know what it was either.
It didn’t seem like she was hiding it but genuinely didn’t know, so I decided not to press further.
Then I took out the communication crystal.
“Anyway, I should let the butler know.”
“True.”
There was a need to share and discuss the winter vacation schedule with the Hye-seong Group.
When I operated the communication crystal, after a few rings, Ahn Jeong-mi appeared.
– Young miss, Kim Ho-nim, have you been well?
“It’s been a while since we last contacted you.”
We went over what had happened, including the finals, and Ahn Jeong-mi listened with great satisfaction.
Then I brought up the main point.
“As I mentioned before, we plan to visit the Dang family during winter vacation.”
– Yes, I remember.
Ahn Jeong-mi nodded calmly.
Then Seo Ye-in briefly added,
“I’m going too.”
– ……?
Despite the sudden declaration, Ahn Jeong-mi responded calmly, like a professional.
She first tried to properly understand the situation.
– Are you saying that you will also be accompanying Mr. Kim Ho and Ms. Dang Gyu-young?
“Mhmm.”
– Could you reconsider this time?
Ahn Jeong-mi continued, her tone filled with concern.
– Recently, the Blood Cult’s actions have been excessively bold. There’s a high chance they won’t avoid a clash with the Dang family.
The Dang family would likely have their own evacuation measures, but nothing could be guaranteed to be 100% safe.
Even if the probability was low, if there was a chance that the chairman’s granddaughter could be put in danger, it was only natural to try to stop her.
However, Seo Ye-in was just as stubborn.
“I’m going.”
– Young miss.
“I have a trump card.”
– That alone is not enough. Please reconsider just once more.
Seo Ye-in fell silent for a while, as if she were genuinely thinking.
She slowly tilted her head to the side, then suddenly perked up as if an idea had struck her.
“Then you come too.”
– Me… you mean?
“Winter business trip.”
– …….
Inside the crystal, Ahn Jeong-mi’s gaze seemed to quickly scan something.
It looked like she was estimating her current workload and what was to come.
Even just handling the basics would be a lot for someone at a team leader level, so if she left her post for the entire winter vacation, how much work would pile up by the time she returned?
It almost felt like cold sweat was forming on Ahn Jeong-mi’s forehead.
But in the first place, there was no real choice.
If she was told to come, then she had no option but to go.
– ……I will prepare.
“Okay.”
We would probably see each other at the Dang family soon enough.
Given the nature of the situation, it was expected that not only Ahn Jeong-mi but also a carefully selected group of elite personnel would accompany us.
Since she’s coming anyway, it’d be perfect to ask her to teach some skills.
I had been feeling a bit lacking when it came to movement techniques.
I nodded to myself, satisfied.
***
Time passed quickly,
And before we knew it, it was the last day of the second semester.
Various emotions coexisted among the students.
They were excited for winter vacation, but at the same time, there was a sense of regret at not being able to see many familiar faces for a while.
Of course, with Lee Soo-dok standing in front of them, the classroom atmosphere felt nothing but heavy.
It had already been a year, so they should have gotten used to it, but many were still intimidated by the killing intent of the “human butcher”.
Regardless, Lee Soo-dok didn’t seem to care at all.
He swept his gaze across the room and then spoke.
“At the beginning of the year, you were no better than maggots, but now you’ve at least risen to the level of beasts.”
– ……
– ……
It seemed to be a compliment in its own way, but not a single student accepted it happily.
Naturally, Lee Soo-dok didn’t care about that either and simply continued speaking.
“I told you before. I also lost all my first-year placement exams and started from zero. I was a fine little maggot myself.”
– ……!
“However, through relentless effort, my rivals dwindled with each passing year, and now I stand here.”
As an A-rank hero, standing proud and having survived.
At least this much was something everyone seemed to acknowledge.
A few students even nodded unconsciously.
Lee Soo-dok left them with some final words.
“You too should strive until the day you can fulfill your role and more. Then, I’ll see you again next year.”
Then, after casting a sharp glance in my direction, he walked out of the classroom.
Soon, the students fell into confusion and looked at one another.
– Next year?
– Next year?
– Why is ‘next year’ suddenly coming up?
It was widely known that Lee Soo-dok’s contract with Dragon Slayer Academy was for one year.
Given his personality, he was expected to leave Dungeon Island without hesitation afterward.
And yet, out of nowhere, the word “next year” had been mentioned.
Did he unexpectedly enjoy teaching?
Or perhaps there was something he still wanted to do.
For now, it was impossible to know exactly what he wanted, but eventually, everything would come to light.
After the closing ceremony came the graduation ceremony for the third years.
There were more than a few seniors we had grown familiar with, so it was necessary to exchange final goodbyes.
So, we all made our way to the auditorium.
It was the very place where the entrance ceremony had been held when we first arrived on Dungeon Island by train.
When we got there, the principal was in the middle of a long speech.
“Graduation does not signify an end but a new beginning. Countless challenges will await you, but if you persevere and continue to take on those challenges, I have no doubt you will overcome them. When I myself had just received my diploma—”
Even though we had arrived halfway through, it was enough to make one feel suffocated. So one could only imagine how those who had been listening the whole time felt.
In fact, quite a number of third-year students were dozing off with their graduation caps covering their faces instead of their heads.
Fortunately, the former hero’s wide-area sleep-inducing skill was stopped by the vice principal.
At the gesture pointing toward her wristwatch, the principal showed a hint of regret but wrapped up his congratulatory speech.
“—I sincerely congratulate all of you on your graduation.”
Clap clap clap clap—!
Thunderous applause and cheers echoed throughout the hall.
The students poured out of the auditorium like a receding tide, gathering in small groups to exchange congratulations once more.
Since it was graduation, about half had their families come all the way to Dungeon Island, while the other half did not.
With the outside situation having grown far more ominous than during the tournament, most high-ranking figures, such as tower masters and guild leaders, were likely staying behind to guard their respective factions.
Of course, the Topaz Magic Tower was among the former.
Perhaps because they had the S-rank Thunder Lord, Chairman Song seemed to have relatively more freedom to move around.
I had a private meeting with Song Cheon-ho and his father Song Cheon-gi.
“I’ve been hearing updates. Cheon-hye’s skills are improving day by day.”
“She follows along even better than expected.”
“I hear her grades are solid as well. She even took the lead in the final exams and placed first.”
“It was a difficult role, but she handled it well.”
As I humbly praised Song Cheon-hye, the corners of Father Song’s mouth lifted along with it.
After all, there is no father who dislikes hearing praise about his daughter.
“The more I think about it, the more I believe entrusting her to you was the right choice. I look forward to your continued guidance next year.”
“Understood.”
“You’ll soon obtain what you desire.”
In return for teaching Song Cheon-hye, I had been promised an item from the Thunder Lord’s inventory.
If I continued to build up results, an S-rank item would likely come my way soon.
Just then, Song Cheon-hye who had been wandering nearby spotted us, so we decided to wrap up the private meeting.
I offered a light farewell.
“Have a good break.”
“…You too.”
Song Cheon-hye glanced at me a few times before turning her head and starting a conversation with her father and Song Cheon-ho.
After that, I looked around the hall in search of other seniors.
Kim Gap-doo was surrounded by members of the martial arts club, and it seemed like they were trying to keep him from going anywhere.
In that state, a third-year member gave a signal.
“Bring it.”
At that, another member came dragging over a cart with a rattling noise.
Seeing it covered with a thick cloth, Kim Gap-doo asked,
“What’s this?”
“Kim Gap-doo, you’ve worked hard as the club president.”
“That’s nonsense. You’re the ones who worked hard.”
“Enough. We prepared a small gift.”
“A gift? You didn’t have to go that far.”
“It’s already too late. Take a look.”
Then the cloth was whipped off, revealing what was underneath, and Kim Gap-doo’s face filled with shock.
“This is…!”
Its identity was a finely carved statue.
It perfectly recreated Kim Gap-doo’s appearance, with a slight touch of embellishment added.
With one fist raised, he looked every bit a victor.
Beautiful women were even positioned on both sides.
Its name was….
Harem Champion Gap-doo Statue.
The martial arts club members had pooled their funds to move up the sculpture commission priority, and fortunately, it was completed just in time.
Judging by how even the smallest details were alive, it seemed Kang Byeol hadn’t done a rushed job either.
Well, considering the level of pride she had as a craftsman, that was to be expected.
“…….”
Kim Gap-doo stared at the statue in silence for quite a while before lowering his head deeply.
Then the martial arts club members snickered and began teasing him.
– Hey, are you crying? You crying?
– It’s Sad Gap-doo!
– What are you getting all emotional for?
“…I’m not crying. My shoelace came undone.”
Kim Gap-doo knelt down, untied the perfectly fine shoelace, and tied it again.
The martial arts club members kept grinning as they shouted to each other.
– We’ve gotta keep this! Let’s take a shot!
– Everyone, gather up!
– Hey! Hurry up and get over here! Come on, seriously.
Then they took their places in front of the Harem Champion Gap-doo Statue and used a crystal orb to record the meaningful moment.
Kim Gap-doo looked up at the sky again, while the members continued teasing him.
– Gap-doo, are you crying again?
– Your tear ducts are really weak today. They’re just bursting.
“I said they’re not bursting. I was just checking if it was raining.”
But the sky was perfectly clear, without a single cloud.
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