Episode 94: Counseling (3)
“Wow… I’m dying.”
Morning run.
I’ve gotten pretty used to it by now, but I still feel like my legs are about to give out when it’s over.
As I sat down, gasping for air, Yu Hana, who had been running beside me, also caught her breath and spoke.
“Weren’t we… faster than usual… today?”
“If you noticed, that’s good.”
With that, I ended up lying flat on the grass.
“I was just trying to keep up and nearly died.”
That’s what I said, but honestly, I kind of enjoyed it.
Running with Yu Hana had become a pleasant routine.
After resting for a while, we did what we always did—grabbed a bottle of water from the vending machine and sat side by side on a bench at the edge of the field.
A brief silence fell as we caught our breath.
“… Hey, Haein.”
Yu Hana cautiously broke the silence.
She gently brushed her hair aside and glanced at me.
“That upcoming field experience—where are you planning to go?”
“Me? I’m still… thinking about it.”
I had looked over the notes I’d organized yesterday.
It seems we can apply to one or two organizations for the experience.
In the end, even if we apply, the companies still make the final decision by selecting from the applicants based on their criteria.
In my case, honestly, it wouldn’t matter much where I go.
Most places would probably accept me if I applied.
Then, Yu Hana quietly spoke up.
“What do you think about… Cheongpungdae?”
As she said that, she lowered her gaze slightly.
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
In the original story, Yu Hana usually chooses Cheongpungdae—unless the protagonist forcibly drags her elsewhere.
Recruiting talent already, huh?
“Isn’t this tampering?”
Of course, it wasn’t tampering at all, but I couldn’t resist teasing her a little.
Her reaction came immediately.
“Huh? No! That’s not what I meant… I just!”
She waved her hands frantically, flustered, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’m kidding.”
I waved my hand and smiled.
Yu Hana turned her head away in embarrassment, her ears slightly red.
“Well, it’s not a bad choice. Cheongpungdae’s a great place.”
Cheongpungdae is prestigious.
Its management is solid, and its domestic infrastructure is well-established.
It has a good reputation no matter where you go.
But for me, it’s a bit lacking in certain ways.
Cheongpung is strictly a domestically-focused guild.
Most of its activities are confined within the country.
Eventually, I’ll have to go abroad to obtain things like fragments.
And when that time comes, I’d be held back.
My future path needs to be broader than that.
“But I don’t think… I’ll go there.”
“…Why?”
Yu Hana cautiously asked again.
“Just…”
I took a breath before replying.
“I guess… I’m just too greedy.”
At those words, Yu Hana quietly nodded.
She didn’t respond, but I saw her eyes tremble slightly.
A water bottle, half full.
I brought it to my lips, but didn’t drink, just held it there for a while.
And then finally, she spoke.
“…Alright.”
Right after that, Yu Hana gave a small smile and stood up.
“See you later.”
With that one sentence, she quietly turned her back to me.
Her smile… looked just a little bit sad.
***
That afternoon, Lecture Hall B of Gaon.
It was the break between classes, but the students hadn’t left their seats.
No—maybe it was more accurate to say they couldn’t leave.
“So~ if you join our guild, you’ll get a signing bonus, equipment rentals, hazard pay as standard, and even one-on-one mentorship from a hero!”
At the front of the classroom stood a man who was clearly from outside the academy.
With a confident expression and overly energetic gestures,
The man in the flashy white suit continued speaking—it was a scout from Rapid, a guild ranked around 30th domestically.
“You know A-rank Hero Calix, right? You might even get to meet him…”
He was really trying his best.
And understandably so. After all, this was Gaon, the world’s number one academy.
A 30th-ranked domestic guild… well, to be blunt, lacked competitiveness.
A few students glanced around.
Some looked genuinely interested, others just let it go in one ear and out the other.
But most wore expressions that clearly said they wanted to leave.
The solo performance continued until—
“Anyway, I hope many of you sign up for the experience!”
The scout finally left.
“Phew…”
“He talked way too much.”
“Like anyone’s actually going to go there…”
Students grumbled, and some even chuckled mockingly.
Yoon Chae-ha, sitting nearby, was no different.
“…Snore.”
Of course, she had been sleeping from the start. Still, she was asleep.
The students sighed, fidgeted with their phones, and waited for the next lecture.
And then—
Creak.
Through the opened door, a new figure stepped inside.
“Hello~”
The face was startlingly familiar.
She was recently appointed as the new vice-president of Lotus.
Her name was Yu Serin.
She appeared in the original story as well.
Although Lotus had maintained its second-place ranking, it had long been considered stagnant.
But after she joined, the guild underwent a clear transformation.
Of course, the end was inevitable, since the guild’s leader was rotten at the core.
“Everyone was so quiet… I was worried I might be interrupting.”
Typically, guild presentations were hosted by so-called “mediocre” guilds.
Low name recognition, lack of credibility, and most of all, desperate to recruit students.
In that sense, Lotus was the last guild you’d expect to hold a presentation.
From the moment she entered, the difference from the previous scout was obvious.
Her steps, gaze, even her breathing exuded composure.
As she stood at the front of the room, the students’ postures subtly shifted.
“I’m Yu Serin, vice-president of Lotus. Nice to meet you!”
Her bubbly entrance instantly drew the attention of the entire lecture hall.
No one dared to joke around. No one looked at their smartwatches.
Walking naturally to the podium, she spoke smoothly.
“I won’t take much of your time… but I’ll be as honest as I can.”
Her gaze lightly swept across the classroom.
That alone made some students sit up straighter.
“Lotus is—”
After a short breath, her tone suddenly hardened as she made a calm declaration.
“—not a guild for fallen heroes.”
A brief silence followed.
The words weren’t harsh, but they were oddly provocative.
Her gaze settled on the front row—where Kang Arin sat, slouched with her chin in her hand, looking bored.
Even though Kang Arin didn’t bother hiding her disinterest,
Yu Serin let her eyes linger just a little longer.
“Only those who want to be the best should consider joining us.”
And in that moment—
‘…What’s this?’
In that moment, it was clear. Her gaze turned toward me, and then distinctly paused.
[“Universal Perception” resists “Insightful Eye.”]
Yu Serin’s expression faltered for a split second.
She hadn’t expected her authority to be resisted.
Then, with a faint smile, she very slowly nodded in my direction.
After that, she gestured toward a neatly dressed female scout standing beside her.
“Please direct any questions to this scout. I’ll be taking my leave now~”
With that, she turned and walked out.
No one made a sound until her figure had completely disappeared.
“…….”
Silence filled the room—and then, the next moment…
The students all stood up at once.
They crowded around the Scouter, as if each wanted to go first.
“Was Lotus always like that?”
“Kinda cute… but also cool…”
I was impressed.
Indeed, all eyes were on Kang Arin, the daughter of glory.
Though unspoken, the implication was felt by every student there.
‘We don’t want the heir of Glory—we want those who will surpass her and become the best.’
It was a statement powerful enough to stir the hearts of many students.
Once the spot in front of Lotus’s Scouter cleared up, I headed to the cafeteria.
Cheon Yeoul didn’t come along.
Something about watching her diet, saying everything she eats goes somewhere weird, or whatever.
I didn’t really care to understand, so I didn’t ask further.
The one who came with me was Yoon Chae-ha.
As usual, the meal was just regular cafeteria food.
After rinsing my mouth, I pushed open the cafeteria door.
Summer seemed to be approaching, and I walked in the shade to avoid the warm sunlight.
Then—
“Knock knock.”
Someone tapped me on the shoulder with their fingertip.
They even made the knocking sound with their mouth.
I turned my head.
A pleasant scent of roses wafted over.
Too natural for perfume, yet too vivid to be just a real flower.
“Jung Haein?”
The person who had stood on the platform earlier.
Yu Serin.
She held a small document in her hand and was smiling slightly.
“Why haven’t you answered me yet?”
She asked playfully.
Beside me, Yoon Chae-ha looked at me in shock.
“You can’t just say it like that…”
The meaning behind Yu Serin’s words was simple.
During the midterm bid war, Lotus had bid a staggering 1.5 billion won for me.
Although they lost first place to Vanquisher, that amount clearly showed their intent.
I had the right to respond to those guilds’ bids…
But I hadn’t given an answer to any of them.
“I was the one who personally placed the bid. You were my first pick after I was appointed.”
“Is that so.”
“Yep! The way you *sliced* through Medusa—”
I replied indifferently.
But she didn’t stop.
“Don’t you want to join Lotus?”
Yu Serin asked bluntly.
But my answer had already been decided.
I had interest in her as a person.
If she were to leave Lotus, then maybe.
But the guild Lotus itself…
“I’m not joining.”
“I figured as much.”
She didn’t even flinch at the rejection.
Rather, she nodded, as if it was the response she expected.
“Well, there’s still plenty of time to change your mind.”
“You’d better not waste your energy.”
“That’s… up to me!”
Yu Serin gave a familiar laugh and turned away.
I quietly watched her walk off.
In many ways, she’s a regrettable character.
If only she had someone reliable to support her, she could’ve soared far.
Betrayal and schemes.
I know her future.
No matter which route the protagonist takes, she never escapes death.
Lotus was bound to become an enemy of Sung Siwoo.
However, a lot has already changed.
In this current situation… maybe saying one thing wouldn’t hurt.
“Hey.”
She stopped.
Slowly, she turned her head.
“Yes?”
“Be careful who you trust.”
Yu Serin narrowed her eyes.
She wore a thoughtful expression for a moment, then tilted her head with a smile.
“…Haein, you sure are strange!”
“You’re not exactly normal either.”
With that, I turned away.
I had no intention of getting deeply involved.
From here on, it’s up to her.