Episode 97: Experience (3)
In the heart of Seoul’s skyscrapers, sunlight sparkled beyond the glass walls.
The Lotus headquarters was bustling from early morning.
Today was the day the student visitors from Gaon were coming.
The PR team, HR department, and various divisions were all busy preparing to welcome the students, but Vice Guild Master Yu Serin was sitting at her desk for a slightly different reason.
“Hm…”
On her desk was a freshly printed financial report, handed over by her secretary.
In her hand was a log of the movements of Director Choi, the Guild Master’s closest aide.
Her delicate fingers quietly drew a line under one particular name.
“At this rate, you’re really going to get stabbed, Director.”
Her joking mutter echoed through the office.
Yu Serin’s gaze slowly turned toward the window.
Between the distant buildings, sunlight faintly shone through thin clouds.
After a moment, she pressed the intercom.
— Beep—
A soft mechanical sound.
Soon, the secretary’s voice followed.
— Yes, Vice Guild Master.
Yu Serin put down the document and spoke gently.
“Could you reach out to student Jung Haein and request an interview? Just a casual meal—keep it polite and respectful… but not too formal, just—”
She trailed off for a moment.
Looking out the window again, she added with a faint smile:
“Like a curious upperclassman asking someone to grab lunch?”
Before the secretary could ask anything, Yu Serin raised her hand to stop her.
“Oh, and no need to push for a yes. If they decline… that’s the end of it. Absolutely—absolutely—do not bother them any further.”
After a beat, her fingers tapped the desk.
“Feels like if we’re too pushy, they might just vanish in a puff.”
Yu Serin murmured softly.
The last words probably didn’t make it through the intercom.
“Alright then, I’ll leave it to you!”
With that, Yu Serin rose from her seat.
“Time to go meet the kiddos~”
It was time to welcome the students.
***
Saturday morning.
As summer approached, the sun’s rays beat down hotter than ever.
Since I hadn’t exercised in the morning, I decided to skip the bus waiting by the checkpoint and jog instead…
But I’ve always been sensitive to heat, and now I was starting to regret that decision.
It was the first day of the experience program.
I was on my way to the main building of the Maengju’s guild.
[belief_]: Where are you? I’m in front of the building now.
While heading toward the building, I messaged Kang Arin.
We were the only two first-years on the list, so we had to enter together.
She suddenly gave me her contact info yesterday.
[RIN]: Haein, something urgent came up, so I might be late today… I already informed the assigned hero.
[belief_]: Is everything okay?
“What’s this?”
Did something happen that would make her late?
Nothing seemed off yesterday.
But I guess it is a busy time of year.
As I was thinking that and walking toward the building—
— Ding ding.
Suddenly, My watch suddenly chimed with a notification.
[Jo Seoyoon]: Hello, Jung Haein. This is Lotus. We’d like to request an interview.
It’s a simple meal, so please don’t feel pressured. We’ll adjust to your availability.
“……”
Lotus?
My steps faltered as I headed toward the building.
They probably had no trouble finding my contact information…
Jo Seoyoon.
Jo Seoyoon…
“Ah.”
I remembered.
The woman who stood quietly behind Yu Serin during the briefing.
That was her.
She was part of Yu Serin’s circle, and the fact that she contacted me first like this…
It probably means the Vice Guildmaster caught onto my intentions.
‘She’s sharp.’
I had thrown a line at Yu Serin back then.
It could’ve easily been brushed off as nonsense, but she picked up on it.
Not that I had any intention of responding.
[belief_]: I’m fine, thank you.
[Jo Seoyoon]: Understood. Have a great day.
The reply came immediately.
Unexpected.
I thought they’d try harder, but they backed off cleanly.
I liked the neat response.
There wasn’t time to think more.
The schedule was tight.
I closed my watch and walked toward the building.
In front of the building.
The entrance, covered in glass, and the turnstile gate stood before me.
I held up my watch to display the entry code, and with a ‘beep’, the gate opened.
“Wow.”
The astonished breath slipped out without me realizing.
From the outside, it looked like just another tall building, but inside—it was a completely different world.
A wide-open lobby, and ceilings that seemed to stretch endlessly upward.
It was like a palace.
In the center of that grand hall, groups of students were gathered.
Even without being told, I could tell that was where today’s orientation would begin.
I headed in that direction.
“Oh? Are you Haein?”
A woman in a neat suit approached from the center.
A thin badge was pinned to her shoulder, and she held a tablet in one hand.
Definitely looked like a staff member.
“You’re first-year trainee Jung Haein, right? Welcome.”
She smiled warmly as she greeted me, but I hesitated for a moment, thrown off by the atmosphere.
Behind her, upperclassmen were watching me.
Their outfits were all… excessive.
Combat suits adorned with intricate designs, armor draped over shoulders, gleaming weapons—
Some even had multiple rings on their fingers.
Almost like actual pro heroes.
‘A bit over-the-top…’
It made the word “experience program” seem laughable.
Even if there were actual missions, they’d be limited—but to show up this geared?
Most likely for show.
Which made sense, in a way—they’d want to leave a good impression.
Compared to them, I was dressed way too casually.
Just a shirt.
Maybe I should’ve tried harder.
From the moment I realized it, the gazes on me started to feel even more intense.
Some had subtle smirks, others silently scanned my gearless self from top to bottom.
“Wow, seriously.”
Even a scoff from somewhere among the students.
Just then, the woman in front clapped her hands lightly.
“Okay, everyone, attention please. Before we begin today’s main activities, I’ll briefly walk you through the schedule.”
She was the woman in the suit. Her tone was soft, but her words were clear.
“I’m Kim Haeun, an A-Rank hero. I’ll be your guide for today.”
Wearing a relaxed smile, she tapped her tablet and continued.
“On the first day, we’ll focus on touring the departments and experiencing the structure of the Maengju. Some of you might get to participate in actual tasks… depending on your luck. Or maybe I should say bad luck?”
She added with a slight chuckle.
“You’ll assist heroes currently out on missions. You’ll be heading out to the field, so… try to be careful.”
At her words, a subtle tension rippled through the students.
Some straightened their posture, while others absentmindedly touched the weapons hanging at their sides.
“Our first stop is… the research wing. Please follow me.”
She turned naturally and led the way.
The research wing was on the second floor.
As she climbed the stairs, she continued her explanation.
“The research wing is the foundation of the Maengju’s tech division. Dungeon analysis, battlefield map design, weapon testing, artifact restoration… you could say it’s the heart of the Maengju’s operations.”
Her voice carried on as they moved.
But she wasn’t the only one speaking.
There were whispers coming from behind, soft enough to be secrets, but still audible.
“Wow, he really came?”
No names were mentioned, but it was clearly about me.
“I mean, I get Kang Arin-nim being here, but… aren’t first-years usually not invited?”
Another student mumbled in a low voice.
It was hushed, but loud enough for me to catch.
“He’s not even ranked high… not affiliated with any guild either… I should’ve just taken out Medusa instead.”
A rather low-tier insult.
The kind of petty gossip that only works between students.
‘Wow…’
I was a bit taken aback.
Were these really students qualified to be here, at the Maengju?
There was one terrifying truth they didn’t know:
From the moment you step into this building, everything students say is recorded.
Kim Haeun, the hero leading the orientation at the front with a smile—
She’s actually listening to all of this in real-time through the earpiece in her ear.
The Maengju’s core principles are simple: strength and mindset.
In other words, even right now—
Their scores are steadily dropping.
Very quietly.
‘Tsk.’
I could’ve let it go.
Still, I felt like stepping in at least once.
I turned my head.
As soon as I saw his face, I remembered.
I’d seen him a few times before. A second-year.
“Senior.”
I gave him a slight smile and said:
“Shut your mouth.”
The simplest and most effective phrase to make someone shut their mouth.
At those words, his face instantly turned red with embarrassment.
“Pfft!”
Kim Haeun, who had been guiding us at the front, suddenly burst out laughing.
Every student’s head turned in unison.
“Ah… I’m sorry. Pfft. I just… remembered something funny.”
While she tried to explain, the senior in front of me was left speechless, glaring at me.
“You little—”
But before he could continue, another male student standing behind him gently tapped him on the shoulder.
“Let it go, Hyunsoo.”
Then, casting a sideways glance at me, he curled his lips into a smirk and quietly added:
“Our junior here told us to shut up.”
His tone was relaxed, but his eyes were not.
The type who moves people from behind rather than stepping forward himself.
So he was the one pulling the strings.
“Everyone, please quiet down and keep moving~”
Kim Haeun’s cheerful voice rang out from the front.
Her tone clearly meant: That’s enough. Keep up.
I turned my eyes away.
And then—
My gaze met Kim Haeun’s.
There was a spark of interest in her eyes.