I ran as fast as I could to get to the first lecture.
“That sly fox..” I grinned as I mumbled, “She didn’t wake me up at all.”
I thought she’s changed and possessed a kind heart, but I overestimated her. Once a bastard, always a bastard.
[A divine being is laughing.]
Even those guys thought this was funny, huh?
…
I aggressively slid the door open and searched for Choi Yeong-Ja. She was standing behind the crowd, snickering behind the whispering students.
I grinned slightly and greeted the instructor for this class.
“Greetings, Instructor Fredrick.”
Instructor Fredrick was also a tall muscular man. He was about as muscular as the Russian instructor. He, too, had blonde hair and blue eyes. The only difference between them were scar placements. Instructor Fredrick had a visible scar across his face.
“...” The instructor silently furrowed his eyebrows. “Why are you late, department transfer?”
“I was caught up with something.”
The instructor clicked his tongue. “This will be the only exception. Go along the wall where your classmates are. I will be assigning seats and partners.”
I stood next to Choi Yeong-Ja because it was the only open spot. She was laughing audibly beside me.
“Did you get your beauty sleep?” Choi Yeong-Ja grinned.
“...” I recoiled at her with sass and a furrowed brow.
.
.
.
The teacher finally called my name to a seat assigned to me. The people sitting at the same table would be my partner for homeroom school events and group projects.
I glanced at my current tablemates. There were two people sitting at the table for now, excluding me.
One lean guy with black hair and yellow eyes picked his boogers lazily; he looked totally clueless. The other chubby guy, who looked similar, but instead had green eyes, was picking his ear while half-asleep.
..What a nice bunch.
“Choi Yeong-Ja, sit next to Park Min-Jun.”
I should have seen that coming.
“There was supposed to be another student here, but I assume she’s absent today.”
“She”? There’s another girl in my group; great.
“What a nice coincidence. You’re in my team, Min-Jun,” Choi Yeong-Ja put on a smug expression. “Don’t worry, I’ll carry you,” she assured me as if she was a responsible auntie.
“Yeah. Thanks,” I replied dryly.
She removed her attention from me and slowly observed her tablemates. “Oi, you guys..” She paused to sigh. Her facial expression turned grim and determined, shadows casted along the contours of her face, enhancing the intensity of the moment. Her eyes glittered brightly as if she’s found her life’s purpose. “I’ll be the group leader.”
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I mentally face-palmed, but I visually winced. “Do whatever you want.”
Other tables were also having discussions about the role assignment in their group.
I would have a strong migraine system notification at this point, but I haven’t received any; probably because I used triple the dosage of the Puri-Puri medicine… which, by the way, was heavily not recommended on the label.
…
“Class, pay attention. In the next week the first department homeroom competition will begin. It will determine this homeroom’s ranking in the swords department.”
A student raised his hand. The instructor nodded to grant permission to speak.
“May you tell us the details of the competition?”
“They’re still figuring it out, but prepare.”
How were we supposed to prepare if we didn't know what to prepare for?
I was about to raise my hand to ask that question for pure comedic purposes, but something caught my eye.
The guys in my group were sneaking out of class using camouflage. Their camouflage sucked, to be honest. They were transparent in a way, but I saw the light’s reflection on their skin.
I nudged Choi Yeong-Ja and pointed her gaze subtly to the class-ditchers.
“Hah? Pfft. What the hell is that?” she conspicuously giggled. “Is this instructor oblivious or what?”
What’s impressive was that barely anyone noticed that they moved from their seat. Those guys were completely silent. …I immediately saw potential for their future.
“Mazraeth, Selaphiek. I know you two are trying to sneak out.”
Mazraeth and Selaphiek immediately stopped their tracks. They turned to each other and started whispering audibly.
“... It’s your fault, man. … You’re too fat.”
“... The hell? … I was in your same pace, moron.”
We could hear your whispers, dudes. Now when I thought of it, these guys could be good team members—of course, judging from this scenario.
Instructor Fredrick grabbed pink pieces of paper and started scribbling on them on his palm. He sighed and had the usual esteemed, eyebrow-raised expression. “You’re both receiving detention.”
“Aww man. Fuck!” they both said and stomped their feet in sync.
“Get back to your seats.”
They ran back up the steps and sat beside me. I noticed the empty seat and looked at it for a while. Who was supposed to be here? It was tiring to ponder that, so I forgot it and closed my eyes for my beauty sleep.
Choi Yeong-Ja’s face turned dumb and expressionless as she saw me preparing to sleep. She looked at the two idiots who tried to leave the class. “My team…whatevs,” she shrugged.
[The illness, ‘??? Lv. ….]
I quickly fell asleep.
*
As soon as I thought I woke up, I found myself sitting in a suspicious alleyway in the dark. Utterly confused, I hesitantly looked around. There was no one here.
“Where am I..?”
For some reason, I felt unwell.
I stood up and walked towards a metal door at the end of the slanted ground. This place somehow felt surreal. I opened the metal door and a group of students greeted me.
Xavier in the center..?
I instantly knew what was coming after me.
Yielding, I sighed. “Not again.”
“We’re going to teach you a quick lesson for making Xavier run errands for you,” said a slim, malnourished looking guy.
…
A group of boys hugged my arm tightly, preventing me from moving. Xavier and his minions had a turn throwing punches and kicks at me back and forth.
…
“Hey, I think we should go..”
They dropped me to the ground after beating me until I was unrecognizable.
I stared at the red-painted floor in silence. I was completely exhausted.
…
*
“Oi, Park Min-Jun.” I felt someone nudge me aggressively.
What? Why was I back in the classroom?
“Mmh?”
“You were…” the black-haired booger picker nodded his head behind him. The classroom was ruined.
Desks were misplaced; some broken in half. Wood pieces lingered all over the place, and there were torn paper all around us. No one was in the class…
“You okay, dude?”
Me?—did something attack?
“What happened?”