NIP Chapter 101 : Chaopter 101
Chapter 101 : Chaopter 101
Chapter 101: Flower Blooming in the Mud (3)
Deep within a forest on a remote island, a place that had been a testing ground only moments ago but had now turned into a battlefield.
The sound of two people running echoed through the area.
Thud-thud-thud—
The owners of those footsteps were Ju Ha-yeon and Oh Jin-eon.
The two were running toward the rendezvous point where they were supposed to meet Kim Su-hyeok and the others.
The sight of them running at full speed to arrive as quickly as possible was truly impressive.
However….
“…….”
The atmosphere was not very good.
Unlike before, when they had exchanged various words while moving, they were now running in silence.
In fact, it was only natural.
Though others might see it differently, in their minds, their actions were no different from abandoning a comrade and running away.
'…In the end, saying there was no other choice is probably just an excuse.'
Ju Ha-yeon recalled what had happened earlier.
Baek Ha-seong’s martial prowess was beyond overwhelming; it was difficult to even meet his eyes.
Even if they had left because Choi Yu-seong told them to go, it was ultimately an excuse.
'Since I agreed to words that were not even certain…….'
Choi Yu-seong had told them to rest easy because Baek Ha-seong seemingly had no intention of killing him.
In truth, if she thought about it for even a moment, those words made no sense.
A person's heart could not always remain the same, could it?
What would happen if Baek Ha-seong changed his mind?
As her thoughts reached that point, Ju Ha-yeon’s heart grew even heavier.
And such guilt was not hers alone.
“…….”
Oh Jin-eon continued his silent sprint without stopping.
However, unlike his stoic exterior, his mind was incredibly complicated.
'If it was going to be like this, why did I even train?'
He had trained constantly so as not to fall behind.
He had trained without ceasing to protect his friends in case of an emergency.
Yet, what was this pathetic situation?
'…I have nothing to say for myself.'
Of course, the opponent was far beyond their level.
When he heard that the man was an S-Rank Villain, he felt as if his heart had stopped.
In fact, it might be foolish to throw away an opportunity to escape just to try and fight.
But.
'That is not what is important.'
What Oh Jin-eon considered important was by no means a rational judgment.
The thing he valued most.
That was a comrade one could trust and rely on.
'But I failed to do that.'
Therefore, Oh Jin-eon’s heart could not help but be heavy.
Whether it was a rational choice or an unavoidable situation, in the end, it was no different from sacrificing Choi Yu-seong.
Of course, Choi Yu-seong would not think that way, but he could not help but feel that way regardless.
“…….”
In the end, the gloomy atmosphere continued to flow without showing any sign of vanishing.
Before being Players who always had to make the best choices, they were both human beings, so it was unavoidable.
However, it was not good to continue like this.
A complicated mindset would surely affect their combat performance.
And a mistake in battle could lead directly to the loss of life.
It was then, while the situation where not a single word of conversation occurred continued.
“Everyone!!”
A loud voice rang out from in front of Ju Ha-yeon and Oh Jin-eon.
Only then did the two stop their thoughts and look ahead.
Standing before them was Kim Su-hyeok, waving his hand.
It seemed they had not noticed they had arrived at the rendezvous point because they were so focused on their thoughts.
“But…….”
Ju Ha-yeon checked the faces of those who had gathered.
Kim Su-hyeok, Ryu Jin-oh, Do Gang-ho, and even Ha Eun-ha.
However, there were several other cadets besides them.
When she expressed her doubt at the sight, an answer came from Kim Su-hyeok.
“We met them on the way here. They were being chased by villains. So, Jin-oh and I rescued them.”
“Hmph. In truth, I did almost all of the work.”
She did not know if Ryu Jin-oh’s words were true, but the fact that they had rescued them seemed certain.
As proof, blood was dripping from the swords of Kim Su-hyeok and Ryu Jin-oh.
That was likely the reason why Kim Su-hyeok’s expression was not good.
'It is not bad.'
The number of rescued cadets was not large, but it was not bad.
In a situation like this, even one more person would be a great help.
After Ju Ha-yeon made that judgment, she intended to explain the plan first.
Yes, she ‘intended’ to explain.
Until she received the question that followed from Kim Su-hyeok.
“But I do not see Yu-seong. Where is Yu-seong?”
At those words, Ju Ha-yeon and Oh Jin-eon’s expressions stiffened rapidly.
It was because the memory they had briefly forgotten in the thought of meeting the others had resurfaced.
Kim Su-hyeok also seemed to have read their expressions, as he asked again in a voice even lower than before.
“…What is it? What happened?”
“That is…….”
“Why are you not saying anything? Where is Yu-seong?!”
Kim Su-hyeok’s voice grew increasingly agitated.
It was actually a natural reaction.
In this situation, a friend who should have come with them had not arrived?
Was it not obvious that his thoughts would turn to the worst?
Furthermore, it was especially so for Kim Su-hyeok, who valued his friends tremendously.
“…….”
However, Ju Ha-yeon could not easily answer that question.
Because she did not know how to explain it.
Should she say that an unbeatable enemy appeared and they had no choice but to leave him behind?
Should she say that they came first because Choi Yu-seong told only her and Oh Jin-eon to go?
Whatever it was, it would eventually be nothing more than an excuse.
“…I will explain.”
While Ju Ha-yeon was unable to answer in that tense situation, the one who finally spoke up was Oh Jin-eon.
It was not because Oh Jin-eon felt comfortable that he spoke up instead of Ju Ha-yeon.
How could he feel comfortable after going through such an ordeal?
However, he also knew.
He knew that nothing good would come from allowing this situation to persist.
“What happened was…….”
Therefore, Oh Jin-eon immediately began to explain what had occurred.
Starting from the moment they encountered an S-Rank Villain while moving toward the rendezvous point.
To the fact that he and Ju Ha-yeon were able to come here at Choi Yu-seong’s request, but Choi Yu-seong ultimately had to remain there.
Of course, he did not mention that the S-Rank Villain was Baek Ha-seong.
Oh Jin-eon had only heard that the villain was S-Rank; he had not heard who he was.
But what did that matter?
The situation was already ruined from the moment an S-Rank Villain intervened.
And as expected, the surrounding atmosphere darkened instantly.
“An, an S-Rank Villain?”
“Da—Damn it! What is going on?!”
“What on earth is the academy doing?!”
Fear erupted among the cadets that Kim Su-hyeok and Ryu Jin-oh had brought along.
Showing such a display in a situation like this was not very good, but it was unavoidable.
At most, they were still Year 1 cadets.
How could they be in their right minds after hearing that an S-Rank Villain had appeared?
And….
“…Yu-seong stayed behind in that place?”
The same applied to Kim Su-hyeok.
However, he was not surprised by the S-Rank Villain like the other cadets.
He was merely shocked by the fact that Choi Yu-seong had stayed there.
Nonetheless, it was true that his composure was wavering.
“What does that mean? He stayed behind alone with an S-Rank Villain?”
“…I am sorry.”
Oh Jin-eon replied with an apology to Kim Su-hyeok’s question.
But an apology was not what Kim Su-hyeok wanted.
He also understood it with his head.
An S-Rank Villain.
How could it even make sense for a mere three Year 1 cadets to block such an opponent?
An S-Rank was someone even instructors might not be able to handle.
Perhaps even if everyone here rushed in together, they would never be a match.
But.
“I have to go to Yu-seong.”
He said he understood with his head.
He never said he accepted that fact.
What was the most important driving force that moved a person like Kim Su-hyeok?
Was it not justice?
Yet, knowing that his friend was in danger, he would turn his eyes away?
That was something that could absolutely never happen.
Therefore, as soon as Kim Su-hyeok heard the story, he tried to head toward Choi Yu-seong immediately, but unfortunately, he could not.
“Stay right there.”
It was because Ryu Jin-oh caught Kim Su-hyeok as he was about to leave.
At that, Kim Su-hyeok tried to shake him off and go, but he could not because of the serious voice that followed from Ryu Jin-oh.
“Do you not understand the situation right now? Do not act like a child.”
“…What?”
“It is an S-Rank Villain. What do you think you can do by going there? Are you going to beg him to please let your friend go?”
“Bu—But……!”
“Shut up.”
When Kim Su-hyeok tried to say something, Ryu Jin-oh immediately cut him off with an irritable display.
It was a prickliness so sharp that one might be pierced just by touching him.
He was usually prickly, but this was clearly not that kind of prickliness.
Perhaps the others gathered here also realized that fact, as the crowd became silent in an instant.
In that quiet atmosphere, Ryu Jin-oh’s voice flowed out once again.
“You shout about justice all day long, yet you act like a bottom-feeder at the most critical moment.”
“…….”
“Face reality, Kim Su-hyeok. There is nothing you can do even if you go there. On the other hand, if you stay here, you can actually do something.”
“…….”
“Reality is different from dreams. Well, if you want to keep dreaming like a child, I will not stop you.”
Kim Su-hyeok’s hands trembled at Ryu Jin-oh’s incredibly sharp words.
Was it because Ryu Jin-oh’s words were too harsh?
It was not that.
Rather, it was because everything Ryu Jin-oh said was correct.
Of course, it was not that Kim Su-hyeok did not know that staying here was the wise choice.
However.
“Doing that is no different from abandoning him…….”
Between reality and ideals.
At that crossroads, he simply could not choose the option of giving up on Choi Yu-seong.
She worried that Ryu Jin-oh would say something harsh again at that frustrating sight.
“Ridiculous.”
Fortunately, it was a needless worry.
This time, unlike before, his voice was a bit calmer.
Ryu Jin-oh also knew.
He knew that Kim Su-hyeok was originally that kind of guy.
No matter how strongly he spoke, he was someone who would not give up unless he convinced himself.
Then what should he do?
The answer was surprisingly simple.
“Are you that guy's guardian?”
He just had to make him understand.
At Ryu Jin-oh’s words, Kim Su-hyeok looked at him as if asking what that meant.
“What are you talking about all of a sudden in this situation?”
“I am saying it because it is this situation. I asked if you are his guardian.”
Ryu Jin-oh’s words did not end there.
As if he did not want an answer in the first place, he continued to speak.
“You do not even think of that guy as a comrade at all.”
“What kind of nonsense is……!”
“Your actions are those of someone dealing with a target that needs protection, not a comrade. Am I wrong?”
As Ryu Jin-oh said that, he grabbed Kim Su-hyeok by the collar.
Several people nearby looked surprised at the sight, but Ryu Jin-oh continued without concern.
“What kind of friend or comrade are you if you cannot even trust him? Huh?”
“…….”
“Did that guy ask you to come help? No. Instead, they said he told them to trust him and leave this place to him. Yet, what is the meaning of your behavior?”
Ryu Jin-oh continued to press Kim Su-hyeok.
However, if there was something different from before….
“……."
It was that no words came out of Kim Su-hyeok’s mouth.
Why?
The reason was simple.
Right now, he was considerably shaken by Ryu Jin-oh’s words.
'Comrades trust each other…….'
Did Ryu Jin-oh spit out fine-sounding words just to coax him?
Absolutely not.
Ryu Jin-oh was never the type of guy to say something he did not mean for such a reason.
It meant that he truly thought that way.
Therefore, Kim Su-hyeok’s thoughts could not help but grow deeper.
It was when Kim Su-hyeok’s thoughts followed one after another.
“Then can you not just think of it the other way around? Whether that suspicious guy would like it or not if you showed up.”
Do Gang-ho spoke up as if he were indifferent.
However, the meaning of his words was not indifferent at all.
Upon hearing those words, Kim Su-hyeok felt as if he had been struck on the head.
'Do I think Yu-seong would like it if I went?'
Unlike before, the answer to this question came very quickly.
'Absolutely not…….'
Choi Yu-seong would not press him as bluntly as Ryu Jin-oh did, but he would clearly dislike it.
In the plan he had devised, the possibility of Kim Su-hyeok going to help him would not have existed.
Because Choi Yu-seong trusted that Kim Su-hyeok would play his part here.
'…I see.'
Thinking about it, it was a simple problem.
Choi Yu-seong trusted him and left this place to him.
Yet, he did not trust Choi Yu-seong and was trying to go there.
Was this truly a comrade?
'Probably not.'
It was just as Ryu Jin-oh had said.
Friends and comrades were relationships that could be formed by trusting each other.
However, to break Choi Yu-seong’s trust and go there?
That was no different from deceiving Choi Yu-seong.
'A relationship without trust cannot be sustained.'
One of the things learned in the Academy’s liberal arts classes.
Since it was a profession where they had to trust and entrust their lives to each other in the field, it was one of the essential virtues they learned.
'And yet I was failing to keep even that basic thing.'
By the time his thoughts reached that point, Kim Su-hyeok’s eyes had become steady at some point.
He had finally made up his mind.
Even if there came a time to head toward Choi Yu-seong.
That was something that should be done only after upholding the trust Choi Yu-seong had sent him.
At that sight, Ryu Jin-oh let go of the collar he had been holding.
“Now you finally look decent.”
“Haha… I am sorry. But Jin-oh. There is one thing I want to ask.”
“Do not get clingy with me. I am not interested in men.”
Despite Ryu Jin-oh’s disgusted reaction, Kim Su-hyeok laughed while persistently throwing his question.
“Do you trust Yu-seong?”
“…I trust him. He is a guy worth trusting.”
At those words, Ju Ha-yeon and Ha Eun-ha, who had been watching the conversation between the two, showed quite surprised expressions.
Unlike the others, the two knew the person named Ryu Jin-oh well.
Therefore, they knew how deep the words Ryu Jin-oh had spoken truly were.
Kim Su-hyeok also knew that, which was why he showed a bright smile.
“I see. So you trust him.”
If so.
“I must also trust him. Because that is what a friend is, and that is what a comrade is.”
As he said that, Kim Su-hyeok straightened his body and stood up.
To carry out Choi Yu-seong’s trust from now on.
Kim Su-hyeok’s firm sense of comradeship, which would originally have developed much later in the novel.
It had been achieved right here, in this place.
A positive change created by the emergence of countless variables.
He did not know how this would act… but it was certain that there would at least be a better future.