After a brief video lecture, we immediately moved into practice.
Including myself, the team members entered the Sync Room attached to the lecture hall. Since synchronization hadn’t been completed yet, there wasn’t a single object to be found inside the Sync Room. It was just an empty room.
“Got it? There’s absolutely no need to be scared! They may look scary on the outside, but they’re nothing more than empty shells!”
“Umm… Yeah… I’ll try my best…”
“Miss Baek Joo-hee understands as well, right?”
“Geez. I get it already. My ears are going to start bleeding from how much you keep saying it!”
As soon as we entered the Training Center, the team split into two groups. Arna and the girls huddled together. It looked like they were holding some sort of strategy meeting.
On the other hand, the group of guys I was in…
“Hey, Moon Shin-chung. Let’s play a little quiz game. Ready to take a guess?”
“Quiz? Alright, bring it on.”
We were exchanging quizzes in high spirits. I asked the question.
“Alright, then. Here’s the question: what kind of bread does God hate the most?”
“The bread God hates? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It’s freshly baked bread.”
Ha-ha-ha!
We grabbed our stomachs and laughed until the Sync Room echoed with our giggles.
“Ugh, really gross…”
Meanwhile, Arna, watching this from afar, gave us a look of disdain as if we were bugs.
There’s no need for her to wrinkle her nose so much. Honestly, she probably found it funny too.
[We will now begin the synchronization process in preparation for the combat training. Please remain still in your places, students.]
While we were waiting endlessly, Seo Dan-ah’s voice flowed out from the speaker. Finally, it was our turn.
Swish-aaah—
Then, the Sync Room started operating. This room, previously devoid of objects, was quickly transformed into a beautiful banquet hall.
Large chandeliers hung from the ceiling, a pristine white virgin road was laid across the floor, and the guest seats in front of the central stage were packed.
We had stepped into a wedding hall.
“Woahh… it’s so pretty…”
Even Arna, who had been furrowing her brows just a moment ago, sparkled her eyes at the sight of the luxurious wedding hall.
“Woah…”
“Oh my…”
The rest of the female students were no different. They were completely transfixed, taking in the beauty of the venue.
“Hey, Spoon… for some reason, I’m starting to feel really tired…”
“I feel the same way…”
The Moon Shin-chung beside me slouched his shoulders.
It wasn’t just Moon Shin-chung; I felt the same way. Just stepping into the wedding hall made me feel drained of energy.
I wasn’t sure why that was the case.
[This team’s training will be conducted at this wedding hall. Please follow the circle marked on the floor and take your designated positions.]
Following those instructions, everyone moved to their spots.
First, Arna, as the civilian, walked straight along the virgin road and took her place on the stage, alone.
Next, the investigators, Baek Joo-hee and Prometheus, took their seats in the first row of the guest section, close to Arna.
Finally, as the assailants, Moon Shin-chung and I were assigned spots at the very end of the virgin road, near the entrance.
The farthest possible point from Arna, who was on stage.
[Now that everyone is in place, let me explain the mission objective.]
*
The mission objective was simple.
Two investigators were tasked with handling the assailants who came to kidnap the bride.
By “bride,” that referred to Arna.
“Me? I’m the bride?”
[As the bride, you are prohibited from taking any action. You cannot even attempt to run or use force.]
Even escaping from the assailants was prohibited. It seemed the bride would be wearing a wedding dress, limiting any running around.
“So, no matter what these assailants do, I’m supposed to just stand still?”
[Yes, that’s correct.]
“…”
Arna stood there, dumbfounded, mouth agape.
[If there are no further questions, we will commence the exercise. Please take your positions and conduct the training responsibly.]
Beep!
The moment the signal sounded, Arna snapped out of her stupor and pleaded desperately toward the guest section.
“I beg of you! Please take down those assailants! If nothing else, you must at least get rid of that Spoon assailant!”
She was even shedding a few tears.
As expected from Arna — she never does anything half-heartedly. Whether it’s training or acting as a civilian, she’s fully committed to her role.
In that case, I had no choice but to play my part as the assailant.
“Hey, Moon Shin-chung, go sweep all the condolence money from the lobby.”
“It’s not condolence money, it’s congratulatory money!”
“Oh, sorry about that. Misspoke there.”
“That’s not a misspeak; that’s a verbal blunder!”
Even in the midst of the situation, Arna corrected my mistakes.
“Living my whole life being corrected by a fellow American is something to be deeply ashamed of as a Korean. I suppose I have a lot to improve on.”
“You’re doing that on purpose, aren’t you? For your information, I’m not American!”
Arna huffed and waved her fists around. She seemed incredibly angry.
But so what? What can the civilian do here? Apart from getting mad, what can she possibly do?
“Hey, Moon Shin-chung, you go keep an eye on Baek Joo-hee. Meanwhile, I’ll handle the rest.”
“That’s it? There’s only one guy left anyway.”
Moon Shin-chung raised his weapon. I could easily handle Baek Joo-hee, so there was nothing to worry about.
Anyway…
“Hey, Baek Joo-hee.”
“Huh? Did you call me?”
“Yeah. Why are you just standing there this time? Like last time, why don’t you strip to your top…?”
“Whaaaat?!”
Baek Joo-hee’s face turned bright red as she erupted with a loud shout. She had an incredible set of lungs on par with Arna. For a moment, I thought my eardrums would burst.
“I do have some dignity as a person! How could I just give my body to some creepy looking kid like you?!”
“So that’s what set you off.”
I subtly turned my head to glance at Moon Shin-chung.
Even though we’re on the same team, he’s genuinely unappealing. Frankly, the “creepy looking kid” is an understatement. But now I understand Baek Joo-hee’s feelings a bit better.
“Hey, Spoon, is that guy insulting me right now?”
At least Moon Shin-chung has good instincts, unlike his looks, which is fortunate. He gritted his teeth and crouched down.
“I was planning on just going through the motions, but… it seems I’ll have to take this seriously.”
Daaash!
He immediately sprinted forward, his target being none other than Baek Joo-hee.
The mission objective had long been forgotten. Moon Shin-chung was focused solely on confronting Baek Joo-hee.
—”Get out of my way, you ugly little fish!”
—”Aaaaaaarrrgh!”
As expected, Moon Shin-chung and Baek Joo-hee clashed head-on.
While they were engaged in their fierce battle, I casually walked toward the stage.
“Er… No… That’s…”
But Prometheus was blocking my way. He was standing in front of me, sweating nervously, apparently at a loss for what to do.
“If you move out of the way now, I won’t do anything.”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
With that, Prometheus immediately cleared the way for me. That completed my express pass to the central stage.
“Hey, wait! Where are you all going?! Aren’t you supposed to protect me?! Get back here!”
Despite Arna’s desperate cries, none of the investigators were coming back.
One was busy fighting the ugly assailant, and the other had already abandoned the mission and left.
Tep.
Tep.
In the midst of all this, I walked toward Arna without any interference. As I approached, Arna’s face turned paler and paler.
“Stop…! Stop right there! Don’t come any closer!”
“Do I look like I’m going to turn back just because you asked?”
“Ugh…”
Arna quickly wrapped her arms around her chest.
“What do you plan to do to me?! If you do anything funny, training or not, I won’t forgive you!”
“Anything funny? I’m just doing my job as an assailant. I’m putting my best effort into kidnapping you.”
“But… But what do you plan to do after kidnapping me?!”
After the kidnapping? Hmm. I thought the training would just end with the kidnapping. I haven’t thought much about afterward.
Still, since Arna is immobilized right now, I might as well seize the opportunity.
What should I do? What would make Arna scream and protest?
Alright, let’s feed her a Hawaiian pizza topped with plenty of pineapples.
Even Arna, who eats almost anything, wouldn’t be able to handle that. She’ll surely express her discomfort with her whole body.
“Rest assured, I’ll beautifully decorate your wedding night.”
“Hiieeeek! Get away, you pervert! How dare you have no respect!”
Pervert? Is she losing her mind now? Arna was throwing out insults at will.
Anyway…
I stretched out my arms to kidnap Arna, lifting her up like a princess.
“Where do you think you’re touching?! Put me down, I said!”
“Hold still. If you don’t….”
Crack!
Maybe it was due to Arna’s violent thrashing. At that moment, I heard a snapping sound in my lower back.
An indescribable, intense pain shot through my nerves, spreading throughout my body. Cold sweat poured down my back like rain.
I had managed to strain my back after lifting that fatty creature.
“Are you serious?! How can you strain your back in a situation like this?!”
In the end, there was no winner in this training.
Arna and I were both losers.
