“Huh? The more I think about it, the angrier I get?”
Kang Tae-hoon, who was sitting on a bench playing a phone game, suddenly lifted his head.
He recalled an event that happened earlier that morning.
“Why do I have to go out of my way to beg Arna for a practice match?”
It’s as if he’s working under the Kang Yoon Group, bowing his head to others. It’s a first for him to be in this situation.
Normally, without needing to ask separately, the other side should come forward saying, “Could you do me the honor of a practice match?”
What’s more, the funny part is that even after Kang Tae-hoon approached directly, Arna continuously refused the practice match. What was the reason again? Oh, it was because she was preparing for her midterm exams.
What makes her so great that she dares to reject this proposal from Kang Tae-hoon? All she has is just the top student title; there’s no great background behind her.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. How dare this insignificant person disregard him. She should know her place.
“Damn it… What a pain!”
Kang Tae-hoon threw the smartphone he was holding onto the dirt ground.
“–Bang!”
This time, it made quite a loud noise. The screen was likely shattered.
“Oh my. What a pity. You’ve just ruined your phone.”
A female student entered the outdoor training center in the dark night. It was Baek Joo-hee again.
Baek Joo-hee picked up the phone from the ground and handed it to Kang Tae-hoon.
“Here.”
“…”
However, Kang Tae-hoon didn’t take the smartphone. With narrowed eyes, he glared silently at Baek Joo-hee.
“Who do you think you are, acting familiar with me?”
“Ugh, seriously! My name is Baek Joo-hee! Baek Joo-hee! You, at least remember the face! How many times now!”
“Oh, Baek Joo-hee, huh? Sorry.”
Only then did Kang Tae-hoon take the smartphone. It wouldn’t turn on, as the impact likely reached inside the phone. It was completely broken.
“The practice match, ultimately, didn’t happen, right?”
“Are you here to mock me now?”
“Not at all. How could I possibly dare to mock you? I’d get reprimanded again.”
Yes. Originally, that’s how it should be. Understanding your place and respecting boundaries.
“Anyway, is the practice match really necessary? Even if you win, you won’t become the top student anyway.”
“Huh?”
Above all, Kang Tae-hoon had recently returned to school and was still in the first grade. This means he and Arna are in different grades.
Even if he wins in the practice match, it’s impossible for him to surpass Arna and become the top student of the year.
“So, I can’t be top student…?”
“They’re in different grades, for crying out loud!”
Furthermore, the top student position is not decided by the outcome of just one practice match. It includes regular exams and training results as well.
Of course, Kang Tae-hoon had no knowledge of these facts.
“Damn….”
“Seriously, your intention was to take down Arna and become the top student…? Without any other reason…?”
“…”
Baek Joo-hee was at a loss. What kind of fool was this? She even wondered how he managed to enroll as the second best student.
“Still, can’t you at least become the top student in the first grade…?”
“Arna’s not in the first year! What’s the point of that even!”
Kang Tae-hoon was already fixated on Arna. He would push Arna aside and ascend to the top student position. That was the only scenario he had in mind when he came here.
“Well, what are you gonna do now?”
“Enough. Whether it’s top student or anything else, it’s none of my concern anymore.”
If he cannot compete with Arna for the top student position, then the practice match has lost its meaning. It was time to change his target.
Kang Tae-hoon got up from the bench.
“I’ll just crush her on sight. I was already pissed off anyway.”
Kang Tae-hoon’s anger towards Arna had reached its peak. Arna had continuously ignored his polite requests for a practice match. Kang Tae-hoon’s pride wouldn’t allow that.
Now, it didn’t matter anymore. He would draw his sword whenever he met Arna, regardless of the place.
Kang Tae-hoon’s way of resolving this issue.
“Wait a moment. What will you do if you get disciplined again? If you cause trouble this time, a harsh punishment is almost guaranteed.”
Kang Tae-hoon could only get out of his current weapon suspension because of his father. If he caused trouble again, as Baek Joo-hee warned, he wouldn’t be able to rely on his father’s connections.
He wouldn’t be able to set foot in the school again.
But…
“Why should I be cowering because of this school? Don’t you see how pissed I am right now?”
Kang Tae-hoon’s emotions took precedence. It felt like he needed to destroy something to release this oppression. He didn’t care about the consequences.
“So, you’re really going to look for Arna tomorrow?”
“Yep.”
“What if you let me handle it for you this time?”
“What?”
Kang Tae-hoon’s ears immediately doubted what they heard. What did he just say? Baek Joo-hee was going to deal with Arna? That C-ranked person?
“You’re just a joke.”
“I won’t deny that. But even someone like me can make things difficult for Arna. That’s what I’m saying.”
Baek Joo-hee confidently stood tall while speaking, as if she had complete confidence.
Exactly what did she have faith in that allowed her to be so confident in challenging the brilliant top student? It didn’t seem like idle banter.
“Alright. Let’s hear about this method of yours.”
Kang Tae-hoon decided to listen, finding the situation quite intriguing. He crossed his legs and prepared to listen to what Baek Joo-hee had to say.
The midterm exam season had also arrived at Han-yul Military Academy. Just like regular universities, each lecture held its own exam.
The formats of the tests varied. There were conventional written exams, and practical exams that required physical participation.
In my case, while I could manage the written exams somehow, the practical exams were definitely impossible with my injured back.
So, I reached an agreement with the instructors to replace the exams I couldn’t take with a makeup exam later. They all understood my circumstances.
However…
There was an instructor who didn’t bat an eye at my injured back…
“The compensatory exam doesn’t exist. You could consider self-management as a part of the test. The practical exam will proceed as scheduled. Consider that your notice.”
Mr. Kim Dong-hak didn’t let this slide.
The choice was clear: either participate in the practical exam with an injured back, or absent yourself and receive an F. Damn this old man.
Certainly, my back was far more important than any exam. After all, it’s something that can be made up later, whether through retaking it or some other method.
But the back is different. I couldn’t risk my precious back just for a mere midterm exam. The back is a lifelong investment.
Thus, in this case, the rational decision would be to forego the exam for the sake of the future.
But receiving an F like that seemed a bit unfair.
So, I decided on my own plan. Something that would leave Kim Dong-hak speechless on exam day.
…
…
Exam day finally arrived.
I was dressed in a pristine patient gown, with a mask covering my face and sunglasses for disguise.
And finally,…
Squeak. Squeak.
I even prepared a wheelchair for court appearances. Thanks to Choi Soo-eun, I borrowed it from the academic hospital.
With great effort, I rolled the wheelchair right up to Kim Dong-hak.
“Ughh, cough cough! Ow, I’m dying!”
“To avoid taking the test, you’re putting on quite a show, aren’t you? Where did you even get that wheelchair?”
The wheelchair, as mentioned, was borrowed from the academic hospital. Choi Soo-eun had it ready for me as soon as I asked.
“Even though I’m in this wheelchair, I have followed your instructions and come here… Please allow me to take the exam…”
“…”
Kim Dong-hak gave me a look of utmost scorn. Then, he sighed deeply, reluctantly.
“Hmph. Never thought I’d meet someone who wheeled a wheelchair here to protest. Fine, I give up. Shin Yoon-seong, you can come for a makeup exam later.”
Thus, Kim Dong-hak surrendered to the wheelchair. To let the wheelchair enter the examination room would only disturb other students unnecessarily. Kim Dong-hak was aware of this.
Operation success.
“However, you will supervise this test as a proctor during its duration.”
“Understood.”
Being the on-site proctor was not much. I’d be in a control room monitoring the test site through CCTV. It was akin to being a safety officer.
“Now starting the first-semester midterm exam. Proceed to your designated stations.”
Kim Dong-hak took the microphone and announced to the gathered students.
The waiting students grabbed their weapons and headed toward the designated gates. They were leading to the underground training hall.
“The test is simple. Find the brooches hidden throughout the simulated dungeon. Test duration is three hours. You pass if you find the brooch within this time.”
Just imagine a treasure hunt. The only difference is that the location is a dungeon filled with various training monsters and traps waiting for the students.
Squeak. Squeak.
I immediately wheeled my chair toward Arna. I had something important to say before the test began.
“Arna.”
“Oh? When did you arrive? And what’s with that wheelchair…”
She reacted similarly to Kim Dong-hak at first glance. Just like him, she looked at me with scorn upon seeing the wheelchair.
Ignoring her reaction, I said,
“You should be extra cautious during this test.”
“Huh? Suddenly, what does that mean? Being careful…”
“Just be aware.”
“…”
Arna pouted slightly and looked at me with a slightly sulky expression.
“I have a question. I’ve been wondering for quite a while… Why are you all of a sudden doing things you’ve never done before?”
“Things I’ve never done before?”
“Exactly. Whenever Kang Tae-hoon comes near, you appear like a ghost to shield me… and today, you even came to the test site to worry about me…”
From Arna’s perspective, it might seem strange. Until now, he had only harassed her, but now he was suddenly playing nice.
There was no other choice for me. Kang Tae-hoon was unpredictable and could do anything. I needed to keep him away from Arna.
And on this particular day…
A quest popped up.
—Quest—
Be the Sole Villain
—Prove to Arna that you’re the only villain.
Time remaining until quest starts 02:00:00
—
Because this quest appeared suddenly.
It seemed to be somehow related to Arna, so I casually warned her.
It didn’t have any special meaning.
“Seriously… It’s just leading to strange misunderstandings…”
Seems like Arna interpreted it differently than intended.
