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Individual Tactical Assessment
: Selected Difficulty [S]
: Student Info [2nd Year Combat Division, Arna Kristin Dotir]
: Clear Record [Fail]
—
“Argh…! I was so close to clearing it…!”
It was already the third day since Arna had challenged the S difficulty. As you can see, she kept failing repeatedly.
“It’s definitely different from A…”
This semester, a new S difficulty level was introduced to the Individual Tactical Assessment. No student had cleared it yet, and as a result, many had stopped even attempting it.
Except for Arna, who was here.
“Maybe I should try changing the approach…”
Already having secured an A+ in grading, Arna wasn’t content to rest. She kept pushing herself relentlessly, aiming for something farther, something higher.
Because that’s the only way to become a true hero.
—Another failure, huh.
Meanwhile, in the neighboring room, one could also find a villain blocking the hero’s path—Shin Yoon-seong had just finished his combat training session.
“…!”
Arna quickly leaned against the wall and peeked through the transparent glass to observe Shin Yoon-seong.
—At least he managed to reach the boss this time.
Similarly to Arna, Shin Yoon-seong kept failing repeatedly.
However, his efforts weren’t completely fruitless. There had been progress. From barely lasting a minute initially, he could now reach the final stage of the assessment.
If he keeps this up, clearing it might not be an impossible dream.
Gurgle—
“…”
Unexpectedly, Arna’s stomach began to rumble. Checking her smartphone, she noticed it was well past midnight.
“I haven’t eaten since lunch…”
She patted her stomach absently.
She had skipped dinner due to continuous fighting. Without proper food, one cannot gather the energy or strength to keep moving.
—Should I try again after eating?
Likewise, Shin Yoon-seong probably hadn’t eaten. He hadn’t left the indoor Training Center since lunch.
Shin Yoon-seong must be feeling hungry by now.
“Should I order something to go…?”
Since she was about to head out to buy food anyway, why not grab something for Shin Yoon-seong too? It wouldn’t be a bad idea, right?
There’s no reason she couldn’t do that simple favor.
“Ahh, no!”
But then, Arna shook her head.
“What am I doing? Why should I do this? For whose sake?”
Villains deserve no mercy. Arna then headed resolutely towards the exit, leaving Shin Yoon-seong behind.
Whether he starved or not, it wasn’t her business.
“Ugh… Despite what I claimed before…”
Moments later, Arna returned to the indoor Training Center with two lunch boxes.
The boxes were still steaming, freshly packed from the store.
It was Chicken Mayo rice bowls from Hansot.
“Is he still here?”
Arna made her way quickly to the Sync Room where Shin Yoon-seong was located.
All she planned to do was give the lunch box and leave.
But if he somehow begged, maybe they could eat together…
Of course, only if Shin Yoon-seong asked politely.
—Isn’t this a bit too much for a late-night meal?
—No, it’s just the right amount. You’ll need to eat this much to keep up the physical effort.
However, the Sync Room already had a visitor.
A familiar female voice. Someone who made Arna feel slightly uncomfortable.
Medical Division student Choi Soo-eun.
“When did she…?”
Choi Soo-eun must have arrived while Arna was out buying the lunch box. She was even holding the one Arna had intended to give.
How could such a coincidence happen?
“…”
There was no way Arna could now even give the lunch box. Inserting herself between those two would be impossible.
—Does this taste okay?
—This fried chicken, it’s incredibly crispy. It’s way better than the Han’s Chicken Mayo from a few blocks away.
“Ugh…!”
Arna quickly hid the packed container behind her and hurriedly escaped into the neighboring room before they could notice her.
“Homemade lunch boxes are just… unfair…”
Arna looked down at the Chicken Mayo she had just bought.
The pieces of chicken atop the rice, the haphazardly sprinkled teriyaki sauce and mayonnaise, the soft and wet seaweed flakes—it looked pretty pathetic.
Another failure.
Again. After the festival, Choi Soo-eun was once more ahead of her in this situation. This was the Combat Division’s indoor Training Center, yet there was no place for Arna to intervene.
As long as Choi Soo-eun was around, Arna felt endlessly insignificant.
“I can’t help it…”
Arna wasn’t Choi Soo-eun.
She couldn’t be like her.
Without Choi Soo-eun’s courage, Arna could do nothing.
Because she still hadn’t even fully understood what she truly felt.
The effort to make lunch paid off. Watching him enjoy it so much was rewarding.
Even though exam season kept Choi Soo-eun busy, she didn’t care.
After all, study sessions could always be rescheduled, but the opportunity to give him a lunch box could come only now.
She had no regrets.
“Individual Tactical Assessment… right?”
“That’s correct.”
“Is it difficult?”
She wasn’t very familiar with the Combat Division. Asking was the best she could do.
“I aim for at least a B0, but it’s not easy.”
It must be a tough test if he was still working this late into the night.
While she couldn’t help beyond this, maybe she could still cheer him on from afar.
At least give him words of encouragement.
“It’s fine. You can do it.”
“Hmm?”
Shin Yoon-seong paused in surprise, lowering his spoon. He stared directly at Choi Soo-eun.
“It’s strange to hear you say that.”
“Eh?”
“Wouldn’t it have seemed unimaginable before?”
True. Not long ago, back in the previous semester, how had Choi Soo-eun regarded Shin Yoon-seong? Like a bothersome insect to ignore.
Today was different. Choi Soo-eun herself was now making the move.
Directly approaching Shin Yoon-seong.
Just like today.
“T-that…”
Even though she liked him, hearing something like that from his mouth made her incredibly flustered. Scared that her feelings might be exposed, her face burned fiercely.
Let’s change the topic quickly.
“By the way! Once exams are over, it’s break time. Do you have any plans?”
“Well, break time. It’s already come that time.”
Shin Yoon-seong gazed off momentarily, thinking. He then responded.
“I plan to participate in a regular dispatch, following the usual Combat Division schedule.”
“So the Combat Division has its regular dispatch program…”
At the end of each semester during vacation, Combat Division students go to various guilds across the nation to gain practical combat experience or receive additional training.
It’s like an internship system, if you will.
“How about the Medical Division? Do you do the same?”
“For us, it’s optional, unlike the Combat Division.”
“That must be really enviable.”
Shin Yoon-seong resumed eating with his spoon. In the meantime, Choi Soo-eun asked.
“Once you go on the dispatch, will you not be able to visit school often?”
“I guess it depends on the guild. I’ve heard that some places only call when necessary.”
Ideally, it would be great to get dispatched to such a guild. That way, she could see Shin Yoon-seong frequently.
“…”
Is that too greedy?
But what could she do?
She liked Shin Yoon-seong that much.
Even though her confession earlier didn’t go well, she had no intention of giving up now.
There will always be another opportunity for confession, after all.
“Hmm?”
Then Choi Soo-eun tilted her head in curiosity.
Through the Sync Room window from afar, something was moving. Upon closer inspection, it looked like a floating head bobbing in and out of view intermittently, much like a game of whack-a-mole.
Choi Soo-eun let out a dry chuckle.
“Why… is she…?”
“Hm? What’s the matter?”
“Ah, nothing…”
Fortunately, Shin Yoon-seong didn’t seem to pick up on it—Arna was eavesdropping.
Still, what was Arna doing here? Why was she spying so late at night?
Was she planning to come into this room?
“…”
Regardless, this was a Combat Division exclusive Training Center. It wasn’t odd for Arna to be lingering around.
However…
“Hold on.”
Not right now.
Choi Soo-eun took a handkerchief from her pocket and extended it to Shin Yoon-seong.
“There’s sauce on your mouth.”
“Thank y— Hmm?”
Shoosh!
As Shin Yoon-seong reached out, Choi Soo-eun quickly pulled the handkerchief back.
“I’ll clean it for you.”
“Huh.”
“Huh. Stay still.”
Choi Soo-eun gently placed a hand on Shin Yoon-seong’s cheek and began wiping his mouth carefully with the handkerchief.
Deliberately and thoroughly, right in front of the window.
“Hmm. This isn’t coming off easily.”
“…”
“I’ll try again.”
So, what are you going to do?
Keep hiding behind the window and peeking like a little mouse? Why don’t you step up and do something for once? Boldly?
Arna, you probably won’t.
All you’ll ever do is stare from afar, won’t you?
That’s how it’ll keep going forever, watching and observing.
You coward.
