Chapter 150 : Chapter 150

Chapter 150: Ending the Vacation (5)

After ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍a brief, serious conversation, Choi Yu-seong, his companions, and Instructor Im Seong-cheol continued their discussion on various topics in a much softer atmosphere.

They ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍started with concerns about Choi Yu-seong’s combat style, which was so reckless that it was impossible not to worry, and moved on to jokes about the amusing gap between Ha Eun-ha when she used her talent and when she did not.

They ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍spent several hours tossing aside the stifling, awkward atmosphere and engaging in everyday talk about hobbies and daily life. As summer neared its end and a cool breeze signaled the arrival of dawn, they began heading to bed one by one.

"Has ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍everyone gone inside?"

After ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍confirming that everyone had retired for the night, Im Seong-cheol remained alone by the campfire, welcoming the cool wind. He stayed behind to prepare for any potential situation.

Although ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍they were within Glory’s property, he could not guarantee absolute safety. Considering recent events, it was only right for one person to remain awake for security. Thus, as an instructor, it was his duty to guard the site until the cadets woke.

Crackle. Snap.

Im Seong-cheol allowed time to slip away, with only the sound of the dying embers for company. It was then that he heard something.

Crunch. Crunch.

Footsteps began to echo from a short distance away. Although there was some distance between them, the sound could not escape Im Seong-cheol’s ears since he was focusing all of his senses.

However...

"..."

Im Seong-cheol did not move even after hearing the sound. One might ask if he was being too complacent given that the newcomer could be a threat to the cadets. Naturally, there was a reason he made this judgment.

First, if the person intended to launch an ambush, the footsteps would not have been audible regardless of how much he focused his senses. Second...

"Why are you sitting there looking so pathetic, Senior?"

He knew exactly who was approaching. At the sound of the free-spirited tone, Im Seong-cheol turned his head toward the direction of the voice. He looked toward Shin Yu-hwan, who wore his usual all-black attire and a pleasant smile.

Upon receiving Im Seong-cheol’s gaze, Shin Yu-hwan continued the conversation with a sly remark.

"By the way, I sent you a message. Could you not at least give me a reply? I am a little hurt, Senior."

"As an instructor, it is not good to maintain private contact with an external player. It is only right to exclude any personal opinions of an instructor from a cadet's future."

"Aside from you, Senior, it seems the other instructors do not really care."

"Just because others act that way does not mean I must do the same."

"Haha, I see."

His words could be perceived as quite frustrating. Compared to the time when he was Shin Yu-hwan's superior, his character had not changed in the slightest. However, Shin Yu-hwan smiled as if he actually liked that answer. After all, the reason Shin Yu-hwan respected Im Seong-cheol was because of that steadfast integrity. Shin Yu-hwan could not help but laugh because that man had not changed at all, even though he might have changed a little.

"Anyway, you arrived late. The cadets have all gone to sleep."

"Ah, that does not matter."

"Hmm?"

"Talking face-to-face would be nice, but my purpose was only to see if the boy and his friends were doing well."

"Is that so?"

"It seems they are doing fine without any issues, so there appears to be no problem."

Im Seong-cheol nodded silently at Shin Yu-hwan’s words, but inwardly, he expressed deep surprise. He knew that Shin Yu-hwan was interested in Choi Yu-seong. However, he did not expect him to show this much interest. In the past, this junior was someone who had no interest in anything other than villains. Seeing him now, capable of showing interest elsewhere, was inevitably fascinating.

While Im Seong-cheol was pleased by this subtle change in Shin Yu-hwan, Shin Yu-hwan stared intently at him and spoke again.

"Come to think of it, do you know about that, Senior?"

"Unless I am a prophet, no one knows what you are talking about if you do not provide a subject."

"Haha, true. What I was asking about is the boy’s epithet."

"An epithet?"

A sudden talk about an epithet was unexpected. However, since it concerned his cadet, Im Seong-cheol listened quietly to Shin Yu-hwan’s words.

"Did you not fight a villain recently?"

"...I did."

"Since then, rumors have been circulating occasionally in the industry."

"Rumors?"

"Yes. After all, it is an industry where everyone eventually knows everyone else through word of mouth. That is why everyone is very interested in the topic. They are saying a crazy junior might arrive in a few years."

Im Seong-cheol did not wonder why the incident, which was classified and temporarily delayed from public announcement, was circulating as a rumor. Even if it was classified, it was impossible for villain hunters to be ignorant of information regarding villains. Im Seong-cheol was simply curious about how his cadet was being evaluated. Usually, the epithets one gained later in life often began as names frequently mentioned by people during their youth. As an instructor, it was only natural to learn about the information regarding a cadet studying under him.

"So, what is the epithet he is being called?"

"Everyone is calling him the Watchdog. Haha, is it not interesting? I was called the Mad Dog in the past."

"Watchdog..."

It was not a very pleasant epithet. Usually, attaching the word 'dog' meant that the person had shown a beast-like side.

But...

"...It does suit him."

He could not refute it. The image Choi Yu-seong had shown back then perfectly matched the expression 'Watchdog.' At Im Seong-cheol’s reaction, a playful smile spread across Shin Yu-hwan’s face.

"Looking at it this way, your life seems quite eventful, Senior."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Have you not had both a Mad Dog and a Watchdog under you? To be honest, it is not an easy task."

"..."

He was right. In reality, the Shin Yu-hwan of his early twenties was so extreme that even the term 'mad dog' was insufficient. And it was true that Choi Yu-seong was equally formidable. Although he was better than the young Shin Yu-hwan, from an instructor's perspective, he was a cadet from whom he could never take his eyes.

"...Still, I believe Cadet Choi Yu-seong will get better."

"I do not think the boy is lacking, though?"

"I am not saying he is lacking. I am talking about his recklessness, just like yours."

"Oho, that is quite an interesting thing to say."

At those words, Im Seong-cheol’s expression hardened slightly. It was because the reaction to his statement that things would get better was 'interesting.' It was a reaction that seemed to suggest such a thing was impossible. Indeed, Im Seong-cheol’s prediction was exactly on target.

"I do not think the boy is going to change much."

"Do you not care for Cadet Choi Yu-seong?"

"Naturally, I do. Is he not an interesting boy? And hearing about what happened this time, it seems he has a cool side as well."

"Then what do those words mean? Do you want Cadet Choi Yu-seong to die while acting recklessly?"

"Calm down, Senior. I was just sharing my thoughts."

At those words, Im Seong-cheol withdrew his sharp tension with a sigh.

'I reacted intensely again without realizing it.'

He would not have acted this way in front of anyone else. However, because of the history he shared with this junior, he found himself easily revealing his emotions whenever they spoke. After all, Shin Yu-hwan was someone who would not even consider listening unless spoken to strongly back in the day. After a brief moment passed, Im Seong-cheol quickly calmed his emotions, and Shin Yu-hwan, noticing this, continued his story.

"Of course, the boy will change eventually as time passes."

"..."

"But what I mean is that it will not be in the near future."

As Shin Yu-hwan spoke, he looked toward the tents where the cadets were sleeping. He spoke with an expression that, unlike before, was devoid of laughter.

"Senior, what do you usually do when a weapon gets a crack or a scratch?"

"I would have it repaired."

"Exactly. A normal person would do that. But what would you do if the sword was shattered into pieces?"

"..."

It was a question with an obvious answer. However, Im Seong-cheol could not easily answer it. He felt he knew what Shin Yu-hwan was trying to say. But Shin Yu-hwan already knew what the answer would be even without hearing it.

"You would replace it. It might be one thing if it was just slightly damaged, but it has been broken far too severely."

"..."

"One might be able to repair it with enough effort, but it would take a long time, so most people would not bother."

Shin Yu-hwan was saying this: Choi Yu-seong is a significantly broken person. Once again, Im Seong-cheol could not answer, and Shin Yu-hwan continued his monologue as if he had not wanted an answer in the first place.

"When a person acts recklessly, there is always a reason. A reason why they must succeed at all costs."

"..."

"That reason could be money, fame, or if not those, revenge or friendship."

However...

"There is a difference even in reckless behavior. A normal person does not risk their life even if they intend to act recklessly."

The same applied to players. They were also human, and the intense desire to live was a basic human emotion. And yet, to treat one's life so lightly and use it as a tool... that signified only one thing.

"It means they are broken, and severely so. Do you not think so too, Senior?"

Yes, it was impossible unless some corner of the heart was broken. Why could Shin Yu-hwan state this so definitively? It was a very easy question. It was because Shin Yu-hwan himself was the evidence. Since he was a person who had once been severely broken, he could recognize it when he saw it.

"Haha, still, is the boy not better than I was? At least, unlike me, the boy seems focused on protecting things."

"...Is there such a thing as 'better' when it comes to being already broken?"

"But what can we do? We have no way of knowing why the boy is broken."

Unless one was the person himself, it was something that could not be known. All that could be known was that the boy was significantly bound by something. And based on that, a deficiency had formed, resulting in a broken heart that was different from ordinary people. But the problem was...

"The boy probably does not know that himself."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Broken people do not realize that they are broken or where the damage is. To them, it is normal and natural."

Yes, those who are broken do not even know that something is wrong with them. If they knew it was wrong in the first place, they would naturally think of fixing it first. In short, the reason broken people maintain that state is because they do not realize it.

"But I think he is fine as he is."

"You just said he was broken, and now you are saying he is fine?"

"Haha, I was not there, but hearing the stories, it seems he has grown even more. Is that not evidence that he is fine?"

The growth mentioned here did not refer to military strength, but to his inner self.

'When I first sparred with the boy, he was clearly suppressing himself.'

His posture and movements were clearly those of a two-handed swordsman. However, the boy insisted on using only his right hand. Should I say it felt more unconscious than intentional? There must have been a reason for it, so I did not speak of it back then.

'But hearing the reports now...'

They said the boy’s swordsmanship while swinging with both hands was extraordinary. This meant that one of the boy’s broken parts had been fixed. Therefore, Shin Yu-hwan was not overly worried.

'Because we just need to fit the pieces together one by one, little by little.'

Although he compared him to a weapon when they first started talking, how could a person and a weapon be the same? There must have been a corresponding reason for him being broken to that extent, so fixing it in an instant was impossible. In fact, doing so might even cause side effects. Therefore, like a piece in a board game, he just needed to move forward one square at a time.

'It might not all go smoothly, but...'

He had no great worries on that front either. Did the boy not have reliable comrades by his side?

'Just as a broken toy is repaired by a repairman's hands, or a doctor on the operating table receives surgery from another doctor.'

The boy’s misaligned parts would also be fixed by his comrades. After all, a broken person cannot fix themselves. In short, he would use the sincere emotions of his comrades or friends as tools for repair. Just as he was able to become what he was today through his Senior and Big Sister.

'There is nothing much for me or you to do there, Senior.'

At most, we will step in when things are truly dangerous. Because what this kind of person needs is experience, not advice.

'Still, I cannot help but be curious. I wonder when the boy will realize his own deficiency and grow...'

He said it would not be anytime soon, but to be honest, he did not know either. After all, every action the boy had shown so far had defied all expectations.

So...

'I hope for a good result, boy.'

Life is something where you never know what lies even an inch ahead. With that thought, Shin Yu-hwan allowed a joyful laugh to well up inside him. If he were in front of Cha Yu-na, he would have shown that laughter outwardly, but he was in the presence of the senior he was talking to for the first time in a while.