Episode 268 Discipline (5)
Han So-mi looked at me for a while and then opened her mouth.
“You know.”
“huh.”
“Cheonhye, what do you think?”
As expected to some extent, the topic of conversation was Song Cheon-hye.
In fact, other than that, I didn’t have much contact with Han So-mi.
I gave an honest answer back.
“Wouldn’t it be better to be closer to someone you already know? We even received mentoring together.”
“You don’t hate it?”
“Why is that kid working so hard at his job? What kind of kid is that?”
What does Song Cheon-hye think of me?
Then, Han So-mi tilted her head from side to side for a moment, as if recalling her memories.
Then he points at me and answers.
“I get angry easily when there are two of us!”
“Isn’t that a bad thing?”
“No, Cheonhye doesn’t get angry at other people. She just says what’s necessary? And even if she gets angry, she ignores them?”
“You mean treat me in a businesslike manner?”
“Yeah, yeah! Business-like!”
Han So-mi nodded quickly, as if it were a very appropriate word.
‘I definitely have that feeling.’
Looking back, there was quite a difference in the way Song Cheon-hye treated Shin Byeong-cheol and the way she treated me.
Shin Byeong-cheol is a walking rule-breaking machine, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen Song Cheon-hye express her emotions towards a dog.
Although occasionally it was supported by hummingbirds.
“I can understand it, but what good does it do to get angry so easily?”
“Cheonhye gets angry at me too!”
“… … I see.”
Now I think I understand a little bit what Han So-mi is trying to say.
Han So-mi = Song Cheon-hye’s friend = Song Cheon-hye gets angry easily
Kim Ho = Song Cheon-hye gets angry easily = Possibility of being friends?
I think the above syllogism is valid.
However, from my perspective, it seemed sloppy and a bit far-fetched, so I had to say something.
“Well, there are many reasons to be angry. You could be angry simply because you don’t like it.”
“No, no.”
“Why not?”
“just!”
“Are you feeling it?”
“It’s a feeling!”
If that’s your feeling, then there’s nothing you can do.
This was not a matter of logic, and there were probably parts that only Han So-mi, who had been watching from the side, could feel.
So I decided to proceed with the conversation.
At this point, I could guess why Han So-mi had brought up this topic.
“Be friendly with him, is that what you mean?”
“… … .”
Han So-mi’s expression became calm again.
And then he looked into the distance and opened his mouth again.
“… … You know, the kids in the leadership group don’t have many friends.”
“That’s right. It’s the perfect position to induce hatred.”
The Student Guidance Department’s top priority is to guide students on the right path and control them to follow school rules.
And it is inevitable that friction will occur in the process.
Even in the recent ban wave, there were people who resisted by having their banned items confiscated.
‘That’s not the only violation of school rules.’
Invasion of restricted areas such as the Dungeon Deep or the Old School Building, destruction of school property, duels outside the arena, etc.
If you keep catching students who break all kinds of school rules like this, it’s natural that you’ll end up falling out with them.
Of course, the parties involved are aware that they have broken the rules, but
‘Where is the human heart so easy?’
Most people will probably distance themselves from the leaders without even realizing it.
If you have a good-natured personality, you might be able to make a lot of friends, even among the leaders.
But wouldn’t it be difficult to expect that from Song Cheon-hye, who is strict and serious in everything she does?
I asked Han So-mi.
“You’re not close with the other leaders?”
“Yeah, we’re not all that close.”
“What about Jo Byeok? He seems to be in relatively good shape.”
“He’s fine, but he’s not talking.”
“… … Is that so?”
Well, it wouldn’t be fun if I didn’t talk.
I said while looking at Han So-mi.
“Anyway, I understand. It’s up to each of us to decide whether to become close or not, but I guess I’ll give it a try.”
“Yeah, yeah! I’ll talk to Cheonhye too!”
Han So-mi nodded with a bright face.
As I was looking at that scene, a thought suddenly occurred to me, so I asked.
“But if you put it that way, then don’t you have no friends either?”
“No way!”
Han So-mi answered with a giggle.
Han So-mi always has a bright smile and a cheerful personality.
So, it would be much easier for others to approach him, but he himself spends most of his time with Song Cheon-hye.
This is a case where it happened because you wanted it to, but isn’t it the same as not having many friends?
“This is not the time for you to be talking about other people.”
“Hehehe.”
“Would you like to have a friend dinner with me while you’re at it?”
“Okay! Let’s be friends!”
Han So-mi readily accepted my offer.
Now that I think about it, another question came to mind, so I asked.
“What about Go Hyun-woo? We listened to the mentoring together and sparred together.”
“… … .”
But suddenly, Han So-mi’s expression became cold and she puffed out her cheeks as if she was in pain.
“He’s an idiot.”
“Why?”
“Anyway, you’re an idiot.”
What on earth did you do to deserve this reaction from her?
I was trying to get lucky and ask,
– Boooooooo—
A motor noise was heard from behind.
The main character of the story is, of course, Shin Byeong-cheol, who converted a wooden boat into a motorboat.
“Wow, you caught up now. How fast is that?”
“Oh my, you’re here.”
“No, isn’t wind magic against the rules?”
“Let’s talk about it after taking the motor off.”
Or we could just start rowing from the very beginning.
Meanwhile, Song Cheon-hye’s ship was also visible not far away.
His expression didn’t look good, as if he had rowed hard all the way here.
Our eyes met at that moment and I said.
“You can take your time.”
“I need to coordinate with my party members.”
Even though he said that, Song Cheon-hye was lightly hitting my arm with her fist.
I’m not in the physical class like Han So-mi, but I rowed like crazy, so my arm muscles are definitely going to hurt for a while.
Maybe that’s why he looked at me and Han So-mi alternately with his unkind eyes, but Han So-mi smiled brightly and said.
“We told our secret!”
“……what?”
Song Cheon-hye’s eyes widened in surprise.
I guess you never expected that the two of us would have a serious conversation.
“Wh, what are you talking about?”
“Important secret!”
Han So-mi was in full enjoyment mode.
How could it not be fun if you could return the same frustration you felt?
On the other hand, Song Cheon-hye could only open her mouth in surprise at the counterattack she was receiving for the first time.
Then, just as I was about to say something, I looked around at the group and gave instructions.
“Let’s finish talking after we leave and get ready.”
“……yes.”
“We use detectors and communicate periodically.”
“all right.”
When I asked Shin Byeong-cheol with my eyes, he nodded his head as well.
“Oh, that’s obvious. I remember everything. Detector, communicator, check.”
Soon, the lake that had been stretching out in a straight line split into three branches.
This is the point where the full-scale conquest of Samjichang Lake begins.
We sailed the ship as we had discussed before departure.
Shin Byeong-cheol is on the right side where the puzzle appears.
Song Cheon-hye is on the left, where a group of monsters appears.
And Han So-mi and I headed towards the central lake where the boss came out.
“Let’s go straight.”
“straight!”
As we continued on, an island appeared.
A very small island, not even a few pyeong wide.
I gave instructions to Han So-mi.
“Let’s set it up here.”
“yes!”
Anyway, I couldn’t go any further.
There were so many sharp reefs rising beyond the island that if we tried to force our way forward, this small wooden boat would either capsize or break.
So how do we overcome this difficulty?
‘The other two have to do well.’
Samjichang Lake is a cooperative dungeon.
If Song Cheon-hye or Shin Byeong-cheol fulfill their roles in each position, the blocked road on our side will be opened up, and if we fulfill our roles, the blocked road on Song Cheon-hye or Shin Byeong-cheol’s side will be opened up.
And now it was Song Cheon-hye’s turn, so she sent a message.
“How is it, is it worth doing?”
– Krook! Krook! Krook!
– Yes, I think it will be finished soon.
Song Cheon-hye’s answer came through the ceaseless thunder.
The tone was calm, without the slightest sense of crisis, but it certainly seemed like it wouldn’t be difficult for him to do two servings by himself, considering he was a leader.
As Song Cheon-hye had said, it seemed that the situation on the other side was sorted out soon after.
– Gulp… … .
The whole area shook as if an earthquake had occurred, and all the reefs in front sank to the bottom of the lake.
The road is open.
But we didn’t get on the boat right away, but just stared out at the lake.
“Get ready, I’ll be up soon.”
“huh!”
That’s because Boss 1 is going to appear soon.
A giant catfish monster that slightly resembles Kim Gap-du.
Anyway, if we catch this guy, we can continue on, and the path to Shin Byeong-cheol will be clear.
So, I planted the sapling in the ground, and Han So-mi waited with her sword drawn.
So that you can fight whenever you want.
“… … .”
“… … .”
But even after quite some time had passed, the lake remained calm.
Han So-mi tilted her head at me.
“Huh? Why aren’t you coming out?”
“… … Okay. Just wait a minute.”
I walked to the water’s edge, slammed the sapling into the ground, and cast a downward spiral explosion.
Then, a whirlpool appeared a little way away,
– Boom!
A dull thud echoed from beneath the surface.
I couldn’t help but squint my eyes.
‘I think I’ll run away at this point.’
Still, the lack of response meant that there was another possibility.
So I immediately connected the line with Shin Byeong-cheol.
“Is the road clear?”
– Oh, just now.
Just a moment ago, Song Cheon-hye had swept away a group of monsters.
If things were as they were, the path to Shin Byeong-cheol would have been opened only after we caught the boss, but that process was omitted.
“I guess this has already been caught.”
“Huh?”
Han So-mi also opened her eyes wide.
A boss that should have been there has been killed by something else.
And in these cooperative dungeons, just killing the boss is extremely annoying and not cost-effective.
So, it is very likely that this was done by a human,
“Woobleck might be in there.”
“huh.”
I connected the communication with Song Cheon-hye and Shin Byeong-cheol and relayed what I had just guessed.
“… … So let’s move more carefully from now on. If it doesn’t feel right, back out immediately, and keep communicating.”
– Yes, I will.
– Okay, I understand.
Next I took the detector out of my inventory.
And when you press the middle button,
– Beep,
The radar on the screen spun around.
I looked at it for a while, but nothing in particular was displayed.
Han So-mi tilted her head again.
“It’s not coming out?”
“I don’t know yet.”
The detector can only detect if there is an Oobleck within a certain range, but cannot detect one if it is too far away.
That’s why, when I cleaned the previous dungeons, I had to use the escape scroll after detecting them several times.
Even this dungeon is annoyingly linear, so you can’t be certain that it doesn’t exist just because you can’t catch it now.
Either way, we only have one choice, I said as I climbed into the wooden boat.
“Let’s just go. It’ll become more certain as we go.”
“huh!”
We slowly began to move forward along the lake.
The supporters ate it all
