studiobondurri Chapter 161 : Did you think you could just get away with that? (2)
Chapter 161 : Did you think you could just get away with that? (2)
Did you think you could just get away with that? (2)First of all, it was necessary to figure out where this place was.
Outside the window, a wide field like a playground could be seen, and snow was falling from the sky.
The weather was extremely chilly.
Then, there was the design of the room, full of lockers.
The military uniforms laid out on the floor.
And even their own names written on those uniforms.
Everything was filled with elements that instinctively aroused a sense of foreboding.
"Don't tell me..."
Both Ah-rin and Sang-ah found their hearts sinking.
And then...
Clatter-!
A man burst through the door.
The sudden show of force startled the two of them.
"Are you awake?"
A heavy male voice resonated.
He was wearing the same military uniform as those on the floor.
On his head, he wore a cap marked with a downward-pointing arrow or a chevron.
The man removed his cap as he spoke.
"We meet again, recruit Kang Ah-rin."
"Huh?"
Ah-rin recognized him instantly.
It was Kailok, whom she'd seen before at the Sura guild.
"Why are you here...?"
"I told you back then. We'd meet again."
From his scent, it was definitely the same Kailok she had seen before.
Though, Ah-rin still couldn't understand what he meant.
And Kailok, putting on more authority, shouted.
"I wholeheartedly welcome you to the training camp."
"What?"
"Starting today, you'll be receiving training here with us."
No sooner had he finished speaking than several people in the same uniform entered the room.
They were carrying two boxes—the kind you'd use for deliveries.
But that wasn't the important part.
"Training? What are you talking about?"
Sang-ah asked, her face trembling, and Kailok replied with a menacing expression.
"Exactly as it sounds. As of today, you have entered the awakened training camp. For about fourteen days starting now! You'll be receiving instruction here."
"This is ridiculous..."
Awakened training camp? She had heard of it before.
Supposedly, it was a place for soldiers awakened to magic power to enter, or for those who were candidates to join the state-affiliated Qiongqi.
That's why it was even harder to make sense of their present situation.
"But we're just middle schoolers!"
"Yes, middle schoolers. Middle schoolers who have committed a very serious offense!"
"An offense?"
"In any case, from today on, you must obey the rules of this place. Otherwise... your training period will be extended."
Sang-ah felt a chill at his strict words.
It was already absurd that they'd been dragged here, but adding more days to their training was just incomprehensible.
"What kind of nonsense is this?!"
At last, Ah-rin, beside her, couldn't hold back her anger and shouted.
"You just drag us here all of a sudden, and what—training?! Who the hell put you up to this?!"
"Yeah! By what right?!"
Ah-rin's eyes blazed with fury, and Sang-ah agreed with her wholeheartedly.
Plus, in the first place, people at the awakened training camp didn't wear green uniforms like that.
It looked exactly like the combat uniforms you'd see in military dramas.
"Who put me up to it? Hahahahaha!!"
Suddenly, Kailok let out a contemptuous laugh.
He took two notes out of his pocket and handed them over.
"You'll regret saying that."
"What are these?"
Sang-ah and Ah-rin each examined their note from every angle.
But the moment their noses touched the note, their eyes went wide.
"This smells like Seongjin."
"What?"
Hearing her, Sang-ah hurriedly read the contents of her note.
――――――――――――――――――――
Sang-ah, have you been well?
Oh, I see you every day, so I guess that's a weird thing to say.
Anyway, you're probably pretty startled to wake up there.
But don't worry. Everyone there is one of my subordinates.
Especially the big guy you see right in front of you—he used to be the one teaching hand-to-hand combat in the Demon King's army.
He's actually pretty good at teaching, so it'll help a lot.
You're probably wondering, since it's vacation, why I dragged you somewhere like this?
I thought it through... and still, your crime of stealing my underwear just won't go away.
Not only did you steal them, you even sang on stage in them.
What? The side effects of the song were the problem?
Yeah, I get that.
But honestly... I just don't think it's something I can let slide lightly, no matter how I think about it.
Honestly, don't you agree? Right?
So let's use this opportunity to fix it for good.
Hang in there, Sang-ah! You can do it!
BY - Ma Seongjin
――――――――――――――――――――
Having read the entire note, Sang-ah's arm lost all strength.
Her hand dropped, and the note slipped away.
"Ah... ahahahaha..."
With a vacant expression, she let out a hollow laugh.
She finally realized why she had been dragged to this place.
If she wanted to control herself, she would have to grow stronger.
Stealing underwear is a serious crime.
It was all irrefutable fact.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing Sang-ah's reaction, Ah-rin felt uneasy.
She then read her own note.
――――――――――――――――――――
Ah-rin, I know you've had it tough all this time.
Sura guild's been completely absorbed by The World.
And the Guildmaster Jay Hoon—well, he's fallen to become one of our tools; the ones who tormented your life have basically disappeared.
During all that, the inhumane acts those guys committed were exposed too.
Your grandfather and grandmother can probably rest easy in heaven now.
But, you still have something left inside—some of that Demon God called Sura's power.
To properly figure that out, I still need those guys' help.
Anyway, Ah-rin, you're free now.
All that's left is for you to find happiness.
But, I hear you and Sang-ah shared and wore my underwear together?
Aah... how regrettable, Ah-rin.
Whenever I see girls like that, I always feel the urge to fix their mindset.
Just like how you felt the urge to hug my underwear.
But it's alright! When this is over, you'll be completely free.
So hang in there, Ah-rin!~
BY - Ma Seongjin
――――――――――――――――――――
Likewise, as soon as Ah-rin read the note, her strength left her body.
She immediately understood why she'd been brought here.
"Damn it..."
There was simply nothing to argue.
She was brought here because of her own actions.
"Vacation just started. I was wondering what to do for fun."
Half the break she'd been looking forward to was now out the window.
Not that she could blame anyone else.
In the end, Ah-rin simply felt hollow and out of sorts.
"Now you get it, right? In any case, congratulations again on joining the training camp."
"..."
"And consider it an honor. This whole place was specially prepared for you by the Demon King himself."
"..."
"Why aren't you answering?!"
At Kailok's thundering shout, Ah-rin and Sang-ah jumped in shock.
"Eek!"
"Y-Yes, sir!"
The two, who'd almost had their hearts jump out of their chests, finally managed to answer.
But Kailok still wasn't satisfied by that.
"Too quiet!"
"Yes, sir!!"
"Yes, sir!!"
Only when their voices grew louder did Kailok seem pleased.
One of the henchmen at his side handed each of them a box.
"From now on, change into those uniforms. Put your clothes in the box—they'll be sent away as a package."
"..."
"You have a generous thirty minutes to change. If you're not ready when I return, you'll be punished with extra training."
With those words, Kailok left the quarters for a while.
The moment he and his henchmen disappeared, Ah-rin's expression changed drastically.
"Oh! So annoying! Who does he think he is, deciding punishments? It's not like we're real recruits or something!"
"Well, there's nothing to be done. It's all karma."
Sang-ah spoke in a drained voice, pulling on the top of the uniform.
Seeing this, Ah-rin ceased her complaining and suddenly started laughing.
"Pffft... Puahahahaha! What is that? You look ridiculous."
Just putting on that one green jacket made her look like a totally different person.
The bright, shy girl Kwon Sang-ah had suddenly transformed into a neighborhood aunt.
"But Ah-rin, now's not the time to be mocking others."
"..."
Ah-rin's laughter didn't last long.
As Sang-ah said, she too was fated to look like a neighborhood aunt.
In the end, Ah-rin made a face that seemed to ask, "Do I really have to wear this?" and looked desperate.
Clatter-!
"Oh, right! Almost forgot—there's something I need to give you."
Just then, Kailok entered again, startling them.
They worried he'd come to scold them, but he didn't stay long.
He simply handed over new notes before leaving again.
"Twenty-three minutes left. Finish up by then."
Once Kailok left, the two checked the new notes.
This time, the note was written by a friend, not Seongjin.
――――――――――――――――――――
Hi, Sang-ah.
So... I heard from Seongjin that you were dragged off for training.
I'm worried, but... I don't think I could talk Seongjin out of it.
It felt like Seongjin had it all planned out from the start.
Anyway, I'd better be careful so I don't end up like you guys.
So, Sang-ah... make sure you come back alive!
BY - Eunseol
――――――――――――――――――――
Reading the letter, Sang-ah teared up with gratitude.
At times like this, only someone from the same class could offer true comfort.
"It's a letter from that pigeon."
Ah-rin recognized who wrote the letter by scent.
And the moment she opened and read the content:
――――――――――――――――――――
Hello, my puppy.
Work hard and hang in there~
Woof! Woof!
BY - Pigeon
――――――――――――――――――――
Ah-rin froze up the moment she saw those words.
Sang-ah glanced at the message, pale-faced.
"Really... short, but packs a punch."
"Yeah. People say you can die even from a short dagger wound."
"That's true."
"Yeah, I feel like I've just been stabbed. Hahahahahahahaha..."
At Ah-rin's meaningful laugh, a cold silence settled over the quarters.
And then...
"You damn pigeon bastard!!!"
"Ah-rin, no!"
Sang-ah tried to stop the enraged Ah-rin.
She reached out to grab her, but Ah-rin had already escaped through the window.
No matter how much Sang-ah called for her to come back, Ah-rin dashed toward the exit.
"Baek Eunseol!! I'm not letting you get away with this!! Damn it!"
No matter what, she at least wanted to punch that pigeon in the head once.
With that goal in mind, Ah-rin roared like a wild beast as she ran.
The heat was so intense, it felt as if the falling snow would melt before touching the ground.
Chwarararak-!
At that moment, a massive tree suddenly shot up in front of Ah-rin, blocking her way.
At the same time, trees grew in all directions, completely cutting off any escape.
"Recruit Kang Ah-rin. Are you trying to run away?"
A witch-like voice came from behind.
Ah-rin, tense, turned to look.
Standing there was a woman she'd seen before at the Sura guild, just like Kailok.
"You know what happens if you try to run, don't you?"
"..."
Amelda was manipulating the trees, sporting a chilling smile.
She was wearing the same uniform and cap, and Ah-rin quickly took in the situation.
"Please, just let me off this once."
It was a very wise decision.
****
With vacation here, I naturally returned home.
Even though it was the usual homecoming, my family seemed puzzled.
"Seongjin, where are the others?"
"The others?"
"I mean Ah-rin and Sang-ah."
Normally, as soon as break started, those two would stay at our house.
Unlike Eunseol, neither had a home to go back to.
I answered my mother, who asked about their whereabouts.
"They're off doing some special training about now."
"Training?"
"Yes."
—I personally put them in there.
Dad must have gone to work since he wasn't home.
Yunhee was out at the academy, too.
So only Mom was home right now.
"But Seongjin."
My mother had another question.
"What's that you're holding?"
― Woof!
She asked, looking at the puppy I was hugging.