Chapter 210: An Ominous Feeling (2)
‘Thank you.’
That was what I should say.
I knew this was the correct answer, but my mouth wouldn’t open for some reason. Missing this opportunity was silly. My brain understood it, but I was confused by the feeling that my body was constantly rejecting it.
‘I have to agree.’
I kept repeating this to myself, but my mouth eventually betrayed my expectations.
“I … that…”
“Yes?”
“A-After school, I have something… I have something I need to do. I’m sorry.”
“Ah…”
Instructor Jung Hayan’s expression seemed very disappointed. Her dejected expression was like seeing a puppy getting abandoned by the owner.
The slightly lowered eye slant and big eyes were full of disappointment. For a brief moment, I blamed myself for my stupid choice. I wondered my body caused such a reaction, but the answer refused to reveal itself.
I was bothered by Instructor Hayan’s voice, who had kept muttering about something.
‘Something’s not right.’
It was probably a trap set up by that fox. This was a high possibility, considering the fact that he had a fairly petty personality.
And…
‘It’s overwhelming just trying to follow the class.’
Of course, it was good to learn something new, but the homework and assignments I’d been learning over and over were already making my head explode.
was undeniable that I had made a stupid choice.
However, I didn’t want to correct this. My breathing was gradually returning to its original state.
Just in time, the bell announcing the class rang, and Instructor Jung Hayan, who continued to mutter quietly, slowly began to leave the classroom.
I even thought about approaching her because she had looked so sad, but I did not raise my hand. This was because I saw trainees from the same class rushing to me again.
“Y-You’re really great, Eunni…”
“Ah…”
“Who would have known that Instructor Jung Hayan would make such an offer?”
“Is… that so?”
“Yes. When I saw today’s class atmosphere, I thought that the alchemist must have said something… After showing your ability, it seems that the instructor also got greedy. That’s because she is also a Blue executive. Perhaps, sooner or later, you’ll be getting an offer from Blue?”
One of the rabbles next to me immediately spoke.
“Sora said she would not go, so it doesn’t matter if the offer comes or not. Didn’t you see her flatly refusing the instructor offer?”
“Ah… She did, right?”
“Instructor Jung Hayan did seem a little desperate…”
“Really?”
“She was wearing a startled expression…”
“It definitely was when Sora was successful, wasn’t it?”
Though they were all talking in front of me, I couldn’t find it in myself to participate. My mind kept coming back to Hayan’s complex expression, as well as the strange feeling I had.
When I started to speak, everyone’s attention refocused on me.
“By any chance…”
“Yes, Sora Eunni?”
“Have you not felt anything weird?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I mean, Instructor Jung Hayan. Didn’t she seem a little weird today?”
“She did look a bit sick. She was a little irritated… and looked tired. That’s what I felt…”
“No, I’m not talking about that… There’s something else.”
“She looked… a bit retarded.”
The answer I got had been far from what I was actually expecting.
One of the rabbles next to me opened her mouth immediately.
“Hey! Someone will listen. Pfff. Actually, you’re not wrong…”
“Why? Isn’t that true? Actually, I did feel like that a little from the beginning… At that time, I just thought that… she stuttered a lot. I don’t know if all geniuses are like that, but didn’t you feel like she was a little disabled?”
“Are all geniuses like that?”
“If that’s a genius, I’m not envious at all. Are, are, are… Aren’t they stupid?”
“You nuts! Your impression of her is on point! Do it one more time.”
“Y… You are all, s-s-s-stupid! She’s not even a snake, but why does she keep his-s-s-s-ssing like that? Pfft. I think she doesn’t know that she looks more stupid talking like that.”
“So damn funny!”
“She must be going out with a guy like that because she’s a little retarded. Some people I know do that, too. They’re people who have a little problem communicating with others. They couldn’t learn from a good family and thus grew up like that. I don’t know, but she must have had some traumas.”
“You crossed the line a bit, but it actually is funny. She must not be really retarded, right?”
“I don’t know. Maybe she was normal, but got crazy because she studied magic too much… Isn’t that it? Sora?”
‘Did I take it too seriously?’
Seeing them joking around, I felt weird upon realizing that I was taking this too seriously.
‘Maybe she was a bit sick.’
She really didn’t seem to be in good shape at the time. She used to laugh alongside us whenever she would stutter.
At this, I began to join the rest of them with their laughter.
‘It seems like she really is a bit retarded…’
I thought that maybe they were right, so I spoke up.
“I don’t know… It’s possible. It’s usually like that in the movies. There are cases where people with autism also have a very good memory. Isn’t that the case in magic, too? In the case of instructor Jung Hayan, it seems that they have inherent magical power and affinity…”
“Oh, really?”
“Perhaps she turned crazy. Haha. Some people have aphasia due to trauma in the tutorial dungeon. Isn’t that the case?”
“Ah. You finally laughed. Until before, you were all serious.”
“It’s because you guys are so funny. I really thought so without knowing it. Retarded. Hahaha. I feel so stupid to think that I looked up to a person like that. What does it matter if she’s a genius? She just keeps stuttering anyway.”
“Right. If you have the same skills, the guild should use a person who is fine psychologically or speaks normally, Eunni.”
“Right? Shall I go to Blue and be better than her? There is no guarantee that I am a genius… If I grow to some extent, wouldn’t they prefer me to a retarded bitch? I know the Blue Guild Master is not a fool.”
“It would be possible if it’s you. If that happens, you can’t forget about us, okay?”
“Why would I forget you? Even if you go to another guild, we should keep in touch often. Hey, if I get into the Blue and catch the Guild Master’s eyes, I can even petition for you to enter as a low-rank party member.”
“Really?”
“Of course, it’s only a possibility. Blue is not a large guild…”
“I really wish that could happen. Blue’s definitely different from other large guilds. When my influence grows… It’s convincing, seeing what the alchemist is doing right now. What will that person do if you ever go to the Blue?”
“There shouldn’t be such a guy in the guild where I am going. He’s going to be stuck next to instructor Jung Hayan. When the two break up, that’s it…”
“Right now?”
“It’s very easy to ruin a man’s life. What will he do if I say I was sexually harassed? Instructor Jung Hayan, no, even that retard would get disgusted, and he might even get kicked out of the Blue. If I can pretend to be a victim for a while and get the guild’s support, won’t it be enough?”
“Do you want to do that? No, if anyone hears this now…”
“Do not worry about it. I blocked the sound with magical power since that retard was saying a bunch of stuff.”
“Wow…”
“This is a place of survival. Ability is also important, but sometimes you also need the wisdom to live easily.”
“It really looks like you’re going to be successful…”
“It’s good to use all means and methods necessary. Being a weak woman is also a great weapon in society.”
“I feel like I’ve learned something substantial from you.”
“Huh? Eunni… I think someone is coming.”
“Who?”
I looked behind me and was surprised to see who it was.
‘Chang-ryul Oppa?’
He was a person that I was a bit careful of among all the people in the attack team. It was because he didn’t talk much, and he always wore a cold expression.
I didn’t know why he came to see me, and it was hard trying to guess because I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
“I’ll go talk to him a little, and then I’ll be back.”
“Okay. Do that, Eunni.”
This man was someone I considered important, so I had to approach him right away.
‘Why is he wearing a mask?’
He was still a difficult person to understand. However, I couldn’t show this. As I approached quietly, he spoke to me first.
“Let’s talk for a minute.”
“What is it, Oppa? Ah! Come to think of it. You recently met the Blue Guild Master, haven’t you?”
“…”
“Is there an entrance test there, too? Are you confirmed to enter? No, how much are your down payment and annual salary? It’s not just roughly cheap, right?”
“…”
“Our values should be decided by us, not by them. If we can get it right, we can increase both the salary and the down payment…”
“I didn’t come here to say that, so shut up. And lower your voice.”
“My…gosh … Then speak quickly.”
“I honestly don’t like you.”
“That’s very fortunate. I don’t like you, too.”
“But that doesn’t mean I don’t have any affection at all. Still, we had a good relationship in the attack team. And there’s the thing in the tutorial dungeon.”
“Quit stalling. Tell me something a little more productive.”
“I don’t know what you’re planning to do from now on, but… It would be better for you not to be connected with Blue and live quietly as if a dead rat.”
“What? Saying this so suddenly…”
“This is a warning. Do not do anything useless and think about yourself. Don’t do anything like what you did in the dungeon.”
“What? What did I do in the dungeon…”
“Don’t think I don’t know. You are too greedy.”
“Stop saying these useless things, say something helpful…”
“That’s all I can say. I don’t want to be deeply involved with you, and I don’t want to be known to have a big mouth. Honestly, I don’t want to tell you this right now… It’s annoying.”
“What information do you have?”
“This is the information I’m giving. Be quiet, as quiet as a rat.”
“No, don’t… Was it decided for you to join the Blue?”
“I’ll be going now. I clearly told you.”
“What? Chang-ryul Oppa!”
After the conversation, he put his mask back on and walked away. Though it was only a short conversation, my displeasure was immense.
‘If there is anything you want to say, you can just say it openly.’
It was not unreasonable to feel annoyed hearing him speaking so vaguely. My face crumpled, and of course, I started talking to myself.
“This is so fucking annoying. If you give me information, make sure you do so thoroughly. Who said I was curious about that?”
After saying this, I immediately turned and saw the rabbles still talking. They were eagerly raising their voices as if they didn’t notice that I was approaching.
I wondered if they were saying something behind my back, so I concentrated the magic in my ears to hear them more accurately. Of course, they weren’t talking bad about me.
“But can Eunni really go to Blue? Didn’t she just ignore that retard’s offer?”
“I don’t know… Maybe not? Even if she did, if Eunni’s plan succeeds, it’s almost certain she will join, and it’s good that it’ll feel like we’re getting a blow in that stupid alchemist’s face. He’s just a production worker…”
“If Eunni goes to Blue, is there a possibility for us to join Blue, too?”
“Well… No, but Eunni will take care of us. And the instructor Jung Retard wasn’t likely to give up, so I guess Eunni’s quite coveted.”
“Why?”
“She kept muttering as she left the classroom earlier.”
“What? I didn’t hear…”
“Did you hear what she said?”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“She said, ‘I-I-It’s fine… T… There are still m-many opportunities… I can do it.'”
“Your impression of her is funny.”
“What can I say? I was trying my hardest to hold back the laughter.”