The last weekend before our first field training had arrived.
As usual, I woke up early with a headache. After briefly going out to the yard to check on the barrier structure, I returned to sit on my bed, staring blankly at the mirror.
In previous cycles, I would have been extremely busy by now, but this time I had already finished all my work, double-checked the budget plans, and even organized the revelations and items I needed to pass on—yet I still had time to spare.
The reason was obvious.
One major task had been eliminated, so naturally I had extra time.
In previous cycles, I would have been dealing with the Doctrine Corruption incident by now, conducting an investigation to identify the traitor Doyul and other betrayers within the Won-gak Cult. But Jeon In-hwa had perfectly resolved the Doctrine Corruption case the other evening by mobilizing the Jeon Clan's talented personnel and organizational power, leaving me with all this free time.
Even though I already knew which Vernerable was involved from previous cycles, I still wouldn't have been able to resolve it as quickly as Jeon In-hwa did.
It was strange to have so much free time for preparing for the early stages, despite experiencing more unexpected events this cycle—like competing with the loner Huye Jin and Lee Hui-hyeon over the stat-boosting potion, collapsing from its side effects, or having a sparring match with the motherless psychopath Jin Seo-yeon.
Ah, I misspoke. Calling Huye Jin a "loner" and Jin Seo-yeon a "motherless psychopath" is redundant, like saying "ATM machine." I should just call them Huye Jin and Jin Seo-yeon. A similar error would be calling Lee Hui-hyeon "annoying." Yeah.
I found myself humming with this newfound leisure.
Yesterday, Jeong Yu-na had suggested that, following the tradition where a group leader offers ancestral rites before their first expedition to pray for the group's safety, everyone should gather at my house to pray to my ancestors for a safe first field training. Everyone agreed, which meant I had more preparations to make, but since it would be a simple ceremony requiring only food offerings and a prayer text, I finished the preparations quickly.
This meant today was a true day off, free from various obligations.
When that thought crossed my mind, I noticed my lips curling upward in the mirror.
It was a genuine smile born purely from happiness, not a manufactured expression or one put on out of necessity.
With a broad grin, I lay back down on the bed and twisted my body this way and that.
Not having to leave the bed all day—this is what a day off should be. Yes, absolutely.
Just as I decided to spend the entire day on myself and pulled the blanket over my head, Lee Hui-hyeon came to mind.
Come to think of it, it was Lee Hui-hyeon who gave the hint that led to Jeon In-hwa taking charge of resolving the Doctrine Corruption case.
Like a bull backing into a mouse, Lee Hui-hyeon probably gave what he thought was the best advice when I mentioned not having the scripture, but thanks to him I got this sweet rest. I felt grateful, then frowned as I remembered I still hadn't passed on the Path to Enlightenment to him on Friday.
Last Thursday, my first attempt failed when Lee Hui-hyeon had a sudden outburst triggered by a childhood academy trauma from the real world. So on Friday, I prepared a plausible topic and tried again, but this time Lee Hui-hyeon had prior plans with other students.
How annoying. That bastard Lee Hui-hyeon. I'm trying to freely give him a Path to Enlightenment that others would pay millions for, yet he's being so difficult.
Thinking he'd regret it later, I rolled over, then suddenly remembered that today was a leisurely weekend. I jumped up from bed and said:
"I could just go give it to him now."
He's the one who carried me back to the dormitory after I was beaten unconscious following my confrontation with Jin Seo-yeon, so he shouldn't mind if I visit him now. Even if he does, I don't care. I'm the Team Leader anyway.
I considered saying I came to return "The History of Symbols" that Lee Hui-hyeon had lent me before our first field training, but since I hadn't actually finished the book and was enjoying its content, I decided against it.
Rising from bed, I decided it was too bothersome to fix my hair and planned to cut it the day before field training. After showering, I changed into comfortable clothes purchased with the budget from my family home and put on my cloak and Ayong Sword.
Before heading out, I checked the structure maintaining the barrier again, even though I had already checked it this morning. Like checking CCTV for security in the real world, I placed my hand on the structure to verify the barrier's condition.
The barrier showed no signs of attempted intrusion or tampering.
Removing my hand from the structure, I tilted my head and muttered:
"I definitely received an assassination warning from Jeon In-hwa..."
Yet there hadn't been any assassination attempts or anything similar since the warning.
I had been more vigilant than usual, even going so far as to write Alarm Talismans—a futile act that had contributed to my "overwork"—and had even called security experts from a security company to check the premises. But surely these measures alone wouldn't deter assassins, and there had been plenty of opportunities to attack me.
There was a possibility the information was wrong, but it came from Jeon In-hwa.
If she judged the information credible enough to personally deliver it to me despite her busy schedule, then the assassination threat itself must be real.
Surely all the assassins couldn't have died.
"Are they perhaps afraid of me?"
I joked lightly to ease my uneasiness, but it didn't help much, so I decided to put this matter aside and ask Jeon In-hwa about it later.
As I walked along the main road, I found it bustling with people out enjoying their weekend.
I should take in this sight while I can, since I won't see it for a while after leaving for field training. In a sense, this place was like a hometown to me, having transmigrated here from reality.
Speaking of hometown, I remembered that although I was currently living at Yegak Academy, there would be times when I needed to visit my family home periodically.
Going home was fine. The commute wasn't a big deal.
The problem was the Successor Candidates I'd meet there.
Having grown up in different households and branches with different parents, they were Baek Clan members in name only but practically strangers who could be cruel to other Baeks outside established rules. Paradoxically, the most dangerous among them was Baek Ye-na, who shared the same father with me but harbored ill feelings due to past issues between our mothers.
Baek Ye-na, who had the support of the Baek Clan's mainstream faction, was a third-year at Yegak Academy currently doing field training near the frontier. She would likely try to gather information about me when she returned to the academy and attack at the first sign of weakness.
Fortunately, meeting Baek Ye-na was still some time away, and as in previous cycles, I could avoid trouble by keeping a low profile and showing no interest in the clan leader position.
In the previous cycle, I had successfully conveyed my lack of interest in the clan leader position and avoided trouble, so it should work this time too.
Surely nothing would go wrong.
Lost in these thoughts, I found myself arriving at the dormitory.
Thinking it was an elegant yet unsettling building as always, I went up to the third floor of Yegak Hall, rang the doorbell, and knocked on Lee Hui-hyeon's door, but there was no response from inside.
I knocked again and rang the doorbell, but still no one came out.
What's going on? Did he step out for a moment?
Thinking he might have gone out briefly, I sat down in front of the door to wait, but gradually grew hungry.
Right, since I didn't know when Lee Hui-hyeon would return, I decided to get something to eat while I was out. I got up from the door and went down the dormitory stairs.
I remembered a popular soup restaurant in the alley near Yegak Academy, up some stairs, frequented by locals and students alike. I headed there and ordered bone soup.
After waiting, when I took the first spoonful, I remembered something I had momentarily forgotten.
Right, everything in this world was extremely salty. I should have asked them to let me season it myself.
But what was ordered was ordered, so I had no choice but to eat it.
I should have remembered to say something beforehand, but I always forgot and ended up eating such salty food.
Adding water would ruin the texture, so I silently continued spooning the bone soup into my mouth.
As I was experiencing the untimely summer sea flavor in my mouth and wondering if I should return to Lee Hui-hyeon's dormitory, a familiar figure passed by the restaurant entrance.
It was Lee Hui-hyeon, walking hurriedly somewhere.
"Oh? Wait! Hui-hyeon!"
I called out urgently and placed a 10,000 hwan bill on the counter before heading out of the restaurant, shouting:
"I'll get the change later!"
Not cool enough to say keep the change, I shouted that I'd come back for it later, then called out to Lee Hui-hyeon, who was already descending the stairs some distance away.
"Hui-hyeon! Just a moment...!"
As I chased after him down the stairs, I misstepped and tumbled down.
Rolling, rolling.
...?
"Hah."
My vision went black momentarily before clearing to reveal the blue sky.
And Lee Hui-hyeon looking down at me with a bewildered expression.
"Hello, Hui-hyeon."
"Uh, hello, Ye-a."
As I sensed people gradually gathering around us, I thought while lying upside down on the stairs:
At least I caught up with Lee Hui-hyeon.
Damn it.