Chapter 149: Ending the Vacation (4)
'So that is how it led to this...'
I thought as I watched the campfire burn beautifully in front of me.
Did I dislike this camping trip?
No, it was not like that.
'In fact, it is quite a nice time.'
The only reason I felt this way was that the awkwardness was rather strong.
After all, was this not a trip with our instructor?
It is awkward enough even when traveling with just family, so a trip with Im Seong-cheol, who held the position of a teacher, was bound to be that way. It was only natural for there to be some discomfort.
'Well, even if Im Seong-cheol had not come along, this trip would have been awkward anyway.'
Although we were bound by camaraderie and friendship... you know how it is.
To be honest, the seven of us had never really gathered to just hang out like this. We usually only spent time together during training or combat.
The first time I hung out with them, there were only four of us, and the last party felt more like a distribution of rewards rather than a place to have fun.
Perhaps that was why things felt a bit awkward in a setting like this.
'Even if someone told us to play without any boundaries, the fact that everyone has a unique personality is another problem.'
To be perfectly blunt, it was almost miraculous that we were even getting along like this.
To put it mildly, they were unique, but to put it strongly... well, they are my friends, so I should stop there.
'Still, as I said before, I cannot deny that it is a good time.'
There was awkwardness, but I could endure and enjoy it. I felt like I should thank Jeong Jin-myeong for arranging this time.
'Because it was clearly a considerate gesture.'
In the first place, this trip was funded by Glory's budget.
The location was the same. It was the result of Jeong Jin-myeong providing support while adding various reasons.
'The explanation itself was plausible.'
He said that thanks to us, Glory's prestige had been restored.
Even so, he felt sorry because Glory had done nothing for us. We had achieved results that would not be strange to see on the news, but due to adult circumstances, they could not be made public yet.
He also said that despite being an academy, they had taught us nothing and only put us in danger every time, and just thinking about it weighed heavily on his mind.
'So, I have arranged this kind of time, and I would be grateful if you could enjoy it. If you do, the school might feel a bit more at ease,' he had said.
'Actually, if you look at it, it is just a sophisticated excuse.'
Literally, it was just a plausible excuse to give us some time off.
One might say I am being too cynical, but there is a reason I think this way.
That is because, from Jeong Jin-myeong's perspective, there was absolutely no need for him to do this for us.
'I know exactly what kind of man he is.'
He is a talent who can easily handle the workload of a hundred people by himself.
He is such a genius that jokes circulated saying Glory's operations would be paralyzed if he ever missed a day due to illness.
Even though he is an ordinary citizen and not a player, he is a brilliant man respected by everyone.
In the novel, it was said that Glory was able to survive all those incidents and accidents because of Jeong Jin-myeong, which says it all.
Why would a man like that bother to say such things to us?
It was true that Kim Su-hyeok and the others were talented, but there was no need for Jeong Jin-myeong to step forward himself.
'Of course, he added that the proposal was calculated on the assumption that we would enjoy it if we intended to stay at Glory in the future...'
Honestly, who would tell someone, 'I did this after calculating everything'?
This was purely his consideration.
'Well, it was said that he has a side to him that is more like an educator than most actual educators.'
He is in a position where he must pursue practical interests, but he allegedly never does anything that would harm the cadets.
Having experienced him myself, I felt like I understood what that meant.
As I was reflecting on Jeong Jin-myeong, someone spoke.
"Mmm, it looks like the repairs are finished. Let us eat dinner soon."
Im Seong-cheol, who had finally finished working on the tents, began walking toward the campfire with Oh Jin-eon.
But...
'Were we all supposed to eat dinner together?'
It looked like Do Gang-ho and Ha Eun-ha in front of me had already finished their dinner.
However, contrary to my thoughts, the words that came out of Do Gang-ho and Ha Eun-ha's mouths were quite something.
"Is it finally time for dinner? I can finally fill my stomach now."
"......?"
"I know, right. I almost filled up on the appetizer!"
"......?"
I think the meat the two of you ate alone was probably enough for nine people.
I wondered if they had accidentally swallowed a spatial storage pouch when they were young. Was it just me, or was that strange...?
***
"I think it is done. Do you want to try some?"
About two hours after Im Seong-cheol suggested eating dinner.
I checked the finished dish, and Kim Su-hyeok, who was beside me, tasted it and nodded.
"...It is delicious. Yu-seong, you are surprisingly good at cooking."
"Surprisingly? Just what kind of image do I have in your head?"
"Hmm... a friend who likes reckless challenges?"
"......."
Well, how should I put it? It clearly did not sound like a compliment.
Kim Su-hyeok's way of speaking involved turning even negative meanings into something very positive.
But if he said something like that, it meant he just saw me as a crazy person.
'...But then again, I cannot really argue with him.'
Of course, it was not that I actually liked reckless challenges.
But when I thought about how I had appeared to the kids so far...
'It is understandable that he would misunderstand.'
Still, I could not help but feel it was unfair. I did not do those things for my own sake; I did them all for you guys!
...However, explaining everything in detail here would obviously look strange.
Therefore, I decided to keep my mouth shut and just move the food.
Kim Su-hyeok was offering various explanations beside me, though...
"Haha, Yu-seong. You know I do not mean that in a bad way, right? I just do not like seeing you push yourself too hard. You know how I feel, right??"
It is already too late, you jerk.
I am never going to give you my soul's masterpiece, my special meat pasta.
I made that vow to myself as I carried the finished dishes to the campfire one by one with Kim Su-hyeok. By the time we finished moving all the food.
"Thank you."
Im Seong-cheol expressed his gratitude to us.
"Originally, this is something I should have done..."
"No, sir. Jin-eon and you handled all the tents. Su-hyeok and I just did our part."
"Mmm, I am grateful that you say so."
Im Seong-cheol thanked me again.
Watching him, I felt a bit guilty.
Because half of what I just said was the truth, and the other half was a lie.
'...Because Im Seong-cheol is terrible at cooking.'
Was that also in the setting?
No, I saw it with my own eyes.
When we first tried to cook, everyone had gathered together in a small group...
'Truly, everyone was terrible at cooking.'
It might not sound like much when you hear it, but it was a total disaster.
Ryu Jin-oh would throw noodles into water that had just been put on the heat, while Im Seong-cheol would turn up the heat too high and burn the meat to a crisp in three minutes.
Fortunately, Kim Su-hyeok knew how to cook; otherwise, I might have gone to the afterlife while eating dinner today.
'Someone might say that this is the charm of traveling and that I should feel the joy of being together...'
But I did not have the confidence to eat meat that had turned into charcoal or noodles that were as limp as earthworms.
Well... anyway, I will leave those behind-the-scenes stories there.
"Shall we eat?"
We all sat around the campfire and began to eat dinner.
Usually, when people eat together in a place like this, they say that the conversation blossoms as people talk...
"......."
We had none of that.
It was as if speaking during a meal was considered rude; everyone just ate in silence.
To be honest, the atmosphere was so stiff that I was confused whether the food was going down my throat or my nose.
It was in the middle of that silent mealtime.
"Cadet Choi Yu-seong and Cadet Kim Su-hyeok are good at cooking."
Finally, the first words broke the silence.
Surprisingly, the one who spoke first was Im Seong-cheol.
"Yu-seong did almost everything rather than me."
"Even so, did Cadet Kim Su-hyeok not work hard as well? Thank you for making delicious food."
"Haha, thank you."
It was a very brief conversation.
Given Im Seong-cheol's personality, it would not have been strange if the conversation ended right there...
"I wonder if I am being a nuisance."
"Pardon?"
Contrary to my thoughts, Im Seong-cheol continued the conversation.
"It seems like I have awkwardly intruded on a trip with friends. If it is uncomfortable, please tell me at any time. I am more than capable of quietly slipping away."
"Not at all! In fact, we think it is great because it is a chance to get closer to you, Instructor."
"Mmm, is that so?"
"Yes! I am sure the others feel the same way, right?"
At Kim Su-hyeok's question, everyone nodded without exception.
Even the haughty Ryu Jin-oh went as far as to nod his head.
In the first place, who here would dislike having Im Seong-cheol present?
'Even if he is blunt, he takes care of the cadets like this.'
Perhaps Im Seong-cheol realized our sincerity, as his expression seemed to soften a bit.
"Thank you. Perhaps because of my personality, the cadets have not liked me very much since a long time ago."
"Thank you? It is only natural. In the first place, the reason we can even be here like this is thanks to you, Instructor. If you had not been there then, we would not be here now."
"Mmm..."
Im Seong-cheol's expression momentarily froze at Kim Su-hyeok's words.
The reason his expression froze was revealed in the words that followed.
"I want to apologize for that part."
"Pardon?"
"If I had done my part just a little better, you all would not have been in such danger."
"Not at all..."
"No, I was so obsessed with the thought of protecting you that I actually ended up putting you in danger."
Was he still holding onto what happened back then?
'It is true that Im Seong-cheol was not able to show his full power properly.'
But I can say this with certainty.
That is absolutely not something to apologize for.
'In the first place, even if he is an instructor, how many people would care for their cadets like that?'
The relationship between Im Seong-cheol and us is that of teacher and student, but in the long run, we are destined to part ways after three years.
Furthermore, from Im Seong-cheol's perspective, it has only been half a year since he met us, and he has not even seen us every day during that time.
And yet, he fought with the pure intention of protecting the cadets.
'And it is not like he gave them an opening because he was thinking about something useless.'
The reason Im Seong-cheol had no choice but to give the villains an opening to prepare a move.
That was purely because of our existence.
The opening was created while he was checking on us from time to time while dealing with the Dagger Apostle and supporting us with his Blue Flame when we were in danger.
'If we were comrades fighting alongside him instead of cadets he had to protect, that would not have happened.'
Even if Im Seong-cheol had stepped back from real combat, experience is not something that is easily erased.
And that fact was something that everyone present, not just me, knew.
Therefore, no one here agreed with Im Seong-cheol's words.
"No matter how much you say that, Instructor, our thoughts will not change. We are not the type of people to repay grace with enmity."
"...I do not like how it feels like I am being dragged along, but I also agree."
"Mmm, it is as Kim Su-hyeok said. We are not people who repay grace with enmity."
Kim Su-hyeok, Ryu Jin-oh, and Oh Jin-eon were the first to speak.
"In the first place, it was something unexpected. It was because you were there, Instructor, that it could end at that level."
"T-That is right! Besides, thanks to that, there was growth..."
"I suppose so. Eun-ha's appearance changed a lot back then. I heard people call you a Saintess?"
"I-I told you not to talk about that, Ha-yeon!"
Ju Ha-yeon and Ha Eun-ha followed with opinions that were no different from the first three.
And.
"I think so too. Because you were there, Instructor, there were times when we could fight without worrying about our backs."
The same was true for me.
Im Seong-cheol is not a powerhouse who would significantly influence the worldview in terms of military strength.
His player rank was barely at the S-Rank level.
'But he was a better mental pillar than anyone else.'
While there are players who truly deserve the name of hero, the world is filled with many times more trash.
In such a world, the biggest reason Kim Su-hyeok and the kids could move forward without giving up.
That was Im Seong-cheol.
'The reason I came to admire Im Seong-cheol was not because I was enchanted by his power.'
The reason I came to admire him was his mindset.
In a world where words like justice and responsibility had lost their meaning, his mindset provided a path to follow.
Did our sincerity reach Im Seong-cheol?
"I feel like I am saying this a lot today..."
Im Seong-cheol, who had been listening to us in silence, spoke softly.
"Thank you very much."
Since coming to this world, he showed a smile I had never seen before.
It was a very faint smile, but it was a kind one that made me feel even closer to Im Seong-cheol.
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