Chapter 6 – What Was Light?
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“Did we really need to start on the same day?” Kim Si-woo heavily panted as he plopped onto his knees, finger pointed at the pitch-black sky. 

“What did you say? One more lap?” I promptly replied with a cane in hand and sunglasses equipped. 

“I shouldn’t- huff- have followed you…” Ma Dong-seok rolled onto the floor next to Kim Si-woo. Originally, he served as a promising defence-oriented character before his death, so it made sense that he wasn’t agile. 

I looked up at the glistening moon’s full face. It was only 7 pm, so the night was in its infancy. With a sense of satisfaction, I watched my ad-hoc class of 4 struggle in every step to lap around the academy’s race track. 

“Didn’t. You. Say. You. Needed. My. Power?” Kim Si-woo huffed as he laid himself out like a starfish on the asphalt track. 

“Your power is obviously underdeveloped, so I need to train you. One more lap!” I sighed.

“Wha-”

“Don’t worry, she’s being light today since it’s your first day!” A red-faced Mikhail appeared next to Kim Si-woo with a slight smile, his dulled blue eyes reflected Kim Si-woo's. 

“Here, get up.” Mikhail extended his hand out to Kim Si-woo, who accepted it with a small groan and a wry smile. 

I internally smiled despite my paralysed face. As a kuudere archetype, I couldn't control my body too well despite months of being in it.

[But could you control yourself before sultry men-]

Enough.

[I haven’t said it yet?]

Enough.

[I’m starting to think you’ll never get married in your life…]

I won't. 

[Don’t worry, I’m sure your beloved Kim Si-woo would…]

With the useless thing going on another rant in the background, I refocused on my students. It was as I had anticipated; Kim Si-woo’s physical abilities were subpar, and his only advantages were his cheat abilities. 

In-game, the best strategy to cheese Kim Si-woo into becoming macho was to have him cook a specialty chicken dish that boosted EXP gain for body tempering. However, the present Kim Si-woo likely didn’t know how to cook it yet since it was a reward gained from a side quest. 

The prerequisite for the quest was very simple. You must train daily at the school tracks until midnight for 3 days straight. Although it resulted in a massive fatigue debuff, it was worth the lost EXP in other fields. 

Luckily, I had planned for this beforehand. Unlike the limitations of the game, the real world was dynamic.

“Private Kim Si-woo, come here for a moment!” The person in question was startled by my sudden exclamation as he was prepared to continue another lap.

Supported by the cool breeze of the night and illuminated by the towering lights of the field, a sweaty Kim Si-woo rushed next to me with a ready smile. Even though I wasn’t attracted to him, I had to admit that it had an unreasonable charm.

[Could it be that my kuudere host is also a tsun?!]

“Reporting!” He saluted respectfully, though his eyes were chewing at me.

“I want you to learn and cook this meal. Eat it every day from now on.” I handed over a special slip of paper. My outstretched hand was met with a confused gaze from Kim Si-woo.

I wasn't sure how items worked in real life. It was best to stick to the original and have Kim Si-woo learn from the source rather than doing it myself.

As he moved to reach my hand, something else quickly snatched the paper from my grasp.

“Don’t worry Lieutenant, my family owns a restaurant, you can rely on me to cook this!” With fiercely burning eyes, Liu Qiufeng held onto the recipe. As expected of the protagonist’s sworn rival, she wanted to showcase her superiority against her junior. 

“Hey, give it back to the pes- new guy.” Luckily, Mikhail intervened to retrieve the precious ingredient. He always followed orders, which made me like him the most out of everyone I've met so far in this world. 

[S-scandalous!] 

Hm?

I tilted my head at the sudden change in the voice’s volume. It was no longer spouting white noise. 

[I feel so bad for our dear Si-woo, losing his wife before he could get together with her… sob]

.

.

.

Don’t you think it’s about time you stop? I’m not his wife, or anyone’s wife for that matter. 

[I will never give up on my objective!]

Right... it was my fault for tuning back into what the voice was saying.  

Rip!

A sudden eerie sound snapped my attention back to reality, where both Mikhail and Liu Qiufeng held a piece of paper in their hands. Meanwhile, the original intended recipient stood aside picking his nose. 

“I don’t trust that runt!” 

“Don’t disobey the Lieutenant orders!” 

Slowly, I watched as the paper was divided like a cell undergoing mitosis. The creation and destruction of life is truly beautiful, is it not?

[Y-you don't mean, You and Ki-]

If only the academy remained strict with its military hierarchy, I could've given them significant disciplinary actions from the commanding officer of the unit. 

However, I needed to improvise whilst there was a dereliction of duty from the academy. Within due time, it would change, but until then-

“U-um, hey-” Ma Dong-seok tried to intervene between the two menacing upperclassmen. 

- I will become the discipline of this academy. 

“Corporal Mikhail Talulah and Sergeant Liu Qiufeng. What are your duties to this institution?” I calmly asked. 

The two froze amid their squabble once they heard my calm tone. Although it was nighttime, the cold air became unnaturally severe. 

[Uwaa… you’re scaring me!] 

“To protect?” Mikhail asked, visibly sweating despite the cold air. 

“To grow into the strongest!” Liu Qiufeng added with confidence. 

I shook my head.

“To follow orders. To not question command. To not abandon your duty.” I answered with a rare, visible smile.  

“You two are dismissed. Meet me in the student cabinet room tomorrow- same time per usual.” This wasn’t the first time I took disciplinary action into my own hands. 

I held a vision, and those within my vision needed discipline to face a threat larger than humanity itself. Small steps like these were necessary to assemble heroes capable of saving the world. 

Fortunately, the two knew better than to question my decision and quickly vanished. Of course, I could still sense their presence as they hid nearby, but they were out of sight and hearing range.

“Private Ma Dong-seok, you’ve done well today, you may return to your dorm,” I also moved to dismiss the protagonist’s childhood friend. Although he seemed like a disposable character, I also had my eyes on him as a valuable future asset. 

He was a talent that needed to be nurtured separately.

For now, though, I needed to focus on the most brilliant light in this academy. 

No. Second most. 

“You. Where are you going?” I watched as the protagonist tried to accompany Ma Dong-seok back to the dorms. 

“Since you dismissed everyone, I figured I was free to go.” Kim Si-woo tilted his head back with an eerie chuckle. 

“I haven’t dismissed you yet. I still need you for something.”

Kim Si-woo sighed for a moment before he waved his childhood friend goodbye. With hands in his trouser pocket, he strode to me in a cheery light until he was close enough that his breath tickled my neck.

[Haa… fufufu...] 

The voice’s suspicious panting contrasted with Kim Si-woo’s deep tone.

“Your eyes annoy me as always. Still, I’m curious, what is your plan in all of this?” He whispered. 

“Would you believe me if I told you?” I replied with an unchanged expression. 

“No. Whatever it is, I don’t need your help to get stronger. I don't need to train.” He clamped his hand onto my shoulder and moved his face away from mine. 

“What do you need from me, Lieutenant?” With closed eyes, Kim Si-woo smiled. 

The protagonist was the biggest variable in my plans. A character ignored for the sake of player immersion- his personality and beliefs remained a mystery. 

However, I held an inkling that his trust would be more difficult to gain than expected.

That was because he was-

"Truly crazy. You're truly crazy, you know?"

"Same to you." Kim Si-woo replied.

Had the brilliance of the hero become tainted?

 

A little bit longer chapter today, thanks for reading!! 

Discord: https://discord.gg/sTscEap6h9

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