Chapter 229

The guy glared at me and opened his mouth.

“Hey, why are you bringing that up now?”

“Why? It’s because I stepped up that our noona is safe. If it weren’t for me, who knows what would’ve happened to you, huh?”

The reason noona was safe was because I noticed and urgently contacted everyone, not because of that jerk.

“Hey, that’s…”

“Shut your trap. You don’t get the situation, do you? You think we’re still on Earth?”

“What…”

“Jeong Min, you damn Jeong Min. You were a nobody on Earth, and here you’re even more of a nobody. You think it’s okay to come find me, talk down to me, and act like this?”

I let him ramble on, thinking he might eventually catch on, but the situation was ridiculous from the start—a trainee who just entered the continent talking down to an instructor.

“Do you even know how much our social statuses differ on this continent?”

If he were really my friend, casual speech wouldn’t matter, but I don’t consider this guy a friend at all.

Even now, thinking about it makes me slowly boil with anger.

“……”

“Hey, you think the instructors here are like school teachers back on Earth?”

“…Damn, I got hurt because of you too, isn’t this too much?”

“Hurt? What hurt?”

“Damn, don’t you remember getting your lackeys to beat the crap out of me after that day? I thought I was gonna die, I was taken to the emergency room, you bastard.”

“You crazy bastard, you can’t even be grateful that it ended at that, and now you’re blaming me?”

“No… Of course, I’m grateful! That’s why I’m asking you to let me into Eternity. Please, okay?”

His groveling attitude to get a favor.

It’s understandable since his life is on the line, but the important point here is that he and I are practically enemies.

‘Annoying.’

I don’t have enough time to waste talking to this guy, nor is he worth the effort to take down.

“Stop the nonsense and just leave. Don’t come back, and from now on, speak formally.”

I waved my hand dismissively, and the guy stiffened his expression before speaking.

“…Do your clan members know what you did back on Earth?”

“…What?”

“Lee Yun-seong, think carefully. The people around you don’t know what kind of guy you are, do they? Damn it, behave yourself, you punk. Just because I bowed my head a little, you think you can act all high and mighty?”

‘What the hell is this guy spouting now?’

I wasn’t so much angry as I was baffled by his words.

He clearly has no grasp of his position.

If he had at least gone through the tutorial, he would’ve realized that this is a place where people can die without a trace.

As I stood there dumbfounded, he started talking as if he were in charge.

“Haha, Yoon Seong, let’s play nice, okay? Do I really have to go this far? It’s better for both of us if you just listen when I talk nicely.”

It seems he thinks the tables have turned.

That’s the face of someone who mistakenly believes they’re in a position of power.

I was so dumbfounded that I couldn’t speak, and he walked up to me, patting my shoulder.

“Hey, don’t worry, kid. Just get me into Eternity, and treat me well from now on. I’ll keep your secret.”

He spoke as if he were doing me a favor.

“And there are a lot of pretty girls in Eternity, right? Introduce me to some, man. That’s what friends are for.”

‘Ugh, this crazy bastard.’

Even back on Earth, he was the kind of guy who couldn’t read the room and only got menial tasks.

The funny thing is, he always deluded himself into thinking he was something special.

I didn’t want to waste any more time and was about to let it slide, but it seems that’s not an option.

‘This idiot just keeps spouting nonsense.’

I sighed inwardly and began to control the surrounding air with my magic.

Even if my military power is below average, I’m more than capable of overwhelming a trainee who just entered the training facility.

“Huh?”

Well, it wasn’t enough to make him kneel like others with just the atmosphere or aura, but his face did turn pale.

I walked up to him and spoke.

“Jeong Min, you really don’t get the situation, do you?”

“What, what?”

“Stop trembling and speak, you idiot.”

Maybe it’s because of this guy bringing up Earth, but my Earth personality is coming out.

*Thud*

“Gah…! Ugh! Cough!”

*Plop*

The sight of him collapsing after one kick to the stomach is pitiful.

‘Ah, thinking about it, it’s obvious.’

A player who just finished the tutorial wouldn’t have a durability stat over 20.

Of course, it might be different for those with exceptional talent…

‘But not this guy.’

Far from exceptional, his talent is average at best.

Even though my strength stat is on the lower side, it’s still over 40 right now.

So it’s no surprise he’s coughing like that after one hit to the stomach.

I walked up to the coughing guy, crouched down, and grabbed his hair to lift him up.

‘Damn, I don’t want to grab a guy’s hair.’

“Ugh…!”

“Ha, pretty girls? You must be really out of your mind.”

It pissed me off that he casually mentioned the people under my protection, and more than that…

‘It’s laughable. You think you can even look at people who are way out of your league? You pathetic bastard.’

“How long are you gonna keep this up? You not coming to your senses?”

“Ugh… You, you!”

“Open your eyes properly. You want more?”

He flinched at my words but spoke as if he wasn’t scared at all.

“You crazy bastard… Do you know what you just did?!”

‘Ha, I can kinda see why he’s acting so tough.’

The reason he can maintain this attitude is probably because of his status as a trainee.

But from my perspective, it’s just laughable.

‘Really… Whether on Earth or here, you’re still as stupid as ever.’

“You’re so screwed. You dare assault a trainee? Apologize now and do as I say, and I’ll let it slide.”

“Haha, what exactly are you gonna let slide? That I assaulted you?”

“Yeah, you punk. Even if you’re an instructor, you can’t touch a trainee, you think I don’t know that?”

Well… As he said, it’s true that touching a trainee is taboo on this continent.

But that’s only if the fact that you touched a trainee is proven.

‘What can you even do?’

In other words, as long as you don’t get caught, you can do whatever you want.



Just like Earth.

High-ranking officials or masters of large clans usually have enough power to cover up any problems related to trainees.

That’s why, in the past, when Joo Seung-hwan harmed me, I had to go to extreme lengths, even sacrificing an arm, to deal with that nonsense.

Because I had to create a situation where no matter what they did, they couldn’t cover it up.

‘Probably some instructors did some shady stuff behind the scenes.’

Well… threatening, making fraudulent contracts, or laying hands on trainees they liked.

At least in neutral countries, the situation is much better.

I heard things have changed a lot since Riki took power, but in the Eastern Alliance, the treatment of trainees was the worst.

From the training facility, they were subjected to all kinds of dirty crimes, and in severe cases, they were treated as playthings.

‘To the point where they were even sold as slaves.’

Anyway, what I’m trying to say is, unless this guy pulls a self-harm stunt like me, he can’t harm me.

“Pfft… I get what you’re relying on, but that just makes it funnier.”

“Funnier?”

“Yeah, you’re pathetic. Hey, you think I can’t quietly bury you?”

I could see his pupils trembling at my words.

“You know my personality well. Do you think I got to this position on this continent without dealing with anyone?”

“…..”

“That’s impossible, you pathetic bastard. No matter how much you blabber about me assaulting or threatening you at the training facility, it’s useless. You have no power, and I have more than enough to cover that up.”

I pushed his forehead with my finger as he trembled with anger and fear.

“I’m not sparing you because I like you. It’s just too much of a hassle to deal with you.”

“That…”

“Keep quiet and listen. So, keep your mouth shut from now on. Got it? This is the only time I’m letting it slide. If you dare speak informally to me in public again, you’re dead.”

“……”

Judging by his face, he still hasn’t let go of his delusions.

‘Well, it’s true that every trainee wants to join Eternity.’

But of course, I had no intention of accepting such a guy.

“You don’t want to live only three more months of your life, right?”

Maybe it’s because I opened my eyes menacingly, but he looked terrified.

Unlike others, this guy, who knows my history on Earth, would understand.

Once I decide to take someone down, there’s no turning back.

‘Honestly, I’m being incredibly lenient.’

If it were me a year ago, no matter how much of a hassle, I would have dealt with him myself.

‘If he really gets on my nerves… I can just deal with him right after he leaves the training facility.’

Now, I’m in a more relaxed state of mind, and I don’t want to bother with such meaningless things.

“If you understand, get lost, Trainee Jeong Min.”

He left with a frightened expression, carefully stepping away.

‘Well, I gave him a warning, so he should get it. If he does it again, then I have no choice.’

If he acts out of line again, I’ll have to deal with him, no matter how much of a hassle it is.

******

After that day, he didn’t dare mess with me again.

‘Though his eyes still bother me…’

People don’t change overnight, so I let it slide.

‘More importantly, it’s been a week now.’

According to Yoon Yeon, today is the day she returns to the training facility.

‘Is she at the training facility now?’

Ha Yu-ri has been doing a good job as the temporary head instructor, so there’s no problem…

‘But she seems to dislike it.’

Ha Yu-ri seemed to dislike the increased workload.

‘And what else did she say?’

I heard she’s also under some stress during lectures.

There was even a time when male trainees couldn’t focus on the lecture and complained.

Like staring at her instead of paying attention, asking if she has a boyfriend…

If another woman said it, I’d call it nonsense, but coming from Ha Yu-ri, it made sense.

‘Given her looks, it’s understandable.’

After finishing the lecture, a confident figure caught my eye.

“This bastard, sitting around sucking honey while not doing the lecture.”

“Yeah, what are you gonna do about it? If you’re jealous, don’t lecture either.”

“Ugh, anyway, another tiring day! Hey, give me a shoulder rub, man.”

“Sure~ You worked hard, Instructor Kang I-seo.”

Still, considering her hard work, I went behind her and gave her a shoulder rub.

“Hmm… what’s going on? Why are you listening to me so obediently?”

“Wow, saying that makes me not want to listen anymore?”

After saying that, I pinched Kang I-seo’s shoulder hard.

“Ah! Crazy, that hurts, damn it!”

Seeing Kang I-seo writhe in pain, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Who told you to say that?”

“Ah, damn it…”

Kang I-seo, looking displeased, slowly opened her mouth.

“Oh, right. Hey, did that woman come back?”

“Huh?”

“The head instructor. I heard she came back? I ran into her on my way back after the lecture.”

“…Really?”

Then, as per my agreement with Yoon Yeon, I’ll go see her later.

“…This bastard, immediately interested, huh?”

“What are you talking about?”

Kang I-seo continued in a very displeased voice.

“You immediately focus when that woman is mentioned.”

“…Hey, stop with the weird delusions.”

“Come on, what delusions… By the way, her face looked a bit complicated.”

“Complicated?”

“I don’t know, something seemed off. Her expression was… hard to describe.”