Chapter 246

After Shin Han-sol left, I leaned back in my chair and thought.

‘Nice.’

The recruitment of Shin Han-sol had been successfully completed.

Since the contract was even stamped, Shin Han-sol couldn’t back out now even if she wanted to.

‘Not that she would even think of backing out in the first place.’

Of course, I had no intention of treating Shin Han-sol like some black company would.

‘Rather, I plan to treat her well so she won’t regret choosing Eternity.’

Starting today, her life at the training facility would change.

Of course, she wasn’t being treated harshly or bullied by anyone…

‘But the news of Shin Han-sol joining Eternity must have spread, so now everyone will try to butter her up.’

Just like connections are important on Earth, they aren’t much different here.

Having connections alone can get you into well-rewarded expeditions and give you access to sweet information others don’t know.

While personal ability is the most important, connections can’t be ignored either.

There’s a reason why people on Earth care about blood ties, school ties, and regional ties.

Shin Han-sol would probably enjoy the rest of her time at the training facility comfortably.

‘Just comfortable.’

I could already see those who were badmouthing her yesterday suddenly changing their attitudes and treating her like a queen.

Anyway, just as I was finishing my thoughts, I heard someone knocking on the door.

Knock knock.

‘What, is she back already?’

“Come in.”

I said it thinking Shin Han-sol had returned for something.

But contrary to my expectations, it wasn’t her who entered the office.

“Haha… Uh, nice to meet you, Lee Yun-seong.”

‘What? Isn’t this guy…’

Definitely that instructor from the Hwan-Young Clan.

The guy who was bothering Shin Han-sol.

I couldn’t believe why this guy was here to see me.

‘What the hell?’

“…What is it? Why are you here?”

“Ah… Well, I have something to ask you, Lee Yun-seong.”

‘What does he want to ask?’

“…Take a seat first.”

“Haha, thank you.”

Annoying, but since we’re both instructors at the training facility, I had to show basic courtesy.

Even though I’m from Eternity, I still had to maintain some manners.

‘Not that I want to, though.’

After seeing how he was trying to get close to Shin Han-sol, I didn’t want to get involved with his type.

But since he came to me first, I had to at least show some basic respect.

‘Ah, what was this bastard’s name again?’

I’m sure I heard it earlier, but I forgot.

‘Ah, I remember.’

“So, Instructor Jin Hyun-soo, what did you want to ask me?”

“Haha… Well, ahem…”

‘What’s with the hesitation? Is it about Shin Han-sol?’

I thought it might be, and sure enough, he slowly started talking.

“Uh, about Trainee Shin Han-sol joining Eternity…”

‘Ha, he must have really wanted her.’

Of course, I wanted Shin Han-sol for her abilities, while this guy probably wanted her for her looks.

“Can I ask why you offered Shin Han-sol a spot in Eternity?”

“Ah, of course. Eternity highly values Shin Han-sol’s potential.”

“…Potential, you say.”

‘Yeah, you bastard.’

He didn’t seem to believe me. Rather…

‘Tsk, this is annoying.’

He seemed to suspect that I had the same intentions as him.

“That’s a bit strange. Shin Han-sol’s grades are only mid-tier, right? Yet Eternity values her highly?”

‘What? Are you pissed because I took the girl you wanted?’

There’s always a subtle emotion in someone’s voice.

In this situation, the emotion subtly present in his voice was irritation.

“Yes. While her grades are mid-tier, Eternity and I don’t just look at surface-level things.”

I couldn’t tell him I checked her stats, so I had to make something up.

Of course, he didn’t seem convinced.

“…I don’t understand. Doesn’t Eternity Clan aim for a small elite group?”

‘Hyun-soo, let’s not push it, okay?’

I was getting annoyed by his constant nitpicking, but I held it in.

‘Well, I guess this is the price for getting Shin Han-sol.’

“Well, Shin Han-sol has enough talent to thrive in our clan. That’s why I made the offer.”

“Talent, you say… The talent I and other instructors saw in Shin Han-sol was extremely average. Something…”

‘That’s because your eyes are full of crap.’

Just because she doesn’t look like a gem to you doesn’t mean she doesn’t to others.

‘There’s a reason people say you see what you know.’

“This is getting a bit too much. Even if Shin Han-sol’s talent is average, I don’t see how that’s any of your business, Instructor Jin Hyun-soo.”

Perhaps because my words left room for the possibility that Shin Han-sol’s talent might be average, he gave me a look as if to say “I knew it” and then spoke.

“I see. Haha…”

“…Yes?”

“Well, well, I understand your feelings now, Lee Yun-seong. Wahaha!”

‘What’s wrong with this guy? Did he eat rat poison?’

I had no idea why he suddenly burst out laughing.

“The reason you want Shin Han-sol, of course I understand. I feel the same way.”

“What?”

“Shin Han-sol is quite attractive at the training facility. Definitely worth keeping an eye on.”

‘What the hell is this bastard saying?’

I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t say anything.

‘Is he… seriously thinking I’m like him?’

“Did you make some kind of deal with Shin Han-sol?”

“What?”

It seemed like he thought I was demanding something from Shin Han-sol in exchange for her joining Eternity.

‘Damn, this is annoying, and honestly, just ridiculous.’

Given Shin Han-sol’s average grades, it was a situation ripe for misunderstanding, but…

‘Am I really being seen as the same as this guy?’

“Ahem, uh, if you’re okay with it, Lee Yun-seong, would you like to share?”

‘What?’



Shin Han-sol wasn’t some object, so she couldn’t help but react stupidly to the suggestion of sharing her.

When I didn’t respond, the guy must have mistaken it for me asking for something else, and he blurted out something ridiculous.

“Haha, of course, I’m not doing this empty-handed. Naturally, Lee Yun-seong wouldn’t want to share either. She’s top-tier, after all.”

The mention of her being “top-tier” made me laugh.

‘Wow… you don’t even see Shin Han-sol as a person, do you?’

Just listening to him talk, it felt like he was treating her as some kind of commodity.

Of course, I expected him to be like this, but he was even worse than I thought, so I couldn’t help but be genuinely impressed.

“Of course, I plan to pay the price. I don’t intend to ask for too much. Naturally, Lee Yun-seong would go first…”

‘First? What the hell are you talking about? Is this crazy bastard out of his mind?’

“This guy’s insane.”

“…Excuse me?”

When I finally couldn’t hold back and let out a laugh while cursing, I saw the guy flinch in confusion.

“Wow, what the hell… I don’t even know what to say to this.”

“What… do you mean?”

“What do I mean? I’ve never seen a bastard like you before.”

His face, now completely different from before, looked utterly clueless.

“Ha, I can’t even laugh. Top-tier? Sharing? What the hell are you even saying?”

“…Why are you acting like this? Do you want to monopolize her?”

‘Monopolize? You crazy bastard.’

He still hadn’t realized his mistake, which showed just how clueless he was.

‘Well, if he had any brains, he wouldn’t have made such a comment in the first place.’

“Is Shin Han-sol some kind of object? Hey, Instructor Jin Hyun-soo.”

“Uh… I’m sorry if I offended you. I just…”

“No, no, you’re still misunderstanding. You think I made some separate deal with Shin Han-sol, don’t you?”

“…Excuse me?”

“Damn, you’re unbelievable… You think I’m like you, huh? Sorry to break it to you, but I actually signed a contract and formally recruited Shin Han-sol. Do you get what I’m saying now?”

The guy’s face turned pale as he listened to my explanation.

Well, of course it would.

He had basically confessed to his own delusions.

If I had actually been demanding Shin Han-sol’s body and abusing my authority privately, that would be one thing, but I hadn’t done anything like that.

In other words, he had gone up to someone who had legitimately recruited a clan member and said, “I have ulterior motives for your clan member, so give her to me for some money.”

‘And he did this in front of a clan that’s on a completely different level than his own.’

He had confessed to trying to break the unwritten rule of not touching trainees, and he had made a highly disrespectful remark to me.

“Ah… wait, that’s not what I meant. Haha… uh…”

‘You idiot.’

I don’t know exactly what position this guy holds in the Hwan-Young Clan, but since he’s here as an instructor, he must at least be part of the leadership.

‘He doesn’t seem like someone who’s done this just once or twice. Does the clan leader know about this?’

It’s hard to have a good impression of a clan that sends someone this clueless as an instructor.

At this point, I’m starting to suspect that the Hwan-Young Clan has been consistently targeting trainees.

“Shut up. Do you realize the mistake you just made? This isn’t just some small incident anymore. I’m curious how you plan to handle this.”

“N-no, it’s a misunderstanding! I didn’t mean it like that, Lee Yun-seong, you’re misunderstanding…”

“Misunderstanding? What kind of instructor talks about a trainee’s appearance and calls her ‘top-tier’? Do you think this is the Eastern Alliance?”

Even the current Eastern Alliance wouldn’t do something like this.

“No…”

He was sweating bullets, trying to salvage the situation, but the damage was already done.

Anyone with half a brain would realize that this situation couldn’t be brushed off with excuses.

‘Ugh, this is annoying.’

Frankly, even if I were to punish this guy, I wouldn’t gain anything from it. I was just annoyed by the whole situation.

‘Damn it… If this turns into a formal incident, it’s going to be a headache.’

Whether it’s the Hwan-Young Clan or not, getting involved in troublesome matters is something I’d rather avoid.

I felt like punching the guy in the face.

‘Should I just teach him a lesson and let it go quietly?’

The graduation ceremony is coming up soon. It’s only natural that I wouldn’t want to cause a scene at a time like this.

‘It’s not like my position is at risk or anything.’

I may be a scumbag, but in this case, the trash is clearly defined.

‘Ah, this crazy bastard. He just shows up out of nowhere and starts spouting nonsense, ugh…’

If I let it slide, it would affect my and Eternity’s reputation, but if I escalate it, there’s nothing in it for me.

So I was about to just make him apologize to Shin Han-sol and let it go quietly when…

*Whoosh*

‘Huh?’

“Damn it!”

“What…”

‘What the hell is this guy doing? Is he insane?’

His actions made me question his sanity. And for good reason…

“…What are you doing? Are you pointing a knife at my neck right now?”

“Shut up, damn it!”

This crazy bastard was pointing a knife at my neck, as if he was planning to kill me.

‘You son of a bitch…!’

From my perspective, trying to let it go quietly, I couldn’t help but feel exasperated by this idiot’s stupidity.

‘You crazy bastard…! I was trying to let it go quietly, damn it!’

The ridiculous thing was that he was the one who pulled out the knife, and now he was looking at me with a pale face.

Because of this idiot, the situation had escalated beyond the point of no return.