[Chapter 123]
[The Value of That Name (2)]
Before regression, the 2nd Uijeongbu Recapture Operation.
The recapture team debated day and night with Uijeongbu Station in sight.
"Though we don't ignore the crimes they committed, they are still our citizens."
"They've become monsters' accomplices, and their living environment is completely different from ours, can we call them citizens?"
"Those children would be adults by now. If they survived in Uijeongbu, they could grow into important forces in the future."
"You say that because you don't know anything. Would people who participated in the 1st recapture operation think the same? How many comrades died because of those bastards...!!"
"...There should be a way if we look. A way to weed out only the Hundred-Faced from the people, protecting the people while killing the Hundred-Faced."
The 3rd rank overrank Hundred-Faced (百面相).
The Hundred-Faced based in Uijeongbu was a being that transformed into human form and brought confusion to allies.
Moreover, the Hundred-Faced "raised" Uijeongbu residents in an ingenious way.
Thus, it acted out the residents' appearances and infiltrated even inside the recapture team.
It could be said that the 1st Uijeongbu Recapture Operation failed because of its threat.
Therefore, the 2nd Uijeongbu Recapture Team discussed the subjugation of the Hundred-Faced and treatment of Uijeongbu residents.
"...The conversation just isn't working."
"Because there are many people who remember the 1st Uijeongbu Recapture Operation. I was so shocked when I saw the news as a kid too."
"Even so, how can people say to kill people being raised by monsters?"
"That... isn't it because it's the fastest and most efficient way to resolve it?"
On Tae-yang's party was there too.
The meeting entered a break without reaching a conclusion and.
He who found the barracks assigned to the party asked Yoon I-byeol who was also attending the meeting.
I-byeol answered while looking at him.
""...""
There was no one in the barracks.
The companions seemed to have gone to perform other duties.
Soon heat rose in the two people's gazes.
"Surely... there must be a way. A way to find that guy... We've always found solutions so we'll be able to find one this time too."
"...Yes, you'll be able to do it, Tae-yang."
On Tae-yang gently embraces her.
Yoon I-byeol who was embraced in his arms answered leaning her head on his chest.
On Tae-yang would be able to find it.
As he always has until now.
So she just needs to believe in him and follow him anywhere, as she always has.
Unchangingly since that day he said he believed in her.
"What do you think, I-byeol? Does it seem like there's some way?"
"...Hmm... I don't know well."
"You're our party's brain, right? If you don't know, who would?"
"Hehe, that's right... In my opinion... only this one thing comes to mind."
"What is it?"
"It's..."
There's no one who can see through the mana of the Hundred-Faced transformed into humans.
The Hundred-Faced's ability could be said to be that amazing.
The records of the 1st Uijeongbu Recapture Operation even said it completely assimilates into the appearance of humans it eats.
So it can't be found by ordinary methods.
Therefore, the most effective method now is to enter Uijeongbu Station, gather the residents in one place, then check one by one until the Hundred-Faced comes out.
In other words, killing them.
The records said to be careful of the Hundred-Faced's acting skills.
If the Hundred-Faced is absorbed in acting human, it might not reveal its form even if stabbed with a sword.
We have no choice but to kill. If it's going to die, the Hundred-Faced will have no choice but to reveal its form.
"Regrettably, as discussed in the meeting, the residents..."
"I-byeol."
Yoon I-byeol tried to convey her thoughts to Tae-yang.
But then, Tae-yang stopped her words.
Yoon I-byeol hesitated.
Because doubt was contained in On Tae-yang's gaze looking at her.
"You're not saying we should kill the residents like those bastards, right?"
"..."
"Sorry, I must have been too sharp. Well, you wouldn't do that, I-byeol. You were known for being kind like Eun-woo and having a lot of affection, studying well since attending the academy, right? Someone like you wouldn't have such an inhumane thought."
"...That's right."
"Right. We shouldn't do that even if others might. Because we're heroes, right?"
"...Yes."
"
"...You're right. Yes."
On Tae-yang's gaze measures her.
Nevertheless, Yoon I-byeol couldn't refute and quietly agreed.
"So? What's your opinion?"
"...I suddenly can't think of it. Honestly it was a ridiculous thought... Just ignore it."
On Tae-yang believes in her.
Then all she can do is live up to his expectations.
If she doesn't, she'll just be abandoned by him.
And the moment that happens, all her human relationships will be cut off.
"─I'll tell you if I think of it later."
"Okay, I'll look forward to it. I'm sure you'll be able to find it, I-byeol!"
So she must live up to expectations.
Yoon I-byeol gives a bitter smile.
And that evening─.
"─Huh, geez. Why are they doing this when we can just kill them all. Leader, I'll handle this."
☆
"...No. I never did that. They're misunderstanding. I didn't seduce my friend's boyfriend."
The so-called Yoon I-byeol framing incident.
The incident that occurred in the student cafeteria was ultimately resolved by Eun-ha's threats.
The students couldn't say anything. They were just busy reading the atmosphere, intimidated by the energy he scattered.
He who brought Yoon I-byeol out right away found a cafe in the Sky Lounge with some friends.
"I... I didn't know what to do either...!"
As soon as she opened her mouth.
Her crying burst out again.
Min-ji and Ha-yang comforted her, while Eun-ha and friends listened to the series of stories.
Was there a time like this in the previous life too?
There seemed to have been similar incidents... but my memory isn't accurate.
It was just a common story of jealousy and envy.
In the end, Yoon I-byeol professed her innocence, and friends didn't deny her innocence.
Meanwhile, Eun-ha fell into thought and closed his mouth.
He tried to recall if she had a similar story in the previous life too.
But his memory was vague.
It felt like there might have been, but also like there might not have been.
If I hadn't gone there...
On Tae-yang might have spent more time with Yoon I-byeol saying he would manage her.
In fact, there was some impatience too.
When Eun-ha who heard the news and found the student cafeteria saw On Tae-yang defending Yoon I-byeol and giving a speech to students, he ended up feeling possessiveness towards her.
She may have originally been his person, but he intended to make her his person in this life.
So he used the expression "my person" in front of the students.
"Stop crying. We all know you didn't do that."
"...Okay... Thank you."
"And Do-jun went to meet Fine Group's collateral branch now, so he'll find out who posted on EFA soon. Even if he can't find them, we can find someone who graduated from the same middle school as you with our connections, so don't worry."
He's clumsy at dealing with people.
Especially Eun-ha was weak at comforting someone.
Eun-ha who had been keeping his mouth shut spoke to her who was wiping tears with a tissue after taking off her glasses.
She who flinched for a moment shyly thanked him.
"Though it probably won't happen, even if... I won't care what you did in middle school."
"...Eun-ha..."
"What I need is navigator Yoon I-byeol, not someone else. So don't worry."
"I really didn't do it..."
"Okay, I got it. I said I believe you, right?"
"...Do you really believe me? It seems like you're speaking too lightly..."
Though she couldn't say anything to On Tae-yang.
She protests quietly with a sulky voice.
He inwardly marveled at her fresh reaction and shrugged his shoulders.
As he said just before, Eun-ha didn't care what past she had.
"I'm saying this because I believe in your skills. So... I won't care what kind of person you are."
"...I really didn't..."
"Live however you want. I'll believe you no matter what you do, and if others say anything to you, I'll make them bow their heads to you."
"..."
"Just believe in me."
"...Okay. Thank you."
As long as it doesn't harm his intentions.
No Eun-ha intended to protect those who followed him no matter what they did.
Of course, his friends wouldn't do anything beyond reason no matter what they did.
"I'm back."
Just then, Yu Do-jun returned.
He who said he met Fine Group's collateral branch took a sip of Eun-ha's coffee without even getting permission.
"Ah, refreshing."
"...What am I supposed to do if you drink all of mine."
"Isn't this much okay since you made me work like this?"
"So. How did it go?"
Yu Do-jun pulled up a chair.
Do-jun who sat down showed Yoon I-byeol a photo of some female student on his smartphone.
She tilted her head.
She doesn't seem to know.
Yu Do-jun clicked his tongue as if he expected this.
"When I went to meet the kid who posted that, she confessed everything. It seems... she got scared after your declaration warning in the student cafeteria spread on EFA."
The so-called Eun-ha's "my person" declaration incident.
Topics about it were still being produced on EveryFine.
Several posts even moved to the HOT board.
That's how great No Eun-ha's influence was within the academy.
"When I asked her, she was almost a complete stranger to the person involved... She said she posted a story she heard from a friend of a friend of a friend..."
"So in the end it was a story without a clear source."
"That's right. When I went, she was crying and begging saying she was sorry. She promised to post an apology letter later and said she would personally apologize to Yoon I-byeol."
"Then I guess that side of things is finished."
In the end it was slander.
Eun-ha sighed, and friends expressed anger on Yoon I-byeol's behalf.
Because if she had done wrong, one person could have been ruined in an instant.
But it won't be easy to correct a rumor that's already spread...
It's a rumor that's already spread as much as it could.
It could be said that I-byeol's image was tarnished.
Above all, there was no guarantee this wouldn't happen again.
"Well the work seems roughly resolved, and you must be tired today I-byeol, so go back to the dormitory and rest well."
"But I have class..."
"You're already skipping now anyway. It's okay to skip once. If the instructor says anything later, I'll take care of it."
"Okay..."
"Min-ji and Eun-woo, take I-byeol to the dormitory."
"Okay, classes are over anyway."
"Okay, we'll do that."
We couldn't just sit here either.
He decided to start sending friends away now.
Of course, he didn't send all his friends away.
"Let's talk, you guys."
""""...""""
Jung Ha-yang, Yu Do-jun, Jin Seo-na, Mok Min-ho.
The four people seemed to have guessed.
They kept their seats, and the rest of the friends left.
"What should we do from now on?"
People who can have a great influence in this academy.
Eun-ha called them and asked.
"I don't think this issue can be resolved just by posting one apology letter. You probably think so too, right?"
""""...""""
There are places his eyes don't reach.
It was a problem that arose as people increased.
Though he could sufficiently control about 300 people with just his presence, it was somewhat difficult to control 1800 people.
Moreover, when they become 3rd years, even more students will enter.
Therefore, he had to devise a way to prevent students from looking down on his friends.
"─It's simple. Let's just create a privileged class with this opportunity."
Amidst friends falling into thought.
Yu Do-jun broke the silence and opened fire first.
"There are many classes in the academy. Noble distinguishing middle academy graduates and high academy graduates, Royal occupying considerable influence among Nobles, and among high academy entrants there's Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaisya, Sudra, all sorts of things, right?"
There are many classes.
Because of that, the atmosphere of trying to escape status was intense.
Eun-ha agreed with his words.
"But our position is a bit strange. Students jokingly used the term No Eun-ha's group sometimes, then suddenly one day it spread widely and created a new class."
Though it wasn't intentional.
In a way, it might have been intentional.
The strange status called No Eun-ha's group was a status highly evaluated by academy students.
Enough for anyone to acknowledge.
"Let's make No Eun-ha's group an official class this time."
"What do you mean?"
"People belonging to No Eun-ha's group should attach objects like brooches symbolizing class to their bodies. So people will know when they see it."
Yu Do-jun's words had a point.
Though it was an unwelcome story, if they wore brooches symbolizing they were his people, students wouldn't be able to easily touch them.
Eun-ha expressed agreement.
Right then─.
"─I think negatively about it. It feels like it would only fan such conflicts. How will you handle the relative deprivation other kids will feel?"
"So are you saying we should just go around like this? We might be fine but what about the other kids?"
"That's..."
"In a way, today's incident happened because of the relative deprivation students feel towards us. So I think it's better to drive a nail into their hearts with this opportunity."
Yu Do-jun and Jung Ha-yang.
The two people's opinions clashed.
Because both sides were right, Eun-ha couldn't readily affirm either side.
But his heart was drawn to Yu Do-jun's proposal.
It was efficient.
"─Authority comes with that much responsibility. Students are jealous of us because of the potential authority we have."
Just then, Mok Min-ho who had been lost in thought joined the conversation between the two.
He continued speaking looking at the people gathered.
"So I think we should show that we have corresponding responsibility too. If you're thinking of creating a new privileged class, I'd like us to take on proper responsibility, not just take authority. Then students won't just envy us."
"Yes, that's exactly what I wanted to say."
"...Liar. But I don't think Min-ho's story is too negative either."
Authority and responsibility.
Mok Min-ho's argument mediated the two people's opinions.
Eun-ha agreed too.
The problem was how to take responsibility.
"You know the Eun-ha Bell. How about donating in kids' names from now on like that?"
While listening to the three people's stories.
Eun-ha kept pondering.
Even if responsibility according to authority is emphasized, won't those not chosen as the privileged class still be envious?
Won't they still sneer?
"...The academy was a place that emphasized meritocracy."
Then Eun-ha came up with one solution.
An extremely 'No Eun-ha-like' solution.
"The reason some kids become targets of criticism from academy students may be because their skills haven't been properly proven."
"Hmm... That's not wrong."
Eun-ha knows too.
The problem with the group called No Eun-ha's group is that the members were simply chosen by him.
Therefore, among No Eun-ha's group students, there were those whose skills were proven, and those whose skills were not yet proven.
Yoon I-byeol was the latter.
The reason she became a target of envy may be because her skills weren't verified by others before her status.
Then we just need to verify.
"Let's create opportunities to show how much we've trained to receive this treatment."
"Hmm, I think that's a good idea."
"And let's introduce a system where the winner through duels can take that person's brooch."
""""...""""
Occasionally open training classes led by No Eun-ha's group students so they can showcase their skills.
Have students confirm No Eun-ha's group students' skills through duels.
And let the winner have the victor's proof.
If we do that, kids like Lee Cheon-seo might train desperately to not have their brooch taken.
And if I'm lucky, I might be able to discover skilled people I haven't found yet by beating them...
It's truly killing two birds with one stone.
A smile spread on Eun-ha's lips.
But those who had experienced Eun-ha for years realized he was making a chilling smile.
A smile full of schemes.
"Hey... then what about me?"
"Fight in the field you're confident in. It's not like we're not friends just because you lost your brooch anyway..."
"Ah, is that so? Then I guess I'll compete on who has more money."
"No Eun-ha. Then why are you saying to have duels? Isn't that meaningless?"
"Instead, new people could emerge. And people who can't find brooches will inevitably have lowered expectations to some extent."
Duels were giving opportunities to people who didn't catch Eun-ha's eye.
As a side branch, it was also a thought to drive some friends who had become lazy.
"─Hey, guys."
As the conversation was coming to an end.
Seo-na, who hadn't participated in the conversation until now, perked up her triangular ears and spoke.
"I was thinking at the part about not minding doing hard work... How about we do some community service? I used to do it sometimes when I was at church too."
Other friends soon expressed agreement to Seo-na's proposal.
Then Seo-na brightened her face and continued speaking.
"And since we're ultimately players, how about doing service related to players? So other people can see that we work hard as players."
"Hmm... How about making it so other students can participate too?"
Jung Ha-yang added her opinion.
No Eun-ha's group students participate in volunteer activities mandatorily, and others can participate voluntarily.
Thereby making them naturally become close with No Eun-ha's group students.
"The problem is whether there's such suitable service..."
But as Yu Do-jun said.
There was no suitable volunteer activity.
Nevertheless, Eun-ha didn't seriously worry like other friends.
"If there isn't such a thing, we can just make it."
Power is for using at times like this.
Eun-ha suddenly picked up his smartphone in front of his friends.
He searches his contacts and calls someone he knows.
The call tone goes, and after a moment─.
[─...Why. What's the matter now? I'm really scared when you suddenly call after contacting by text.]
"Seo-young noona, it's nothing much."
[Nothing much... Eun-ha, you didn't cause trouble, right? I told you before, please don't cause any problems while at high academy...]
"Come on, why would I cause trouble? I called because I have a favor to ask."
[Sigh... What is it.]
He would cause one big trouble.
No Eun-ha knew, and Shin Seo-young knew too.
☆
[Guys! Did you see that today? As I was walking today, I saw those people wearing something like brooches? What on earth is it? What does it mean???]
└I saw that today too. The brooches were golden.
└Are they members of the National Assembly? lololol
└Isn't that against school rules?
└I asked ㄱㅁㅈ, and that person said they got permission from the academy?
[Hello! This is Jin Seo-na.
I originally just lurked and tried not to mention real names as much as possible, but I'm leaving this post because I have something I want to tell you guys this time.
You probably know about what happened in the cafeteria last week too. That person you talk about (hehe) was really depressed because of it... (You might not know, but he actually has a soft heart ^^;)
After thinking since that day, we decided to get matching brooches to prove our friendship. So if you see someone wearing a brooch, I hope you'll know they're my friend!!!!
Looking at some posts, there were stories asking if it's against school rules, but we got permission from the academy in advance.]
└What? What? Is it really ㅈㅅㄴ?
└OMG ㅠㅠ ㅈㅅㄴ appeared?
└But isn't this complete discrimination? As a 030th grade student, this doesn't seem right...
└Hello, senior! The brooches are just to commemorate friendship. But since Eun-ha's personality is a bit strange... we decided to pass the brooch to people who win in duels ㅠㅠ
└Huh? What does that mean? Explain in detail!
└I want to pat Seo-na's ears.
└OMG ㄷㄷ This guy is completely crazy.
└May the deceased rest in peace.
└How do you know if I'm male or female?
└Quickly delete the comment! You could die if you do this to ㅈㅅㄴ!
└I want to pat even if I die.
└^^;
└Seo-na?
[Notice from the High Academy Planning Department.
Starting from May, there will be a Red Dungeon Player Academy Cleanup Volunteer Activity supervised by Instructor Shin Seo-young once a month.
Applications will be accepted from the 1st to the 15th of each month on the academy homepage.
Participants are limited to students currently attending high academy.]
└Huh????
└I heard from ㅇㅊㅅ that those people's group must participate in this activity unconditionally. They say that's the reason they were allowed to wear brooches?
└Then can I show my skills while doing activities with those people? Wow... It's like a gateway to success?
└I want to touch Seo-na's tail.
└Old man, please...