459

 [Chapter 130]

[Cutting to the Chase (2)]

Year 12 of the New Era.

End of first semester party for the High School Academy.

Unlike the Middle School Academy which only had 900 students with 300 per grade, the High School Academy had over 6,600 students total - 1,800 in both first and second year, and over 3,000 in third year.

The space for 6,600 students to freely mingle on the academy grounds was extremely limited.

Because of this, unlike the Middle School Academy, the High School Academy always held its end-of-semester parties in the same location.

"Have those kids arrived yet?"

"No. I heard they haven't arrived yet. Those brats..."

"Shouldn't first years arrive earlier than their seniors? It wasn't like this in my time..."

"They must think they can look down on seniors because they're from the Middle School Academy. Don't they know only skill matters now?"

"I really came here today to see those bastards' faces."

The Academy Cultural Center Cafeteria.

The cafeteria overlooking the lake had fully opened its glass windows to expand the space for this day.

Tables were set up circling the lake to accommodate many students.

Even though the party hadn't started yet,

The party venue was already packed with people.

"I hear they're calling those kids the Golden Class in the industry these days? Tsk... How much must they have shown off for such talk to come about?"

"I just went on a clan dispatch recently. But there, they kept asking me about those kids. I thought I was going to die of shame, really."

"When I met a scout this time, they suddenly asked me things like that. If I happened to be close with any of the Golden Class kids. Said they'd let me join the clan if I had connections."

It's an event most High School Academy students attend.

As such, it's a good place for gossip to spread, and for promising talents the industry is watching to gather in one place.

So the students attending the venue chattered about the new stars that the academy and industry were paying attention to.

The world called them the Golden Class. Because they were considered the most promising class even among the 3rd generation called the Golden Generation.

"...It's just a product of image marketing. There are direct descendants of top 10 groups among them, and they all receive full support, right? Of course the groups are advertising to promote them."

"I saw their CayouPlay too. Their skills are pretty good for their age. But can't we do that level too?"

"And what, the academy's hidden dragons? That nickname is really embarrassing. I guarantee it'll become an embarrassing past later."

Students considered promising talents in the 29th and 30th classes criticized the name Golden Class as if by agreement.

More precisely, the No Eunha faction that started the Golden Class.

"I'm really dumbfounded... Why are they trying to block our path? Did they really have to go that far?"

"I just find it distasteful. Golden brooch? Well, I don't like how they're promoting discrimination with such things."

It was inevitable for them to dislike the No Eunha faction.

These students about to enter the industry were often compared to the No Eunha faction or overshadowed by the Golden Class's achievements.

Especially students advancing to 3rd year sometimes became old news as the industry's interest focused on 1st years instead.

What's so great about the No Eunha faction!

This was the common reaction of 3rd year students entering the job market.

Separately, students from the High School Academy disliked the No Eunha faction's actions that seemed to promote a privileged class.

"Just let me catch sight of them. I won't let those bastards off easy."

"I don't care if they're direct descendants or whatever, I'm not sponsored by any group so I'll just charge right at them. This is too much even for them."

"Just let those bastards come, really..."

"No, huh? How can they arrive even later than the seniors!? Shouldn't they show some courtesy?"

"I'll give them a proper dog training today, just watch."

So most 29th and 30th class students kept chewing out the No Eunha faction that hadn't even appeared at the party venue yet.

""""...""""

The 031st and 31st class students naturally had to be mindful of their reactions.

There were other classes being cautious too.

"But why are you all so quiet?"

"Cowards. Look how they got all cocky as first years but now they're quiet after their skills were exposed."

""""...""""

It was the 029th and 030th class students from the Middle School Academy.

Those who knew about the No Eunha faction mostly kept their complaints to themselves even if they had any.

They took the stance of staying silent no matter how much the 29th and 30th class students mocked them as cowards.

And finally—

"—Here they come!"

"Are those them?"

"Hmm... They're a bit different from the image I heard about."

The No Eunha faction entered.

At that moment, the gazes of students already at the party venue turned towards them.

While all first years in the High School Academy might know them, there were still some second and third year students who hadn't seen them yet.

The two classes observed the entering students with sharp gazes while talking amongst themselves.

"No Eunha isn't here?"

"Really? Isn't that cold-looking kid in front No Eunha?"

"No, that's Mok Minho. Next to him is Choi Eunhyuk, famous for being No Eunha's lackey, and the wolf-like one is the idiot Jin Parang..."

No Eunha wasn't there.

Hearing this news, the upper class students all frowned.

Some of them gritted their teeth.

It was bad enough they arrived late to the party, but it seemed he planned to arrive even later by himself.

"He's not planning to not come, is he? Party attendance isn't mandatory after all."

"It's tradition for first years to attend. No matter how rude that guy is, he'll attend this party."

"I saw the attendance list earlier, and No Eunha's name was on it."

They whispered amongst themselves.

But their anger didn't subside.

Rather, their anger poured out not on the absent No Eunha, but on the No Eunha faction that entered the venue late.

"—So you're the ones called the Golden Class?"

""""...""""

Finally, someone stepped forward.

A male student ranked in the top 10 among third years, unable to hold back his frustrations, picked a fight with them.

It wasn't just picking a fight.

The male student manifested his internal mana to pressure them.

"Golden Class my ass... How can you be called the Golden Class when you can't even withstand this properly? Oh, maybe Shit Class would be more fitting!"

And including him,

Upper class students who hadn't been able to shine properly due to being overshadowed by the name No Eunha faction also contributed to dominating the atmosphere.

The suffocating atmosphere pressed down not just on the No Eunha faction, but on all students present.

"Oh? You're enduring?"

"...Seems you've learned some high-level control techniques."

Nevertheless, the students known as the No Eunha faction didn't yield to the pressure created by the majority.

"...What are you doing?"

Mok Minho, Choi Eunhyuk, Jin Parang.

The three revealed their hostility.

Mok Minho even showed the boldness to step forward, putting the other two behind him.

"...What do you mean what? It's an initiation ceremony."

And the students led by the male student momentarily faltered upon feeling the energy emitted by the three.

Even if they had driven away the pressure, the power to dominate the atmosphere still lay with themselves for now.

Moreover, some students were even adding additional energy.

"...Ugh..."

See that.

The students smiled coldly.

Bong Gurae, Yoon Ibyeol, Ariel.

The students who joined the No Eunha faction this year showed signs of struggling.

Eventually, Yoon Ibyeol reached the point of needing Cha Eunwoo's support.

Just then.

""""...""""

The flow suddenly changed.

The energy that was about to press down completely stopped moving.

As if pushing away that energy, a new energy was swelling up.

"...Impossible."

Someone exclaimed in shock.

It couldn't be helped.

The pressuring energy combined by the students was pushed back without even putting up a fight.

"—I don't think there's supposed to be... anything like an initiation ceremony."

Alice Group's direct descendant and <The Seed> of <Index > Yoon Seongjin, Jung Hayang.

She who had been quietly observing the situation walked out while driving away the students' energy.

It wasn't just her.

"—Initiation ceremony?"

In the space where heavy pressure had settled.

There was one person walking over so nonchalantly from over there.

The students who had been in a daze were startled to see him who appeared last, and made way.

The crowd parted like waves.

He walked through the path people made for him as if it was only natural.

""""...""""

Thud thud.

Footsteps could be heard.

The students who had dominated the atmosphere lost their momentum upon seeing him approach.

Thud thud.

The distance gradually closed.

Each time, his presence grew markedly larger.

"I didn't even know there was such a thing. You should have said something if there was. Then I would have come on time."

The students hastily shook their heads.

Even though he hadn't manifested mana.

His presence was coiling around as if dominating the atmosphere.

At some point—

"—Looks like we're in for quite an initiation ceremony today."

""""...!""""

Suddenly, several students clutched their necks and collapsed to the ground.

They couldn't breathe.

The atmosphere that had been pressuring the No Eunha faction was now directed at them at some point.

By the time they realized, it was already too late.

"—Stop showing off and just sleep."

The protagonist of the Golden Class, No Eunha.

His eyes held a fierce light.

☆

He was later than expected.

Might as well take it slow since I'm already late.

Eunha decided to return to the academy with a leisurely mindset after finishing his appointment with Han Seoyeon.

Anyway, the High School Academy's end-of-semester party was a place for students to build friendships, not a place where academic evaluations were reflected.

It didn't matter whether you attended or not.

How am I supposed to know about the academy's traditions?

It's not like traditions put food on the table.

Implicitly, first year students of the High School Academy had to attend the first semester's end-of-semester party.

But Eunha didn't care much.

Nevertheless, the reason he intended to attend was because an incident occurs at the first year first semester end-of-semester party.

I can't miss seeing the incident where On Taeyang gains recognition from people.

It's a very significant event.

Perhaps the starting point of <Braver >.

Eunha attended the end-of-semester party specifically to see this in person.

Thanks to this, his friends ended up entering the party venue late while waiting for him.

And when he arrived—

"—Why are you doing this to kids who are just doing well?"

His friends were being checked.

The 29th and 30th class students were asserting their seniority.

Eunha looked down at the students having nightmares from the Stygian Eye.

There were some students whose faces he recognized.

But they weren't students Eunha was particularly keeping an eye on.

"You're not hurt anywhere, right?"

Even so, the pressure they created was considerable.

If Mok Minho, Choi Eunhyuk, and Jin Parang hadn't been at the forefront withstanding the pressure, the damage would have been even worse.

Eunha patted Yoon Ibyeol's back as she choked and spoke.

"Ugh! No Eunha, how could you!? Shouldn't you have come quickly? Did you want to see me pass out?"

"Well, you seem fine."

Compared to Yoon Ibyeol, Ariel recovered quickly.

She quickly regained her energy and grumbled while lightly hitting Eunha's back.

Eunha showed no interest.

From experience, it was better to ignore her moderately as she seemed to have attachment issues.

It was also too tiring to deal with her every single time.

"Bae Subin. Stop that right now. I don't know what you're trying to do, but just stay still."

Meanwhile, even though the commotion had ended, Bae Subin was in the middle of deploying some kind of magic.

It looked like dangerous magic that Eunha didn't even need to examine the technique.

So he stopped her casting while dragging Ariel along.

"I have my own thoughts too. I wouldn't use that kind of magic in a place like this. It's not as dangerous as you think."

"Then what is it?"

"Um... Magic that makes my reflection in mirrors look like maggots?"

"...Why did you create such magic?"

"I'd appreciate if you didn't criticize other people's magic hobbies. You haven't contributed anything to me..."

It's an incredibly grotesque magic.

Eunha sighed seeing her retort shamelessly.

He wondered what on earth she had been doing on Mara Island.

Bae Subin will grow well on her own.

She'll grow well... probably...?

Bae Subin was a caster.

So Eunha, being a dealer, generally didn't actively involve himself in her training.

But he was starting to think he should get involved a little.

He had believed in her until now, but looking at her now, he felt somewhat uneasy.

"What, what is it? Do you have something to say?"

"...You can do well on your own, right?"

"I could do well if only you weren't around."

Bae Subin retorted with a sullen face.

Eunha decided to leave her be.

Come to think of it, she was the type to study better when alone, and would work hard to win when she had rivals.

So he turned to check on the condition of the others.

Just then—

"—Why did you come so late."

Suddenly, Jung Hayang bumped her forehead against his chest.

It seems confronting the majority had been burdensome for her.

Thinking back, Eunha realized this was probably the first time she had tried to shake off pressure alone.

It was understandable for her to be tense.

"It's okay, you did well."

"You're always late to appointments... I'm going to tell Euna unni everything."

"Yeah, I'm sorry. It's my fault."

So Jung Hayang seemed to resent him for arriving late.

She lightly grabbed his clothes and bumped her head like a woodpecker.

"You're really bad. Bad..."

"No Eunha, are you going to keep ignoring me? If you do this, I'll really be hurt? I'm telling you I'm hurt? I said I'm hurt!"

"...Okay, okay. I said I'm sorry."

"I, I was scared too..."

Jung Hayang in front.

Ariel in back.

Somehow ending up captured by the two, he had to repeatedly apologize in bewilderment.

Yoon Ibyeol had joined in at some point too.

Thanks to this, he ended up consuming considerable mental energy and time soothing and comforting his friends.

""""...""""

Of course, having caused such a commotion, it was inevitable that students' gazes would be drawn to them.

But even if they were gazes, they weren't necessarily unfavorable gazes towards them.

There were many favorable gazes too.

Some students shrugged their shoulders at what they were saying.

And there were people trying to approach them—

—It's been a really long time since I've seen those two.

Eunha looked at the man and woman approaching while waving.

Their bickering appearance as they came over was quite heartwarming.

"—Hey guys! Are you okay?"

"You must have been really scared, right? I'm sorry. We should have given you a heads up..."

<Poison Immunity> Yoo Namhoon.

And his childhood friend Yeowoobi.

The two who had continued their connection since the first year end-of-semester party 3 years ago spoke to them.

☆

When the pressure created by the 29th and 30th year students engulfed the No Eunha faction,

Mok Minho, Choi Eunhyuk, and Jin Parang stepped forward and absorbed the pressure.

Meanwhile, Cha Eunwoo protected friends not yet accustomed to mana resistance, and Jung Hayang tried to drive away the pressure.

But the person who contributed most to alleviating the suffocating pressure was someone else.

"—Hey, Eunha. I was here too... You didn't forget about me, did you? Huh? You have nothing to say to me...?"

Hidden behind the three who stepped forward.

Kang Sihyung, who used a magic called "Taking the Blame" to focus the target on himself as much as possible, surprisingly received no one's attention.

"I mean, I don't expect to be praised for doing what's natural, but. Somehow you guys forgot..."

Friends are chattering excitedly around No Eunha.

Kang Sihyung tried to squeeze in between them to subtly announce his achievements.

But as Ariel started whining while clinging to Eunha, his presence became even more faint.

"...I'll just enjoy the party on my own."

He was tempted to use his Gift out of spite to draw attention.

But Kang Sihyung decided to quietly slip away as he watched No Eunha seemingly being ganged up on by the girls.

Hoshimiya Kaede, who was attending the party separately from them, also seemed fed up and was glimpsed turning away.

"As expected of No Eunha!? Eunha, see how those guys got scared when you came!? Right, guys...huh? Seona, right...huh? Hey! Where are you going!?"

"Sigh, everything Eunha does is like that. Eunwoo, let's go scold Eunha too."

Lee Cheonsu is trying his best to somehow fit into the atmosphere.

But surprisingly, no one paid him any attention.

They treat him like he doesn't exist.

Kang Sihyung decided he'd rather enjoy the end-of-semester party alone than deal with this.

Just then, someone suddenly put their hand on Kang Sihyung's shoulder—

"—It's okay, honey. I understand your feelings completely. Thanks for helping."

"...Gurae..."

It was Bong Gurae.

He who had collapsed after using his body as a shield to protect Yoon Ibyeol and Ariel nodded as if he understood everything.

Occasionally when Eunha received attention, the male students inevitably received relatively less attention.

At those times, he would always take care of those who were left out in some way.

"...Gurae, there's really no one but you..."

"Yeah, well, people can be like that sometimes. They'll know what they did too. Let's just forget all that and have a drink. Here, cheers."

Kang Sihyung was touched.

Receiving the glass Bong Gurae handed him, he thought tearfully that he had at least one good friend.