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 [Chapter 157]

[Noh Eun-ha Squad (3)]

Twelve Zodiac <Thunder Emperor> Lee Do-jin.

He, who had to go on a business trip to the provinces for a while, visited Silla Clan after a long time.

"─I will return to duty at Silla Clan starting today."

"You probably haven't rested properly since you've been traveling around the provinces, why don't you take a few days off instead of returning to clan work right away? I'll give you plenty of vacation days."

"No. I prefer working. And even if I got vacation days, I'd just feel restless with nothing to do."

"How can there be any meaning in life if you live so boringly... Rather than that, why don't you date? There are plenty of people who like you, Do-jin."

"Dating... I want to, but there's no one I'm interested in, and I don't have time to meet anyone because of work."

"This won't do, that won't do... Alright, then return to clan duties starting today."

"Yes, understood."

He, who had just entered his early 30s this year, showed his face to Silla Clan Lord Kim Yu-jin.

Kim Yu-jin, who was doing paperwork, welcomed him with a smirk.

Then she spoke as if she had just thought of something.

"That's right. Even if you return to work, there probably won't be a suitable position since I've already made this month's shift. So how about doing something else in the meantime?"

"Something else... you say? What kind of..."

"The little chicks from the academy came for internships this time. How about taking care of those kids as their senior, and also think of it as promoting the clan?"

"Kids? Ah, come to think of it, around this time the academy..."

"Let's get up for now. It would be better to go check directly."

Academy students' clan internships.

Lee Do-jin nodded as if he understood after hearing Kim Yu-jin's words.

It was one of the annual events for 3rd year high school academy students.

He had experienced it too.

─It was tough back then because of Hyeon-cheol. When Hyeon-cheol caused trouble and got punished, I had to be punished too....

To think that guy is now a Clan Lord leading a clan... Neither I nor he could have imagined it back then.

Lee Do-jin burst out laughing as he recalled old memories.

Kim Yu-jin, who was walking alongside him after leaving the office, made a puzzled expression.

Soon she continued speaking as if it was a usual occurrence, not minding.

"The kids who came for internships this time are quite in the spotlight. So I'd like you to treat them well so they become interested in our clan."

"Kids in the spotlight... Seeing the Clan Lord speak like that, they must be quite amazing kids."

"You'll probably be surprised when you see their skills later. Have you heard of the Noh Eun-ha squad?"

"Noh Eun-ha squad?"

"...You don't know?"

"I've been so busy with work..."

"You're so uninterested in your surroundings..."

Hearing the words Noh Eun-ha squad.

Lee Do-jin tilted his head.

Kim Yu-jin, who had her arms crossed, clicked her tongue and explained about the Noh Eun-ha squad.

Only then did he answer that he had heard of it before.

Ah, I thought I had heard of it somewhere, so it was that kid.

Certainly... was it the student who obtained the Chuksa Danyujomun-gyeong?

And last year he defeated the 4th rank monster Gakgunbong....

<Quick-witted > Noh Eun-ha.

Even Lee Do-jin, who usually didn't stay in Seoul and moved around the provinces, had heard of it once.

He couldn't help but be greatly surprised when he heard the rumors about him.

He even thought he'd like to meet him once if he got the chance.

It seemed Kim Yu-jin felt the same way.

"So we also nominated Noh Eun-ha and submitted a proposal to the academy. But he's dating a direct descendant of Alice Group..."

"I guess so. It can't be helped that he went to Hye-rim's clan. Then the kids who came this time are Noh Eun-ha's friends?"

"Yes. It's a shame, but they also have quite good skills. Just recently, they even pushed back Dang-won with a joint attack, you know?"

"Senior Do Dang-won?"

Do Dang-won was one of the Six Stars, the top players in Silla Clan.

But students who weren't even players yet pushed back one of the Six Stars by joining forces?

Lee Do-jin couldn't help but be shocked hearing Kim Yu-jin's story.

What kind of kids are they?

Even though he hadn't met them yet.

He was already curious about the students he hadn't met yet.

And not long after.

The place Kim Yu-jin guided him to was where the training room was inside the clan hall.

"You can check what kind of kids they are yourself now. The kids you'll be in charge of for the time being are over there."

"..."

Kim Yu-jin pointed to two people chatting with clan members at one side of the training room.

Lee Do-jin decided to approach them closely.

One was a female student with her hair tied up.

The other was a male Ain student with wolf ears.

They seemed to notice his gaze─.

""─Ah...!!""

"...Huh?"

"It looks like they recognized you."

The two shouted at the same time.

Then they suddenly started running towards him.

It was like a tank charging.

Lee Do-jin was flustered, wondering if he should avoid his spot.

But in that time, they had already run right up in front of him.

Soon the two spoke.

No, one person shouted─.

"─Hell...ack...! Kim Min-ji, you...!"

"─Kyaaah! Do-jin oppa!!! I really really missed you!"

"Uh... yeah. Hello."

The female student came so close she was clinging to him, her eyes sparkling brightly.

Lee Do-jin couldn't help but feel burdened by the female student's enthusiastic welcome.

Meanwhile, the male student who had approached him first was knocked back after taking the female student's elbow.

"Are you done with all your Twelve Zodiac work? I heard you had a lot of work, you didn't get hurt anywhere...?"

"Ahaha... I'm fine. What's your name?"

"Kim Min-ji!"

"Kim Min-ji?"

When he asked for her name.

The female student answered immediately.

Lee Do-jin tilted his head for a moment after hearing her name.

Strange? It's a name that sounds familiar....

A name he seemed to have heard somewhere.

But he decided not to pay much attention to it.

Kim Min-ji was such a common name, he must have heard it before.

She didn't seem to mind either.

Lee Do-jin gave a bitter smile seeing her overjoyed as soon as she shook hands with him.

Just then─.

"─Hyung!"

"...Huh?"

Pushing Kim Min-ji aside.

The Ain male student who had gotten up suddenly grabbed his hand.

The male student was bold.

Lee Do-jin really liked his spirit.

"What's with 'hyung', hyung! Why is Do-jin oppa Binggu oppa's hyung?"

"If someone's doing better than me, they're hyung! And you're calling him oppa too..."

"Oppa and hyung are different, you know?"

"Anyway, forget it, forget it!"

"Uh... kids? Can you not fight?"

Kim Min-ji and the male student who introduced himself as Jin Pa-rang bickered.

Lee Do-jin tried to intervene and mediate their fight.

Then Jin Pa-rang suddenly opened his mouth towards him.

"─Hyung! Hyung! Hyung! Let's have a match!"

"Huh?"

"Binggu oppa! What are you saying so rudely!?"

"When else would I get to fight a Twelve Zodiac? Right? Hyung! Hyung! Let's fight once."

What a bold male student.

It also reminded him of his friend he often fought with during his school days.

Lee Do-jin unknowingly smiled.

"─Alright, sure. But hyung won't go easy on you just because you're students, okay?"

"Hyung! As expected, our hyung is the best!"

"Uh, I don't want to fight Do-jin oppa... What is this because of Binggu oppa..."

☆

<Silent > Yoo Su-jin.

She, who became one of the Twelve Zodiac at the youngest age, was now in an executive position within Tempest Clan.

However, she didn't have many duties.

Because she openly slacked off.

"Hmm..."

It was during a clan meeting.

She, who had been dozing off while just occupying a seat, somehow woke up.

The first two thoughts that came to her mind when she woke up were─.

─Where am I?

I'm hungry.

She was faithful to her desires rather than reason.

She, who determined her course of action based on desire, suddenly stood up from her seat.

Of course, the executives conducting the meeting couldn't help but turn their heads towards Yoo Su-jin who had suddenly stood up.

""""..."""""

"Why did you suddenly stand up?"

Amidst the executives' bewilderment.

Tempest Clan Lord Kang Ye-hee spoke up.

She, wearing glasses that made her look fierce, exuded an atmosphere that made people feel intimidated just by looking at her.

But it was no use in front of <Silent >.

"I'm hungry."

""""..."""""

<Silent > had the power to instantly turn that place into silence.

Those present couldn't help but be dumbfounded by the words she uttered.

Of course, Kang Ye-hee stared at her with a turbulent gaze.

But by then─.

"─I'll go eat and come back."

""""..."""""

Yoo Su-jin proudly passed by Kang Ye-hee and left the meeting room.

Kang Ye-hee and the other executives sighed as if they didn't even want to stop her anymore.

Meanwhile, Yoo Su-jin who left the meeting room first entered the cafeteria inside the clan hall.

"Everything from the top left to the bottom right."

"Okay, you don't need dessert?"

"...Thank you."

Even the people working in the cafeteria now understood her eating habits.

She wiped her mouth with her forearm after drooling at the word dessert.

Then she found a suitable seat and tasted each dish that came out one by one.

It didn't take long for her to devour the food.

"...Gun."

When she had filled her stomach.

The option of returning to the meeting room had already disappeared from her mind.

As post-meal exercise.

Yoo Su-jin shouldered a large sniper rifle and headed to the underground shooting range.

─Bang

During the time when clan members were busy working.

She, who thought there would be no one at the shooting range, discovered clan members who were already occupying seats.

No.

Soon she denied it.

They weren't clan members, but students who had recently come from the academy for internships.

She had heard they were promising talents.

But she, who was originally uninterested in others, didn't remember their names.

Of course, she hadn't even talked to them.

"─Ang. Mm, delicious!"

"..."

So she was just going to ignore them.

She, who had taken a seat on one side, turned her gaze to the female student sitting not far away.

"As expected, sausages eaten at the shooting range are the best! Noh Eun-ha wouldn't know, right?"

"...Looks delicious."

Sitting on a chair under the light.

The female student with pink hair and scales on both sides was eating sausages while swinging her legs, not even aware of her presence.

Then their eyes met.

No─.

"─Wung? Oh! It's the silent unni!"

"..."

"Hello!"

"...Hello."

Yoo Su-jin approached her.

Because the unusually red sausage, different from regular sausages, caught her attention.

Soon the Ain female student seemed to notice her gaze.

"Ah, this? Eun-ha Eun-ha gave it to me as a gift to eat as a snack, oh, about who Eun-ha Eun-ha is..."

"Where's it from?"

"It's from Luminous! It's really red, right? It's quite spicy, you know? It seems like it would be perfect as a drinking snack..."

"..."

"Would you like a bite?"

"...Just one bite?"

The female student chattering away explaining something.

But Yoo Su-jin couldn't hear any words.

Then the words 'just one bite' entered her ears.

Disappointment showed on her face.

Because there were a few more sausages on the table where the female student was sitting.

"...Just one."

"I was saving this to give to Geurae..."

"Just one."

"Enjoy?"

"Yes, I eat well."

"Do you drink well?"

"Yes, I drink well."

"If you buy me a drink later, I'll think about it."

"Yes, sounds good."

It was something that normal people's minds could never understand.

But the two reached a dramatic agreement.

Yoo Su-jin sat down in the chair next to the female student.

Then she slowly peeled off the sausage skin the girl handed her.

"Ah..."

"It's delicious, right? Right?"

"Yes."

One bite, then another bite.

Yoo Su-jin tasted the sausage.

She understood why the female student had been swinging her legs earlier.

She felt like doing that too.

"What's your name?"

"Ariel!"

"I'm..."

"I know your name, unni! It's Yoo Su-jin, right?"

"Yes."

"Hehe, I made friends with a Twelve Zodiac."

"Friends?"

"We shared sausages, so we're friends! They say if you share food, you become friends!"

"Yes, that's right."

Yoo Su-jin.

She had a personality that just went with the flow.

Whatever the female student named Ariel said, Yoo Su-jin expressed agreement in front of food as if it didn't matter.

Then a little while later─.

"─Oh my?"

"Is that Geurae Bong Gu-rae?"

"Honey, the person next to you is..."

"I made food friends with her!"

"We became friends."

"Oh my?"

When the shooting sounds ended.

A tall male student walked over from the end of the shooting range.

Yoo Su-jin greeted the flustered male student without hesitation.

Meanwhile, the target board the male student was holding caught her eye─.

"─Let me see."

"...Here."

Yoo Su-jin suddenly held out her hand.

The male student hesitantly handed her the shooting target.

She slowly traced the bullet holes with her finger─.

"─You shot well."

"Oh my."

"It looked like you were shooting moving targets from far away in night shooting conditions, not bad."

Yoo Su-jin praised the male student.

The corners of the male student's mouth turned up.

"Is that a Hecate?"

"Yes, this one fits me best. Then senior..."

"That's right. Though I modified it."

Bong Gu-rae and Yoo Su-jin.

They chatted while comparing their devices.

She only became talkative about fields she was interested in.

Meanwhile, Ariel, who had been chewing on sausages and looking for a chance to join in─.

"─Don't play without me!"

Ariel waved her arms up and down.

☆

Gyeonggi-do Siheung City.

Eun-ah and Cha Eun-woo, who came out for relief work, quickly responded to Park Hye-rim's instructions.

"A-rank risk patients this way!"

"Unni! This person's condition is very critical, can I treat them!?"

"Yes, I'll leave it to you, Eun-ah."

 "I think I can treat C-rank risk patients too!"

"Eun-woo, you... No, I'll leave it to you!"

There were so many injured people.

They had to move busily without being able to rest properly.

Even so, the situation improved as supporters gathered and performed wide-area healing magic.

Park Hye-rim, who had finally gotten some breathing room, looked at Cha Eun-woo treating the injured.

She had heard that Eun-woo excelled at healing magic...

Didn't they say she had a gift perfectly suited for this field, to the point of being able to neutralize students affected by the 4th rank monster Gakgunbong?

Cha Eun-woo, focused on treatment.

Park Hye-rim was impressed by how she, still just a student, was treating people quickly without getting nervous.

Practice and reality were different.

Students who learned at the academy usually trembled when put into real situations that were completely different from what they imagined.

But she wasn't shaking at all, treating patients without faltering.

What an amazing kid.

Is it because she's experienced a lot of real situations?

Real experience is important.

That was why she, who held such a belief, had advised Eun-ah, who was once an academy student, to go on hospital internships.

But Cha Eun-woo was skilled even though she probably hadn't experienced such internships at all.

In a way, it was natural.

The 031 batch she was part of must have gone through many incidents.

Having thought that far, Park Hye-rim soon approached Cha Eun-woo, who was about to take a breather after finishing treatment.

"Hm? Hye-rim unni?"

"It's tough, isn't it?"

"No, I'm fine."

"It's good to rest when you're tired. It's not good to always say you're fine no matter what."

After spending several days eating and sleeping together.

Park Hye-rim had become close enough for Cha Eun-woo to call her unni.

Of course, it was because Park Hye-rim had insisted on being called unni.

Anyway, she smiled gently and spoke words she had been holding for days.

"─Want to learn from me?"

"What?"

"It might seem strange to suggest becoming my <The Seed> now, so how about just learning from me?"

There's a thought that's almost common to players who have reached a certain position.

They, who always have death by their side, think about the world after their death.

Or worry about it.

Hoping someone will remember them.

Hoping someone will carry on their will.

Players tried to raise people to carry on their will in various ways.

Park Hye-rim was the same.

"─I want to learn!!"

Cha Eun-woo, who had always admired <Holy Mother>, answered without hesitation.

☆

Leaving Noh Eun-ah and Cha Eun-woo behind.

Eun-ha and Ryu Yeon-hwa, who had finished some relief work, returned to the clan.

Eun-ha, who had finished resolving distortions in the morning, was sparring with Ryu Yeon-hwa in the underground training room.

─How does this noona keep getting stronger every time we spar?

Eun-ha clicked his tongue inwardly while blocking her spear.

Since coming to Regulus Clan for the internship.

This was now the third time he was sparring with her.

Ryu Yeon-hwa showed a completely different side each time.

...Left.

She quickly overcame her weaknesses.

Though it was a simple spar without using magic.

Eun-ha, who had won against her on the first day, tried the same method on the second day but ended up losing.

Right...

Huh?

And the third spar.

By this time, word had spread to clan members, and clan members with free time had come to watch the training room.

Receiving the gazes of clan members.

And receiving the watchful eyes of <Madam > Bebe who was monitoring him.

Eun-ha faced Ryu Yeon-hwa.

Swish

At first it was evenly matched.

But Ryu Yeon-hwa quickly made the flow hers and pressed on.

He had no choice but to block attacks while looking for an opening.

Then he fell for her feint attack.

The spear shaft that was curving to the right suddenly reversed and curved to the left.

Ching!

Eun-ha, who had misjudged the attack, couldn't help but be greatly flustered.

But he was able to easily block her attack.

Because─.

─When did you copy mine again?

Because you showed it yesterday.

It was an attack method Eun-ha sometimes used when using Gwangmu.

Eun-ha, who exchanged thoughts with her through eye contact, greatly widened the distance.

Then Ryu Yeon-hwa closed the distance.

Eun-ha charged as if he had been waiting for this moment.

"...!"

Ryu Yeon-hwa, with her long attack range, couldn't help but be flustered by his sudden charge.

But Eun-ha avoided her spear, sliding as if doing a slide tackle, and approached her.

Then he hit the ground with one hand and quickly used the rebound to go behind her back.

"...I lost."

And after several exchanges.

Ryu Yeon-hwa, who had her back taken once, finally couldn't overcome his pressure and admitted defeat.

Only then did Eun-ha lower his sword.

"When did you get so strong again?"

"What about you, Eun-ha. Now even I can't keep up with you."

"Noona didn't even use <Ice Flower>, so what are you saying?"

"You didn't use magic either. Now you can use fire too."

"Still, I probably can't beat noona who can handle ice, right?"

"Want to... try once?"

"What? Here? No, forget it. What if we get hurt."

"I guess..."

The clan members applaud.

Those who confirmed Eun-ha's skills with their own eyes cheer.

Eun-ha lightly greeted them and chatted with Yeon-hwa.

It was then.

"Huh?"

""""..."""""

Just as people's cheers were dying down.

A player suddenly appeared in the training room.

<Swift Sword> Byun Ji-seong.

He frowned as soon as he entered the training room.

"What's this? Why are you all here? Not working, I see?"

""""..."""""

What was he so dissatisfied about.

Byun Ji-seong spitting out irritation.

Soon he discovered Eun-ha and Ryu Yeon-hwa in the largest sparring area.

"Ha..."

Then he snorted.

He had grasped the situation.

He approached the two.

"─So Ryu Yeon-hwa was teaching you a thing or two in sparring, I see?"

"..."

"Well, did you learn a lot?"

"Senior Byun Ji-seong. What brings you here..."

"I came to swing my sword because I was feeling stuffy, and here you are. What, is there something to watch..."

Byun Ji-seong grumbles.

Eun-ha stared at him blankly.

Ryu Yeon-hwa stood in front of Eun-ha, trying to face Byun Ji-seong.

But she couldn't block Byun Ji-seong's gaze and mouth.

"─So, you're the academy's promising talent? Ryu Yeon-hwa probably went easy on you because she's close to you, so I'm not sure if you properly checked your skills."

"..."

"Since it's come to this... Good timing. I was going to warm up anyway, so you can help me."

""""..."""""

"You'd want to properly check your skills too, right? This Ryu Yeon-hwa probably went easy on you because you're Noh Eun-ah's brother, so she couldn't properly check."

"Senior."

"Ryu Yeon-hwa, you stay quiet. How dare you interrupt when a senior is speaking?"

""""..."""""

"How about it? I'll teach you a thing or two. No, should I be the one learning? From <Quick-witted > who there are many doubts about whether he really defeated a 4th rank monster alone."

In front of many people.

Byun Ji-seong laughs loudly.

But no one else could laugh.

Just moments ago, the people here had clearly seen Eun-ha and Ryu Yeon-hwa's spar with their own eyes.

And Eun-ha─.

"─Shall I teach you a thing or two?"

"...What? What did you just say?"

Eun-ha, upset by Byun Ji-seong's attitude towards Ryu Yeon-hwa.

Spoke bluntly.

"─Just swordsmanship, without using magic. Is that okay?"

"You rude little..."

""""..."""""

At this moment, he didn't know.

The fact that one should never expect manners from Noh Eun-ha.

"Go ahead and learn from this rude kid."

Manners were thrown out the window before the regression.