The Aftermath of Orientation

Dean Man-shik stood before the assembled students, his voice carrying across the main hall with an air of finality.

"Congratulations to all of you for your participation in today's activities," he announced, his words punctuated by polite applause from the students. "I hope that this orientation has provided valuable insights and experiences as you begin your journey here at NexaCorp Korea University."

As the dean's words filled the air, Joon-ho couldn't help but feel a sense of irony creeping in. Despite the intended purpose of the activities, he found himself questioning their true value in the face of betrayal and underhanded tactics. Nevertheless, as Dean Man-shik signalled the end of the orientation, Joon-ho reluctantly acknowledged the finality of the moment.

"Class will resume next Monday," Dean Man-shik continued, his tone authoritative yet congenial. "In the meantime, I encourage you all to familiarise yourselves with the NCK points system, which will now be in effect."

With a final nod of dismissal, he gestured for the students to depart for the day, the sound of their footsteps echoing throughout the hall.

Joon-ho couldn't shake the tension that lingered in the air as the students filed out in orderly rows. Hushed murmurs and exchanged glances spoke volumes, each student grappling with their thoughts and emotions in the aftermath of the day's events.

Despite the camaraderie that had initially filled the hall, there was now an undeniable sense of unease and distrust among the student body. As Joon-ho made his way out alongside his peers, he couldn't help but wonder what challenges lay ahead in the days to come.

As the evening settled in and the main hall emptied, Joon-ho found himself surrounded by the lingering chatter of students milling about. Before he could even think to check his phone for his friend's whereabouts, his gaze fell upon Soo-jin and Sang-hee waiting in a corner. With a quick nod of acknowledgement, he approached them, exchanging a brief greeting.

"Hey, Joon-ho! Perfect timing, we were just about to go look for you," Soo-jin exclaimed, her face brightening with excitement. Without missing a beat, she gestured towards a direction, her eyes alight with anticipation.

Following her gaze, Joon-ho spotted Hyun-ae walking among the departing students, heading towards the exit of the main building. Although she waved back in acknowledgement, she continued on her path, seemingly preoccupied with her thoughts.

Soo-jin let out a disappointed sigh, her hopes of introducing Hyun-ae to Joon-ho dashed in an instant.

"I really wanted you two to meet," she lamented.

Joon-ho offered a reassuring smile.

"Actually, I had the chance to get to know Hyun-ae earlier," he revealed, hoping to alleviate Soo-jin's disappointment.

Sang-hee chimed in, adding her perspective to the conversation.

"I told Soo-jin that it might happen, considering you both are Junglers," she remarked, a note of encouragement in her voice.

As they exchanged tales of their orientation activities, Sang-hee recounted her experience as part of the Mage group, led by Instructor Hye-won.

"It was relatively relaxed," she remarked with a hint of amusement. "We had to showcase our best spells, which was nerve-wracking, but not as intense as what you guys went through. Based on the whispers, I'm pretty sure you both had a more intense activity."

Soo-jin nodded in agreement before launching into her account of the day's events.

"I had to participate in a 1v1 as a Fighter," she explained, her tone tinged with frustration. "And let me tell you, it wasn't easy. My opponent was incredibly skilled. Her name was Hana Do, and she was practically the talk of our group after our match."

Joon-ho listened intently, his mind racing with memories of his own encounter with Hana. He resisted the urge to share his knowledge with the others, realizing that now wasn't the time. Instead, he offered a sympathetic nod.

"It sounds like you both had quite the day," he remarked, attempting to steer the conversation away from his thoughts. "I guess we all faced our fair share of challenges today."

"Did I hear someone mention Hana Do?" came a voice from behind them, catching them off guard.

As they turned, they saw Kang-dae approaching, his expression curious. His unexpected arrival piqued their interest, knowing that Kang-dae was well-versed in the intricacies of NexaRealm. They welcomed his insight into the topic of Hana Do, eager to learn more about this formidable player.

"Hana Do, huh?" Kang-dae mused, his expression thoughtful as he continued. "She's no ordinary player. Ranked second in Korea in the Fighter leaderboard, she's earned her place among the elite. Her skills are unmatched, from what I've heard."

Soo-jin's eyes widened in realization, recalling her defeat at Hana's hands earlier in the day.

"She was incredible," she admitted, her tone a mixture of awe and frustration. "I couldn't believe how skilled she was."

Joon-ho nodded in agreement, his mind racing with thoughts of how Hana's abilities compared to those of his childhood friend.

"If Soo-jin says she's impressive, then she must be," he remarked, his voice tinged with respect. "She is definitely not someone to underestimate."

As they mulled over Kang-dae's words, a sense of anticipation filled the air. They knew that facing opponents like Hana in NexaRealm would be no easy feat, but they were determined to rise to the challenge, just as they had during the orientation activities. With Kang-dae's insight fueling their determination, they vowed to hone their skills and prove themselves in the competitive world of NexaRealm.

As they pondered the absence of Kyu, Joon-ho, Soo-jin, and Sang-hee exchanged puzzled glances, their concern growing with each passing moment.

"Do you know where Kyu might be?" Joon-ho finally asked Kang-dae, hoping for some clarity on the matter.

Kang-dae shook his head, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"I saw him heading off with the director earlier," he replied, his tone tinged with uncertainty. "But I didn't think much of it at the time."

Sang-hee's eyes widened in surprise, her mind racing with questions.

"What could they be doing together?" she mused aloud, her voice laced with curiosity.

"Yeah, it's strange. I wonder why the director would call for Kyu specifically," Soo-jin nodded in agreement, her expression reflecting their shared intrigue.

Kang-dae shrugged, indicating his lack of knowledge on the matter.

"I'm not sure," he admitted. "But whatever it is, it must be important if the director summoned him."

As they mulled over the possibilities, the realization sank in that Kyu might not be joining them for their walk back. With heavy hearts, they reluctantly accepted the situation and began to make their way out of the main building, their thoughts lingering on the mystery of Kyu's whereabouts.

As they walked back together, Joon-ho couldn't shake the lingering sense of unease regarding Kyu's whereabouts. Despite the pleasant evening breeze and the camaraderie of his friends, his thoughts kept returning to the unanswered questions surrounding Kyu's mysterious rendezvous with the director. Beside him, Kang-dae remained deep in thought, his usual easygoing demeanour overshadowed by the gravity of their conversation.

As they approached the separation lane leading to the male and female dorms, a subtle tension permeated the air. Joon-ho exchanged a nod with Kang-dae, silently acknowledging their shared concern before turning to bid farewell to Sang-hee and Soo-jin.

"Take care, you two," he said, offering a reassuring smile despite the lingering worry in his mind.

Sang-hee returned the smile, her eyes reflecting a similar sense of apprehension.

"You too, Joon-ho, and Kang-dae" she replied, her voice tinged with concern. "And let us know if you hear anything from Kyu, okay?"

Joon-ho nodded, silently promising to keep them informed if any new developments arose. With a final wave, he and Kang-dae veered off towards the male dormitory, their footsteps echoing in the quiet evening air.

As they walked side by side, Joon-ho found solace in Kang-dae's presence, grateful for the unspoken support of his roommate. Despite the uncertainty that loomed over them, their shared bond offered a sense of reassurance amidst the unknown.

Meanwhile, Sang-hee and Soo-jin continued on their way to the female dormitory, their conversation filled with speculation about Kyu's unexpected absence.

"Do you think everything's okay?" Soo-jin asked, her voice tinged with worry as they navigated the familiar path.

Sang-hee shrugged, her expression reflecting their shared uncertainty.

"I hope so," she replied, her tone betraying a hint of concern. "But it's strange for Kyu to be called away like that without any explanation."

As they reached their dormitory, Soo-jin offered a reassuring smile to her roommate, a silent reminder of their shared strength in the face of uncertainty.

"Let's not worry too much for now," she suggested, her words carrying a note of optimism. "Hopefully, everything will make sense soon. For now, we just have to wait. After all, the real thing is just about to begin, right?"

With a nod of agreement, Sang-hee returned the smile, grateful for Soo-jin's unwavering support. Together, they entered their dormitory, their minds filled with thoughts of their missing friend and the mysteries that awaited them in the days to come.