Chapter 114 – Retreat (1)

“How long do you plan on wearing that damned mask?”

As I washed up and donned the mask to head to the academy, White Peach, who had been eyeing my face disdainfully since morning, spoke up.

“What? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“I’m asking why you’re wearing a mask you don’t need.”
“Oh, this?”

I tapped the seemingly innocent mask I was wearing.

“You don’t think it looks good on you, do you?”
“Of course not.”

It was a design that instantly diminished my charm when I wore it. It might have worked during my less attractive days, but not with my current appearance. However, there was a reason I wore the mask. It played a supportive role in manipulating mana, making it an almost indispensable artifact in battles or duels.

“In the past, I couldn’t fight without it, so I always wore it. It just became a habit.”

“Isn’t there something you don’t need right now?”

That’s true.
I’m not in a position to boast any impressive abilities at the moment.
The mask, in fact, was something I used out of habit rather than for any specific reason.
If I had to find a reason for it, perhaps it’s because the mask is the most cherished item among my possessions?

Ever since I arrived here, I’ve been using it, and it keeps drawing my hands toward it.

“There was a time when I was incredibly ugly.”
“I know. To me, you still look ugly.”
“…Anyway, back then I experienced various forms of discrimination, but wearing the mask helped. It changed how others perceived me, from a criminal to merely a suspicious person.”
“Then take it off now. Honestly, it makes you appear too frivolous.”
“Thanks for your concern.”

White Peach pouted her lower lip and turned her head away.

‘Well… it is about time I stopped using it.’

As I caressed the mask, I could feel the small crack through the surface of my finger.

‘Does the mask look that bad?’

“Hmm.”

Staring into the mirror, I scrutinize every part of my body.

Now that I’ve lost weight and developed strong muscles, any outfit suits me well.

“Shall we go without clothes today?”

Sometimes that’s fine.

I set aside the mask and styled my hair appropriately. As I shook off the familiar sense of constraint, I looked at the mirror with an awkward, yet excited heart. Baekdo, who was next to me, placed her hand on her mouth and retched.

“Ugh…”

Why would she make that face when she told me to go naked?

As I slapped my exposed, snow-white leg, the furious Baekdo kicked me in the gut.

“Argh!”

Tears stung my eyes.

A mess from the start of the day. No, it was just everyday life.

* * * * * *

– Click, clack.

Cold bottled water pleasantly quenches my parched throat.

The anticipation had persisted since 6:00 in the morning. Azalea steadied her heart as she gazed at the empty seat next to Gu-seul.

A bit closer than usual. Naturally.

She recalled Gu-seul’s advice: to approach one step nearer than other times, lean her head toward her ear, and offer a charming smile.

As their eyes met, Gu-seul silently mouthed words of encouragement.

“Fighting.” Feeling unexpectedly self-conscious, Azalea averted her gaze.

– Swoosh.

At that moment, the door opened.

Azalea tore her eyes away from Gu-seul and turned her head forward.

Simultaneously.

An astonished gasp escaped a female student who had been engaged in a quiet conversation nearby.

“…Uh.”

The young man who had approached with an air of confidence was an entirely unfamiliar face to the students.

Whispers spread among the students, confounded by his unexpected entrance.

“Who is that? A professor?”
“He seems to be our age. From another class, maybe?”

The other cadets turned their attention to the commotion that erupted, their curiosity and interest rippling like waves towards the back of the training room.

The murmurs that would usually have died down quickly continued to spread, in part due to the man’s captivating appearance.

“Lee Si-heon?”

Azalea, who had been observing the scene, momentarily doubted her own eyes. The shock was so intense that all her previous resolutions and thoughts were swept away.

“Is it an illusion?”

However, Azalea soon refused to accept this possibility. After all, it was impossible for someone’s appearance to change so drastically in such a short time.

“Oh, you’re not wearing a mask today?”

It couldn’t be.

That’s what she thought until Jung Si-woo raised his hand and spoke to him.

“Are you feeling better now?”
“Is that what you’re going to say? That’s what I should be saying.”

The two exchanged light-hearted greetings and conversed in a playful tone, as though they had grown quite close recently. The sight stirred the room once more.

Rumors had circulated about Lee Si-heon’s appearance, but few cadets had seen him in person.

Recently, as the whispers of his skills spread once more, his looks had been overshadowed.

“Wow, incredible.”
“Why did he wear a mask then?”

The jesting remarks of some cadets.
Or the sincere admiration that reached Azalea’s ears.

– Glance.

Lee Si-heon stole a nervous sideways glance at Azalea.
An unyielding obsession.

“…Huh?”

However, Azalea couldn’t hide her bewilderment in the current situation, let alone the obsession.

She hadn’t been able to witness the changes as they occurred, like Lee Se-Young and the Peach girls, nor had she seen his improved appearance from the beginning, like Cornus. The image of Lee Si-heon’s face that remained in Azalea’s mind was, regardless of her personal preferences, objectively not a good one. She couldn’t help but be astonished.

That was the case for everyone present.

“Pheehehe, finally showing your face? Did you get the mask cleaned?”
“Oh, the mask? This time, I noticed it was a bit damaged.”
“Ah~ but it’s heartwarming!”

Jung Si-woo and Gu-seul.
As they responded one after another, some friendly students began to join the conversation.

I enjoyed watching your last match.
You were strong.
From discussing the tournament to sharing trivial stories.

Jung Si-woo, standing next to Lee Si-heon and leading the conversation, was louder than high school girls debating about idols.

When did those two become so close without anyone knowing? As such stories started circulating, the initially awkward atmosphere quickly and naturally dissipated.

For a while, every day was bound to be noisy.

“Oh, right. Everyone else has your number, but Si-heon, I don’t have yours. Can you give it to me?”

Azalea stared blankly at Lee Si-heon, then suddenly came to her senses at the bold request of a fellow female student.

At that moment, her appearance wasn’t what mattered to her.

Lee Si-heon laughed and carried on the conversation with a woman he had just met. Azalea felt a constricting sense of unease in her chest.

She quickly understood the true nature of that emotion.

* * * * * *

The academy retreats were not much different from the field trips taken by high school or middle school students. The main distinction was whether adults or adolescents were participating in the activities. In that sense, one might say it was more akin to a Membership Training (MT) event.

Though inexperienced, Azalea had to see for herself. After examining the timetable in the announcement, a vivid scene formed in her mind:

– 11:00-12:00: Arrival and choosing accommodations
– 1:00: Lunch
– 2:00: Forming teams and selecting mottos for each group
– 3:00-5:00: Group games
– 6:00-7:00: Dinner and relaxation

And so on.

They played games, betting on meal menus, expensive infused liquors, and spirits. In the evening, they built camaraderie over drinks. Of course, this was quite different from ordinary group meetings or retreats.

Day 2 – 12:00 Mock Combat.

‘These insane warrior people… If they don’t fight for even a day, will their buttocks sprout thorns?’

The organizers’ insistence on holding a mock fistfight even during the retreat appeared commendable. Browsing the internet on my cellphone, I found an abundance of invaluable advice from seniors on the Every Day forum.

—

-Do you know why there’s a mock combat on the 2nd day for rookie cadets?
If a fight breaks out during the drinking party the day before, it’s there to resolve the issue. Hahaha. If things get worse, they’ll have to settle it themselves. Hahaha.

[Comment 10]
-Anonymous 1: For real, last year, there was a legendary fight the next day over a disagreement about swordsmanship schools.
-Anonymous 2: What? Is this for real?
└Anonymous 3: Yeah, you should definitely watch it. It’s entertaining.

—

Of course, there were also the usual challenges encountered during group meetings, which seemed to flourish everywhere.

—
It reminds me of that retreat.

I was sleeping, went to the bathroom, and heard moaning outside… It was so shocking that I couldn’t sleep.

[Comment 21]
-Anonymous 1: I was really shocked at first, but lately, it’s just amusing.
└ Anonymous 2: 2222 I just laugh, thinking it’s steamy, and move on
└ Anonymous 3: 333333 Personal stuff, lol
└ Anonymous 4: 4444 If you do it, make sure to use contraception properly. Don’t get swept up in the moment. The academy classes are tough enough, and if you get pregnant, there’s no solution.

—

Despite a few incidents, it didn’t seem to deviate significantly from the realm of common sense. From the first few days, there were even helpful events like meeting truly successful hunters. It seemed that one could indulge and enjoy a few days on the vast funds of the World Tree Foundation.

‘The problem is something else…’

There were so many concerns that my head felt dizzy. What’s the deal with his relationships with women?

I couldn’t have a plausible encounter with Azalea until I boarded the plane to attend the retreat.

‘If only…’

I needed time to think.

‘Well…’

I had caused an accident while intoxicated… The words I uttered were ambiguous enough to be misunderstood.

However, perhaps it was because I always treated her with respect and never revealed my true feelings, but I didn’t usually view Azalea with a rational perspective.

Of course, I liked her as a person.
Our initial meeting may not have been the best, but I was aware of Azalea’s kind nature. If she hadn’t been so principled, she wouldn’t have been tormented by guilt and suffering in solitude.

I admired that about her and truly liked her for it.

Nonetheless, due to the aforementioned reasons, this fixation of hers wasn’t exactly pleasant.

‘I really am grateful, though.’

As for Hwangdo and Lee Se-Young, I couldn’t fathom why they would like someone like me.

I turned my head to look at Lee Se-Young, who was sitting beside me, sipping wine.

“…Why are your eyes so wide? Aroused again?”
“……”

Airplane first class.

Under normal circumstances, cadets would gather together, making noise en route, but things unfolded this way due to Lee Se-Young’s behind-the-scenes efforts. I knew some nobles flew on their private jets, but I never thought I’d be among them. Se-Young, who managed this without even asking, was truly remarkable.

“No, I’m just happy to be together after such a long time.”
“Ugh, not seeing you for a while, you’ve become so sentimental? That’s not like you.”
“Then, what should I say?”
“Hmm…a loose woman? Heh-heh.”

Unbelievable.

I chuckled bitterly, roughly cutting the steak before me and taking a bite. With so many thoughts swirling around, I couldn’t tell if the food was entering my mouth or my nose.

“Do you have other concerns?”

As soon as I finished my meal, Se-Young inquired cautiously.

“Ah, was it that obvious?”

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? Another girl problem?”
“…….”
“See, I told you before. You’re bound to be a playboy, no matter what anyone says.”

I have no grounds for excuse.
With a bittersweet yet bright expression, Lee Se-Young reached out and gently tapped my cheek.

“But it seems you must like me since you come running whenever I call.”

Well, about that…

As I nodded, Lee Se-Young brought her face closer.

A brief silence enveloped us.
Dramatic exchanges swiftly unfolded.

“That’s enough, teacher.”

In a hushed tone, Se-Young spoke, and immediately widened the distance between us, giggling softly.
The warmth lingered on her lips for quite some time.

-Gulp.

I swallowed the wine that had unknowingly entered my mouth. It tasted of rich grapes.

How beautiful was her mischievous smile.
She playfully patted my back and began to smirk.

“So, how many have there been? Who?”
“No, it’s not like that…”

“Don’t be ambiguous, be precise. Or I’ll get angry.”
“Still just one.”
“Not yet?”
“Because the future is uncertain.”
“You’re quite bold.”

Se-Young raised her glass filled with the remaining wine and winked at me. I too lifted my wine glass. Se-Young then roughly brought her glass to mine, aligning them at eye level.

– Clink.

The pleasant sound of glasses colliding.

“Do as you wish.”

Although I’m grateful for her understanding, I cannot agree with her notion that it’s fine to have additional lovers.

“I feel like I’d go crazy if you were to meet another man.”
“Well, that won’t happen, so relax. I’m a pure-hearted person.”
“…What kind of person says it’s fine for me to meet another woman?”

When I spoke with a hint of mischief, Se-Young simply grinned.

“Hmm~ Maybe because I can’t handle your sexual desires?”

Her response was playful and teasing. As always, Se-Young knew how to conceal the deepest of her true feelings. What those feelings were, I still didn’t know.

“Sigh.”

With a sigh, the wine glass before them was brought to their lips.
…Enough of deep thoughts.
Not enjoying this special day would be a loss.

They tilted the glass and took a sip.

Even this moment, sitting on the plane and sharing a drink.
It must have been a memory, laced with a hint of pleasure amidst the rich aftertaste.