Chapter 21
The instructor’s voice rang out.
“This is the first time in this training session that a team has all survived.”
His tone sounded quite pleased.
“The operation itself was reckless beyond words, but assessing your comrades’ strengths and assigning appropriate roles was commendable. I suppose the plan was inspired by Cadet Park Siwoo’s practice session?”
As he spoke, the instructor looked straight at me.
Judging from that suspicious gaze, it seemed he had seen through that the operation was improvised on the spot in response to Dan Chun-woo’s sudden actions.
“It was a good strategy.”
Thankfully, it seemed he was letting it slide.
Just as I was about to sigh in relief,
Instructor Kang Jae-seok’s eyes changed.
“However, aside from that, I want to talk about reaching out a hand to your comrade.”
Damn it. Come to think of it, I had completely forgotten that everyone here was watching when I swung my hand earlier.
“Cadet Yoo Sung-woo, why did you strike Cadet Park Min-seo?”
“That’s…”
I closed my mouth at his question.
Even though it was the Student Council, I couldn’t say that I had acted purely on intuition—because it seemed that Park Min-seo had turned into a Demon after forming a contract with one.
Demons were an extremely sensitive issue for the Academy.
They hid cleverly among people, concealing their true identity.
That was why the Student Council always exercised extreme caution when investigating a Demon.
Merely suspecting someone of being a Demon was an enormous insult—and if handled poorly, it could even be taken as an assassination attempt.
More than anything, I wasn’t sure myself.
If he had truly been a Demon, he would’ve lost control of his temper and lunged at me the moment I slapped him.
“I apologize. During the operation, I acted impulsively out of frustration with my own recklessness. It was entirely my fault, without excuse.”
In the end, I simply bowed my head without saying more.
“It’s understandable to get worked up during training. Conflicts can arise between teammates. But expressing it through violence—that’s when problems begin. Once resentment takes root, can you really entrust your life to someone you can’t trust?”
Just as Instructor Kang Jae-seok’s lecture was about to continue, Park Min-seo spoke up.
“Instructor, Cadet Yoo Sung-woo is not at fault. He struck me to help me snap out of panic caused by the monsters.”
‘He’s defending me?’
I turned my head and stared at him.
Something was definitely off.
Demons stirred the primal desires of humans.
A burning greed to obtain something.
Hatred toward someone they wanted dead.
A desperate yearning for greater power.
That was why those who had only just become Demons often failed to conceal their desires—especially when faced with the object of that desire.
If Park Min-seo had become a Demon, the most likely reason would’ve been his inferiority complex toward me.
In that case, he should’ve shown greater hostility and hatred than before.
But instead of hostility, he was asking the instructor to show me leniency.
“If this had been a battlefield, everyone could have died because of me alone. Cadet Yoo Sung-woo made the correct decision as a leader.”
“That’s a generous interpretation. Yoo Sung-woo, remember this—the world has far more people who will stab you in the back than those like Park Min-seo.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Instructor Kang Jae-seok turned his gaze away, moving on to prepare for the fourth training session.
Then, Park Min-seo approached and grabbed my shoulder.
“Thanks for hitting me earlier. Thanks to you, I was able to come to my senses.”
Was this guy insane?
Did he really just say that?
I glared at him sharply in disbelief, but he only smiled kindly in response.
I really couldn’t figure him out. He might be a new kind of Demon, so I decided to keep an eye on him for a while.
After that, the training continued.
Most cadets were wiped out, unable to withstand the waves. Only Helena’s team managed to clear a wave—with just two members remaining.
Once the session ended, Instructor Kang Jae-seok gathered all the cadets and spoke.
“Good work, everyone. There’s one assignment for today’s practice.”
Grumbling broke out among the cadets.
“It’s a simple task, so don’t complain. The assignment is to write an evaluation report about your teammates. Sharing what was good and what could be improved will help both your team and your own growth. The length is one A4 page per person.”
Didn’t he just call that a simple task?
With four teammates, that meant writing three full pages excluding myself.
I really wanted to know what the instructor’s standard for ‘simple’ was.
Still, a peer evaluation, huh. The instructor had mentioned before that observers had to write reports evaluating other participants’ performances. Judging by how everyone looked now, I doubted anyone had done that properly.
“So return to your dorms, write your evaluation reports, and submit them.”
I quickly raised my hand.
“Does that include our own team?”
“Yes.”
Perfect. A legitimate opportunity to criticize Dan Chun-woo, who’d been looking down on everyone this whole time.
After class ended, we returned to the classroom.
I naturally stopped Park Siwoo and Helena, who were about to head back to the dormitory.
“You haven’t forgotten about our bet, have you?”
Trying to quietly pretend it never happened, huh?
How shameless of them.
The two of them clicked their tongues in annoyance at being caught by me.
“The winner gets one wish, right?”
“Your gaze is filthy. What are you planning to make us do?”
“Hmm, what should I make you do? For a whole day?”
At my playful grin, Helena’s face flushed with embarrassment.
As expected of Helena — teasing her was always delightful.
She soon looked at me with a face full of disgust and replied coldly,
“If you try to make me do something like that, I’ll fulfill your wish… and then kill you, and myself as well. So you’d better keep that in mind.”
I was joking, but she took it seriously.
Of course, I had no intention of using the wish ticket like that.
Helena and Park Siwoo were far too valuable to waste a wish on something so trivial.
Besides, Helena’s wish ticket would be essential later when progressing through the scenario.
Although she genuinely seemed to believe I’d use it for something indecent.
Instead of answering, I chuckled lightly and asked,
“I don’t have to use the wish ticket right away, right?”
“Do as you want. A bet’s a bet, after all.”
“I’m saying this clearly—if you ask for anything strange…”
“Would I really ask for something like that? Or is it that you secretly want me to?”
At my words, Helena immediately shut her mouth.
Another fulfilling day.
Time to head back to the dormitory.
As I returned to the dorm after the training, I felt a familiar sense of unease at my door.
When I opened it, a familiar presence greeted me.
“Welcome back. I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Berid… no notice again. What is it this time?”
He had once again entered my room uninvited and was waiting for me.
Why had he come to find me again?
We had promised not to interfere in each other’s affairs since our missions were different.
This was troubling.
Whenever Berid moved in the game, it always heralded a bloody storm at the Academy.
The fact that someone responsible for such large-scale massacres was already on the move—
It wasn’t even time for Yoo Iseo’s scenario to begin yet.
As I stared at him warily, Berid seemed to sense my suspicion and raised his hands in surrender.
“There’s no need to be so on guard. I came this time merely to share information, as a fellow comrade.”
“Information sharing?”
“Yes. I wanted to know how your mission is progressing.”
Mission, huh.
I hadn’t even touched the Pandemonium assignment, let alone made any progress.
Like I’d ever be crazy enough to work hard for Pandemonium’s benefit.
Of course, I couldn’t say that, so I lied smoothly.
“It’s going well. The location of the Gate Fragment has already been identified, and I plan to approach it directly soon.”
It wasn’t a complete lie.
After all, I’d confirmed the fragment’s location hundreds of times while playing the game.
“The Gate Fragment… that’s quite a quick result.”
That’s right. Much faster than expected, even.
Which was exactly why I had no intention of sharing that information now.
“It’s just preliminary information. There are more Gate Fragments in this Academy than you’d think. It might take longer than expected.”
At my words, Berid nodded, saying his own task wasn’t easy either.
“If you ever need my help, just say the word. I’ll do everything I can to assist you.”
That reaction? Really?
Something felt off about his demeanor.
We were merely colleagues, and not on particularly good terms.
During our first meeting at the Academy, we had nearly fought. That said enough.
Which was why I could guess the reason behind this sudden visit.
Unlike before, his attitude was strangely submissive. And instead of scolding me for potential delays, he was offering help.
‘So it’s not just information sharing—he needs my help for something.’
Otherwise, there was no reason for him to act so friendly toward me.
I cautiously guessed the reason he came.
Most likely, it was related to the Student Council.
Was it about dealing with a traitor? Or perhaps getting rid of a troublesome Instructor with my help?
“You want something from me, don’t you?”
At my words, Berid gave an awkward smile, pretending to be troubled.
“As expected, you catch on quickly.”
“Seeing you come to me with such a submissive attitude, this must be more than ordinary business.”
At my words, he feigned that he couldn’t lie, then began to state his purpose.
“Actually, I’m planning to accelerate the grand undertaking in earnest, but there’s one major obstacle in the way.”
Hearing that, I instinctively guessed what he would ask of me.
He wanted to deal with Seo Da-hee.
Damn it — so the Yoo Iseo scenario really had started.
This character’s scenario route was such a pain.
The pace of its development was far faster than the others.
Had Berid felt threatened because another Pandemonium character had infiltrated the Academy?
I couldn’t tell.
In Become a Hero, the death of Seo Da-hee had been the catalyst for the Student Council falling into Berid’s grasp and for Yoo Iseo’s corruption.
He was asking me to help kill Seo Da-hee.
“An obstacle, huh.”
“Just assist in taking care of Seo Da-hee.”
When I pretended not to know and asked, he smiled slyly and nodded.
“It isn’t necessarily a bad thing for you either, is it? Removing her would give the Student Council more room to maneuver. With no one to rely on, you and that other rookie would be given important tasks. Then searching for the Gate and approaching the fragments would become much easier.”
His argument wasn’t wrong.
The Student Council was a small, elite group; losing even one person made it hard for them to function properly.
But this was purely in Pandemonium’s interest.
For me, Seo Da-hee’s death was something I had to prevent.
I couldn’t allow Yoo Iseo to be corrupted.
Berid extended his hand toward me and asked,
“Of course, I’m not asking you to help me blindly while you’re busy. If you assist with this, I will in turn help you with your matters later. As comrades of the same organization, shouldn’t we help each other? Deal?”
It was an offer I should refuse, but one that was difficult to turn down.