The EX-Class Extra o Chapter 83 : Chapter 83

Chapter 83: Growth (2)

It was a busy weekday morning. Naturally, the instructors of Glory were working hard to fulfill their duties. With the final exams approaching, everyone from the instructors in charge of practical skills to the professors in charge of written exams seed incredibly busy.

“Phew. I wonder when this mountain of work will ever end.”

Every workplace was similar. Just because people worked hard did not an they enjoyed the labor. At the Swordsmanship Instructor’s lant, voices of complaint rose from all around in agreent.

“Tell

about it. It really never ends.”

“I can barely rember what my girlfriend’s face looks like.”

“Hmm? Did you even have a girlfriend?”

“Professor O! That is too much!”

“Hohoho! I am only joking.”

Everyone seed to be taking a short break through the banter sparked by the Swordsmanship Instructor, but there was one person who did not join in. It was Im Seong-cheol, who was known for being blunt and stoic. Watching him work silently like a machine, the Swordsmanship Instructor looked at him with an exhausted expression.

“Where do you get all that energy from?”

“I maintain it through consistent, daily managent.”

“As if I didn't know that... I am telling you to take it easy.”

“I am fine. I have not finished today’s quota yet.”

At Im Seong-cheol’s firm response, the Swordsmanship Instructor shook his head. He had seen many people while working as an instructor at Glory Academy, but he could confidently say he had never seen anyone like Im Seong-cheol. He was a man who focused solely on work with a blunt expression every single day. It was only natural to wonder if the man even had any personal interests.

It was then, while the Swordsmanship Instructor was having those slightly rude thoughts.

“Oh, by the way, did everyone see that?”

One of the instructors spoke up as if sothing had just occurred to him. Everyone turned to look at the instructor who had spoken. Perhaps feeling pressured by the sudden attention, the instructor gave an awkward laugh.

“Ahaha. It is a bit embarrassing when you all look at

like that.”

“You are the one who grabbed our attention. So, what did you see?”

“A news report about a gate ca out this morning.”

At the ntion of a gate report, another instructor chid in.

“Oh, I saw that too. You an the one where the gate rank suddenly jumped?”

“Yes. They said a dungeon-type gate’s rank suddenly rose from C-Rank to B-Rank.”

“And apparently, it happened while players were inside.”

The topic was simple. It was a gate accident—rare, but not unheard of. It was a heartbreaking story, but there was nothing anyone could do. Even after years of research, gates remained entities filled with countless mysteries. There was nothing to be done except pray for the souls of the players who had entered.

“Moreover, they said the mana radiating from the gate is on the high side even for a B-Rank...”

“Those poor people. I suppose the chances of them coming out alive are slim.”

“Indeed. There is nothing to say other than that they were simply unlucky.”

The atmosphere in the room turned somber at the instructors' words. A gate accident was not just soone else’s problem; as long as they lived as players, it was a story that could happen to them at any ti.

In that quiet, heavy atmosphere, a phone suddenly rang in the faculty office. Since it was so quiet, everyone’s eyes were drawn to the source. Im Seong-cheol was sitting there. Before answering, he apologized to those around him.

“I am sorry. I forgot to turn off the ringer during work.”

“No, it is fine. Who would complain about Instructor Im taking a call?”

“Hahaha! That is right. Go ahead and take it.”

The instructors waved it off playfully. Im Seong-cheol bowed his head once more in apology and answered the phone.

“Hello.”

“Yes. This is Instructor Im Seong-cheol of Glory. What is the matter?”

His voice echoed through the still-quiet room. The other instructors initially tried to refocus on their work, but they couldn't. Sothing was strange about Im Seong-cheol’s deanor.

“...Is that true?”

Though he was blunt, he was not a man entirely devoid of expression. Occasionally, Im Seong-cheol would show his feelings on his face. Thus, the instructors knew that when he wore a grave expression, sothing truly serious had happened.

“...I wonder what it is?”

“It does not seem like a family matter...”

As the call went on, his face darkened, and the instructors whispered among themselves. What on earth could cause that man of stone to make such a face?

“...Understood. I will head there imdiately.”

Im Seong-cheol finally finished the call and put his phone down. When he imdiately began packing his things to leave, the instructors looked at him with curiosity. They were dying to know what was happening. The Swordsmanship Instructor spoke up on behalf of the group.

“What is going on? Is it urgent?”

“Yes. I have to go right now.”

“Is it sothing you cannot tell us?”

“No. It is not that, but...”

Im Seong-cheol hesitated for a mont before speaking.

“I was told that the cadets from my class are caught up in that gate accident.”

“That... what?”

“I received a call from the managent team there. It seems Cadet Kim Su-hyeok and Cadet Choi Yu-seong are involved.”

At those words, every instructor and professor in the faculty office was stunned. To think the protagonists of the serious issue they had been discussing were academy cadets—and that the top students of the first year were among them.

“I will be going now.”

But there was no ti for them to process the news. Having finished his preparations, Im Seong-cheol rushed out of the faculty office toward his troubleso students who were always getting into accidents. He moved for his precious students, who were his only true interest.

***

We were in an unknown location within the gate where the ground had collapsed. I regained consciousness to the sound of a faint voice echoing in my ear.

“...Yu-seong!”

“Uugh, Kim Su-hyeok...?”

“You are awake! Are you okay?”

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Kim Su-hyeok’s relieved face. It seed he had been calling my na repeatedly while I was out. I nodded to show I was fine and assessed the situation.

“Have I been unconscious for a long ti?”

“About half a day since we fell? That is how long it feels like.”

Kim Su-hyeok was not the type to lie, so it was likely true. Half a day... I must have been out longer than I thought.

‘Is it because I barely slept before coming here?’

I had only slept about two or three hours over the past two days, so that made sense. But that was not what mattered right now. Since I had prepared for this situation, I asked Kim Su-hyeok in a calm voice.

“Did you move at all since then?”

“No. I thought it would be better not to move until you woke up.”

“That is a relief. Did you scout the area?”

“Yeah. I did not scout in detail, but it seems to be laid out like a maze.”

I nodded at his ntion of a maze. Fortunately, it seed to be the exact location described in the novel. I had been worried internally about things having changed, so it was a huge relief that it was a needless worry.

‘Now that I am awake, we should start moving.’

I knew how to clear this place. If so, it was better to move sooner rather than just sitting around. I stood up to prepare for our departure, but I paused at Kim Su-hyeok’s next words.

“You are incredibly calm.”

“...Huh?”

“I thought you would be flustered, but you seem quite composed. I was very panicked at first.”

...True. I did act a bit too naturally for soone who had suddenly fallen into danger. It was only natural for Kim Su-hyeok to find my behavior strange.

‘That was a mistake on my part.’

I should have at least pretended to be flustered. But the mont had passed, and the result was already out there. It would be ridiculous to start acting panicked now. Therefore, I decided to be shaless rather than try to backtrack.

“Panicking doesn't change anything, does it?”

“Uh... I suppose not.”

“So, for now, let us find a way to break through this situation together.”

“Y-Yeah. You are right, Yu-seong.”

He really was an easy guy. It was convenient because he did not even suspect

when I gave a half-plausible explanation.

‘Which also makes it a bit more troubling.’

While his personality was helpful to

now, it was not necessarily a good thing. As I felt when reading the original work, Kim Su-hyeok’s temperant could act as a poison at any mont.

‘I should probably tell him sothing while I have the chance.’

Blurting it out randomly wouldn't help, but in a situation like this, it was fine. Kim Su-hyeok would surely ponder my words deeply given the gravity of the circumstances. Even if he didn't change, it wouldn't be bad if he just rembered what I said soday. Having made that judgnt, I spoke to Kim Su-hyeok in a serious tone.

“Su-hyeok. Before that, I have sothing to say.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“I think you are a good guy. Your boundless warmth, your faith, and your decisiveness to throw yourself into danger for others without hesitation—those are all your strengths.”

“Uh, uh... thanks, but why all of a sudden...?”

Kim Su-hyeok seed flustered by my sudden praise. But his confusion didn't last long. He realized that I was being serious. I maintained the atmosphere and continued.

“But you know that those can also be weaknesses, right?”

“Uh...”

“It is the sa this ti. You did not actually have to jump down imdiately after . You could have assessed the situation more before moving.”

“...”

“You did not know what was down here. Of course, everything is fine now. But what if it had been a truly dangerous situation?”

It was a one-sided lecture disguised as a question. Kim Su-hyeok remained at a loss for words, like a mute. Since I had not expected an answer anyway, it didn't matter.

“I know you treasure your friends. But you cannot just act on emotion.”

“...”

“In the end, that cannot be a fundantal solution. You have to learn to judge things coldly sotis.”

I checked Kim Su-hyeok’s face, and it was quite a sight. I hadn't realized it while focusing on my speech, but he looked like a criminal facing judgnt.

‘Did I push him too hard?’

I might have said too much. A person’s personality doesn't change just because soone tells them to, and as I said, that personality was also his strength.

‘Hmm... I should change the mood.’

The atmosphere felt heavy and sunken. Considering we were about to clear the hidden piece, it was not a great mood to be in. Therefore, I spoke in a more relaxed voice to fix the situation.

“You do not need to be so discouraged. As I said, it is also one of your strengths.”

“No. I do not think you are wrong, Yu-seong. But...”

He seed to have a lot to say, but he couldn't easily find the words. I smiled and spoke.

“I did not say that because I wanted an answer. Whatever the case, it is a matter for you to judge and think about on your own, right?”

I ant it. I didn't say it because I wanted Kim Su-hyeok to change to suit my tastes. In short, I admired him; I didn't want him to beco soone like .

“Think of it easily. You have your own path. It is good to ponder things, but you do not need to be swayed by them.”

I was simply advising and helping him for his own sake. I did not want to shine brilliantly myself; I wanted to walk beside the one who did.

That was the role and aning I had chosen for myself.