Do you know the wisest way to deal with individuals society cannot handle?It is to create even more individuals that society cannot handle.『Queenie Cowan's answer to the question: Why build an academy?』
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Captain Kwon Mongjoo awakened in pain.
He tried to get up instinctively, but his body wouldn't budge. Slowly, he channeled his mana and began to assess his physical condition.…All the bones in my limbs are shattered, and not a single organ has remained unhard. It’s a miracle that I’m still alive.It wasn’t until he saw the catheters and IVs connected all over his body that he realized he was still alive.If he were an ordinary person, he would have been crippled for life, but even a Superhuman would need at least six months to recover from such injuries.He calmly accepted the state his body was in.He had been a rcenary for way too long to be swayed by such injuries.In this line of work, it was not uncommon for a colleague you shared breakfast with to end up in a coffin by dinner.Rather than being frustrated by injuries of this degree, it was better to be grateful for surviving.Especially when he thought about the enemies he had just fought…Ah.Only after thinking that far did Kwon Mongjoo realize what kind of battle he had fought.He had fought against bizarre beings wearing beast heads, a flying Superhuman, a revenge-crazed dragon… and saved Manchuria.He was montarily dumbstruck. Words were not enough to describe the battle he had just fought.Even a rcenary captain with 20 years of experience under his belt was left speechless.None of it felt real. It was like sothing straight out of a novel, a drama, or so absurd legend from beyond the Dinsional Portal.Cheon Yeomyeong. What happened to that Newcor?Kwon Mongjoo thought of the key figure in that battle.The rookie rcenary who had joined them using a fabricated resu, and the hero who had fired a shotgun into the dragon's eye.And seeing that he was still alive, it was certain that they had sohow managed to defeat the flying Superhuman…Regardless of whether they survived, he first had to resolve his worries.And just before he collapsed, Yeomyeong looked even more battered than him.Luckily, he didn’t have to look too far to resolve it."Captain? You're awake."A familiar voice ca from the bed beside the one Kwon Mongjoo was lying on.Enduring the sharp pain, he turned his head and saw a young man sitting on an identical sickbed."How are you feeling?"Golden eyes glead from his unscathed face.Even though his injuries were clearly more severe when he last saw him, Yeomyeong’s bed didn’t even have an IV drip.It ant he was already completely healed. Captain Kwon asked in disbelief."…How many days has it been since the battle?"“Four days.”“Four days?”Those wounds healed in four days? No, judging by his relaxed deanor, he must have healed a while back.And when compared to the newcor... he himself had only just regained his senses?Kwon Mongjoo sighed in resignation as he realized the difference in their physical capabilities. However, he felt neither inferiority nor jealousy.He wasn’t foolish enough to feel such emotions towards a companion with whom he shared a near death experience.Instead, what he felt was akin to awe.“…Yeomyeong.”Kwon Mongjoo asked Yeomyeong, who seed deep in thought.“Would it be rude if I were to ask about your true identity?”At first, he thought Yeomyeong was just a random drifter who simply joined the rcenary group with a fake resu.However, not only had he fought alongside the Saintess against Kahal Magdu on his very first mission, but he also managed to cut the dragon's ribs.While the Manchurian military and the dwarf were focused on his relationship with the Saintess, Kwon Mongjoo saw it differently. In his eyes, Yeomyeong held more significance than the Saintess.He couldn't explain why... It was just a gut feeling— the sa feeling that had saved him multiple tis in war.In conclusion, his feeling wasn’t wrong. Along with the rcenary group, Yeomyeong found the Golden Seal, fought a crazed dragon, and saved the whole of Manchuria.They were achievents that were hard to believe even after witnessing it firsthand. No, it was even harder to believe because he had witnessed the battle with his own eyes.However, Yeomyeong seed to feel no particular emotion about his achievents—or perhaps, he pretended not to.Yeomyeong simply shrugged his shoulders."I'm Cheon Yeomyeong. You know that, right?""You know that’s not what I ant by that. In my 20 years as a rcenary… I’ve only ever t one person like you."This was a mory from over a decade ago, back when Kwon Mongjoo was still a novice.In those chaotic days, one Superhuman around Yeomyeong's age from South Arica had accomplished similar feats.Could he be that person’s child? Probably not. Although they’d be around Yeomyeong’s age if that person had a child, there was no resemblance in their appearance.However, what about his background? There weren’t many places that could produce a Superhuman with such talent at this age.Thinking along those lines, his connection with the Saintess seed the most noteworthy.The Superhuman in Kwon Mongjoo’s mory was a holy knight secretly sent to Earth by the Holy Nation."Please, tell because this might affect the future of our rcenary group.""…Is my identity really that important?""As you know, the Korean governnt is not fond of rcenary groups from foreign countries or beyond the Dinsional Portal. If your identity is… what I think it is, you might have to leave Korea.""And who do you think I am?""Are you… a holy knight sent by the Holy Nation?"Kwon Mongjoo had a serious look as he waited for Yeomyeong’s response.But contrary to his expectations, Yeomyeong looked genuinely confused, as if he had no idea what Captain Kwon was talking about."…A holy knight? ? I can’t even use Holy Power.""But aren’t you the only one among us who was able to receive the Saintess' blessing?""…Everyone received the healing blessing.""I’m talking about the blessing of the Red God. A blessing like that can’t be accepted by just anyone unless they possess a Holy Relic or sothing similar—”On reaching that point, Kwon Mongjoo suddenly fell silent. He let out a long sigh before speaking again.“Huff… I see. You probably aren’t allowed to reveal your true identity. My greed has made behave rudely. Forget what I just asked you."Yeomyeong blinked as he watched Kwon Mongjoo ask a question and then arrive at a conclusion all by himself.“No, I really have nothing to do with the Saintess—”“…I finally understand why the Saintess' mother stopped when she was trying to kill you."“Uh… that’s…."Yeomyeong tried to find the right words, but he realized there was no way to clear up the misunderstanding without revealing an even bigger truth.So, he kept his mouth shut, which Kwon Mongjoo interpreted as a silent confirmation.As I thought….’A small misunderstanding hung between them, filling the room with a heavy silence—until the Saintess and Darulma entered the room.
* * *"Hey! Greet your visitor!"
A loud, frivolous voice greeted them as the door to the recovery room was flung open.It was the unmistakable sound of soone kicking the door.Captain Kwon stared at the door in shock as the Saintess entered the room, her long, straight white hair cascading down to her waist.She was now dressed in a dazzling priestess robe that was nothing like the plain, loose-fitting attire she usually wore—truly befitting the title of ‘Saintess.’"Saintess?"However, the first to greet her, as she posed like a model with her chin raised, wasn't Yeomyeong but Captain Kwon, who was hooked up to all sorts of IVs."Oh… This isn't a private… room?"Her frivolous atmosphere vanished in an instant. And as if nothing happened, the Saintess cleared her throat and turned her head to adjust her clothing.While Captain Kwon struggled to hide his bewildernt, a dwarf followed her into the room.It was Darulma Dune, the investor of the rcenary group and the chaebol from Dungan Heavy Industries.With an expression that made it hard to tell whether he had grown used to the Saintess’ antics or had simply resigned himself, he entered the room and asked Yeomyeong and Captain Kwon a question."How are the two of you feeling?"It was just a perfunctory question as he could obviously tell by just looking at them."Not bad.""…So-so."They both gave perfunctory responses as well. Darulma plopped down in a chair in the recovery room and continued the conversation."What would you like to hear about first? Business or the situation with the rcenary group?""…Let's start with the rcenary group."It was Captain Kwon who answered the dwarf as Yeomyeong… was too busy raising a pillow to fend off the Saintess, who was trying to sit on his bed.Watching them bicker for a mont, Darulma massaged his temples and spoke."The situation with the rcenary group is neither bad nor good. Most of our elite are admitted in the hospital after this mission, but the military is blocking the other rcenary groups, so that’s sothing.""The military?""It's an overt show of goodwill as we have sothing they desire.""…The dragon."Captain Kwon sighed. First, they tried to take it by force, and now they were trying to play nice."Well, you won’t have to worry about the military or other rcenaries for a while. They’re too busy rebuilding North Manchuria. And most importantly…"Darulma turned his gaze towards Yeomyeong."…Instead of us, they’ll have to negotiate with soone else regarding the dragon. Isn’t that right?"Captain Kwon understood Darulma’s ultimate motive. It was Yeomyeong who had defeated the dragon, and thus, the rights also belonged to him.Of course, the rcenary group and the Saintess had indeed aided, but no one could deny that Yeomyeong had played the most important role."The only other problem is… the reporters.""…Reporters?"Those damned war correspondents. Kwon Mongjoo sighed. It was obvious what they were up to."Everyone in the rcenary group is busy avoiding the reporters, all because of their so-called ‘right to know,’ or whatever they claim it to be.""…What about the Vice Captain?"Asked Captain Kwon, thinking of Kim Mansoo, who had fared comparatively better. Darulma shrugged."Vice Captain Kim Mansoo was the first to nearly lose his mind. He looked like he was on the verge of chopping off a limb to hide in the recovery room.""…""But I don’t believe he’s that foolish. That’s why he’s the Vice Captain, isn’t he?"Darulma turned to Yeomyeong, who had finally managed to push the Saintess off his bed."Anyway… Cheon Yeomyeong-gun?"Despite the Saintess scowling and pointing fingers at him, Yeomyeong, who had managed to protect his bed, turned to Darulma."Yes, Darulma.""It would be good if we could talk privately, just the two of us. The more secretive a business discussion, the better. When can we arrange a eting?""…Let’s do it right now. Where should we go?"As soon as Yeomyeong finished speaking, the Saintess interrupted."Wait, wait! What about the discussion with ?""...Huh? What discussion?"That was definitely not the way one looked at a Saintess… Darulma thought to himself as he observed Yeomyeong's expression.Regardless, the Saintess pulled out a small envelope from within her priestess robe."Yeomyeong, do you plan to continue with the rcenary work? Or… do you want to play in a bigger pond?""…A bigger pond?"Seeing that she had piqued his interest, the Saintess grinned as she opened the envelope.Inside, it was sothing Yeomyeong had seen once before.An ornate paper decorated with a luxurious design, filled with spaces for personal information—an application form.To be precise, it was… the Lord Howe Academy Application Form."…Why don’t you accompany to the academy?"
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