HLSEBT - 76

Chapter 76: Just One Thing (Part 1)

Perhaps her first lie.

It was on a different level from pretending pain didn’t exist. She felt guilt, but at the same time, she wanted to justify her actions as right.

Why had she hidden the fact that she was immune to flames?

The excuse of momentarily forgetting didn’t even convince herself.

That kind of excuse only worked for situations like, “I went to the store to buy banana milk and chocolate but forgot and came back with just the milk.”

“According to experts, one-on-one sparring between espers is sufficient within the regular curriculum.”

The phrase “according to experts” had probably been repeated about 19 times by now.

Yoon Tae-ha entertained the silly thought that maybe the teacher was sleepy too. Perhaps he was so drowsy he couldn’t see the students’ souls drifting off to another world.

When she shifted slightly, she could feel Cheon Geon-young looking at her. He seemed to be staring at her hands.

She slowly moved her hand under the blazer covering her legs, out of his sight.

“We hope this will be a healthy... healthy arena for competition. Mock battles have been distorted over time. All faculty members acknowledge their responsibility in this.”

His monotone delivery lacked sincerity.

Maybe it was because she knew this teacher had taken money from the principal to cover up Kang Jin-ho’s misconduct.

“In this crucial time when the partnership between guides and espers is more important than ever... riding the winds of change, we will transform.”

Yoon Tae-ha blinked slowly and eventually closed her eyes.

“The Ark must always stay one step ahead.”

As she drifted into darkness, the voice interrupting her sleep began to whisper.

Why had she hidden such an important fact about herself?

Was it because she understood better than anyone what it meant to have a body different from others?

Or because she feared she’d never be able to ask about the moment she realized she wouldn’t burn to death?

Or because the scars covering that child’s palms looked painful?

Probably all of the above.

Last night, chasing the trail of question marks, she met the start of a new day. Watching the hazy sunlight filtered through clouds, she thought:

I don’t want to tell.

It was her pure will. Even if she turned back time, she would likely say the same thing—nothing.

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Lee Hae-kyung.

Even if the space his fingertips pointed to resembled hell, she would enter it. She believed he would do the same for her.

With Seo Do-jin, however, things were a bit more complicated. Their long-standing grudge made it hard to say there was no real danger...

But the outcome would be the same.

“For any additional rule changes, check the website. The school won’t take responsibility for disadvantages caused by failing to familiarize yourself with the updated regulations.”

As the session ended, students began waking up one by one, as if possessed.

Some guides openly asked their partners, “Did you sleep well?” even before the teacher left.

Similarly awakened, Yoon Tae-ha’s gaze met Woo Joo-han’s as he scanned the room.

He mouthed, “What?” challengingly. When she didn’t respond, he turned his head sharply.

Yoon Tae-ha didn’t give any warning when she got up, just as she hadn’t when leaning earlier. Turning her head, she saw Cheon Geon-young, who had endured this monotonous one-person play alone.

His stamina is better than ours.

For someone like him, having flame immunity might not seem so strange.

Thinking thoughts too embarrassing to share, Yoon Tae-ha stared at him quietly. He met her gaze lazily, making no effort to hide his boredom.

The class bell rang.

Cheon Geon-young spoke in a tone as if soothing a child.

“Tired?”

“A little.”

He sat up straight. Startled by his sudden closeness, Yoon Tae-ha frowned and subtly leaned back, silently urging him to retreat. But he didn’t budge.

The look of boredom had vanished. He smiled contentedly, dimples forming.

His skin looked so soft it was hard to believe he was a soldier.

“Poke me again.”

She couldn’t.

________________________________________

Cheon Geon-young watched the woman swimming gracefully, lightly pushing off the pool wall to change direction underwater.

Against the backdrop of blue tiles, Yoon Tae-ha moved swiftly.

She said she liked water.

It didn’t seem to be a lie.

On the day of the second underwater training, they arrived at the pool a little earlier than the other students.

There was no special reason.

She had said she wanted to warm up before class.

Cheon Geon-young generally avoided swimming unless necessary.

Water held no good memories for him. But watching her move freely underwater promised to be enjoyable.

And his prediction was correct.

The moment she emerged from the locker room, she dove into the pool as if jewels lay scattered at the bottom. It was unusual to see her display such enthusiasm. Had Yoon Tae-ha ever shown this level of passion before?

She really loves water.

He reminded himself of this important detail while sitting on a white sunbed, gazing up at the ceiling.

After several days of clear autumn weather, it was raining today—a drizzle. Raindrops sparkled like silvery-gray threads atop the ceiling.

His partner had relayed the weather forecaster’s advice that morning: when the rain stops, they should bring out warmer clothes.

By the time Yoon Tae-ha completed three laps of the lane, students began trickling in.

“Make sure you do this properly today. I don’t particularly enjoy dying alone, you know?”

“What are you talking about? After all the trouble of coming back from the underworld, I’ll find a handsome new guide if I die.”

“What happened to loyalty?”

“Loyalty? Since when did we have loyalty...?”

Today, they would escape the set piece in pairs.

Compared to the first lesson, everyone seemed closer to their partners.

“The difficulty definitely increases when two people are involved. I guarantee it!”

“How can they increase the difficulty here?”

“Maybe ten extra spins?”

“Don’t jinx us...”

“They’ll definitely raise it. Only two people passed perfectly last time, remember?”

One student glanced at Cheon Geon-young and stated matter-of-factly. His partner grimaced.

“Shouldn’t they lower the difficulty then? Logically? Or at least show some humanity?”

The esper who had panicked as soon as the set piece spun last time, drinking enough water to burst, jeered sarcastically.

“Who’s talking about common sense here? Are you seniors?”

Cheon Geon-young handed Yoon Tae-ha a towel as she emerged from the pool.

Choi Anna’s eyes widened at the sight. She desperately wanted to talk to him but couldn’t muster the courage after her first disastrous encounter. Her mistake had been underestimating him by observing how he treated Hong Eun-soo.

Instead, she stayed at a distance, whispering with her friends.

When Kim Doo-eon appeared, the students’ expressions tensed again.

“What a perfect day for swimming! Nice to see you all!”

Teacher, can’t you see the sky? If you can’t see that, maybe it’s time to retire...

The students glared rebelliously. Kim Doo-eon exaggeratedly bent his waist, checking the ceiling, but didn’t change his mind.

“The weather’s great. What’s the problem?”

More than one person wanted to scream that everything was the problem.

“Today, you’ll enter with your partner. As I warned.”

“...”

“The conditions are the same. Except for one thing.”

The students’ faces turned serious. They seemed to take this news more gravely than when they heard about changes to the mock battle format.

“You’ll only be given one breathing apparatus.”

No sooner had Kim Doo-eon spoken than a light commotion arose.

It was possible because the instructors, who seemed capable of capturing ghosts barehanded, had proven surprisingly gentle during the previous session.

The instructors silently prepared the set pieces behind them. With a splash, the heavy object hit the water’s surface.

Ripples formed in the eyes of those destined to enter.

“The conditions are too harsh!”

“You’re not giving us breathing apparatus?”

“If I handle this now, maybe I can safely get in and out with just one breathing apparatus...”

Kim Doo-eon raised an eyebrow at the protesting students. A simple gesture silenced half of them.

“We prepare for various scenarios. Is there any guarantee all breathing apparatuses will be intact when a helicopter crashes?”

“...”

“There might be an injured comrade onboard. Or a criminal we absolutely must keep alive for future questioning.”

The sound of rain tapping the ceiling filled the pool. Cheon Geon-young calmly stared ahead. Yoon Tae-ha was no different.

“There might be someone you must guard with your life. It’s unlikely such a person would have undergone this kind of training.”

Kim Doo-eon’s meaning was clear. He drove his words into his listeners like stakes.

“In such cases, returning alone might leave you worse off than death. Either way, this is preparation for your future.”

It was an undeniable truth.

Kim Su-chan sighed deeply. Hong Eun-soo seemed half-dead. Hwang Seong-bin patted her back comfortingly.

Kang Jin-ho gnawed on his lips. His nails had been frayed for days.

Glaring at Yoon Tae-ha with hostility, he lowered his head when Kim Doo-eon’s gaze landed on him.

“You all look like you understand.”

Kim Doo-eon grinned and concluded his explanation.

He surveyed the students.

“The students from last time...”

Finding the faces he sought, he smiled brightly.

“Were you waiting in advance? Your expressions suggest so.”

Cheon Geon-young and Yoon Tae-ha, already accepting their fate, stood at the front row.

They would go first anyway.

Familiar with such training, they knew which type of trainees the instructors preferred.

“It’s better for the skilled ones to go first!”

Having been labeled “skilled” at their respective institutions, predicting Kim Doo-eon’s actions wasn’t difficult.