Chapter 25 : Main Quest Madness #4 - No Kidding, I’m an Extra

In that jovial atmosphere, they ate their meal together with their classmates. "This guy, allow me to introduce him! He was the one pounding on the door right after you screamed, Scream Man! His name is Oh Min Sik!" "But honestly, if you hadn't caused such a ruckus, I wouldn't have reacted that way. You started screaming, and it made me anxious. It's totally your fault, Scream Man." Wasn't he one of the guys who shattered the windows while shouting back then? Oh Min Sik, he's quite a likable fellow. Anyone who screamed in panic back then earns my favor. You could say they’re all friends. "Don't mess around, man. Even though I initiated it, it's true that everyone panicked at that time." "And that panic was because of you, Kim Geun Cheol." "No way. Think about it. The rational thing when a high-rank monster appears is to run, right? In hindsight, I was the most rational one." Upon reflecting sincerely, I concluded that I was indeed the most reasonable. "Wow! Wrapping it up like this? You’re insane!" Oh Min Sik clutched his belly, laughing out loud at his words. "Oh, madness! Kim Keon Cheol! So funny! Very, very funny!" "What, what? What did you say?" Who's this blonde guy? He's been sitting next to me for a while now. "Ah. Sorry for the late introduction. His name is Brian. Is he Japanese-American? American-Japanese? Something like that, anyway." "Hello! My name is Yukinoshita Brian! Nice to meet you!" "Uh, yeah... Nice to meet you." The blonde extended his hand to me with a bright smile. I took it in a handshake... this is a bit perplexing. What's his deal? What kind of school is this, really? "You are Madness Screamer! And next to you, Si-Hoo? Nice to meet you!" Brian greeted us with absurd phrasing and awkward hybrid of Korean and English, but he seemed genuinely friendly. I assure you, this guy's definitely a psycho. "Ah, uh... Nice to meet you, Brian?" "Oh, Brian! You Si-Hoo. I from-" "Uh, Geun Cheol!" The abrupt approach of the blue-eyed blonde startled Si-Hoo into seeking refuge by my side. "Is this foreigner trying to abduct you? What are you scared of, man? Hey, Ken. Is that Brian really a foreigner?" "Yeah." Ken nodded at my words. "He used to live in Japan, moved to America, then came here to Korea. Quite an unusual case. For your information, I've come from Japan." "Ken is boat people! Escaped to avoid the Neo-Daimyos! Criminal smuggler!" What did he say? "Wha, what did he just say?" "Well... technically, the boat people part is true. I did enter the country illegally by boat." "What the hell did you do?! Call the police right now!!! There's an illegal immigrant here!" "Hahaha! The Scream Man sure has a loud voice! Calm down. I’m now a legitimate Korean citizen." So, even as a Korean, he still goes by Ken? "To explain... To succeed under the Neo-Daimyos, blood and regional ties are crucial. So, I escaped. Better to live as a hero here than as a lowly samurai there." This guy's a real piece of work too. Certainly not an ordinary fellow. Anyway, they are all brimming with character. Setting aside Oh Min Sik, who's a native Korean, we've got a former boat person Ken and Yukinoshita Brian? Is this a den of madmen? They're not in their right minds. Having to spend school days with such unique and peculiar folks... sigh. I worry about the days to come. * * * After talking with the kids, we finished our meal and stepped outside with Si Hoo. "Wow! Seriously! Si Hoo, this buffet's so damn good, isn't it?" "Heh heh. Yeah, it really is." "Right! It's like paradise, paradise!" "But Geun Cheol." "Yeah?" Si Hoo, who had been laughing, suddenly changed his expression. "It's not the time to be thinking about that." "Then what should I be thinking about?" "Meal tickets." "Uh. Meal tickets." "We only have one left now... right?" What? Only one meal ticket left? "Geun Cheol, you can't have more of the buffet now. The remaining meal ticket has to go back to Leona, right?" Ah. "Oh." The moment the reality dawned on me... "No...!" A ridiculous sense of despair enveloped my mind. "Ah! Ah! Noooo! This happiness!" That's right! Once more, and it's forever out of reach! Raise me to drop me! I'll never touch that paradise again! Can't return! Destroyed and fallen, never to reach again...! "Tasting the ultimate happiness, then never again... Si Hoo, you devilish fiend! Are you a demon?!" "Haha. Geun Cheol, your screams sound more demonic. Better savor it now." "Aaaaargh!" It was truly torturous! It was indeed incredibly delicious! The best ever! But isn't 30,000 won too much? Should I get a part-time job? But I have training, studying, and exercise to do! Total disaster! "By the way, Geun Cheol, what happened on the first day for everyone to react like that?" "The first day? Oh, you weren’t there then?" I immediately recounted the phantom spider incident to Si Hoo. Listening to the story, Si Hoo burst into laughter. "Haha! Because of Geun Cheol, it was as if everyone almost died." "I actually saved everyone. It's better to make them run than to stand dumbfounded. That was the best decision." "But you couldn't break the window." "That was the only misjudgment. Who would've thought the hero cadets couldn't break a window?" "Anyway, Geun Cheol, you're a one-trick scream pony. A one-trick scream pony." What a heartless fellow. Anyway. Si Hoo and I bantered for a while before heading back into the building. We headed straight up to our classroom floor. ㅡThud. "Hm?" From above, a shadow—wait! "Ryu Cheon Hwi!" "You...!" Up on the stairs! Ryu Cheon Hwi was glaring down at me with blazing eyes! "Hey! Si Hoo, look at this guy!" "Got it!" As I tried to hide behind Si Hoo, Ryu Cheon Hwi picked up something brick-like and slowly descended the stairs. Is he finally planning to commit murder? No more compromises! "Take this." "What?" But wait, what? Ryu Cheon Hwi was handing me not a brick, but... "A voucher...?" It was a bundle of meal tickets! And from the thickness of it, it seemed thicker than the 50 tickets Leona had given me! "What the hell?! Hey! What's this about!" "Quiet, you noisy fool! I have no desire to converse with the likes of you!" What on earth is he saying! "Hey, but still, what’s with this! How many tickets are there!" "Hah. Is it insufficient?" "What are you saying?" Suddenly, Ryu Cheon Hwi let out a derisive laugh, looking flabbergasted. "How much do you need?" "Huh?" "How much would satisfy you!" What is this guy saying? "Those measly meal tickets, I can get you as many as you want. Just say the word, commoner. I will fulfill your wretched demands." This guy? "..." I see. Is Ryu Cheon Hwi actually trying to give me meal tickets as some sort of gesture? The question of why briefly crossed my mind. But the reason was incredibly simple. "Hey, Ryu Cheon Hwi." "Hah. Are meal tickets not enough for you? Fine. Tell me what you want." "No, that's not it. Are you trying to apologize to me right now?" "What?" "Are you trying to apologize?" Upon asking that, "Shut... shut up!!!" He yelled with a face turning crimson. "Why would I apologize to someone like you!" "Because you kicked my back." "Shut up! I don't even want to speak with you!" "Hey! Wait a minute!" ㅡWhoosh! At that moment, Ryu Cheon Hwi tossed the bundle of meal tickets onto the ground, turned, and ran off incredibly fast. Running. "Damn it." This guy... is he a male tsundere? Is that absurd concept even allowed to exist in this world? "Geun Cheol...? Did Cheon Hwi just apologize, in his own way?" "Seems like it." "Still, look at these meal tickets! How many are there!" Si Hoo exclaimed, holding up the bundle of meal tickets in amazement. "Hmm." That many meal tickets... "Angel Ryu Cheon Hwi?" "What?! Geun Cheol! Just because you got meal tickets, he's an angel?" "Si Hoo... You seem to misunderstand. There are many kinds of angels. Among them, there's even an Angel Ryu Cheon Hwi." "Pfft! Hahaha...! Please, spare me! Just be consistent with one!" If they give meal tickets, they are indeed angels. "Man." Grabbing the bundle of meal tickets, I could feel the warmth. "He was just a bit rude after all." If he'd continued being an ass to the end, that’d be one thing, but seeing as he came personally to apologize, he must not be a purely evil guy. That’s right, indeed. There are plenty of people who engage in all sorts of criminal acts until they get their way, so for someone to come and apologize firsthand suggests there's hope for redemption. Maybe he's just young and clueless. It's possible. "Well, I'll take it graciously." Leona bombarded me with meal tickets out of pure goodwill. But Ryu Cheon Hwi gave these to sincerely apologize. Let’s see, isn’t the Ryu family empire the largest in Korea? As the child of such a family, he’d probably feel insulted if I returned it. This is what he considers a proper apology. Even if he talks like a madman, he has his standards for an apology. "Geun Cheol? You're really going to keep those?" Si Hoo asked, looking concerned. "I think I should." It’s okay to accept this. Pity and apology are different... Yes! "Ohooo! Si Hoo, link arms! Quickly! Don't just stand next to me, turn around! Right!" "Ah! Wah! Geun Cheol!" "Oh yeah! When I’m feeling great, it's time for a song! One! Two! Three! Four!" In an explosion of happiness, I linked arms with Si Hoo and whirled around like a carousel! How many meal tickets are there, damn it! * * * A warm heart. Gentle sunlight. The afternoon class was truly beautiful. The fresh spring breeze tickled my heart. ㅡClick. As I was attending the class, Instructor Lee So Ra opened the door. "Kim Geun Cheol? Come out." "Oh." Calling for me? "Yes. I'll be right back." I immediately stood up and followed Instructor Lee So Ra. "Instructor? What is it about?" "The disciplinary committee. Remember?" "Of course, I remember. I'd be a sea cucumber if I forgot. A sea cucumber. Haha." "You seem to be in high spirits?" "There’s a reason for that, ma'am. Don’t you ever feel like the world is warm and inviting?" "A warm world? What an unusual question, truly." It's not that peculiar a question. "Just saying, ma'am. That's how I felt just now." "Well... I guess everyone feels that way once in a while." "But there must be many who have never felt it at all. I was like that until just yesterday." "Honestly, Kim Geun Cheol, you always speak in riddles. Anyway, let's go." "Sure." And so, I followed Instructor Lee So Ra down the corridor. Everywhere else was in session, and outside the window, I could see cadets practicing their abilities in the training ground. Judging by the level, they must be seniors. "This is it." "Here?" "It's the disciplinary committee room. Go in." ㅡCreak. I opened the door and stepped inside. "Oh." The surroundings were dim. And it was quite spacious. Most notably, there was a large window high on the wall, behind which were people who looked like judges! "What is this place!" Is this some kind of judgment chamber?! "And there's Ryu Cheon Hwi standing over there!" "Quiet down, you noisy wretch...!" I noticed he was standing still. ㅡBang bang bang! Then came the sound of a gavel. "We will now commence the disciplinary committee. Instructor Lee So Ra, prepare for any unforeseen events." "I will." Going straight to it, are we? With that thought, I glanced over at Ryu Cheon Hwi. "..." He stood there, turning his gaze to the side, looking utterly displeased. Well. Let's see. He's just a kid, so of course, he might feel that way. "Cadet Kim Geun Cheol. Cadet Ryu Cheon Hwi. Regarding the unilateral violence that occurred between you two—" I interrupted the judge's speech. "Excuse me, Instructor. And the judges? I feel it might be odd saying this now, but I need to speak. Can you spare a moment?" "What?" Instructor Lee So Ra tilted her head. "Is it okay if Cadet Kim Geun Cheol speaks first?" Then she turned to look at the window where the judges were seated. "Considering we already know the situation, it's no big deal." "Permission granted. Cadet Kim Geun Cheol, go ahead." "Yes." I bowed deeply and spoke. "Although an unfortunate incident occurred, I’d like to forgive Ryu Cheon Hwi. He came earlier to apologize to me. So, could the judges also forgive him? Since we've settled things among ourselves, you know, along those lines." A true masculine trait: When you receive an apology, forgive everything. "What, what?! I don't need your forgiveness! Who do you think you are to forgive me!!!" As expected, he had an outburst immediately. I figured as much. "Come on, stop with the tantrums. You came to apologize first, and then say you don't need this? Right, our dear Ryu Cheon Hwi? This big brother here is magnanimous enough to accept your apology. Kids make mistakes all the time. No reason not to understand. So let’s be good friends moving forward." "Who said we're friends! And calling yourself ‘big brother’! I'm sick of your drivel!!!" Well. Regardless, I've already received the apology. There's no taking back a given apology.