How to Get on the Main Character’s Flower Path

 

“Huh? Didn’t you know? They’re currently short on personnel, so they’re discussing using first year students in addition to the second year students.”

 

Ah, come to think of it, that’s right.

 

It was an episode that appeared near the end of the story I read.

 

I felt a strange feeling as the story flowed closer to the most recent part I read.

 

Soon, there will be a medal award ceremony, and a conscription episode disguised as field training follows.

 

In this world, the hunter profession is recognized as a job that pays a lot of money, but is also considered a difficult job.

 

‘If you’re going to be a hunter, you should become a researcher.’

 

This is the common perception.

 

To use an analogy, it’s like medical school is popular, but even within medical school, there are departments that people flock to and departments that they don’t.

 

Well, dramas and movies mostly feature stories about hunters. But how many people would actually decide to go into a field where their lives could be at stake just because a movie about a soldier was a hit and they were impressed by it?

 

Especially among the few awakeners.

 

Even if they came with that kind of determination, their minds tend to change after going through the harsh training at hunter academies.

 

That’s why there are only a few people.

 

Rather than risking their lives and fighting, they’d rather become researchers, even if it means earning less.

 

In times of emergency, researchers will also be drafted as hunters, but that’s really the last resort.

 

Even if they become researchers, awakened researchers earn more than regular professionals.

 

…Although I didn’t want to be a researcher myself.

 

Anyway, that’s why hunters are a necessary profession, yet they’ve always been short-staffed.

 

Even so, whether it’s socially acceptable to draft hunter academy majors who are still students is another matter.

 

Indeed, this world is half-apocalyptic, so it’s hard to strictly apply moral standards. Rather, when the on-site training episode under the guise of conscription ends, all my knowledge of the original story is gone. Will it be difficult to rely on novel knowledge now?

 

It will be more important to figure out how to utilize the meta system in the future.

 

“The field is really chaotic.”

 

“It’s not even chaotic!”

 

Listening to Sion’s story, I suddenly thought that it was really fortunate that Kangyoo didn’t go on the training.

 

I didn’t want to drag Kangyoo into the field that would become even more dangerous in the future.

 

Choi Borim glanced at the people’s faces, knowing that she knew her mistake.

 

The funny thing was that she was slowly talking to us, as if she didn’t want to leave us.

 

“To think that I’m meeting Miss Yggdrasil, I can’t wait!”

 

“Ah, is this your first time meeting her?”

 

“This is my first time talking to her in person! Should I buy her dessert?”

 

“There’s no need for that. Unless you want to give up your training.” 

 

Shin Baran answered Choi Borim with a strangely cold attitude.

 

Judging from the fact that she had been gazing at Min Jaeyoon since earlier, it seemed that she had figured out that Min Jaeyoon’s condition wasn’t getting better and it was related to Choi Borim.

 

“Jaeyoon, today—”

 

“Is the training hard? I hate hard things!”

 

Choi Borim strangely cut Shin Baran off whenever she tried to talk to Min Jaeyoon, perhaps because she didn’t like Shin Baran paying attention to Min Jaeyoon.

 

Shin Baran wasn’t the type of person who didn’t notice this. She just kept her mouth shut and wiggled her eyebrows.

 

Isn’t she just trying to wait and see how long it will last?

 

After that, she continued to answer Choi Borim’s questions with short answers.

 

It was an obvious “I don’t want to talk to you!”, yet Choi Borim really… didn’t give in.

 

After that uncomfortable time, we arrived at the training room.

 

“Hmm! You’re here!” 

 

Yggdrasil, who had been waiting for us, waved lightly at us.

 

As soon as she saw Yggdrasil, Choi Borim bowed politely.

 

“Hello! My name is Choi Borim!”

 

“Hmm, I heard it earlier! You, start with the physical test first! You guys are in a group mock battle!”

 

“Yes!”

 

“Uh… a physical test? Can I participate in the mock battle too? It would be better if we all did it together!”

 

Yggdrasil frowned at Choi Borim’s words as if she was puzzled.

 

“What are you talking about? Shouldn’t we find out what level you are at first so that we can pair you up in a party that suits you? I know it’s weird to say this, but those guys are Yggdrasil’s disciples. It would be hard for them to get along with the average student. Even if you try hard, all you can do is support them.”

 

“Eeeh…”

 

Choi Borim, who had naturally dreamed of having fun together, trailed off as if she was disappointed.

 

Shin Baran spoke sharply to Choi Borim.

 

“It was like that before, and it’s the same now, I think you need to be less hasty. Take it step by step.”

 

“Ugh—if Baran says that, then I can’t help it! I’ll work hard!”

 

I had to try hard to smile back at Choi Borim, who was winking.

 

I’m a sunshine character… a sunshine character…

 

It’s hard to make a living, really.

 

So Choi Borim headed to the gym in the training center with Yggdrasil for the physical test.

 

We sent her off and prepared for the mock battle as usual.

 

Na Yuhan, who was operating the simulator based on the schedule Yggdrasil had prepared, said that it would take some time.

 

Anyway, after Choi Borim disappeared, Min Jaeyoon’s complexion brightened noticeably. It was fortunate.

 

“Um… Are you okay? You seemed to be in bad condition whenever you were with that girl. What happened?”

 

Shin Baran, who had been concerned about Min Jaeyoon’s condition since earlier, cautiously approached her.

 

Min Jaeyoon was blankly staring, but when Shin Baran’s hand touched her back, she flinched.

 

“N-No! No! It’s just…! I don’t feel well today…!”

 

“If you’re uncomfortable, let’s say we train separately.”

 

“Yeah. Jaeyoon should go first.”

 

Min Jaeyoon shook her head at Park Siwoo and Lee Hana’s words.

 

“B-But… I think we owe her something because of the letter, so we should treat her well… It’s also my own problem…”

 

“Although I feel sorry for Choi Borim, you can repay kindness in other ways. I don’t know how to say this, but… I personally feel a little uncomfortable with her.”

 

“I also thought… that we didn’t get along. It’s hard to talk to her.”

 

Shin Baran and Na Yuri, who had been bothered by Choi Borim, immediately expressed their discomfort. Kangyoo, who had been keeping his mouth shut since a while ago, blurted out a word.

 

“You know, if you want to live in a group, you have to crack down on people who muddy the waters.”

 

“Nyahaha, Kangyoo is right~ And she kept ignoring Jaeyoon and Nahyun? We don’t need that kind of flatterer.”

 

“Senior Soojung is right. There’s no merit in the existing members enduring it and taking that kid.”

 

Na Yuhan listened to Choi Soojung’s merciless words as he operated the simulator.

 

“So if you want, we’ll always take your side.”

 

…Na Yuhan has changed too.

 

I felt a new sense of appreciation.

 

I smiled slightly and added words for Min Jaeyoon, to appease her anxiety.

 

“That’s right. Jaeyoon, you’re more precious to us. Don’t forget that. We’re friends.”

 

“…Thanks, everyone.”

 

She smiled brightly at our words, as if she had finally found relief. After a while, in the mock battle that started, Min Jaeyoon flew around as if she had completely recovered her condition.

 

***

 

While we were watching the video after the mock battle and giving feedback to each other, Yggdrasil and Choi Borim came to the training room where we were earlier than expected.

 

Yggdrasil had her mouth shut tightly with the corners of her lips down as if she was unhappy about something, and Choi Borim was watching Yggdrasil’s expression.

 

Yggdrasil grumbled as she kicked the door open.

 

“Hmm—does this kid really want to train? For something like that, she has no tenacity…”

 

“Dunno~ He’s more serious about the feast than I am, but I think it was harder than I thought?”

 

Choi Soojung answered sarcastically.

 

Yggdrasil, who seemed to have figured out what Choi Soojung was saying, let out a short sigh as she looked at Choi Borim. However, she seemed to think that it wasn’t her job as a teacher to kick out a student who came on her own, saying that she would train hard.

 

Well, Yggdrasil made sure that even the students from class A who had given up could follow the basic training.

 

She would do that much. I don’t know if Choi Borim could follow that level of training, though.

 

“Well… That aside. Do you know what the midterm practical evaluation for you hunter major students is in the second semester?”

 

“Yes. I understand that it’s a basic combat and survival ability evaluation as a hunter, a 1-on-1 battle with a monster that can use items…”

 

“Right. Supporters and healers are assessed on their survival ability, while tanks and dealers are assessed on their combat ability. However, the reason I brought this up is because of the special evaluation that comes after the major practical evaluation.”

 

“Are you talking about the special evaluation that only applicants receive? I heard that it’s an evaluation that can help you recover from low scores in the midterm evaluation, and even an evaluation that can lead to immediate promotion to class A.”

 

“Yeah. That special evaluation. You know how the special evaluations work, right? The best students in the grade are selected as representative evaluators, and if the challengers who applied for promotion win against the evaluators, the challengers are promoted.”

 

“Representative evaluator…”

 

Yggdrasil agreed with Na Yuhan’s words.

 

“Yes. I had to choose a representative evaluator from Class A. It’s a bit weird to choose guys who aren’t much different from the existing students, right? I ended up choosing from my cute students!”

 

“I see.”

 

Na Yuhan answered indifferently. Na Yuhan probably guessed who was selected as the representative evaluator.

 

According to the novel—

 

“So Na Yuri! Min Jaeyoon! Park Siwoo! You have to work hard!”

 

It was those three.

 

In the original novel, Min Jaeyoon was chosen because Na Yuhan raised Min Jaeyoon, and her self-esteem and specs improved at the same time. Now, she has grown much more than in the original novel, and she has learned how to perfectly control her curses, so there should be no problem.

 

Although Lee Hana and Choi Soojung are strong, they’re repeat students, so they probably weren’t chosen considering that.

 

The reason Shin Baran wasn’t chosen is probably because she’s somewhat inferior to the three in close combat. Usually, combat students who challenge special evaluations are good at close combat.

 

…In my case, well, I guess it’s because I’m still lacking.

 

It’s a bit disappointing.

 

“Wow… Being chosen as a representative means you’re literally the strongest first-year student, right? Congratulations!”

 

“S-Strongest, you say! No!”

 

“I-I’ve gotten quite strong, so maybe that’s true…!”

 

Unlike Na Yuri, who was embarrassed and denied it, Min Jaeyoon showed his own confidence.

 

Min Jaeyoon, who was now able to believe in herself, was proud, Unlike when we first met, when she didn’t believe in her own abilities.

 

“That’s right! Go beyond these strongest people! This is it! The best!”

 

“Thanks.”

 

I gave Na Yuri, Min Jaeyoon, and Park Siwoo my best compliments as if I was a sunshine girl.

 

I sincerely wanted to congratulate them on being officially recognized.

 

The other friends also added their own congratulatory remarks.

 

Even Choi Borim was worried that it would be too obvious if she didn’t talk to Min Jae-yoon at a time like this, so she awkwardly congratulated her.

 

“Congratulations everyone~”

 

“Uh, yeah…”

 

It was truly an awkward scene.

 

Yggdrasil waited for our conversation for a moment and then quickly brought up the next topic.

 

“Hmm! And there’s going to be a medal ceremony soon! You were told that you’re going to be awarded to commend their performance during the field training, right? The ceremony will be held at the Awakened Management Headquarters! I’ll go with the principal!”

 

Choi Borim’s eyes lit up at the words “medal” and “principal”.

 

“Whoa! Medal! Can I go on the trip too?!”

 

“That’ll be difficult. Only the person receiving the medal can go. And it’s during class time.”

 

Choi Borim’s expression hardened for a moment at Yggdrasil’s words before returning. She must have felt disappointed.

 

However, the fact that she couldn’t go to the medal ceremony with them must have aggravated her inferiority complex, so Choi Borim turned the arrow in a sharp voice.

 

“Who will receive the medal? The friends who went to Pangyo Fortress, and… I heard that Siwoo and Baran also played an active role at Seoul-Incheon Fortress. So you’re all going except for Jaeyoon, Nahyun, and me? We must be the dropouts! This is too much~”

 

“Hm? Ah, so Borim doesn’t know? Jaeyoon and I also received medals.”

 

I smiled brightly on purpose and corrected her misunderstanding.

 

It’s understandable that Choi Borim wouldn’t know.

 

Neither Min Jaeyoon nor I are the type to go around promoting ourselves and talking big.

 

Since the school focused more on the activities of the students in class A than on the two of us who were in the intensive surveillance and inspection team, in reality, my activities and Jaeyoon’s weren’t widely known.

 

However, that doesn’t change the fact that Min Jaeyoon and I are receiving medals.

 

I turned my head slightly and looked at her.

 

“We ended up leaving Borim alone… What a pity.”

 

With moist eyes as if she was truly sorry!

 

Gathering all of my acting skills!

 

Choi Borim became even more angry at the sight of ‘me’ needlessly and purely provoking her inferiority complex!