Rank 0 of the Awakener Special School - Chapter 50

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Awakener Special School, Rank 0
Episode 50
Afterward, the Special Unit divided into groups and moved to a small forest behind the lake.
The air hung thick with the mingled scents of damp earth and moss.
Wind off the lake rustled the leaves, and the whisper of approaching summer carried through the trees.
Ji-woo, walking between the ash trees, spoke up.
“I don’t sense anything particularly dangerous around here.”
Tae Ga-yeong, who had been surveying the area from a short distance away, replied.
“There were reports of Infected Beings in this vicinity, that much is true—but the Purification Team already completed their sweep once. So we can just look around casually and head back.”
“Still, should we check the other direction too? Better to be thorough.”
“Fair enough.”
Ji-woo and Ga-yeong ventured deeper into the forest together.
The forest remained silent.
“…Come to think of it, this lake isn’t actually that close to Narac, is it? How did an Infected Being end up in this area?”
The question came to Ji-woo suddenly.
Gaon’s Narac lay to the east-northeast of campus, at roughly one o’clock. The lake, by contrast, sat northwest at about eleven o’clock.
That was roughly forty minutes by school bus—about ten kilometers away.
Was it even possible for an Infected Being to walk that distance?
“Even though the campus is sprawling, the outer perimeter is ringed by forest. It’s not uncommon for one or two strays that venture into the woods to turn up in unexpected places around here.”
“That sounds dangerous.”
“Ha—dangerous? Almost everyone at Gaon is an Awakener. Students, teachers, even the custodial staff.”
“Not all Awakeners possess a Core specialized for combat, though.”
There was no guarantee that every Awakener could easily dispatch an Infected Being.
If that weren’t the case, Seol Ji-hyo wouldn’t have suffered what she did.
“…You’re right about that. I actually thought you were of that type too.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Do Min-gi mentioned it briefly. On the day you entered Narac, you evacuated the younger students and even rescued him from beneath the rubble.”
“That’s right.”
“Didn’t you think you could die?”
If you’d made up your mind, you could have slipped away alone without difficulty, Tae Ga-yeong added.
‘I suppose I could have.’
If Ji-woo had been alone, he wouldn’t have collapsed the moment he left Narac.
Ferrying that many people around was no small task even for him.
And he’d used his Core to heal Do Min-gi’s wounds too—more energy and power than strictly necessary.
But…
“I just didn’t want to leave the captain to die there.”
“Why?”
“…Does a reason have to exist? If someone’s in mortal danger and I have the power to save them, it seems obvious to me that I should.”
“A fair sentiment.”
Tae Ga-yeong nodded, seemingly satisfied.
“But here’s the thing. It’s easy to know lofty principles in your head, but actually putting them into action is another matter entirely.”
Especially when your own life hangs in the balance.
Tae Ga-yeong stopped walking and fixed Ji-woo with a steady gaze.
“I know you have strength—you’ve proven it well enough. But I’m asking whether risking your own life for someone you’d only just met was truly the only reason.”
Those emerald-green eyes seemed to pierce through him.
Under that scrutiny, his mouth dried shut of its own accord.
There was another reason he’d saved Captain Do Min-gi.
If he thought about it, there really was.
If he’d simply turned a blind eye to someone’s death back there…
‘Hey, hey… you okay? Isn’t he dying?’
‘Dying? It’s just Seol Ji-hyo’s Regenerative Ability. Let’s see how long she lasts, then we can grab her when it’s convenient.’
‘That’s hilarious. We’re all running away and you talk about saving her?’
He would’ve been no different from them—garbage, pure and simple.
And.
“…I think I would’ve regretted it. Forever.”
“Is that so? Sounds like you carry plenty of regrets.”
“I’m… not sure about that.”
“I think I understand. Someone who fears regret is someone who’s already lived with it deeply.”
Whoosh.
Tae Ga-yeong extended her hand.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For saving Do Min-gi.”
…
Why was she thanking him for that? They weren’t family or anything.
Even as the question flickered through his mind, Ji-woo reached out and clasped her hand.
But then.
‘…Why won’t she let go?’
He’d thought it was just a quick handshake, but Tae Ga-yeong showed no sign of releasing him.
In fact, she gave his hand a gentle tug and spoke.
“Don’t let go.”
“What? Why—”
“Your complexion is poor. You haven’t fully recovered yet, have you?”
…
After that, she walked through the forest with one hand holding Ji-woo’s and the other gripping her sword.
“We’ve covered enough ground. Let’s head back. And don’t release my hand until we do.”
Whoosh, whoosh.
Tae Ga-yeong’s blade moved with no hesitation.
Swift and clean, its straight edge cut away branches blocking Ji-woo’s path one step ahead.
“If you feel dizzy at all, tell me. I’ll carry you.”
…
“What? Why that expression? Is something uncomfortable?”
Noticing Ji-woo’s awkward look, Tae Ga-yeong asked.
“No, it’s just… it’s been so long since I’ve walked hand in hand with someone.”
“Ah.”
Tae Ga-yeong laughed softly at that.
“Don’t overthink it. I’m doing this because I want to. I’ve always been a bit of a busybody.”
“…You do seem to look after people well.”
“It’s just habit. I have a younger sister, you see. Oh, want to see a photo?”
Tae Ga-yeong quickly sheathed her sword and pulled out her mobile phone instead.
“Look. She’s really beautiful, isn’t she?”
“She doesn’t look much like you, ma’am.”
“I hear that often. She takes after our mother.”
Tae Ga-yeong smiled warmly and wiped the screen with her sleeve.
Her eyes sparkled brilliantly.
Ji-woo had never seen the captain’s eyes shine like that before. It struck him, and he spoke.
“How old is your sister?”
“Two years younger than me. Same age as you.”
“Is she at Gaon too?”
“No, she’s not an Awakener, so she goes to a regular school.”
“That’s surprising. I thought she’d be good with a sword like you are.”
“What? She can’t be anywhere near anything dangerous like that. Oh, want to see another photo? I don’t show these to just anyone, though.”
Huh? But ma’am, your tone…?
“Ta-da. Isn’t she adorable? This is from when she was five. I was the one who got whipped cream on her face. Look how she cried and puffed up her eyes.”
Tae Ga-yeong giggled at the photo on the screen.
Like… an ordinary high school girl you’d see anywhere in a classroom.
Though she herself didn’t seem to realize it.
After that, she went on and on about how beautiful, clever, and special her sister was.
Listening to her, a memory naturally surfaced in Ji-woo’s mind.
– So-yeong, when’s Ji-hyo’s break this year?
– Just a few more days. Do you miss her that much?
Surely his own face back then had worn an expression not unlike the one on Tae Ga-yeong’s now.
‘This person… she’s a bit like me.’
A faint, unconscious smile tugged at Ji-woo’s lips.
“You and your sister seem very close.”
At that, Tae Ga-yeong came to herself with a start.
“Ahem, that obvious?”
…Ah. Her tone had shifted back to normal.
“I get teased about my sister complex fairly often. But you’d understand, wouldn’t you—about my feelings toward Ji-hyo?”
Tae Ga-yeong tucked her mobile phone away and chuckled.
“It seems you’re quite close with your own sibling too.”
A pause—
Ji-woo’s steps faltered.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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