Rewind time a bit. When the two sisters were conducting a sex education practice under the guise of brushing their teeth.

 

In the Chairman’s quarters. The living room.

 

Yu-jin and the Chairman were exuding a rather serious atmosphere.

 

“First, Chairman. What is it you wanted to talk to me about?”

 

“You speak first. Didn’t you say you had something to discuss with me?”

 

The two faced each other across the table.

 

It might have looked like they were yielding the conversation to each other…

 

In truth, they were engaged in an intense psychological battle.

 

It was a battle because they knew each other so well.

 

‘The fact that this old hag has something to say to me, it’s definitely about Winterler. She’s laying the groundwork to ask me for a favor.’

 

‘This guy has something to say to me. My intuition tells me it’s nothing pleasant.’

 

The Chairman possessed a strong intuition.

 

Yu-jin, before his regression, had spent almost ten years in a give-and-take relationship with the Chairman.

 

Therefore, they were certain.

 

The words spoken in the absence of the children were anything but normal.

 

They knew this was a battle where the first to speak would be at a disadvantage.

 

“There’s a hierarchy even with cold water; how could I speak first? If you have something to say, I’ll listen attentively.”

 

‘If I speak first, it’ll be hard to refuse the Chairman’s request later…!!’

 

Both had something to ask of each other.

 

But, the first to make a request?

 

It would become difficult to refuse the other’s subsequent request.

 

Rejecting the request of someone who had already shown favor was much harder than just saying no.

 

On the other hand, the one who spoke second?

 

They could weigh their request against the first one.

 

Oh, I’m planning to ask for a favor worth 1000 points. But he only asked for 800 points?

 

Great. I’ll accept it.

 

This was a fight where securing the second move was crucial.

 

Yu-jin had a serious demeanor for a reason.

 

“You speak first. Unlike the young, I’m past my prime. I’ll just enjoy my tea while waiting, leisurely.”

 

‘Look at the young one already trying to scheme. Adorable.’

 

Unlike Yu-jin, the Chairman was extremely relaxed.

 

The difference in experience between them was overwhelming.

 

Convincing a youngster was nothing for her.

 

However, Yu-jin…

 

“What are you talking about, sis? You’re still so pretty and young.”

 

“Pfft!!”

 

A sudden attack.

 

With an unnecessarily handsome face, he smiled and used the term ‘sis.’

 

The Chairman’s composure was shaken.

 

“Cough, cough… Hoo. I almost choked. Damn it.”

 

“…….”

 

‘My conscience is killing me.’

 

Yu-jin’s conscience pricked him sharply, but nonetheless.

 

Thanks to that, Yu-jin gained the upper hand.

 

“I’m sorry. Ha-yeon sis. Should I get something to wipe it?”

 

“Stop calling me ‘sis’. It’s giving me goosebumps.”

 

“Oh, come on. It’s just the two of us here. Let’s be comfortable with the titles, okay?”

 

Grabbing some tissues nearby, he wiped the spilled Ssanghwa tea.

 

While doing so, Yu-jin naturally sat beside the Chairman.

 

He knew too well not to give this old fox any openings.

 

“Excuse me for a moment.”

 

“Why here when there are plenty of seats…?”

 

– Plop.

 

“Anyway. What did you want to talk about? I’m all ears.”

 

Yu-jin’s second attack. An eye contact strike followed.

 

Looking up from right beside her was a high-level technique.

 

The way he lowered his gaze as he sat showed he had done this many times before.

 

‘This makes her feel like she has a grandson, and she goes easy on me.’

 

Indeed, he had done this many times before his regression.

 

Around thirty years old, when Seol Ha-yeon was preparing for retirement.

 

When she joked about making him her successor, he often used this tactic to refuse.

 

However, the problem was…

 

“…….”

 

‘Damn it. If she gets flustered, it’s not like I can take responsibility.’

 

At that time, Seol Ha-yeon was at the age of seventy.

 

Her evaluation of Yu-jin was that he was too slippery to be trusted as her successor.

 

No matter what he did, she could just laugh it off as the antics of a young man.

 

But what about now?

 

She was still only sixty years old. ‘Despite appearances, she’s young on the outside, so maybe a young man…?’ Such thoughts weren’t entirely absent.

 

Moreover, her evaluation of Yu-jin was as her successor.

 

It was natural that her reaction would be different from before his regression.

 

– Slowly.

 

“Oh my. A man acting like this with a woman. Are you flirting with me?”

 

The Chairman put her hand on Yu-jin’s chin.

 

Instead of a grandmotherly smile, she gave a rather fatal one.

 

What’s this? Are you flirting? – she asked.

 

Yu-jin was immediately disarmed.

 

“No, of course not. Please don’t misunderstand.”

 

– Swoosh.

 

‘Launching a nuke all of a sudden? Isn’t this a violation of the Geneva Conventions?’

 

Abandoning his full-on attack, he quickly slid to the end of the sofa.

 

Yu-jin realized in one shot that he couldn’t compete with a strategic nuke.

 

As he thought to himself belatedly.

 

Oh, this old hag is still only sixty.

 

Unlike before his regression, her words were still sharp.

 

‘…I lost.’

 

‘I won. Why attempt such a feeble charm offensive?’

 

The winner of this mind game was Seol Ha-yeon.

 

* * *
After the short farce.

 

Yu-jin quickly adapted.

 

He realized that he had been played and that speaking first would be less embarrassing.

 

His mouth moved weakly.

 

“Ha… then I’ll go first.”

 

“Sure. Let’s hear why you’ve been dragging it out like this.”

 

“Can I go to the S-class gate with Kkong?”

 

Yu-jin’s business was about the S-class gate strategy proposed by the Divine Church through Kkong.

 

He was asking for permission to accompany Kkong to a future S-class gate to reap the benefits.

 

“If it’s just that….”

 

“With Alice, Shia, and Master as well.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

Now, including his wives.

 

The Chairman’s expression hardened.

 

‘If it’s a gate Kkong is targeting, it’s likely abroad. Damn… Is he planning to take Ninomiya overseas?’

 

Alice and Shia weren’t a particular problem.

 

Kkong would surely protect them, and with Ninomiya also going, there wouldn’t be any issues.

 

The real problem was Ninomiya Aika, the walking strategic nuke.

 

Someone of her caliber would be a bit concerning even to other countries.

 

Yes, it’s true that an S-class gate outbreak is a big deal for us, but still, having Ninomiya land in our country is a bit…

 

Everyone would likely show such reluctance.

 

‘Yu-jin must have asked me knowing this. It’ll be quite a hassle to mediate in the middle.’

 

The scales of gains and losses tilted in the Chairman’s mind.

 

The loss alone, just imagining it, brought a sense of annoying tasks.

 

Extra work and overtime were already appearing before her eyes.

 

‘Sending Yu-jin to safely gain S-class gate experience, that too abroad, is quite tempting though.’

 

On the other hand, the benefits?

 

Yu-jin, marked as a successor, gaining experience in an S-class gate.

 

With Kkong, a gate specialist, and the Vietnam Liberation Army, it was top-notch experience.

 

It was the best practical training a cadet could get.

 

And with no safety issues, it was perfect.

 

‘Moreover… hmm. It’s worth the trouble.’

 

After a short contemplation, the scales tipped toward approval.

 

A smile spread on the Chairman’s lips.

 

“It’s a good opportunity. I can’t refuse.”

 

“Oh. Really? Thank you….”

 

“But, for that, you guys will have to work a bit.”

 

“……What?”

 

“How can we just send a cadet to an S-class gate? They need to be raised to handle themselves.”

 

Her smile could be likened to…

 

A snake that had caught its prey.

 

A mischievous smile as if saying, ‘You’re in for it now.’

 

A sense of foreboding appeared on Yu-jin’s face.

 

“No way….”

 

“Just in time, I thought it was a waste for you, Alice Littlewood, and Yu Shia to follow the existing curriculum.”

 

Yu-jin’s face turned pale, realizing what she was about to say.

 

Seol Ha-yeon did not betray his expectations.

 

“From now on, all your lectures except for basic cultural studies will be converted into practical training. For Alice and Shia, it’ll be for lectures deemed unnecessary.”

 

“The lecture title will be Field Practice 1. The instructor will be me, Seol Ha-yeon. The cooperating clan will be Cheonhwa.”

 

“The lecture content is… gate practice in pairs.”

 

“The completion condition is not to hinder Kkong in the S-class gate strategy. That’s it.”

 

You guys will now replace lectures with gate runs.

 

Yu-jin, who suddenly lost his exciting campus life, burst out.

 

“Wait, field practice as freshmen? That’s ridiculous.”

 

“Your master tackled an S-class gate alone as a freshman.”

 

“…….”

 

Weakened by the mention of his master.

 

Yu-jin collapsed into his seat.

 

‘Shia, Alice. I’m sorry… Because of me, your academy life…!!’

 

Yu-jin himself was fine.

 

He preferred wielding a sword in a gate a hundred times more than attending boring lectures.

 

But what about his wives?

 

They were girls in their early twenties, who had only recently awakened.

 

He didn’t want to force them into a damp place like a gate so soon.

 

No, he didn’t want them to go to such dangerous places at all.

 

That was why Yu-jin couldn’t help but feel gloomy.

 

“…Just to be sure, one of the pairs will be me, right? Shia and Alice won’t go alone, will they?”

 

“You’re quite greedy. They’ll only be made to do it once a week. There’ll be no overlap, so don’t worry.”

 

“That’s a relief.”

 

Yu-jin’s face brightened a little at the somewhat hopeful news.

 

Field practice with his wives once a week?

 

It was regrettable for them, but if he considered it a legal date…?

 

Not bad. Yes.

 

Of course, he would have to apologize to them earnestly.

 

With these thoughts, Yu-jin’s heavy heart felt a little lighter.

 

“Alright. Then, do I run solo on the remaining two days?”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“Other than the mandatory cultural studies, I’m free all week except for Monday. I’ve already talked it over with the other professors.”

 

He continued to ask.

 

My schedule is free for four days a week.

 

Shia and Alice will pair with me each for a day, so I’ll go solo for the remaining two days, right?

 

Yu-jin laughed at the simple arithmetic…

 

———The Chairman also laughed.

 

“I told you. It’s a two-person practice. Where do you think you’re going alone?”

 

“What?”

 

“I’ll assign Winterler as your buddy. Spend the remaining two days with her.”

 

“……You old hag!!!?”