Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang━!

The sound of banging on the shield filled the training ground as attacks rained down on Lee Yoo-ri.

“…Why, why are we only looking at her?”

“What the hell is that skill!”

The opponents couldn’t resist the provocation skill that forcibly drew their attacks towards her.

“What kind of tank is this?!”

The enemy dealer cursed but still swung their sword at her with all their might, thinking that eliminating the tank quickly would solve the problem.

However, Lee Yoo-ri, with an expressionless face, evaded the sword with just a half-step back.

‘Jin Yuha’s sword can’t be compared to this.’

The memory of his sword, seen when she faced the Blood Goblin, was deeply etched in her mind.

As soon as the sword was drawn from his waist, a flash of light sliced through the air, and the boss monster was decapitated without even realizing it had been cut.

‘Could I have blocked that sword back then?’

Honestly, she had doubts.

Lee Yoo-ri plunged deeper into the enemy lines.

Swish─!

Swish─!

Swish! Swish!

Boom─!

The enemy team had three dealers, a specialist, and a healer. They were extremely focused on offense.

Swords, double axes, and staffs struck at her, while the alchemist, a specialist type, threw bombs from afar.

However, none of these attacks caused any significant damage to Lee Yoo-ri. She single-handedly absorbed all the attacks.

Poke!

Poke!

Poke!

Poke!

Poke!

A dealer on Lee Yoo-ri’s side, who had been hiding, lunged with a long spear, taking out the enemies one by one. They were then transported out of the training ground in sequence.

“Wow─! Captain! You were really amazing today!”

The dealer on Lee Yoo-ri’s side, who had just attacked the enemy, spoke with a strangely familiar voice.

‘Her tone is somehow similar to Go Yoon-seo’s.’

The dealer had been recommended by Jin Yuha and seemed to be an upgraded version of Go Yoon-seo. Not only her but the others also showed remarkable abilities.

Apologies to Go Yoon-seo and Choi So-yeon, but the difference in competence compared to when they operated in the Forest of Camella was substantial.

“…Next week, we have a real opponent to face.”

Feeling an oddly familiar atmosphere, Lee Yoo-ri spoke more comfortably.

She wondered if she might have a sparring session with Jin Yuha’s party today, but that didn’t happen. She felt a bit disappointed yet relieved to have more time to prepare properly.

Then, the mock Yoon-seo wore a mischievous smile.

“Aha! That face genius!? Our captain’s lover!”

“…Hey, you!”

“It’s already well-known, you know? He came to the dorm at night. ‘I don’t need Cheonhwa, it’s been you from the start─.’ Then you kissed under the moonlight─hmph!!!”

“Captain, sorry, I’ll keep her quiet.”

The short-haired supporter standing behind covered the mock Yoon-seo’s mouth.

“…But captain, there’s a strange rumor going around?”

“…A rumor?”

“Yes, there’s talk that the winners of this group sparring have already been decided.”

“Because of Cheonhwa and Fighting Dog? But they’re wearing magic restraints?”

“That’s essentially meaningless. And the bigger issue… There are rumors that they’re deliberately pushing for the male quota system.”

“What…? Explain in detail.”

As Yoo-ri asked in confusion, the supporter nodded and replied.

“Because of Cheonhwa and Fighting Dog, everyone thinks the victory is already theirs. They believe Jin Yuha will finish off opponents once those two incapacitate them. The rumor is that they’re trying to boost the newly introduced male quota system.”

Yoo-ri snorted at the ridiculous rumor.

“That’s nonsense. We’ll see the truth in the public sparring next week.”

“Captain, is that guy really that strong?”

Mock Yunseo asked with a doubtful look.

“Yes. He’s on par with or stronger than Cheonhwa and Fighting Dog.”

Yoo-ri nodded seriously, causing the others to react with disbelief.

“Honestly, I can’t believe it.”

“Why would such a strong guy need the male quota system….”

The words “Because of me” almost escaped Yoo-ri’s lips, but she swallowed them.

“Anyway! We absolutely cannot let our guard down. The most dangerous person on their team is not Cheonhwa or Fighting Dog, but Jin Yuha. This time, I want you all to follow my lead completely.”

Yoo-ri cautioned her party members.

“Got it.”

“Understood.”

“We trust you, Captain.”

“Yeah. You’re our reliable ‘Soup’ Captain.”

Once again, Yoo-ri found herself nicknamed “Soup.”

.

.

.

“Gah─!”

“Damn it!!! We got distracted by Cheonhwa and Fighting Dog!”

The third sparring session proceeded just like the first two. The strategy was to take down those distracted by Shin Se-hee and Kang Do-hee, the most effective and fastest method.

‘The archer we faced first was better.’

“Damn it─!”

A male cadet was kicked out of the training ground by Kang Do-hee’s strike.

It was a familiar face. The square-jawed guy who had once picked a fight with me and got thoroughly beaten.

‘He’s a healer…?’

Despite his large build, his position was healer. Lying on the ground, he looked up at them with resentment.

“Cheonhwa!!!”

“Yes?”

Shin Se-hee tilted her head innocently as her name was suddenly called.

“…You can’t be swayed by a coward who ambushes from behind! And that guy is…!”

He sounded like a loyal subject advising his king, trying to warn Shin Se-hee about Yuha’s danger.

“Aha!”

But his words were cut off by Shin Se-hee’s sudden laughter.

“A coward who ambushes? Who are you talking about? Surely not our party leader, right?”

Shin Se-hee turned her head, looking at Jin Yuha with eyes full of honey.

‘Did she already recover after being tipsy yesterday?’

Yoo-ri looked at her with an exasperated expression.

“If not him, then who else─.”

“Excuse me, Cadet Byun Iksoo.”

“Ah─! Y-you know my name…!”

“Of course I know. You… you’ve been stalking me for a year now,” Shin Se-hee said with a bright smile, dropping an unexpected bombshell.

“!”

The square-jawed guy’s eyes widened even further in shock.

“I wasn’t ignorant of it, I just chose to ignore it,” Shin Se-hee said, her voice turning colder. “You simply have no value to me, so I didn’t bother.”

Shin Se-hee suddenly linked arms with me and leaned her head on my shoulder.

“So, someone like you has no right to talk to me like that. Stalking me for a year, taking pictures… it’s disgusting,” she continued.

The square-jawed guy stared at us with a blank expression, as if his soul had left his body. Even his teammates gave him cold glares.

“On the other hand, our party leader… he’s handsome, strong, smart, and knows how to make people yearn for him. No matter how much I pursue him, he doesn’t even spare me a glance,” Shin Se-hee said, reaching out to touch my face.

“Enough, Shin Se-hee.”

I grabbed her hand and disentangled her arm from mine. She let go with a light laugh.

“Why? It’s true, isn’t it?”

“Did you change your strategy?”

“Yes. Everything’s out in the open now. I decided to be honest. I really want to join Jin Yuha’s party.”

She chuckled. Shin Se-hee coming out so bluntly was rather troubling.

Tremble─

Kang Do-hee, watching from the side, shivered.

As the defeated opponents bit their lips and turned their backs to leave, Baek Seol-hee approached.

“Good job in today’s group sparring.”

“Instructor Baek Seol-hee.”

As she seemed ready to wrap up the training, I stepped forward to speak to her.

“Hm?”

I thought about Lee Yoo-ri.

Shin Se-hee had always been unable to hold her own in front of Lee Yoo-ri. The quota pair were doing their best, but their impact was minimal.

Ultimately, in the sparring next week, the only ones who could face Lee Yoo-ri were the weakened Kang Do-hee and myself.

A simple calculation: 5 versus 2. Normally, I’d be confident. Even with the magic restraints, Kang Do-hee was still formidable.

‘But the restrictions are tighter than I thought.’

To avoid controversy, the magic restraints today were much stricter than during training.

‘If Lee Yoo-ri lets her guard down like the opponents we faced today, we might have a chance.’

But that wasn’t likely.

The determination in her eyes showed she was set on defeating us. She would be wary not only of Shin Se-hee and Kang Do-hee but also of me.

If she focused on marking me and her teammates attacked, we wouldn’t lose, but I couldn’t guarantee a win either.

To show a decent performance as a party leader in front of Lee Yoo-ri, she needed to have confidence in me. But as things stood, a draw was the best we could hope for.

‘Damn, recommending those capable people was a mistake.’

I clicked my tongue inwardly.

So I asked Baek Seol-hee,

“I would like some advice regarding the sparring next week.”

.

.

.

While Jin Yuha and Baek Seo-lhee started discussing,

“Tch, he’s still thinking about that girl.”

Shin Se-hee clicked her tongue in annoyance.

“…That girl?”

It was unusual for Kang Do-hee to respond to Shin Se-hee, but she did. Shin Se-hee, surprised, turned her head and then smirked.

“Kang Do-hee, you’re also waiting for Jin Yuha to offer you a spot in his party, aren’t you?”

“No, I need to apologize first….”

“For what, treating Jin Yuha rudely before? And after apologizing, will you be okay without a party invitation?”

Kang Do-hee pursed her lips tightly.

“Everyone knows. It’s obvious from the way you look at him.”

Shin Se-hee sneered and spoke with a hint of emptiness, having revealed everything during her drunken antics the previous day.

“Unlike me, you might actually get a party invitation. Jin Yuha said he wanted to be friends with you from the start.”

“Did he really say that?”

Kang Do-hee felt a swell of satisfaction at that.

“But you know, Kang Do-hee. You’re still second.”

“…Second?”

“Yes, Jin Yuha has a girl he treasures deeply. He said she’s his first party member.”

“First….”

Kang Do-hee bit her lip unconsciously. Watching her, Shin Se-hee spoke hesitantly,

“…So, Kang Do-hee. How about we join forces this time? I also really want to be by Jin Yuha’s side….”