Episode 4: Unit (1)
[6:00 AM]
The smartwatch buzzed, signaling six o’clock.
“Enough already. I’m already up.”
This was the early morning workout routine that had become second nature over the past ten years. Not once had I skipped a day—if I did, I’d get beaten up.
The early March dawn was still cold. Pulling my hoodie’s zipper all the way up, I started running.
About ten minutes in, the chill of the morning air became familiar. As always at this time, the city’s stillness before it awoke had a strangely calming effect on my mind.
“Big, isn’t it?”
The academy’s grounds were vast, as befitting its nickname, the “Academy City.”
Its facilities alone could function as a small city. From the main building to walking trails, gyms, research centers, and even a shopping district for students—the setting made it so one could live here without ever needing to leave.
The course I was running on circled the academy’s outskirts. The long, winding path served as a reminder of the sheer size of the place. Just as my breathing started to grow heavier, I heard the sound of light footsteps behind me.
Tap, tap, tap.
At first, I paid no attention. I wasn’t the only one who exercised early in the morning, after all.
Tap, tap, tap.
But then I noticed the footsteps matching my pace, trailing me consistently. Instinctively, I turned my head.
“…Yu Hana?”
Her blue hair shimmered in the dawn light, swaying rhythmically with her movements.
She was dressed in a sleek, matching set of designer workout clothes and silently running behind me.
Was this about what happened before?
I preferred working out alone. Running was my time to organize my thoughts and strengthen my body, so having someone running beside me often felt uncomfortable.
At first, it bothered me. But since she kept her distance, saying nothing and maintaining a steady rhythm, I soon stopped noticing.
“Maybe I’m overthinking this.”
She was probably just out for a morning workout too.
Yu Hana didn’t do anything to draw attention to herself.
She seemed to intentionally keep her distance, careful not to disrupt my pace.
Her breathing was steady, her footsteps naturally aligned with my rhythm.
I picked up my speed for a bit.
She didn’t seem surprised. Almost as if she’d been expecting it, she matched my tempo effortlessly.
It started to feel like I had a pacemaker running beside me.
We ran for quite a while like that.
Beep.
The smartwatch signaled that I’d completed 10 kilometers.
Gradually slowing down, I came to a stop.
With my heart pounding slightly, I glanced at my wrist.
Seeing the numbers on the screen, my eyebrows rose instinctively. It was a personal best.
“Well, that’s unexpected.”
Normally, it was hard to beat my record, but today it felt oddly easy.
Unconsciously, I turned to look beside me.
Yu Hana stood next to me, lightly catching her breath as she gazed straight ahead.
Her breathing was steady, and even the beads of sweat on her forehead caught the morning light, making her look composed.
‘Not tired at all, huh.’
As I was about to look away, she turned her head slightly, our eyes meeting.
“You’re pretty good.”
“So are you.”
Our words overlapped.
We exchanged looks for a moment as an awkward silence hung in the air.
Then, faint smiles spread across our faces.
“Do you always come out like this?”
It was Yu Hana who broke the silence.
“As long as my legs work.”
She smiled faintly at my response.
“Then, is it okay if I… come out too?”
I sighed, pulling down my hoodie’s zipper to cool off from the heat that had built up while running.
“You don’t need to ask me that. It’s your choice.”
At my words, she lowered her head slightly, a wistful smile crossing her lips.
“…Thanks.”
I didn’t mind. Yu Hana was a key figure in the story. I’d expected it to be difficult to approach her, but if things unfolded naturally like this, it was perfect.
In fact, not just Yu Hana—all the heroines were like that.
Originally, the sequence was supposed to be me → protagonist → heroine. Direct contact with them wasn’t even a consideration.
But if the order had changed? That was even better. All I needed to do was provide the necessary support.
Yu Hana gazed at me briefly, then nodded.
Her blue hair shimmered softly in the morning sunlight.
“See you later. Definitely.”
She gave a short farewell and walked off in another direction with light steps.
I had initially thought Yu Hana was unpredictable, but after talking to her, that didn’t seem to be the case. Her demeanor earlier matched the version of Yu Hana I knew from the original setting.
I watched her retreating figure for a moment, then checked the time.
[6:36 AM]
There was still plenty of time.
I was ready to face the first official day at the academy.
***
Before coming to Gaon Academy, the traditional military academies strictly segregated boys and girls.
Interaction between the two genders was strictly forbidden, and they weren’t even given an outlet to release their abundant teenage energy.
But Gaon is different.
Here, there are no regulations against romantic relationships. In fact, it could even be called lenient in that regard.
On the first day, when students in their late teens, brimming with youthful energy, gather without any gender distinction, the long-suppressed interest in one another finally erupts.
“Go ahead and enjoy it while you can.”
Of course, this has nothing to do with me.
How old are these kids anyway? Even based on my age before possessing this body, there’s more than a ten-year gap between us.
The male students lower their voices exaggeratedly, speaking in overly dramatic tones, while the female students, pretending to be indifferent, raise their laughter slightly to draw attention.
It’s all quite amusing. Ah, to be young again. Oh wait, I am young now, aren’t I?
In any case, they’d better enjoy themselves while they can. Soon, they won’t have the time to laugh.
Because in the first class of the protagonist’s group, there’s always…
I, as usual, sat in the back corner of the room.
A few minutes passed as I observed, and then the door suddenly opened, and the sound of footsteps echoed through the classroom.
The students Immediately fell silent. At the entrance stood a figure exuding a massive and commanding presence.
“Quiet.”
Just one word. The classroom instantly descended into silence.
The instructor was dressed not in casual wear but in a distinctive military uniform. His closely cropped hair and solidly built body emanated a disciplined aura.
“Welcome to the Unit Class. I’m your instructor, Park Chang-myung.”
His voice was deep and firm.
“The unit activities you’ll be undertaking this semester are one of the essential parts of Gaon’s curriculum.
They make up the largest proportion of your grades and, even when you step into society as heroes, will be one of the most critical skills.”
“For the next semester, you’ll be grouped with the same members for all activities—studies, training, and practice.”
The instructor moved toward the blackboard as he continued.
“Now then, before we draw lots for the groups—”
He grinned, baring his teeth. At that moment, standing in front of the blackboard, he unleashed a powerful burst of mana.
In an instant, the entire classroom shook, and a grayish aura began to rise around the students.
“Mass Teleport.”
The mana began to take shape, slowly manifesting before our eyes. It was a type of spatial transfer spell.
It seemed a bit excessive when we could just walk, but clearly, this was the instructor’s way of making an impression.
After a blinding flash of light, my vision gradually returned.
Soon, a new landscape unfolded before me.
We were in a forest covered with dense vegetation, bordered by magical fences that restricted movement within a certain area.
This was likely the outdoor training ground set up within the academy. Judging by the size, all 70 students must have been split into smaller groups scattered across the grounds.
In front of me were four others besides myself—five people in total.
Among them was Yu Hana. She smiled brightly at me, waving her hand.
I looked at her briefly and gave a slight nod.
And then, it happened. One of the male students confidently stood up.
“Hello.”
His voice was soft and polite.
With neatly combed hair and a spotless uniform, he exuded confidence.
“My name is Yoon Sang-hyuk. I’m currently ranked 60th. Nice to meet you.”
His tone was smooth and composed.
But before he could finish, someone interrupted from the side.
“Hey, why are you being so formal? We’re all the same age, so just talk casually.”
The student next to him chimed in, as if they were already acquainted.
“Oh… should I?”
Yoon Sang-hyuk scratched his head, looking slightly flustered.
“Are you all okay with that?”
But his gaze immediately locked onto Yu Hana.
His question was directed at everyone, but his eyes were solely focused on her.
“Yu Hana, is that okay? Can I speak casually with you?”
Yu Hana looked at him with an expressionless face.
A brief silence followed, and then she gave a small nod.
“Sure.”
It was just the bare minimum of a response. But Yoon Sang-hyuk didn’t miss a beat. He smiled and took a step closer.
“Wow, that’s such a relief. How did someone so famous end up in our group? I’ve heard so much about you even before coming here. Unit activities are supposed to be really important, but with you here, we don’t have to worry, right?”
“I’m really counting on you, Yu Hana!”
Yoon Sang-hyuk and the student beside him enthusiastically continued their chatter.
They were trying their best to leave a good impression on Yu Hana.
Such effort.
“Okay.”
But her response was curt.
“Haha… you don’t have to be so formal, though.”
Yoon Sang-hyuk let out a slightly awkward laugh, trying to lighten the mood.
But her next words shattered his attempt completely.
“No, this is more comfortable for me.”
It was a cold and sharp response. Yoon Sang-hyuk’s expression stiffened slightly. Though he tried to maintain his smile, the corners of his lips visibly wavered.
Then, as if finding a new target, his gaze shifted to another student.
“541st place, Kim Dae-hyun. Nice to meet you. Main weapon: shield.”
The new student he spoke to had a sturdy and muscular build.
“Hmm… Alright, 541st place. Let’s do our best.”
After exchanging a few brief words with Kim Dae-hyun, Yoon Sang-hyuk finally approached me.
Extending his hand, he smiled brightly.
“Jung Haein. No assigned rank yet.”
I lightly took his hand and replied.
“No rank…?”
His eyes wavered for a moment, then he nodded as if he had realized something.
“Ah, I see. You’re a ‘special admission student,’ huh.”
He emphasized the words “special admission student” in a tone that carried a subtle sense of ridicule.
I let go of his hand without further response, though it seemed he had the wrong idea.
Yoon Sang-hyuk tilted his head slightly, as if savoring a small victory, and returned to his seat.
No sooner had he left than an announcement echoed across the training grounds.
“First task: form a unit.”
The instructions were simple.
However, there was no directive to form teams strictly with the people nearby or to follow any particular method.
It was simply: "Form a unit."
As soon as the announcement ended, Yoon Sang-hyuk whispered to a nearby student and then smirked, as if struck by an idea.
He scanned the room and casually approached Yu Hana.
“Yu Hana.”
Without even looking at him, she replied.
“Yes.”
“Don’t you think there’s no need to form a team just with the people here? I mean…”
With a suggestive grin, he continued.
“How about us?”
Yoon Sang-hyuk tilted his head slightly, gesturing toward Kim Dae-hyun and me.
“Let’s leave those two out and just form a unit with the three of us. That way, the ranks are similar, and it’s better to team up with people of the same level. Honestly, if we carry them from the start, they’ll just get spoiled.”
I hadn’t expected him to say something like that right in front of us, but I had to admit, his boldness was noteworthy.
Beside me, Kim Dae-hyun already looked defeated, staring at the ground in silence.
I, too, was debating my next move. Should I just let it go?
Or should I put him in his place?
But my thoughts didn’t last long.
Yu Hana, who had been listening to Yoon Sang-hyuk, suddenly let out a laugh.
It wasn’t a light or warm laugh. It was closer to a sarcastic and incredulous chuckle.
“Level?”
“Did you just say ‘level’?”
Without ever meeting his gaze, Yu Hana calmly walked over to me.
Stopping in front of me, she flashed a bright smile.
“Jung Haein.”
She stood right in front of me and tilted her head slightly, asking,
“Want to form a unit with me?”
Yoon Sang-hyuk erupted.
“Hey, what the…!”
Ignoring him completely, Yu Hana spoke slowly.
“One year ago, the monster wave caused by the catalyst explosion on the East Coast. Only one person was credited with its suppression.”
At her words, Yoon Sang-hyuk’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
“He is a spear user, and I heard he’s incredibly handsome…”
Yu Hana tilted her head again as she studied my face, then suddenly reached out and pinched my cheek lightly.
“Yep, that’s right.”
She was still only looking at me, her gaze intense.
“The true definition of a ‘special admission,’ right?”
Hearing her words, Yoon Sang-hyuk’s expression hardened further. At first, he looked confused, but then his face shifted as if he had understood something.
“Looks like…”
Yu Hana playfully linked her arm with mine, flashing a mischievous smile.
“The one who’s truly on my level is this guy.”
She then stuck out her tongue teasingly.
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