Chapter 108: The Academy's Spring Day (2)
The local internship lasted for 4 nights and 5 days, starting from Sejong Island on Monday and returning to Sejong Island on Friday evening.
There were cases of going to islands like Ulleungdo, Jeju Island, and Ganghwado, and also cases of being dispatched to the outskirts of Seoul and Gyeonggi.
-“Hey, isn’t this a rural internship?”
-“Huh! Are Seoul and Gyeonggi rural?”
-“That’s just a figure of speech!”
Due to the demands of a few disgruntled individuals, this field internship, officially renamed as ‘Regional Internship’, focuses on supporting the public, which was one of the heroes’ duties.
They might use their abilities to help with recovery in areas hit by flood damage.
They might check on the poor conditions in the countryside through nighttime patrols.
They might receive various pieces of advice from B-class or higher heroes in the region.
Or they might engage in actual combat against villains who appeared during the internship period.
There were various purposes, but most of them went out to date.
-“Who’s my internship mate?”
-“A legal chance to flirt…! When staying at a pension, it’ll be okay to secretly call them out at night for a walk…!”
-“Last time, it was 2 people per group, and it was only one day, but this time, we’re together for 4 nights and 5 days, so there’s a higher chance we’ll become a couple!
If those who were only interested in dating and not studying were aspiring to be heroes, many people would click their tongues and shake their heads.
But think about it.
Most of them grew up on Sejong Island from a young age and spent a long time in school on Sejong Island.
Even though they could go out every weekend, the process was as inconvenient as immigration, and students were short on chances to go out. That was their reality.
Living far away from the peninsula outside Sejong Island, someone compared it to being in the military.
It might have been said by a faculty member, not a student, but how would students who have lived in the Sejong Island dormitory for several years feel?
-“Students also need a break. Think of it as going on a spring picnic and taking a look around the countryside for 4 nights and 5 days. Climb a mountain, enjoy nature, and keep your mind clear.”
The regional internship in April provided various opportunities for students.
Opportunities for learning.
Opportunities for dating.
Opportunities for spiritual cultivation.
Various fancy words were attached, but the ultimate purpose was to prevent the rampage of ability users, similar to a healing camp.
This was why we needed to send them on an externship at the academy level at least once.
In this way, ability users could live well without feeling trapped and rampaging.
After all, everything was focused on the proper maturation of ability users, in other words, from a social perspective, ‘not rampaging’ and ‘cultivating a heroic mindset’.
However, children always managed to cause trouble when they went outside.
If only there were children who didn’t cause accidents, but there were cases where they went outside and behaved without restraint, causing accidents.
Those who did not maintain the minimum order during a week-long field internship.
Those who did not follow the basic curriculum and snuck outside to engage in harmful activities.
There were many incidents and accidents caused by such individuals, and although there were talks about abolishing the annual field internship, the academy continued to implement it.
-“This is also a process of weeding out.”
Everything was for creating patriotic heroes loyal to the country and dedicated themselves to the citizens.
This was also.
A process to cultivate heroes.
Even if.
In this process, whatever hardships and adversities might befall.
If the main story of Volume 1, the main story in March, was the attack of the great demon Jokadiel on Yuliana and the festival, Volume 2 was about leaving Sejong Island and heading to the provinces.
As far as they were from Sejong Island, and as much as they had left the island environment, all sorts of temptations approached the aspiring heroes from all sides.
“Brewer. What could we use to bewitch the academy students?”
I entered Brewer’s house and organized materials in preparation for local tours with the owner.
“Wouldn’t it vary depending on the age? For field internships, everyone from 8th graders to college students participates.”
For elementary school students and first graders in middle school, those 14 years and younger, a curriculum similar to a treasure hunt is repeated once more within Sejong Island.
“What I’m talking about is adult students.”
“College students?”
“Yes. I’m not concerned about middle and high school students going on their field trips; I’m interested in the adult section.”
“Because the middle and high school students are heavily monitored by faculty members and older ability holders?”
“Correct. They’re still students after all, and the societal scrutiny they face would prevent them from acting recklessly.”
Even if they had superpowers, their age determined the extent of social surveillance, which was vigilantly in place.
“The accidents they cause are just considered as ‘Ah, they’re that age, it’s expected.’”
Especially for middle and high school students who were not yet adults, even the police, soldiers, and those who were already acting as heroes as adults were mobilized to manage and supervise them.
Someone could say…
“Isn’t it more dangerous for teenagers? During their rebellious stage? Don’t you know puberty, puberty?! Do superpower holders not have puberty?!”
Weren’t teenage years dangerous?
If you looked at the villains that had appeared so far, it was clear.
Both the demon Lilith, whom I met when I first came to Sejong Island, and Yuliana, who stole Taejo’s genes, all pointed to the adolescent phase being more perilous.
Yes, it was dangerous.
But considering it as a ‘danger of the Goblin appearing,’ that was somewhat unreasonable.
“We need to investigate those extending their hands towards the adults, leaving those whom the heroes can care for alone.”
Adults were dangerous.
Especially those Yumir’s age, who just turned 20, were even more at risk.
“Because the secret society, Hwalbindang, all sorts of villain organizations, and even those from other countries can approach them?”
“Yes, especially… the secret society - those Pandemonium guys are dangerous.”
To be frank…
The local practicum was a sort of ‘recruitment season’ for villains and external organizations.
And it was also another ‘test’ implemented by the state.
“Brewer, do you know what the National Intelligence Service agents and the government dogs do during local practicums?”
“Pretending to be diplomats or scouts, or members of villain organizations to tempt them?”
“Yes.”
Once they had left Sejong Island, they would encounter all sorts of people. Among them, many would extend so-called offers to the superpower holders.
Someone might slide a business card over from the next stall in a public restroom.
Or an immigration proposal might come through an external communication device.
Or they might secretly visit the weak at night, tempting them to become demons if they ‘need power.’
“Academy-led and actual foreign or villain temptations, they all exist. But why would they continue this internship knowing that these things will obviously occur?”
“That would certainly be a process of testing loyalty.”
“Right. …Only those who do not waver till the end can remain patriots in this country.”
Up until middle school, it might be okay.
In high school, one needed to begin to ward off the creeping temptations.
Now, at the age of 20, one could become a true hero of this country after fending off the true devil’s touch.
“This is also a process of sifting out.”
“What does that mean?”
“It’s a phrase that the principal often says. It means to create a convincing environment and cut off those who cannot be patriotic to the country.”
This was a line spoken by the principal in the original work while looking out the window of his office.
-“The ones who are tempted and pruned are pitiful. Those kids won’t even know they’ve been tested and be branded for life.”
-“And then they really emigrate. If they are branded for life with ‘This person agreed to receive a large amount of mana powder and a 600 billion won annual salary from a broker in country C’. Pull up the national map.”
I pointed to the red dots on the map Brewer had brought up.
“They’ve surely secured accommodations like expensive pensions, condos, or even national training centers. Investigate around those places. The nearby terrain, places to hide, and frequently appearing vehicles nearby… Huh?”
Ding.
While investigating the accommodation area prepared for the field trip with Brewer, an alarm went off on my smartphone.
“This….”
“Who is it? Baek? Yu?”
“Yumir. She sent a picture without any words.”
I unlocked the screen of my smartphone and then immediately locked it again.
“What is it? Did she send something weird?”
“… It’s difficult when she sends stuff like this.”
“Considering you said it’s difficult, is it something naughty?”
“Naughty… is it naughty? I’m not sure.”
Depending on how you looked at it, it was wholesome, and it also looked like something that could come out on a 9 AM health program on a broadcasting station.
“A picture that can be posted on the internet?”
“It is, but there’s no need to post it.”
[Insert Image Here]
It should be a picture sent for me to see alone.
“Brewer. I’m sorry, but I have to leave the investigation to you. It looks like our Golden Priestess wants to have another round.”
“What is there to apologize for? Gathering foundational data is my role, and your role, Manager, is to charm the ladies. Good luck. Oh, do you need this?”
Brewer pulled out a box from the small table next to the bed.
“Traitor box.”
“…… It’s not really useful, oh, wait.”
I approached Brewer and then took out a vitamin candy from the Traitor Box.
“I might need one to draw aggro.”
“…I thought you said you wouldn’t use it?”
“Brewer.”
I put the vitamin candy in my wallet and then flicked my finger towards Brewer.
“You know it well.”
On this island.
In this country.
“I can’t become a traitor, can I?”
“But why are you taking it with you?”
“For intimidation.”
I pointed to the trash bin and stepped toward the entrance.
“Whether to be a traitor or a patriot. If you’re a patriot, shouldn’t you naturally choose patriotism?”
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