Chapter 75: PROPOSAL OF COOPERATION
Both Byen and I left the clinic and started walking toward the place he wanted to talk.
The moment the clinic door closed behind us, the faint smell of medicine and disinfectant was replaced by the familiar outdoor air of the academy—cool, clean, and carrying the distant noise of students going about their day. It should have been comforting. Instead, my shoulders felt stiff, as if I were walking toward an inevitable judgment.
Byen walked a few steps ahead of me, his posture straight and his pace steady. He didn’t say anything, and the silence between us stretched longer with every step. It wasn’t awkward in the usual sense—it was heavy, like the calm before a storm that I knew was meant for me.
Maybe he wants to talk about Raiden getting caught in trouble because of me and about to be sent to the battlefield.
The thought alone made my chest tighten. Raiden’s face flashed in my mind, followed by the image of him standing somewhere far away, clad in armor instead of his usual casual uniform. If that really happened... then the blame would rest squarely on my shoulders.
I braced myself for him blaming me. It is really my fault, so I won’t be able to do anything other than apologize.
No excuses. No running away. If this conversation was meant to tear into my conscience, then I would take it head-on. That was the least I could do.
We continued walking and passed the cafeteria, which I thought was our destination.
The familiar building stood to our right, its doors wide open as students went in and out, laughter and chatter spilling into the open air. The smell of food drifted toward us, reminding me that it was already lunch time. For a brief moment, I wondered if this talk would end up being over a meal—something casual, something less severe.
But Byen didn’t slow down.
We walked right past it.
I frowned slightly, glancing back at the cafeteria before returning my gaze to his back. If not there, then where?
Maybe he sensed my confusion because he looked back at me. "We’re almost there," he said, then continued walking.
His voice was calm, emotionless, as if this conversation was nothing more than another task on his schedule. That somehow made it worse. I would’ve preferred anger over this cold composure.
I followed after him upon hearing that.
His strides were long and quick, almost too quick. I had to focus just to keep up, my boots tapping faster against the stone path. If not for all the running we did in Instructor Gord’s class, I would have fallen behind in no time.
Just how fast can this guy walk?
The path gradually narrowed, the noise of students fading as we moved away from the more crowded areas of the academy. Trees cast long shadows over the walkway, their leaves rustling softly in the breeze. The atmosphere shifted subtly—quieter, more isolated.
By the time we stopped, I was already breathing harder than I liked.
I was panting when we reached our destination, and it made me surprised and anxious when I realized where we were.
My breath caught in my throat.
We were now behind the fourth-year students’ dorm.
The building loomed quietly, its tall walls casting a shadow over the open space behind it. Unlike the lively dorms of the lower years, this place felt... restrained. Serious. The kind of place where rumors were born and problems escalated instead of disappearing.
A knot formed in my stomach.
Byen noticed and saw my expression. "Do you know this place?" he asked in a monotonous tone.
There was no accusation in his voice—just a simple question. Still, it felt like he had already noticed everything written on my face.
"Yeah, I know it very well," I answered, smiling ironically.
The smile didn’t reach my eyes. If anything, it only highlighted how uncomfortable I was.
"Then why does it look like you’re uncomfortable being here?" he asked in the same monotonous tone.
I hesitated for a second, glancing around the empty space behind the dorm. The wind brushed past us, stirring dust and fallen leaves along the ground. This place hadn’t changed at all—but I had, and that made the memories hit harder.
"Well, whenever I come here, it’s always trouble that comes next," I answered.
The words came out lighter than I felt, almost joking. But the truth behind them was anything but.
The first time I was here, I protected Crestia from Alad and Werk.
That memory was sharp, vivid. The tension, the anger, the way my body moved before my mind had fully caught up. I could still remember the look in their eyes when they realized I wasn’t backing down.
The second time was when Cirris tricked us into thinking he was also being bullied by Alad and proposed a cooperation.
That one left a bitter taste. Being manipulated, thinking I was helping someone, only to realize later that I’d been dancing in the palm of someone else’s hand. It taught me a lesson I hadn’t forgotten—but the scar it left was still there.
He can’t blame me for being uncomfortable because every time I’m here, it’s always one trouble after another.
This place was like a magnet for chaos, and somehow, I always ended up standing at the center of it.
Byen was silent for a moment, as if considering my words.
"Let’s go find another place then," he said, starting to walk.
The sudden offer caught me off guard. I blinked, watching him turn away, clearly ready to change locations without a second thought.
"No, it’s okay. If we go find another place, then lunch time would already be over before we even got to talk," I said, convincing him that here was fine.
"Okay then, I’ll cut to the chase already because, as you said, lunch time is almost over," he said. "Do you want to save Raiden?"
For a split second, my mind went completely blank.
"Huh?"
The word slipped out before I could stop it. I stared at Byen, unsure if I had heard him correctly. His expression remained calm, his eyes fixed on me as if he had just asked something completely ordinary—like whether I wanted to attend class later.
Where did that come from?
I thought he was about to scold and blame me for Raiden’s involvement in my case, for getting dragged into trouble because of me. I had already prepared myself for that. I was ready to lower my head, to accept whatever harsh words he threw my way.
But instead... he asked if I wanted to save Raiden.
It took me a moment to fully grasp what he said because it was so unexpected. My thoughts scrambled, trying to catch up with the sudden shift in direction. Still, once the meaning settled in, my answer came without hesitation.
"Of course, I would do anything to save Raiden," I answered sincerely.
There was no room for doubt in my voice. No need to think it through. If there was even the smallest chance to keep Raiden from being sent to the battlefield, I would take it—no matter the cost.
"Good, that’s what I wanted to hear," he said, smiling slightly.
That faint smile surprised me. It was subtle, almost restrained, but it felt genuine. The tension in my chest loosened just a little.
"Then would you cooperate with me to save him?" he asked.
The way he said it—so straightforward, so confident—made it sound as if everything had already been planned out. Like the outcome was merely waiting for my agreement.
"Wait, can we slow down?" I said, raising a hand slightly. "I can’t process everything instantly because you keep jumping from one thing to another."
My head was starting to ache. One moment, I was bracing myself for blame. The next, I was being invited into some sort of plan to save Raiden. My thoughts couldn’t keep up with his pace—both literally and mentally.
"Oh, I’m sorry," he said.
His apology was quick and sincere, but it didn’t change the fact that I was still lost.
"Can you explain everything slowly?" I continued, then hesitated before asking the question that had been bothering me. "Wait, can I ask what your connection to Raiden is?"
Byen didn’t answer immediately. He looked away for a moment, his gaze drifting toward the side of the dorm building. The wind brushed past us, carrying the distant sound of bells signaling the nearing end of lunch time.
"Okay," he finally said. "Raiden and I were childhood friends, so I want to save him. Is that a good enough reason?"
His voice was steady, but there was something beneath it—something personal, something heavy.
I studied his expression carefully. He wasn’t lying. There was no hesitation, no attempt to embellish his words.
Well, it’s not like I can’t understand him because I also want to save my childhood friend.
That single statement alone made his intentions clear. If our positions were reversed, I would probably act the same way. No, I knew I would.
But understanding his reason didn’t mean understanding the solution.
"Okay, I understand," I said. "Then do you know a way to save them?"
The question hung in the air between us.
"I know a way to save them," he replied calmly. "Can you guess what it is?"
I frowned.
Why is he suddenly turning this into some kind of test?
I crossed my arms and tilted my head slightly, thinking. If there really was a way—something realistic—then what could it be?
"Hmm," I muttered. "Break into the correction facility and escape from this school?"
The moment the words left my mouth, I knew it sounded ridiculous. Still, desperate situations called for desperate measures.
Byen sighed and made a disappointed expression, rubbing his forehead lightly.
Why are you asking me to guess? If I knew a way to save them, I would have done it already.
"Do you know just how hard that thing you suggested is?" he said. "In the history of this school, only five students managed to escape out of thousands who tried."
His tone wasn’t mocking, just factual. That somehow made it sting more.
Five.
Out of thousands.
The number echoed in my head, instantly crushing the fragile hope I didn’t even realize I had.
"Well, sorry for that," I said, scratching the back of my head. "I just don’t really have any idea."
I looked at him, my eyes silently saying, *Just say it already.*
He noticed. Of course he did.
He let out a small breath, as if finally deciding to stop circling around the topic.
"Well, to make it short," he said, meeting my gaze directly, "all I need is your full cooperation."
The words settled heavily in my chest.
Full cooperation.
That didn’t sound simple. It didn’t sound safe either. Whatever he was planning, it wasn’t something trivial—and once I agreed, there would be no turning back.
Still, if it meant saving Raiden...
I clenched my fists unconsciously, bracing myself for whatever came next.
"If it’s for Raiden and my other friends, I would gladly do everything you order me to do," I answered.
The words left my mouth before I could reconsider them. It wasn’t bravery, nor blind loyalty—it was desperation. When it came to my friends, especially Raiden, hesitation had no place.
Byen looked at me intently, as if weighing my resolve.
"Then can I take that as a sign that both of us now have a cooperative relationship?" he asked. "And that you would do anything I tell you?"
The way he phrased it made me uneasy. His tone was calm, but the implications were heavy. Anything was a dangerous word.
"Honestly," I said after a brief pause, "I don’t have any trust in you yet. But if it’s to save my friends, then I’ll take this gamble."
I met his gaze directly, making sure he understood that while I was willing to cooperate, I wasn’t surrendering my judgment entirely.
"That’s what I wanted to hear," he said.
There was no excitement in his voice, no relief either—only certainty. It was as if my answer had already been expected.
"Let’s start right here, right now," he continued. "We don’t have much time. Your first mission is to secure a meeting with the principal."
The words hit me harder than I expected.
"Huh?" I blurted out. "For what?"
Out of all the things I imagined—secret plans, underground connections, even reckless schemes—this wasn’t one of them.
"I’ll explain everything at the right time," he said calmly. "For now, just trust me and do what I ask you to do because it’s to save Raiden and your friends."
Trust him.
That was easier said than done.
This guy is suspicious. From the moment he approached me, everything about him felt calculated—his timing, his words, even his pauses. He wasn’t revealing anything unnecessary, yet he expected full cooperation from me.
Still, if there’s even a small chance that following him would save my friends...
I clenched my fists at my sides.
I’ll take the risk for it.
"All I need to do is secure a meeting with that piggy, right?" I asked, letting a bit of my irritation slip through.
"Pfft!"
Byen suddenly let out a small burst of laughter.
"Huh?" I stared at him, genuinely confused.
For a moment, the serious atmosphere cracked. The sound was brief, unguarded—almost human. It caught me completely off guard.
When he noticed my expression, he quickly composed himself and returned to his usual nonchalant demeanor.
"Yes," he said, clearing his throat slightly. "That’s all you need to do for now. Report to me if you secure a meeting, then I will give the next order."
It was as if his earlier laughter never happened.
"How can I contact you?" I asked. "Should I go to your dorm?"
"No," he replied immediately. "That’s too dangerous."
Dangerous?
Before I could ask what he meant, he continued, "How about meeting here every lunchtime?"
I glanced around us—the quiet space behind the dorm, secluded enough to avoid attention yet not suspicious at a glance.
"Okay, I understand," I said.
"Then I would leave it to you," he said.
His words carried weight, as if he were placing something fragile into my hands.
"Yeah," I replied. "Leave it to me. I’ll save my friends."
This time, I didn’t say it out of desperation.
I said it as a promise.
Just then, the bell rang sharply, echoing across the academy grounds and signaling the end of lunch time. The distant noise of students moving back to their classes slowly filled the air.
"Let’s leave it here," Byen said. "It seems like lunch is already over. I apologize for taking too much time. See you tomorrow."
With that, he turned around and started walking away, his figure gradually blending into the flow of students returning to their routines.
"I understand," I said quietly. "See you tomorrow."
I stood there for a moment longer, watching his back as he left.
The warmth from the sun didn’t ease the heaviness settling in my chest. A path had opened before me—one I couldn’t turn away from anymore.
Meeting the principal.
Cooperating with someone I barely trusted.
Risking everything for my friends.
I exhaled slowly.
No matter what lies ahead, I’ve already made my choice.
