Free sparring.
It was a competitive match where cadets fought over rankings.
However, cadets in the lower ranks rarely fought among themselves. After all, a cadet moving from 500th to 489th wasn’t exactly dramatic.
The sparring match I had with Kang Han was exactly like that.
It was a duel between rankings buried deep underwater, a bronze league that no one cared about.
Except, one of those “bronze” players happened to be a Berserker.
That alone drew unavoidable attention.
The fame of a certain female cadet who lasted three seconds against a Berserker of the same level was just a bonus.
I crossed my arms uncomfortably, feeling the academy’s atmosphere change in just one day.
“Hmm…”
Worrying about absurd rumors like uterine rupture wasn’t even the problem anymore. Just the duel itself had become a big issue.
‘What a hassle.’
Drawing unnecessary attention would only get in the way later when I needed to move discreetly.
I’d worked so hard to avoid getting entangled with the main storyline or its central characters, and now all that effort might go to waste…
“Ah.”
Of course, I knew this would happen.
In the distance, a bustling crowd came into view. Had the first-year classroom ever been this crowded?
It was obvious: they were gathered to see one person. Kang Han, no doubt.
And as expected, the timid boy, who looked nothing like the ferocious fighter from yesterday, was flustered under the countless stares coming his way.
It was almost hard to believe his wild energy during the fight. It felt like a fabricated memory.
When I entered the classroom, the atmosphere shifted slightly.
“Is that… her? The one who fought him yesterday? She’s so pretty…”
Various murmurs arose from those who had watched the sparring video.
I ignored them and quietly took my seat.
Even that simple action seemed to calm the noisy classroom somewhat.
Unlike the awkward Kang Han, I looked like someone not to be trifled with.
In the category of “cool beauty,” if there was such a thing for humans, I’d certainly fit the bill.
This often made other cadets, eager to make a good impression, discreetly leave the room, which also helped silence the chaos.
Walls exist in beauty as well, and this time, they were working in my favor.
The noisy morning passed just like that.
For the record, Kang Han kept glancing my way until the morning ended.
It was obvious he wanted to apologize for yesterday, but he couldn’t muster the courage to approach me.
I smirked.
What a timid brat.
Berserkers are an incredibly rare trait worldwide.
Most of them are said to have met a gruesome end, becoming terrifying killers who massacred hundreds before being put down.
That’s the typical fate of a Berserker who grows poorly.
However, if nurtured properly, they can become heroes who save countless lives, like Germany’s “Damian Kreutz.”
It seemed Korea was determined to create its own “K-Damian.”
The academy’s instructors had hurriedly restructured the curriculum specifically for a single cadet upon hearing the news of a new Berserker.
This much was expected.
Pairing a Berserker with other students could lead to unimaginable accidents.
The fact that no murders had occurred yet was a miracle, given Kang Han’s mild temperament.
Providing him with a special learning environment was not favoritism but a necessity.
What I didn’t expect was to be summoned there myself.
“Hello, Cadet Yidam.”
Inside the “Berserker Special Education Facility,” I encountered a man unlike anyone I’d seen at the academy before.
“A monk?”
A middle-aged man with a shaved head greeted me with a benevolent smile that resembled Buddha’s.
Kang Han sat awkwardly beside him.
“Please, have a seat. There’s a reason I’ve called you here today.”
“Ah, alright…”
In the spacious hall, the monk, Kang Han, and I each sat on our cushions.
What kind of lesson would require a setting like this? And why was I here?
Before my questions could multiply, the monk began speaking.
“My name is Jung Hye. Before coming here, I traveled across the country running meditation camps. I was invited to the academy as a special instructor.”
Ah, his words hit me like a gong.
So, they brought him in to suppress the Berserker’s madness through meditation.
I barely stifled a laugh.
K-Damian? I must have forgotten that anything with a “K” label, except kimchi, tends to fall short.
Whether in Korea or this parallel version of it, governments never seem capable of running proper national projects.
How did they expect to suppress a madness that transforms human nature into that of a killer?
I’d already planned to collect hidden artifacts or powers related to mental suppression for Kang Han.
All I needed to do was deliver the items to him at the right time. There was no need for a class like this.
But I didn’t voice such a gamer-like, outlandish idea.
For now, I was just a cadet, sitting politely and listening to the monk.
“Controlling the mind is important for everyone, but it’s rarely easy. Especially when there’s a source of turmoil, calming the storm is nearly impossible. Kang Han must feel the same way, right?”
The monk looked at Kang Han knowingly.
Under the pressure of his gaze, Kang Han seemed to shrink like a deflated balloon.
He nervously glanced at my stomach and fidgeted.
What’s with him?
Does he… know?
The thought crossed my mind, but I quickly dismissed it.
‘The secret is safe.’
If my infertility had been revealed, the students would’ve gossiped about it all morning. The hospital must have done a good job keeping quiet.
It seemed Kang Han was simply struggling with the fact that he’d drawn blood with his own hands.
The monk had picked up on this and set the stage for him to address it.
Finally, I understood why I was here.
The academy instructors and Special Instructor Jung Hye were fully invested in ensuring that Kang Han could grow into a mentally healthy Berserker rather than a deranged killer.
Lesson one: Apologize to Yidam.
If I had to name it, that’s what it would be.
Jung Hye, the monk, continued speaking.
“Most things are resolved with time, but some require us to tie up the loose ends ourselves. Cadet Kang Han, speak what’s on your mind.”
“I’m sorry…!”
Kang Han shouted impulsively, then shrank back as he spoke again.
“I’m sorry… Once I lose control, I can’t stop… Back then, I…”
“I accept your apology.”
“What?”
“Yeah.”
I wrapped it up neatly.
I couldn’t understand why he was making such a fuss over this.
Bloodshed during free sparring was rare, but not unheard of.
It’s something that could happen when cadets spar against each other.
What was he planning to do in the tower later if this was enough to shake him? Could I really entrust my future—and humanity’s safety—to him?
“I rested for a few hours at the hospital and was fine. So, you can stop feeling guilty now.”
Only after I added that did Kang Han finally exhale a sigh of relief.
He was ridiculously soft-hearted.
Jung Hye, observing our bland exchange with a gentle smile, spoke again.
“Well done. Now it’s Cadet Yidam’s turn.”
I froze.
Why was I suddenly being brought into this?
“Me?”
“Does Cadet Yidam not have any unresolved issues of the heart?”
I was bewildered at first, but soon understood the monk’s intentions.
Instructors have the authority to access cadets’ physical data to plan their development.
As a special instructor, Jung Hye likely had access to—or had been informed about—my and Kang Han’s unusual circumstances.
Could he possibly intend to reveal my infertility to Kang Han?
I hastily intervened.
“Uh, no, not really. Nothing like that.”
Why was he trying to drop such a bombshell? It wasn’t like it couldn’t remain a secret forever.
But the monk remained steadfast.
In truth, his actions weren’t for my sake, but for Kang Han’s.
I reminded myself again:
‘This is a meditation class to mold Kang Han into a mentally stable Berserker.’
The fact that he had rendered a female cadet infertile with his own hands would only weigh heavier on him if revealed later. Given Kang Han’s fragile heart, it could even retire him prematurely.
The monk seemed determined to resolve this matter here and now.
I realized just how serious the academy was about nurturing Kang Han.
At the same time, I felt a surge of humiliation.
‘Are they not even considering my situation?’
It felt like they were exploiting my deepest vulnerabilities for their greater goal of raising a powerful Hunter.
But that was just my misunderstanding.
When I refused to reveal the truth, the monk sent Kang Han away.
It seemed he wanted a private conversation with me.
Apparently, he genuinely believed I was emotionally wounded.
Well, I suppose that made sense.
Living with a male mind in a female body often led me to forget certain things.
For instance, it wasn’t normal for a woman who’d lost her ability to bear children to be perfectly fine without shedding tears in solitude.
The monk asked,
“Does Cadet Yidam not want Kang Han to know about this?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s unnecessary.”
I answered honestly.
“I don’t plan to date anyone or have children. Infertility isn’t nearly as unfortunate as losing one’s mana. It doesn’t affect my life as a Hunter or my daily routine.”
I didn’t add, “In fact, it’s great not having periods anymore!”—mostly because I remembered the nurses who had burst into tears when I said that.
The monk’s expression was subtle.
Losing an important aspect of life and reacting so nonchalantly was indeed far from normal.
After a long silence, the monk finally smiled.
“In that case, can I ask you for a promise?”
“What kind of promise?”
“If the time comes when this fact becomes difficult for you, will you promise to seek me out?”
His unexpected words left me momentarily stunned.
I had expected him to say something like, “Let’s keep this secret forever,” or, “The nation will compensate you, so don’t dwell on it.”
‘Is this what it means to be an adult? Or is it the unique compassion of a religious person?’
I wasn’t sure.
Awkwardly, I nodded.
“Sure, why not.”
End of Chapter