Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 30

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Episode 30

Eight weeks had passed since the Cadet Corps began.

The Cadet Corps instructors were gathered in the conference room inside the facility.

An emergency meeting was held on the weekend because an order had been issued to move up the evaluation schedule, which was divided into the first and second semesters.

After the countermeasures meeting, the report on the cadets’ grades began.

“Isn’t Class 1 the best ever!”

The Cadet Corps Commander beamed at the Class 1 instructor’s report.

“To think they’ve grown this much when the Cadet Corps hasn’t even been around for very long. Instructor, you’ve worked hard! Very well done!”

“It’s all thanks to the cadets following me well. Haha.”

The Class 1 instructor bowed modestly and smiled.

“No matter how well the cadets followed, an average of 1.3 grades. Isn’t that an increase of up to two grades compared to two months ago! And the growth of the Eighth Young Lady… Haha!”

Class 1 had shown growth between Grade 1 and Grade 2 across the board, even though only about two months had passed since the start of the Cadet Corps.

It was said that a great growth would be to raise two grades in a year, but it was hard to believe that it was only two months of growth.

“Classes 2 and 3 also have good grades! Not as good as Class 1, but still a great improvement compared to last year!”

The Cadet Corps Commander smiled contentedly.

Class 2 lagged somewhat behind Class 1, but still fought quite well with a competitive spirit against Class 1.

Class 3 always showed mediocre growth, but was still performing much better than in previous years.

“I was worried because the order to move up the first semester evaluation was suddenly issued, but it must have been for a reason. The cadets’ level is truly amazing! Haha! This isn’t the time for this. Let’s continue the report! Next is Class 4, right?”

The Class 4 instructor rose from his seat with a grim face.

The Class 3 instructor glanced at the Cadet Corps Commander and whispered to Lee Jung-ho, the instructor of Class 5, who was sitting next to him.

“Aren’t you sad? Why did you bother coming to the Training Center to take charge of Class 5 when you graduated at the top of your class from the Sword Gate (劍門) [a prestigious martial arts academy]?”

The Class 3 instructor was a classmate of Lee Jung-ho during his Cadet Corps days. Lee Jung-ho frowned at his words.

“I wanted to be an educator from the beginning. What’s wrong with coming to the Training Center?”

“Then you should have applied to be the Class 1 instructor. Those Class 1 and 2 instructors didn’t have good grades, but they met good cadets, built up their performance, and aren’t they great?”

“The class isn’t important.”

“That’s true, but Class 5 is important. Isn’t Class 5 a garbage dump?”

“…A garbage dump.”

It wasn’t a pleasant assessment, but he couldn’t argue with it.

The reason he, who had been recognized to some extent, applied for Class 5 was actually because he wanted to help the lagging children grow somehow.

But he repeatedly failed.

Even after he took over as instructor, Class 5 was always the class with the most repeaters and dropouts.

But.

“That might have been the case until now.”

“What?”

The Class 3 instructor looked puzzled.

At that time, the Class 4 instructor’s report was over.

“…Class 4 is a bit of a problem.”

The Cadet Corps Commander frowned slightly after receiving the report on Class 4’s growth.

The grades were worse than in previous years.

There was no change in grade, and the training speed was too slow.

“The exact details of the evaluation haven’t been revealed yet, but I heard that this evaluation will be quite difficult. I’m not worried about Classes 1 to 3… Tsk!”

The Cadet Corps Commander looked at the Class 4 instructor and Lee Jung-ho and clicked his tongue.

“I heard that Class 5 wasn’t even Grade 6 at the basic measurement on the first day?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Hoo.”

The Cadet Corps Commander let out a big sigh.

Lee Jung-ho pursed his lips.

There was a reason for that measurement at that time.

But Lee Jung-ho didn’t make excuses. The results at that time didn’t matter.

“Class 1 is at the highest level ever, but Class 5 is the worst ever. Isn’t that right, Instructor Lee Jung-ho?”

The worst ever. Is that really the case?

Lee Jung-ho had a strange smile on his face.

“Let’s hear the report first.”

The Cadet Corps Commander threw the documents with the cadets’ personal information on the table as if he had no intention of looking at them, and leaned back on the backrest.

Lee Jung-ho bowed briefly and rose from his seat to begin the report calmly.

“Let’s begin. First…”

Cadet No. 1, Lee Cheol.

Basic Measurement Grade 1 → Grade 1.

Mock Exam Grade 1 → Grade 1.

Cadet No. 2, Choi In-ha.

Basic Measurement Grade 7 → Grade 2.

Mock Exam Grade 5 → Grade 3.

Cadet No. 4, Kim Bo-sung

Basic Measurement Grade 6 → Grade 4

Mock Exam Grade 7 → Grade 3

……

Cadet No. 11, Kim Han.

Basic Measurement Grade 6 → Grade 3.

Mock Exam Grade 6 → Grade 3.

……

“That’s all.”

“W, wait…”

The Cadet Corps Commander stared intently at the documents with the cadets’ personal information, his eyes wide open.

“T, then how much did the class average grade increase?”

“The class average was Grade 6.4 based on the first measurement, and it is currently Grade 3.5.”

Silence fell in the conference room.

Class 5, which was called a garbage dump, had grown to the point where it was similar to Class 3, which had an average grade of 3, just by looking at the numbers.

The cadets in Class 1 were praised for growing from Grade 1 to Grade 2 in just two months, but Class 5 raised about 3 grades.

“The report is now complete for all except for the five who voluntarily dropped out.”

“Is… is what you reported true?”

“Yes, it’s true.”

The Cadet Corps Commander questioned as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Even so, raising three grades in two months must be a mistake…”

“All measurements were made with the Training Center’s official equipment. There can be no mistakes or manipulations.”

Lee Jung-ho thought of the Class 5 cadets.

Rather, even the day before this measurement, the cadets trained as usual. They were in this state even though they were tired from the continued training.

“All of Class 5’s cadets fought fiercely and changed. This grade is not a fluke, but a natural result of the cadets’ efforts.”

An average of Grade 3.5 is not a high number.

But the growth rate was hard to see even if you looked back at the history of the Cadet Corps.

Moreover, Class 5, which is called a garbage dump, is about the same grade as Class 3.

“I see. I’ve seen Class 5 cadets training late from time to time…”

The Cadet Corps Commander burst out laughing.

“I think I misjudged you. To rehabilitate the cadets who are called a garbage dump. You are indeed the top of the Sword Gate. I’ve been misunderstanding your teaching methods!”

“Cadet Corps Commander. I’m ashamed, but…”

Lee Jung-ho smiled self-deprecatingly.

“It’s not me who did it. As the Cadet Corps Commander said, the teaching methods I’ve been using have been too soft and wrong.”

“Oh! Did you change your teaching method? Tell me how you changed those troublemakers.”

Lee Jung-ho thought.

Did the cadets change because of him?

No, the cadets changed themselves.

There was someone who led the change, but it wasn’t Lee Jung-ho.

“It was Young Master Lee Cheol who changed the cadets. I just helped.”

“What?”

“Even if I wasn’t there… Class 5 would probably have changed this much.”

Silence fell in the conference room.

Everyone had a face that they couldn’t believe.

Lee Jung-ho just smiled silently.

* * *

As soon as the meeting was over, Lee Jung-ho headed to the Class 5 training ground.

He had no choice but to gather the cadets even on Sunday, the only day off of the week, because there was an urgent message to deliver.

Lee Jung-ho, who was about to head to the dormitory next to the training ground, was surprised as soon as he arrived at the training ground.

‘I didn’t even need to call them.’

Lee Jung-ho chuckled.

“I lost! Give up!”

“Damn it! It’s not over yet!”

“Aaaaargh!”

Cadets doing physical training.

Cadets sparring.

Cadets doing strength training.

Most of the Class 5 cadets were already out on the training ground even though it was a holiday.

“Oh! Ch, Chief! Instructor, have you arrived!”

As soon as the cadets found him, they stopped what they were doing and took formation.

“Yes, you’re working hard even on the weekend.”

Lee Jung-ho looked over the cadets’ faces, reminded of what happened at the meeting.

The cadets’ bodies were already covered in sweat, and some of them were injured from the training.

Some of the cadets’ uniforms, which were famous for being tough, were tattered.

‘Yes, I didn’t do anything.’

Lee Jung-ho closed his mouth, looked around at the cadets once, and then opened his mouth.

“Let’s call the classmates who aren’t here. There’s something to tell you.”

All the cadets, including Lee Cheol, who were not at the training ground, gathered at the training ground.

Lee Jung-ho, after confirming that everyone was there, opened his mouth calmly.

“It’s a bit rushed, but it has been decided to give a week’s vacation in advance as the first semester evaluation schedule has been moved up urgently. There will be no training in the 9th week.”

The test, which was originally scheduled for the last week of the first semester, was moved up by several weeks, so they were given a vacation in advance.

“The first semester evaluation will be held in the 12th week. It’s practically a quarterly evaluation. After the vacation, we will assume that the adaptation period is over and increase the intensity of the training.”

The cadets, who would have made groaning noises and joked in the past, now had eyes burning with ambition.

“There will be supplementary training on Sundays after the vacation. So think of it as your last holiday and get plenty of rest. Lastly…”

Don’t forget to train at least a little during the vacation.

Lee Jung-ho was about to say that, but he closed his mouth.

‘I don’t need to.’

It was an unnecessary word for the guys who didn’t stop training even on the weekends.

Lee Jung-ho looked at Lee Cheol, who was standing at the very front.

The instructors even sneered at Lee Jung-ho’s last words to the Cadet Corps Commander, saying, ‘Is that wooden Lee Jung-ho trying to get on someone’s good side?’ and the Cadet Corps Commander, who was from a collateral line [a relative from a less direct family line], just ignored it.

‘Well, who would believe that a mere 13-year-old child changed so many children?’

But that was the truth.

No matter how blazing the fire, the first spark was necessary, and Lee Cheol created that spark.

“I believe you’ll do well on your own. You’ve worked hard so far. Get plenty of rest. That’s all.”

The instructor, who received the salute, left the training ground with a calm expression.

* * *

Suddenly, a vacation was given.

I took a long breath and pondered.

‘The first semester evaluation has been moved up. Is that okay?’

Cadet Corps freshmen usually took the first semester evaluation as late as possible.

It’s called an evaluation, but it’s actually being put into actual combat.

Sophomores and juniors often have their schedules moved up, but the freshmen’s first semester, who have not received enough training at the Cadet Corps, took the test as late as possible.

But that first semester evaluation has been moved up by several weeks.

‘They wouldn’t lower the level of the evaluation… They might have raised it instead.’

You shouldn’t expect such humane treatment from this damn family.

There was nothing to be gained from worrying about it right now, so I took a breath and turned around.

No, as I was about to turn around, I saw the cadets standing blankly on the training ground, looking at me.

“Aren’t you all going back?”

“We’re looking at Young Master!”

Kim Han said with a grin.

That guy never lost his smile even though he was having such a hard time.

“What are you going to do?”

It was Choi In-ha.

Choi In-ha glanced at the cadets and stared at me.

“What are you going to do about what?”

“During the vacation.”

“Vacation is time given to each of you, so why are you asking me?”

The cadets’ expressions were strange.

As if they were shocked that I was saying such a thing.

Only then did I realize the meaning of those expressions.

“Rest when you rest. I don’t plan to do anything until the vacation.”

“… !”

Eventually, the cadets’ mouths dropped open.

“To think that such words would come out of Young Master’s mouth…?”

“I thought you would make us do hell training because there was no training. Like, saying, ‘Surely there aren’t any guys who are really thinking of resting?’ and then doing a training camp… Everyone was prepared.”

They were whispering, but I could hear them too well.

I frowned.

“What do you guys think of me?”

“…A monster in human skin.”

“A person crazy about training.”

“A monster…”

The cadets whispered.

Now that we’ve gotten a little closer, the atmosphere isn’t that harsh unless it’s during training.

I glared at the cadets.

“Then shall we do it again during the vacation period, just like the first day?”

“… !”

The cadets trembled.