How To Use Regressors

26 – Meeting

“Have you arrived, Ms. Hayuri?”

“Yes… What is it?”

Kang Sungjun clapped his hands, addressing everyone in the meeting room.

“Since we’ve all gathered, shall we discuss which newcomers show exceptional promise?”

About ten people were present in the meeting room, all of them instructors.

A man spoke up, “…. We have a new recruit who, although a regular archer, shows considerable talent.”

A woman seated across from him asked a question.

“Oh… who is that?”

“It’s Kang Isu, one of the dungeon raiders. Surprisingly, she’s quite skilled with a bow for a newbie and adapted quickly.”

“Hmm… I think I know who she is. The girl who used to speak boldly in front during speeches?”

“Yes, that’s her.”

“Well… our clan does need more long-range roles, should we consider offering her a spot?”

“…Eternity Clan Master, are you being too ambitious?”

“Hah… How is that being ambitious? Everyone has their ambitions for talent, right?”

Everyone nodded. This gathering was meant for the exchange of information on promising new recruits and fair recruitment competition.

On the surface, that is.

A man spoke up angrily.

“Didn’t we fail to recruit the newcomer we wanted last season as well?!”

“Yeah, have you grown up, little one? You’re just a substitute here instead of your master. I remember when you used to tremble and look terrified in front of me… You were so cute back then.”

“Ahem…! What does that have to do with the current discussion?”

The woman giggled as she looked at the man’s flushed face.

From a distance, another man spoke with a serious expression.

“… Everyone knows, but there is a truly unbelievable monster.”

Everyone fell silent. They had heard vaguely about what had happened during this tutorial.

“I have a newcomer I taught this time, Seo Yujoo. Honestly, I didn’t believe the story during the tutorial. It was just too… unbelievable.”

Everyone in the room had the same initial thought. Until they actually cross-verified the newcomers, everyone dismissed it as nonsense.

Another man raised doubts, “Veritas Clan Master. Does that mean the rumors about this newcomer are true?”

“It’s true. Seo Yujoo’s talent is… honestly, superior to ours.”

Everyone was shocked. These were people who occupied the pinnacle of this world.

“What… are you mistaken?”

“…Then let me ask in reverse. Among us, who achieved such a feat around the same time as Seo Yujoo? Initially, we weren’t as strong as that when we were rookies.”

“…”

“Of course, now we are undoubtedly much stronger. But will that still be the case in three years?”

“…In that case, isn’t it better to eliminate her in advance?”

Bang!

The man who suggested preemptively eliminating Seo Yujoo was startled by the sound of someone slamming the table with a fist and looked around in surprise.

“What kind of nonsense are you spouting right now?! Gangsan Clan Master, are you in your right mind?!”

“Oh, no, I misspoke. Please calm down, Hwasin Clan Master.”

“At least maintain some decorum. We’re not those insane Eastern Union folks. Don’t bring up such talk again.”

“I… I’m sorry.”

After Kang Sungjun composed himself, he spoke.

“Have there been any other notable individuals?”

Veritas Clan Master responded.

“Frankly, the new recruits in the strategy division seem exceptionally talented. They adapt quickly, regardless of their natural abilities. Of course, So Yujoo is at the center of it.”

“Well… So Yujoo is an exception, as everyone wants to recruit her. Isn’t her value recognized by all?”

After the woman finished speaking, a tall man spoke up.

“I’m not sure if you know a middle-aged man named Kim Howon, but this newcomer is excellent. His resistance stats look promising, and he seems experienced in combat. He didn’t seem like an ordinary person when he was on Earth.”

“Ah, I see.”

Kang Sungjun turned his gaze to Ha Yoori and asked a question.

“Hanbing Witch, did you not notice any standout newcomers?”

After a brief silence following Kang Sungjun’s question, Ha Yoori responded.

“Reason Hyun and Song Ha-eun. These two… are exceptionally remarkable. One of them is already a priest, and the other is an elemental mage.”

Everyone listening to Ha Yu-ri’s words marveled. On this continent, even priests were considered valuable resources, but elemental mages were truly rare to come by.

“Amazing… a priest and an elemental mage? Are they also part of the expedition team?”

“That’s right. And although it seems like everyone is focusing on the elemental mage, the real gem is the priest. Their profession is at the hero level.”

“…What?”

Everyone fell silent as if they had just heard an unbelievable truth.

The Master of the Veritas Clan responded with a bewildered expression, “Do you even know what you’re talking about?”

“Don’t you believe it? I understand. I couldn’t believe it at first either. I only became sure after confirming that the little one can use their abilities, even during lessons.”

“…Unbelievable. Awakened beings…”

Everyone sighed. The existence of awakened beings was indeed hard to believe. Even in this place called Eras, the number of awakened beings was barely more than five.

Kang Sung-jun spoke with a puzzled expression, “This batch… is truly exceptional. How… Seo Yu-ju, an awakened being, and an elemental mage? What kind of nonsensical composition is this…”

“…And there’s one more.”

“…Who is that? You mean there’s another one here?”

“I said it in a bad way. I don’t know if you know who I am, Yoon Sung.”

Kang Sung-joon quickly remembered. It was definitely… the man who had asked him all sorts of questions when he guided him to his lodging.

‘… He seemed to adapt quickly and be decent, though?’

“What is he like?”

“For someone who obtained a job in the tutorial, his amount of magic power is lacking. His sense in using magic was honestly not very good either. He’s probably the person who falls behind the most in the strategy team. He’s not worth recruiting for the clan.”

“… Is that so?”

Everyone was about to agree with Ha Yoo-ri’s words. Someone couldn’t bear it and burst into laughter.

“Ahahaha!”

While everyone was taken aback by the sudden laughter, Ha Yoo-ri frowned and questioned the person who burst into laughter.

“… What’s so funny, Myth Clan Master?”

“Ahaha… ah, just a moment… I’m laughing… because my stomach hurts so much… heheh…”

“… Are you suddenly going crazy? What…”

“Ahaha… it’s nothing special, I also know that man.”

It had only been less than a week, so how does this woman know Yoon Sung? Ha Yoo-ri couldn’t understand.

‘… Did she observe him closely because she’s in the strategy team?’

“Hmm… Hanbing Witch. No, Master of the Mandan Clan. Do you dislike dark sorcerers?”

“……”

For some reason, everyone present here knew that Hayuri had a deep-seated aversion to demons and dark sorcerers.

“That man, his profession is a dark sorcerer, right? Is that why you dislike him?”

“…. What does it matter? Being a dark sorcerer is one thing, but his talent itself…”

“Well, he still has determination, and he handles things reasonably well. Isn’t it a bit unfair to judge him so harshly after a short training period?”

“Then what should we say about someone without talent?”

“Well… I can’t argue that the man lacks talent in magic. But to outright claim that he has no value to the clan… It just seems like he made that statement out of his aversion to dark sorcerers.”

“Ha… So, if a magician lacks talent in magic, they’re not garbage, right?”

“Ahaha… Look, you just called him garbage.”

Hayuri’s expression grew stern because Yoon Yeon continued to pick apart her words.

“…. Ha. Did you actually like that man quite a bit? If so, you should take the initiative and make something happen, or recruit him.”

Yoon Yeon responded with a sly smile to Hayuri’s words.

“I already did, you know? He even summoned me to my bedroom on the first day.”

‘What crazy talk is this…? They…?’

“Wha… What, what is it?”

“It’s already done.”

“S-So… S-So, the two of… that?”

Not only Ha Yoori but others were also greatly perplexed. It was because Yoon Yeon had responded in such an oddly imaginative way.

Yoon Yeon opened her mouth with an awkward expression.

“Ahaha! No, what are you all thinking? I made an employment offer.”

It was only then that Ha Yoori realized Yoon Yeon had been teasing her. In the moment her face turned red with embarrassment, a sentence Yoon Yeon had said flashed in Ha Yoori’s mind.

“…. Wait. You made an employment offer? Already?”

Other individuals also wore expressions of not understanding. Usually, making an offer this quickly implies either the newcomer is exceptionally talented or they’ve made a good impression.

Wouldn’t it have been better if the employment target had been Seo Yooju instead of Lee Yoonseong?

Ha Yoori asked with a face expressing genuine confusion.

“… Why on earth did you make an offer to that man already? What value did you see in him? The Master of the Myth Clan. Are you perhaps feeling unwell?”

“Well… he asked the same thing. Why make an offer to him.”

Kang Seongjoon asked Yoon Yeon as if he were genuinely curious.

“Master of the Myth Clan. I’m merely asking out of curiosity… May I inquire about the reason for making an offer to a newcomer named Lee Yoonseong?”

“It’s just a feeling. People seem… desperate. I’m drawn to people who are lacking or desperate for something. Usually, those people… they achieve something. Whether it’s in a good direction or not.”

“I understand.”

“To be honest, I don’t like saying this because it feels like increasing competition. But… what I mean is that Seo Yooju may be the leader in that party, but Yoon Sungil is also at the center. Just like that.”

Everyone understood the meaning behind Yoon Yeon’s words. They shouldn’t harbor ill feelings towards the entire party just because they mistakenly rejected Yoon Sungil’s talent.

“Well… it seems one person is already mistaken, though.”

“… What?”

Kang Sungjoon broke the silence as he spoke up.

“Then let’s end the meeting here for today. Everyone, please prepare for the lecture tomorrow.”

******

It had already been a month since they started living at the training center. It seemed like the others had adapted to this place to some extent.

“Ugh… it’s so tough. Damn, isn’t this training too intense?”

“… Are you the only one finding it hard? I’m also struggling.”

As a dark magician, I thought I wouldn’t have to engage in physical training, but it was a comforting thought. The instructors said that stamina was an essential element that couldn’t be lacking in any profession.

For example, when parties or clans went on expeditions, it could take a few days or even several weeks. If it was a long journey, it could even take over a month, so they had to carry their belongings and march or camp.

Of course, I heard that large clans sometimes hire laborers with funds to reduce physical fatigue. I’ve also heard of cases where they go on expeditions by carriage.

Ultimately, for someone like me who hardly exercised during their lifetime, it felt like facing death.

“Hey, why is this guy so feeble? What are you going to do when you have to work at night? Tsk.”

“Shut up… you woman.”

In reality, if it was about physical training, I could endure it with gritted teeth, even though it was tough. The only problem was Hayuri.

“That crazy woman… really… sigh…”

As time passed, the torment intensified. Of course, there was no physical torment, but she didn’t properly explain the lectures to me, didn’t give proper answers to my questions, and it was to the extent that I started to wonder if I had done something wrong to Hayuri during the first session and was being punished for it.

Whenever I attended the lectures, Yoo Hyun and Ha Eun kept an eye on me. Hayuri intentionally put me down, while they exaggerated their praises.

“Damn it… But more than that… Seo Yujoo is the bigger problem.”

Even when I tried not to show how difficult it was for me, there seemed to be something that Yoo Hyun and Ha Eun heard, probably because Seo Yujoo’s expression has been unsettling lately.

Sometimes, from a distance, when Seo Yujoo looked at Hayuri, I couldn’t tell if it was my imagination, but it felt like she was going to tear Hayuri’s limbs apart.

While I was lost in thoughts about Seo Yujoo, Kang interrupted me.

“Hey, but are you really okay? Lately, your complexion hasn’t been great… Should I give you a massage or something? I heard you’re getting tormented by the instructors.”

“Sigh… who did you hear that from? It’s nothing, so just forget about it. I just have to endure for two more months.”

“Well… if it’s really tough, how about telling the head instructor? He seems like a decent person. Maybe he’ll take some action?”

“Never mind. Even if I speak up, it might not solve anything, but it will only give the people above the perception that I’m weak.”

“…It’s just because you’re fucking struggling, you bastard.”

“Damn it, the struggle is because of the physical training. The instructors just talk bullshit anyway, so I don’t give a damn now, you bitch.”

“Oh… I liked that curse just now. Can’t you curse at me more?”

“You crazy bitch… Get lost. I’m going to have a meal.”

Kang Isoo quickly started moving to have a meal, leaving Hwang behind.

“Hey…! Hey! Let’s go together!”