Chapter 136…
Leo Martis.
And Lee Jihan returned.
With the cores of the ancient monsters.
“…I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
“The structure looks similar to a mechanical beast.”
“A unit with sentience?”
Of course, the academy’s instructors and the headmistress couldn’t help but frown as they looked at it.
A being they had never seen in their lives.
And the dragonkin screamed,
<…You human brats! G–give me back my arms and legs! Give them back!>
It was bound like a specimen, wires and cables hanging all over it.
Well, no matter what that thing was babbling about.
The instructors were already filled with nothing but thoughts of dissecting it.
[Isn’t this usually where you keep that unit alive and take it with you?]
[We can say this now since it’s over lol, but that thing was called a “Demonic” unit.]
[Its specs are great, and in story mode people usually steamroll with that thing…]
[Jihan already has the unit we helped him build, so he’s solid already, right? Yeah?]
[Can you say that right now?]
Watching the cutscene, Lee Jihan glanced at the chat and let out a hollow laugh.
“Yes, the unit the mecha-senseis helped me with is the best.”
[Khh…]
[We got acknowledged! We got acknowledged by a newbie!]
[Veterans are always busy trash-talking each other’s mechs…]
[Our newbie is so kind…]
The mecha-senseis who had greatly helped in building Red Hood were so moved by that one line that they started firing off donations.
Ddan-ttara-dan-ttan!
Ddan-ttara-dan-ttan!
Ddan-ttara-dan-ttan!
Lee Jihan could only smile awkwardly as he watched.
“So anyway, Chapter 2 ends like this?”
[Yeah. And then it moves into Chapter 3.]
[I’ve never seen it chopped up like that before.]
[Do veterans even rewatch story mode?]
[Usually they just rush through and get busy making their own mechs, right?]
[You’ve got to PvP with mechs—who has time to rewatch the story lol]
[That’s why this is kind of interesting. Usually both sides get half-destroyed or wiped out and you naturally switch over, you know?]
In other words—
Lee Jihan’s personal custom unit wasn’t just backed by the mecha-senseis’ data; it was practically proof that Jihan’s own control was insane.
[How’s the narrative going to twist now…]
[Is there something? Some uncleared trigger or something?]
[Well, it’s a game where you basically create the narrative. It doesn’t really advance by fixed triggers. But this is a completely unprecedented clear, so.]
[Ah… right. Then a totally new story might come out.]
[There was that streamer before who completely wrecked both sides, right?]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋ He spent all of Chapter 3 just making new units lol]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Because he had nothing left to ride?]
[He really enjoyed academy life lol]
[Is that really “enjoying” it though lol]
“But what are you going to do about those two cadets?”
One of the instructors asked.
[Ah, finally Jihan’s story is coming up.]
The headmistress brushed her long hair back and pondered.
The Iron-Blooded Empress.
Eliza Mellow spoke in a measured tone.
“Leaving class without permission. And entering a forbidden zone. Normally, expulsion would be appropriate, but…”
[Whoa… an expulsion route? That’s a first.]
[If they expel him, the game just ends though lol]
[Maybe they’ll make him do on-campus service or something lol]
[Then Jihan just does volunteer work forever and skips Chapter 3? lol]
[No way lol]
“And they did bring back something interesting. Hmm.”
As if deliberately putting on a show of deliberation, Eliza closed her mouth and let the silence stretch.
“We’ll assign demerits. In the next ‘practical training.’ If they want to make up for it, they’ll have to perform perfectly.”
[Practical training?]
[Yeah, there is a practical training route.]
[Probably hunting mechanical beasts? It’s been so long I barely remember.]
[Yeah, that’s right. There’s a group training where you go hunt Bellums together lol]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Jihan’s going to have a rough time.]
“Haha, well. At least I didn’t get expelled for breaking the rules.”
Rather than worried, Lee Jihan’s eyes sparkled with anticipation for the upcoming training.
Fwaaah!
And just like that, the cutscene ended, and Chapter 3 began.
[Is Jihan here?!]
[Hey! Sit down already!]
[Do you know how long we waited?!]
[I was a bit worried when you ended the stream like that yesterday—are you okay? Nosebleed and all?]
[Don’t say it’s something you always get… we’ll scold you, seriouslyㅡㅡ]
“Ah, I’m fine. I even asked the professor again while going to rehab. For now, they said my body and everything is normal.”
A black standby screen.
Rustling sounds, and then Lee Jihan’s voice.
The day before, he had ended the stream right at the start of Chapter 3.
He’d had a nosebleed during combat, and with viewers voicing their concern, the stream ended.
And now, turning it on again in the evening, of course everyone was worried.
[People don’t usually call nosebleeds ‘normal’ though…]
[But it does happen. Some really sensitive people react like that when diving.]
[We even sponsored a high-end capsule on purpose, so… should we donate more?]
[But isn’t that more of Jihan’s constitution than the capsule?]
[Then we need to fix his constitution, right?]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Should we send him some herbal medicine?]
“Haha, really, don’t worry. I’m getting rehab treatment and all, and two professors are sticking with me the whole time.”
Soon the cam turned on, and Lee Jihan’s face filled their view.
[Look how clear his skin is—did you sleep well?]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Looks like he did.]
[You ate properly, right?]
[Are we his mom? His dad? You’ve got to take care of your health yourself!]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋ What kind of fandom nags a streamer like this lol]
[Jihan’s like the cute youngest kid raised by an entire village lol]
[Stop the cringe lol]
Amid the flood of concern in the chat, Lee Jihan smiled gratefully.
“Anyway, today marks the start of Chapter 3. Practical training—I’m really looking forward to it.”
He added with a slightly mischievous grin,
“Honestly, I couldn’t sleep because I kept thinking about piloting a robot again.”
[?]
[Heyㅡㅡ]
[At least sleepㅡㅡ]
[Take the mech away from him! Take it away now!]
[Suhyeo! What are you doing! Aren’t you putting your friend to bed?!]
[He’s the chat manager, not Jihan’s life manager lol]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Even if his friend says something, he won’t listen.]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Kim Guardian chatting again after a while, nice to see you lol]
[Take good care of himㅡㅡ got it!!]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Suhyeo, don’t feel pressured—just make sure he stays healthy. He needs to stream for a long time, okay?]
“Don’t give Suhyeo such a hard time. Anyway, I was joking.”
Calming the suddenly overheated chat,
“Then, today as well—Mecha Academy: Liberty. Let’s begin.”
He launched the game.
As soon as the game started, time began flowing again at the academy.
Right from where he had logged out.
“Alright, you two troublemakers who received demerits—listen carefully.”
The instructor spoke sternly as he looked at them.
“Yes, sir!”
Lee Jihan’s voice rang out clearly.
Having been a national team athlete, situations like this were familiar to him, and he calmly complied.
Leo Martis, though still wearing a dissatisfied expression, glanced at Jihan and then shouted loudly,
“Yes, sir!”
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Did Leo become Jihan’s lackey?]
[Lackey? Just say friend. Friend lol]
[Friends don’t look that cautious though?]
[You’ve got the word ‘benefactor’—why use lackey lol]
[Hey now, bad word lol]
[But he’s kind of cute being that cautious, isn’t he?]
[Isn’t that the guy who said he liked Leo last stream?]
[Don’t turn viewers into named characters lol]
[He just left a strong impression lol]
Leaving the noisy chat behind—
“Today’s practical training is as follows. First, in pairs of two, you’ll each take down one mechanical beast roaming near the academy. Bring back its core as proof.”
Ahem!
The instructor cleared his throat forcefully to draw everyone’s attention and continued.
“This is live combat, so your lives may be at risk. However, the training unit LT-001 you’ll be riding is equipped with an emergency rescue signal. Just remember that button.”
[But Jihan rides Red Hood, right?]
[Yeah.]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋ But is it fully repaired?]
[I remember he sent it for repairs before assembly yesterday and the Machina kids were complaining lol]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋ From Machina’s perspective, that must’ve been absurd. They’re about to head back to the dorms and suddenly have to do emergency repairs.]
[And of all days, with practical training tomorrow lol]
[Jihan’s at fault here lol]
“Understood?”
“Aaaah!”
The cadets answered in unison and began heading toward the hangars.
“And you two troublemakers. The headmistress has specifically ordered you to be paired together.”
“What?”
At the instructor’s words, Leo’s eyes widened.
His face clearly said, ‘I’m already uncomfortable as hell, and now I’m stuck with this guy?!’
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋ It was nice when he saved your life, huh?]
[You thought it’d end on a wholesome note? Think again lol]
[Ah, save me~ inferior studeeent~]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋ That’s embarrassing.]
[If I were Leo, I couldn’t even lift my head.]
“Any problem?”
“No, sir. No problem.”
“Ah—yes. Me too.”
At Lee Jihan’s calm response, Leo Martis nodded, almost as if pushed into it.
“Good. You two, get to the hangar quickly.”
With that, Lee Jihan strode forward briskly.
“Hey—uh. Lee Ji… no, inferior student.”
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋ He hesitated after starting to say the name?]
[Kinda cute lol]
[What is this lol, he’s not a kid]
[He is a cadet, a student lol]
“Hm? Leo. What is it?”
“…Aren’t you uncomfortable being on the same team as me?”
“Am I?”
“I mean… it’s not that… I kind of messed with you before.”
Leo’s voice gradually trailed off.
But Lee Jihan only tilted his head.
Bullying?
He had never really thought of it as bullying.
Sure, Jihan had grown numb from being exposed to things like that.
To him, it just felt like childish teasing. Mixed with jealousy.
The athletes’ village he lived in—
the training camp—
was basically a jungle far harsher than this.
Compared to that, Leo’s whining didn’t even register as bullying.
“Um… sorry.”
“No, it’s fine.”
At Leo’s small apology, Lee Jihan scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋ He can apologize, huh?]
[If someone saves your life, you should apologize lol]
[If you don’t, are you even human?]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Fair point]
“Anyway, uh… let’s work well together. But hey, didn’t your unit break yesterday because of that?”
At Leo’s words, Lee Jihan shrugged as he walked into the hangar.
“It’s probably all fixed now.”
“Huh?”
An 8-meter-tall unit, slightly smaller than the other training machines, covered in a red waterproof tarp.
“The Machina dorm seniors really worked hard on it.”
Cough, cough!
“Y–you made seniors work for you?”
“Huh? No, I didn’t make them. I just asked?”
It stood proudly in the hangar.
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋ No, Jihan, that is bullying!]
[Everyone was about to go home smiling, and you gave them work!]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Look at that innocent face!]
[Jihan, think back to when you worked at a company! Didn’t you hate it when work came in right before clocking out?!]
Countless laments from working adults flooded the chat.
But they didn’t know.
Lee Jihan thought,
Huh? …I worked overtime though.
He was the type who was earnest to the point of foolishness,
and so bad at saying no that it bordered on stupidity.
He genuinely believed the seniors would naturally accept a pretty junior’s request.
Of course, this was a byproduct of his upbringing—
the respect he’d received as a gymnastics prodigy with monstrous athletic ability.
But Lee Jihan, still tilting his head in confusion over what he might have done wrong,
continued to grow, step by step, like this even today.
