The next day.
My first day coming in as an intern for <Judgment of Fire>.
I could see a familiar face as I entered the Clan Tower’s elevator.
“Oh? Hey there? I’m seeing you again right away.”
“…”
Once again, the distinctive short red hair.
Shin Yuna seemed somewhat embarrassed as she turned her head.
“Aren’t you even going to greet me? I’m feeling uneasy here.”
“Hello…”
Where did the Shin Yuna who had so much to say during our duel go?
Seems people change when it comes to provocation.
Feeling a laugh bubble up, I pressed the elevator button for the floor.
“The 25th floor, right? Hunting Team 5 Division.”
Shin Yuna watched my actions silently, then spoke up.
“Hey, how old are you? I heard you’re an Academy student.”
“Me? I’m twenty years old, why?”
“…But why do you keep using informal speech? I’m your senior, having graduated from the Academy at 23.”
Gosh, she’s acting like an old person?
I responded with a wry smile to her words.
“We’re practically the same age with just a three-year gap. Besides, you started with informal speech first.”
“…”
If it bothered her, she should’ve used formal speech first.
It’s not like she questioned me from the moment we met, like Kwon Oh-Jun.
Now, even if she asked me to use formal speech, it wouldn’t come out because informal speech had already become our nature.
Shin Yuna turned her head again, seeming lost for words.
Then, after a few seconds, she spoke again.
“I’m sorry for using informal speech first. I think it just stuck because of my attempt at provocation during the duel. If it’s okay with you…”
“Oh, it’s fine, it’s fine. Let’s just use informal speech between us. It’s more comfortable for you too—”
Shin Yuna nodded as she interrupted my sentence.
“Still, we have to use formal speech with the other Clan members. Most of them are seniors compared to us, and they also use formal speech with us.”
“But Team Leader Kwon Oh-Jun uses informal speech, right?”
“Well, about that…”
“It’s a joke, isn’t it? You already know that. Don’t worry. I’m not that uptight.”
I could easily accept this kind of conversation.
Honestly, if I had established a good rapport with Shin Yuna from the beginning.
If I had used formal speech consistently and treated her as a senior…
Starting with a rivalry that involved provocation and clashes from the very first meeting, it had become awkward to use formal speech now.
Shin Yuna added some more explanation.
“Just use Holder as the title for everyone. There’s a distinction between regular Clan members and senior Clan members, but you can call almost everyone Holder regardless of their rank.”
“What about Team Leader? I saw you call Team Leader that last time.”
I remembered Shin Yuna addressing Kwon Oh-Jun as Team Leader before, so I asked.
She nodded and answered my question.
“People in special positions like Team Leaders or Headquarters Leaders can be called by their titles. Team Leader has an official rank as a senior Clan member… The specific title doesn’t matter too much. However, you must always use the titles Master or Grandmaster.”
“Should I add ‘sir’ after titles?”
“Yes. Master, Grandmaster. Everyone is addressed this way.”
I wasn’t entirely sure what was what, but…
Somehow, we were having a conversation about the Clan.
So naturally.
From fighting and provoking each other until yesterday, and the awkwardness just now, I wondered if this connection was genuine.
Shin Yuna’s expression had brightened considerably compared to earlier.
Maybe the way I was explaining things or the questions I was asking made it clear that I was a newcomer.
She used to be the youngest until I came along…
It would be interesting with a new junior around.
Shin Yuna, who seemed a bit excited, asked me.
“Hey, is there anything else you’re curious about?”
“Curious? Hmm…”
After a brief pause, I asked her.
“Do I have any separate tasks for today? It’s my first day, so… I don’t know what I’ll be doing, and I don’t even know where my seat is.”
“Well, you’ll probably have an Orientation Training (OT) today. Split into Operational OT and Task OT.”
“Orientation Training?”
“Yeah. Usually, you’re assigned a mentor to learn from. Clan work is quite similar to company work in terms of what you’ll learn. But I’m not sure how mentors are assigned to interns…”
Ding-
And these worries were resolved once we got off the elevator.
25th floor.
Hunting Team 5 office.
Team Leader’s office located in the center.
Kwon Oh-Jun, who I met there, spoke with a nonchalant expression.
“That? Yuna, you’ll be the mentor.”
“Mentor? Me?”
Shin Yuna, who was next to me, seemed surprised, as if hearing this for the first time.
“Well, since Jae-hyun’s an intern, an extended mentorship with a short-term one like yours is a bit tricky, so you’ll do it for now. And Miss also agreed to this.”
‘Because I’m an intern’, I was momentarily taken aback by the word, but it seemed fair that Kang Juyeon agreed. Then again, assuming to absorb all the advantages of the Clan during two months of activity would be arrogant. My task was just to learn everything I could in a short period and understand the process of running a large Clan.
“But I’m also a new Clan member…”
“Oh, I get it. So that’s why I assigned you, right? Newcomers are usually the ones who understand newcomers the best. Especially Jae-hyun, who’s a special recruit. He won’t know anything. Help him out. All you need to do is the Operational OT, don’t stress too much.”
Shin Yuna asked with a perplexed expression due to Kwon Oh-Jun’s cynical words.
“Oh, so I’m not in charge of the Task OT?”
“Of course not. That involves going out for hunts or missions, do you think we’d entrust that to an intern? Probably one of the more experienced Clan members handling the missions will take on the role of a mentor then.”
In other words, not a formal mentorship.
Shin Yuna’s face seemed to relax a little at that explanation.
“Understood.”
“Yeah, yeah. Make sure to teach him well so he doesn’t freak out during the operation meeting tomorrow. Oh, but don’t be too strict. Yuna, you’re not like Jae-hyun.”
“Hey, I’m-!”
Kwon Oh-Jun laughed teasingly, and Shin Yuna’s face turned red.
Even though I probably couldn’t argue back…
I felt a little sorry for Shin Yuna.
“I’m busy~ Get out of here now.”
With Kwon Oh-Jun’s dismissal without even giving us a chance to counter, we left the Team Leader’s office and headed to another office.
Still, Shin Yuna’s expression of embarrassment doesn’t seem to loosen.
She spoke while walking quickly down the hallway.
“S-Sometimes, junior clan members who join occasionally manage to catch up with senior clan members. There are often differences in runes and talents between Holders. So, it means the junior who caught up did well, it’s not that the senior lacks abilities. Do you understand what I’m saying?”