Masquerade

Chapter 22: Rivalry Commrade

Nicholas and Seong Hwa looked at each other at their dormitory. They have never seen each other as rivals like now.

Seong Hwa and Nicholas met each other when they were trainees and soldiers at Kyiv Camp Academia, the school that trained talented soldiers. Nicholas was an orphan, while Seong Hwa was a student going abroad. Two years apart, eight and ten, but they had been trained together. Their encounter was not what people thought. Despite knowing each other, their rivalry has been set due to their same strength and abilities.

The training was extremely tough. From day and night. Training 24/7. Using weapons and fists. Still, everyone, from youngest to oldest, was far from both of them.

Soldier E345D. Choi Seong Hwa.
Soldier FR562. Nicholas Argyros Moreau.

They were special and had completed several missions. People praised them as precious and glorious items for their country...

... That was until they had a new mission. To investigate and kill betrayers.

This mission includes collecting information, investigating traps, and killing. They did it without any hesitation. Luckily, they were not alone. Because they also had a supporter to help them.

The name. Wu Zeyang. Their trusted classmate and comrade.

However, the mission was out of expectation. Not only because they found out they were manipulated but also because, Nicholas was so upset that after their mission was completed, Nicholas left school, before Seong Hwa left two months later.

Although now Nicholas had a new rivalry with someone the same age as him the name means "Snow", Seong Hwa joined and supported his comrade at all costs.

_____________________

Seong Hwa knows that person. On one mission. He was done in Miami, the place that impressed him.

When they first met, he was curious and excited to meet a guest. When Seong Hwa introduced himself using his mother tongue, he was incredibly excited. The young child was so happy that he did not expect that he had not experienced that smile like this before.

" 안녕하세요. 저도 만나서 반가워요. 제 이름은 유키예요. 나는 도움을 기대합니다!" ( Hello, it is nice to meet you, too, my name is Yuki. I look forward to helping!), He said happily.

The young child said his dreams had come true. He had never seen this happen that fast before. He shook his hands as he talked with him happily. Seong-hwa had never thought and been aware of this. Why did he dream?!

" 괜찮으세요? 내 무례해서 미안해." ( Are you okay? Sorry for my rudeness.) He bowed before he continued. " 그냥 한국 사람과 소통할 수 있어서 신난다." ( It's just that I am excited to communicate with a Korean person.)

He said he was with whom? Did he say... Korea?! His homeland?!

" 그럼 어떻게 도와드릴까요? 문화, 건축물, 아니면 무엇을 방문하고 싶다고 생각하시나요?" ( So, how can I help you with? The culture, or architecture, or what do you think you want to visit?)

" 크리스탈 아티팩트에 대해 아는 게 있나요?" ( Do you know anything about Crystalline artifacts?) Seong Hwa carried out his mission, asking Yuki about it.

" 그것이 무엇인지는 모르겠지만, 그것에 대해 더 알아보고 싶습니다." ( I have no idea what it is, but I want to find out more about it.)

As they traveled around, Seong Hwa and Yuki were surprised by the information in the library. According to Yuki, the crystal artifacts were found in some of the forests but not everyone could find out the location. For instance, the forest was in the West, but when they found that forest, it was said that the crystal was not found there... This meant that Seong-hwa had to be more careful with the magic it would cause.