A Veteran Player is Needed in the Apocalypse

Chapter 36: If You Can

Meanwhile, at the Academy.

“I heard there are idiots who lost in an 8-on-1 fight against a child?”

At the mocking voice coming from somewhere, the seven cadets who had participated in the training simulation against Hayden tightly shut their eyes in frustration.

Right after being utterly defeated by Hayden in the training simulation.

The eight cadets who participated in the training were being ridiculed daily by the other cadets.

Since Major Meursault had ordered them to keep the details of the training a secret, they all kept their mouths shut about how they had lost, which only increased the criticism.

“To think he’s set to graduate as the top student in our school… It must have been all thanks to his father.”

Even Plato wasn’t spared from the ridicule.

But, as always, he lived his life with his usual bright yet mad gaze.

“There’s no way Plato-senpai would lose. The other seven must have held him back!”

Due to this, other cadets who respected Plato shifted the blame for the loss onto the other seven, making their lives even more miserable.

Now, if they claimed that Hayden had won unfairly, it would only sound like an excuse for losing to a child.

On the other hand, some cadets who acknowledged Hayden’s abilities also didn’t speak up about it for a similar reason.

It was obvious that if they praised Hayden’s skills, they would be accused of flattering the victor to cover up their defeat.

They were being mocked by the entire student body simply because they lost to a child.

It was an unbearable situation.

Then, the following news hit them like a blow of despair.

“…And so, until Hayden participates in the subjugation operation, he will be training at the Academy.”

As the headmaster explained this, Hayden stood beside him on the podium, and when he spotted them, he flashed a faint smile.

The seven cadets screamed internally.

‘No…!’

The level of criticism from the cadets was already unbearable.

What would happen if they trained alongside Hayden for a while?

With his small, angelic face, Hayden looked like an innocent child.

But if the cadets who saw him in person added to the mockery, it would only intensify.

‘There’s no way Hayden would protect us…….’

Hayden didn’t care about them at all.

After the training, he left without hesitation, having gotten everything he wanted.

The only silver lining was that Hayden’s skills were real, so it wouldn’t be long before all the cadets at the Academy no longer saw losing to him as a disgrace.

…Though it was uncertain if it was fortunate that the cadets of the Academy were weaker than a ten-year-old child.

The headmaster continued his explanation.

“It’s not exactly an enrollment but more like a transfer. However, considering his flawless victory in the recent training simulation, I believe his qualifications are sufficient. Are there any objections?”

At that moment, one of the cadets raised a hand.

The seven cadets noticed Hayden’s smile turn slightly crooked and offered their silent condolences to the cadet.

“Do you object to Hayden’s transfer?”

At the headmaster’s question, the cadet shook his head slowly before speaking.

“No, I believe Hayden is more than qualified.”

“Then?”

“I have something I’d like to say to Hayden.”

As the cadet said this and looked at Hayden, Hayden responded with interest.

“To me?”

“Yes. There’s something I hope you won’t misunderstand.”

“Misunderstand? About what?”

“Hayden, it’s true that the eight cadets who lost to you are idiots, but please don’t think that all of us cadets are like them.”

“…….”

The other cadets also stared directly at Hayden, indicating their agreement.

The seven cadets, who had just been called idiots in front of everyone, hung their heads in shame.

It was public humiliation, but the fact remained that eight cadets set to graduate had lost to a ten-year-old child.

But Hayden’s reaction was odd.

After staring at the cadet who had spoken to him for a moment, Hayden asked in a soft voice.

“Let me ask you one thing… Do you think you could beat me?”

“Excuse me?”

The cadet seemed taken aback by the unexpected question, but soon regained his composure and answered confidently.

“Of course.”

“Of course?”

“I don’t mean to disrespect you, Hayden. But any cadet who believes they’ll lose without even trying doesn’t deserve to be in this Academy.”

“Hmm.”

Hayden seemed to ponder something for a moment before addressing the assembly.

“My father acknowledged me after just one training session… but it seems I need to prove myself to you all once more. If anyone thinks I won by luck, they won’t be willing to fight alongside me… so let’s settle this once and for all.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll take on eight cadet representatives of your choice in another training simulation.”

“……!”

The cadets standing in formation murmured among themselves.

This was already a topic of discussion among the cadets after the last training simulation.

The idea of selecting new representatives and having a rematch with Hayden.

But no one had dared to bring it up, as it wasn’t easy to suggest another match against a ten-year-old child, no matter how much they wanted revenge.

Now that Hayden himself had brought it up, they felt grateful.

“Wait a minute.”

At that moment, another cadet raised his hand and asked.

“We appreciate the offer. It’s no small thing to make such a decision, so I respect your courage, Hayden. But surely… you’re not suggesting another 1-on-8, are you?”

Hayden chuckled at the question.

“Another 1-on-8 is unacceptable?”

“Of course not! While it would be an honor to face you, Hayden, it would be a disgrace for us to win in an 8-on-1. It would only be fair if we had nine people, including the eight who lost to you, versus eight of our representatives.”

“You’re eight, but my team has nine?”

“You’re not officially enrolled in the Academy yet.”

“…….”

The gaze Hayden had earlier, filled with some degree of goodwill toward the cadets, suddenly turned cold.

Still maintaining his composure, though now with a slightly chilled tone, Hayden spoke.

“Let’s just keep it clean with 8-on-8. Otherwise, you’ll probably say I didn’t pull my weight.”

The situation was turning strange, and the seven cadets found themselves bewildered.

‘What? We didn’t even agree to this…….’

‘Another training simulation?’

‘And we’re on Hayden’s team?’

The seven cadets all thought the same thing simultaneously.

‘If we win here, the ridicule ends……!’

Their expressions brightened at the thought that their torment might soon be over.

However, some still looked despondent.

Because.

‘If we lose again…….’

They had already lost to Hayden.

The thought had crossed their minds that perhaps… they had lost due to their own lack of ability.

Their self-esteem was plummeting to the point where they were even considering that maybe they really did hold Plato back.

Then, Hayden spoke up again.

“We’ll do an 8-on-8. But let’s add one condition.”

When Hayden mentioned adding a condition, the general cadets reacted with expressions of, “Of course.”

‘There must be a reason why Hayden insisted on a 1-on-8. The others probably let their guard down, thinking they had the upper hand in numbers. That’s why they lost. But if the numbers are even, it’s a different story. We won’t let our guard down. Just the fact that he wants to add a condition shows that he knows that.’

In fact, the cadets had to admit that Hayden, despite being ten years old, possessed a composure that seemed far beyond his years.

But still, a child was a child.

They couldn’t imagine losing to the cute boy in front of them, so they were more than willing to accept any additional condition.

However, what came out of Hayden’s mouth completely shattered their expectations.

“My team’s victory condition will be that ‘not a single person dies.’”

“…Excuse me?”

The cadets blinked dumbly at Hayden’s additional condition.

“So… are you saying that if none of us die, you’ll consider it a victory?”

“The opposite, actually.”

Hayden tilted his head slightly as he explained.

“The moment even one person on my team dies, it’s your victory. Whether you all survive or capture the flag first, it’s your win.”

The seven cadets were horrified.

‘We didn’t agree to that, Hayden!’

The other cadets, excluding the seven, were just as bewildered.

‘The condition he added… is disadvantageous to him?’

The cadets couldn’t help but ask Hayden.

“Are you underestimating us? Or are you setting an impossible condition as an excuse in case you lose?”

“Neither. Why would I consider losing?”

Hayden gazed at the cadet who had initially spoken to him and calmly said.

“I’m not underestimating you. It’s just… any cadet who believes they’ll lose without even trying doesn’t deserve to be in this Academy. Isn’t that right, Cadet Lucas?”

“……!”

Lucas was stunned that Hayden knew his name.

But what shocked him even more was the aura he felt from this small child.

It wasn’t something that should come from a ten-year-old who hadn’t even enlisted yet.

‘It’s like he’s a company commander here to straighten us out…….’

While Lucas was dazed, another cadet stepped forward and accepted the challenge, speaking in a tone that was both accepting and provocative.

“Fine. After all, we plan to annihilate Hayden’s team anyway.”

The other cadets nodded in agreement

, and Hayden smiled brightly, giving a short reply.

“If you can.”

* * *

“Hayden is going to do another training simulation!”

Hearing from the Academy headmaster that Hayden would be participating in an 8-on-8 training simulation with the cadets, Meursault immediately rushed to report it to the Commander.

Although it was an urgent report, the Commander responded with indifference, as if it was something he had already expected.

“Don’t be so dramatic.”

“Dramatic? You should stop him!”

Meursault added urgently.

“Hayden was just shot a few days ago! Even though the wound was minor… a training simulation is no light exercise, especially not twice in a row.”

“But we can’t go around announcing that Hayden was shot outside the zone, can we, Meursault?”

A gag order had been issued regarding Hayden’s gunshot wound.

If word got out that the successor to the military faction had been shot outside the zone, it could escalate into a major issue.

The Academy cadets, unaware of this fact, had accepted Hayden’s proposal for the training simulation.

The Commander, with his usual calm expression, spoke.

“We can’t mention the injury, so if we suddenly forbid the training simulation, it will raise suspicions.”

“Even so……!”

“If Hayden agreed to it, then that’s that.”

“The ones who lost to Hayden are on his team. Some of them harbor resentment toward him! What if they intentionally lose?”

“It doesn’t matter. I think I know what Hayden is planning.”

“You think you know? What’s going on in that complicated mind of his?”

“Yes.”

The Commander looked out the window toward the direction of the Academy and spoke.

“He knows how to rise above others…….”