The Wildcard's First Day
I went to the national team training! "Jeolmi, clap!"
—Bwong-bwong-bwong!
Clap-clap-clap-
"Bombe! Roll to the left!"
—Kkiung... roll-roll-roll...
What I was doing right now was preparing in advance for the NOVA joint training. I couldn't afford to look like a total amateur on my own. Of course, since I was doing this inside Grandfather's house, intense training was impossible. Still, I figured it would be helpful to get better at communicating with my familiars.
"Shiro, be careful not to make too much noise for the neighbors downstairs."
"Hehe, I understand, Grandfather."
Se-eun Unni had already left for her hunter duties. I was enjoying a rare, relaxing break at home with just Grandfather.
"Grandfather, have you ever participated in NOVA?"
"Of course. I have."
"Wow! How was it? Did you win?"
Grandfather crossed his arms, lost in thought for a moment, before slowly opening his mouth.
"I participated in NOVA once... I was a B-rank hunter back then. I won a gold medal in a team event and a silver medal in an individual event."
"Ooh...! What were the events?"
"The team event was a 10-man raid, and the individual event was Vanguard Defense."
The names of the NOVA events were very straightforward. The 10-man raid was literally a competition where a team of ten people took on a boss. I heard that while the time taken to clear it was important, the process itself was evaluated even more heavily... Vanguard Defense was simpler. It was an event where vanguards showed off how long and how well they could endure attacks directed at them.
"Wow... then you did really well, right?"
"Since so many countries participate in NOVA, just winning a medal is a huge achievement. You don't have to feel too much pressure, Shiro."
"Hehe, yes..."
Pressure. Honestly, it would be a lie to say I didn't feel any. I wasn't officially selected by the academy; I was a "parachute" recruit pushed in by Mr. Jong-wu. I was confident in my abilities, but... it was true that I felt self-conscious. It wasn't just a place for teenagers to show off their skills for a stable future.
Ultimately, it was a stage to showcase each nation's future and provide clues as to which country would hold hegemony in the world order to come. Everyone sent fervent cheers, wanting the youth of their own country to be recognized globally.
"Even if Shiro doesn't do perfectly, I believe the young awakened of Korea will show great things at next year's A.P.E.X., so don't worry too much."
"Hmm... hearing you say that makes me feel a bit less burdened..."
Awakeners' Premier EXhibition. A.P.E.X. Commonly known as A.P.E.X. If NOVA was a place to show off the future and the prospects of society, A.P.E.X. was a competition where the pinnacles of the current era gathered. Naturally, it was more popular than NOVA. It was the most prestigious international tournament broadcast globally, and it had a much larger investment budget.
"Then, Grandfather, how many medals did you get at A.P.E.X.?"
"Hoho... I haven't lived my life remembering all of that, but I did receive quite a few. The Korean representative team of awakened has always been quite strong."
In the current global society, Korea's status wasn't low. It consistently made a name for itself as a region that produced world-rankers. Because the fever for education was so intense, even non-hunters received strong early education, so there were many students who wouldn't be surprised if they were put into real combat the moment they awakened. As such, the average was high. But the peak? It felt a bit lower compared to other countries.
'Compared to the very high floor... was it because the educational method killed off the geniuses who showed exceptional sense?'
I heard that since Mr. Jong-wu took office, the educational policy had been gradually changing... but it wasn't something that would change overnight. After all, he was the President of the Korean Awakened Association, not the Superintendent of Education. No matter how much influence he had in politics, the limits were clear.
"Seeing our Shiro, my worries are disappearing even more."
Grandfather closed his eyes for a moment, as if reminiscing about his days as a representative, and then placed his hand on the top of my head.
"Why?"
"Because if Shiro grows up safely, you will become the greatest under the heavens, someone no hunter will dare to challenge."
"Haha..."
The "greatest under the heavens." The title felt embarrassing. It felt like I should be drawing a sword, splitting the earth, and eating spiritual pills right this instant.
— Bwong! Bwong-bwong-bwong! Bwong-ha-hak!
Ugh, Jeolmi was mocking me. How on earth does he understand human speech so well?
"Ahem... what is the NOVA preparation training like?"
"So that was what you were most worried about. It's fine. In my day, the hierarchy was a bit strict, but I've heard it's much better these days."
The hunter industry wasn't like sports, so the atmosphere of treating seniors and juniors strictly wasn't that strong. After all, it was a high-risk occupation where one could lose their life at any moment, and in reality, personnel changes due to injuries were frequent. However, I heard that the moment one becomes a national representative for a tournament, a hunter's mindset changes 180 degrees.
When NOVA and A.P.E.X. seasons arrived, broadcasting stations scrambled to air the matches. It meant it was one of the massive events recognized as important by the people, beyond just a competition. Naturally, the hunters who joined the national team went through a process where the hierarchy became rigid. There were even instances where videos of captains yelling at their teammates were leaked. Internet public opinion, however, was much more in favor of that competitive spirit.
"However... since the NOVA national team is composed of academy students, it's said that the hierarchical culture remains quite strong."
Ah. So, because they come from institutions where the entrance class is officially set and the seniors and juniors are clearly divided, order is established.
"Grandfather believes that if it's our Shiro, you'll be able to overcome it well."
"Yes! Just trust me!"
Still, kids are just kids, right? The Korean NOVA national team members were usually around 17 to 18 years old. Since the academy directly under the Korean Association educated students from 17 to 19, it was basically the same as high school. I heard that occasionally, because some students skipped grades from middle school institutions, there were very rare cases where a 16-year-old joined the team. But... I... I'm nine years old... but my inner self isn't at all! No worries!
***
"Once you've arrived, unpack your bags and meditate until the director comes."
Hmm...
"Whoa, is she really nine? That's insane."
Gasp...
"Wow~ that's just... unbelievable."
Sob...
The first day of joint training. When I arrived at Taereung, where the professional camp was located, I was being ostracized from the very beginning. Of course, since I was nine, it wasn't like they were openly showing hostility or swearing at me. However... the way they kept acting amazed and stiff was a typical reaction showing they weren't welcoming me.
"Hing..."
— Bwong...
The maintenance room. The locker rooms were separate, and the maintenance room was a form similar to a laboratory filled with state-of-the-art equipment. It was equipment that could lightly check an individual hunter's condition. As I was feeling sad in a corner by myself, Jeolmi rubbed his beak against my leg as if telling me not to be depressed. Since Bombe was a bear, I had to be careful about bringing her indoors.
I'm depressed... Actually, I didn't imagine I'd become friends with them right away, but I at least thought I'd be welcomed like when I went to the hunter academy. Was that too vague an expectation...
"You must be Shiro."
As I was standing in the corner, repeatedly lifting and lowering my heels while only watching the room, someone approached me first. A handsome boy with surprisingly black hair and light green eyes. Unlike the others, he had a golden band on the sleeve of his uniform, which made me think he was the captain of this NOVA national team.
"My name is Lee Woo-rin. I'm 18, and I'm the captain of this national team. Let's get along well."
Woo-rin Oppa offered a handshake with a clean smile. I hesitated for a moment before taking his hand and shaking it lightly. The reason I hesitated was simple. I was worried, 'What if he bullies me after approaching me with a smile like this...'
"...You're quite strong, aren't you?"
"...!"
He figured out my strength just from a handshake. 'What is his identity...' Before I could be surprised, I felt something too. I hadn't realized it before, but if I made contact like this, I could roughly feel a hunter's strength. It felt right to describe it as my mana instinctively clashing with the opponent's.
'He's obviously not on the level of Yeon-hwa Unni or Se-eun Unni... but he seems to be over B-rank. A-rank threshold...?'
I hadn't met many hunters yet, so I wasn't sure, but I felt he was around that level.
"W-Woo-rin Oppa seems strong too."
"Is that so? I'm flattered."
He nodded with a smile and scanned the other team members in the maintenance room once.
"Everyone is just shy, so there probably won't be anyone bullying you. If there is someone like that, tell me right away. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me anything."
"Ah, okay...!"
The more we talked, the more I felt he was a truly kind person. To the point where I felt sorry for doubting him for a moment at the start. As I was staring at him, Woo-rin Oppa suddenly whispered in my ear.
"The Association President told only me. You're the one who recently put your name on the Tower's Hall of Fame, right?"
"Eek...!"
Mr. Jong-wu clearly said it was a secret, so why...
"During training, Mr. Jong-wu will stop it from spreading somehow, so don't worry too much. I heard about it in the process of helping him with that."
"Y-yes..."
Mr. Jong-wu only hinted that I shouldn't brag yet, but he had never asked me for anything properly. Is he not trusting me? Hmm, that couldn't be it. Ah! Could it mean it doesn't matter if my identity is revealed once the NOVA tournament is underway?
'I don't know. I can't read Mr. Jong-wu's mind well.'
As I was making a serious face all by myself, Woo-rin Oppa chuckled and stepped back.
"I feel like I'm looking after a youngest sibling. Anyway, it looks like the director is coming, so I'll come back to talk later."
"Ah, okay...!"
As soon as he returned to where he had unpacked his bags, the director opened the door and walked in. He had the feel of a typical professional baseball manager, wearing a jumper, sunglasses, and a cap. I couldn't even see his face properly...
"Alright, everyone, quiet."
Even so, charisma was felt, as if there was a reason he was the director of the NOVA national team. It felt like he was imbuing his mana into every word he spoke.
"Congratulations on joining this NOVA national team. First, everyone, clap."
Clap-clap-clap-
— Bwong-bwong-bwong-
As everyone clapped, Jeolmi followed suit. It was worth training him.
"You all know each other, right? You must have seen each other as seniors, juniors, or peers at the academy."
Everyone nodded. I felt like I was being left out again. "Except for one person. Shiro, why don't you introduce yourself?"
Eek, I didn't want this...!!