Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Stats Class and the Mad Dog
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First Skill lineages and how to choose jobs based on them, weapon selection according to the job you change into, methods for distributing stat points with maximum efficiency, the geography and environments of Gates in Korea, information on Monsters inhabiting Gates, types of quests and effective tactics, the physiology of urban Gates, and so on.
Lion's Castle diligently taught students the essential knowledge that Players needed to possess.
"Strength stats greatly increase power and also help with speed and defense. Agility stats develop speed and dynamic vision, with a slight effect on senses as well…."
Contrary to the worries of Kim Jin-myeong and the students.
Jae-hyeok was passionate about the class.
As soon as the lesson started, he focused intently, even taking notes.
"Is there anyone who doesn't know this stuff? Even ordinary people know it."
"…The way to raise stats is by leveling up or clearing quests. Every level up raises your primary stat by 2 and other stats by 1, while quests grant a certain amount of stat points upon clearing."
"How much is 'a certain amount'?"
"That depends on the quest content. Don't you even know that?"
"That's why I'm sitting here."
"…Your primary stat is determined by the job you choose. For combat jobs, it's set among Strength, Vitality, or Agility. So ideally, you should choose a job based on your highest stat, but… realistically, that's difficult. When choosing a job, prioritize the First Skill over stats. Even if Strength is your highest stat, if your First Skill awakens in the magic lineage, you should obviously change into a magic job."
"Who the hell would be that stupid? Someone who's trained their Strength would obviously hold off on Awakening until a combat skill comes out."
"Urgh…."
However.
Separate from his enthusiasm, his attitude was the problem.
He kept interrupting the lesson content, leaving Kim Jin-myeong speechless several times and hindering the class progress.
If the limit on demerit points—one teacher could give a single student only 10 points per semester—hadn't existed.
Kim Jin-myeong was confident he could have expelled Jae-hyeok within the first period.
"You must know that awakening a First Skill requires grueling effort? Pushing yourself to your limits through ascetic training for over ten years while 'maintaining' it is what finally awakens a First Skill. Something every student in Class B has already gone through."
"If you'd gone beyond your limits instead of just pushing to them, it would have been faster…."
"Kang Jae-hyeok, considering you're only 16, you must have awakened your First Skill in 5 or 6 years. You even got a suitable one right away and Awakened. But the vast majority aren't as lucky as you."
People as fortunate as Jae-hyeok, getting a suitable skill from the start, made up less than 1% of all Players.
Not to mention aspiring top Players, who often endured over 20 years of asceticism just to get a 'decent enough' First Skill.
"Don't assume others will have the same luck just because you did. Realize that your arrogant attitude will deceive and hurt countless people."
"But I haven't Awakened."
"……."
Was this kid a parrot?
Kim Jin-myeong had a truly bizarre experience.
The anger boiling deep in his chest vanished like a lie.
It felt like enlightenment.
He smiled faintly.
Grinning broadly, Kim Jin-myeong ignored Jae-hyeok and resumed the lesson.
***
- Little bro, sorry. Big bro couldn't hold back his anger and beat the association chairman for an hour. I controlled my strength, so he's probably not dead… Anyway, if I hang around home now, the association will get an excuse to ransack the place, right? How could I face our ancestors then? Little bro, big bro's heading far away for a while. Listen to your sisters and take good care of Dad until I return.
"You irresponsible bastard. You're the eldest son… Huh? Hello? Hello! Hey! Kang Dae-seong!!"
- Hehe, sorry. Got caught trying to plant a bomb in the National Assembly building and kidnap the president. That damn adjutant screwed it up… Anyway, don't worry about me, sis! I'll eat and sleep well even in prison! Yeah, 15 years is nothing! I'll kill that adjutant myself later! Listen to Duna, and you take care of Dad!
"Just rot in prison for life."
- I'm going on a training journey. Can't do it in Korea. Too many restrictions because of big bro and sis.
"If you leave too, it'll just be me at home?"
"So what? You're not a kid."
"I'm 8 years old, you lunatic!"
…….
…….
Jae-hyeok had frequent nightmares.
One of them was the phone calls from his siblings repeating for three days straight.
Even thinking back now, they were hopeless cases.
Jae-hyeok sometimes thought.
If not for him.
All the Yaksha's children would have been branded as madmen.
"That's the crazy one."
"Is that real? Hard to believe."
"I saw him yelling at Cheon Hye-ji to come out of the girls' bathroom during break. Seemed legit…."
"The brother of fugitive Kang Dae-seong and traitor Kang Hyeon-ah… At that point, it's a genetic problem…."
Lunchtime.
Jae-hyeok felt piercing stares galore while heading to the cafeteria.
Word that the Yaksha's son had transferred in was spreading through the school.
"Urgh."
Jae-hyeok had been in a foul mood since morning.
The teachers wouldn't listen, and the students' levels were ridiculously low.
Just looking around, most walking students had poor posture.
Meaning they had no idea how to control their own bodies.
Proof they'd neglected training.
'Team play in practicals too? Headache.'
Father.
Why did you dedicate yourself to such fools?
The blood and sweat you shed to protect the nation's future pains me to think of… .
What bothered Jae-hyeok most was the demerit points.
Lion's Castle strictly evaluated students by credits. Accumulate demerits, and expulsion followed regardless of status.
Expulsion threshold: 50 points.
And Jae-hyeok had already gotten 10 on his first day. No wonder he was annoyed.
"Oh."
Jae-hyeok's face brightened miraculously upon reaching the cafeteria.
The aromas he'd never smelled before were pure bliss.
In the cafeteria that could seat over a thousand at once, buffets lined the center.
'How did Butler Hwang become a butler without even a cooking certificate?'
Butler Hwang had zero talent for cooking.
Low-fat meat, veggies, nuts all ground into porridge, or fish and root veggies into porridge, or eggs and supplements into porridge….
Under the excuse of healthy eating for growth, he served nutrient-packed dog food daily.
Even Jae-hyeok, who swung a sword from dawn to dusk in his childhood, perked up at mealtimes.
'…Thanks to Butler Hwang, I stayed sane?'
Butler Hwang truly was precious.
He'd curse him one moment, then feel grateful the next.
"Hey."
'Time for bread.'
Jae-hyeok grabbed two trays, his expression even brighter.
Breakfast was rice instead of porridge, and he'd scarfed seven bowls in excitement.
For lunch, he planned to try every type of bread.
'About 50 kinds.'
"Hey."
"Is this bread fried?"
"Hey!"
"……?"
Jae-hyeok paused while smiling and stacking bread into towers on his tray.
Some brat was glaring at him.
A disheveled-haired boy.
Jae-hyeok felt a fiery intensity.
Not because of the red hair like a lion's mane, but the blazing eyes.
An odd dignity emanated.
Jae-hyeok saw through the deep-seated rage and yearning hidden within.
He was familiar with those eyes.
Eyes he faced daily.
"What?"
"You… cutting in line? And you're a first-year?"
"……?"
Jae-hyeok knew the basic common sense: when people queued, he should too.
Even without social experience, Butler Hwang had taught him that much.
He'd definitely lined up….
"Too small to see?"
"T-T-Too small? Me?"
"Then am I small? Apologize."
"Apologize…?"
"You being small made me cut in. So apologize."
"Is he nuts…?"
As the red-haired boy growled, surrounding students watching the scene freaked out.
Baek Do-jin from Class 2B.
Famous for his foul temper. His nickname was Mad Dog for a reason.
Especially sensitive about his height—his eyes would flip if mentioned.
Known even among third-years, let alone second.
Bad news for a newbie.
"Kyaaak!"
Baek Do-jin rolled his eyes white and swung wildly.
'I liked his eyes.'
A glint in Jae-hyeok's eyes.
The flailing brat's stance was solid.
'That tiny body carries weight well. Clear signs of training for heavy weapons.'
Probably wielded mid-to-heavy arms.
One glance showed the bloody effort to overcome his poor physique.
The only student all morning who'd impressed him.
'You need to join my team play group.'
Jae-hyeok's eyes narrowed. He meticulously assessed the monkey-like kid's abilities. The more they exchanged, the better he liked it. When his trained techniques failed, he immediately devised and executed alternatives.
'What is this guy?'
As Jae-hyeok's smile deepened, Baek Do-jin's face stiffened. He'd planned to twist the cocky first-year's wrist just right, but it wasn't working. Every swing bounced off—frustrating as hell.
'Awakener? Passive skill maybe?'
Felt like being swept in a whirlpool.
His body kept getting pulled by the opponent's intent.
Deciding this wouldn't do, Do-jin clenched his fist. Unleashed his Strength stat power.
'You asked for it, so don't blame me if you get hurt.'
Awakener classes included Monster hunts.
Newbie Awakeners were likely Level 1, but second-year Do-jin was over Level 20.
Just clenching made his forearm muscles bulge.
'Excitement ruined that good stance.'
Jae-hyeok clicked his tongue and smacked Do-jin's hand.
The thrust fist lost trajectory; startled, Do-jin stepped back.
'Higher stats than me? A newbie?'
It meant one thing.
The newbie's level was higher than his.
"You… nobility?"
Nobles started ahead.
From puberty, they filled second and third skill slots, then raided Gates with family Players. So-called 'carries' for explosive level growth.
"You've recognized my great lineage."
Jae-hyeok straightened proudly, elegantly spreading his arms.
"Yes, I am the sole(?) heir of the Great House Kang…."
Just as Jae-hyeok, taken with Do-jin, went to properly introduce himself.
Clang!
A tray dropped behind Jae-hyeok's back.
Do-jin had recoiled in surprise, missing his tray; it arced over Jae-hyeok's head.
The problem was what it held.
Drip……
"Kang Jae… porridge?"
Porridge dripping down his face.
"Fuck! This goddamn porridge!!"
"Uh, uh?"
"This brat's getting it!!"
"Kyaaak!!"