Shocking Reunion at the Class Bash
The drinking party was in full swing when
The game is temporarily suspended.
I snapped back to my senses with that familiar feeling and opened my eyes.
'420 points?'
Fucking Ritka and looting supplies around had let a shit-ton of points pile up.
'Time to pump up the stats first.'
I started slowly investing in my mana stat. Incubus bullshit or whatever, mana was still priority number one for any hunter. As I raised my stats, I felt my dantian growing heavier and heavier, and the moment I hit 40, the required points spiked just like before.
'Fuck... it won't be a 5x jump, right?'
Sighing at the 25 points needed from 40 onward, I bumped the rest up to 30.
With my abilities surging like that, I sat on the sofa zoning out for a good while, steadying my mind. I felt this urge to bolt out and flex my power right then and there, but this level was standard for a 3rd or 4th-year academy student. No room to strut yet. I was still small fry.
The talented ones were already soaring high with corporate sponsorships, association backing, and private training.
'I'll catch up to every last one of 'em.'
Steeling my resolve, I changed into my scattered academy training uniform and headed out toward the cadet training hall.
Still no deliveries? The streets were a circus of street performers reborn. Guess government offices slacking off was universal.
'Gotta hit the training to shake off this heat.'
Unlike the apocalypse world, I breathed in the fresh air and kicked off down the road.
+++
I finished parallel parking and handed the keys to the valet.
It'd been about two weeks since I returned from the apocalypse world. In that time, I'd sold off the precious metals from my inventory and gotten a temporary hunter license through the association—busy days.
From third year at the academy, there could be requests for gate field training per the curriculum, so the license was mandatory.
The silver card in my hand had my face and a big fat C-rank stamped on it.
'Damn, I look good. Heh.'
Pocketing the license, I stepped out of the parking elevator into a blast of neon signs and thumping music.
Women in skimpy outfits brushed against me teasingly, but I had business tonight. With break almost over, this was the class gathering. It'd dragged on because everyone was dealing with license issuance too.
'First time at a dedicated bar like this...'
Would a walking bioweapon like a hunter ever drink with normies? I'd been to spots for 1st Awakeners, but this was my first hunter-only joint for 2nd Awakeners.
Scanning around, security looked twice as tight. I flashed my fresh license at the front guards; they scanned the barcode and checked.
"Reserved under Academy Class 24. Where to?"
"One moment, please."
The guard cross-checked with association data. Soon, he checked the ledger naturally and gave the room number.
"Follow the lobby straight to Room C-30."
"Got it. Thanks."
As I walked the lobby per his directions, flashy rooms divided by rank caught my eye. The interiors seemed to get shabbier the further in—sighs escaped me. Spending varied by grade; nothing to do about it.
'C-28... 29... That it?'
Slide!
I rushed to the door, yanked it open, and stepped in.
Most were already there in groups, drinking and chatting idly. Good, hadn't kicked off proper yet. Protagonists always arrived fashionably late. Perfect setup to mess with 'em.
Hearing me enter, they paused and turned, staring like who the fuck is this guy?
Time to pay back the ones who'd trash-talked me. Grinning slyly, I drew their gazes slowly. Right on cue, a guy with an aggrieved look near the entrance approached—Jeong Jae-kyung, a classmate I'd been decently tight with.
"Uh... this is the Class 24 cadet gathering. Wrong room, maybe?"
My classmates, seeing my revamped look for the first time, whispered and glanced around. My lips curled up naturally at that.
"Found the right spot."
Silence blanketed the room the second I spoke. Looks changed, but we'd lived together for years—they'd recognize my voice.
"Who's that?"
"Voice rings a bell..."
They furrowed brows, tilting heads—no match. But Jae-kyung, close enough to hear clearly, froze, pupils shaking after a puzzled beat.
"You... you're Kang San?"
"Yes."
"Class 24's psycho?"
"Yeah."
I spread my arms wide, looking down on them all casually.
"You ugly worm bastards."
Screams erupted from every mouth.
"For real?"
"Holy shit, world's so fucking unfair. That's the dumbass?"
"Heard it was body enhancement, but looks like top-tier skill."
Their jealous, envious stares—knowing my old mug—made my back tingle with unknown pleasure. Seeing these crude, ugly classmates, my posture turned cocky on autopilot.
'Ugly squid fucks...'
"Whoa... San at that level's Eun-woo tier, right?"
"Nah, still loses to Eun-woo."
"Yeah, born 5-star vs. enhanced 5-star—fair play."
Some bullshit floated around, but I ignored it. Tonight's star was me.
Amid gasps and shocks, Jae-kyung gathered himself and approached.
"You fucker. Just body enhancement, my ass."
"Yup. Face is part of the body too."
He clutched his head at my teasing.
"Fuck... this guy's gonna be insufferable now."
'How'd he know?'
Guy had sharp instincts, as expected. Flustered by his keen read, I switched topics quick.
"Where's the rest?"
Seemed most were here, but a few missing.
Answering was a hulking dude who popped up beside Jae-kyung—inhuman build. Tae-gun, the so-called class rep with strength skills. Simple but strong, decent bro to me.
"Eun-woo's guild stuff."
"Jisu?"
"Coming soon."
Jae-kyung snarked at the no-show, clearly salty.
"Guild my ass. Top dog's too good for us plebs, right?"
"Probably swamped. Guild's shoveled him elixirs and sponsorships forever—gotta pay it back."
"Look at him, already acting high and mighty."
We're different, huh... Fucking prick...
Cha Eun-woo, who'd awakened top-rank early, joined a major guild, strutting as future sword saint. Envy and jealousy from classmates? Natural. Unlike our C-rank asses, he flashed B-rank potential in action—no adult here wouldn't seethe. Just an unlikeable fuck I couldn't forgive.
'Can't wait for his reaction.'
The thrill of revenge on that smug bastard who'd pitied and looked down on unawakened me had my heart racing.
'First day back, I'll strip him bare. Cocksucker.'
Plotting that while backbiting with buds, the door flew open violently.
"Sis is here, you shits!"
Turning to the familiar woman's voice, my eyes met the short bob-cut girl's at the door. Spirited round eyes suited her petite frame—Park Jisu, class runner-up. Cute mascot stirring guys' protective instincts... but anyone in the know knew she was a foul-mouthed bitch. Still, sociable and affectionate, so everyone doted and let it slide.
Not me, though.
I stared, anticipating her fresh reaction. She tilted her head, then pointed wildly, limbs shaking.
Daring to point at me? Ballsy little shit.
"You, you! Fuck! Loser prick! What the hell's that face?!"
"Oh? Sharp eye even off the bat, huh, shorty?"
"Gah!"
Unlike the others, she'd clocked me instantly—surprising inwardly, but I cranked the arrogance to provoke her.
And boom, Jisu started trembling with rage.
"Loser prick! Told you not to tease about height! W-wait, why the fuck are you so tall now?! Shit!!!"
"Hoo... Dwarves sure are noisy as hell."
Our height gap was bad before, but post-customization, I towered over 180cm. I closed in, huffing mockingly to toy with her.
Did she feel like a goddamn air purifier? Snap—she lost it, going berserk.
"Get over here, you fuck! You little shit! Not coming?!"
"Stop her! Fuck! Jisu's lost it!"
"Never a quiet goddamn day."
"Yaaah!!!"
Low boiling point made bullying her a blast. Surrounded by classmates holding her back, she wailed like a whale. Sneering hard, I dove into the fray.
Wasn't this a chill spot to cut loose?
"Hahaha! Go mine some ore, dwarf."
Dishes flying, curses flying—amid the chaos, Jae-kyung chugged booze with a resigned look.
"Went nuts unawakened, now awakened and still nuts. Madlad."