The Golem's Roar
The golem let out a roar.
Cadets from massive classes stood proudly in the academy's auditorium. I glanced left and right from the center, checking out the crowd.
Everyone except freshmen and sophomores who hadn't achieved their 2nd Awakening had been gone for ages. The ones left here were basically Korea's stars, right?
Juniors on the left front, seniors on the right, with freshmen and sophomores packed behind like a herd of dogs.
Reporters from countless media outlets surrounded the central cadets, flashes popping as they aimed lenses at us noteworthy juniors.
Mudang's idol training pays off.
Standing tall with my superior height—except for that giant cadet—the reporters' lenses started turning my way one by one.
"Kim, who's that guy? First time seeing him."
"Oh! I heard there's a cadet who awakened just a week before conscription and barely made the cut. Must be him!"
"No way, last-minute ride like that and we didn't know?"
"Yeah. Face is new, though."
Another reporter, fed up with the muttering, finally spoke up.
"Jeez, you guys are slow as hell for journalists. Here—his name's Kang San. Registered ability with the Association is Iron Man, some body-hardening type. Rumor has it he got a full-body makeover."
"Crazy."
They pulled up my old octopus-head photo, eyes bulging as curses slipped out naturally.
Fucking pricks. I'll remember those outlets.
Making moves I could spot even as a B-rank hunter manifesting mana... unforgivable.
I subtly glanced away, pretending it wasn't me while mentally jotting down my hit list, when Jeong Jae-kyung beside me opened his mouth.
"Hey, you bastard. Thinking something weird again, aren't you?"
I eyed his sharp instincts, scanned him head to toe, and smirked.
Slimy little shit...
"Whoa. What the hell do we do with this guy now?"
Watching him sigh heavily sparked a sudden curiosity.
"Hey. You find a partner yet?"
My out-of-nowhere question pissed him off; he kicked my shin, then grabbed his foot, groaning in pain.
What a slapstick routine.
"Fuck, have some shame if someone's helping you. Ignore that? You even human?"
"Me and Jisu teamed up. Tough break."
Teasing him gently set him off, and damn, it felt good watching him lose it.
"Cadets there—principal's coming soon. Quiet down."
A passing instructor scolded our rowdy asses and vanished.
Cheeky B-rank fuck acting all high and mighty. I could dismantle him in a brawl right now, but gotta hold back.
We shut up and waited. Soon, a bald, burly old man climbed the podium and began his speech.
Despite his age, his solid chest, thick arms, and vibrant eyes screamed that numbers meant nothing. The faint mana haze rising like heat waves from him gave everyone chills.
S-rank hunter.
Not some basic Fire Realm expert from murim—this was a true superhuman monster. One of the few S-ranks worldwide.
Every nation's academy principal was an S-rank. In a world where hunters were national power, they were the pillars holding it up.
Korea's S-ranks totaled three, including this bald geezer. They ran corps, academies, and the Association.
Explains why hunters got treated like kings, huh?
His calm lecture had my thoughts wandering. How many points to hit S-rank like him? Stats probably 5x baseline—70k to 80k. Skills rank up too? Maybe 100k.
Ugh... gonna take forever. Fuck.
Even 1,000 points had me celebrating lately. Pitch black outlook.
At least no time limit... consolation prize.
Actually, I'd recently noticed my hair wasn't growing. Freaked me out at first. Bald hunter? Rope time.
I shot the principal a wistful look, and my spine tingled.
S-rank senses.
Anyway, skipping game time, I realized during real-world vacation that even a month later, no growth. Comparing to my character avatar confirmed it.
Customization locked my body.
Ever seen a game avatar age? Returners would all be skeletons. Technically immortality, right?
Wonder what happens if I die...
Half-listening to the principal, my mind wandered until the lecture ended. Cadets headed to the podium.
Cha Eun-woo.
Class reps always sent the new junior top two. Cha Eun-woo climbed calmly; Park Jisu scurried up behind.
So damn cute. For real.
I'd secretly filmed her black history on my phone, chuckling, when Cha Eun-woo started the oath.
Am I hotter now?
Scrutinizing him up there, yeah—I looked better. Couldn't wait for the perennial top dog's face to twist.
His grating voice finally wrapped up the oath, ending the ceremony. We headed to assigned classrooms en masse.
Only about 30 juniors and seniors each—no chaos.
In the classroom, Cha Eun-woo locked eyes with my new look, pupils shaking wildly. But true to his skill confidence, he flashed a smug smile and passed.
Fucking prick...
Handsome trash is still trash?
Pondering how to school him, Park Jisu sidled up—my partner.
"You bastard. See your noona and don't greet?"
"Noona, wanna see something fun?"
"Huh? What?"
Showed her the video of her waddling up the podium; predictably, she trembled in rage.
Vibrator Park Jisu Edition.
Ignoring her tantrum—which didn't even itch anymore—as the instructor entered through the front door.
"Welcome, cadets. I'm A-rank hunter Park Jongcheol, your instructor."
Academy 3rd-4th years varied A to C talent-wise yearly. No S-ranks obviously; A-ranks handling it made sense.
After intro, Park Jongcheol continued.
"Some awakened long ago, some recently. As awakeners raiding gates, you must always keep teammates' abilities and usage in mind."
Something event-like wafted in the air.
"I need to gauge you too. You have 10 minutes. Change to training gear and assemble at the combat sim field. Dismissed."
He bolted from the classroom.
Mudang next, now academy debut pot. All fucked.
"Bastard, what're you thinking?"
"How nice for you."
"Why?"
"Your clothes are small—easy change."
"Hey!!!"
She dragged protesting female classmates out to change.
Jeong Jae-kyung sidled up as I laughed.
"Dude, quit bullshitting and hurry. Teasing Park Jisu not get old?"
"Nah. Fresh thrill every time."
"Sigh. Better than gloomy, I guess."
Smacked his head's back and headed to change. Always one extra word, gets smacked. Cocky sword hack.
+++
At the training field, cadets clustered, chatting. Not daily meets unless after drinks—plenty to say.
I swapped greetings with familiar classmates when the instructor drew our attention.
"Sim's set. Wait your turn and enter the field when called."
Urban cityscape field. First-day bonus monsters? Orcs, or higher like warriors, trolls, werewolves.
Focus on 3D maneuvering?
"Tae-gun. You're up."
His muscular build and vibe screamed reliable tank; instructor called him first.
His power was obvious brute strength amp. Could flat-out any monster, they figured.
Tae-gun entered the steel-tree modern city field. Then our foe appeared opposite.
Kkiiigik-gigigik!!!
The monster's reveal silenced everyone.
Busting through asphalt in the street: a classic golem. C-rank typical.
But not here.
"Whoa. This insane?"
"Golem in a city? That's B-rank, right?"
Golems? Mud, rock, steel, even blood—versatile countershifters, game all-rounders.
One exploiting urban environs in a city street? No standard C-rank clears it.
As cadets gawked, the golem reformed from concrete, rebar, alloys—modern science spawn.
Standing bipedal like a mecha from cartoons.
Grroooaaarrr!!!
Zoomed feed showed cold sweat streaming down Tae-gun's face. Cadets freaked.
Flat-out? Instant death, RIP.
Tsk, shitty setup had my tongue clicking.
Boosting Cha Eun-woo, those fuckers.