Academy Adaptation (3)
The library was vast. So vast that even a single bookshelf didn't fit into view at once. The shelves were tall enough that you had to crane your neck to see the top, and even wider than that. Dozens of them lined the walls densely, radiating out from the center. And that was just one floor. The staff had told him there were seven floors in total. Which meant six more floors of this scale. On top of that, the storage rooms everywhere were piled mountain-high with unclassified books, stacks several times his own height.
"So the academy has three libraries? Two more places like this?"
"Yes, that's correct."
Hmm. Too much.
He turned on his heel and left immediately. This wasn't something to tackle right now. Finding one specific hidden book in this sprawling space— a book that didn't even show up in the computer system, buried somewhere among all those shelves? And there were three libraries? Might as well search for a needle in a sand dune. He'd have better odds there, seriously.
Library dive can wait. I'll block out a day later. And bring help.
Plans to scour the library got pushed way back on the priority list. Time to sightsee the academy instead.
"Instructor Han Seongjin, next I'll guide you to the academy's heart: the training facilities."
The man escorting him opened the door to a waiting vehicle. As they headed to the next spot,
Can you even walk around this place?
He'd noticed it on the way to the library, but the school wasn't designed for foot traffic. Each building was bigger than a small city's town hall, and the gaps between them were five minutes apart by car. The monorails crisscrossing everywhere weren't for show.
If I miss the shuttle, I'll have to run? Rest periods are gonna be a spectacle.
He pictured kids sprinting down the roads with backpacks on and couldn't help chuckling.
Endless grassy fields stretched beyond the car window, dotted at regular intervals with unidentified machines.
"What's that?"
"Energy shield generators. They're placed everywhere to envelop the entire academy in an emergency."
"Even Noble Academy gets attacked? With an S-rank hero as director."
"There have been a few incidents. Though that was quite a while ago. None recently."
This place definitely drew villain attention. Smashing where heroes were trained had symbolic value.
Raids, huh. Honestly, I'd love to see one.
...Nah. Even he thought that was a shitty idea. If the director peeked into his mind right now, a meteor might crash on his head.
He shoved the wicked thought aside and leaned his head against the window. They descended a long downhill slope before the man in the passenger seat spoke up.
"The dome-shaped building you see there is the First Duel Arena. There are five in total, up to the Fifth."
The structure he pointed to loomed like a baseball stadium.
"I see. Are they all pretty similar?"
"Slight differences, but the basic structure is the same."
"Mind if I take a quick look? Got me curious."
"Of course."
The car stopped in front, and he got out, heading inside. An elevator took him up, revealing a massive circular arena below.
"It can safely seat over 30,000, including all 2,000 students and external guests. The floor can withstand an S-rank hero's attack."
"For real?"
"Yes. Even if Starlight punches it, not a single crack."
"Whoa."
That was impressive.
"So students duel here?"
"Yes. Semester finals include student spars, after theory and practical exams. It's one of the academy's biggest events, with tons of outsiders watching."
Just for students, then?
"What about fistfights? Those happen here too?"
"No, personal duels use the general arenas scattered around."
"Heard guards brawl too."
"...Rarely. Very rarely."
The man's voice shrank a bit, like he'd let slip a dirty secret. Yeah, fights happened. This place was shaping up nicely.
He gazed down at the arena's center. An eerie chill rose from the empty space. Countless geniuses had bled and clashed skills here.
...This vibe. I love it.
A scent of battle lingered in the pristine arena—impossible, yet there. He could almost feel what had gone down.
...Super Senses could do this too?
Wonder if I'll fight here someday.
That'd be great.
Back in the car for another ten minutes, they reached a zone packed with machinery.
"This is the Simulation Center. Virtual reality systems recreate global environments at 99% realism."
Thousands of capsules in neat rows looked straight out of a sci-fi flick. The tour continued.
A mental training pavilion floating on an artificial lake, high-gravity rooms adjustable up to 10x gravity, even an ecology observatory housing live monsters. Of course, the essential training halls and gyms were covered too.
By dusk, the massive academy tour was nearly done.
-Bzzz.
His phone vibrated. Message from an unknown number—the department office.
"Theory?"
Didn't the director say no desk work or books? Pretty sure he said no sitting at a desk.
He thought that at first, but a bit more reflection made it obvious. He didn't even know how the academy operated yet. As an instructor, he needed the layout at minimum. A teacher getting lost on campus? That'd be beyond embarrassing.
Figuring it was routine, he pocketed the phone. The day passed.
"You've arrived, Instructor Han Seongjin."
A bespectacled man waited in the classroom, holding a single tablet. On closer look, it was the guy who'd chased after the director on Han's first day.
"You're the one who ran after the director. Nice to meet you."
"Haha, embarrassing. I'm Professor Colson from the Heroics Department, handling basic theory for Special Instructor Han Seongjin. Pleased to meet you."
After a quick greeting and handshake, he sat in the front row. Colson set the tablet on the podium and stood right in front.
"One thing I've been dying to know: what's a special instructor even do? Director said it's wrangling kids."
"Wrangling— that's a spot-on summary of the role."
"For real?"
"Essentially, yes. Take a look at the screen."
Colson clicked the remote, lighting up the display with graphs full of stats.
"Noble Academy students start major field training from third year, second semester. Heroics kids patrol cities under mentor heroes; Hunters face real wild monsters then."
"This graph shows success rates solving issues in first field trainings over the past three years."
Colson highlighted the tall red graph and shorter blue one with the laser pointer.
"Red is students with any real combat or extreme exposure. Blue: zero experience. Red group's success rate is a whopping 30 points higher. Proves real combat's value."
"Simulation rooms aren't enough, huh?"
"Of course not. No sim matches the real thing, no matter how advanced."
"Real combat speaks for itself—talk's cheap."
Colson nodded in agreement. As a physical enhancer himself, he knew best.
"Sadly, a year ago, a Heroics student died in a villain ambush on first field training."
"So real combat got too risky for first runs?"
"Exactly. Sharp as ever."
Colson adjusted his glasses, eyeing him seriously.
"After discussions led by Director Wibel, we created a program for pre-field students: real or simulated extreme scenarios. Special instructors run it."
"Heard you handle cocky kids too."
"One goal, yes. Freshmen sometimes flaunt power too much."
Colson pulled a document from his desk and handed it over. It listed the subject name, structure, schedule, evaluation criteria.
Instructor: Han Seongjin
"Fancy name. Why not just call it survival training?"
"To dodge parent complaints, needs the polish."
"Ah."
After scanning the doc, Colson picked up the tablet, glasses flash.
"Now, academy curriculum and regulations. Pay attention."
"...Sigh, got it."
He sighed, straightened up. Who knew he'd sit through class again.
Eight years? Feels like forever.
The lecture began. Felt like school days— boredom crept in, body itching unbearably. At least Colson was concise: just the essentials. It wrapped quicker than expected.
Summary:
1. Noble Academy: superhumans only, split Heroics and Hunter departments.
2. Yours: Heroics kids pre-field experience.
3. Methods: your call; minor injuries fine.
4. Your exam replaces practicum. Details later.
They'd assign an assistant for admin, so his job: plan kid-wrangling. First time legally bossing folks after always being bossed.
"Alright... how to grind these kids."
Post-lecture, he pondered in the gym, chair-bound. One of the happiest dilemmas since arriving.
Noble Academy's core: the Ivory Tower, main building. Officially Obelisk. Or Babel Tower. Spiraling skyward in pristine white, it exuded overwhelming majesty. Fitting for the world's top school.
Upper floors, Director Wibel von Rosenberg's aide office. Iris processed paperwork. Her sharp gaze slid through data streams.
Next doc after one clearance:
"......"
Precise exam results for the mystery man Director brought: Han Seongjin. She read slowly, hunting the source of that chilling sensation.
But expectations dashed. Stats screamed standard physical enhancer. Impressive, sure—but not enough for that aura. Numbers felt mundane against the eeriness.
Iris tapped her temple with the pen, flipped pages. Schematics of tests galore.
"......?"
Her finger halted mid-flip; eyes locked on one item.
Gene Sequence Chart. Visual map of core life components.
"......!"
Her pupils quivered after staring.
Iris scanned the room, locked all doors, activated security.
"...Impossible. Why is this here..."
Trembling eyes fixed on the screen section. Components seemed irregular yet formed a pattern at specific ratios. Looked normal. Even top researchers saw nothing odd—including academy staff.
Of course. Only she knew its meaning.
Shaking hands covered the results.