A Month of Hell (1)
A Month of Hell (1)
December 9th.
Thirty-three days until the Ceremony.
"Alright, we will now begin the final Ranking Match."
Jaden's magically amplified voice echoed across the sparring arena.
"Challengers, please come forward."
More than ten students came forward—first-years, second-years, even third-years.
"Yes, then we'll start with the lowest-ranked student, Kang Seok-ho. Kang Seok-ho and Kim Jun-pyo, please prepare and come forward."
I glanced at Jaden's tablet in my hand.
[ 17th Kang Seok-ho (1st Year): Growth is slow but showing steady development without stopping.]
[ 16th Kim Jun-pyo (2nd Year): Achieved upper rank through strength enhancement ability. (If a speed-type or other mid-upper ability blossoms, has the talent to aim for Top Seat.)]
The rankings came with brief assessments.
"Professor Kang Han-na. Please take over."
-Yes, sir!!
Kang Han-na, acting as the proctor, took over the management of the Ranking Match in Jaden's place.
Jaden, who had been up front, walked over and sat beside me.
"I thought Deputy Professor Claire would come in your stead. I didn't expect you to attend in person."
"It's time I did something befitting the person in charge."
"Haha, the students are already singing your praises just because Deputy Professor Claire looks after them. Isn't that right, Professor Cheon Ji-ho?"
Seated one space away, Cheon Ji-ho flinched and turned his head toward us.
"Th-that's right. Whenever Deputy Professor Claire checks on the students, there is some variation, but they show definite growth."
"Exactly as Professor Cheon Ji-ho says. Every time the Deputy Professor thrashes them with a wooden sword, they lose one bad habit, and to get hit a little less, they push their mana to the absolute limit, which causes their mana operation speed to jump dramatically."
-Kim Jun-pyo wins!!
Even without infusing her voice with mana, Kang Han-na's shout reached here clearly.
"Hmm... though it's an unfortunate loss, comparing Kang Seok-ho now to two months ago, his growth is truly astonishing."
Cheon Ji-ho stood up from his seat a little unsteadily and continued, looking down at Kang Seok-ho, who was shaking hands with an upperclassman.
"At first, he couldn't even manage a partial transformation properly, but now he can precisely transform only the spot about to be hit into steel before an attack lands. Not only that, he's become quite flexible in his combat methods—increasing destructive power by converting his arms and hands to steel and adding weight as he goes on the offensive, then shifting to an off-beat rhythm by reducing the weight again just as his opponent gets used to it."
It was a rather detailed explanation.
"You've been watching him closely, I see."
"Ha, haha... Kang Seok-ho wasn't the only one. I've been watching the other students diligently, too. Given the position I was entrusted with......"
He laughed awkwardly and scratched the back of his head with his one remaining arm.
"To be honest, I feel uneasy because I don't feel like I've done much for the students......"
He glanced over at me.
"You told me it would be enough to share my own experiences with the students, Professor Baek...... but everyone is working so hard that I've started feeling a bit sorry about taking up their time. I feel like I'm just wasting it."
Cheon Ji-ho looked at me as if to ask if we could swap him out for another professor even now.
"You don't need to worry about that. I'll create the opportunity. You just need to fulfill your role when it comes. That's enough."
"...Hmm, I'll give it my best."
"Yes. You'd better."
"......?"
A flicker of confusion passed through his eyes, but he soon nodded and left it at that.
-Na Ju-hee! And Nam Seo-hee! Come forward!!
Crimson and black stepped onto the stage.
'Third and fourth place, huh.'
If things had gone according to the original flow, Na Ju-hee would have held on to second place.
But with Baek Ha-na's presence, Yoon I-seul had been pushed down to second, and Nam Seo-hee had become drastically more proactive, which naturally pushed the others' ranks further down.
'Not bad.'
She hadn't despaired after losing to Baek Ha-na. Instead, she'd pushed forward and was growing bit by bit.
It hadn't been purely goodwill that led me to try to build a connection for her, but since I didn't sense any malice, I judged that leaving her be would benefit Baek Ha-na in many ways.
'Even if that weren't the case, Nam Seo-hee would keep her in check, so I don't think I need to worry about it.'
"Ahem, Ju-hee trained incredibly hard for today."
"You must have coached her yourself, then."
"Ha, haha...... Since she's a kid who handles the same fire-type magic, my attention was naturally drawn to her."
I briefly studied the two standing on the stage.
'Na Ju-hee has a slight edge in mana reserves.'
Unless you were a special case like Claire or Baek Ha-na, it was nearly impossible for an Enhancement-type to surpass an ability-type in sheer mana reserves.
"Hrrm, Nam Seo-hee has also been training without rest."
"But even if they're training equally, there's a difference in their rate of growth, isn't there?"
"Seeing as Nam Seo-hee has held onto the third-place spot so far, it seems her rate of growth is superior as well."
"Hoh......"
"Cough......"
These two were old enough to know better, yet they were having a petty war of nerves with me stuck in the middle.
"Both of you, shut it."
"Yessir......"
"S-sorry......"
The pair quickly lowered their gazes and turned away to look down at the stage.
-Begin!!
As if on cue, Kang Han-na announced the start of the match.
The moment Kang Han-na stepped back, both fighters moved with sharp agility.
Whoosh!!
Right at the start, Na Ju-hee manifested elementalization, her body transforming into flame—
Crackle-crack-crack──!!
A streak of lightning drew a blue arc as it shot toward Na Ju-hee.
-Kuhk?!
Like a fire spirit with her body half-consumed by flame, Na Ju-hee kicked off the ground and narrowly dodged the blue bolt. But just before she could rise from the floor, Nam Seo-hee, who had dashed in along the lightning's trajectory, pounced on her immediately.
-You crazy bitch......!!
The moment Na Ju-hee's magic circuits expanded and flames burst forth—
-What's that, you loser.
Cracka-crack!!
-Kyaaahk?!
Nam Seo-hee's fist, wreathed in blue thunder energy, slammed into Na Ju-hee's face.
Being in an elementalized state meant the physical blow itself couldn't damage her, but the thunder energy coating Nam Seo-hee's hand dealt a substantial blow.
-Stop! Nam Seo-hee wins!!
As soon as Kang Han-na declared the result, Nam Seo-hee slowly climbed off of Na Ju-hee.
Her hair and uniform were slightly singed, but she didn't seem to care at all.
"...Is it really acceptable for a swordsman to throw her sword?"
"......Do you have time to worry about that in a real fight? Winning is all that matters."
Although Cheon Ji-ho had been siding with Nam Seo-hee, he was sheepish about it and couldn't meet Jaden's eyes properly.
"As I recall, this isn't the first time Nam Seo-hee has thrown her sword. This isn't a lack of ability on Na Ju-hee's part but your fault for not properly informing her about the opponent's countermeasures."
"......My apologies."
"And to see you in this state when the match-ups were known well in advance."
"Urgh......"
His shoulders, which had been held straight, slumped about halfway.
"I seem to have overestimated you."
"I'll... I'll try harder."
"You'd better."
I glared at Jaden for a moment, then turned my gaze back toward the stage.
-Yoon I-seul! Baek Ha-na! Come forward!!
Black and white stepped onto the stage.
I handed the tablet to Jaden.
"Send it as is."
"Right now... you mean?"
"There won't be any changes in the rankings. So send it as is. And when the participant roster comes out, email it to me."
"Ah, yes. The list should be distributed by tomorrow afternoon."
-Begin!!
Before Kang Han-na could even step off the stage, the white beast shot across it.
Though she was a beat slower than Baek Ha-na's movement, Yoon I-seul spread her shadows wide—a technique capable of seizing the feet of anyone it touched and intercepting enemies launched into the air.
"W-whoa, incredible...!! She was fast before, but today it's simply not a speed a student should be capable of!! Don't tell me she hasn't been using her full power until now?!"
Cheon Ji-ho shot up from his seat, marveling at Baek Ha-na's speed.
'...Did I come here for nothing?'
Baek Ha-na was circling Yoon I-seul at more than double the speed of the sword Nam Seo-hee had thrown in the earlier match. She was the image of a single beast eyeing its prey.
The kid, who had only ever used a fraction of the mana she held, was now wielding every drop to its fullest.
Cra-cra-crash──!!
"Uwah?!"
"Th-the budget......?!"
Cheon Ji-ho and Jaden both shot up from their seats in alarm.
A section of the floor, made of high-grade alloy, had been torn up and was flying toward Yoon I-seul.
Shk-shk-shk-shk─!!
Countless shadow spears erupted from the darkness covering the ground below and pierced through the incoming wall.
Cr-cr-cra-crack!!
Then from the protruding spears, more spears burst forth, and from those, even more spears, engulfing the entire stage in an instant.
But Baek Ha-na was nowhere to be found among them.
"It's over."
A fragment of the floor still suspended in the air.
Right in front of it, the white beast appeared.
Boom──!!
The beast, aiming for its prey, pushed the airborne fragment with all its might. A thunderous shockwave erupted, and a cloud of dust—filled with debris both large and small—bloomed where Yoon I-seul stood.
"Let them rest well tomorrow. Have them assemble here the day after."
"Huh? Ah, yes. Understood...."
Inside the dust cloud, I watched Baek Ha-na for a moment, where she had mounted Yoon I-seul and was pressing sharp claws to her throat, then rose from my seat.
**
"You don't look so well."
"Ah, Professor Jaden."
Cheon Ji-ho gave a bitter smile and a slight bow to Jaden, who had approached him without his noticing.
"I can't quite imagine how Professor Baek will set the stage, and I think that's making me even more nervous."
"Haha, though I don't know the method, I wouldn't worry too much. He may seem cold, but when he looks after you, he really does look after you, that man."
"...I see."
He wasn't sure how close their relationship was, but since these words came from Jaden, who at least seemed to have some rapport with Baek Woo-jin, Cheon Ji-ho nodded.
"More importantly, let's get ready. He'll be here soon."
Jaden checked his wristwatch and returned to his position, organizing the students who had broken formation.
"Ahem, everyone, gather around!!"
Cheon Ji-ho, too, instilled tension in the students who had relaxed a bit after their day off, letting out a slight but sharp burst of his presence.
Tap.
Cheon Ji-ho, who had been checking over the students arrayed before him, turned his head at the oddly pleasant sound of dress shoes.
The figure in the black coat and suit—their superior—had appeared.
"Is everyone here?"
"Yes. All present, without a single absentee."
Baek Woo-jin gave a single nod.
Snap─!!
Then he snapped his fingers toward the stage.
Cheon Ji-ho, who had blinked briefly at the incomprehensible action, could only widen his eyes at the change that followed.
Bwooom──!!
A blue light burst forth from the center of the stage, and something that had absolutely no business being here materialized.
"Ohh...... I-it's an artificial rift."
Jaden approached, stumbling slightly over his words.
"Cheon Ji-ho."
"......Y-yes?"
Cheon Ji-ho, who had been standing there dazed by the rift's sudden appearance, hurriedly collected himself and answered.
"If you do your part, you'll be able to lead the students back out within a month."
"......Sir?"
"Get in."
"No, uh, an ex, explanation...... Uwaaahk?!"
Cheon Ji-ho was lifted into the air and flung straight into the rift.
Baek Woo-jin turned his body and addressed the students, who were frozen stiff, their faces filled with nerves.
"Get in. Unless you want to land on your face."
"Eeek......."
Just as most of the students flinched and tensed their shoulders.
Baek Ha-na and Nam Seo-hee were the first to step forward.
And without a moment's hesitation, they entered the rift.
"Nngh......!!"
Right behind them, Na Ju-hee, looking a little angry, chased after the two and jumped into the rift.
Next was Yoon I-seul, and after that, the rest entered in succession.
"Wow, a whole month. I don't know what you've prepared, but it must be pretty rough...... Huh?"
Jaden was staring at the undulating rift when he flinched and turned his head at the pair of legs suddenly dangling from the floor.
"A, Pr, Professor Baek......?"
Baek Woo-jin spoke to Jaden, who was swallowing dryly.
"Isn't this a place you were quite fond of?"
"Well, that's, a, a month is a bit...... I have a lot to do...... Uwaaaahk?!"
Jaden was swallowed by the blue light and vanished.
"Kang Han-na."
"Y-yes, sir!!"
Thoroughly tense, Kang Han-na rushed over and stood before Baek Woo-jin.
"Along with the other professors, pack all the necessary baggage—including what the students need."
"Yes, sir!! I'll check twice, three times, and prepare everything without fail!!"
"Dismissed."
"Yes, sir! Dismissed!!"
Kang Han-na promptly spun around.
Upon receiving her intense gaze, the remaining professors bowed their heads briefly toward Baek Woo-jin and made a swift exit from the sparring arena.
"I leave the rest to you."
A small ripple spread through the empty air, and Claire revealed herself, her flowing blonde hair tied back neatly.
"Yes. Travel safely."
"I will."
Baek Woo-jin turned and stepped into the rift. A familiar little bag was tied at his waist.