Manly Kwak Taesan!
...Why are both of them like that?
I could somewhat understand Seol Eunha's abnormal obsession with me.
Well, honestly, I didn't get it, but it made sense. Considering what she'd gone through in the past, her fanatical devotion to swordsmanship explained her fixation on me to that extent.
But what about Yoon Seoa?
That sudden burst from earlier was obviously not some heartfelt admiration for my swordsmanship. Anyone could see it was just a reckless move born out of not wanting to lose some weird pissing contest with Seol Eunha.
Is there any reason for her to go that far with me?
Hmm.
Hmmm...
Ah, she wanted to sit in the back by the window.
That made a lot more sense.
I let out a short sigh toward the two who were still bickering nonstop and opened my mouth.
"Alright, alright, just cut it out."
At my voice, dripping with resignation, the two gazes that had been about to snarl at each other locked onto me in unison.
"I'll spar with you later during practice time, disciple or whatever. For now, just sit here." "Huh? Really?! You're actually doing it! Hehe, then the seat next to you is mi—"
I nodded readily at her approaching with a beaming smile, then stood up from the chair without a second thought.
"...?"
I lightly grabbed the shoulders of Seoa, who froze with a dumb noise, and smoothly pushed her into the very back window seat I'd been occupying.
Then I grabbed my bag and hopped to an empty seat in the front row.
"Eh?" Well, I get it.
Back in school, the back-row window seat was the ultimate prime real estate every student coveted.
Out of the professor's line of sight, perfect for slacking off or napping facedown—a flawless fortress. Whether top of the class or magic prodigy, it was totally understandable they'd fight tooth and nail for it.
Thanks to that, I got booted, but whatever. Front row isn't bad either.
Admiring my own Pacific Ocean-level magnanimity in graciously yielding the best spot to two beautiful girls, I settled into a comfortable position.
"N-No! Wait a sec, Dohyun! What I wanted wasn't this back seat, but...!" "Master. Where are you going. I need the seat next to Master."
...Even after I yielded it, their reactions.
They say if kindness goes on too long, people mistake it for obligation. I'd handed over the whole honey pot, but all I got from behind was dissatisfaction mixed with complaints, not a shred of gratitude.
I was about to fire back at their spoiled whining when—
Creak.
The classroom front door slid open smoothly, and someone stepped in. Neat suit, tablet and attendance sheet in hand. It was Professor Cha Yura.
"Quiet, everyone. Satisfied with your seats?"
At that single command, the rowdy classroom fell silent as if doused with cold water.
She wasn't even emitting any threatening mana, yet the freshmen held their breath in unison, eyes fixed on the podium.
Hold on, Professor Cha Yura is Class 1's homeroom teacher?
I narrowed my eyes slightly at her standing ramrod straight, puzzled inwardly.
If my memory served, in the original Ether Frontier, Cha Yura was a strict instructor handling only major practicals, not a homeroom teacher managing freshmen directly.
Ever since Seol Eunha's outburst at the entrance ceremony, some minor butterfly effects must be kicking in.
As I mulled over the discrepancies with the original, the cadets started giving cautious answers amid the frozen tension.
"Yes, ma'am! Love it!" "Great view outside too—perfect!"
They sounded nervous, but mostly positive, satisfied with their spots.
Of course, two prickly stares full of dissatisfaction bored into the back of my head, but what did I care?
Professor Cha nodded faintly with her signature impassive face as she listened to the chatter.
"Good to hear you're all pleased."
A faint, yet somehow chilling smile ghosted across her lips.
"But remember: if anyone disrupts class or chatters needlessly, I can swap seats at my discretion, no problem."
...Feels like she's singling me out.
Was it just my imagination making me squirm?
"Anyway, I'll be training you outdoors far more than cooping you up in this stuffy room... er, teaching you."
She casually let slip her terrifying true intentions, then slammed her attendance sheet shut with one hand.
"First day, so no boring theory. Instead, some light guidance on academy life. Phones out, everyone."
Tap, tap.
As Professor Cha operated her tablet, a hologram screen flickered to life above the blackboard.
Ooh.
State-of-the-art hologram magic!
The flat UI from the game monitor and this vivid, rippling 3D image in reality felt worlds apart in texture.
Following her instructions, I pulled out my smartphone from my pocket and powered it on.
With a faint whirr of vibration, a transparent blue panel popped up above my desk like a window.
What insane stats.
I inwardly stuck out my tongue at my floating ability scores.
Stuffing in every beggar-tier handicap had turned my stat screen into a total mess. Overall evaluation tanked to D because of stamina and mana.
Well, with my munchkin perks, no immediate issues...
As I swallowed a secret sigh at my trash stats, Professor Cha Yura's voice continued from the podium.
"The numbers on your devices are official data from the entrance physical exams a few days ago."
Arms behind her back, she added dryly to the cadets panicking or disappointed at their low scores.
"Let me be clear: personal training won't make these change in real-time. Data stays fixed until the next official practice test or evaluation."
Her cool gaze swept the room.
"So don't get all worked up over these numbers. Real strength proves itself in combat, not some data snippet."
Ah, so that's the setting.
I'd thought the system windows were just player conveniences in-game, but they were actually cutting-edge magitech terminal apps in this world.
Seeing these unsolved lore details firsthand stirred a veteran's fanboy glee.
As I poked at the hologram panel in admiration—
"Urgh..."
A grotesque, beastly groan came from the seat right next to me.
Ew, what's with this guy.
Glancing over, I couldn't believe my eyes.
Since hopping here earlier, I'd noted the mercenary-vice-captain vibe tank next to me, crammed into the desk. A hulking brute whose uniform buttons might launch from breathing alone. I'd chosen this spot partly to build rapport early with this future key ally.
Was planning to buddy up gradually, but why's he crying?
Horrifyingly, the fierce-faced giant was staring at my hologram stats [Stamina 1, Mana 0] and shedding thick tears.
"...Stamina F. Mana F-minus."
He wiped his eyes with a pot-lid hand, muttering in a gruff, animalistic voice.
"To lead such a frail, sickly body... and tank that arrogant Jo Geon's killing intent barehanded at the entrance ceremony...!" "...What?" "And shrug off those two sweet beauties' temptations without hesitation, even coming to sit by me with that noble sacrifice...!"
He lowered his voice glancing at Professor Cha, but his eyes burned with fervor, like he'd crush me in a hug any second.
"You're a true man among men." "Thanks for the praise."
This guy's name was Kwak Taesan.
One of the named extras in the original game Ether Frontier.
A pure hot-blooded musclehead whose brain held only combat and brotherhood, matching his absurd bulk.
Once he latched on, he treated you like a lifelong 'brother' no questions asked—earning cult popularity among players.
That's why I came here after vacating the back.
Maxing affinity with this muscle gorilla unlocked an insanely efficient 'hidden reward' later.
The catch was the physically grueling process to build it, but that was nothing compared to the payoff.
"But Dohyun! That frail vessel can't contain your noble, great spirit!" "...Hm?" "Worry not! I'll take responsibility and max out your stamina. Lunchtime today! Training Ground 1. One-on-one sparring—I'll etch a man's sweat into your body myself!"
...So that's how it triggers?
I kept a straight face outwardly but cheered inwardly.
In the original, Kwak Taesan's 'sparring event' was a mid-to-late game unlock after way higher affinity.
Seemed tanking Jo Geon's killing intent with 1 stamina gave this muscle-brain a massive affinity boost.
Any normal cadet would've paled and fled the tank's spar invite, but...
Perfect timing.
I needed a sturdy sandbag to safely test my munchkin perks in action.
Test perks, skip the grind, straight to hidden reward—zero reason to refuse.
"...Got it. See you at lunch."
At my straightforward nod, Kwak Taesan's fierce face lit up with joy and emotion.
As he shed another thick tear, I slyly curled my lips.
Time for this vet to show his skills.
I could already hardly wait for lunchtime.