Chosen as the Joint Practice Representatives
“Haa~aam.”
“You look exhausted.”
“Just had some uninvited guests yesterday, that’s all.”
“Uninvited guests?”
Because Alpha and Omega had shown up yesterday, I’d pushed the simulation extra hard to make up for the lost time. The accumulated fatigue was heavier than usual.
“Still, I’m glad you’re safe. I was so worried about you yesterday.”
“It wasn’t that dangerous.”
-Really?
-Well, it came close, I’ll admit.
-But in the end it wasn’t seriously dangerous, so technically you’re not wrong.
While I ate with Karne and caught up on what had happened yesterday, Cheonma and Hoya were chatting with Renia, who looked far more relaxed than before.
-You seem to be living quite comfortably these days.
-My descendant’s skills improve by the day, so the burden on me has lessened.
-It’s hard to believe she’s that old hag’s descendant. The kid is so frail.
The stronger Karne became, the less power Renia had to expend adjusting her own strength. That was why she could move more freely now and converse so casually.
-So. You met a demon?
-The ruler of the 72nd rank of the demon world, no less.
-Halpas. Have you heard of him?
-Of course I have. But how on earth did you run into him?
-Well, you see…
Maybe it was just my imagination, but the three of them talking together looked exactly like a bunch of aunties gossiping.
“Our professor was in a total panic back then. All the other instructors were rushing around urgently too. It was the first time I’d ever seen them with such grave expressions.”
“They must really care about us, then.”
From what I’d heard, even the professor in charge of the third-years had come running.
“Professor Libra and our professor were especially flashy.”
They looked ready to charge straight into the gate at any second. The two we’d seen right after emerging from the gate had been so intense they practically dragged up old tales of their past exploits.
“By the way, what’s Professor Libra’s class like?”
“Ugh, it’s insanely difficult. But if you really focus, you can solve the problems. It feels like the lessons are perfectly calibrated to each person’s limits.”
-Indeed. That professor definitely has a gift for teaching.
From the student’s side, Libra’s system was genuinely mysterious. Even though we were all in the same class, it felt like receiving a private lesson that advanced at exactly the right pace for you. Of course, that was only possible because of Libra’s talent for seeing through every single student. In terms of growth speed, our class was ahead of the others, so from a teaching standpoint, Libra was probably the best instructor in the entire academy.
“You’ve gotten a lot stronger.”
“Hehe. H-have I really?”
Maybe that was why. In this short span of time, Karne had become genuinely, noticeably stronger. Strong enough that even Cheonma and Hoya had been momentarily surprised by her growth rate. At her current level, she might be able to hold her own against a second-year.
“But this time…”
Crackle.
Just as Karne was about to continue, a small mechanical beep came from my watch, followed by a guidance message and alert.
First-Year Class A Zeon and First-Year Class C Karne, please report to the faculty office immediately.
“Us?”
“Why the faculty office all of a sudden?”
The message was calling both me and Karne to the faculty office. Having no idea what it was about, we could only tilt our heads at each other.
“We’ll find out when we get there, I suppose.”
“Yeah. Let’s go.”
Creak.
When we opened the door and stepped inside, we found professors busy with their various tasks. Papers flew through the air, conversations buzzed, and someone was sipping coffee during a brief moment of rest. Amid all those different scenes, we spotted the familiar faces of Garein and Libra. Since they were working right nearby, Karne and I walked straight over to them.
“Professor.”
“We’re here.”
“Perfect timing. First, take a look at this, would you?”
Libra sat us down in empty seats as if she’d been waiting and handed us a sheet of paper. Bold letters at the top read Joint Class Gate Conquest Schedule.
Joint Class Gate Conquest Schedule
“Why are you giving this to us?”
Karne still seemed unable to grasp the situation and voiced her confusion. Libra looked at her with proud eyes and gently stroked her hair.
“Because the two of you have been chosen as representatives for your respective classes.”
“E-eh?! Me, a class representative?!”
-Of course! For my descendant, this much is only natural!
-Well, it is the expected outcome.
-Mm. Yes, I more or less anticipated this.
The schedule had been altered due to the gate rank elevation incident. As part of that change, joint gate conquests between classes would now take place. Since classes were teaming up, it was only logical that each class would need a representative to lead them alongside their professor. Karne and I had received the highest evaluations in our classes, so we’d been selected.
“Class A and Class C will be moving together.”
“That’s right. We’ll also be following along from the rear.”
Garein nodded at my words. They would act as safety personnel, only stepping in if the situation turned truly dangerous. The main issue this time was the conflict between Class A and Class C anyway. No truly dangerous enemies would appear.
‘Still, Karne being chosen as representative is unexpected.’
In my memories, it had been some model-student guy from Class C, not Karne.
‘Is it because of me?’
Still, having Karne—who was close to me—as the representative would probably make resolving conflicts easier than dealing with a stranger.
“Even though we’ll be accompanying you, the representatives who actually lead the classes must be chosen from among the students.”
“We’ll simply follow from behind in case a dangerous situation arises.”
“So Karne and I have to command the entire class?”
“We’ll divide you into teams, of course. However, as the representatives, the two of you will be excluded from the teams so you can supervise the students.”
“E-ehh?!”
If the professors were watching for danger from the rear, then Karne and I would essentially be taking over the professors’ duties at the front.
“Is it too much of a burden?”
“It’s an enormous burden!”
-You really are timid.
-Ugh. Being so frail is definitely a problem.
-She’s just embarrassed about standing in front of others, that’s all.
“Zeon?”
“Let’s work hard together.”
“D-do I really have to do this?”
“You can do it.”
If someone else became the representative, it could cause conflict issues. In the original scenario, the conflict between Class A and Class C usually erupted when the Class C representative voiced their dissatisfaction.
‘If I openly show that I’m close with Karne, it probably won’t surface.’
Anyway, there was no ending where this scenario resolved the conflict and everyone acknowledged each other. The conflict would continue all the way to the Hwangyeon scenario, turning Class C into rivals driven by ordinary competitive spirit who would try to obstruct Class A’s victory.
“Are both of you really okay with this?”
“Yes. No problem!”
“Umm… since Zeon is saying this much, I’ll… I’ll try my best too…”
“Hmm~? Karne, don’t tell me…”
Libra looked back and forth between us with a rather mischievous expression, then covered her mouth and said,
“Ah, youth~.”
-Youth indeed~.
-Hmm…
-Mmm…
Knock. Knock.
“Excuse me.”
The male student who entered had the unmistakable aura of a model student. His uniform was impeccably neat, almost stiff. His hair was perfectly in place, his eyes serious, and he even wore glasses that accentuated that impression. Yes—he was the Class C representative I remembered from before Karne took the role. He had come to the faculty office.
“Professor Libra.”
“Iville? What brings you here?”
“I had some questions about the previous lesson, so I came to ask… but it seems I’ve picked a bad time.”
Iville’s gaze swept over me and Karne.
“Not at all, not at all. If you have questions, you should ask.”
Libra casually gestured for him to come to a spot away from us. As he moved, the short but intense look he directed at me made me click my tongue inwardly.
‘Already full of hostility.’
It really was fortunate that Karne, not Iville, had been chosen as Class C’s representative. If that guy had been the rep, I would have had to stick with him the entire practical training. I had no desire to spend that much time around someone who clearly disliked me.
-Because they lack talent. Because they lack effort. Because circumstances don’t align. Those who fall short in various ways naturally turn to jealousy.
-Get used to it. It is the fate of those who walk ahead. Receive the envy and jealousy of those left behind. If you don’t receive such gazes, it means you stand at the same level as them. If you receive pity, it means you are beneath them.
“Having to receive looks like that for the rest of my life already sounds exhausting.”
-Heh heh. Yes, that kind of confidence is good.
-Isn’t that just arrogance?
-The old hag doesn’t understand. Why call a statement that accurately faces reality arrogance?
-You people… aren’t you being far too lenient with your disciple and contractor?
At those words, Cheonma and Hoya simultaneously glanced upward at Karne.
-You’re hardly one to talk.
-I am merely stating an obvious truth.
-That’s what I was going to say. Actually, you’re even worse than we are.
-Ahem. Ahem.
Perhaps feeling a sting of conscience, Renia cleared her throat and quietly suggested to the other two.
-H-how about we call it a draw?
Of course, from where I was standing, all three of them were pretty much the same.