Targeting A-Class
Chapter 26. F-class Representative Selection.
It was break time at the academy when Jeong Eunseo approached Lee Hyunseung.
“Hyunseung-nim, are you planning to step forward as the representative for the upcoming Class Annihilation Match?”
Lee Hyunseung looked at her and answered calmly.
“Yes. Becoming the representative for the Class Annihilation Match brings all sorts of benefits. But if I’m being honest, the most important reason is that it lets me designate A-class as our opponent.”
If the F-class representative for the annihilation match had the right to choose their opponent, then naturally that meant they could force a showdown with A-class.
Jeong Eunseo nodded.
“With your abilities, I’m certain you’ll have no trouble claiming the representative spot.”
Jeong Eunseo knew Lee Hyunseung held a Legendary occupation. That was why she believed he could easily defeat dozens of other F-class students and seize the representative position. She was even participating in the F-class representative selection herself, yet she naturally assumed she wouldn’t be able to beat him.
After all, her own occupation was Mage, and her grade was Epic. An Epic-grade Mage was a spec respected both inside and outside the academy. As the daughter of a high-ranking guild leader, she had received far more training and mana instruction than the average person. Even so, she clearly understood she was no match for someone with a Legendary occupation.
“It’s a shame. If it weren’t for you, I would have become F-class’s representative and picked A-class just to crush them.”
Lee Hyunseung looked at her.
“You would pick A-class? Why?”
“Oh my, have you forgotten? I had a huge fight with Yoo Heeyeon not long ago. Obviously I want to see that woman’s face twist in humiliation. Honestly, when it comes to magic alone, I don’t think I fall short of her. Our family backgrounds might differ, but the annihilation match doesn’t allow outside interference anyway.”
Jeong Eunseo was exactly right. External intervention was impossible during the annihilation match. Everyone had to use only the basic equipment provided, eliminating any advantage from personal connections, academic ties, or bloodlines. It was a pure contest of each person’s occupational abilities on a virtual stage.
‘On the surface it might sound fair, but that’s not the case at all.’
The representative selection itself was fair since students fought only within their own class. The Class Annihilation Match, however, was anything but. The difference in team strength was simply too vast.
What would happen if A-class clashed with F-class? Dozens of Epic-grade students on one side versus an F-class full of people who hadn’t even awakened yet. The outcome was painfully obvious. Dividing the match by class was inherently unfair.
‘But not for me.’
Of course, that disadvantage only applied to ordinary F-class students. I had awakened two Legendary occupations, one of them a blacksmith. Even if I entered with basic weapons, I could mass-produce new ones inside the stage for as long as time allowed. On top of that, I could use my Gunner traits to mow them down. Main occupation for combat, auxiliary occupation for production; I could handle both at Legendary grade without anyone’s help.
‘If I’m given enough time, I can create weapons and magazines at will to strengthen my allies. I can widen the gap between my own combat power and A-class to an absurd degree.’
What if everyone else was using basic weapons while I alone wielded Rare or Epic-grade equipment? And what if the person using those weapons held a Legendary occupation? No such monster should exist.
‘I can’t wait.’
The sight of A-class students’ faces getting crushed. That was exactly why I had endured everything until now.
I glanced around the classroom. Most students still hadn’t awakened. A few had, but considering that even those with problems in personality, practical skills, or written exams could be demoted to F-class, it wasn’t as if the class was made up solely of the absolute worst. Of course, right now they were close to the bottom, but I knew exactly who would awaken, when, and how. To me, they were all hidden gems.
‘Depending on how they’re polished, they could become jewels or worthless stones no one bothers to pick up.’
The bell signaling the end of break rang once more.
“Then I’ll return to my seat. The annihilation match may be an individual event, but forming teams inside isn’t prohibited. How about we work together once we’re in there? From the looks of it, some people have already formed groups.”
At Jeong Eunseo’s words, I looked around. Sure enough, several students had already clumped together, whispering among themselves.
‘Makes sense. Even if they can’t become representative, no one wants to look pathetic by losing miserably. Them forming teams is only natural.’
I thought briefly and answered.
“Sounds good. I was going to suggest it if you hadn’t. With your level of skill, you’ll definitely be a big help.”
“Ahem… Well, if you put it that way, I’m grateful. Besides… we’re friends, aren’t we? I learned that friends are supposed to do these things together.”
‘Do you really need to learn what friends do together?’
It sounded strange, but I decided not to dwell on it. She probably only had me as a friend her entire life, so it made sense she hadn’t experienced normal friendships firsthand.
‘Watching and experiencing are completely different.’
No matter how simple or well-known something is, doing it yourself and simply observing from afar are worlds apart. To most people, the existence of a “friend” was nothing special; it was as natural as breathing. But for Jeong Eunseo, that relationship might be incredibly precious and difficult.
‘Jeong Eunseo doesn’t betray people and she keeps her mouth shut. The more special treatment she receives, the more it benefits me.’
The reason I had revealed my Legendary occupation to her the moment we met was precisely because of her personality. She might seem cold, but once she considered someone an ally, she would never betray them. She also worked hard to lead and protect her subordinates. Cool-headed yet paradoxically full of affection and tight-lipped; that was Jeong Eunseo.
The bell rang. I quickly returned to my seat.
As soon as I sat down, I felt a gaze from the side. Kim Yuri spoke to me.
“You seem pretty close with that girl. You two talk often.”
I shrugged once and answered.
“She’s one of the few friends I have.”
From far away, Jeong Eunseo’s cheeks flushed bright red, as if she had overheard.
‘Is she using auditory enhancement or something?’
It felt slightly eerie, but I pretended not to notice.
Kim Yuri spoke to me quietly.
“I misunderstood you before, so I’ll be honest. To be frank, the current atmosphere in F-class isn’t very favorable toward you. Some students have already started forming their own teams, and others dislike how you’re acting like you’ll become the class representative the moment you arrive. You should be careful. You might run into trouble during the representative selection.”
I looked at her straightforward expression and thought, ‘She’s surprisingly honest. There’s no need for her to share this information, and it doesn’t benefit her at all.’
If what Kim Yuri said was true, public opinion inside the class was turning against me. If someone saw her approaching me and leaking information, she would clearly face serious backlash. Besides, Kim Yuri had no powerful backers and hadn’t even awakened yet. She stood exactly on the boundary between ordinary person and awakener.
‘Of course, since her first awakening will be as an Epic-grade Mage, she’s basically a diamond in the rough.’
Moved by her consideration, I thought to myself, ‘During this representative selection, I should help Kim Yuri awaken.’
Since I had already decided to treat her as an ally, there was no reason to delay her awakening.
I extended my hand toward her.
“Thanks for telling me. And if you’re okay with it, how about we form a team together? Jeong Eunseo and I already agreed to team up.”
Kim Yuri thought for a moment before asking.
“What benefit would I gain by teaming up with you?”
A thoroughly realistic question.
‘Yeah, this is what she’s really like.’
Her gentle attitude a moment ago had almost made me forget her true personality. The only reason she was being kind was because she had misunderstood me due to her own prejudice. She had a clear line she drew.
I answered her.
“If you team up with me, I’ll teach you the magic theory that A-class students learn, in detail.”
Kim Yuri immediately grabbed my hand with a serious expression.
“Really? You’re not lying, right?”
I nodded at her and thought, ‘She loves magic theory this much? When she finds out she’ll awaken as an Epic Mage later, she’s going to faint.’
Kim Yuri probably hadn’t noticed, but many students around us were already eavesdropping on our conversation. In such an open classroom where everyone was packed together, it would have been strange if they couldn’t hear. Several of them had already begun to murmur.
But it didn’t matter. No amount of trash-talking would change the outcome, and knowing about it wouldn’t let them prepare for it. Even if humans knew a tsunami was coming, what could they possibly do?
The classroom door slid open with a loud rattle.
Instructor Son Sae-beom entered and addressed the students.
“Everyone, please gather at the representative selection arena.”
“We’ll be starting the representative selection today.”