Chapter 1
Chapter 1
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Spearmanship Lv.1
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[Spearmanship Lv.1]
I spoke in a rush.
“Um, I’m really sorry… ma’am. C-could I possibly get tested again?”
“Haaah…”
The female employee let out a sigh so deep it could have split the earth, giving me a look that said she’d seen hundreds of guys just like me.
“I’m sorry, but the results of your trait test almost never change, even if you do it again. Besides, there’s an additional fee for a re-test. Are you sure about that?”
Her eyes scanned me up and down, and I couldn't help but flinch.
—An additional fee.
I knew what that meant.
And that what she said about the results not changing was also the truth.
…Even so, I just couldn't accept the result.
[Spearmanship Lv.1]
Getting Spearmanship out of all the possible traits might not seem so bad to some, but…….
No, it was bad.
To me, it was just about the worst possible outcome.
"I'll pay the extra fee.”
Steeling myself, I paid the additional cost.
“…Alright, then please step back onto the altar.”
Feeling the employee's pitying gaze on me, I walked forward again.
I had no choice but to request a re-test, like a drowning man clutching at straws.
My entire life was riding on this trait.
If there was even the slightest chance, I had to take it.
Step.
As I stood straight on the circular altar, a pure white light began to envelop me again at the employee's gesture.
Watching the haze of light, I prayed desperately.
‘Please, a magic trait! Please!’
In this world, magic traits were the most prized. And close-range traits… they were a dead end.
Ding!
*
—————
Name: Han Cheon-seong
Gender: Male (20)
Title: None
Height · Weight: 178cm · 67kg
Current Continental Influence: 5
*Stats.
[Strength 3]
[Agility 8]
[Stamina 9]
[Mana 2]
[Luck 5]
*Traits [1]
[Spearmanship Lv.1]
*Skills [0]
—————
*
Seeing the status window, completely unchanged from the first time, I felt the strength drain from my body as if I were about to collapse.
“E-excuse me…? I know you're upset right now, but other people are waiting to be tested.”
As the employee took my shoulder and helped me up, I rose blankly, my vision blurring.
‘How…’
Suddenly, it felt like I couldn't see what was ahead of me. As if someone had covered my eyes.
What I had just received was the 'Trait Test,' something you could only take upon becoming an adult.
It was no exaggeration to say that this single test decided your entire life.
And mine.
Was ruined.
Completely ruined.
Step.
Step.
Walking blankly toward the exit, I rubbed my eyes.
They were starting to water, and a wave of despair filled my chest.
“Oh my.”
“What a shame.”
“Spearmanship… Has anyone ever succeeded with Spearmanship?”
It seemed my pathetic display was visible to everyone in line, and the words coming from those waiting for their tests felt like daggers in my heart.
Haaah.
Letting out a series of heavy, unconcealable sighs, I left the testing center.
My once-heavy wallet was now empty, making my heart feel even hollower.
“Shit…”
Standing aimlessly on the street, I muttered a curse, all my motivation gone.
‘How am I supposed to make a living with Spearmanship?’
I resented the cruel reality that had befallen me, a reality that offered no help at all.
I was living in a novel I had once read.
The kind of thing that happens in the opening of a generic fantasy novel.
Unbelievably, it had happened to me.
I didn't know if I'd committed some great sin or done something wrong without realizing it, but what was done was done.
“…”
Even now, in the corner of my vision, I could see the academy's building soaring high into the sky.
Looking at the magnificent exterior of the academy, which resembled an imperial palace, the reality of it all hit me anew.
That I was here, in the world of .
I remembered reading it smoothly, enjoying the charming heroines with their various hair colors and the typical academy genre plot where the protagonist gets everything.
But based on that knowledge, what was I supposed to do?
I couldn't think of any way to get back.
I wasn't the protagonist, or even a supporting character for that matter.
I was just ‘me.’
In other novels, people get transmigrated as cool characters or nobles, but I didn't even have that.
I was just an insignificant person who'd been thrown into this world, someone whose presence or absence made no difference.
Like an impurity.
Still, I managed to adapt to this world somehow. With no status window to check yet, I took on odd jobs and menial tasks at an inn to save up the money needed for the trait test.
I held onto a vague hope that, like the protagonist or the supporting characters who performed great feats, I too could make a good life for myself in this world.
The trait test you could take upon becoming an adult.
If I just got a good result… there was no reason I couldn't be as successful as the protagonist.
“Some bastard once said, 'It's the expectation that leads to betrayal…'”
Muttering a phrase I remembered from my past, I let out a foolish laugh.
Your life changes if you hit the jackpot on the trait test. How could anyone not have expectations?
“Mom, that man is weird.”
“Oh, dear. It's best to stay away from people like that. Understand?”
“Okay. I get it!"
…Overhearing the strange exchange from the passersby, I looked at the mother and child with a sour expression.
Calling me a man…
There are some things you just don't say.
Though my mood sank even lower, I started walking again.
“…Still, I have to try."
Despite everything, I could still apply for admission to the academy.
Anyone who took the trait test could apply.
In a world with a medieval setting and a rigid class system, the academy was the one ray of hope.
“Can I make it if I work hard?”
I muttered to myself—a habit I'd picked up from being alone—and a small sigh escaped my lips.
If you can distinguish yourself at the academy, noble families or even the imperial palace might scout you.
That was the kind of life I wanted.
Of course, I sometimes dreamed of a comfortable life riding on the coattails of the overwhelmingly talented protagonist or supporting characters, but my most realistic expectation was simply 'a life with a guaranteed future.’
I just wanted to do my part and live without any major obstacles.
"..."
Sighing, I opened the detailed window for my Spearmanship trait.
Ding!
*
—————
Trait Name: Spearmanship
Grade: Common
Current Trait Level: 1
Description: You gain a 'bonus' to your proficiency when wielding a spear.
—————
*
The description was so simple it made me wonder if that was really all there was to it.
At a glance, you might wonder what's so special about getting a 'bonus,' but the difference between having one and not was indescribable.
"...Common."
The trait's grade was what I'd expected, but seeing it in writing still made my heart sink.
On top of that, getting a close-range, physical-type trait in this world was basically a 'disaster.'
Almost all monsters possessed overwhelming resistance to physical attacks.
Even a lowly goblin's hide was so tough that it was hard to injure with a normal weapon, and even if you did kill a monster, the cost of maintaining your weapon's edge was enormous.
Plus, from what I knew, there were no spearmanship instructors at the academy.
“If I hadn't known anything, at least I could have held onto some hope.”
Knowing the world of Grand Royal Academy so well was now a source of regret.
But then I shook my head.
‘There are two months left.’
The time until the entrance exam was short.
…I didn't even have time to curse my trait.
I had to get an iron spear right away and somehow raise my trait level.
At the very least, I had to get into the academy to have a chance.
Tuk.
I immediately turned and headed for the blacksmith.
***
Two months passed.
“Hah… Hah…!”
My chest felt like it was about to explode.
Gasping for air, I leaned on the spear in my hand and stared into the distance.
Then, the status window appeared in my vision.
*
—————
Name: Han Cheon-seong
Gender: Male (20)
Title: None
Height · Weight: 178cm · 67kg
Current Continental Influence: 5
*Stats.
[Strength 5]
[Agility 10]
[Stamina 13]
[Mana 2]
[Luck 5]
*Traits [1]
[Spearmanship Lv.3]
*Skills [0]
—————
*
“Shit.”
A curse escaped my lips, but a smile formed nonetheless.
I did it.
I wanted to shout at the top of my lungs, but just catching my breath was all I could manage.
After two months of hard work, I'd managed to raise my trait level to 3.
My stats had also risen as a bonus, but more than anything, I was encouraged by the increase in my Spearmanship level.
“This should be enough to pass.”
From what I remembered of the novel, the average trait level for applicants to the academy entrance exam was 2.
Those with truly overpowered traits could get in with just level 1, but there was no way my Common-grade Spearmanship could do that.
So, for the past two months, I'd put in bone-breaking effort to raise my trait level.
“Haaah…”
Letting out another deep breath, I wiped the sweat trickling down my cheek.
As I did, I noticed the changes in my body.
‘I really worked my ass off.’
Two months of time. Forcing myself to train really did change my body.
Considering my stats, which had been ridiculously hard to raise, had gone up by an average of 2 points, it was a massive improvement.
Tuk.
Pushing my exhausted body upright, I started heading for the exam site, my gaze drifting to one side of the training grounds.
It was one of the training grounds in the city, and I could see numerous people engrossed in raising their trait levels.
And among them, one woman stood out.
With blue hair that flowed down to her waist and eyes that sparkled like they held the stars, I could tell at a glance that she was no ordinary person.
…I mean, she was just swinging a sword, but,
Whoosh!
it created a powerful gust of wind. It was impossible not to stare.
‘What kind of trait is that?’
A basic trait like [Swordsmanship] wouldn't create wind like that.
This world was cruelly based on talent and bloodlines; such a thing just wasn't possible otherwise.
There were traits with flashy names, like the [Sword of the Azure Sky] that the protagonist of Grand Royal Academy possessed.
The blue-haired woman I was looking at now must… she probably had an outstanding trait of that kind.
I guessed it had to be at least a Rare-grade trait.
Whip.
“…?”
Then she suddenly looked at me, and feeling it would be awkward to just look away, I gave her a small wave.
Whip.
She immediately turned her head away. My hand froze mid-wave, and I couldn't help but feel absurd.