Chapter 120

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 120

Chapter Title: Midterms (2)

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"This midterm for Practical Combat will be conquering an E-rank gate."

As the midterm period arrived next week, Instructor Kang Ju-young announced the exam content for Practical Combat.

I'd already known it was an E-rank gate conquest, so I just nodded along, but the other students reacted with surprise.

"An E-rank gate conquest?"

"Can we even conquer a gate?"

"The only monsters we've fought were on that uninhabited island."

"We did hunt monsters in the virtual training room, but will that help?"

"With this group size, though, an E-rank should be doable, right?"

As the students began whispering to each other, the group training ground quickly grew noisy.

"Quiet. We've selected 60 E-rank gates across the country. You'll be assigned one gate per current team."

In other words, five of us had to conquer an E-rank gate.

Realizing this, a few students spoke up as if questioning how they could possibly conquer a gate.

"What? We have to conquer it with just five people?"

"One wrong move and we could die."

"I should've picked someone stronger if I'd known."

On the other hand, my group stayed calm, treating an E-rank gate like no big deal.

"An E-rank gate... With Lee Seongmin and Cheon Seo-yun here, it'll be a breeze."

Oh Ye-rin seemed unconcerned about an E-rank gate as well.

Considering they'd watched me and Cheon Seo-yun in action on the same team all this time, it would actually be weirder if they were worried.

"Additionally, the exam will evaluate whether team members fulfill their roles appropriately, based on conquering the E-rank gate."

At Instructor Kang Ju-young's follow-up explanation, Oh Ye-rin tilted her head.

"Team members' roles? What does that mean?"

"It means everyone has to pull at least their weight."

Just one of us—me or Cheon Seo-yun—could conquer an E-rank gate single-handedly.

But Instructor Kang Ju-young was saying not to do it that way ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and to conquer it by combining strengths with the team.

"Finally, the gate conquest will take place this Saturday. This is for the safety of the nation, so prepare thoroughly."

Instructor Kang Ju-young gave the date and told us to go prepare.

Since it was midterm period, there were no classes today, but no one left; everyone was busy chatting.

'Looks like the gate conquest gives them plenty to talk about.'

As I thought that, Oh Ye-rin approached me.

"Lee Seongmin. How are we going to tackle the gate conquest?"

"Gate conquest? Same as before—Jeong Yu-mi takes the front, and the rest support appropriately."

"That's too vague. What if we don't get good scores that way?"

"Then me and Cheon Seo-yun just don't go all out."

In reality, if we slacked off, the others would have to fight harder.

And if they fought hard, the team score would naturally be high, so I wasn't too worried and said it was fine.

“It still feels unsettling. How about we meet every evening starting today to practice our formations?”

I nodded at Oh Ye-rin, who looked genuinely anxious.

Honestly, I didn't think we needed formation practice, but for her sake—and Jeong Yu-mi and Park So-yul's—I agreed.

"Sure. Let's meet at 7 in front of the virtual training room."

"Huh? Really?"

Oh Ye-rin looked shocked that I'd agreed so readily.

Her reaction gave me a pretty good idea of how she'd seen me until now.

'Probably thought I was some lazy guy who hated training.'

Anyway, after setting the evening meetup, we split off to prepare for the next exam.

I checked my schedule and saw there was an Alchemy exam in the afternoon.

'Wonder what the Alchemy exam will be.'

The Alchemy classes so far had been about making potions from gate materials and monster byproducts.

Figuring it would be something similar, I asked Lee Seojun just in case.

"Lee Seojun. Any idea what the Alchemy exam is?"

-Who knows. In the game, it was making blood replenishment potions... but not sure now.

The term "blood replenishment" reminded me of something from Herbology.

"Didn't they say Blood Flower generates blood?"

-Right. The blood replenishment potion maximizes and amplifies the Blood Flower's effects.

I nodded, and Lee Seojun added more.

-By the way, blood replenishment potions are pretty expensive. A well-made one can go for up to 20 million won.

"Just making potions could make you rich."

-The materials are pricey, so not quite.

Chatting with Lee Seojun like that, I headed to the clubroom, spent time there, and took the afternoon Alchemy exam.

"This Alchemy exam is to make a 'Blood Replenishment Potion'."

And sure enough, it matched what Lee Seojun said.

"The method is written on the paper in front of you. Materials are prepared too."

As the instructor said, each desk had paper and materials laid out.

I read the instructions first and was checking the materials when the instructor spoke again.

"By the way, the materials in front of you alone cost 5 to 6 million won. So no slacking off."

That instructor's name was Kwon Beom-jun, right?

Lee Seojun had mentioned he was obsessed with money, so he stuck in my memory.

Anyway, after emphasizing the material costs to ramp up the pressure, Kwon Beom-jun offered some incentive.

"But if you make a good potion, I'll give bonus points from 1 to 5. 5 points means full marks."

-He's definitely planning to skim some potions and sell them.

"......"

Selling them separately would be embezzlement, wouldn't it?

"Begin. Time limit is 3 hours."

Embezzlement aside, at his command to start, I reread the instructions.

It was definitely much harder than the potions we'd made in class so far.

'We have to nail this on the first try?'

Usually, you'd need several attempts to barely succeed.

But if it were easy, everyone would make perfect potions, so in a way, this made sense.

'Gotta focus.'

I minimized the movements of my other seven clones and concentrated on the materials.

Following the steps, I put the Blood Flower in a porcelain bowl and poured in the mana solution.

Then I slowly infused my own mana and began grinding and mixing it in a mortar.

'Feels kinda easy, though.'

Focus aside, everything clicked perfectly in my head.

Pondering that, I figured it was thanks to the Skill Stones I'd acquired so far, and kept working.

'Not just helpful for Absolute Clone, huh.'

Even stray thoughts like that didn't disrupt the process.

Thanks to that, after about two hours, I completed the Blood Replenishment Potion for the exam.

'This should be...'

Good enough for 5 bonus points?

With that thought, I took the finished potion to Instructor Kwon Beom-jun.

"Done already?"

"Yes. Here it is."

He nodded, took the potion, and examined it closely.

"Oh. The iridescent color means it's well-made. And checking with my ability, the effect is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠impressive."

"Glad to hear it."

I stayed put, hoping for bonus points.

Kwon Beom-jun couldn't deny it and pulled out a card from his pocket.

Beep—

"......"

3 points?

"Something wrong?"

"No. I was hoping for 5."

"Could be."

Kwon Beom-jun replied understandingly but didn't change it.

"But 3 feels right. Someone else deserves the 5."

"Someone else?"

"Yes. Here she comes."

I turned at his words ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and saw a studious-looking girl with big glasses approaching.

-That's Jo Han-na.

As Lee Seojun told me her name, Jo Han-na handed over her completed potion.

Checking it out, it definitely had a more iridescent color than mine.

'Let's take a look.'

I used my Observation skill to compare my potion with Jo Han-na's.

Both had the same name and description, but the effects differed slightly.

One thing was clear: Jo Han-na's potion was superior.

"Impressive as always, Cadet Jo Han-na. Here's 5 points."

"Yes."

Despite the near-perfect score, Jo Han-na replied calmly and left the classroom.

'Should've cloned the potion and fused it with Weapon Evolution.'

That might've made something even better than hers, but on second thought, that was overkill.

Besides, I didn't care much about grades, so admiring Jo Han-na's Alchemy skills, I wrapped up the exam.