First Day of Classes - Part 3
“I'm the instructor in charge of Class 1. Juyeon.”
Rohan felt overwhelmed just by facing her.
Whether it was his current power or the strength from his past life, his instincts told him he couldn't even compete.
She's insane...
There was someone who gave off such a formidable impression just by standing there. It was enough to make him doubt she was even human.
The big-shot hunters he'd met in his previous life? They wouldn't even be able to hand her their business cards.
As Rohan stared at the instructor in wide-eyed admiration,
You've encountered the Dragon Slayer.
50P obtained.
...!
For an achievement to trigger on "encounter," it couldn't just mean passing by and glancing at her.
It varied by character, but it usually required at least some minimum affinity or establishing a connection.
With Juyeon now assigned as his instructor, that link had formed between them, unlocking the achievement.
It's applying way faster than in the game?
As Rohan etched this new info into his mind,
Juyeon picked up the thick marker from the board and continued.
“Since it's the first day, I'll keep it simple and let you go. So pay attention.”
Her sharp eyes swept over the cadets.
“First, I'll explain the schedule ahead and what our Class 1 aims to achieve over the next two years.”
Orion Academy lasted two years. Once assigned to an instructor, you stuck with them until graduation.
It was a length of time that felt long if you called it short, and not quite endless if you called it long. To run that race steadily, setting goals was key.
“Day by day growth and getting stronger. But you can't neglect theory.”
It was a clear shot at someone specific.
Rohan stayed silent under her gaze, while Noah wagged her tail and grinned brightly.
“Once you dive into real combat, there'll be moments when theory feels useless. But when you're truly cornered, it becomes the lifeline that saves your life.”
Juyeon, who had missed the meeting due to other duties, had come straight back to Academy City, pored over her assigned cadets' evaluations, and analyzed their tendencies.
Noah Frozenheart and Rohan's practical scores deserved praise, but remembering they'd barely scribbled a single line on the written exam made her head throb faintly.
“And... we need clear standards. Does anyone know what defines an F-grade monster?”
Most of the cadets raised their hands.
Juyeon directed her gaze to the one sitting next to Noah Frozenheart.
That's Ichinose Jun's daughter, huh.
Top of the class in written scores. Her practicals showed no weaknesses either.
To achieve that much at such a young age—probably talent surpassing even her father's.
“Cadet Ichinose Yui. Explain.”
“An F-grade monster is one that a typical adult male can fight—and win against—with a weapon.”
“Correct. And a B-grade?”
“It erects a special barrier called the Abyss, rendering normal physical force completely ineffective. You need enough mana to pierce the Abyss to inflict damage.”
“...Excellent. Sit down.”
Her explanation came out clean and mechanical.
Ichinose Yui seemed to have memorized the Orion Academy textbook verbatim as prep.
She's probably already covered the theory through self-study.
Juyeon thought of Yui's parents and swallowed a wry smile.
“To put it simply: our Class 1's goal by graduation is B-grade.”
“!?”
Some cadets' eyes shook like there was an earthquake.
B-grade monsters required elite strike teams to deploy the moment they appeared.
“Among B-grades, the ones that show up most often statistically... Owlbear or Frost Golem, I'd say.”
Her words were met not with the earlier chatter, but a heavy silence that filled the room.
Juyeon dove into the explanation, right on cue with her expectations.
“Of course, I'm not saying solo them. I wouldn't make that insane demand. Just being able to pierce a monster's Abyss and deal damage is enough.”
If your mana-infused attacks had the output or density to break the barrier, that was it.
Even one more person who could do that opened up the battlefield.
Achieve it by graduation, and you'd be treated well anywhere.
And there were already cadets in this room who could reach that level.
“You don't need to overthink how to get there. I'll maximize the talents you've been given. Understood?”
“““Yes, ma'am!”””
The cadets responded in thunderous unison, as if rehearsed.
Juyeon had that thick charisma that pulled synchronized replies from everyone.
“Next.”
Juyeon scrawled large numbers on the board.
The meaning of the 11 digits was crystal clear.
“If something's too vague to decide alone or you're curious, contact me anytime—night, dawn, whatever. I've registered all of Class 1's numbers, so reach out.”
The cadets pulled out their phones to save the number.
Rohan fished his smartphone from his pocket too.
Gotta ask about part-time work.
His contacts and gallery had stayed blank until he messed with them.
The gallery had a decent stash of achievement photos now, but contacts were still empty.
This was the touching moment when the first number got added.
“Inside Orion Academy and out of sight, the instructors—including me—will guarantee your safety. It's our duty.”
But once classes ended and cadets returned to the dorms, that guarantee vanished.
Not that instructors ignored outside matters entirely.
“Same goes if you get tangled in danger or trouble outside. Don't fear getting chewed out—contact us for sure.”
Rohan was impressed by her unwavering voice.
Hearing the story he'd only read in text come alive, the sincerity and appeal in her tone hit different.
She's amazing.
Juyeon was the upright hero who fulfilled her responsibilities.
One of the key figures who bailed out the protagonist in crises, time and again.
“And finally.”
Juyeon hung the marker by the board, checked the time briefly, and decided to issue one warning to the cadets.
Her voice dropped a notch, demanding focus.
“Lately, the Security Bureau's been hearing a lot of ominous rumors they're investigating, so cadets—avoid going out late at night.”
Rohan blinked at the instructor's earnest tone.
That line...?
An intense sense of déjà vu from Juyeon's final words.
His mind went blank.
“That's all.”
..
..
After classes ended on the first day,
Rohan returned to the dorm and kept mulling over Juyeon's words.
He'd installed the part-time job app but hadn't even opened it yet.
— Lately, the Security Bureau's been hearing a lot of ominous rumors they're investigating, so cadets—avoid going out late at night.
That's...
No doubt about it. It was from a while back, but he remembered clearly.
The prelude to the tutorial where you experienced the combat system as the protagonist character.
No protagonist in the academy for sure. But if there's no protagonist in this world at all?
What the hell happens then?
He was curious how this incident would resolve right away.
Realistically, Elysium's Security Bureau could handle it.
Assuming no protagonist, Rohan stared at the ceiling and kept speculating.
The deeper he thought, the more an absurd, unexpected conclusion emerged, making him furrow his brows and stroke his chin.
...Having a protagonist might be the problem?
A righteous personality that can't stand injustice wasn't bad. It uncovered all sorts of secrets.
But coldly speaking, was that impulsive behavior all good? Eh?
Abyss City was built around parties of three gacha-pulled characters as the base.
Like most subculture games, the protagonist character had meh performance. He barely remembered using one past the early game.
Maybe forced cutscenes where you saw its face.
If there is one, it'd stumble into trouble everywhere.
Even charitably, that was the extent.
But this reality wasn't a game anymore.
Without strong party members, how far could the protagonist alone dig into things?
“Hmmm...”
He mulled it over at length and reached a conclusion.
Then he clicked his tongue.
It was all just speculation, and that frustrated him.
Should I go check myself.
Perfect timing—the dark hour matched the tutorial exactly.
Rohan opened his closet and pulled on a black hoodie.
Click!
He turned the doorknob, stepped out of the dorm, and felt the frigid air incomparable to afternoon as he walked.
He stopped at a convenience store, bought the cheapest mask, and covered his mouth.
“...”
Would those guys be there today or not?
With the protagonist absent from where he should be, Rohan couldn't say for sure.
Step. Step. Step.
Rohan's footsteps headed unabated toward the girls' dorm.
On the way, he spotted a parked car.
...They're here.
A gray van with heavy tint hiding the interior.
Exactly like the one from the game, but still too early to jump to conclusions.
Rohan approached the vehicle.
And rapped on the driver's side window.