Chapter 5
Chapter 5
The Beginning of the Transformation - 2
***
“What…this is Purple Mineral, isn’t it…? How did you know I was looking for this?”
Ella asked as soon as I placed the Purple Mineral on the meeting table in her office.
Although Professor Park Hak-sik’s research team had discarded it, Ella’s purchased ore had been mistakenly mixed in with the waste.
“Ah, I saw you looking for it the other day.”
I smoothly made up an excuse, and Ella, who had been pouting and tilting her head, accepted it.
“Anyway, thank you so much. I was so worried I’d lost it. I bought it for almost 2 million won. Well, it’s research funds, but still.”
“Haha, you’re welcome.”
If I hadn’t known the solution, I would have gone to Professor Park Hak-sik and asked if he was looking for the Purple Mineral.
But he would have said no, and it would have taken quite a while to clear the quest.
That didn't apply to me, since I had the solution memorized.
'By the way, she's even more beautiful up close.'
I had briefly seen her during the morning roll call, but this was the first time I’d seen her up close.
As befitting the only main heroine with an English name, she was mixed race. Her brilliant blonde hair was as bright yellow as forsythia, and her dark brown eyes held a contrasting sense of seriousness.
With her fair skin and thin-rimmed glasses, she exuded an intellectual yet somewhat sharp aura.
'And according to her profile in the setting book, she's a D-cup.'
She was perhaps the most beautiful professor I could imagine, and with her ample bust, she had a great figure.
Moreover, she was a retired A-rank hunter at the young age of 26. She had been a magic dealer-type hunter, and her skills were so recognized that she currently also held the position of 'Magic Department Research Director.'
She was truly an elite among elites.
'Choi Do-han, getting cozy with heroines like this… I'm a little envious.'
However, I had no intention of harboring such sacrilegious thoughts.
As I mentioned before, I planned to lay low and focus on growth until I was as plump as an udon noodle.
So, I rose from my seat.
Lunch break was almost over.
"Then I'll be going."
"Oh? Okay."
I bowed and headed for the door, but Ella’s call stopped me in my tracks.
“Uh, Tae-jin?”
“Yes?”
“Oh, it’s nothing… what did you do over the weekend?”
“Yes?”
I asked again, thinking I had misheard, but Ella blushed and looked away.
What was this? Both Han-Na and Ella were asking about my weekend.
“The weekend?”
“Ah, haha, well, you got a haircut… and your overall atmosphere seems brighter, which is good to see as your homeroom teacher. It could also be a positive point for your performance evaluation…”
“Ah…”
So that was the reason.
It was a bit unexpected, but it seemed that finally getting rid of the shaggy hair I’d had for nearly three years had become a topic of interest.
Considering how the other students had been whispering about it during break time, Ella must have been quite curious.
“I didn’t do anything special over the weekend. I cut my hair because it was getting hot with summer approaching.”
“Ah, haha. Right? Summer is hot. So, um… you didn’t do anything special besides going to the hair salon over the weekend?”
“Right?”
I raised an eyebrow, as if questioning the intent behind her question, and Ella fidgeted with her fingers before speaking cautiously.
“W-well, as your homeroom teacher, I need to be aware of my students’… special circumstances, so… if anything special happens, tell me, okay?”
…Why was she acting so unlike her usual self?
She wasn't a stuttering character in the original story.
“I understand. Then I’ll get going.”
“Okay…! Pay attention in class this afternoon!”
“Yes.”
I left the office, having successfully cleared the hidden piece quest.
Due to the delay, there were only two minutes left until the afternoon class.
I needed to hurry.
Of course, I wouldn't run like a nobleman's son from the Joseon Dynasty.
I didn't want to vomit in front of the classroom after sprinting.
-Ding !!!
[Hidden Piece ‘Purple Mineral’ Quest Completed!]
[Strength increased by 3 as a reward.]
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Alright~ as you all know, today’s class is a practical skills test. Did everyone bring their specialized weapons?”
““Yes!””
The fifth period practical skills class, when the afternoon sun started to warm up and make everyone drowsy.
Fortunately, the class was held in the indoor gymnasium, not the outdoor training grounds.
Well, calling it 'indoor' was a bit of an overstatement, considering it was a vast gymnasium with a dizzyingly high ceiling.
It felt like a solemn temple. Perhaps it was built on such a massive scale to accommodate the high-flying hunter cadets.
'Status Window.'
..
..
[Rune: Rune of Valor]
[Status▼]
[Strength: 5 (+1)] [Agility: 46] [Magic Power: 3]
[Stamina: 40] [Luck: 50] [Endurance: 2]
..
..
I checked my status window again before class.
The 'Rune of Valor' was engraved in the empty rune slot.
It was a rune I bought for 100,000 won at the artifact shop during the morning break. I asked the shopkeeper to engrave it on the back of my right hand.
As expected of a cheap and easily accessible rune, its effect was only 'Strength +1,' but it had a significant impact on me, desperately needing strength stats.
In addition, with the 'Strength +3' I gained from completing the Purple Mineral hidden piece quest, my strength had risen to a whopping 6.
Just yesterday, it was 2, so this was significant progress.
Well, it was still at the ant level compared to the protagonist.
'He's probably already surpassed 50 in strength by now.'
Hidden Piece Academy was fundamentally a growth-type overpowered protagonist story. And Choi Do-han, the protagonist, had probably already established his growth framework and was starting to exude an overpowered aura.
'He'll probably get the highest evaluation in this test too.'
Still, the optimistic thing was that stats complemented each other.
My high agility stat of 46 would somewhat compensate for my weak strength.
Although I hadn't yet tested drawing the longbow, I would find out soon enough during the practical skills test.
At least I wouldn't make the same embarrassing display as yesterday.
However, premature expectations were also forbidden.
With my thin wrists and skinny arms, how could I possibly perform at my full potential with hardware like this?
'But since my endurance also increased by 1 along with my strength, the Frail trait shouldn't activate from light exercise, right?'
I hoped so.
Moreover, the Frail level had also decreased to 9.5.
Well, I didn’t know how much that insignificant 0.5 decrease would affect my frail hardware, but I decided to be hopeful.
"Alright, tankers, prepare!"
""Yes, sir!""
The command signaling the start of the practical test echoed, and the cadets in the tanker position moved forward, each holding their shields and one-handed weapons.
A sense of determination was evident, even though it was just a test.
It couldn't be helped.
Starting from the graduating class, 'guild observation' was allowed during every practical skills class after the midterm evaluations.
The main purpose was to select promising cadets with potential, not just the well-known rising stars.
Since the major guilds would snatch up the rising stars anyway, it was mainly small and medium-sized guilds that attended these observations.
So, while this was just a simple test for promising cadets like Do-han, Han-Na, Mi-jin, and Su-ah, it was an opportunity for those with lower rankings.
Even if their current grades were low, if they showed growth before graduation, they could be scouted by decent guilds, so how could they not be determined?
'Phew...'
Of course, I was also at the forefront of that determination.
I had to show growth from now on to avoid the tragic fate of rolling around in a day laborer mercenary group after graduation.
"Now, one by one, you will perform a lynch on me. Understood?"
Professor Choi Seok-min took a guard stance and deployed a magic circle.
The tankers' test was their lynching ability.
Lynching referred to the ability to charge and neutralize an opponent's guard, like American football players.
It was one of the basic skills of a tanker, along with guarding.
Soon, the lynching test began for the seven tankers lined up.
—*Boom!*
“Not bad, Seo-jun. You've definitely improved since last time.”
“Thank you, sir.”
—*Thud!*
“Your initial burst of speed is weak. You won’t be able to neutralize a guard like that.”
“I apologize, sir.”
—*Boom!*
“Solid, but your point of impact is wrong. Lower your lynching point of impact against humanoid monsters.”
“Yes, sir.”
The tankers’ lynching test proceeded relatively smoothly.
However, soon the cadets' attention was focused, and the guild observers sitting in the stands leaned forward.
It was Han-Na's last turn next.
“Here I go.”
The air grew heavy with her presence alone.
Professor Choi Seok-min widened his stance and lowered his guard.
He, too, had once been a renowned A-rank hunter.
Yet, a hint of tension was visible.
“Huu…”
Han-Na took a long, deep breath.
Red mana swirled around her like a vortex.
At the same time, with a powerful *Whoosh!*, Han-Na charged.
And then.
—*Crash!*
Her lynch landed precisely on Professor Choi Seok-min’s magic guard, and unlike the previous cadets, a tremendous sound like an explosion struck our eardrums.
A wave of magic power from the impact spread out.
“Whoa… wh-what was that?”
“The professor… was pushed back!”
“What? H-he really was!”
At the cadets' commotion, I quickly looked at Professor Choi Seok-min.
'...It's true.'
The professor's back foot had slid back about 10 centimeters.
He, who had been unmovable like a rock against the other cadets' lynches, had been pushed back by Han-Na’s.
“Huu… As expected of Han-Na. Excellent lynch. The point of impact, speed, penetration, everything was excellent.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Han-Na bowed and returned to her seat.
With her nose held high, as if looking down on commoners.
As soon as she sat down, she started taking selfies.
She was probably going to brag about it on social media.
'As expected of a main heroine.'
Mi-jin, the close-range dealer, and Su-ah, the healer, must also have amazing abilities, but Han-Na’s abilities, as the *true* heroine, seemed to be beyond just promising.
Well, she couldn't be compared to the protagonist, Do-han.
*Clap clap clap.*
The cadets applauded in admiration. I was about to join in when Professor Choi Seok-min's command made me quickly grab my longbow.
“Alright, next up are the ranged dealers. Everyone forward.”
““Yes, sir!””
It was the turn of the ranged dealers, consisting of marksmen and archers.
Finally, my turn had come.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“As expected of Han-Na.”
“Still, Cadet Kang Ah-young seems to have improved since last time. Her magic power has also increased slightly.”
“Is that so?”
Guild observers sat scattered in the stands.
Paired in teams of two, one used special binoculars to measure the cadets’ magic power, while the other diligently recorded their partner’s observations on a laptop.
They would compile everything and report directly to their guild leaders. The National Hunter Academy was where the most talented individuals among the five academies in Korea gathered.
Therefore, even before graduation, the heads of prominent guilds received direct reports.
“Is it the ranged dealers’ turn next?”
“Yes. There are three cadets to watch: Archer Baek Seok-hwa and Do Tae-gon, and Marksman Chae Si-ra.”
Baek Seok-hwa was considered one of the most promising archers.
Everyone predicted he would become a C-rank hunter after graduation.
“Anyone else?”
“No. Everyone else is stagnant. Han Tae-jin, in particular, still can’t even properly draw a bowstring.”
“Tsk tsk, how did he even get into the National Hunter Academy?”
“That’s a mystery. There are no records, and even when we tried to look into his family history, everything was erased.”
“Erased?”
“Yes, it looks like someone intentionally deleted it… but further investigation was difficult. And there didn’t seem to be a need for it.”
“Hmm, he’s a strange one.”
Han Tae-jin had been a slacker at the bottom of the class since his first year.
He showed no enthusiasm, his academic performance was abysmal, and he just waited for the school day to end.
It was a wonder he hadn't been expelled yet, even in his final year.
But then.
—*Crash!*
—*Crack!*
All the guild observers in the stands stood up abruptly.
At the sound of Professor Choi Seok-min’s magic guard cracking.
Since it was Han Tae-jin’s turn, the most unremarkable of the unremarkable, the observers, who hadn't even bothered to raise their special binoculars, couldn't believe their eyes.
“Th-the guard cracked?!”
“Han Tae-jin?!”
A single magic arrow, embedded in the center of the disc-shaped magic guard, quivered before disappearing.
At the same time, Han Tae-jin, who had fired the arrow, collapsed limply.
A chilling silence fell over the gymnasium.