The First Class
'It's that bodyguard I saw back then.' His thug-like appearance, with that flat-top crew cut, had left a strong impression that stuck in my memory. He was the guy who stepped in and paid the price whenever a big shot named their number. Since I already knew he was a demon, the reason he was following me was obvious. 'Recruiting me just for taking down one Ungbak?' They couldn't be that desperate for new blood. No, he must have seen my potential. Standing out this early wasn't good at all. Sure, I'd worn a mask and altered my voice, but a tail would get caught eventually.
'One thing's certain: I'm safe as long as I'm inside the academy.' Worrying about a future that hadn't unfolded yet was pointless, so I turned my attention back to the present.
"Krgh... uergh..."
The demon was dying from mana over-absorption. Mana had a tendency to enter living beings before it lingered in the air. In other words, when a high concentration of mana trapped in an enclosed space for a long time was suddenly released, it would rush into the nearest mana user. If that user couldn't handle it, their body would explode. Not the kind where pieces flew everywhere—an internal explosion, but its power was no joke. The sound alone would make you believe a cannon had gone off.
'That's why I took the risk myself.'
If I'd been a mana user, I would have already ended up like that, slowly dying. Since I couldn't use or circulate mana, the dense concentration flooding the outside couldn't force its way into my body.
"Safe travels."
It was only a low-grade demon that had come all this way and still gotten caught, so there was no useful information to extract.
"Grrrrrrrrr...."
Strangling the exhausted, collapsed demon until it suffocated was easier than snapping a wooden chopstick. If it had been a normal human, I'd have worried about disposing of the corpse, but demons turned into black powder and scattered the instant they died, so it didn't matter.
Demon Kill
You have killed a demon for the first time.
Reward: Will +1
The system handed out the reward the moment I killed it. At this point, it was safe to say I'd gotten everything possible during the one-week grace period. A penalty had been applied, but it wasn't anything painful. Honestly, it was hard to even call it a penalty.
'As long as there's some benefit, who cares?'
Still, what kind of penalty even was this? All that remained now were the spoils—the leather and claws. I'd be processing those two inside the academy anyway, so my business here was truly finished.
'Time was cutting it close.'
It had taken five full days just to digest the Ungbak's inner core. Any later and I would have had to rush into the academy without even time to pack my bags.
'Time to get ready.'
It was finally time to enter the academy.
Today, after the one-week grace period ended, the real classes began. In the first-year S-class, the atmosphere was nothing like the fresh excitement of a new semester. Instead, a subtly ominous tension hung in the air. The cause was the conflict between nobles and commoners. Even though the academy claimed to pursue equality, it was unrealistic to expect class conflicts to vanish on day one. Especially since, out of thirty-eight students in S-class, only about ten were commoners. With fewer weak positions to fill, the nobles could apply pressure and make others conscious without even trying.
The commoners hated this treatment, so they glared right back, and the result was this heavy atmosphere. The top five weren't swept up in it—they fidgeted or sat quietly—but the rest of the students were different. And they weren't stopping there. They were waiting for the single student who still hadn't shown up.
'Lee Seokhyun. Where the hell is that bastard?'
Benras didn't like Lee Seokhyun one bit. The guy looked like he had nothing going for him, yet not only had he taken sixth place, he'd even given the representative speech. Benras had already been irritated that a commoner picked a fight with him before the entrance exam. Now this? His noble pride was on the verge of being crushed.
'It should have been Lord Velon or Lady Mi Juran giving that speech.'
In his heart, he wanted to use perfect titles like "Your Highness the Crown Prince" or "Princess," but Mirinae Academy strictly forbade it. The rule existed to tear down titles from the start in the name of equality. Still, there were workarounds. Some attached "nim" to names as a sign of "respect," and Benras was one of them.
'The authority of the nobility...'
It was unbelievable that among the top five who drew the most attention, only two could even be called nobles. In Meiri's case, since she came from Sinmibi and nothing about her background had been revealed, it was difficult to attach any title. Therefore, today—when the grace period ended and real classes finally began—Benras planned to give the commoners in S-class, especially their so-called representative Lee Seokhyun, a harsh piece of his mind.
'Yu Sohyun and Woo Dohyun... they're commoners, but they have the skill to back it up, so I'll overlook them. But this Lee Seokhyun really has nothing.'
In truth, this wasn't just Benras's opinion. It was the shared thought of every noble student in first-year S-class. They already disliked that commoner-born Woo Dohyun and Yu Sohyun had made the rankings. But for someone like Lee Seokhyun—who was basically a complete nobody—to appear like a comet, snatch sixth place, and even deliver the representative speech? That was absolutely unacceptable. So not only Benras, but everyone in S-class was waiting for Lee Seokhyun to show up. A few had even deliberately positioned themselves by the door, planning to intimidate him the moment he walked in.
Step. Step. Step. Step.
'Here he comes.'
With everyone except Lee Seokhyun already present, any footsteps in the corridor had to be his. The instructor still wasn't due to enter, and since S-class occupied an entire building, there was no chance of students from other classes wandering over.
Step. Step. Step. Step. Step. Pause.
'He's here!'
Benras looked toward the door with glee, already imagining the students stationed at the entrance swarming and pressuring Lee Seokhyun.
'Huh...?'
His body froze. He couldn't speak. The guy who had shown no aura just days ago had, in the span of a single week, become a savage beast.
"Oh... Looks like I'm pretty popular. Hey, everyone."
Lee Seokhyun ignored the barrage of stares, waved casually, and strolled toward his seat. The plan to trip him on the way, the prepared questions about how the hell he got sixth place and the representative speech—everything vanished like a lie.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
It wasn't just the presence of a fierce beast. This was killing intent, the kind that came from someone who'd killed multiple people. Even though he smiled brightly and waved, the pressure made it feel like he could grab and snap a neck at any second. The ferocious aura of the mountain guardian bear—the Ungbak—was far too heavy a burden for seventeen-year-olds who knew nothing of the world.
Shiver. Shiver. Shiver.
Benras kept his head down, desperately avoiding eye contact as Lee Seokhyun slowly approached the seat beside him. This must be how a rabbit felt standing before a lion.
"Oh, Benras. Let's get along well from now on."
I'm Lee Seokhyun. At those words, Benras nodded silently and focused everything on calming his trembling legs.
"I-I-I-I as well... n-nice to meet you."
Benras barely managed to reply and finally met Lee Seokhyun's eyes. The moment Lee Seokhyun arrived, sudden peace descended upon first-year S-class.
'The kids are all quiet.'
That was my first impression upon entering S-class. When I'd played as Lee Seokhyun before, the place had been incredibly ominous with all the talk of class conflict. This time there was none of that. Everyone was quiet. It felt great. The only downside was the lack of lively energy, but it was the first day of the new semester, so I let it slide.
'If Benras is seventh... everyone just got pushed back one rank.'
S-class was exactly as I remembered. That meant no variables existed, and if there were no variables, the first assignment was already set in stone.
'I spent ten years rolling around in the mountains for this.'
I'd deliberately arrived last to prepare for it. Facing the situation with zero preparation would have been extremely disorienting.
While I was lost in thought, the homeroom professors for first-year S-class appeared at the lectern.
"Hello. I am Lee Hwaryeong, the magic professor in charge of first-year S-class."
"Welcome. I am Gainard, the martial arts professor in charge of first-year S-class."
"Hello! I am Kerar, the external studies professor in charge of first-year S-class!"
A faculty lineup so impressive it was almost burdensome. Most students' mouths fell open at the special privilege only S-class enjoyed. After hearing that the representative professors handled only one class each, it was understandable. But none of them knew that their expectations would soon vanish, replaced entirely by despair.
"Mirinae Academy is a meritocratic institution that eliminates conflict between classes and judges everything solely by ability. However, there are always those who oppose this principle. Why is my skill only at this level? Does it make sense to evaluate someone with a single test? We have prepared something for such people."
Every time Gainard spoke, Lee Hwaryeong slowly drew a magic circle on the floor. This wasn't limited to S-class—it was happening to the entire first-year. Right after the greetings, things progressed at breakneck speed. Everyone except me stared at the professors with bewildered faces. The professors paid no attention to those looks and continued their work.
"Dissatisfied with your skill? Then defeat someone stronger than you. And prove it—that you are not limited to this level."
The tiny magic circle rapidly expanded until it filled the entire classroom, slowly radiating light. The students realized something was wrong when Kerar, who had been squinting, finally opened his eyes wide. A sign that it was far too late. The magic circle already covered the floor beneath their feet.
"We will now begin the first class: Survival. I hope you all enjoy your lesson."
The detailed rules would be explained by Kerar after the transfer, so there was no need to worry too much.
With those final words, the magic circle on the floor blazed brightly and teleported every single S-class student without exception.
'It's starting.'
The survival event held for the entire first-year student body. Its curtain had now risen.