What Happened at the Mission Training Ground - 1
The volunteer work wrapped up without any hitches. Yoo Choa chattered away nonstop beside me, but the kid was surprisingly good at the job. Thanks to her, we finished today's quota faster than I could've alone and scored some volunteer points.
"This is more than I'd get doing it solo..."
Even factoring in the double EXP event, it was more than expected. Probably thanks to Yoo Choa. Without her, it wouldn't have been a great success reward.
"Hey, you really worked hard."
"Hehe, it's nothing. Anyway, see you next time for real. The academic schedule has tons of inter-class events, y'know."
She was right. Beyond circle activities, there were class competitions, exchange matches, joint tournaments. Plus external training linking characters from other classes—that was par for the course in Hero Academia.
"Yeah, sure. If we end up together then, I'll at least act like I know you."
"What?! That makes it sound like I'm the one chasing you! I'm in the top 10 of the freshman rankings, y'know!"
I bowed politely to the puffed-up girl. "Please team up with me then."
"Ahaha! Yeah, sure."
Only then did she seem satisfied, flashing a bright smile, waving goodbye, and heading off. As I left the cathedral, I spotted her linking up right away with some girls—her social skills were no joke.
Anyway, I hadn't expected it, but I'd connected with Yoo Choa... Hopefully, next time we meet, I can steer things calmly toward the true ending route.
"Brother Kim Yohan."
"Ah, yes."
"What you requested is ready. Please come to the office."
The nun handling volunteer points called out. I'd gotten my points after the work ended, and with this batch, I'd hit the threshold for a holy item request. Guess it was prepared.
"On my way."
Following her to the office, I saw a box like the one that held the Blessing of the Holy Spirit skillbook. She handed it over, and I opened it immediately.
A rosary blessed by the Papal Court. Simply possessing it slightly increases your divinity.
Holy Power +0.02
Very slightly increases healing recovery amount
The "very slightly" qualifier was annoying, but what could I do? Proper holy items required church quests, main story progression, ruins, or dungeons—not just this level of volunteering. Still, this tiny holy power boost was plenty to patch my gaps.
"It suits you well. Please come volunteer again. Oh, if you haven't been baptized..."
"Haha, baptism's fine—I'm good."
Baptism locks you out of other religious events. Temples later, and the Taoist temple after main story Chapter 1—I couldn't tie myself to the cathedral alone.
"I see. That's a shame. Well, until next time."
"Yes. I'll be off."
By the time I reached the dorm from the cathedral, the sun was setting. On the way, slurping the Yukgaejang instant noodles I'd bought, I eyed the circle application on my desk.
Archery circle 'Bow'. Hunting circle 'Thousand Li Pursuit'.
Bow was fire attribute. Thousand Li Pursuit was wood and earth—no schedule overlap. Perfect. Submit as is.
Grabbing the form and heading to the first floor, I saw cadets everywhere—not just freshmen like me, but upperclassmen too.
"It's not too late! Golden Rule! Let me teach you the perfect diet!"
A shirtless senior flexing rippling muscles. A female senior cradling two pots: "You... look lonely? Wanna tend flowers with me? Heroes get tons of gifts—join my circle, and I'll keep you from dying to them."
"Behold my flashy action!" Whoosh! Spewing fire from his mouth while juggling daggers with both hands.
The first floor was chaos, seniors desperate to snag freshmen for funding.
"Haha! No place to go? How about my circle!"
A tall senior in modified hanbok approached. I knew without looking.
"Mask Dance Research Club?"
"Yes! We've been waiting for someone like you!"
Clasping my shoulder confidently. "Ah, no thanks. Pass."
"Damn, rejected again! Yeongryun! How's yours?!"
"They said no!"
"Shit!!"
As the dejected senior pitched elsewhere, I squeezed through the crowd to the reception desk. The dorm supervisor eyed my form and tilted her head.
"Hm. Bow and Thousand Li Pursuit. Bow's fine, but Thousand Li Pursuit has a test—are you sure?"
"It'll work out."
"Good luck then."
As expected, Thousand Li Pursuit wouldn't be easy to join. Lots of members, lots of gains—super popular.
"...Senior. Why're you staring?"
The Mask Dance guy who'd struck out twice grinned ear-to-ear. "Haha! My offer stands—come anytime!"
...Totally convinced I'd fail. I'll pass for sure.
"Yohan! Submitted your circle apps?!"
"Yeah. Bow and Thousand Li Pursuit."
Next morning, entering the classroom for class, Elizabeth Taylor—already there—asked. Telling her as planned, she pouted slightly.
"Ugh... Red Tea Club..."
"I don't even qualify."
"But we can do Thousand Li Pursuit together! Test's next week, right?!"
"Yep."
"Then raise your skills till then! Taylor family secret training starts today!"
"Gotta hold off on that."
A voice from behind. Max Miller, beer-bellied and perfect for it, held a cat-printed banana milk and stack of papers, deadpan.
"External mission training starts today."
"Oh? Wasn't it next week?"
"Here."
"And what's with the banana milk?"
"Errand pay. Instructor Kim Yeonha ordered these papers to you, gave me this. You distribute to cadets."
He plopped them on Elizabeth's desk and returned to his seat. Sidelined on the way, huh. Making Elizabeth do it meant she'd been picked class rep for top duel scores. Group leader for five was tough; fifteen? Good luck, Elizabeth.
"Blue Bird stuff aside, villains are rampaging, so external training got bumped up."
In Hero Academia, external missions were mostly guarding corporate or research sites from villains. Ignore other requests for now.
"Hmm... Inter-class collab too... Let's see..."
The papers detailed missions: Weapons lab, energy core lab. Food delivery. Variety, like in the game.
"But the names..."
"Already assigned."
Each sheet listed cadets. Weapons lab: Elizabeth, Satsuki, Casey—a shaman girl from another class.
"Place on matching desks... I didn't apply here, though."
"Distribute first. Hey! Called name, come get it!"
I called out to chatting groups per the lists. Left unclaimed ones on desks; done. Some grumbled.
"Why food transport for me?"
"You're lucky. I got Jeju."
"Bring citrus back."
"Who decided this?"
Answer came fast—door slammed open, Kim Yeonha entered.
"First time, go where assigned. Let you pick, someone hits danger—headache."
"Selection criteria?"
"Duel training, solo combat, dungeon runs. Scores decide future missions too—do well. Elizabeth, you're class rep this semester."
"Understood! Ohohoho! As expected!"
"Doubt Jin Siyeon'll be thrilled..."
"Ohohoho! Leader's job to handle it!"
I glanced at Jin Siyeon in the corner, slurping milk. She muttered low: "Might just troll it."
Don't. Seriously.
"Alright, that's it. Training's afternoon. Back to seats."
Everyone sat at Kim Yeonha's order from the podium. Me too.
"Yohan. Where're you headed?"
"Lemme check... Huh?"
Rubbed my eyes. Why am I here?
"...Association-direct energy core lab? That's not for just anyone."
Main story-related lab. Top scorers only—and I was on the list. Didn't expect main story involvement this soon. All good, I guess?