Warehouse Wonders and Sparring Surprises

The place Sister had guided me to was a total disaster—way too chaotic to call it a warehouse. Even in the game, there was that line where the character panics, 'I'm here to organize a warehouse, not clean up a dump?!' So I hadn't let my guard down, but I never expected this level of mess. Sigh... fine. No way I'm giving up over something like this. First things first, let's haul all the unsorted junk outside.

"Oh my. You must be the volunteer here today. Oh... you're actually organizing it pretty well. I was going to point out if you were doing anything wrong..."

"I've done this kind of thing a lot."

"That's fortunate. It must be tough doing it alone... but I hope you manage well."

"Thank you."

In the game, NPCs would drop by occasionally while you worked, cheering you on, and on a great success, they'd give you bonus points. If that mechanic carried over, nailing this could score me extra. What a sweet deal right from the start. Talk about good luck. My motivation surged.

And on top of that...

Strength and mentality went up too. Probably from the manual labor all by myself? Wiping ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠away beads of sweat with the back of my hand as I moved boxes, the floating message window was sweet enough to fuel my enthusiasm even more.

"Hm?"

Then something happened to sprinkle even more sugar on that sweetness. While shifting and sorting boxes, I spotted an item different from the usual crates and clutter. A small, cute pale purple box hidden among the junk.

Click.

Opening it revealed a single rosary inside. A worn one that looked quite antique. Oh... right, one of the great success messages in the game was finding a rare item during work. What luck. I set the box aside separately and started humming a tune.

"Peace like a river to me~ Peace like a river to me~."

Humming the hymn that faintly echoed from the church as they practiced for Lent, I kept at the task alone. I hoped for more stat gains since things were going so well, but no further increases came. Still, this was plenty. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. These little bits would add up to big help for me.

"Have some lunch before continuing."

Deep into the work, the elderly nun from before approached with a bowl of noodles, a piece of bread, and a drink. What a blessing. The human body is 70% water, so I'd planned to freeload off their free water, salt, and sugar for a bit, then buy bean sprouts with my remaining 10,000 won and forage wild greens from the mountain behind the dorm if needed. But today, I'd eat properly.

"Thanks for the meal."

Save the bread for dinner. I sat alone, slurping the noodles like there was no tomorrow, then dove back in. By sunset, the elderly nun returned with a smile.

"You did splendidly. Even better than expected."

"No big deal. Oh, and this."

"My goodness. This is Sister Agnes's... so it was there. Sister Agnes went to the Vatican last year. To think we'd recover the relic she left behind like this... thank you."

"It was a relic? I didn't sense any holy power."

"Hehe. It's different from the relics heroes use. Anyway, thank you. You organized so thoroughly all alone and even found this... I think this merits a fine volunteer score, don't you?"

Oh, instant reward points. Nice.

"Thank you!"

"School starts next week. Hehe. It might be tough during term, but feel free to come anytime. We'll need hands during Lent."

Hmm. With classes starting, it won't be easy for me to drop by. Plus, plenty of other freshmen will show up, so no need for me specifically. Still, this is the only place handing out free meals, so if push comes to shove, I can work here for food. No harm in getting cozy with the church.

"Got it."

I nodded with a smile, and the elderly nun smiled back contentedly before leaving. Alright, time to hit the office for my reward and head back...

Handing the papers Sister gave me at the church office outside, the staffer tilted their head.

"With these points, you can claim the Introduction to Theology. The skill it teaches is Blessing of the Holy Spirit. Is that alright?"

"Yes. I know."

"Very well. May the Lord's grace be with you."

Got it! One of the buffer's bread-and-butter skills, Blessing of the Holy Spirit!

Now, back to the dorm for some quiet study!

"Ah, Cadet Kim Yohan."

After a fulfilling day's work, legs stretched out on the way back, the elderly white-haired dorm supervisor sweeping the front yard called me.

"Here's the academic schedule and textbooks. Tomorrow's the entrance ceremony, right?"

"Ah, yes."

"Do your best."

"Thank you."

Back in my room, I unfolded the schedule. Nothing special—just the entrance ceremony for freshmen in the auditorium in the morning and class assignments. No matter which class, I'd end up with main or supporting characters. The leads and supports in Hero Academia are split across classes. So no pointless worries. What matters is mastering this skill ASAP.

I shoved the schedule aside, cast Diamond Protection on myself, and dove into the Introduction to Theology. After four full reads...

Holy power went up too. But mentality's the real win. Checking my status window, I tested the skill right away.

"It works."

Even though it's based on another faith, it stacks with the others. The game worked that way, so I wasn't too worried, but I'd had a nagging doubt—now I could relax. Time for some peaceful sleep. Tomorrow morning kicks off the main story proper with the entrance ceremony. Of course, training till lights out.

"Hm..."

The entrance ceremony, heralding the main story, was nothing special. Academy stories usually have monsters or villains crash the party as tradition. I'd tensed up wondering if reincarnation memories differed, but after Elizabeth—the top freshman—gave her oath and the principal droned ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on forever, we just headed to assigned classes. The only unique bit? Spotting Yoo Choa heading off with her group. Nothing to do with her yet, so I let it slide and entered the classroom.

I sat in a back corner, steadily cycling skills as cadets trickled in, filling the room. No one sat next to me. Curiosity, contempt, a touch of superiority. Guess word spread fast about the expelled student council reject with crap healing output.

Alone on day one, huh. Eh, just train...

"Oh?! Kim Yohan, isn't it?! Ohohoho! What a delight to see a familiar face here! I had no idea Cadet Kim Yohan was in this class! Perfect, the seat next to you is empty, so I'll sit— Hm? Why the long face?"

"Didn't expect you in this class."

Whispers rippled around, but Elizabeth ignored them. She'd heard the rumors, yet here she was, plopping down beside me.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Rowdy on day one."

Then the front door opened. A red-haired woman, exhaustion etched on her face. A-rank hero and one of the four class teachers in the game.

"...Heavenly Disaster..."

Like someone muttered, the mage Kim Yeonha, bearer of the moniker Cheon-goe.

"Everyone, take your seats."

We shuffled to places, and Elizabeth pointed at the empty one.

"May I sit?"

"No reason not to."

As she settled in naturally, Kim Yeonha scanned the room and spoke flatly.

"Seems you all know, but a brief intro: I'm A-rank hero Heavenly Disaster Kim Yeonha, newly assigned as academy instructor. First time as academy teacher, but I've instructed at training camps before, so no complaints about my methods, I trust. Now, before class..."

She tapped the blackboard, then held up papers.

"Becoming a hero is never easy. Talent and aptitude aren't enough—you need courage, pride, and mentality to face danger head-on. So... if you're resolved, sign."

In short, a body waiver. Academy training is grueling and dangerous. Fighting monsters is routine, villains target academy heroes anytime, and every year a few suffer physical or mental trauma in dungeons. Yet no one hesitated with their pens. Admission itself meant they'd steeled themselves already.

"Kim Yohan?"

Yeah, I'd resolved too. I signed immediately, and once everyone finished, a gust swept the papers from desks back to Kim Yeonha.

"No dropouts. Excellent. First day, so let's start light?"

She rapped the podium, eyes gleaming.

"4-on-1 sparring starts now. Obviously, 4 is you lot, 1 is me."

"Instructor, question."

"What?"

"Why four?"

"Five might include a weirdo?"

"...What kind of logic is that..."

Even A-rank heroes aside, academy cadets are talent-recognized, pre-trained before enrollment. Bursting with confidence, a 4v1 must baffle them. But this would show why A-rank is A-rank.

"This spar counts toward basic performance eval and decides next class's dungeon. Ah, teams with friends."

Friends on day one? Brutal.

"...Too brutal?"

Not that brutal, huh.

"Elizabeth Taylor. Max Miller. Seong Jina, Jin Siyeon. Front and center."

Elizabeth and Jin Siyeon—main character tier. Childhood friends/rivals concept, right? British noble Taylor family and Korea's famed holy Jin clan—makes sense they'd connect young.

Seong Jina doesn't even appear ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in story, Max Miller's supporting.

"These four are your class ranks 1 through 4. #1 Elizabeth, pick one by one."

Sixteen total. Three picks each fits perfect.

"We don't know aptitudes or weapons?"

"Heroes must sync with strangers on the spot often. Gotta read people. But expecting that from you is too much. Here."

Four sheets from Kim Yeonha—probably class rankings, aptitudes, gear, skills summarized. Game had 'em too.

"#1, Elizabeth."

"Kim Yohan! Let's team up!"

"What?!"

Not just me—most of class freaked. Am I crazy? I'm the infamous expelled trash healer.

Yet she picks me.

"Uh... bit awkward asking as the pickee, but why?"

"Ohohoho! Guiding the weak is the true noble's virtue!"