Team Picks and the Instructor's Trial
The chaos settled quickly. Kim Yeonha glanced at Elizabeth and me, let out a small chuckle, and turned her head.
"Jin Siyeon. You pick next."
"As the successor to the prestigious Shinseong Jin family, I want to face an A-rank on my own."
Like Elizabeth, Jin Siyeon was one of Hero Academia's lead characters—a firstborn of Korea's noble Shinseong Jin family, brimming with arrogance and self-confidence. She stated it flatly, and Kim Yeonha snorted derisively.
"Jin Siyeon forfeits..."
"Ah?! Krenbe! I'll take Krenbe!"
In the end, Jin Siyeon picked one of the extras whose name I didn't even know, and a smile tugged at Kim Yeonha's lips. Whether that smile came from admiration for the future hero's poise or carried the implication of These rookies dare underestimate me?! was hard to tell.
"Krenbe. In terms of rankings, you're right above Kim Yohan. Fine, whatever. If that's how you kids want to play it, who am I to stop you? You'll handle the consequences yourselves, right? Next up, Goo Jin-ah."
Hesitating because the top two picks had deliberately chosen weak teammates, Goo Jin-ah and Max pondered for a long while. Finally, Goo Jin-ah clenched her fist.
"I'll choose Chae Jiho."
Chae Jiho. A supporting character in Hero Academia, a tanker wielding a shield. Not a bad pick. Judging by the staff she carried, she seemed like a mage focused on ranged attacks, so a solid tanker was essential for her.
"Ooh."
The bear-like guy stood up casually and fell back. Watching him, Kim Yeonha nodded and gave a look to Max, the German with a similar build who looked like he'd fit right in at a beer hall.
"I'll choose Yang Wei."
He replied in slightly awkward Korean, and a boy in the corner raised his hand. A sorcerer skilled in talisman arts, able to use the Five Elements Array skill from the start. Proficient in both offense and defense—not a bad choice at all.
The atmosphere stayed weird after that. Elizabeth and Jin Siyeon competed to pick from the lower ranks, while Max and Seong Jin-ah went for the top tiers.
"Making judgments is the responsibility of those at the top. Alright, then. Let's head straight to the training grounds."
Under Kim Yeonha's guidance, we made our way to the training grounds. Other classes were already running similar tests, so there were plenty of familiar faces around. Lead characters, supporting ones... even villains. Seeing them in person for the first time didn't feel awkward at all, thanks to my memories from my past life. If anything, they felt welcoming.
"Everyone. Gather up."
At the call of our leader, Elizabeth, the three other team members assembled. Elizabeth with her longsword, Satsuki with her naginata, and Colombo with his shield.
"...You're empty-handed?"
Colombo asked in his halting tone, shield at the ready. I nodded.
"I'm a beggar—no gear."
The holy relic I'd borrowed back when I was slated for the student council execs seemed to have been confiscated again, and there sure as hell wouldn't be buffer equipment at the academy.
"Then how about using something from over there?"
The standard 'training gear' from these kinds of games was stacked in the corner of the training grounds. Of course, enrolled cadets wouldn't give them a second glance, but beggars couldn't be choosers.
"Yohan. Use a sword. Sword."
"A spear's fine too."
"Still, you've got some healing, right? How about tanking with blocks and heals?"
Man, these local broadcast extras are noisy. "...A bow?"
"Do you know how to shoot?"
I didn't. But bows had a mental power bonus, so I picked one. Sure, my growth bonus was mental power, but extra points were extra points.
A bow issued to training cadets. In the past, scholars faced countless evil spirits and disasters with nothing but a single bow, never retreating. Honoring that spirit, equipped mental power slightly increases.
See? Mental power up. This'll do. This'll do.
"Looks like everyone's ready... Elizabeth's team first, then."
The moment she saw me grab the bow, Kim Yeonha called us up. Elizabeth strode forward without hesitation, while the other two looked a bit intimidated—and I was getting excited. Alright, what was about to go down? In the game, for sure...
"As I said earlier... you'll have to be prepared to get hurt."
"Uh... maybe don't say it so harshly?"
"Why? Do I look weak?"
"No. Scary."
"....."
I just spoke my honest feelings, so why the face? Flames erupted—whoosh! A bluish ghost flame bloomed in Kim Yeonha's right eye. She wouldn't go all out, but no holding back either. And that ghost flame meant her quest rewards were getting juicy...
"Ugh..."
"Ow..."
"Guh..."
"....Huh?"
"Eh?"
She'd revealed a fraction of her power through the ghost flame, and the three buckled under her presence. Kim Yeonha looked satisfied watching them flinch, but when her gaze landed on me, I just scratched my cheek. Was it my high mental power letting me shrug off the intimidation?
"Alright. Let's start..."
"Hold on!!"
"What."
"Don't masters usually yield three moves to juniors?!"
"...Sure, some do. But you're the first to demand it outright. Kim Yohan. Aren't you embarrassed?"
"Oh, totally ashamed."
Lies. Get shy over stuff like this, and you won't survive the world. Kim Yeonha stared at my desperate acting, snorted, and finally nodded.
"If you're gonna act, do it right..."
Wasn't it perfect facial acting? Anyway.
"Fine. Three moves, then. I'll give you a chance to use your skills. Elizabeth. Think you can handle it?"
Snapping out of her intimidation, she bit her lip and nodded. As she gripped her sword tight, ready to unleash her skills for real, I grabbed her shoulder.
"Alright. Huddle up."
"...What are you planning?"
"What's this...?"
"Ugh... Aren't you scared...? That intimidation just now..."
"Come on, panicking now would be a problem."
I looked around at my teammates, closed my eyes, and...
"...Huh?"
Activated Blessing of the Holy Spirit on Elizabeth. Feeling her power surge, her big eyes widened even more. And... tch. Kim Yeonha noticed too, huh? She raised a finger. No fancy effects, so I thought it'd slip by. Bummer!
"...Kim Yohan. You..."
Second one. Diamond Protection. Stacking buffs would've been nice, but no dice. Still, boosting defense against a powerhouse like Kim Yeonha wasn't bad. No other options anyway. A buffer only having two buffs... I needed to learn more skills fast.
The power flowing from me boosted her defense. Unlike when I first learned it, I'd steadily raised the proficiency, so now it provided a meaningful increase.
"I like this!!"
Glad to hear it. Like most games, Hero Academia had a tutorial. It was this very first-class instructor battle. And this tutorial changed based on dialogue choices and party decisions—a developer's courtesy for veteran players stuck in a rut.
Alright. I'd seen this scene hundreds of times in the game, but this was my first in reality. Didn't change a thing, though. As a buffer, my job was just to time durations and cooldowns precisely and keep the buffs flowing.
Cooldowns meant sending Elizabeth in now would be bad... Let's pretend to strategize and buy time.
"Okay. Quick strategy briefing."
"...Why are you calling the shots?"
"Elizabeth's right here, you know."
The two without buffs grumbled, but I looked at Elizabeth. Empowered by my buff, she pondered silently for a moment.
"Let's try it Kim Yohan's way."
"Sweet. Then..."
"Hey. How long do I wait?"
"Strategy meeting in progress!"
"Tch."
Good thing we got those three moves. I explained everyone's roles to the group. They looked dubious, but thanks to Elizabeth's approval, they went along with it.
"Elizabeth. You're stronger now. Charge."
Yielding three attack chances meant she'd only defend or dodge—no counters to worry about.
"Haaah!!!"
Boosted by the Blessing of the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth's sword strikes would hit harder. Proving it, brilliant light poured from her blade, and Kim Yeonha's eyes gleamed as she faced it.
"Top rank for a reason."
A hint of admiration escaped her as she locked eyes with Elizabeth. Yes. Now's the chance. I nodded lightly, and Satsuki and Colombo prepped their skills.
"Haaah!!"
Elizabeth charged with a sharp kiai, meeting Kim Yeonha head-on. -Whoooosh...!! The wind howled. Mana swirling around Kim Yeonha obeyed her command, forming a wind barrier. Elizabeth unleashed her signature Taylor Swordsmanship against it.
-Krrrack!!
Lightning tore through the green winds. But an A-rank wasn't A-rank for nothing. Kim Yeonha's wind barrier wasn't something even Elizabeth could pierce easily. If it were just Elizabeth, that is.
-Slash!!
"What?!"
Kim Yeonha's eyes went wide. The light in Elizabeth's sword had ultimately dispersed the winds.
"Hah!!"
Breaking through the barrier, Elizabeth closed in on Kim Yeonha, her sword flashing. Fast, sharp, precise strikes. Caught off guard, Kim Yeonha backpedaled or conjured mana shields to block. A ranged wind specialist like her couldn't easily evade close-quarters pressure. But A-rank was still A-rank. She barely escaped Elizabeth's onslaught and retreated.
I grinned. Cooldown over!
"Eh?!"
Satsuki's expression changed, naginata in hand. She'd felt the Blessing and Diamond Protection kick in. Perfect.
"You're stronger too! Charge!!"
"Huh? Got it!"
Maybe because we'd discussed it earlier? Even flustered, Satsuki dashed out. With positions shifted from Elizabeth's attack, Kim Yeonha—now closer to us—ground her teeth.
"Hah!!"
She stomped hard, wind launching her airborne. Dodging Satsuki's strike with the leap, she fired a powerful wind shockwave from midair.
"Hmph!"
"Heh!!"
-Twaang!!
"What?!"
The green shockwave hit Elizabeth and Satsuki but fizzled. Diamond Protection had boosted their defense. It couldn't nullify pain entirely, but my current level handled damage reduction and pain relief just fine.
As expected, Elizabeth and Satsuki tanked the shockwave and pursued the descending Kim Yeonha.
"You're tougher now! Charge!!"
"U-Uh-Yeah!"
Colombo, startled by their valor, rushed in too. As he blocked or body-checked Kim Yeonha's attacks with his shield, gasps rose from the onlookers. I nocked an arrow and aimed at her.
"Shot!!"
"What?!"
The arrow flew toward her... and plopped harmlessly to the ground. Well, yeah. I'd never shot a bow before. But it drew aggro, mission accomplished.
"Got you."
Elizabeth was suddenly at Kim Yeonha's flank. Cooldown refreshed, so buff to Elizabeth. Satsuki's strike had thrown off her guard, and the gleaming sword dove like a hawk on a chick.
"Eek...!!"
-Boom!!
No blocking it. Fresh off defending against Satsuki and Colombo. This would land a solid hit! But massive winds exploded around her. Too strong for just Diamond Protection or Blessing—the three tumbled across the ground. Kim Yeonha gave a wry smile and looked at me.
What. Why. What.
"...Ha. Ridiculous rookies. Fine. An A-rank hero going all-out against fresh cadets is defeat enough..."
She shrugged, stared at me calmly, and declared,
"Pass."
Whoa! Pass! Whoa! Juicy rewards!