A "Light" Fitness Test
A light test. A light physical fitness test. That's what they called it, but why did it feel like this?
"Hngh."
I lay sprawled in the shade, gasping for breath. Hyperventilating hurt, and so did my chest.
Ughhh.
Just a few months ago, running had been fine. But in that time, my cup size had gone up another notch. Now, every step made my chest bounce, sending jolts of pain through me. At this rate, no matter how much my stamina improved, running was out of the question.
I clutched my chest, wheezing and wrestling with complicated feelings, when I spotted the kids still sprinting in the distance. Hwa Yeonhwa was the most enthusiastic of them all. As a natural-awakened A-rank hunter, she had the stamina for it, sure—but it felt like her sheer grit was pushing her even harder. Not quite on Chaerin's level, but with those long limbs and the slim figure showing under her gym clothes, she looked optimized for running.
Envy surged through me. Was I the only one who was small and waddling? For a hunter, this body was nothing to brag about. I resented it.
...It's fine. I'm a Puppet Sewing Master anyway.
As long as my puppets were strong, that was enough.
"Making us run in this blazing sun—how undignified."
I'd been slumped there, just watching the others run, when a voice came from beside me. There stood Seo Harin, who had done a single leisurely lap at the start and then given up. And she wasn't the only one. Someone else had declared defeat right from the get-go. Way over there, sprawled on a bench and dozing, was Namgung Yuon. True to form from the novel and in reality, he only cared about slacking off.
"You think so too, right?"
Her eyes met mine. M-me? I'd only quit midway because I physically couldn't keep going.
Locking eyes with Seo Harin made me notice anew just how incredibly pale she was. I had some white streaks in my hair, but hers was purely snow-white. And with those elbow-length white gloves? Her already fair skin looked even more ethereal. She was the epitome of an ice fairy.
"You're good at playing weak. In a test like this, using your ability would make it a breeze."
Ah. Right. Come to think of it, homeroom teacher Park Sungu hadn't said not to use our powers. This was Hunter Middle School, an academy for boosting hunter abilities—no one would complain about using them. If I'd deployed my puppets, I could've aced the fitness test no problem.
"...Have I ever told you my ability?"
"No. But when it's the same vein, you get a sense for it."
Seo Harin smiled with her eyes. At that moment, a chill brushed my side. Looking up, I saw a soldier in ice armor standing rigidly there, like a knight dutifully attending a lady.
"I saw it before the entrance ceremony. You're a summoner type too, right?"
The incident where my invisible puppets had surrounded Kang Yongchan. Looks like she'd witnessed it.
"And you're a Tower hunter like me?"
"Yeah."
Seo Harin was a Tower-awakened hunter too. Chosen as A-rank from the start, she'd climbed with overflowing talent. I didn't know how many floors, but since she eventually hit S-rank, it must've been a lot.
"I don't know your circumstances, but pretending to be E-rank? Don't think you can fool my eyes."
"I haven't fooled anyone."
"Wearing all that and claiming innocence?"
What was wrong with my kids? They were all good puppets.
But... do they really come off that strong even to an A-rank like her?
After the spider, I'd only made puppets from Tower monsters I'd hunted. All I'd done was sew them up. What looked off to her eyes?
"At least there are a few Tower-awakened hunters. What a relief."
Seo Harin eyed the running kids with distaste.
"All natural-awakened otherwise? Honestly, it was getting annoying."
The rift between Tower-awakened and natural-awakened hunters was infamous. Especially among kids—the younger, the rarer Tower awakenings. Since the Tower decided them, you never knew when it'd happen. Natural-awakened, though, sparked early if the talent was there.
That was why natural-awakened hunters treated Tower ones like talentless rejects chosen by the Tower out of pity.
And with more natural-awakened the younger you go...
Hunter Middle School naturally catered to them. In our class, only Seo Harin and I were Tower-awakened. Everyone else was natural.
"What meaning does a class like this hold for us? What can untowerclimbed teachers even teach?"
"There must be some Tower-awakened teachers."
"The Tower's all about the individual. Tower taught by someone ranked below me? Pointless."
So arrogant, Seo Harin.
"If you're going to teach me, at least be on the Transcendent's level."
Her eyes sharpened fiercely then. I'd never seen her usual arrogance twist like that, so I showed my confusion. Covering her mouth, she let out a deep, genuine laugh—the first real smile from her.
Transcendent? The narcissistic Seo Harin calling someone with respect? Who could it be?
"You know as a fellow Tower hunter, right? The Transcendent who's shattered every Tower record lately and even cleared the new Nightmare Difficulty."
Me?
"Truly amazing. Natural-awakened hunters are in an uproar! They were strutting around with their youngest S-rank, but now their noses are flat."
That was...
"Even I'd accept lessons from the Transcendent. Sigh, such a shame. I'm dying to know who it is."
...me.
Seo Harin sighed like a girl in love. She clearly idolized the Transcendent as a fellow Tower hunter.
Transcendent—what a grandiose title.
More than that, was I getting this much attention? I'd been too focused on climbing to notice. The internet was all Chaerin anyway. I hadn't realized Tower hunters were buzzing about me.
But even so.
I absolutely can't reveal it's me.
Look at those expectant eyes. Revealing myself would shatter her illusions.
"You? Don't insult me with lies."
Her imagined scoff echoed in my head.
...Better stay quiet.
I didn't want trouble from opening my mouth. As I kept silent, the fitness test finally wrapped up. Only Hwa Yeonhwa kept running till everyone else quit. She took first in stamina.
"Fitness test complete. Now, ability test."
Ranks were mana-based. Hunter Middle School needed detailed ability intel for education, so Park Sungu prepared tests. Two categories: firepower and application.
First up: firepower.
"Special targets with mana shields. Scores determine class formats—give it your all."
The kids' eyes lit up. Rank-defined levels could be upended by raw power.
"Gotta take first."
"Firepower's my thing!"
Rare fire in their eyes.
"Slackers first. Namgung Yuon."
Penalty for half-assing fitness? He shuffled up ages after being called. Yawned massively, then snapped his fingers.
KABOOM!
A blinding bolt of lightning crashed down. Kids gaped; Park Sungu checked casually.
"936 points."
Lightning sorcerer. Unrivaled firepower.
"Seo Harin."
She sauntered up, conjuring an ice baton. It danced—and ice soldiers materialized behind her. Chilling aura freezing the air. They chanted incomprehensibly; a massive glacier formed overhead.
CRASH!
It pulverized everything. Kids' jaws dropped again.
"938 points."
"Tch."
Not satisfied, apparently. But the gap to A-rank hit home—frozen faces all around.
"Next, Ha Yuna."
I'd tried in fitness too. Just my pathetic stamina and body held me back.
Shuffling out, kids watched with interest—not really for me, but my Chaerin connection. Her bestie role weighed heavy.
"Told you. Stay weak like that, they'll eat you alive. The weaker you act, the worse they get."
Hwa Yeonhwa's words resurfaced. Act weak, and they'd push harder.
Fine. Might as well go all out.
Teacher said give your best. I exhaled lightly, raised my hand.
Kids.
Click.
The Puppet Workshop Key's invisible lock engaged with a sound.
Creeeak.
A door invisible to others swung open.
Thud.
And something no one expected emerged from within.