Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Entrance Ceremony (3)
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Special stats are exactly what they sound like—special. They don't just exist; they synergize with the power you've cultivated, producing tremendous, explosive efficiency when properly combined.
These powers operate on a fundamentally different level from the norm.
Spirit power, Crimson Lotus, primal force, starlight... even as a veteran player, the sheer variety was so vast that I didn't know every single manifestation.
Early in the morning, while the rest of the world was still waking up.
I stepped outside into the quiet dawn to briefly train and refine my Nian.
I found a decently open clearing, shielded by a few trees.
I settled my mind there, focusing the full weight of my Nian on a nearby twig resting in the grass.
Whoosh!
The twig shot up into the air with startling speed. It danced up, down, left, and right, tracing complex patterns at my silent command before suddenly embedding itself deep into the middle of a thick tree trunk with a sharp crack.
‘Not bad at all.’
It’s no exaggeration to say it packed far more punch than I’d originally expected.
Well, even if Nian boasted high efficiency, that was essentially par for the course with this kind of rare energy.
It multiplies results exponentially when fused with mana, hidden abilities, or other special energies, but when used alone? Its raw power was usually considered laughably weak by the veterans.
Even so, this demonstration was impressive enough to justify its status as a special stat.
Humming a quiet tune to myself, I began walking back toward the main campus.
It was almost time for the big moment—I had to give the top student's speech on behalf of the entire freshmen class.
The Korea Hero Academy's entrance ceremony in the grand auditorium was packed to the absolute brim. Thanks to the sheer number of VIPs, it felt like there wasn't even standing room left, with the massive crowds only exaggerating the frantic chaos of the day.
Any industry watcher or guild scout would recognize almost every student's face in the room. And the parents sitting behind them? Even casual observers knew their names from constant media coverage and news reports.
It was a grand spectacle unique to the Korea Hero Academy.
“Look at that guy. The top student. Wow... just walking by, it's like charisma is literally radiating off him in waves.”
“I heard he cleared the entire entrance exam in under a minute? Rumors are saying he awakened some kind of Absolute Dominion talent.”
Excited whispers rippled through the audience as I passed.
The more they talked and speculated, the harder I tried to maintain my composure and play it cool.
‘Charisma? Absolute Dominion? What the hell are they even on about.’
I knew exactly what Absolute Dominion was.
It was a terrifying type of word-command talent infused with massive amounts of mana. You say "Split in half and die," and your target quite literally splits in half and dies on the spot.
As if I'd ever have something that overpowered at this stage.
I let out a quiet, inward chuckle at the sheer absurdity of the rumors.
I headed straight to the very front of the auditorium.
The Korea Hero Academy seated everyone strictly by their rank for formal ceremonies, so the top spot—the seat of honor—was mine alone.
“That's Lee Seo-ha.”
“It's strange... I can't sense a single thing from him. No mana leakage, no presence... nothing.”
“That's exactly what makes him so terrifying. It means his power's already reached a state of perfect maturity. Every student here will be living in his shadow from now on.”
As I moved forward, several familiar faces from the game came into view.
The protagonist-type, Kim Seo-hyun, was there. And Hong Yu-hwa sat nearby, staring at me with her blazing red eyes as if trying to melt my skin off.
I gave a casual, neutral nod to those who met my eyes and took my seat, scanning the immediate surroundings.
Everyone seated nearby was a known quantity with a formidable reputation.
There was the heir to Korea's top conglomerate, dubbed the "extraordinary" for his eccentric habit of splashing cash on things like an exact replica of Lu Bu's legendary spear.
And sitting nearby was the dual-wielding maniac who famously went berserk at the mere sight of demons and preferred ripping their arms off before finishing them—the noble lady of the eternal snow.
“Now, we shall have the freshman representative pledge. Freshman rep, please come forward.”
I stood up and ascended the stage, the eyes of thousands following my every move.
From up there, I saw a sea of different emotions: aggressive, challenging glares, eyes that averted the moment our gazes met, and several literal monsters in human skin sizing me up from the back rows.
Reporters snapped hundreds of photos in a frantic burst of flashes. One tiny slip-up, one stutter, and I'd be making the front page of every newspaper tomorrow morning.
“Pledge.”
Grateful that I'd mentally prepared myself for this, I began the speech as calmly and steadily as possible.
*
“That concludes the official student pledge.”
Hoo.
It felt like every ounce of my mental energy had been drained in those few minutes. I sighed deeply inwardly and stepped down from the podium with slow, composed steps.
You have successfully drawn everyone's attention with your performance as the top freshman representative during the entrance ceremony.
Reward: 1,000P has been awarded.
...The system gives points for this too?
I allowed myself a small stretch as I descended. Usually, normal schools hustle kids out as fast as possible after ceremonies, but not here.
Suddenly, instructors burst from the side doors and lined up in a disciplined row before us.
“All first-year students of Class A, assemble!”
A booming, commanding male voice cut through the auditorium.
That was my class, where all the leads were placed. I turned toward the sound: a massive, brown-skinned muscle mountain of a man stood there.
I took my place up front, with the other 99 students gathering behind me. Each class at the Korea Hero Academy held exactly 100 students.
...I knew for a fact that at least half of them wouldn't make it to the end of the year.
“Pleased to meet you. I am Instructor Seo Woo-ju, and I will be your homeroom teacher for the upcoming year.”
Loud cheers erupted from the students at his introduction.
“Whoa, Seo Woo-ju? As in... the Iron Lion?!”
“No way, the actual Iron Lion is going to be our instructor?”
Iron Lion Seo Woo-ju.
He was one of the mid-tier heroes currently on the very cusp of entering the high-tier ranks. He was a superstar that anyone with even a passing interest in the industry knew by heart.
“Man, high-caliber students really do mean high-caliber instructors this year.”
“Duh. The entrance bar skyrocketed. I was ranked in the mid-upper tier in my old school, and now I'm near the bottom here.”
“...My condolences.”
He clearly had a lot of fans among the freshmen. But I couldn't bring myself to join the hype.
I knew this instructor worshipped physical training above all else.
Translation: I was about to be rolling in the dirt. Hard.
“You all know what the Korea Hero Academy represents. Do not think for a second that you've 'arrived'—this is merely the starting line.”
Some of the more arrogant students began to sulk at his blunt words.
“Today's schedule is packed. There will be no slacking off just because it's the first day. We judge everything here by grades and merit. Fall behind, and you will be weeded out. Now, follow me.”
He turned sharply on his heel.
“First up on the agenda: weapon selection.”
Weapon selection at the Korea Hero Academy was a massive, life-altering deal.
Was it just about picking a tool for combat? Hardly. It was something far more special—you were effectively looking for a lifelong partner.
Fifty years ago, the Great War plunged the entire world into a state of absolute panic. The hero who finally ended the war built this school with his allies. To select true heroes, he declared that they needed special arms—and he filled the school's armory with them.
The collection ranged from legendary top S-grades down to the D-grade minimums.
But don't sleep on those D-grades. Every single one was magic-engineered to such a degree that even an ordinary person could cleave through solid rock with them.
The catch? You couldn't just pick whatever looked coolest. In this armory, the weapons chose their own owners.
“The weapon selection process starts now.”
Shockingly, if a weapon chose you, it was yours to keep for free.
“And as you well know, expulsion means you must return the weapon immediately. Even if you flunk out just a day short of graduation, the academy takes its property back.”
Instructor Seo Woo-ju had said the word "weapons," but it wasn't just swords and spears kept here.
‘I've got my eyes on something else entirely.’
A high-tier weapon would be nice, but I was fundamentally weak right now regardless of what I held. And with my Reverse Heaven Body? There was a slim to zero chance any of the standard magic weapons would pick me.
Better to secure a stepping stone for my long-term growth.
The school provided custom D-grade weapons for those rejected by the armory anyway.
My true target was: Argos's Alchemy Kit.
It was a unique item—one that chose its owner based on affinity rather than martial prowess. It was incredibly rare because it ignored raw combat talent in its selection process.
I planned to use it to brew undisclosed, artificial elixirs. I’d consume them to boost my stats, sell the rest for a fortune, and thrive in the shadows.
The armory was a sight to behold: legendary weapons stabbed into the ground, others leaning against the walls, and some even floating lazily in mid-air.
‘This is wild.’
Seeing game items manifested in real life was a surreal experience.
“I'll be the one to claim the giant sword of Beowulf!”
“So this is where the Dream Tome and the Crimson Flame Grimoire were kept? The mana quality in this room is on an entirely different level.”
“Hah, keep dreaming. I heard most of the seniors got rejected by those specific items for a reason.”
Students buzzed with excitement, rummaging through the racks and pedestals.
“Kim Seo-hyun, aren't you going to pick?”
“I'm heading there now. I think I'll just grab something basic. Overly powerful weapons are nice, but relying on them too much stalls your personal growth.”
Kim Seo-hyun's voice carried across the room. I knew it didn't matter what he said—he was destined to get his signature set piece anyway.
The Rage Blade Gram.
I remember liking its worn, rustic look in the game, only to rage later when I learned it was actually one of the few true S-grades hidden in this room.
I glanced around. Aside from Kim Seo-hyun and a few others, most students would have to settle for middling A-grades at best.
The S-grade items were notoriously picky. Historically, only one student per enrollment class ever managed to claim one.
Well, until this year. Kim Seo-hyun would get his; Erhil Merhen, the phantom girl, would claim her Tome; and the shut-in girl would find the source of her power.
‘Maybe there's one more.’
Hong Yu-hwa's talent rivaled theirs, but she was still oblivious to its true limits. For now, claiming an S-grade was a pipe dream for her.
“Holy crap! The Giant's Sword actually chose an owner? And it's not me... it's that nerdy girl over there?!”
“Who cares if she looks like a nerd? Weapons sense talent and potential, right...?”
“Talent and development. She’s definitely one to watch out for.”
“Wait—is that the Dream Tome? The one that belonged to the legendary phantom owner?”
“...It was actually here this whole time?!”
Screams of shock erupted everywhere. Erhil had claimed the Tome, and the quiet girl had claimed the sword. Just as I expected.
“Oh, I think I've found mine.”
Kim Seo-hyun was watching a battered, seemingly broken blade float slowly toward him, his eyes sparkling with interest.
The Rage Blade Gram had made its choice.
“Kim Seo-hyun is picking that junk sword? Heh, I'll be surpassing him in no time.”
“A legendary S-grade wielder being beaten by a guy with a piece of junk? It might actually happen.”
“What?!”
One by one, the elite students found their destined partners. It would be my turn soon.
Vwooooooom!
A fierce, heavy ripple of energy suddenly hit the room. I turned my head—and saw a pitch-black sword causing a unique wave of pressure as it flew directly into my open hand.
“...Huh?”
A dumbfounded noise escaped my throat before I could stop it.
Had I been chosen already? But... I haven't even looked at it yet.
I was genuinely sorry, but I really needed that Argos kit for my elixirs and my future wealth. But... skipping an appraisal on a weapon that literally delivered itself to me? That was impossible.
Appraisal.
【Black Heaven Demon Sword (S)】
The divine sword once wielded by the legendary Heavenly Demon.
Forged from mysterious black iron and ancient millennium stone. It boasts supreme strength and unmatched hardness.
Ancient legends say that a sentient soul dwells deep within the blade.
: Embedded Skill 「Sword Spirit」
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...It was simply too high-grade to refuse.