Chapter 62
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Academy (13)
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The old professor glanced at the rowdy atmosphere and tilted his head.
"Hmm... Everyone, please quiet down and take your seats."
He distributed the materials he had brought to the cadets and opened his mouth.
"That concludes the theory portion. No matter what hypotheses we have about rifts, the most important thing is actually resolving them. Rift Studies is a class for that purpose."
"Everyone's schedule is clear next week, right?"
It was exactly as he said. There were no classes next week at all—not even the required ones.
"That's when we'll do the rift practical."
Fear appeared on the faces of some cadets. They had known they might end up in a rift someday, but they hadn't expected it to come so suddenly.
"Hahaha. Don't worry too much. Your skills... frankly speaking, most of you are hopeless. If you went into a real rift with that level of ability, half of you would die."
Profanity poured from the mouth of the dignified-looking professor.
"We can't just let you all die like that, so we're going into an artificial rift."
The professor displayed a photo.
At first glance, it looked like an ordinary city, but it was a rift—one of those urban-type rifts that popped up frequently.
A ruined village had formed around a clock tower rising in the center.
"It might look like a normal ruin at first glance... but it's a place where dimensional erosion has already occurred, and an artificial rift has been created there. We'll do the rift practical here next week."
The faces of the cadets who lacked confidence in their skills turned pale.
"Don't worry too much. You won't die. Haha... Now, everyone, form your groups. The requirement is teams of three."
"Ah..."
The cadets panicked at the sudden group activity.
"Should I assign the groups for you?"
"Yes!"
It was the reflexive shout of the man who had been dumped by a female cadet when looking for a partner last time.
"Hahaha! Out of the question. The most essential skill after graduating from the academy is finding trustworthy party members. You going to beg someone then too? For comrades you can entrust your life to?"
"I'll give you 30 minutes. If you can't form a group... unfortunately, you'll get penalty points."
The moment the professor finished speaking, Kang Su-ho shot to his feet. Ignoring Anne who tried to follow, he dashed straight toward Amelia.
"Amelia! Amelia! Team up with me!"
Amelia hesitated upon seeing him. As she looked around like she was searching for someone, Si-woo approached her leisurely.
"Amelia, let's team up."
Amelia's face brightened as Si-woo held out his palm, and she nodded without hesitation. There was no reason to refuse—he had that unique constitution immune to nightmare influences.
"What...!"
Kang Su-ho's mind went hazy with surging jealousy. He barely snapped out of it from the pain of biting his lip. He shouted desperately.
"I, I want to be in your group too."
"What? No."
Si-woo refused naturally, and Amelia hesitated as well.
"Shouldn't... you team up with Anne?"
At Amelia's innocent question, Kang Su-ho's face crumpled like shattered glass. Just then, Anne came running roughly and threw herself into Su-ho's arms.
"Su-ho! What about me!? You're not trying to ditch me now, are you? After touching me like that!"
"What?! What are you talking about? Don't say things people might misunderstand!"
"Kang Su-ho. What exactly are you trying to do?"
Anne suddenly hardened her expression and spoke in a cold tone, as if she were his superior. Hearing that, Kang Su-ho's face stiffened rigidly.
He had realized his position.
While Kang Su-ho flapped his mouth without speaking, Helena approached.
"Can I join your group too?"
Si-woo immediately nodded and looked at Amelia. As long as she agreed, it was fine.
Amelia pouted her lower lip as if something bothered her. Then, as if struck by a thought, she nodded.
"Mm... sure."
*
Si-woo ignored Kang Su-ho and turned his gaze to Helena and Amelia, who were now in his group.
"First... shall we pick a group leader?"
Amelia wasn't talkative to begin with, and Helena was just staring intently at Si-woo.
"...Should I do it?"
"I'd be happy with Si-woo."
"Yeah."
"Then I'll be the group leader."
He spread out the materials the professor had distributed. They were full of explanations about the artificial rift they would enter this time.
"The monsters that appear are chimeras? They look kind of like zombies."
"Yeah. Monsters between 1-star and 2-star."
As it was an artificially created rift, artificial lifeforms made with magic served as substitute monsters.
'Roughly... an E-rank rift, I guess.'
"Shall we decide positions first? What's everyone's combat style? Mine's mainly close combat."
Helena looked at Amelia and gave a faint smile.
"You're a wind mage, right, Amelia?"
"Yes."
"Then you can stay in the rear, Amelia. I'm confident in both close and ranged combat. I'll take the mid position closer to the front."
"..."
Amelia furrowed her brow and chewed her lip. She felt irritated for some reason but didn't know why. She hadn't really talked to others like this much before.
Si-woo nodded. It seemed right to him too.
"Sounds good?"
"Yes. That should work best, right?"
Amelia looked at Helena with a sullen expression before speaking up.
"Helena. W-would you like to shake hands?"
"Pardon?"
Helena was taken aback by the sudden remark, and Amelia started flustering too.
"N-not much, just a l-little... Ha! No, sorry. I'm sorry."
Amelia's face turned beet red as she bowed her head sharply. Steam practically rose from her head.
The day of the artificial rift practical.
Si-woo eyed the two pretty girls.
Amelia was a busty beauty with captivating purple eyes, while Helena looked like a high noble lady straight out of a movie.
Every movement exuded grace and elegance, and her intense stares at Si-woo were almost burdensome—she was that stunning.
'That's... G-cup? Maybe H?'
Helena's tightly fitted dress revealed the imposing presence of her chest. Compressed so snugly, it was hard to gauge just how big they were.
Perhaps they were similar in size to Amelia's, which she used as pillows.
As he looked at them, he heard the old professor's final reminder.
"Everyone. Even though it's an artificial rift, approach it seriously."
"Yeees~"
Some cadets laughed and joked around, acting like they were on a field trip.
The old professor shook his head at their lighthearted attitudes. They wouldn't change until they experienced it themselves.
But he couldn't put them in real danger either. Not when so many were children of important figures.
He let out a sigh and shouted once more.
"Group leaders, come get the barrier devices."
Belt-type defensive magic artifacts.
They absorbed impacts to the body and, in emergencies, teleported the wearer to a safe location.
'Handing these out to everyone, huh.'
It was an enviable artifact. If his modern clanmates had these, they'd be much safer.
'I should try to get some if possible.'
He intended to look into it, even if he wasn't sure.
The artificial rift.
It was Si-woo's group's turn to enter. They stepped into the magic circle that transported them to random positions at 5-minute intervals.
"It's a teleport magic circle. Relax and stand still."
In Si-woo's world, teleportation magic circles were still under research. But here, they were already in practical use.
'Definitely... their magical level is higher here.'
With mana overflowing, magic studies had advanced further. It contrasted with their lower close-combat standards.
Si-woo glanced at his group members. Looking at Helena, she seemed deep in thought. Then she nodded.
"Shall we go in?"
The group moved to the teleport magic circle.
Flash.
The scenery before them changed in the blink of an eye, as if entering another reincarnation. The surroundings filled with dilapidated ruins.
One structure stood out prominently: a clock tower piercing toward the sky.
Si-woo suddenly recalled what Helena had said.
'I asked her if she knew what happened at the clock tower.'
He glanced at Helena. She was busily scanning the surroundings, grasping their position.
'Hmm...'
After pondering, Si-woo surveyed the area. Since it was still a rift, assessing the environment came first.
A chunk of flesh caught his eye particularly. As he crouched to inspect it, Helena approached with shining eyes.
"Wow... you found it already?"
"Oh, this?"
A piece of chimera flesh.
Flesh lumps were scattered at regular intervals, as if deliberately placed.
'Hints for the students, I suppose.'
It seemed programmed to mimic monster behavior.
For him, with skills to track real monster traces, following these was a breeze.
"This way. Let's move out in our assigned positions."
Helena watched his decisive attitude with expectant eyes. Such a seasoned demeanor unlike a cadet. He was definitely different.
She had grown even more certain while investigating Park Jin-gu's past. From some point, he acted like a completely different person. He had secrets.
'He's definitely not ordinary.'