Chapter 159
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: A Changed Me (2)
That meaningful address came to an end.
The students gathered in the grand hall began heading to their respective classes.
The Academy divided students into five classes—A through E—based on their grades from the entrance exam held before enrollment.
Class A housed the most outstanding talents.
And Class E gathered the students with the weakest skills.
Han Yujeong, naturally, had been assigned to Class A.
She followed the provided campus map toward the Class A classroom.
'I have no idea what the atmosphere is like in the other classes... but a quiet academic life might be out of the question.'
Han Yujeong found her seat and quietly sat down.
Her gaze slowly swept across the classroom.
Geum Taeyang and Kim Doyoon, who had caused a commotion at the entrance ceremony.
Both were in Class A—their names were listed on the roster posted by the classroom door.
But was that all?
'...The others are quite the characters too.'
The first to catch her eye was a female student sitting at the very back by the window.
Her jet-black long hair draped over her face like a curtain, making it impossible to read her expression.
She stared blankly into space without the slightest movement, like some kind of ghost, and her fingers peeking out from her long uniform sleeves were sickly pale and slender.
The second was a girl with the complete opposite vibe—a lively ponytail.
She had several daggers strapped to her back.
Every step she took made them clink against each other with a cheerful jingle.
Her skin was healthily tanned from the sun, her muscles toned and firm.
Just the confident smirk playing on her lips told you everything about her personality.
"Everyone, nice to meet you! I'm Kwon Jia! Let's all get along great from now on!"
The third was a male student whose massive frame made even passing through the classroom door look difficult.
He was clearly no ordinary human—a nonhuman hybrid.
His skin was a rough gray like weathered rock, and two small horns protruded from his forehead.
But his personality seemed mild; anxious about bumping into other students with his huge body, he fidgeted nervously and settled quietly in a corner of the room.
And there were plenty of other students with their own unique quirks.
'With classmates like these, it wouldn't be strange if something happened every single day.'
Han Yujeong still kept her eyes narrowed in a faint smile.
One thing she couldn't quite understand, though—even compared to the second-years she'd seen earlier, this year's freshmen seemed to have an unusually high concentration of standout personalities.
'What a curious thing.'
Soon, the classroom door opened, and the homeroom teacher entered.
He was a skinny middle-aged man wearing glasses.
"Alright, everyone quiet down. Congratulations on being assigned to Class A. I'll be your first-year homeroom teacher this year. I hope you all work hard and make it to the special class."
He glanced over the attendance sheet and clicked his tongue.
"Let's see... Everyone's here except three? Well, no need to say who they are—you've all seen them anyway."
A few students giggled at his words.
Geum Taeyang, Kim Doyoon, and Yun Harin, who had helped carry him to the infirmary—three in total. He was clearly referring to them.
"Ahem. Settle down. Getting to the point: starting this year, we've added a new rule to our class."
[Clone Doll Use Prohibited]
"As you can see, starting this year, clone dolls are completely banned in our class. I'm talking about those dolls from Probe Industries that have been making headlines lately. They're an excellent invention made by one of your seniors, but relying on them won't help your growth at all."
"Hold on, sir. Seniors? One of our seniors made those dolls?"
Kwon Jia raised her hand excitedly, eyes sparkling.
The teacher looked bored, like he'd hooked the wrong fish, but opened his mouth anyway.
"You raise your hand to ask a question—not the other way around... Anyway, to answer: yes. Made by a second-year from our Academy's Class A, just like you all."
He spoke with an admiring expression, reminiscing about a few months back.
"That skill alone propelled him from a failing student straight up to Class A in one semester. A terrifying guy. Probably one of the top three most unprecedented cases in the Academy's fifty-year history."
The classroom buzzed at his words.
From Class E to Class A.
In just one semester? That was damn near impossible.
Kwon Jia looked even more intrigued and pressed for more about this senior.
"Is that really possible?"
"You saw it yourself, didn't you? He can create dolls that perfectly mimic the target. Appearance, and even skills."
"But he was in Class E before, right?"
"Acquired awakening. Not everyone gets their main skill right at awakening like you. Some flowers bloom only after grueling effort."
"Heeey..."
"Anyway, don't go bothering that kid. He's an Academy student like you, but in three months, he's already on a whole different level. Contributing to human society for real."
The teacher cut off further questions by tapping the blackboard.
"You didn't think no class on the first day, did you?"
"Kyaa!"
And so, the dull lecture on school rules and the first classes dragged on for hours.
Han Yujeong spent the day gracefully and peacefully, showing no interest in that 'amazing senior' as the teacher had advised.
She ate her pre-packed sandwich.
Sipped her coffee.
Enjoyed a leisurely school life until Swordsmanship Sect activities after classes.
"What a peaceful day..."
Slurp.
Then, midway through.
"Nngh...!"
Kwon Jia—the one who'd raised her hand with questions earlier—burst into the classroom, ponytail swinging, carrying a mountain of magazines and newspapers from who-knows-where.
"Whoa!"
Overloaded, she stumbled and dropped a few on the floor.
Han Yujeong bent down to pick them up.
'These are...'
Probe Industries CEO Kang Ihyeon: How Did He Become One of Tartaros's Top Prospects in Just 3 Months?
The Success Story of New Company Probe Industries
Controversy Over Pioneer Team Insider Deals? Exclusive Interview with N, Who Retired a Lightning-Rich Tycoon!
All articles about that amazing senior.
Han Yujeong handed them back with a faint smile.
"Um... didn't the teacher say not to bother the senior?"
"Ahaha... whatever! I was just curious! And why the formal speech between classmates?"
"Hmm..."
At Han Yujeong's soft smile, Kwon Jia flustered, waving her hands as if guilty of something.
"N-no! Don't misunderstand! I'm really not interested! I heard Probe or whatever is all hype—no substance. They only sell to a few other companies, labs, and rich families. No mass production yet. It's all media exaggeration!"
Han Yujeong, still smiling, replied.
"I see. You've looked into it quite thoroughly in such a short time."
"I said no! And the formal talk... sigh... fine, truth is, if it's really as advertised—copying skills and all—I just wanted to check the price. Aren't you curious too?!"
Kwon Jia plopped down in the seat next to Han Yujeong and unfolded a newspaper for her.
"Look at this. Probe Industries doll performance test results. Combat power at 30% of the original, but intelligence and judgment nearly human-level. Imagine if these dolls could attend classes for us—what do you think?"
For the first time, Han Yujeong showed real interest.
Her narrow eyes widened slightly.
"Attend classes for us?"
"Yeah! Think about it—we could train or study something else during that time. Nearly double our daily hours! Amazing, right?"
At Kwon Jia's words, a new possibility sparked in Han Yujeong's mind.
Delegate her tasks to a doll.
And devote the freed-up time solely to sword training.
She could grow much faster than now...
'A tempting proposal...'
A fierce smile crossed her face.
"So, my idea is: why don't we go find that senior? Ask directly if he'll sell dolls to students like us."
"But the teacher said..."
"Pfft, it'll be fine! We just go quietly, ask nicely—what's he gonna do?"
He'll have plenty to say...
But Kwon Jia's offer was undeniably appealing.
The temptation to buy time.
No swordsman could easily resist that.
'Not like we're buying one right now anyway.'
Reservations are probably booked solid—maybe just snag a number ticket?
With that thought, she nodded before she knew it.
"Sounds good. Let's go check it out."
The same time.
Academy, staff lounge.
I was dumbfounded.
After hearing what happened at today's entrance ceremony, I could only stare blankly into space for a moment.
'Why the hell did Kim Doyoon get beaten by Geum Taeyang...?'
The sudden news.
They fought, and Kim Doyoon got carted off to the infirmary.
Unbelievable.
In the original story, when Geum Taeyang picked a fight, Kim Doyoon would say, 'Trash like you isn't worth my time,' and obliterate him in one shot—a super satisfying moment.
Why had the story derailed like this?
Seraphina clicked her tongue at my muttering.
"Because of your dolls, dummy."
"...But there's no way I sold one to him. He'd remember."
"Then his family hooked him up. You're only taking orders from rich families now, right? The Geum family's big. Probably custom-made one for protecting their precious son."
"...Ah."
Only then did it all click.
The snowball rolled this far...
I was the one dumbfounded by the so-called protagonist now.
'Kim Doyoon, getting done in by a clone with less than 50% combat power—what the hell?'
My head throbbed.
Thanks to the pioneer team and doll company success, I'd climbed to Class A in the Academy.
I'd focused on the Academy more than any other status because this first-year class had the highest concentration of talented characters.
In the game story, in the gacha structure.
To wield influence over those 5-star characters and build good relations.
I'd climbed to Class A solely for that—and if they started off like this, my plans would go awry!
"Guess I need to go down to the first-year classes myself."
The moment I resolved that, Seraphina, sitting beside me, snarked.
"Hmph. Listen, master. You still don't get that your status has completely changed from before?"
"What?"
"You're not that failing student Kang Ihyeon anymore. Probe Industries CEO. Maker Sect prospect. Why bother going to first-years yourself? And I already chewed out that Geum Taeyang kid."
"...You don't get it. I have my own plans."
"Hmph, whatever plans, nothing changes. To protect your brand value, don't go to them—make them come to you."
Brand value, my ass.
I didn't think my status had changed that much from before, like Seraphina said.
Sure, when the company first gained fame, people came flocking.
But rumors spread: reservation-only for clans, no dolls for outsiders. Lots turned away disappointed.
Naturally, I figured the first-years wouldn't care much about me either.
But then.
Knock knock—
Someone timidly knocked on the lounge door.
"...Is Instructor Seraphina here? I'm Yun Harin, first-year."
Yun Harin.
Kim Doyoon's childhood friend and main heroine candidate.
And the girl I'd had that steamy encounter with in the rift a few months ago.
"Then, I'll come in."