Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Amazing First Test
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"You all are precious national resources. Each and every one of you possesses truly immense power. Unfortunately, there are always a few students who try to misuse that strength. But protecting you from those types is one of my duties as well, so please don't worry and focus on your studies..."
The instructor's words carried a proud smile, accompanied by a faint whisper drifting through the air.
'Instructor... that viper...'
A bright and cheerful female instructor.
She wasn't a major character in [Awakening to SSS Hunter Academy].
And for good reason—she lacked any talent, any skills, suited for fighting monsters.
But...
Someone interrupted her mid-sentence.
"Can you really do that, Instructor?"
The question dripped with mockery.
It came from a male student with an arrogant attitude.
"What kind of talk is that?"
"I mean, you're saying you'll protect us."
A few students around him snickered softly.
Of course, those who had heard the rumors about Lee Dok-sa looked horrified.
National Seoul Hunter Academy.
Even in the A-Class, this elite course, the guy seemed drunk on his own status.
'Even an A-Class kid has a mindset this pathetic...'
It had been ridiculous even reading about it in [Awakening to SSS Hunter Academy], but seeing it in person was downright dizzying.
A skillbook represented the limit of one's power.
Instructors were usually low-rank hunters whose pages had reached their cap.
But that was just a limit on power.
It was hardly natural for a first-year academy cadet to act this cocky.
Besides, being the instructor for the A-Class meant...
'Looks like he's in for a proper schooling soon.'
The instructor fixed the male student with a gaze as the atmosphere shifted in an instant.
Killing intent radiated palpably from her.
The student swallowed hard, visibly tense.
"You seem to know me well."
Her tone had changed completely, and the student stammered.
"Uh... n-no, that's not..."
"As you said, I have zero talent for hunting monsters."
She approached him slowly as she continued.
"But my skill is quite useful against people..."
In that moment, Lee Dok-sa's eyes gradually shifted to a vivid green.
"Ah... ugh..."
The male student stood frozen, mouth agape, emitting only a guttural groan.
The rest of us students were the same.
'[Serpent's Gaze], huh.'
One of Instructor Lee Dok-sa's skills.
A-Rank unique skill: [Serpent's Gaze].
It paralyzed targets with a mere glance.
Though its unique mechanism meant the paralysis's intensity varied based on the skill gap with the opponent.
"That's how I've kept this job all these years."
As the green faded from her eyes, the stiffness lifted from our bodies.
"Haa... haa..."
The atmosphere had turned oppressively heavy in an instant, thanks to one oblivious student's dumb question.
'Seeing it live makes it even more brutal...'
Lee Dok-sa. I had business with her.
In [Awakening to SSS Hunter Academy], there were two professors' classes you had to attend no matter what.
One was Professor Sin So-ah's lectures.
To encounter a C-Rank boss the fastest, you needed her class.
'She's probably itching for me anyway.'
The other was Professor Kang Geom-seon.
He was practically unrivaled in physical combat skills, especially swordsmanship.
Even if my plan worked perfectly—encountering a C-Rank boss monster and acquiring a skill from it...
It wouldn't be a magic-type skill suited for someone like Lee Seong-hyeon.
No point in picking one like that anyway; it'd just draw unwanted attention right now.
'I'll be wielding a sword for the foreseeable future.'
No matter how obsessively I'd devoured [Awakening to SSS Hunter Academy], I was a total novice with blades.
Fundamentally, I needed a master to refine my combat sense and physique.
'Swinging solo would build some training...'
But with a top-notch mentor by my side, I'd pick up the knack much faster.
The mentor I'd chosen? Professor Kang Geom-seon.
The issue: He rarely took disciples.
Classes outside core curriculum were at the professors' discretion.
Most didn't mind audit students, but...
'Professor Kang Geom-seon is different.'
He only selected students with swordsmanship skillbooks who caught his eye.
Naturally, he'd ignore me.
Of course, there was a way.
'Gotta convince Lee Dok-sa.'
She was Professor Kang Geom-seon's prized disciple.
If she vouched for me, he'd listen.
'That's why I need to ace this first test.'
It would give me leverage to ask for a recommendation letter.
Plus, with Baek A-rin in the mix, I had even more reason.
At that moment, Instructor Lee Dok-sa returned to the front, flashing a smile.
"Alright! Enough chit-chat. Let's learn about our first class together!"
"The place we're heading to now is the academy's premier training facility."
Even as we followed the instructor down the hallway, my name bounced around in hushed conversations.
"So you're saying Kwak Du-pal let it slide?"
"Come on, you think he'd be scared of an E-Rank? The guy's from a hunter specialized school..."
"Fair point."
They were gossiping about the earlier incident.
'Doesn't matter what they think.'
Evidently, they'd concluded it was 'magnanimous Kwak Du-pal sparing him.'
People tend to fill gaps in unbelievable stories with plausible filler.
And that was the most believable version.
Made sense, even to me.
'Wonder what Baek A-rin thinks.'
I glanced her way.
'Sticking with Kang Hwa-yeon, as expected. They seem to be talking, but I can't hear from here.'
Baek A-rin must have sensed my gaze; she turned and smiled at me.
Voices drifted from behind.
"You really think so? It felt off to me."
"Right? Kwak Du-pal scared of an E3 bottom-ranker? No way."
"Not saying that, but..."
'Some sharp ones aren't buying it.'
Instructor Lee Dok-sa came to a stop.
She turned to the following group and called out.
"Alright, everyone—this is it!"
She stood before a massive door labeled [Special Training Room].
Clearing her throat, she announced,
"It's a real stroke of luck that you've made it here!"
Her beaming smile brimmed with pride.
'Someone who was that terrifying moments ago smiling like that is even scarier.'
She rolled up her sleeve to press her watch against the door.
'Smart watch, huh.'
Standard issue for all Seoul Hunter Academy staff and students.
Basic functions like calls, texts, internet—plus authority levels tailored to the user.
'Though its real purpose is surveillance.'
*Ding.*
The thick door slid open moments after the watch touched it, revealing the interior.
'Whoa... so this is it.'
A vast, empty space around 2,000 square feet.
One side held an array of training weapons.
"Impressive, right? Nice and spacious—perfect for training."
"Sure, it's big, but..."
"It's just... empty?"
The students looked disappointed, naturally.
"This counts as a top-tier training room. Don't you think?"
Kang Hwa-yeon tried to lighten the mood with a smile.
"Yeah, I guess."
"Pretty spacious and nice."
Was it because they'd seen her speech? Her top-student status? Or knowing she was Inferno Clan Leader Kang Young-ho's only daughter?
Either way, they all nodded along to her absurd claim.
'How does that even make sense?'
Then Lee Dok-sa spoke up.
"No need to worry—today's class will be led by an excellent professor."
"A professor? Not you, Instructor Lee Dok-sa?"
"Yes, most classes—including core ones—are handled by other professors. I'll lead some too, of course."
The students began murmuring.
"Another professor for the first class, huh."
"Wonder who."
"Training room, so probably swordsmanship or combat prof."
It was natural they didn't know.
Hunter academies—especially Seoul's—kept info tightly sealed.
'Curriculum changes yearly anyway; no way to know.'
Lee Dok-sa continued with a knowing smile.
"No one in the country can match this person when it comes to teaching."
I couldn't help but chuckle.
'Not just the best in the country—peerless.'
"Who is it? Professor Kang Geom-seon?"
"You know Professor Kang Geom-seon too?!"
"Who doesn't? Swordsmanship legend... Attending his class is a dream."
"Or maybe Professor Emma..."
Names of professors from [Awakening to SSS Hunter Academy] flew around.
I got the excitement—finally seeing icons they'd only watched on TV.
But this teacher was far superior.
'Better step back a bit.'
I moved six steps behind the group.
'This should be fine.'
Instructor Lee Dok-sa met my eyes briefly as I shifted.
Then, as if it were nothing, she smiled at the students.
"I'll go fetch the professor, then. Wait here."
She left, and the door sealed shut.
Soon, a faint vibration hummed from the wall.
"Wait... what's that?"
One student who noticed approached the wall.
"Hey! Get away fr—"
*Rumble—BOOM!*
The roar drowned out Kang Hwa-yeon's shout before it landed.
Chunks of wall rubble scattered, mingled with blood-soaked corpse fragments.
"Kyaaah!!"
"What the hell?!"
"Everyone, calm down!"
Kang Hwa-yeon steadied the group.
As the dust from the debris cleared, silence fell—even without her urging—as mouths hung open.
"How is this here..."
Kang Hwa-yeon herself stood frozen, speechless.
And why not?
Scales like marble armor encasing its body.
A bulky, massive frame.
A protruding underbelly.
B-Rank monster: Stone Dragon Panpagia.
I swallowed, smiling.
'Here he comes! My professor!'
Alright! Time to take it down.