Chapter 23

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 23

Chapter Title: How to Screw Over Erina Esnatia

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"Hello, everyone!"

Lee Dok-sa made her entrance, waving both hands.

The first day's class had been the utterly absurd practical training of subjugating Panpagia.

Thanks to that, I'd honed my real combat instincts and scored some nice rewards.

'But they never bothered with a proper orientation.'

Which was why today's second class—effectively our first real one—would double as an intro to the curriculum.

"I figure you've all heard the bare-bones rundown already, and checked the announcements on SAC. Everyone applied properly, right?"

Lee Dok-sa said it with a bright, sunny smile.

'It just doesn't suit her at all anymore.'

Not after I'd seen her true viper nature up close. No way to unsee it now.

'More importantly, SAC.'

S.A.C.

Looks like some grand acronym, but nah.

Just S for Seoul, A for Academy, C for Community.

Put simply...

'Your standard college forum.'

Free boards, anonymous sections.

Academic chatter, free-for-all gossip.

Hardly any moderation, so conversations stay pretty open.

There'd even been a few posts about me.

On the anonymous board, naturally.

...Stuff like that.

In a world like Awakening to SSS Hunter Academy, where skillbook elitism runs deep, this was actually pretty tame backlash.

SAC doubles as the everyday hangout spot for academy students.

The unique part? It's the official academy community.

Beyond just forums, it handles most admin stuff too.

Which is why access is limited to the smartwatches issued by the academy.

'Kim Si-woo's phone was ancient.'

Truth be told, I'd been looking forward to sampling the high-tech goodies of this world.

But ending up with a bargain-bin smartphone straight out of my old life? Lame.

This hologram smartwatch was finally delivering on that hype.

"As announced beforehand, any students who didn't get accepted into their elective classes~ I'll be teaching those subjects myself!"

Lee Dok-sa chirped it sweetly at the class.

The students' response? Total indifference.

'Be grateful, damn it.'

Electives.

Besides the mandatory core classes, students pick these.

Ones like Professor Kang Geom-seon's or Professor Sin So-ah's that I'd been eyeing? Electives.

Applying doesn't guarantee a spot, though.

Profs lay out exactly the kind of students they want upfront.

'Compete to get in, then compete again for class registration. This is K-Academy fire!'

Most A-rankers were safe, but rejects were inevitable.

'Only Lee Dok-sa would personally step up to teach them.'

She really was a proper teacher.

Me? I'd already locked in my applications through SAC.

Professors: Kang Geom-seon and Sin So-ah, naturally.

"Registration caps at four, so I trust you all put some real thought into it."

Results go straight to class instructors.

Should be out any minute.

Meaning even Lee Dok-sa was in the dark for now.

Why bother with the drama?

'Obvious. To hype up the protagonist, Lee Seong-hyeon.'

Top rankers get privileges like cross-year class applications.

Prof approval still required, sure.

But who'd turn down him?

The author of Awakening to SSS Hunter Academy.

Setting aside the weak plot, they nailed the protagonist glow-up scenes.

Damn bastard.

That's why I'm busting my ass here.

"Oh, results are in. Get excited, everyone."

Lee Dok-sa tapped her tablet and announced it.

A bit tense.

Or rather,

my palms were straight-up sweating.

Professor Sin So-ah.

Just attending her class clears the tutorial of facing a C-rank boss monster.

Plus, it's where you meet Erina Esnatia—the key to actually taking down that C-rank boss.

What a goldmine.

That's why I'd been building up to snag her class all this time.

'Professor Sin So-ah, you're taking me, right?'

I was confident she'd accept since she needed research subjects.

Still, couldn't shake the nerves.

Lee Dok-sa's eyes narrowed briefly before she nodded.

"First up, Kwak Du-pal. You applied for Professor Kang Geom-seon's class? He's notoriously picky, but you got in. Congrats! With your dual-wield swords as your main weapon, you've got tons to learn."

Kwak Du-pal clenched his fist at her words.

...How the hell?

His skills were top-notch, sure, but that abrasive personality? I figured Professor Kang Geom-seon would reject him flat-out.

Did subjugating Panpagia butterfly the timeline away from canon?

'Not that I care what Du-pal pulls off.'

Just keep being my loyal sidekick, Du-pal.

He seemed to sense my smile and shuddered a little.

"Baek A-rin, you're accepted into your application too. Professor Emma, right? Pioneer of ice-affinity skills. Congrats."

Baek A-rin sticking to canon, huh.

"Next, Kang Hwa-yeon... Oh my, two second-year classes? As expected of the top student. Both approved. Congrats."

"Thank you, Instructor."

Kang Hwa-yeon replied with a smile.

She'd claimed the top spot unlike in canon.

Yet still gunning for two second-year electives, just like original.

Her thirst for knowledge was off the charts, so yeah.

No major changes for Hwa-yeon either, then.

"Oh? Hwa-yeon, you applied for Professor Kang Geom-seon's class? And got accepted..."

?

Hwa-yeon applied for Kang Geom-seon?

No way.

Why would she?

Even Baek A-rin shot her a surprised look.

"Yes, my skillbook isn't sword genre, but I'm confident in my skills."

Of course she is.

Hunter specialized school grad, and academy top ranker—even if partly my fault.

Strip away skills, her pure swordsmanship probably matched Kwak Du-pal's.

She must've pitched her rank and sword prowess.

'Plus, she's family.'

Professor Kang Geom-seon.

Of the Inferno Clan Kang family.

Never inherited the clan skill, and the family's only sword-genre skillbook holder, so he dove headfirst into blades.

'But family love overflows.'

Fuck,

I busted my ass for a recommendation letter from Lee Dok-sa.

This corruption?

This allowed?

Totally unfair, Hwa-yeon!

'Sigh...'

Nowhere to vent this rage.

But the real question: why'd Hwa-yeon go for Kang Geom-seon?

No clue.

'Just a whim?'

As if.

She's obsessed with first place thanks to her dad, Kang Young-ho.

No pointless detours for her.

'To mess with me?'

I was probably on her nerves right now.

If more than she'd admit,

she might've predicted my own application for Kang Geom-seon.

Drop-outs allowed within two weeks anyway.

'That's a stretch, honestly.'

But nothing else fit.

I'd planned a slow, spaced approach with her, but now things were messy.

'Best to steer clear for now.'

Lee Dok-sa tapped her tablet again, flashing a beaming smile unlike before.

"Ah, our Si-woo!"

Our?

A ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠few students perked up at her words.

"Did the instructor just say 'our'?"

"Poor kid. Special treatment."

Why put a spotlight on me?

Baek A-rin and especially Hwa-yeon's suspicious stares were the worst.

"Our Si-woo applied for Professor Kang Geom-seon's class! Good job! Impressive!"

...She's totally mocking me.

"Professor Kang Geom-seon? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠He's nuts."

"Give it a rest, what do you know."

"No, but our viper instructor's tone only softens for that guy..."

The snickers reached my ears.

Fine.

This was the expected reaction.

No, what was that last one? Viper fanboy?

Ignoring the jeers, Lee Dok-sa said brightly,

"Congrats! He accepted you. Professor Kang Geom-seon."

The room went dead silent at her words.

"Accepted...? That Professor Kang Geom-seon?"

"Must be a glitch."

Don't you dare glitch on me.

Shocked faces everywhere.

Baek A-rin smiled, like she'd half-expected it.

'Baek A-rin probably saw it coming. Sharp mind, sharper instincts.'

Hwa-yeon...

She looked surprised too.

But off somehow.

The shock felt... different.

Like confirming something she'd desperately hoped wasn't true.

'Gotta be my imagination.'

Lee Dok-sa blinked in genuine surprise.

"Huh? Kim Si-woo. You also applied for Professor Sin So-ah's class? But that's not a first-year course, so..."