Chapter 16
Translator - Zofu
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The morning of the third day since regression was quite chaotic. Si-woo was no exception.
Though tired from staying up late, he needed to wake up early to prepare since their departure for the Hero Training Academy was scheduled for an early hour. Thanks to that, he received bathing assistance from the maids for the first time, but it wasn't as uncomfortable as he'd thought.
'Must be because my mindset changed.'
After finishing breakfast amid that busy schedule, it was finally time to leave for the academy.
"Then, Queen Sharperia, I shall take my leave."
"Yes, Candidate Si-woo. Please return safely."
Neither Si-woo nor Sharperia bothered to hide their honey-dripping gazes.
As if the two had anticipated this, Guk-seo didn't show up, citing poor health. Of course, Si-woo only realized his absence just before stepping onto the Warp Gate.
Geum Tae-yang, another hero candidate, glared at Si-woo with an unpleasant expression, but took no action. He too had been promiscuous during his stay at the royal palace, having relations with several maids and one handmaiden.
Since the queen couldn't openly show favoritism toward Si-woo, he was biding his time. Of course, whether that would come to pass was anyone's guess.
"Activating Warp Gate."
With the court mage's words, mana began concentrating on the surface of the gate, which looked like a large mirror.
Even Geum Tae-yang, who hadn't awakened his mana, had his eyes go wide. But he was the only one surprised. The others weren't familiar with the gate activation scene but weren't shocked either, and Si-woo had seen it often in his first life.
"Everyone else, please step back."
Light began to leak out with the mage's warning.
"Transfer will occur in approximately 10 seconds. 10... 9... 8...."
'The Hero Training Academy, huh.'
Si-woo gazed at the mana-concentrating Warp Gate and recalled his first-life days.
Heroes were summoned every six months—100 of them. 100 from 17 nations. But that was the maximum. Issues could arise preventing some heroes from reaching the academy. Like the all-white who'd been dragged away on the first day.
'Now that I think about it, what happened to him? Well, no need to worry about a guy. Surely he wouldn't have suffered anything weird.'
I don't know how many such cases there were, but it definitely wouldn't be 100. In Si-woo's first life, his batch had been 96. Other batches had roughly that many due to candidates causing major accidents while drunk on the title of "hero candidate," or denying reality and making a fuss.
'And even fewer pass and graduate within six months. I graduated with the batch two after mine. I think there were about 30 then. I wonder how many it'll be this time.'
He had many reasons to look forward to it.
This twisted world where much had been reversed. What changes and events would occur at the academy? And how would the people he knew have changed?
"2... 1... Transferring!"
"Ugh...."
A brilliant flash of light blinded his eyes.
A sensation as if his entire body was being stretched overwhelmed his mind, making his stomach churn. If he hadn't awakened his mana, it would have been much worse. Soon, with the feeling of returning to normal, the light blocking his vision disappeared.
"Transfer complete. Welcome to the Hero Training Academy."
A different mage's voice from before.
Having secured his vision, Si-woo gazed at the massive academy building before him and marveled.
Beside him, Geum Tae-yang was vomiting, probably feeling like his body was disintegrating, but Si-woo didn't hear it in his heightened excitement.
"You must be very excited, Si-woo."
"Of course I am. The Hero Training Academy."
After walking a few more steps, a commotion erupted ahead and a middle-aged woman appeared.
"You must be the hero candidates and companions from the Palania Kingdom. Welcome. I am Pricella Elverton, director of the Hero Training Academy."
Pricella extended her hand politely with a smiling face, offering a handshake.
"Pleasure to meet you, Pricella. I am Han Si-woo."
"So you're Candidate Han Si-woo."
The blonde middle-aged woman's eyes lit up with interest.
It wasn't particularly significant, but this was a kind of test. To filter out the occasional trash with poor character. Not many got caught, but on average, there were always about 4-5 per batch.
Those who'd act rudely just because they were hero candidates, thinking the other person's position or status seemed low. Unaware of the reality that while 200 hero candidates appear each year, half of them either fail to become heroes or remain at E-rank.
Of course, Pricella's reaction wasn't because he passed the test.
'So this is the person....'
Countess Pricella Elverton.
She was a countess of the Glayzer Empire and the director of the Hero Training Academy. Therefore, she could quickly obtain information about heroes, and naturally, she had gotten her hands on information about Si-woo.
'They say he's an incredible talent. I'm curious.'
Having been the academy's director for quite a long time, Pricella had seen many hero candidates.
Though heroes were deployed to end the war, even with many heroes born, the war was still ongoing. The front lines had even become somewhat stagnant.
She believed what was needed now wasn't many heroes, but the best hero who could lead the war. That's why she was curious about the much-talked-about Si-woo. Just how accurate the rumors were.
"Then, please head inside. Academy staff will guide you."
Si-woo moved first with half of his companions, about ten people including Hildear. They would eventually leave after enrollment, but he had to keep them with him until then.
'Though I'd like to send them back, I need to show that I still have affection for the Palania Kingdom.'
He had no intention of leaving Palania anyway, but this would make other countries offer better conditions. And it would allow him to secure clear benefits when making conditional contracts.
Unless he became an overwhelming dominant party, he had to act according to various political logics for now.
"Please stay here until enrollment."
"Thank you."
"Yes, then have a pleasant day."
After the staff disappeared, Si-woo surveyed the room.
"Nice room."
"It's a VIP room. This building used to be a hotel. Around graduation time, it's where Palania Kingdom's royalty or nobility stay."
"Ah, so that's how it works."
This was new information to him. Though he'd been at the academy for a long time, he'd mostly focused on training and had no reason to come to this room again. He nodded at Hildear's explanation but wasn't particularly interested.
But her next words were quite intriguing.
"Though it's currently empire-owned, I hear the previous owner promised to transfer the entire academy, including the hotel and its grounds, to the hero who saves the continent and the Goddess. Though no one knows when that will be."
"Hmm, the entire academy...."
It might be possible, but it was interesting. After all, his goal was to lead the war to victory and prevent destruction, which meant ending the war.
The academy alone had dozens of buildings, and with the land added, the price would be quite substantial. It wouldn't be a bad thing to remain affiliated with the Palania Kingdom. Though it was still just kimchi soup at this point.
"How would you like to rest here? Or perhaps...."
"Hilde."
"Yes, Si-woo."
"You should unpack too."
Si-woo spoke as if it were obvious, unpacking the luggage the maids had brought.
"...Yes?"
Hildear felt sweat running down her back.
"What. You're my exclusive handmaiden. You should at least do that."
"Ah, no, that's...."
"Anyway, once we officially enroll, we'll be separated, so it's fine until then. Right?"
"Uhh, yes, yes...."
She nodded awkwardly.
For some reason, it felt less like a reward and more like punishment. Punishment for his promise to take her virginity after six months. He'd explained women's sexual desire multiple times, but sharing a room with a man was no different from punishment.
"Stay and unpack."
"Yes... Huh? Where are you going?"
"For a short walk."
"Wait, Si-woo! Let me come with...!"
"No need. I'm fine alone. Unpack my luggage too."
Leaving the flustered Hildear behind, Si-woo quickly slipped out of the room.
The academy he hadn't returned to after graduation even in his first life. Since it had been almost ten years, he wanted to savor the sentiments alone. There would probably be differences, but that would be part of the fun.
"Shall I guide you around?"
"No, I'm fine."
"Understood. Please let us know if you need anything."
Having refused even the staff's help, he leisurely left the hotel and strolled through the academy.
Given Hildear's personality of obeying when ordered despite arguing, she wouldn't defy him and follow. Besides, inside the academy, the only ones who'd dare touch an unfamiliar man would be fellow hero candidates.
After walking alone for almost 30 minutes, Si-woo muttered with slight disappointment.
"Nothing's different."
Though he hadn't seen everything due to the academy's size, surprisingly, he couldn't spot any differences.
For Si-woo, who'd hoped to enjoy a different flavor if he couldn't utilize his first-life knowledge, it was disappointing.
"You there, sir. Please stop for a moment."
"Yes?"
Turning his head at the voice from beside him, he saw a red-haired knight standing there.
"Are you speaking to me?"
"Yes, that's right. Excuse me, but what batch are you from?"
"My batch? Um, well...."
The batch he remembered in his head was the 98th. He clearly remembered it because the batch he graduated with was the 100th, which was exactly three digits. But at this point, it was knowledge he couldn't possibly know, so he couldn't speak rashly.
"You don't know?"
"I'm sorry. I haven't heard yet...."
"No, Hero Candidate, I was the one who was rude. You must be from the current batch. A candidate from the previous batch who hasn't graduated escaped during disciplinary action. I wondered if you might be in disguise, so I asked to confirm."
Answering that he didn't know his batch seemed to be the correct answer.
"But disguise? If they haven't graduated, they wouldn't have awakened their mana, right?"
"Well... I'm sorry, but I can't share the details."
"No problem."
"Then, excuse me. If you see any suspicious individuals, please inform the staff. Farewell."
The female knight turned and left with a polite greeting.
At the mention of a hero candidate capable of disguise, a figure came to Si-woo's mind.
"Was that bastard my upperclassman?"
If the person he was thinking of was correct, he was quite famous. One of the few hero candidates who'd escaped the academy and joined the demon side.
"The possibility is high... but who knows what'll happen this time."
The man's role itself had changed—would he run away because he didn't want to fight? Si-woo was doubtful. Of course, if other reasons arose, that'd be different, but he questioned why anyone would kick away such a sweet role to join the other side.
'I'll just keep an eye out for now.'
If he escapes from here too, then he's someone to be wary of, but if not, he wasn't worth paying attention to.
Generally, the number of male and female hero candidates per batch is similar. It was just unusual that three men were summoned to the Palania Kingdom—normally it's about half and half. Unless this world remained the same but only the hero candidates were transmigrated, it would likely be the same this time.
'Actually, comrades are more important than the hero.'
Si-woo turned his head and looked up at the building across from him.
It was the dormitory where those who enrolled to become hero party members would stay for six months.
In his first life, he'd been separated from them for three months without even seeing their faces. But this time would be different. Since the connection between the male hero and female members had become important, spending half the training time apart would be inefficient.
'There are a few people I've got my eye on... but we'll see.'
The many faces he'd soon see. His heart swelled with anticipation.
'I really want to take that damn girl's virginity.'
Though that anticipation wasn't entirely positive.
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