Chapter 40
Translator - Zofu
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A month has passed since the 98th batch of hero candidates entered the training facility.
During that month, general common sense education and basic physical training were conducted.
Of course, it wasn't divided by gender. Thanks to that, those with good personalities didn't just stick to their own gender but became friends with the opposite sex as well, creating quite a harmonious atmosphere.
However, as the first month came to an end, many changes occurred for them and for the training facility.
They could now meet hero candidates from previous batches whom they hadn't met before, had opportunities to formally interact with potential party members, and the areas they could move around in within the facility had expanded. If we were to mention every little detail, we'd run out of fingers.
Also, men and women began training in earnest according to their respective roles.
Women learned more advanced combat techniques, while men learned various methods and auxiliary means to enhance their virility. But there were still things they learned together.
For example, leadership as a party leader, or methods for magical awakening.
"I have a question, Instructor."
A male hero candidate raised his hand sharply.
"Speak."
"If magical awakening is so important, shouldn't we have started it from the moment we enrolled? It's already been a month."
At first glance, it seemed like a sharp question.
The male candidate who asked it had a smug expression as he glanced around at the other candidates, but their expressions were only indifferent. Some even looked pathetic.
The reason was simple.
"There was definitely an explanation about that during theory class, wasn't there?"
"Ah... was there?"
The flustered man awkwardly scratched the back of his head, trying to brush it off, but the instructor's expression was cold.
"Were you dozing off during theory class?"
"Haha, I guess so..."
"You're bullshitting."
"..."
The candidate was dumbfounded by the unexpected profanity from the instructor, his mouth hanging open, speechless.
Her expression was so cold it seemed to show disgust.
The instructor looked over all the candidates, not just that one, before speaking again.
"Get serious. Yes, do you like being praised just for being hero candidates? Does it seem like free kindness? No. It's all given with the expectation that you'll become heroes and contribute to the continent."
"..."
"You must have heard it at the first lecture after the entrance ceremony, right? Did anyone ask if there was someone who didn't want to become a hero? If there was, they were told to speak up. If they were forcibly summoned to another world and didn't want this, they were told to say so. They couldn't be sent back, but they could at least live a comfortable life, of course..."
A sneer appeared on the instructor's face.
"...just not right now."
Of course, no one said they wanted to quit.
They had heard this many times before, and they had already grown accustomed to the treatment they received as heroes. While not to the point where they couldn't return to a life without such treatment, none of them were ready to just give up.
While some might have wanted to return to their homeland a little, there was no way back anyway. So it was much better to hope for a better future in this world.
All the hero candidates present thought this way.
Some were confident in combat, and some had dreamed of a world like this. Whether they would fight directly or not, they were captivated by the impressive title of "hero" and were certain they could become the protagonists of this world.
"Well, I don't know how many of this batch will actually graduate, though."
This time, the instructor's gaze shifted to the side of the 98th batch candidates.
"..."
There stood candidates from previous batches who had neither graduated nor given up.
Just as repeat students study differently from first-time test-takers, the lectures they heard were different from those of the 98th batch newcomers.
However, not all lectures were different—there were overlapping ones like this.
If you hadn't awakened your magic, there was virtually no difference between a complete beginner and someone who had been trying for months.
The difference between 0 and 1 in magic was overwhelming, but the difference between 0 and 0.99 was negligible.
The instructor turned back to the male candidate who had asked the question.
Her face was full of irritation, but she sighed as if she had no choice.
She was a new instructor this year. Her status was no different from theirs, but she had been instructed to be as kind as possible to them in her role as an instructor at the training facility.
"Sigh. Even if it's a hopelessly stupid question, I should at least answer it. *Tsk.* To think such people are my juniors."
She was a female hero from the 88th batch, summoned to this world five years ago. As she clicked her tongue, the man's face grew even redder.
But the instructor ignored him and looked around before calling on Si-woo.
"You."
"Yes, Instructor."
"Good. What's the reason?"
"It's because our bodies haven't yet adapted to this world. Even though our physical structure is the same, certain aptitudes and senses can differ depending on the dimension, so an adaptation period is necessary."
As Si-woo answered fluently without hesitation, a smile formed on the instructor's lips.
His polite and unarrogant demeanor, contrary to his grand reputation, was quite to her liking.
"Correct. There are cases like mine where we come from dimensions that have no magic or ki at all, right? Then our hearts can't perceive magic. But after spending about a month here, that changes. There are also things like women's hymens, or men's spermatogenesis cycles. Though compared to those born and raised in this world, those levels are weaker."
As she said this, her eyes were on Si-woo, not the questioner.
Si-woo, whose magical awakening had already been discovered during the physical examination.
Rumor had it that he had awakened his magic in less than three days—an unbelievable story.
The instructor, who had taken nine months to awaken her magic, wondered if such a thing was possible, but she couldn't deny it since the test results showed it.
'If I don't believe the results staring me in the face, I'd be an idiot.'
The physical examination at the hero training facility, which had been ongoing for nearly 50 years, was different from other places.
This hospital was the only place specialized in male physiology.
The medical staff was the same. Numerous elite mages and doctors were stationed there, and there was a wealth of diverse, high-quality data accumulated over a long time.
Therefore, when royalty or nobility had sexual issues, they often came here. And since the money they paid became valuable funds for operating the hero training facility, they never refused.
'*Sigh.* But what should I have him do?'
Normally, candidates who awakened their magic early were given free time, but she worried if it was okay to let him skip from day one. There was a curriculum built by senior instructors, but there was no case like this. Until now, the fastest had been three months.
'This is ambiguous...'
"Excuse me, Instructor!"
"Hm?"
The instructor turned her head at the voice calling her and found a training facility staff member entering the gym. They were gesturing urgently at her with an expression that suggested something serious had happened.
'What is it?'
"Everyone, take a short break."
The instructor and the staff member left the gym.
Just as the atmosphere among the 98th batch candidates, frozen stiff by the instructor's harsh attitude, was about to thaw, a candidate from a previous batch moved to where the instructor had been standing.
"...?"
A blond giant whose height seemed to exceed 2 meters.
He appeared to have worked hard on exercise, his well-trained physique revealing intimidating muscle lines even through his athletic wear. Combined with his fierce appearance, he seemed like someone who would intimidate ordinary people just by standing there.
He had the look of a senior trying to discipline the juniors.
"I was going to talk after the lecture ended, but since we have a moment..."
The giant scanned the 98th batch candidates with an arrogant and cranky expression, as if he were the instructor himself.
Most were tense at his appearance, but a few were not.
Most notably, the top-ranked male and female, Han Si-woo and Baek Hye-yeon.
'These disrespectful brats.'
As a 95th batch candidate summoned a year and a half ago, the giant knew well that rankings were useless until magic was awakened.
"We're not asking to be treated as seniors, but at least show basic respect. Got it? Then I won't bother you."
It was a completely random statement.
For mere candidates who weren't even heroes to be talking about senior treatment and respect was nonsensical and incoherent.
But the 98th batch candidates, whose spirits had been thoroughly crushed by the instructor's earlier words, remained silent. Some even loudly answered, "Yes!"
'What is he saying, idiot.'
Of course, Si-woo ignored him.
He was a man who had done the same thing in the first timeline. He didn't become a hero then either.
Si-woo had ignored his words then too, but nothing came of it. It was just empty threats.
But this time, the situation was very different.
"Especially you, the one being praised as having legendary talent or whatever."
"...?"
At the words that were clearly targeting him, Si-woo, who had been about to clean his ear with his pinky finger, flinched.
The other candidates also looked at Si-woo. Their eyes were filled with various kinds of anticipation—both positive and negative.
They too had heard about Si-woo from their respective countries and were curious about how he would act.
Si-woo stared at the giant, who was sneering.
"...You talking about me?"
"What? 'You talking about me?' You crazy bastard... I told you to show respect, didn't I?"
"Respect? Bullshit. What kind of nonsense is it to demand respect when you were kidnapped and summoned here?"
At Si-woo's words, which ended with "woof, woof," some people's laughter burst out.
The giant's face flushed red and purple.
"Th-this crazy bastard..."
"Bullshit. If you want to be treated as a senior, go awaken your magic and become a hero first, you dumbass."
"...Come here, you son of a bitch."
The giant's eyes flashed.
"If you want me to shove some manners deep into your thick skull."
"Idiot."
Si-woo snorted at the confident giant.
Whatever they were expecting, the other candidates moved aside to clear a path for him. Some had expressions of schadenfreude, others were full of interest. Some, like Ash, had faces full of worry.
'Cute kid.'
Si-woo walked forward without hesitation. Glancing at the gym door, he could see the instructor hiding.
'So they're curious too.'
"Heh, what, are you wondering if the instructor will come?"
"Yeah, I'm curious."
"If the instructor comes after the lecture ends..."
"If I accidentally kill you, that would be a problem, wouldn't it? We'll need someone to stop me. Is that okay? You won't resent me even if you die?"
"You fucking bastard...!"
The giant charged at Si-woo.
On the surface, he looked unable to contain his anger, but his true intention was different. He planned to pretend it was an accident and break one of Si-woo's limbs. The disciplinary action would be bothersome, but there were limits to the punishment given to candidates.
He could teach that disrespectful, annoying bastard a lesson with just a few months of solitary confinement—no matter how he looked at it, it was worth it.
And perhaps, by doing so, attention would be drawn back to himself.
'Magic awakening? Hmph. Don't talk nonsense. Someone who's been here less than a week awakening magic? Are those who haven't graduated idiots? Those weak, pathetic Level 3 types?'
He didn't care about the rumors.
He just thought the Palania Kingdom had pulled some trick. He believed they were using such ridiculous tactics to salvage their national pride because they were too weak.
As he was thinking about which part to break to make Si-woo suffer more, he finally saw it when he reached Si-woo.
"...?"
The blue aura enveloping Si-woo's hand.
"What...!!"
At that moment, the instructor who had been watching in hiding gasped at the shocking scene.
Bam—!
"...!! Gah, gah, gaaaah..."
A fist wrapped in mana struck the giant's abdomen. His insides were fine.
It was exquisite control that delivered the shock only to the outer skin.
"What, what, what is that..."
"A monster...?"
Candidates from previous batches who, like the giant, hadn't believed in magical awakening looked at Si-woo with faces full of shock.
As someone muttered, their eyes were like those seeing an unidentified monster for the first time.
Amused by their reactions, Si-woo turned his body and spoke.
"Ahh, this is what's called mana. It's fucking awesome."
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