Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Theory Class
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⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Initiating Phase 3 Test.] [Initiating Phase 4 Test.] [Initiating Phase 5 Test...] "Ugh, this is getting annoying. Seriously."
It took ten tests in total before it finally ended.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Test results.] A soft shimmer rippled through the air about two steps ahead of me, and a hologram materialized.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Cadet Lee Ho-yeon ⚡ Mana Purity: S 💨 Magic Intensity: C ✨ Casting Speed: A 💪 Spell Interval: S One-line evaluation: Your proficiency is abnormally skewed. We recommend honing your standout areas into specialties or filling in weaknesses for better balance. I couldn't help but be impressed.
A regular guy who had zero concept of mana or magic just a little while ago had pulled this off.
Two S-ranks meant I was on par with an S-class hunter in those fields.
Sure, it was thanks to my perks, but hey, perks are part of my strength too.
Goal achieved: gauging my current level.
Spec-wise, I'd far surpassed the average academy cadet. My proficiency was still lacking, so I couldn't fully utilize it yet, but that was fine. I'd get there with practice.
This wasn't weak by any stretch. I hadn't seen real combat yet, but following the classes would give me plenty of chances.
"Should I keep going a bit more...? Time's kinda iffy, though."
I didn't have every class schedule memorized, but I knew Victoria Academy's theory classes had lots of pop quizzes.
Textbooks, references, papers—once I read them, they stuck. Better to knock them out when I had time. But magic training was surprisingly fun, so I was torn.
That thrill I'd never felt in my old life. The sensation drifting between illusion and reality—I didn't want to let it go.
"Yeah. Magic training's important too. I'll just skim theory before bed."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In the end, I trained late into the night yesterday and crashed hard as soon as I got back to the dorm, too exhausted to fight it.
I'll study theory after today's classes since there's time.
Today was Wednesday.
First period: Dungeon Studies. It covered dungeon conquest elements, practical tactics in the field—the theory class with the most to memorize.
Of course, I didn't care. One read and it was all locked in.
Textbook and references? Already done once; no need to revisit.
[If external dungeon mana is 1500ppm and entrance mana is 473ppm or below, a boss room or equivalent named monster exists. If entrance mana is 2897 or higher, it's an open-type dungeon without a boss.] [However, mid-to-high-grade dungeons with 10000ppm+ mana follow different formulas...] So I was digging through related papers. Memorizing every dungeon thesis might not make me understand it all, but it'd handle most application problems.
"Um... excuse me..."
"Yeah? Oh? Lumi?"
"Good morning... Sorry I couldn't reply yesterday... I fell asleep..."
Lumi was talking right in front of me, but my eyes quickly scanned the classroom.
'Where's Lucy?'
I'd messed up big time with Lucy at the training hall the day before yesterday. With her obsessive little-sister love, no way she'd let me chat with Lumi unchecked.
Fortunately, Lucy was busy with her teammates. Lumi must've slipped over during the gap to say hi.
"No worries. I was tied up training too."
"Training from day one... That's impressive...! Um, if I get the chance, could we train together next time...?"
The door slid open.
"Nice to meet you all. I'm Professor Min Ji-hee, your Dungeon Studies instructor."
The professor walked in, cutting Lumi off.
The chattering students hurried to their seats, and Lumi whispered, "I-I gotta go...!" before vanishing.
Seeing her plop right next to Lucy up close, they really did look so alike it was hard to tell them apart.
"Some of you might find dungeon education unfamiliar, but the importance of dungeons can't be overstated..."
First-day difficulty was a breeze. The prof droned on about stuff I already knew, so I glanced around at the other cadets.
Lucy propped her chin on her left hand, spinning a pen with her right. Boredom etched on her face—guess the class was tough for her. Lumi squinted at the board beside her.
Nam Da-eun was face-down. No interest in notes; her situation meant acing practicals was enough for first place.
I doodled in the margin of my notebook too.
1. Heroine Conquest
Top priority, hands down. Honestly, no clue where to start. Hitting on six at once? Double-dipping's bad enough—six legs? Add two more and I'm an octopus.
Drug 'em and train 'em? Sigh, drugs? Nah...
Hold up.
"...Isn't that fine?"
In Sex Academy, there were training routes for multi-playthrough players. Save up cash over runs, hit the black market for those shady paths. All in my head, naturally.
'...Just keep it in mind for now.'
Somehow, doing that for real felt scary and off-putting, unlike the game.
Oh yeah, gotta apologize to Lucy too. Hoped she'd forget, but yesterday's reaction said she remembered clear as day.
Tried last night, but friendly Lucy grabbed her group and bailed for dinner before I could.
Make time today, no excuses.
2. Boost my capabilities
Realistically, numero uno. Gotta get strong first to do anything. Six-timing caught out? Dead meat without power to protect myself.
Plus, the game's dogshit events had heroines getting ambushed plenty—prime scoring ops.
Daily training ahead: research and practice magic.
'Or hit the gym? Unlike the game...'
In-game, pick a job and "training" only bumped specific stats.
Mage? Training raised magic power, not stamina or strength.
But this was reality. No rule saying mages couldn't work out.
"Cadet Lee Ho-yeon? Your pen's been still awhile. You know all this already?"
"Eh?"
Her sudden call startled me—I bit my tongue.
"Right. No way you'd zone out if you didn't. So explain the problem on screen. Attitude points depend on your answer quality."
[Maze-type dungeon, entrance mana: 500ppm. Standard party: 2 melee, 1 ranged, 1 support. Encounter boss-type Wormbat. Optimal response?] The hologram upfront looked familiar. Not this exact problem, but similar stuff from a paper popped up.
"No answer means minus one point. Don't know it?"
"No, one sec."
Why me? Kid spinning a fan, another snoring—professor?
Under stares, pressure, and frustration, it took a bit, but the answer clicked.
"Maze dungeons have uniform mana everywhere. So the boss Wormbat won't be in top shape."
"Hm?"
"At low 500ppm, its staple eucalyptus won't grow. If a boss still formed, it likely evolved from the last survivor of infighting."
"Oho, and next?"
"Three years ago, a paper studied growth via kin-slaying in Wormbats. Unlike defensive norms, it ramps up aggression, grows sharp fangs for meat, claws sharpen. Accordingly..."
Once I got rolling, words flowed. Basically reciting the paper verbatim—no sweat.
"...In summary, aggression spikes but patterns simplify, tough hide weakens, attention scatters. Ideal tactic: two warriors tank max time, ranged and support hit weak spot between eyes hard."
"..."
Dead silence. No surprise. Freshman dropping a three-year-old paper perfectly on prof's question?
Cadets tilted heads, unsure if right or wrong.
But the prof smiled, clapped, and spoke.
"Impressive. I read that paper too—inspired the question. Not luck on one read; impossible without personal research. Thorough prep only explanation. Plus one point."
"Thank you."
"But flaunting you know it all irks profs—even if true."
"Sorry. Won't happen again!"
Phew, dodged that. Sat with a sigh.
Class resumed. Next screen: my problem's solution. Prof continued off it. Burned last time, so I locked eyes forward. Whispers from behind.
"What? Didn't catch a word."
"Weird if you did. Prof said three-year paper. Newbie knowing? Unreal."
"Lucky hit then."
"But his answer detailed more than prof's prep?"
Hm, overdid it? Nah. Protagonist tops grade in original game anyway.
That sparks ties with top scribe Elise, practical ace Nam Da-eun.
"See you next class. Prep and review thoroughly—pop quizzes incoming."
Class ended; room buzzed. First-day awkwardness mostly gone. Except for me.
Packing quietly for next, voices behind.
"Three-year paper my ass. Lucky one, won't admit it."
"Yeah, she'd be scribe top if that smart."
Blatant shots. Turned: guy-girl group smirking at me.
"Ey, staring? Jealous? Step up?"
"Yo, quit. Already reeks of loser."
Kukuku.
Center: a guy.
Smirking dude... Do Jin-hyuk, yeah.
Game small-fry villain. Same here. Loyal punk.
Game had him feud with Lee Ho-yeon slower.
Caught eyes unwanted. What now?
Pondering response, hand shot up behind Do Jin-hyuk's shoulder.
"Do Jin-hyuk. Quit bullying, beat it?"
"...Hand off."
He gritted, swatted it, stormed off with crew. Villain extra classic.
"Hey."
The guy who'd tapped. Faint smile approaching... who?
Wait. That shimmering blond... right, blond delinquent.
Protagonist's ally, half-friend Kim Young-han.
Boyish short blond, tattoo peeking from sleeve—delinquent poster boy.
Not really, though.
"Hm? Oh... Kim Young-han, right?"
"Whoa, you know me? Might go places."
Game: saves Lee Ho-yeon from Do Jin-hyuk's hassle, buds up. Early, but whatever.
"No fun folks around. You look entertaining."
Straight-shooter, popular. Envy.
"Nice to meet ya. Lee Ho-yeon."
Here to leech off your spine.