Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Practical Training
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After-school class was practical training.
The other cadets seemed excited, probably because the boring morning theory session had finally ended.
"Finally, our first practical training."
"Sitting all morning made my body stiff. I couldn't take it anymore."
The massive training ground was split in half—one side for close-combat troops, the other for ranged shooters.
In this training, mages were included among the shooters.
"Close-combat troops to my left. Shooters to my right. Mages among the shooters, come behind me."
Our homeroom instructor, Kim Jin-hyuk, appeared and divided the students by specialty.
Since I was a mage, I naturally headed behind Kim Jin-hyuk.
But on the way, someone grabbed the back of my neck.
"The close-combat group will be subdivided by weapon later, so wait a bit... Hmm, Cadet Lee Ho-yeon? Looks like you weren't listening. Only mages among the ranged shooters come behind me. You need to go to the left."
"Pardon? I'm a mage, though."
"What are you talking about? Your Victoria Academy application says swordsman. You even submitted records of consistently training with the sword before enrollment."
What the hell is this?
In the game, your specialty here determines your class.
But default is swordsman? No way. Then why give me the Mana Sensitivity perk as a bonus? It should've been something like Talent of the Sword Saint. Ridiculous.
No choice. I'd already decided not to fight villains up close, and I seemed to have talent in magic anyway. Time to switch now.
"After serious deliberation about my career path, I concluded that mage is right for me."
"Applications were due last month, and opening ceremony was the day before yesterday. What kind of deliberation?"
"..."
"Sigh. Fine. Talk to your department instructor properly. If they approve, I won't say a word."
"Yes, sir. Thank you."
I barely made it behind Kim Jin-hyuk and stood there.
"What's up with that guy? I thought he was smart, but is he crazy?"
"Who knows? Maybe he awakened in magic?"
"A freshman? Come on. Not even active hunters do that."
"I'd believe it if he said he was going to Professor Im Sol."
"What if that's his real goal? Heh."
Lots of muttering about me from behind.
For reference, awakening is a phenomenon experienced by pro hunters and top experts, where their honed abilities evolve to a higher level.
It usually comes from countless training sessions, real combat experience, or intense battles.
Rarely, pure talent alone triggers it.
Like Professor Im Sol, mentioned earlier. She awakened just from researching in her room, without proper training or combat.
And though not yet, Moon Soo-rin will soon awaken as an academy cadet, setting a new record.
Current freshmen will break that record later... but not important now.
Anyway, we split by job type and headed to our training areas.
"Finally, mage class. I've been waiting for this day."
"I really wanted to learn from Professor Im Sol. I'm so excited I'm going crazy."
Professor Im Sol, the mage instructor.
Dubbed a once-in-a-generation genius mage, she took the academy professor position because the dean offered unlimited research funding and materials.
Rumors say she eats up 30% of the academy's budget, but her value is worth more.
In the game, she was popular for her pretty face and charming personality. Sadly, not a heroine.
Once all cadets gathered, Professor Im Sol looked up from her book.
"Huh? Oh? What? When did everyone get here?"
Pat pat.
Im Sol stood from her chair, brushed off her butt, and approached us.
"One, two, three... Hmm, this doesn't match the headcount I was given. Why?"
"I was newly added today. Actually, after deep thought about my career path..."
"Yeah, welcome aboard."
I'd prepared a whole excuse, but she just let it slide. That's Im Sol for you.
She became a professor more for research access than educational passion. She doesn't slack on classes, but skips tedious formalities for minor issues.
"Alright, shall we start training?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The mage practical training ground resembled a shooting range. Straight lanes where you manifest and fire magic, while Im Sol walks around checking each one.
"Your mana flow is too slow. You're overfocusing on manifesting the spell. In real combat, you'd be dead three times over. Forget perfect shapes."
"Your accuracy sucks. Speed is good, but attacks have to hit to matter."
"Magic should suit you best, but your form is inefficient for offense. For combat, make it a plain arrow shape."
Being a professor isn't easy.
That was Im Sol's thought after reviewing over half the cadets.
Regrettable time sink, but better than wasting time hunting for research funds.
Teaching exposes you to many students. Some have great talent but fail to utilize it properly. Even so, proper use is part of their talent.
After pointless feedback, the last one remained.
He'd switched specialties from enrollment, but she didn't care.
Until she saw his magic manifestation.
Spherical fire magic.
Spheres are popular for easy imagery, but wasteful on mana. Compressing into a perfect sphere is tough, leaking mana throughout.
But this cadet's sphere was different.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ '...Is that even possible?' Unbelievable cohesion. Most mana gathered dead-center in the sphere.
A freshman handling mana like that? Unbelievable, yet happening right there.
Plus, something was off. With over five years as an active hunter—excluding teaching—she'd seen every mage type.
This mana control was new.
Most mages operate by their own standards, but this cadet felt standard-less...?
Bang! And he nailed the target's head. Perfect accuracy too.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 'If I had to nitpick, total mana amount and lack of proficiency.' His breathing quickened after that spell. Sign of insufficient total mana.
"You. What's your name?"
"Me?"
Side profile looked handsome enough, but this was excessively so.
"Yeah. Great control, stable output. Some flaws, but best here."
"Thank you. A-Class first-year Lee Ho-yeon."
Lee Ho-yeon. Better remember that name.
She marked a V next to Lee Ho-yeon's name in the roster.
Scribbled tiny note below: 'Face GOOD too.'
"Hmm, since it's class, let me point out flaws..."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Phew, classes done for today.
Morning theory wasn't bad, but afternoon practical was genuinely fun. Professor Im Sol guided properly, true to her reputation.
Left the first-year building toward dorms. Planned to hit the training center for meditation and theory study.
Nyaaong~
Meow from between buildings on the way to dorms.
Academy's so packed with structures, no clue which one.
Kept walking, but heard an awkward cry.
"Hey... nyaaong?"
Nyaaong~
"Yaa~ ong~?"
High-level convo happening in the alley.
Wonder what amazing student and cat are chatting like that.
Crept up silently on tiptoes, peeked around corner.
Nyaaong~
"Nyaaong~"
Nyaaooong~
"Nyaaooong~"
Oh, getting similar now?
Only saw back, but small-framed girl student. Who?
⭐ Heroine Status Window ⭐ 💖 [Lucy] 👫 Favorability: 2 💋 Lust: 20 🍴 Appetite: 30 😴 Fatigue: 70 "Huh?"
Lucy? Why's Lucy here?
Nyaaoong!
"Ack! Kitty! Where are you going!"
Oh no. Heroine status popped up, I yelped aloud. Cat heard and bolted.
"Damn it. Hey! Who are you scaring off my cat!"
Hasn't seen my face properly yet. Run now?
No. Man up and apologize. Might work better.
"Hey, answer me? Hey, you..."
"Um, hi. I'm Lee Ho-yeon from your class."
"The perv who slept through opening ceremony!"
"Not a perv."
"What do you mean not? Wanna see the police?"
"Sigh. Sorry. Really sorry. Opening ceremony, I was so excited I couldn't sleep, dozed off. Training center, stayed late conditioning, collapsed from exhaustion. My mistake."
Bowed nearly 90 degrees.
Social experience says sincere apology is most efficient here.
"Hmmm."
"Really sorry!"
Tense for no reason. Lucy isn't the type to reject apologies, but if it sours here, story progression gets tough.
"Eh, fine. Wasn't a big deal anyway. Emergency situation too."
"Thanks."
Phew. Sighed inwardly, straightened up, looked at Lucy.
"But I won't accept your apology."
"Huh?"
"Apologize again tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
"Yeah. I'll accept it then."
Lucy left those words and headed to girls' dorm.
What the heck.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Sent off weird-talking Lucy, headed to mana training hall.
Early semester, place buzzing. Gyms or libraries always half-empty after initial hype. How long will these last?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [First-year A-Class Lee Ho-yeon entry confirmed.] Found the meditation room today.
Nothing beats meditation for increasing mana capacity. Hate sweating, but "sweat today saves blood tomorrow." Gotta try.
Sat comfortably center of meditation room.
Felt dense mana pouring from ceiling mana stone.
Suuuup— Haaa—
Breathe in slow, out slow.
Focus: sense mana in the air. Pull as much as possible into body.
Grab mana trying to escape from stone, hold it inside. Game stressed how hard that is.
Can't break focus. Maximize concentration, clear stray thoughts...
✨ Mana Increased ✨ [Mana +1] Huh?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Meditated about an hour after, but no more mana gains.
Stats don't rise that easily, huh.
Still, expected faster growth than others. Normals need a month of steady meditation for effects; I got it day one.
Mana Sensitivity perk again?
Back at dorm, opened book.
[Humanity After the First Gate and Dungeon] Title screams boring. 1500-page tome.
More archive than book, detailing every tiny event.
Need strict grade management.
Trash eroge "Sex Academy" has a dropout ending. Despite max power and heroine progress, low grades get you expelled.
Fuck, dropout in an eroge?
Can't avoid? Enjoy it. Can't enjoy, but must study hard.
Memory Augmentation lets me memorize anything after one read.
Skipped summaries like papers/mags for this useful archive. Buy decent refs later.
[In 1xx years ago, the first gate appeared on a Philippine island...] Ugh, hate reading this.