Ability Verification Day
The mood wasn’t bad. Thursday had arrived.
I honestly couldn’t remember how the past few days had even passed. I’d just been drifting along in a constant state of absolute shit.
Of course, having a head full of complicated thoughts came with a few small perks. For one, I barely registered when people cursed at me. No matter what anyone said, I didn’t feel any emotional stir at all.
Well, I’d gained those tiny little advantages. Whether that was actually a good thing, I wasn’t sure.
And right now, it was lunchtime.
Even when lunch began, I never headed straight to the cafeteria. I’d quietly kill about twenty minutes somewhere no one else was around, or if that wasn’t possible, I’d hide out in the bathroom before going to eat.
The reason? Obviously to avoid getting tangled up with others as much as possible.
Anyway, today was the same. After spending time alone, I finally made my way to the cafeteria.
Today’s menu was cabbage doenjang soup, steamed chicken breast with vegetables, and seaweed salad.
‘Ugh. What a fucking garbage menu.’
The Hunter Academy was supposedly an institution that trained high-ranking hunters, and I knew the government poured a ton of money into it. Seeing the food still look like this, someone was clearly skimming off the top.
‘Well, not my problem.’
I received my tray and moved to my seat.
You already know where my spot is, right? Way in the back, the most isolated corner possible, as far from everyone else as I could get.
I sat down at my designated seat and started eating when I suddenly felt a presence in front of me.
‘Who is it…?’
I didn’t lift my head. I absolutely refused to check who it was.
First of all, the fact that someone had come to stand right in front of me while I was eating meant there was a 99% chance they were here to pull some shit on me.
They’d suddenly pick a fight and flip my tray. Or pretend to accidentally pour the milk from the lunch line over my head. There was even one bitch who beat the crap out of me for “eye-raping” her just because I looked in her direction.
So I kept my eyes glued to my tray and continued eating like I had no idea what was going on. Sometimes if I didn’t react, they’d get bored and just leave.
But in the world of gacha, that 1% chance was basically a god-tier reward.
“S-s-s-senior… H-hello…”
Ha, ha, ha. It was Ha-eun.
I felt the tension drain out of me in an instant. But I didn’t let my guard down. I absolutely did not look at her. My gaze stayed fixed on my tray the entire time.
“Yeah, hello.”
The moment I greeted her, Ha-eun pulled out the chair across from me and sat down. It didn’t seem like she was here to eat together. I hadn’t heard the sound of a tray being set down at all.
“Senior.”
“…Yes?”
The air suddenly grew cold. I couldn’t see her expression, but there was still a certain atmosphere I could feel. It was like I had made some huge mistake…
“Didn’t we agree last time that you would speak comfortably?”
“……”
What the…? She wasn’t stuttering? She could speak normally?
“I remember we made that promise. Why aren’t you keeping it?”
“Ah… S-sorry.”
“Senior……”
“Ah, no… I’m sorry… Yeah… I’ll do better from now on…”
I had no idea what I was supposed to do better, but it felt like I had to say that.
“Hehe, y-yeah…”
“……”
Did I get away with it? Ha-eun when she was dead serious was actually terrifying. To think I was the kind of guy who got this scared even by his junior.
Ah! Why am I even surprised! This was just an ordinary day in the life of Yoo Ji-min. Another day of stacking up loser points, complete!
“T-t-tomorrow… Friday… They say we’re doing the ability verification…”
“Ah…”
Now that she mentioned it, that time of the year had come around. The ability verification that happened before the Rank Battle started.
The name sounded grandiose, but it wasn’t anything special. You just had to show the professors what kind of abilities you possessed after awakening. Literally prove it.
However, the penalty for failing to prove anything was quite severe. Since I hadn’t awakened before, I couldn’t demonstrate any abilities and ended up classified as an academic risk.
After that, I naturally ended up with this shitty black nameplate after losing every single match in the Rank Battle.
But this time’s ability verification didn’t worry me much. If I used a bit of stamina to show Steel Body (Hardening) once, I figured I could pass easily. Sure, compared to the flashy abilities of the top-ranked students it was absolute dogshit, but I was confident I wouldn’t fall back into the lowest academic risk category like before.
“S-s-senior… D-do you… have anything prepared…?”
“Yeah… I mean… Yeah. I think I can somehow manage to pass.”
“Th-that’s a relief…”
Well, I wouldn’t go that far.
“I-I’m a little worried…”
“About what?”
“My mana capacity is way too low…”
Ah. Right. I had watched Park Ha-eun’s practicals from afar a few times back in E-Class. I remembered she was a magician with quite good imagery. There was just one problem.
A cadet with excellent imagery but an extremely low innate mana capacity.
That was the professors’ evaluation of Park Ha-eun.
For example, even if she imagined a massive flame, what actually came out was no better than a spark from a flint. Even if she tried to shoot out a fierce wave of water, only a few drops like a cat’s tears would appear. All because her mana capacity was too low.
Yeah, I knew. I knew it all too well. She was basically suffering from the same problem as me.
“Since I have even less mana than you, I don’t really have anything to say.”
“Ha-eun.”
“Huh…?”
“Call me Ha-eun. Not ‘you’.”
“Ah… Right…”
I really couldn’t say anything. Her serious mode was way too scary.
Wait, but you call me senior too, don’t you? Of course, I didn’t say that out loud. I still had some sense.
‘Still, I thought she’d rise quickly, but it looks like it’s not that easy…’
I knew Park Ha-eun did a lot of meditation through mana breathing techniques. But it didn’t seem to be producing much results.
“Well, you’ll still do well. You… I mean, Ha-eun is diligent.”
“Hehe… Thank you…”
Since she was one of the few people who treated me well, it wasn’t just lip service. In reality, Ha-eun was incredibly diligent. She actively participated in class and used every spare moment to meditate in an attempt to overcome her weakness.
Besides, even if her mana capacity was low, she still had more than me. Ha-eun was still a proper awakened individual. There was nothing I could do to help, and I had no right to offer advice. With my own nose already three feet long, who was I to worry about someone else?
Anyway, Ha-eun waited until I finished eating, and then we each returned to our respective classes.
Come to think of it, it had been an incredibly long time since I’d had a conversation with someone while eating.
Well. It wasn’t bad.
The next day.
I moved to attend the level-based class. The destination was, of course, my old hometown—E-Class.
‘They said we’re doing the ability verification today, right?’
I hoped it would start quickly. So I could finally get rid of this damn black nameplate.
As always, I sat as far away from the other cadets as possible, alone.
“Y-you came…?”
“Yeah. Hi, Ha-eun.”
Today as well, Ha-eun took the seat next to me.
“S-senior. Here…”
What she held out was a Joy chocolate bar. The kind with the little toy inside.
“Thanks. I’ll enjoy it.”
“D-did you eat the one I gave you last time too?”
“You mean the crunch chocolate? I ate it all. It was really good. Thanks.”
“Hehe… It’s nothing…”
Why did this girl keep showing me this kind of kindness every single time? I felt grateful, sorry, and worried all at once. It was a very complicated feeling.
Before long, three professors entered, and the ability verification began in earnest.
It was a simple test where E-Class cadets came forward one by one in front of the professors and demonstrated their abilities.
Since I was seventh in line, I waited quietly while watching the others. Some received a Pass right away.
“Hmm. You’re still quite immature. Try to put in a little more effort.”
Others received a Hold. It meant they were still lacking and would be observed further. Unless they achieved very good results in the Rank Battle, they’d be stuck in E-Class.
The tests for the earlier numbers passed by quickly, and finally it was my turn. I stood up and walked forward.
“S-senior. Good luck!”
“Yeah. I’ll be back.”
When was the last time someone had cheered me on? No, had anyone ever done so in my entire life? I wasn’t even sure anymore.
“Cadet Yoo Ji-min. You may begin.”
“Yes. Second-year Yoo Ji-min. I will now begin the ability verification.”
Without hesitation, I immediately activated hardening. Just like last time, I converted about 80% of my stamina.
Steel Body (Hardening)
Crack—
“Hmm… A physical transformation?”
“That’s actually quite decent.”
“Looks like significant growth in a short period.”
The result was, of course—
Pass.
“Cadet Yoo Ji-min.”
“Yes.”
“Wearing the black nameplate must have been quite the stimulus. You’ve awakened a useful ability.”
“……”
Stimulus my ass, you bastard. I just got bullied like crazy.
“As of today, the black nameplate will be removed.”
“Thank you.”
“However!”
The professor looked me in the eye as he spoke.
“Keep in mind that if your Rank Battle performance is as terrible as before, you may end up wearing the black nameplate again.”
“Yes, I will keep that in mind.”
Fucking bastards. But don’t worry. I’m not the same guy who used to take everyone’s shit like before.
“Good. You may return to your seat.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
I returned to my seat.
“S-senior! Congratulations!”
“Thanks.”
There were still about twenty cadets left. Some were happy about their Pass. Others looked disappointed with their Hold. A very small number received Fail and fell into despair after being placed in the academic risk category.
And the nineteenth cadet was Park Ha-eun.
“Ha-eun, don’t be too nervous. Do your best.”
“Y-yes! I-I’ll try my hardest!”
Ha-eun walked forward and began her ability verification.
She summoned flames. For a brief moment, the image of a massive blaze rising gave everyone hope, but that only lasted an instant. The output that actually manifested was even weaker than lighting a lighter.
“Hmm… Cadet Park Ha-eun received a Hold last time, and nothing has changed this time either.”
“I-I’m sorry…”
“It doesn’t seem like you’ve trained diligently. What a shame.”
And her result was Fail.
In total, including Park Ha-eun, three cadets had entered the academic risk category.
After she returned to her seat, Ha-eun’s friends approached her.
“Ha-eun, are you okay?”
“I-I’m fine. Hehe… It can’t be helped…”
“You’ll be able to rise up quickly! Keep your head up!”
“That’s right! I heard that as long as you don’t do too badly in the Rank Battle, you won’t get the black nameplate!”
As they said that, Ha-eun’s friends glanced subtly in my direction. Even without looking, I could feel their gazes pointed at me.
‘At least Ha-eun has friends who comfort her. That’s good.’
But I knew. I knew exactly how she must be feeling right now.
Still, I was nothing but trash that was ostracized here. I was the guy who had been wearing the black nameplate until just moments ago. There was no benefit to being close to someone like me.
In truth, I knew. I knew I should make eye contact right now and offer her comfort. I knew I could tell her the realistic truth—that just as I had escaped the academic risk category, she could do the same.
What kind of expression was she making right now? Was she sad? Or was she trying to stay calm?
But I couldn’t face her. Even though she was the only person who treated me well, I simply didn’t have the courage to look her in the eyes.
In the end, I couldn’t say a single word to her.