Chapter 720
Chapter 720
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 720
Chapter Title: Savior of the Academy
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“Cheating will not be tolerated under any circumstances. The moment we detect it, you'll be disqualified on the spot. Use of mana is strictly prohibited. Even the slightest movement of mana will be considered cheating. No other means are allowed either. Just so you know, this room is protected by a barrier. The barrier reacts sensitively to any form of cheating. If you're confident you can cheat without getting caught, go right ahead.”
The male proctor for the written exam spoke with a stern face. There were over five proctors in the exam hall. With the barrier in place, summoning Moca or Makina to help with cheating was impossible.
“You may begin.”
I checked the exam paper.
Nodding at the black ink densely packed across the pages, I gripped my pen and started marking the OMR card.
I guessed on the first question right away.
'Practical and written ratio is 8:2. Even if I bomb the written, acing the practical should get me in.'
Glancing at the last page, I saw there were 40 questions total. Roughly 2.5 points each. Thirty were multiple choice. In the best case, I wouldn't score zero.
'Reading it again, I still have no clue.'
The monsters in this world were a bit different from those in reality. The original game's lore? No time to memorize every trivial detail about monsters.
'Wait. I've been studying steadily... not me, my auto-play avatar.'
Auto-play might snag some points on the written exam.
I'd handed in my smartphone before the test, so it wasn't with me. But that didn't matter. I could end Playful Life anytime I wanted, smartphone or not. The Playful Life app had manifested through my phone, but it was undeniably my own ability.
'End Playful Life.'
In reality, I switched to auto-play. But contrary to my expectations, the avatar was an idiot. It skimmed the paper, then rolled the pen across the desk to mark answers randomly. Acting like it had never studied a day in its life.
'This bastard. Forgot everything from auto-study?'
Tsking, I dove back into the Playful Life world. I marked without looking at the questions. For the essay parts, I scribbled nonsense. Finishing the written exam in five minutes, I slammed my head on the desk and napped.
A-rank Hero Hong Ji-wook, who helped the Korean Hero Association with academy exam proctoring every year, scanned the written exam hall while maintaining his poker face.
They say you can spot a promising tree from its seed leaves. A few standout examinees who seemed likely to shine at the academy caught his eye.
'The standout is Ryu Hana, as expected. As the North Diamond Clan's heir, written exams must be a breeze for her.'
The rumor that the North Diamond Clan's heir was a genius was an open secret among heroes. Still, he couldn't be sure she'd take top spot.
'They say this class is a golden generation, with brilliant talents flocking from all over the country. Even Ryu Hana might not guarantee first place.'
Ryu Hana solved the exam calmly, her expression blank. Her pen moved far more than it stayed still. She derived answers the moment she read the questions.
'Not an operator written exam, so Ryu Hana should ace it.'
Hong Ji-wook's gaze shifted behind Ryu Hana. One examinee marked faster than her.
'Marking the OMR without even looking at the questions.'
Hong Ji-wook was dumbfounded. It was a first in his five years of proctoring. Most examinees, even if weak on written tests, poured their all into each question for that extra point. Admission to Maruhan Academy was a life-changer.
Plus, Maruhan Academy offered benefits based on rankings.
The examinee who finished marking promptly face-planted on the desk and dozed off.
'What the hell? Giving up on academy admission?'
A type he'd never seen in five years. Curious, Hong Ji-wook stood and slowly patrolled the room, checking answer sheets.
All questions related to hero activities. As a veteran, answers came naturally to him.
'This one's studied well. Essays are correct too. Must have a hero in the family. And this one... trying hard, but poor results.'
He checked Ryu Hana's sheet too.
'Perfect. Essays flawless. Handwriting's calligraphy-level.'
He approached the dozing examinee next. Peeking at the protruding OMR card, he nearly burst out laughing.
'Guessed all multiple choice, but over 60% correct. Guessing? Or did he actually solve them?'
Scoring this on guesses. What luck.
He looked at the essays.
(Question 22.
Situation A, isolated. C-rank monster horde approaching. Operator orders you to block the C-rank horde. What do you do?
Answer: Order Chai! This operator sucks. What were you doing until it got this bad? Even the neighborhood mutt could give better orders than you!)
Hong Ji-wook almost chuckled at the answer.
'Crazy bastard. But I get it. Operators give incomprehensible orders sometimes.'
(Question 34.
A-rank monster Acid Blow appears before you. You're a C-rank Hero. You must buy 10 minutes until backup arrives. What do you do?
Answer: Call Mom.)
Acid Blow's weakness could be exploited by a C-rank Hero to stall 10 minutes easily.
'Call Mom, huh. Mommy's boy despite appearances? A bit dim, but entertaining. Name... Sung Yu-jin?'
Hong Ji-wook froze. A name he'd heard recently. Son of Gwangcheon's Thunderclap, Sung Ha-ri.
His eyes widened.
'Heard Sung Ha-ri's son was entering the academy. This guy? ... Same name, coincidence?'
No way the son of Korea's S-rank Hero legend Sung Ha-ri was this guy. Hong Ji-wook wanted to believe that.
Scores came out ten minutes after the written exam ended. Rankings too, posted on the whiteboard. Examinees swarmed forward.
I got 33 points. Thanks to prior karma, luck boosted my multiple-choice guesses to over 60% correct. Still under 40 because essays weighed heavy.
Ranking: 61st out of 70. Nine below me.
'Worse than my guesses. Morons.'
Four tied for first. All perfect scores. Ryu Hana's name naturally among them.
-You did well on the written exam. Enjoy a one-hour lunch break, then practical exams begin at 1 PM. Gather at the east auditorium by 1 PM. Repeating: one-hour lunch...
“Hey, you're Ryu Hana from North Diamond, right? I'm Seok Dong-min from Taecheonbo. Fate brought us together—wanna grab lunch? Other famous clan kids too.”
A decent-looking guy sidled up to Ryu Hana. Confident in his looks and skills, apparently. Wrong approach. No acquaintance, straight-up hitting on Ryu Hana? Bad move.
“Famous clans? Sorry, first time hearing Taecheonbo today. And lunch is spoken for.”
The guy stiffened. Ryu Hana left without a backward glance.
Practical exam proctors evaluate three things:
Talent, teamwork, mentality.
Examinees take two practicals: solo combat and team combat.
I was confident in both. Just hunt monsters fast.
Test opponent: Nol. Stronger than goblins, weaker than orcs. Looks human except the dog head. Could pass for human at a glance.
'Academy chose Nol to test mentality. Heroes fight not just monsters, but villain criminals too.'
Waiting room door opened. Examinees from the previous group entered. Five total, including Ryu Hana.
Ryu Hana sat blankly, fiddling with her smartphone. Peeking, she was watching monster lecture videos. The other four looked rough: two faces stiff, two trembling faintly.
-Group 2, enter.
My turn.
Hong Ji-wook in the control room jumped up at the entrant.
“D-Dean Kang Ji-young! What brings you here?!”
“Had a moment, came to check. Not blaming you, relax.”
Kang Ji-young sat in an empty chair, eyeing the monitors. Over 20 screens, each showing five examinees from different angles. Numbers below: stress indices based on Association data.
“Really just visiting?”
“Suspicious talk. Think I'll cheat?”
“N-No, not that. But North Diamond's famed genius heir is here. Thought you came for her.”
“Ryu Hana? Talented kid. Might become S-rank Hunter someday.”
Hong Ji-wook noted her words.
Called Heaven's Foreseer, Kang Ji-young had an eye for talent. Those she praised succeeded; those warned failed or died.
Those in the know called her a physiognomist.
“...Not for Ryu Hana, then. Here for Sung Ha-ri-nim's son? Thought it was a namesake, but with you here... must be the real deal.”
“...Yes. Came to judge Sung Yu-jin's performance.”
“Judge...? Haven't met him separately?”
“Met a few times. But couldn't tell. To me, Sung Yu-jin lacks talent. Spirit Eye is top-notch, but everything else falls short. Jinryeongseongga expects much, but he's no more than a first-rate spiritist in my eyes.”
“First-rate spiritist is impressive enough...”
“Not just that. His very existence feels beyond common sense.”
“...Not sure. Ah, on-site proctors starting the exam.”
Examinees fought Nols. Average time: 3 minutes. They went all-out—loss meant disqualification.
“This class's examinees are outstanding.”
“Yes. Ryu Hana's overwhelming. Killed her Nol in 27 seconds.”
“Average stress index?”
“30 average. Active hero level. Spiked to 200 killing the Nol, though.”
“Dropped right back—mental training. Her father's daughter, huh.”
“Mentality aside, skills are insane. Top spot's hers.”
“Too early to say.”
Examinees returned to waiting room; next group entered.
Sung Yu-jin was there.
Kang Ji-young, elbow on chair arm, chin in hand, stared at his monitor.
Combat began.
Lightning struck the Nol. Monitor flashed, then normalized.
Sung Yu-jin's fight ended in 1 second. Precisely 1.394.
“Insane! One second?! Record-breaking? Wait, no way a single bolt kills a Nol. Cheating...?”
“No cheating. Not ordinary lightning. But the stress index bothers me more.”
“Stress index... 0?! Felt nothing killing it?!”
“Yes. Killed it as naturally as breathing, like stepping on an ant absentmindedly while walking.”