Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: The Hypnosis on My Childhood Friend Completely Wears Off (2)
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It felt off. Every time she saw Teacher Eum Ji-hye or Juyeon-woo, a strange feeling washed over her.
Was it doubt? A sense of wrongness? It was an emotion hard to put into words.
Her head insisted everything was fine, but her heart sensed something amiss.
No matter how she looked at it, their relationship didn't make sense. But when she thought about it deeply, it felt like something that could happen between lovers.
She'd found the answer to that nagging doubt. It came thanks to a cadet couple caught in overly intimate skinship in the no-dating academy.
Should she be grateful to them?
"Mi, just let it slide this once. Can't you overlook it?"
"It's not wrong for people our age to date..."
"I-I'll introduce you to someone. I know tons of guys. Some are even handsome. With you, Mi, pretty much anyone would beg for an intro."
It was a lie. Objectively speaking, not everyone would go for her.
Class President Mi was an outstanding student highly touted at the national level, but her looks weren't flawless.
Picky guys would turn her down. But there was no need to tell them the truth.
What they needed was mercy.
To draw out Class President Mi's generous compassion, she had to whisper only of a rosy future.
"......"
Class President Mi scanned them with unfocused eyes for a moment. Their faces paled at her emotionless gaze, flinching in surprise.
'They say Guidance Committee members are all emotionless machines!'
Even Class President Mi, who hadn't been enrolled long, had already adopted the mindset of a Guidance Committee member? That would be trouble.
She'd hand out penalty points mercilessly.
"...Fine. I'll let it go just this once."
But the response from Class President Mi's lips was affirmative. Unlike what other Guidance Committee members would say.
"Really?!"
"Thanks, Mi. Seriously, thank you."
It was exactly what they'd been hoping for. Joy bloomed across the first-year couple's faces.
In the academy rankings, a single penalty point had enormous impact.
Everyone put in equal effort, but rankings had to be divided somehow. Whether you got that one penalty point decided your rise or fall.
It wasn't strange for them to celebrate like lottery winners.
"I'll definitely introduce you to someone."
"I'll text you later, so add me."
"......"
Class President Mi shook her head. She had no interest in meeting some random guy.
The first-year couple grinned broadly, as if relieved, and practically fled the bathroom.
"...If someone saw that, they'd react like they did. That's normal."
Carrying on a relationship so casually wasn't right. No matter how she sliced it, something felt wrong.
Class President Mi stared blankly into the bathroom mirror, clinging to her rationality.
'This is weird...'
The fog she'd barely shaken off was creeping back. It slowly swallowed her reason once more.
Class President Mi gritted her teeth, resisting the fog's grasp.
"...What was I doing?"
In the end, it consumed her, but a tiny crack formed in the fog veiling her mind. A sliver of light seeped through.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Morning classes were the usual note-taking subjects. Korean education curricula would feel cheated without math and English, so they were mandatory.
But sitting in your seat didn't mean you were studying.
Afternoon brought combat training to prep for the practical exam. My favorite class.
At least moving my body was fun.
"One, two. Three, four."
I did warm-ups with Teacher Eum Ji-hye. National exercises.
C Class cadets followed her lead, moving nimbly and flexibly. Fitting for aspiring heroes, their baseline physiques were solid.
No severely obese kids lingered in any class—none at the academy at all.
Handling hero coursework naturally burned fat. Being overweight would be the anomaly with that workload.
"Those who formed teams within C Class only, step aside for now?"
A crowd moved to the side. Most preferred teaming with fellow C Classers. They'd spent time together, after all.
Better than trusting outsiders.
"About half left."
Teacher Eum Ji-hye eyed the remaining cadets. They were the ones lacking in grades or skills.
In practical exams where high scores were crucial, skill trumped personality.
Even Teacher Eum Ji-hye couldn't fix that. No one wanted forced teams.
"...Still, a team beats going solo."
That was the extent of her advice. Weaklings banding together was best.
Ironically, low-rankers hesitated to group among themselves. They all wished for at least one strong cadet.
That created the current vibe. Delaying team formation.
"Teams that are set, let's do some real combat spars?"
Teacher Eum Ji-hye continued.
"Final practicals often pit you against multiples. It's score-by-knockout, so situations escalate fast."
Even in our weekend meetup, we'd sparred one-vs-many. But today's training was upgraded.
One team vs. many.
"We'll rotate opponents. Teams vs. teams."
C Class had twelve in complete teams. Four teams total.
"One team defends, three attack. Go all out, but hold back on lethal blows. I got emergency kits just in case..."
Emergency medical kits. Not mere first-aid boxes. Items infused with transcendent healing power.
Potions, basically.
Teacher Eum Ji-hye marveled at the kit. Her expression said it all—the price was astronomical.
Even Infinite Hero Cultivation Academy, sucking up national taxes, couldn't abuse them freely.
"Hope we don't need these."
"......"
Emergency kits were for mortal wounds. Severing or piercing—near-fatal damage.
"...Anti-terror items."
With caution, it'd never happen. Though nothing was 100% certain.
That's why she'd begged for them.
"We can train carefully without major injuries, right?"
"Yes!"
"...I'll be watching, so give it your all. But in case of the worst, don't go full throttle."
"Yes..."
She assigned order. First up: us. Class President Mi's team, C Class's top squad.
"Best to face the strongest when you're freshest, right? Others can simulate clashing with superior teams."
The setup formed naturally. Other teams surrounded us.
"...Why do I feel like more are on my side?"
Park A-young edged back hesitantly. Eyes followed her.
Take out the weakest of three first—Park A-young—then the rest. Basic mindset.
Obvious strategy. No discussion needed.
"That's the default in practicals too."
"...I can't handle that."
"How long you hold out decides our win."
Park A-young's performance would flip the result.
Tension etched her face.
"...I'll do my best."
"Good."
I gripped my spear, glaring at foes. Combat starts on Teacher Eum Ji-hye's signal.
"Everyone ready? No major injuries—practical's soon. Pace yourselves."
She blew the whistle.
'Pace yourselves my ass.'
Everyone went full throttle from the jump. Mana surged into weapons as they charged.
"Eek...!"
Park A-young swung wildly in panic. Weapons poured in around us instantly.
I gathered mana in my soles and detonated.
Kr-boom-!
Lightning crackled. Blue flash like a bolt at my feet.
My body accelerated. Speed akin to hurling Juyeon-hee. World slowed.
I swung the spear wide.
Pzzt-!
Weapons clashed. Their sword auras blocked my lightning. Sparks flew wildly.
"Urk!"
They blocked. But took damage. Exposed foe trembled.
Paralysis effect.
Why elemental mana shines. Lightning mana paralyzes. Even blocked, it conducted through weapons.
"Juyeon-woo, I'll cover you!"
Class President Mi intercepted flankers. Quick reflexes.
"Damn it...!"
"This is bullshit!"
"Park A-young's so lucky, seriously."
We methodically dismantled the aggrieved foes.