Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: The Twins Do the Tricks, But Aunt Eats the Rice Cakes (3)
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Infinite Hero Cultivation Academy. This was the academy I was currently attending. If you ranked academies in Korea, it was one of the top three super-elite institutions.
Want to become a hero? Then you have to go to Infinite Hero Cultivation Academy. It had that kind of reputation, where such sayings were taken for granted.
At least within Korea, no academy could surpass Infinite. The best the others could do was Hansung Academy and Pungun Academy holding up the other pillars of the top three beneath it.
Most students couldn't even get near Infinite Hero Academy.
Not only did you need top scores on theory-based entrance exams, but you also had to ace the practical evaluations. It wasn't easy.
Even Infinite Academy had its share of delinquents slacking off and utterly pathetic losers....
Truth be told, idiots were a constant everywhere you went. It wasn't that strange to have weirdos around.
In fact, they were all elites who'd beaten thousands-to-one odds to get in. If you scrutinized their theory and written exam scores, they were way ahead of me.
Without the help of my body, I was sorely lacking compared to them. Since I hadn't earned my spot through effort, I had plenty of shortcomings.
'...Well, the body will handle it anyway.'
Objectively speaking, that's how it was.
The C Class cadets had gathered in the general C training grounds. They were all in the standard academy gym uniforms.
These uniforms guaranteed top-notch mobility.
"Ugh, I'm nervous."
"Feels worse 'cause it's one-on-one."
"This is just training, right? Won't affect our grades?"
They stretched by sitting, standing, and swinging their arms every which way. Everyone wore a tense expression as they waited for Eum Ji-hye.
They did practical combat drills periodically, but it was always nerve-wracking. No cadet ever stayed completely relaxed.
Class President Mi stood at the front of the C Class formation, straightening the line.
"Everyone, line up properly. So we can start class right when Teacher arrives."
"Why you gotta order us around? Think you're hot stuff just 'cause you're class president?"
A surly retort came back. It was one of the delinquents who always gave Eum Ji-hye a hard time.
Class President Mi shot the guy a glare and sighed.
"The sooner we start, the sooner we finish. You guys wanna do one-on-one training all day?"
"...Uh...."
Class President Mi shut down the delinquents with plain common sense. No one wanted to drag things out, so the formation quickly regained discipline.
Eum Ji-hye entered through the training ground entrance. With the open field, her figure was crystal clear.
Eum Ji-hye smiled contentedly at the neatly aligned cadets.
"No one injured?"
Before diving into full one-on-one combat, she checked for any hurt cadets first. It was a necessary step to prevent accidents.
"I don't want you making excuses about not showing your full potential because you're hurt."
Body management was a hero's duty. If a hero couldn't perform when needed, innocent civilians could die. Maintaining peak condition through rigorous self-care was essential.
No whining about being sick or sore during training—it wouldn't fly.
Eum Ji-hye scanned the cadets. None looked hurt on the surface.
"Good. Then let's pick a C Class representative."
She called it a "representative" casually, but it wasn't the real deal.
'Or is it? If you're top in C Class, maybe that makes you the rep?'
Not everyone could join the tournament. There simply wasn't enough time.
Even Infinite Academy couldn't change that. Only the academy's very best got to show off their skills to the public.
'...And the clans are watching too.'
If you're dreaming of being a hero, it's only natural to aim for the strongest, most prestigious clans.
This tournament would be a step toward that dream. No cadet would pass up the chance.
'I wanna pass, though.'
Of course, passing wasn't an option.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Class President Mi glared at her C Class classmates, her expression fiercer than usual. The cadets flinched in surprise.
"What's with that look?"
"It's Class President Mi."
"Yeah, 'cause it's her."
Class President Mi always aimed for first place. And she actually put in the work.
Studies, training—she never slacked on anything.
Over the past month, the C Class cadets had witnessed her efforts firsthand. They hadn't tailed her 24/7, but it was enough.
Just watching her academy life showed how she operated daily.
That's why the C Class respected Class President Mi. Even her over-the-top drive didn't bother them.
She was the representative, plain and simple. They subconsciously saw her as C Class's rep.
They were rivals in the academy, but they'd end up colleagues as heroes. No point being overly hostile.
"Class President Mi's grinding her teeth to win, but the vice president's all meh."
"Right? Doesn't wanna go or something?"
"Nah, no way. An academy cadet dodging the Hero Tournament?"
Cadets from academies nationwide would gather. They might not match Infinite Hero Cultivation Academy's level, but they'd come sharpened and ready—not pushovers.
A chance to shine there wasn't commonplace.
"...Gotta crush the first-years."
"Second-years don't get as much attention."
Cadet skills trended upward over time. Second-years generally outdid first-years. Time mattered.
But the spotlight was brightest on first-years. Their levels carried into second, third year, and hero careers. Everyone focused on first-year academy kids.
It could be their last big shot. No one could afford to miss it. Everyone approached sparring desperately.
That's why Juyeon-woo's attitude stood out.
"But he's sparring properly, right?"
Juyeon-woo swung his spear on the training field. It was a training weapon, safe enough, but still menacing.
His momentum screamed blood if you got stabbed or slashed.
"Whoa...!"
His opponent was Park A-young. She barely deflected the sharply thrusting spear.
Clang! Clang!
"See that? Not holding back against Park A-young."
"What, you gonna jump in and ask him to go easy? Say something that makes sense."
"Yeah, guess so."
Even if you hated the tournament, focus on the spar at hand. Training was real combat too. Slack off, and you'd get hurt.
In that sense, Juyeon-woo taking the current match seriously was a given.
The whispering cadets scratched their heads, feeling awkward for no reason.
Juyeon-woo's deadpan expression had them overanalyzing, spinning stories in their heads.
Bzzz-.
A vibration snapped their attention.
"Juyeon-woo's using mana."
"Means he's going all out. Not even serious yet?"
"Yeah, you're right."
Whoosh, whoosh!
The pace quickened. Killing intent seeped into his strikes.
It was a spar, but fixating on the blade ahead got your blood pumping. Cadets weren't pros.
That's why they trained at the academy—to build hero discipline.
Clang-!
The sound changed. As sword met spear, something shattered.
Aura. It flickered from both their weapons.
Eum Ji-hye kept watching the spar. She judged it wasn't dangerous yet.
Unfortunately, her call was off.
Juyeon-woo shot forward like an arrow. His advancing foot was a blur.
Rumble-.
Crackle-!
Sparks flew. Thunder rumbled beneath his feet.
In a blink, Juyeon-woo thrust his spear at Park A-young's chest.
"Juyeon-woo!"
Cadet gym uniform protection was decent, but not aura-proof. She'd get hurt like this.
Safety measures boiled down to the on-site teacher. Eum Ji-hye had to intervene.
Decision led to action—instinctive movement.
Eum Ji-hye leaped forward, eyes wide, channeling aura into her hand blade to swat the spear aside.
Thud-!
Too late. Blood sprayed.
Whose?
Eum Ji-hye checked Park A-young first. She stared back in shock, unscathed.
Good.
"T-Teacher!"
Class President Mi rushed out frantically. She inspected Eum Ji-hye.
Her shoulder was pierced. By a mere cadet's training spear.
Even as a mid-to-low tier hero, Eum Ji-hye was beyond cadet level. How?
Eum Ji-hye groaned, yanking out the spear. Blood gushed.
Blue mana shimmered at the wound. She was staunching it.
"Ahh...."
"T-Teacher!"
Juyeon-woo snapped out of it. Back from his trance, his eyes cleared.
He stared blankly at Eum Ji-hye.
"I'm fine."
Eum Ji-hye exhaled, speaking calmly.
"A-young, you okay?"
She was the teacher. Lacking compared to pros, but she had a role.
Eum Ji-hye soothed the sparring pair and steadied the training ground mood.
"This is nothing. The field is way rougher."
That's exactly why such scenes terrified her into quitting hero work for academy teaching. Lucky break.
"Teacher.... S-sorry...."
"Yeon-woo, it's okay."
She calmed Park A-young and checked Juyeon-woo.
His hands trembled. Eyes glistened—he was shaken.
Eum Ji-hye approached to comfort him. Then Class President Mi grabbed her.
"Teacher! The bleeding won't stop."
"Huh? That can't be...."
Eum Ji-hye checked her wound. It was true.
As Class President Mi said, the spear gash from Juyeon-woo wouldn't clot.
"We should head to the infirmary, Teacher."
"...I'll go alone and be right back. Everyone, take a break."