Combined Class #5
Combined Class #5
"You've all worked hard getting to know each other this past week. It was probably a boring time anyway."
At Instructor Lee So-ra's words, every classmate nodded in agreement. She's right. No kidding, for a solid week we did nothing but drill with the Mage Class kids, going over each other's abilities and doing nothing but physical conditioning.
The class was so repetitive and unchanging that it honestly got really boring.
I stuck with the Ma-O-Ha duo the whole time and synced up with them. Still, at least I got to know their traits better, but getting beaten up by Yu-ri honestly sounded like more fun.
"But starting today, a new class begins."
"Whoa! It's finally changing! What kind of class is it, Instructor!"
"Ohh, Geun-cheol. Calm down."
"Do I look like I can calm down?!"
Brian, who was standing behind me, tried to hold me back, but how could I not get excited when something new was happening?
"That's some good enthusiasm. Starting today, we'll be doing fairly realistic training in the Special VR Room."
"Huh?"
What does that mean?
"Leona. A Special VR Room? We had that at the academy?"
"Yes. I heard that we do. But I heard first-years don't use it. It must be part of that class-plan change, right?"
"Yeah. What else could it be? Huh?"
"Why are you threatening me..."
Well, that seems to be the case.
"We'll go into the Special VR Rooms by squad and try some realistic training. Well, the programs have been adjusted to your traits, but it's still virtual, so some parts will feel awkward. Anyway, we're moving. Follow me."
"Yes!"
At that, the Warrior and Mage Class kids followed the instructor like chicks. The place we ended up was the academy's upper floor—a place we'd barely ever come to.
It's a space mainly used by upperclassmen.
"Oh."
But the whole floor was lined with doors—was the entire floor a Special VR Room?
"Si-hoo. Doesn't this look just like a training ground?"
"Yeah. It feels that way. With this many, we can all go at once."
"I'm kinda looking forward to it."
The training ground has realistic holograms, but I've never used VR before. Let's see what kind of VR this is.
"Alright, my Warrior Class chicks? It's a bit cramped, but I need to explain, so everyone come in here. Instructor Kawar? Please explain to the Mage Class kids in the next room."
"Yes, yes, Instructor Lee So-ra."
So we followed our instructor into the room.
But—
ㅡWhirr.
"A double door?"
Opening the door revealed a corridor that turned right, and at the end of the corridor, there was a second door on the left. It was like the airlock corridor you walk through before entering a sterile room... Simply put, it felt like the entrance to Sandy's house from SpongeBob.
ㅡWhirr.
Anyway, we went inside the real VR Room.
"Ooh."
It was kind of fascinating inside. The room had an advanced type of VR treadmill installed, and it looked like you just hopped on, put on the Headgear, and went.
"You have twenty minutes to learn how to use it. Kim Geun-cheol? What are you doing standing there blankly? Get over here right now."
"Wait, you're calling me over like it's the most natural thing in the world?"
"I'm saying come out here on your own before I have to yell myself hoarse, Kim Geun-cheol."
"Scary enough to kill a guy."
Guess I'll go up front, then.
"Do I just hop on?"
"Get on. And the thing in front of you—"
ㅡWhirr.
As the instructor operated something, a pillar rose from the floor. Inside, gloves and the Headgear were stored.
"Put them on."
"Yes."
The moment I put on the gloves and the Headgear—
[Cadet Training Special VR System Activated.]
"Ooh!"
A realistic notification popped up in front of my eyes!
"Guys, this is like a status window!"
It's seriously like a status window!
"Status window...!"
"God status window!"
"Ohh! Status window! What game is this?!"
When I shouted that, my classmates got excited and started shouting too. No one knows I'm actually seeing the real status window.
"Hey, Kim Geun-cheol! What're your stats!"
"I gotta see 'em!"
As I answered Yu-ri's voice, a message to scan my iris popped up.
"Scan your iris and enter your class number and name. You've got the gloves on, so you can do it. Then it'll bring up your stored 'Kim Geun-cheol' data and the spec you'll use in VR space."
"This is incredibly advanced..."
"It's a machine funded by the national budget. Done?"
"Yes! Done!"
"Alright, then... lightly. Wasteland field."
ㅡTssht.
In the moment the instructor did something—
"Ooh!"
I was literally standing in a wasteland!
"Whoa, this is crazy realistic! Setting aside that slightly weird feeling, this is amazing!"
The scenery was more realistic than I'd imagined. Well, I couldn't feel the wind or smell anything, but it genuinely felt like I was standing in a wasteland.
ㅡStep, step.
I moved my body lightly and ran.
ㅡWhirr.
And I was actually running. The treadmill on the floor was moving perfectly.
"As expected of SF! This is incredible!"
"Then I'll make a monster for you. Summon your sword and fight."
"Yes!"
In that instant—
ㅡPoof.
A monster with fairly realistic graphics appeared in front of me. Let's see. The sword... Ah, is this it? I immediately summoned a sword and gripped it.
"Tssaht!"
I kicked off the ground, rushed toward the monster, and thrust my sword.
ㅡShwack!
Clean hit.
The monster was sliced in two in an instant.
"Ooh. It's a little awkward, but if the VR's this good, I think it'll be enough for training, Instructor. But it doesn't look like I can use mana."
"That's the only drawback. Still, don't worry—the system has all the mana functions built in. For example, take your squadmate Ma O-hun. His flight ability and magic bullet ability are implemented in the program, even if roughly."
Hearing that, I understood.
"Ah, so we're supposed to get a general feel for it and fight like that?"
"Exactly. I trust you've all learned how to use it by now. Come down."
"Yes."
I ended the session and came down.
"Now I'll assign rooms. You'll log in with your squadmates and act according to central control. Understood?"
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
Expectant replies rang out from all around. After doing nothing but boring, repetitive work with the Mage Class kids, now we got to do this—of course we'd be excited.
"Good. Let's try this with those Ma-O-Ha duo bastards."
I headed straight to the assigned room.
* * *
"Wasn't it better than expected? I mean, it's nothing like moving for real, but they made it surprisingly realistic. This is the power of Korean technology?"
Leona said, stabbing a meatball with her fork.
"The world is shocked, and Japan shrieked."
"Huh?"
"Earth-shattering Korean future technology. Is Europe afraid of Korea's advancement?"
"Why are you suddenly spouting nonsense... Woo Yu-ri? What do we do when this happens?"
"Go grab some cilantro over there and shove it all down his throat."
"Hey, you're gonna feed me cilantro just because I said one thing?!"
I'm so wronged I can't go on.
Anyway, after getting assigned the room earlier, I led the Ma-O-Ha duo, moved and acted as the instructor ordered, and spent the time adapting. Then we did some simple training to get a feel for the abilities and had fun doing monster defense.
And now it's mealtime, so we're eating.
Once lunch is over, we go back and do it again.
"Ack! What is this! Geun-cheol! This cilantro tastes weird!"
"What, Si-hoo? Is this your first time eating cilantro?"
"Yeah...!"
Curious, Si-hoo had tried the cilantro and discovered its bitter taste. What a goof.
"Oh dear, Lee Si-hoo! How could you eat that? Honestly, it's basically penalty food!"
"Heh heh heh, I can't even put it in my mouth because it tastes like soap."
Leona was aghast, and Yu-ri laughed. No matter what happens, I'll never eat cilantro. Cilantro is a plant created by the devil.
Anyway, we finished eating and came outside.
"Kim Geun-cheol? You know the afternoon class will keep going with VR, right?"
"Yeah. I know. Why?"
"Come find me during every break. We should discuss things among ourselves too."
"Discuss?"
Leona nodded and said,
"Yes. Only exchanging opinions with the Mage Class kids makes things feel a little off. We should do it ourselves too."
"That sounds good. Actually, I've been feeling something similar myself."
The coordination with the Ma-O-Ha duo really is a bit off.
As we were talking, the bell signaling the imminent start of class rang out, and we headed back toward the VR Rooms.
* * *
ㅡShwack!
I thrust my sword and took down the monsterkin. Then I checked behind me—Ma O-hun, under Ha-yul's protection, was spraying light bullets and sweeping away the small fry.
After confirming that, I ran off again to assassinate the individuals Ma O-hun couldn't handle. We achieved the objective like that, and training ended.
"Hey! This is nice! Good! Let's keep doing exactly this!"
Now it was break time.
As I shouted while taking off my Headgear, the other two took theirs off too. The mood was great, maybe because we'd practiced together all this time.
"Hey. Ma O-hun. You're decent."
But even though I was encouraging him, he looked dissatisfied.
"What? Is there a problem? What's wrong?"
"I'm dissatisfied... The ability they input for me in the program came out weaker than in reality."
"That power level's right, man."
"What!"
"Your flight ability's the same too. Come on."
There's nothing wrong with it. It came out fine with an appropriate level of power.
"I... I think mine's about right..."
"Yeah. That's how it looked. Park Ha-yul, yours is really handy. Since it's a wasteland, it's just totally reassuring. Reassuring."
It was a defense-style training where swarming monsters were killed in a barren wasteland.
Because of that map, Ha-yul's ability was really useful.
Just spread a barrier and protect Ma O-hun inside. Then Ma O-hun sprays light bullets everywhere and slaughters low-rank monsters, while I run around assassinating high-rank monsters.
The scores rose steadily.
"It is pretty good."
I felt confident I could coordinate well with other Awakened later. Whatever it is, training really is important, I guess.
"Well, it's break time, so I'm heading out."
"Uh... yeah. Me too."
"I'll head out too."
ㅡWhirr.
We all went outside and scattered.
Now, let's see.
Leona's room...
"This way."
I stood in front of Leona's room and pressed the call bell. If you press the call bell here, it sends a signal inside. They have to open the door from in there for you to get in.
ㅡDing-dong.
I heard the sound.
"Hello?"
"Who is it?"
It was Ahn Do-min's voice, the Mage Class rep.
"Uh. It's me, Kim Geun-cheol from the Warrior Class."
"...Why'd you come?"
"I came to see Leona."
"Kainus."
"Yeah. Open up."
"It's a bit... inconvenient."
What's inconvenient?
It's break time right now.
"Why? It's break time."
"The team is having a discussion right n—"
"Just open up, man. You should rest during break time."
During break, you should get some fresh air outside and stuff.
"..."
Ahn Do-min was silent for a moment, and then—
ㅡClick.
He unlocked the door.
I went inside like that and called Leona.
"Leona!"
"Ah, Kim Geun-cheol's here!"
When I called, Leona took off her Headgear and ran over to me. Well then, should I have that discussion with Leona during this break?
"Let's do it over a drink."
"Sure."
"How was it? The defense class this time."
"No particular problems. How about you, Kim Geun-cheol?"
"Me? I was fine. Heh heh, man. When elites like us talk, doesn't the class just look too 'easy'?"
"Pfft, seriously, stop being such an ass... Ack!"
"Wh-What!"
Suddenly, Leona let out a yelp!
"I almost smacked your shoulder like I usually do! That could've been a disaster!"
"Hey, hey. Calm down. It's healed. I'm all healed now. Don't overreact."
"Then let me see it! Don't hide it like some treasure!"
"Why do you want to see my wound that badly!"
"Because it's suspicious! Suspicious! I can't exactly go into Leona-Woong-cheol mode and interrogate you by force!"
ㅡThump! Thump!
Leona pounded her chest as she yelled.
She really seems desperate to check it.
"Leona-Woong-cheol..."