It's an Academy Raid Aaaattack!!! # 1
It's an Academy Raid Aaaattack!!! # 1
The moment I stumbled back!
—Pachik!
A stinging attack—!!
"Agh, that stings!!!!!"
"Ahahahaha, Kim Geun-cheol? Calm down. Does it hurt that much?"
"Huh?"
Huh?
What?
"What the."
—Rub rub.
I rubbed my forearm, which had felt the sting. It didn't hurt at all. It'd just been a tiny prick. No, it hadn't hurt at all, so even saying it pricked was an overstatement.
"It doesn't really hurt."
It hurt less than getting snapped by one of those toy popper things from elementary school—the kind inside a lighter.
"I'm an instructor. Would I really hurt a cadet, Kim Geun-cheol?"
"No, but last time you showed me a hallucination that was freaking terrifying."
"But it didn't hurt, did it?"
Instructor Kawar said with a grin.
"Well, that's true."
"Anyway, that's how we'll proceed. Is that okay?"
"Ah, this is nothing. I can handle it no problem. Keep it coming!"
"I like the enthusiasm. Then let's go again?"
I held out my arm.
—Pachik!
—Pachik!
—Pachik!
Instructor Kawar fired off a rapid series of stinging attacks at my forearm.
"You always learn faster by experiencing it with your own body. Right, Kim Geun-cheol?"
"Agreed."
"Now, you feel pain in your forearm, yes? Try to send mana to that spot."
Send mana to where the pain is.
"Hup!"
I exploded my concentration and directed the mana inside my body toward my forearm. Since the stinging pain was still there, it was easy to guide it there.
—Fwaash!
And in an instant, a small amount of mana discharged from the spot where the sting was!
"Ohh! Success! I did it, Instructor!"
"Now you've got the basics!"
"Basics?"
"First, releasing mana at a targeted area—that's the foundation of a shield. Once you can do that, think of spreading that mana over your skin to cover it! Kim Geun-cheol!"
"Hoo..."
I might not pull it off today, but I got the general idea. Recalling the sensation, I tried to manipulate the mana to release only from the spot on my forearm.
—Fwaash!
I succeeded right away.
"Hehehe, Instructor Kawar. I gotta say, learning by physically experiencing it like this is killing it for me."
"Right? Ha! This is exactly why I can't help using Kim Geun-cheol as a teaching tool! Now then! Everyone, try it yourselves! I'll take a look at each of you!"
Instructor Kawar's class went on like that. He really does teach well. I went back to my seat and watched him check on my classmates while I chewed over what I'd just learned.
"Hyaap!"
Good. I'm going to make this knowledge completely my own. With that resolve, I manipulated mana for the rest of the class.
—Ding.
[Mana increased by 1.]
And just like that, my mana went up!
"Awesome!"
Today's the best day ever!
"What is it, Kim Geun-cheol? Did you have some sort of enlightenment?"
"Oh, Leona. It's just that things are going well. Hehehe."
"Seriously... it's great to see you working so hard. You seem to catch up quickly too. You've got talent, Kim Geun-cheol."
It really does seem like I have talent.
"Yeah. Geun-cheol, it seems like you actually have more talent than I thought."
"Right?"
"Anyway, Geun-cheol. Today isn't the day you train with Yu-ri, is it?"
"Yeah."
"Then let's head to the training ground together after school ends."
"Sounds good."
Looks like I'll wrap up the day training with Si-hoo.
* * *
And the next day.
"Hey, Si-hoo! Let's get to school!"
"Yeah, Geun-cheol. Wait a sec."
Just like any other day, I walked to school with Si-hoo. With the dorm so close, it'd become a daily habit.
Around this time, there's about a fifty percent chance we'll run into Leona. Days I see Leona are lucky days. An angel is a being whose mere sight brings good luck.
"Hmm."
But today we didn't meet her.
The moment that thought crossed my mind—
—Shiver!
"Whoa?!"
Suddenly, I felt a creepy energy, like the ends of my hair were standing on end...! What the? And my chest felt like it was tingling!
—Bzzzt!
The tingling intensified in an instant!
"Hey! Si-hoo—"
"Geun-cheol!"
"Yeah!"
"A gate! A gate is about to appear!"
A gate?!
"You mean this is the omen of a gate appearing?!"
Is it always this violent? Even if I'd been dead asleep, this would've jolted me awake. That's how intense this energy is.
"Yeah! Right before a gate appears, it usually feels like this! Any Awakened can sense it!"
—Shing.
Si-hoo drew his sword with a serious face.
"Hey! Shit! Then we gotta get the hell out of here! No, wait, why the hell is a gate appearing at school...!"
"It's fine, Geun-cheol. Calm down. There's no rush. We still have a grace period."
"Grace period?"
"Yeah. Usually, after you sense the omen, the gate takes some time to appear. Still, this one feels normal. That's a relief."
"A gate's about to open at our school and you call that normal?!"
Relief my ass!
My heart's racing right now!
"No, Geun-cheol. The two gates we encountered recently both appeared without any warning, right? But this time, we're getting a proper omen. It means it's not an abnormal phenomenon, just a natural occurrence. So of course it's a relief."
"Ah, really? Yeah, you're right."
Come to think of it, that's true. Those two gates appeared out of nowhere without any omen. That was an anomaly, a suspicious incident. But this is just routine. This is a world where a gate appearing isn't even considered unusual.
—Wheeee-ooooo-ooooo!
Immediately, the emergency alarm went off.
"Whoa. Anyway, Si-hoo, it feels like really strong static electricity. Like my skin is lifting off."
It's weird, but not unpleasant. Actually, since it's my first time feeling this kind of energy, it feels fascinating and novel.
"I find it creepy. Anyway, Geun-cheol, we're inside the school grounds, so let's calmly evacuate... huh?"
"Huh?!"
Right that moment.
—Thump-thump-thump!
Suddenly, soldiers appeared and started running somewhere in a hurry.
"Where did the soldiers come from?"
"Geun-cheol! Look up there!"
"Oh my god!"
—Vrrrrm!
The anti-air turret mounted on the school rooftop was moving! So it wasn't just for show—it was the real deal!
At the same time—
—Cracklecracklecrackle!
"Geun-cheol! A gate is opening in the sky!"
The empty air split horizontally, then slowly began to inch apart! At the same time, electricity crackled out like an explosion, and an otherworldly radiance burst forth!
"It's a gate!!!!"
First, let's evacuate!
That gate is way too big!
"You two! Kim Geun-cheol! And Lee Si-hoo! What are you doing!"
"Ah! Instructor Lee So-ra!"
We're saved!
—Fwoosh!
Instructor Lee So-ra rushed toward us at high speed.
"It's a gate! A gate appeared at the school! Quick! Where should we evacuate to!"
"Calm down. It's an annual event."
"Huh?"
"It happens often. Let's call it a special lesson. First, calm down. Kim Geun-cheol, you're worked up right now. Do you feel that surreal sensation?"
"Huh? Surreal?"
I think so.
"Because your senses are heightened, you might feel kind of floaty. It's from the waves that occur before a gate appears. Get used to that sensation and settle your mind. This is also training."
"Ah! Yes! I'll do that!"
Anyway, all I had to do was stay calm. Honestly, I was already calm. With Instructor Lee So-ra here, what did I have to fear? We'd just evacuate together.
That was the moment I thought that.
—BOOOOOOM!
A deafening roar rang out, like a missile exploding.
"Hey!!!!"
Huh?
"You sons of bitches!!!!!!!!!!!"
Huh?!
"You goddamn worthless maggots, you just can't get enough of this shit, can you!!!!!!!"
That booming shout?!
"How dare you invade my school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Gah...!"
Her voice was so loud I had to cover my ears...! What the hell is this!
Who's roaring like that!
"Hah. She's here."
"In-Instructor! What is this...!"
"Kim Geun-cheol. And Lee Si-hoo. As you can see, a gate appearing at the academy isn't all that rare."
Instructor Lee So-ra spoke calmly, as if this situation was utterly routine.
"Even around here, gates appear every few days. You think they wouldn't pop up at the academy?"
"W-Well, I guess...?"
"The reason the academy is still safe is, of course—"
—Point.
Instructor Lee So-ra pointed at the sky.
"—because the Chairwoman is here."
"The Chairwoman?!"
That was the Chairwoman?
—Fwoosh!
I immediately looked up at the sky.
"You worthless, goddamn monster bastards!!!!!!!!!"
Chairwoman, in her black uniform, was charging toward the gate with her long ponytail streaming behind her. In her hand was a long sword, and from its cold blade surged a pitch-black aura. And on top of that, she was roaring like a beast.
How badass is that?
"Watch closely. She may be retired, but Chairwoman is one of the strongest heroes in Korea."
"Ohh...!"
A thrill.
A thrill ran through me.
Just how powerful is Chairwoman? That thought had barely crossed my mind when the opening gate let out another intense flash of light.
—Pachichichik!
As if they'd teleported, all kinds of bizarre monsters were summoned en masse in front of the gate.
Quite the flashy entrance.
But an entrance was all it would be.
—Shwip!
The moment Chairwoman's sword drew a line across them—
—TU-KWAKAKAKAKAKAKABOOM!
The summoned monsters all exploded!
"Holy crap! Wait, Instructor Lee So-ra! I heard heroes are weak against trash mobs! She just one-shotted all of them with a single swing!"
How does a sword slash make monsters explode?!
"That's only for regular heroes. The Chairwoman is one of Korea's greatest heroes, after all."
"Incredible!"
But that wasn't even the only amazing part!
—TU-KWAKAKABOOM!
—RUMBLE!
—FWOOOOOSH!
Over there.
"Look, Kim Geun-cheol. Those are your seniors."
People were flying in from beyond the school's barrier.
More precisely, heroes. Some wore suits, some wore powered suits. Some were even in padded jackets and sweatpants.
"You fuckers, we've got juniors studying and you just barge in!!!"
"I'll kill you all!!!!"
"Damn bastards, I was taking a nap and you just had to show up!!!"
There was even a muscle-bound dude with a rabbit headband and a heart-tipped magic wand!!!
"H-Holy shit!"
Is this some hellish Avengers assemble?!
Where did they all come from!
"Wait! Where were all those people hiding to suddenly...!"
"Well, this is a prime location, so property's pricey. Lots of wealthy heroes live around here. By the way, most of them are your seniors."
Seniors!
"Do you think those guys would stay put when they see an event like this? Everyone has a salmon's instinct to return to their alma mater."
"Whoa! You're right!"
Crazy salmons!
"Si-hoo...! This is just too overwhelming!"
"Yeah. Seriously impressive."
Honestly, I'd been a little scared until just a moment ago, but now it nearly felt like an event.
Yeah.
This is Ares Academy.
A specialized school that trains heroes. And the Chairwoman is a war hero. The instructors are incredible masters, and the area has such a prime location that tons of wealthy heroes live nearby.
Plus, there's a military base right around the corner.
"So this was the safest place in the world."
No need to be scared.
"I've been studying in a place this safe."
My trust in the school amplified endlessly. Why the hell would those bastards invade a place like this?