Ah, This Is One Punch Man
"Alright, class, it's about time we moved on to some real combat training."
The homeroom teacher addressed the gathered students. Every student at Hero Academy aspired to become a hero. Technically, just graduating got you your hero license. With that alone, you were cleared to hunt monsters. After that, your career path was entirely up to you. You could join a major corporation or become a national hero.
Of course, none of that mattered to a gold spoon like Yujin. Actually, forget gold spoon—he couldn't wrap his head around the current situation at all.
Whoa, they want us to take down that? Seriously?
On the screen, goblins and orcs were charging around. If that was all, he might've let it slide. But the weapons they wielded weren't clubs—they were swords and spears, rusted to hell. Brushing against one would probably give you tetanus.
Does this world have no child labor laws or anything? Is it okay to throw kids into that meat grinder? Oh, it is? Fuck, why?
"Kyaa, finally getting to fight real monsters!"
"I'm so glad I came to this school. Anywhere else, we'd still be stuck on theory."
"Hey, wanna bet on who kills more goblins?"
Apparently, he was the only one having those thoughts. The other students were all fired up, raring to go. They looked straight out of Goblin Slayer—they needed to snap out of it.
Oh, damn. Am I the crazy one, or is this world?
"Ahem! Even goblins, which are known to be weak, can be dangerous if you underestimate them. They're intelligent monsters with real killing power. Stats show they're the number one cause of death for rookies."
The homeroom teacher went on at length about how scary goblins were, probably to drive the point home. She shared detailed stories—like four newbies getting wiped out, or a female adventurer turned into a goblin plaything for over a month.
No one took it seriously. Except Yujin.
I don't like this... I wanna go home now. I miss the scary big brothers back home. Wait... maybe not them specifically.
It was the reaction of someone oblivious to the fact that he was the strongest one here. And naturally, everyone interpreted it completely differently.
To the other students, even that demeanor screamed nonchalance. To them, class was just entertainment for Yujin—more like an excuse to mess with Cheolsu.
"Okay, now pick out the weapons you'll be using."
What the hell is this now?
Weapons started appearing on the table: swords, spears, bows, even a staff that barely looked like a weapon. There were hammers and whips that must've weighed dozens of kilos. Was it really okay to hand these to teenagers?
Those worries proved unfounded as everyone swiftly grabbed their picks.
"These are training models, but out in the real world, any one of them costs hundreds of thousands of won. Choose carefully and don't lose them."
Hundreds of thousands for a single sword? Wild. This world's prices were a total mess. Food seemed normal enough, but top heroes raked in billions a month. How had inflation not exploded yet? Were they sitting on infinite resources like some oil-rich nation?
Is this average for these kids?
The chosen weapons varied wildly. Swords and spears were most popular, with a few opting for staves—probably mages. For reference, Cheolsu went with a sword, Younghee a whip.
"Um, Kim Yujin... er, Yujin. You need to pick a weapon."
The homeroom teacher called out cautiously. Yujin snapped to attention and looked ahead. Everyone else had already chosen. Luckily, plenty remained.
Hmm, I don't really wanna pick one. Actually, I don't wanna fight at all. Straight up, monsters scare the shit outta me. Tell a normal 21st-century student to fight monsters? Forget possible or not—it's just too much.
If this was a world where you starve without killing goblins, maybe. But they have cafeteria food and vending machines stocked like a harbor or something.
Why bother in a country with plenty to eat? But running away meant no graduation. He had to at least pretend.
So, what weapon to pick...
Something inconspicuous like a sword? But bladed weapons were scary either way. Then one caught his eye.
Oh!
Probably the highest lethality here, yet simple enough for anyone. Yujin grabbed it without hesitation.
"I'll take this one."
Silence blanketed the room. Even the teacher looked flustered.
"Uh, Y-Yujin. Once you pick, you can't change for a month."
"I like this one."
Yujin had chosen a pistol.
Of course, the real-world Yujin had never fired one. But it had to be easier than the others.
At least I don't have to get close to the monsters.
But the mood felt off. Something was wrong. Yujin asked timidly, his low voice coming across as intimidating to others.
"Is there a problem?"
"N-No! Of course not! Pick whatever you want! Haha."
The homeroom teacher forced a smile, sweat beading on her brow. Inside, she was freaking out.
What the hell?!
Guns were great weapons in this world too—for mana-less civilians or mercenaries. But for mana-wielding heroes? Different story. They channeled mana into weapons for massive power. High-level ones pierced steel plate effortlessly.
Guns didn't channel mana easily. Heroes avoided them like the plague.
Common knowledge: even mid-level monsters' surface shields shrug off normal bullets.
No way Yujin didn't know that. His mana reserves were top-tier even at school. No reason to pick a gun.
Of course, Yujin truly had no clue.
Heh, jackpot! I can just shoot from afar and fake it.
He returned to his seat, blissfully unaware. The homeroom teacher sighed deeply, clueless to his thoughts.
Half-assed responses, but lately he'd been paying attention in class. Impossible to read him.
Is he finally trying to fit in at school?
She shook her head. He was Black Heaven's heir. Don't expect easy change.
"O-Okay, everyone got their weapons? Line up with your groups and head in."
Yujin turned confidently. Normally, he'd be wandering alone or standing awkwardly on the sidelines. But not anymore! Both groupmates were his friends now.
Yujin smiled at Cheolsu.
"Tch."
Cheolsu grimaced openly. Younghee shrank back a bit.
Eek, still pretty mad, huh.
He'd hoped for an in-crowd life. But nothing went right in this world.
…
Yujin, Cheolsu, and Younghee walked side by side. No one spoke.
Younghee eyed them both warily. Cheolsu led silently. As for Yujin—
Damn, monsters pop out here? Way too scary.
He trembled, wondering when one might appear. And he'd be the only one fighting. Younghee was a girl, Cheolsu injured. He had to protect them.
Logically, he should've taken point, not rear. But his brain wasn't there yet.
Sending kids alone to a place like this? This school's insane.
If he died, he'd haunt them as a ghost! Possess a mannequin or the music room piano!
"...Deep enough that no one would notice a body."
He meant it as genuine worry. Younghee flinched. Cheolsu gripped his sword tighter without a word.
"Y-Yeah... But the teachers are watching. They'll jump in if it's serious."
"Oh, really."
Yujin relaxed hugely at Younghee's words. Yeah, educators wouldn't let that happen! Teachers had it covered. No more death worries.
Still, trekking into a forest like this feels off.
The training site was a dense forest. How did a school even have this? Money rotting away. Government budget— inflation okay?
Experience told him common sense didn't apply here. Just roll with it.
"Why the long face?"
"Ch-Cheolsu!"
Yujin stared, confused. Long face about what?
Cheolsu clicked his tongue.
"Maybe not for you, but this assignment matters to us. I don't expect you to excel, just don't screw around."
"I'll do fine."
Yujin waved his pistol to prove it. Bang! Bang! Monsters die easy, right?
Cheolsu glared, then sighed and looked down.
"Sigh, anyway, we're heading straight to the goblin nest. It's open, not some narrow cave, so it'll be fine."
"A wide-open goblin nest? Weird."
"Probably adjusted for student assignments. Maybe strays from a wiped nest."
Cheolsu and Younghee strategized. Yujin stayed dead quiet. No clue what they meant.
Oh, gotta kill those things? Yeah, grades on the line. Running would make me a total asshole. We'd cut ties for real.
Still hated fighting. While idly peeling bark off a dry tree, a white flying thing appeared.
What the—?
Looked like a firefly at first. Fist-sized white orb floating lazily. Probably some forest bug.
Otherworld bugs are weird.
Goblins existed—green monsters. Bugs being odd fit. But glowing in daylight? What evolution path led there?
Did I get my malaria shot? Wait, other viruses or poisons maybe.
Younghee's outfit suddenly seemed risky. She wore the school uniform, skirt barely covering her thighs. In this forest? Exposing legs like that invited bugs.
...This one too?
Mosquitoes went for female hormones, he'd heard. Better swat it. Yujin slapped down.
Smack!
The bug took the hit midair and plummeted. Looked like he'd swung an electric swatter. Anyway, it hit the ground motionless.
Hmm, protected my friend's thighs and calves.
Mid-level Monster: Fairy defeated.
Monster kill logged to student ID.
Current Points: 500
Huh? Points just went up. Oh yeah, killing monsters accumulated points or something.
That was a monster?
No way it'd die to a slap. Man, if goblins were this easy. Fat chance.
"Hey, let's move."
"Oh, yeah."
At Cheolsu's words, Yujin stepped forward.
At the same time, the school nurse stalking Cheolsu stared in shock—How the hell did he kill my fairy?!—utterly unknown to Yujin.