Exam Results
“What the fuck... barber... guk!”
Thud.
Harold’s massive body crumpled to the ground. Lee Hye-ri’s spear had pierced his abdomen, and Baek Han-beom’s sword had plunged into his heart. The simulation’s top-priority villain, Harold, was down.
“Haa, haa.”
Yoo Ara panted heavily, staring at Harold’s sprawled corpse on the floor. Even knowing it was a simulation, the body felt eerily realistic, sending chills down her spine.
Is it real?
Just as the doubt crept in, his body dissolved into dust and vanished.
“Good job, Ara.”
“Thanks, sunbae. Honestly, it was touch-and-go when we lost him. Did you know all his attack patterns?”
“Yeah, more or less.”
“And his weapon breaking mid-fight was pure luck. We had some heavenly fortune on our side.”
Baek Han-beom apparently hadn’t noticed. He didn’t see the iron shards she’d hurled with telekinesis cracking his blade.
The professor must’ve seen it.
That was enough. First place.
This time, I’m definitely using my wish voucher.
Yoo Ara clenched her fist, steeling her resolve.
“Then let’s move quick. Before the other villains hear the noise and swarm us. If we escort these folks to the goal, we’ve passed with flying colors.”
“No, as long as we don’t get eliminated early, we’re holding first.”
Lee Hye-ri cut off Baek Han-beom.
“Taking down Harold means that much.”
She clearly knew who Harold was.
“You’ve fought him yourself?”
“Nah. I saw my oppa fight him. This Harold guy? He’s the one Oppa let slip away multiple times.”
“Lee Kang-san let him get away? How terrifying was this villain?”
“Oppa’s all about saving people, so he’d always target Oppa’s weak teammates to cover his escape.”
“Ah.”
Baek Han-beom bit his lip at her words. He’d missed the guy’s moves too, even in this adjusted simulation.
If he were real? It wouldn’t be ankles—he’d go for throats.
Yoo Ara had anticipated that, protecting Lee Hye-ri’s ankles like it was nothing. Her hunter instincts were sharp. A talent worth recruiting personally.
Even knowing the strategy ahead, pulling it off was impressive. It wasn’t the kind of attack you could just block.
Despite being a rear-support, her reflexes rivaled an agility hunter’s.
Great judgment, decisive too. She can hold rear guard, but mid-line in a pinch.
Originally, she’d joined D-33 to recruit Lee Hye-ri. But finding another gem like her was a bonus.
One more hunter to report to Uncle.
Rumors weren’t always wrong, but they’d underestimated her. She hadn’t ridden Lee Hye-ri’s coattails to second place.
Baek Han-beom’s eyes gleamed as he watched Yoo Ara, oblivious to his gaze as she focused on Lee Hye-ri’s words.
“So who took down this villain originally? If there’s a sim record, someone beat him, right?”
“Probably a hunter you know, Yoo Ara. Famous for hunting another hunter in a dungeon two years back.”
“Ah, no way—Shadow Mask?”
“Yeah, I heard he got him.”
Impressive. If fakes were this tough, how’d he take down the real deal?
“Just the finisher.”
Lee Hye-ri balled her fists.
“Oppa had him beat. He couldn’t chase ‘cause he was helping teammates, so this guy swoops in and claims the solo kill...”
“Ah.”
Lee Hye-ri had clearly been stewing on it.
“Whatever. It’s proven he’s no better than a villain anyway.”
“True that.”
It was infamous in hunter circles: Shadow Mask, champion of justice, outed as a teammate-slaying scum.
[D-33 Team: Harold Eliminated]
“Let’s drop it. Villains might show up.”
“Yeah, let’s move.”
“Got it.”
D-33 hustled the civilians along.
With Harold down, D-33 had first place locked. They smoothly rescued all 10 civilians without much interference, then prioritized saves over fights—like victors conserving energy.
The rest scrapped for second, though. A-Class hotshots, overeager, rushed low-tier villains and got dropped. Upsets galore.
That’s round two for you: heavy tension, dying sim civilians in real-time, lifelike villain brawls draining mental stamina. Judgment slips, bad calls happen.
“Fuck!”
Kwon Jun-hyuk clutched his shoulder wound, cursing. Prime example of a dropout. He’d pushed too hard for first, tangling with too many villains and fell behind.
His and A-1’s elimination rocked the feeds.
The internet was exploding. Even post-exam, forums buzzed about Kwon Jun-hyuk’s flop.
“...”
Baek Han-beom ignored Kwon Jun-hyuk. Touching that hothead now was suicide—who knew what he’d do.
That’s not the point.
Why he’d joined this team: to recruit Lee Hye-ri for his uncle’s guild, Cheongwol Guild—domestic #4, solid rep, just sandwiched by the top three.
Lee Hye-ri seems set on Saint Guild with her brother in the US...
Tank main? She couldn’t jump straight in—America’s #1 wasn’t a joke. Tempt her with Cheongwol as a stepping stone?
The surprise was Yoo Ara.
Impressive.
Scouts from big guilds incoming post-results. Offers too.
Even Daesung’ll bid.
Lock in Cheongwol’s edge before guild reps swarmed.
“Yoo Ara sunbae.”
“Y-Yes?”
“Got something to discuss.”
“What is it?”
“Guild decided? That’s what I wanna talk about.”
“Already set.”
“Pardon?”
“Decided long ago. Sorry.”
“Ah... Still, hear me out?”
“Sorry. Won’t change my mind, no matter what.”
“I see.”
Her resolve was ironclad.
“Daesung?”
“No, not that.”
“Then...?”
“You’ll find out later. Not a huge guild, though.”
Locking eyes as she refused, Baek Han-beom knew.
She’s not budging.
Her face screamed full trust in some no-name guild.
“Understood.”
And the scoreboard lit up.
[D-33 Yoo Ara]
[D-33 Lee Hye-ri]
[D-33 Baek Han-beom]
As expected, D-33 took first. The tie was unexpected—usually, teams rank internally. Meant balanced excellence, no weak links.
“We really got first?”
Yoo Ara beamed at the board.
First. Finally first—even tied, it counted!
“Kyaaaa!!!”
She shrieked in joy. Round two, finals—nailed it.
Now, claim the wish from Teacher! What to wish? How to say it? Could she pull it off?
Beating the bet thrilled her more than first place.
“Congrats, Ara.”
“Thanks.”
“Everyone worked hard.”
“You too, Han-beom.”
“Team up like this next semester too? Yoo Ara sunbae, you heading to A-Class then?”
“Huh?”
A-Class?
“Round one second, round two first. Even as a repeater, that’s A-Class material.”
Right on cue—
“Yoo Ara, professor’s office please?”
Park Ji-yoon called her over.
“R-Really?”
“You heard right. Next semester, A-Class. And top-priority scholarship.”
Park Ji-yoon flipped the file.
“Scholarship covers one semester’s tuition: 20 million won. Dorm fees too. Or stay in your current place—then it’s stipend instead...”
“Uh, uh.”
Yoo Ara’s jaw dropped at each perk. Way better than expected.
Full tuition waiver. Dorm stipend. Free gear/venue rentals, optional dedicated TA.
“Pretty sweet, huh?”
“Y-Yeah...”
“National funding means it’s generous. Guild plans?”
“Guild?”
“Went nationwide. Academy round two’s popular. Reps watch first-years closely. You topped it.”
“Word’s spreading among them.”
“Expect guild calls today. Academy can block ‘em. Got a pick?”
“Yes. Block them. Say I’m set.”
“Decided as a repeater?”
“Yep.”
“...Surprising. Thought you were ambitious.”
“I am. That’s why.”
Park Ji-yoon smiled.
“Ah, your tutor’s guild?”
“No idea what you mean.”
“Won’t block private tutoring. No need to hide.”
Yoo Ara saw the greed in her eyes.
Thinks she can poach me?
No way. First place killed the promo angle for Teacher’s classes.
So.
“Professor, I’ll head out.”
“Go on.”
“Yes.”
“Enjoy break. See you in A-Class next semester.”
“See you then.”
Yoo Ara headed home, heart fluttering.
I smirked at the shifting opinions. Haters calling her a repeater flop? Vanished.
Serious columns too. Gifs dissecting her moves, even catching her shattering Harold’s weapon at the end.
“They’ve got eyes.”
Satisfying. She’d showcased her value—mine skyrockets too.
Time for her gift.
I knocked on her lit door.
Knock knock.
“Coming!”
Yoo Ara, dressed extra cute, greeted me.
“First place—congrats. Watched every second. Nailed Harold.”
Straight praise. That sufficed.
“Wish ready?”
“Uh, y-yeah, um. I-I thought of one, but...”
“Why hesitate?”
Fidgeting, she finally spoke.
“W-Wanna... go on a d-date?”
“A date?”
“Yes.”
“That’s your wish?”
Blushing, she looked up.
“...Yes.”