Corporal Punishment Addict Lee Hye-ri (3)
Class 23-A's end-of-month evaluation. It was two weeks earlier than other classes, drawing most of the professors to the testing grounds. Even Professor Choi Ik-hyeon, who rarely visited evaluation sites, showed up. It was as if every heavy-bottomed professor who preferred watching footage in their labs over seeing it live had gathered. This end-of-month eval was under the spotlight for many.
Two students promoted from D-Class: Yoo Ara and Lee Hye-ri. How far would they rank in A-Class? Could they claim first place again like in the first semester, or was it just the bonus points from D-Class that got them there? Today, the results would reveal all.
The visiting professor specialized in "Understanding Close Combat Techniques," a must for strength-based melee dealers. He had eyes for one student: Lee Hye-ri. All tanks, frontliners, and melee dealers were under his instruction.
"Professor Park, did you hear Lee Hye-ri applied to fully switch to tank?"
"Yeah, that's why we're all here, right? People are saying she came to A-Class the hard way just to drop back to D."
Stroking his white beard as he greeted Professor Park Ji-yoon, he looked somewhat angry. His face burned with fury at Lee Hye-ri's declaration to fully switch to tank.
After dropping to D-Class, she'd trained as a hybrid dealer-tank. Now, right before the eval, word spread that she'd gone full tank.
"What do you think?"
"About what?"
"Her tank switch. Weren't you the one who helped her train up close? I heard you've taught a few classes since the second semester started."
"……."
Surprisingly quiet. Normally, he'd boast loudly about his students, slyly turning it into self-praise—a bit annoying to deal with.
"She'll score high."
"Then why the sour face?"
"Because I didn't teach her."
"Pardon?"
"I didn't teach Lee Hye-ri. Or rather, she wasn't this grown in the first semester when I did."
"So?"
"She exploded during break—as a tank, of course. She's ready to fill her role now."
Professor Choi spat it out like it pissed him off.
"You seem uncomfortable."
"Of course! 'Just her role'! Lee Hye-ri could've been Korea's top star hunter as a dealer! Dodging? You know how evasion tanks get treated? They can't even solo tank, let alone main for a party—useless hybrids! Some dumbass ruined an S-grade dealer gem! I don't know who, but they won't get away with it!"
The professors' gazes flicked over as Professor Choi gnashed his teeth in rage. But they soon lost interest. It wasn't the first time he'd yelled like that.
"You against class changes?"
"Obviously! Stupid choice. She'll regret it later, scraping the bottom, unloved by any party."
Professor Choi Ik-hyeon's eyes blazed.
"That's why I'm here to watch and convince her. Evasion tank is fringe—drop the stubbornness, go mainstream dealer."
"I see."
Park Ji-yoon nodded, scanning the arena. Like Choi's interest in Lee Hye-ri, she had eyes for Yoo Ara—her explosive growth, mastering the tricky telekinesis skill, her future potential. Park even planned to groom her as a direct grad student, recommend her as a government hunter. If she learned well, she could become an academy prof like Park.
Most professors here probably scouted talent to work with them. Their eyes on promising futures gleamed like predators hunting deer.
And this eval was different: frontliners vs. backliners.
Professor Yu played it smart.
Inter-class rivalries were less objective than dealer-tank, front-back matchups. He'd picked this to test Yoo Ara and Lee Hye-ri: How long could Hye-ri hold against a dealer? Was Ara truly A-Class material?
Park, expecting their matchup, leaned back with mild disappointment.
"Alright, let's begin the end-of-month evaluation."
Professor Yu Dae-seok started the test.
Yoo Ara's opponent wasn't Lee Hye-ri—it was Baek Han-beom. Hye-ri faced Kwon Jun-hyuk.
Testing us, huh.
Reading Professor Yu's intent, Yoo Ara eyed the towering Baek Han-beom. His white medium armor and massive shield made him look two heads taller.
"Please go easy, Ara."
"Yeah."
Tough matchup.
Damn, of all people...
Bad synergy. She'd have confidence against Kwon Jun-hyuk. Backline duels tested damage output, crisis response, raid tactics. But hunter-vs-hunter was unfamiliar to her. Telekinesis sucked in direct fights.
"I won't lose."
She couldn't. Not with the prize from Teacher on the line. She had to climb this mountain called Baek Han-beom.
"Begin!"
Professor Yu's call—Baek raised his shield. Tank's goal: protect the VIP behind for the time limit. Dealer's: breach and nab or smash it.
Wow, zero openings.
No burst, no agility—Yoo Ara's utility shone, but Baek was her nightmare matchup. She feinted telekinesis bursts to distract, draw aggro.
But.
"……."
Baek ignored it. Like ignoring was victory.
Boom!
Another hit—his shield and armor didn't budge.
As she floated up with telekinesis toward the VIP—
"Hup!"
Crack!
Mana into his anti-magic shield nullified hers.
"Tch!"
Yoo Ara fired telekinesis blasts. Needed more power. Amped mana—rocks and debris from the field floated, smashing Baek's flanks.
"Gah!"
Baek shielded the VIP rocks.
Boom!
Dust cloud blinded him.
Now, grab the target...
"Found you."
Baek pierced the dust, shield-bashing her.
Crack!
Anti-magic again. Telekinesis snapped.
"Kyaa!"
Yoo Ara flew back. Even tumbling, she reached out for one last push.
"No chance!"
Baek swung shield eyes closed.
"Time up!"
15 minutes over.
"VIP protected—winner, Baek Han-beom!"
"Hah, hah. Damn!"
Drained to her limit, Yoo Ara panted on the ground. Lost. Bad matchup or not, defeat was defeat. She swallowed the bitterness.
"Five more minutes, and I'd have lost."
Baek offered his white-gauntleted hand.
"How'd you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Find me in the dust. No detection magic on you."
"Everyone hides an ace."
Yoo Ara grabbed the winner's smiley hand, standing. Infuriating. Losing to him burned.
But worse: no prize from Teacher.
"Hiding an ace. Must be nice being so chill."
Her voice sharpened, snapping. Baek sighed.
"Didn't you hide too?"
"What?"
"That telekinesis power. Never saw it. Lifting boulders like that."
He pointed at the chunks she'd hurled.
"Not many in A-Class corner me like that. Everyone'll agree—you belong."
Baek bowed out. Yoo Ara spotted Professor Park thumbs-upping from the stands on exit.
Bittersweet. Wished it was Siu Teacher.
"Guess the prize waits...
Recognition from many, but mouth still bitter. No prize.
New goal: Beat Baek Han-beom this semester.
Her eyes ignited.
"Fuck yeah!"
Kwon Jun-hyuk cheered learning Lee Hye-ri was his foe. No way he'd lose to a fresh tank switcher. Theme: VIP protection—evasion tank's worst nightmare. If she dodged, VIP ate the hit. She couldn't freely evade. Her speed was an issue, but his Agility was A too.
But.
"What the hell!"
Clang!
Lee Hye-ri parried every strike. Nothing landed. Even tricky hwando rushes.
Clang! Clang!
"Too slow. Dull too?"
Her fingertips redirected trajectories.
"Krr!"
Path twisted, Kwon tumbled humiliatingly. Teeth grinding.
"You fucking bitch!"
"Lame, huh?"
"Rotten cunt!"
"Mouth too foul for your skill? Still got that thug habit?"
Lee Hye-ri smirked at his impotence. Before declaring tank, they'd clashed once. Same age, dungeon-running side by side with pros—rival tension. He'd won narrowly. Then she switched; he mocked her as fleeing his superiority.
Now.
"Raaah!"
He couldn't touch a hair.
Amazing.
Teacher Kim Siu. Top-tier.
Overwhelming a dealer she'd struggled against. Only felt it vs. Teacher and Marcson before. This was.
Overpowered!
Her lips curled. Kwon saw mockery.
"I'll kill you to win."
Mana surged—not test play, lethal intent. Skill activated: Blazing Flames.
"Kwon Jun-hyuk! Stop!"
Professor Yu intervened, but.
Whoosh!
Too late—massive fire orb launched. His monster-slaying powerhouse.
"Hye-ri! Dodge!"
Too late to block. Pray she evades.
Lee Hye-ri eyed the skill. Saw it: trajectory, flow.
Instead of dodging, she swung her spear.
Whoosh!
Mana-charged spear redirected the blaze skyward.
BOOM!
Fire hit the field's wards, vanishing.
"……Winner, Lee Hye-ri. Kwon Jun-hyuk, follow me. Disciplinary committee."
Professor Yu, pale, declared as flames faded.
The hyped duel ended in Lee Hye-ri's victory, drawing all eyes.
Kwon got 2-month suspension, program mandatory, 200 hours community service.
Yu stepped down as A-Class advisor for negligence.
Thus ended 23-A's early end-of-month eval.