Chapter 131
Chapter 131
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: Midterm Results
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His position was higher than Han Se-yeon's, but the true power in Hanseong Pharmaceuticals belonged to Han Se-yeon.
She would one day rise to the top seat in Hanseong Pharmaceuticals, so there was no reason to oppose her opinion unless it involved a major company matter.
At Director Jeong's words, Han Se-yeon set down the documents in her hand.
"Then let's add them to the list. We'll notify the school next week, and set the meeting for the day of the Taehwi Festival."
Friday afternoon at 12 p.m., the day after the exams ended.
The 2nd years were done with their tests and resting, but the 1st and 3rd years still had exams today.
Because of that, it was noisy outside the dorms again today. Countless reporters and scouts, plus regular people there to gawk.
The atmosphere was like a festival was underway.
Even though the actual school festival, the Taehwi Festival, was two weeks away.
I let out a big yawn and got out of bed.
The excitement from yesterday's exam had lingered late into the night, making me toss and turn in my sleep.
Thanks to that, I slept straight through until noon. Honestly, I wanted to sleep more, but I forced myself up, worried about messing up my sleep schedule.
Plus, I had a personal appointment today.
While I was asleep, I checked the new Outsider's Benefit messages.
[Many people have become your fans.]
[You have acquired 5,000 points as a reward.]
[A character you haven't met yet has taken an interest in you.]
[You have acquired 500 points as a reward.]
I'd earned 5,500 Fame Points.
What bugged me a bit was how often these messages about 'a character you haven't met yet' had been popping up lately.
It would be great if I knew who it was, but since I couldn't, it nagged at me.
"Hmm!"
I checked my total points.
[Owned Points: 98,500]
98,500 points. An awkward number.
Of course, this wasn't all the points from my midterm performance yet.
The exam results hadn't spread widely, and there were still achievements like ranking improvements pending.
I should hold off on buying new traits until I get everything.
I took a quick shower and checked my smart student handbook.
Nearly 100 messages had arrived.
Lots of students congratulating my win, but plenty from major guild scouts too.
[Hello. This is Sung Min-hye, recruitment team leader for Plum Blossom Guild. I saw your performance, Student Kim Sun-woo. Our guild...]
I skimmed it and closed it, too tired to read. Instead, I checked messages from important people.
Choi Seo-yoon, Yoon Ha-young, Shin Young-jun—while going through the miscellaneous ones, Yoo Ara's message from 40 minutes ago caught my eye.
[There's a victory team celebration dinner tonight, right? You going?]
Victory team celebration dinner.
At 6 p.m. tonight. Exams were over, and with Friday through Sunday off, it was a chance to really let loose.
Of course, this wasn't Yoo Ara's idea—it was the other students'.
[Of course.]
Everyone had been bombarding me to join.
I replied, then approached Gretel. She was sprawled out flat on the floor, snoring away.
It was so funny I chuckled quietly, then looked at the branch on her head.
The fruit was almost ripe.
I still couldn't tell what effect it would have even if I used the Outsider's Benefit on it, but I could probably pick and eat it within a week.
Exciting. Wonder what it'll do.
I poked the fruit with my finger.
Soft yet firm, like a tomato.
"Nyah."
Then Gretel stirred. Had I woken her? I felt bad. Luckily, she didn't wake up.
Meanwhile, Lee Seo-jun had returned to his family home.
After losing the exam, staying at school had left him feeling unsettled.
As he opened the door to the massive mansion and stepped inside, a white-haired old man appeared.
"You're back."
"Grandpa."
Lee Seo-jun called out to Kim Jin-cheol happily.
Kim Jin-cheol stared at him silently, then spoke.
"Eaten yet?"
"Yeah, I have. You, Grandpa?"
"I ate too."
At Kim Jin-cheol's reply, Lee Seo-jun asked,
"But Grandpa, no work today?"
"Work? I worked all week and barely got home today."
"Oh..."
"And I heard. Acted all arrogant like usual in the midterms, then lost pathetically? Word's all over. Tsk tsk."
Lee Seo-jun chuckled at that.
"Arrogant? Most say I held my own alone. You visiting my anti-fan cafe?"
Kim Jin-cheol burst out laughing.
"Truth is, I already saw your exam footage. That opponent—the Kim Sun-woo you mentioned?"
At the name Kim Sun-woo, Lee Seo-jun paused, then nodded.
"Yeah. Kim Sun-woo."
"Quite the interesting kid. His fighting style was just like that pathetic someone I know—made it fun to watch."
That pathetic someone Kim Jin-cheol knew.
Lee Seo-jun figured out who. But he didn't say it out loud.
"So, what'd you learn from losing? There must've been some lesson."
Lee Seo-jun thought for a moment, then spoke.
"I realized I'm still lacking a lot. And that I need to get stronger."
"Tsk. Pathetic. Haven't learned a thing. Got beat like that and still clueless."
"You idiot. Strength doesn't solve everything. No matter how strong, alone you're limited."
Lee Seo-jun shut his mouth.
"Your loss wasn't from lack of power. It was your selfishness, ignoring your teammates."
Lee Seo-jun's mind went blank for a second. It wasn't wrong.
Difference in leadership and strategy.
Yoo Ara had prepared a team strategy as leader. I hadn't. That was the decisive cause of the loss.
"Teammates matter that much. Even with the strongest power, alone it's meaningless. Even crime syndicates who treat others' lives like trash value their comrades' lives."
Kim Jin-cheol paused, seeming thoughtful, then continued.
"Jin Cheon-woo was the same. He terrified the world not because he was strong alone, but because of his strong comrades."
Kim Jin-cheol wasn't wrong.
In the exam, I'd only thought of my role. Yoo Ara and Kim Sun-woo had thought of the team.
"You're not a kid anymore. Time to build your own comrades. Look around—someone you need is surely there."
Comrades I need...
Lee Seo-jun pictured faces around him.
First that came to mind: Lee Hyun-joo, Shin Young-jun.
And people he wanted as comrades going forward... Yoo Ara, Choi Seo-yoon.
...And Kim Sun-woo.
Lee Seo-jun smiled faintly.
"Makes everything clear."
"...Good. And if you get comrades, never disappoint them."
Kim Jin-cheol muttered in a wistful tone, as if there was more to it.
"Yes."
Then a question popped into Lee Seo-jun's head.
"But that pathetic someone you mentioned earlier—is it Wizard Choi Il-hyun?"
"Yeah, that's right."
Choi Il-hyun.
One of the three disciples Kim Jin-cheol had raised, including Lee Seo-jun.
Ignoring his teachings to become a great wizard like 'Taehwi,' he mastered all four magic systems—famous story.
Another trait: he rarely showed himself to the world. His known nickname was 'Weirdo.'
"What’s he up to these days? Always alone."
"No idea. That weirdo. Never listened since he was a kid. Probably obsessed with some useless research again."
Kim Jin-cheol clicked his tongue, then added,
"Telling you to make comrades means don't end up like Il-hyun. He's always alone 'cause of his poor social skills."
"Got it."
Time flew by, and Monday arrived. Exams were over, and after three days of rest, the classroom vibe was a bit loose.
I sat at the corner of my desk, browsing the internet on my smart student handbook.
[Korean Wizard Academy 2nd Year 'Kim Sun-woo' Selected as This Month's Rising Star]
['Kim Sun-woo' Rises to 26th on STAR50 Rising Star Rankings]
"Sun-woo!"
I was blankly scrolling articles when Yoon Ha-young approached excitedly. I closed the handbook and turned to her.
"What're you doing?"
"Just browsing the internet."
Yoon Ha-young gave a cute suspicious look.
"Hmm. Searching your own name? Right?"
She grinned. Nailed it—I was flustered. Had she secretly learned mind-reading?
"How'd you know?"
"Obvious. I'm a pro at this stuff."
Pro at what?
"Oh, right. Sun-woo, picked your practical instructor yet?"
"Practical instructor? ...Oh."
Practical instruction.
New after 2nd year 2nd semester first midterm: 1v1 personal guidance course.
Get 1v1 lessons from pro active wizards—great for honing combat sense.
Note: Instructors aren't just school teachers.
School recruits pro wizards for this, so you can get 1v1 from outsiders too.
But for outsiders, student applies and teacher accepts.
"Hmm. Haven't thought about it. Maybe Teacher Lee Hee-young?"
No need for outsiders.
Manifestation teacher Lee Hee-young has plenty of skill as an instructor.
"Yeah? I'm still deciding. Heard rumor Elena the wizard's coming as external instructor."
Elena Green.
One of the world's top ice-speed manifestation wizards.
Knowing the original story, I knew Elena was joining as external instructor.
"Rumor's true. Apply to her. Same ice-speed, she'll definitely help."
"Really? But will she accept me..."
"She will. Don't worry."
Even in the original where growth was slower, she accepted.
Yoon Ha-young beamed at my words.
"Got it. Thanks to you, I have courage."
Then the front door opened, and Jang An-cheol entered.
Students' eyes turned to him as they returned to seats.
"Everyone have a good weekend?"
"Yes!"
Jang An-cheol smiled at their energetic reply.
"Good. Midterms over, wanna rest, but busy schedule ahead. You know."
Busy schedule ahead.
Taehwi Festival in two weeks, instructor interviews, etc.
"You 1st years did Taehwi Festival, so you know: each class decides activities. Time's short—decide quick."
Taehwi Festival has culture, arts, sports, etc. Like normal school festivals.
Races, quizzes, etc.
Especially next year's 3rd year: play, where Lee Seo-jun's fire dance becomes black history, mocked even after pro debut.
"Anyway, trust you to prepare well... And midterm results are out today."
"Huh? Already?"
"Three days ago?"
Murmurs rose; Jang An-cheol tapped his desk.
"Results on comprehensive info system—check via smart handbooks. That ends homeroom."
Jang An-cheol left. Students hurriedly opened handbooks to check scores.
[2nd-Midterm Evaluation Grades]
[Kim Sun-woo][2-A]
[Practical - 2nd]
[Theory - 1st]
[Final Total - 13th]
['Top 15 Final Grades' achievement unlocked.]
[Acquired 10,000 points as reward.]
['Practical 2nd Place' achievement unlocked.]
[Acquired 5,000 points as reward.]
Practical 2nd.
Final total 13th.
Satisfying results.
Plus 15,000 points. Higher grades meant way more points.
I glanced at Yoo Ara and Lee Seo-jun.
Their expressions as they checked scores were total opposites from before.
Yoo Ara looked dazed; Lee Seo-jun's face was stiff, unlike usual.
As expected from captain battle winner, Yoo Ara took 1st in practical.
Still, overall 1st should be Lee Seo-jun.
From accumulated points so far.
Then our eyes met.
Yoo Ara looked at me and smiled happily.
"Support forms are better as defensive shapes like walls or pillars rather than aggressive ones like spears, swords, arrows, thorns, or spheres."
Morning main specialty class.
In the wide manifestation training ground, students sat clustered on the floor, listening to Lee Hee-young.
Some looked bored, whispering quietly, but I focused intently on her lecture.
"...So, question here. What's the criterion for choosing a support form that suits you?"
I shot my hand up.
Lee Hee-young looked at me approvingly.
"Yes, our hottest star lately, Sun-woo. Answer."
Some students chuckled at her joke.
Even Yoo Ara beside me giggled quietly. If she laughed, it was really funny.
"It's your main attribute and form."
"Very good. ...Though it's basic knowledge everyone knows, right?"
"Yes!"
She smiled again at their hearty reply.