Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Scholarships and Special Class Recommendations
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"I called you here because I have a few things to discuss. First up is the scholarship. It should be deposited by tomorrow."
Oh, so that's why she called us. For the scholarship.
I hadn't actually expected to receive one for real.
The joke I'd made to Lee Hee-young back then had actually come true.
"Ara will get the Special Talent Scholarship, while In-hwan and Sunwoo will receive Teacher Recommendation Scholarships."
"How much are we getting?"
"Ara gets 50 million won, In-hwan gets 10 million won, and Sunwoo gets 5 million won."
I glanced at Yu Ara. She didn't look particularly thrilled. Her expression said this was only natural. That confident vibe of hers was seriously cool.
That's when Park In-hwan spoke up in a baffled tone.
"Kim Sunwoo is getting a scholarship?"
"Yes."
"Why? He's dead last in the whole school."
"Sunwoo has talent."
Park In-hwan turned his gaze to me. His face was full of disbelief.
"Talent? Is it some auxiliary-type scholarship? I could kinda get it if it was after what Teacher Kim Yoon-jin saw last time."
"No, it's for manifestation-type."
"...This is gonna cause a huge uproar if word gets out to the other students. Auxiliary at least had the justification of barrier-breaking speed."
Park In-hwan muttered in a dissatisfied voice.
Well, I could understand his reaction.
I'd shown something in auxiliary, but nothing special in manifestation.
Lee Hee-young smiled gently and said,
"It's fine. Teacher Recommendation Scholarships are given at the teacher's discretion anyway. Let's move on to the next topic.
The real reason I called you three is something else."
Everyone's eyes turned to Lee Hee-young at her words.
"Starting this year, we're establishing Special Talent Classes. Five students per year per department. I'd like to nominate you three for the 2nd Year Manifestation-Type Special Class. The other two will come from other classes."
Ah, the Special Talent Classes.
It was an episode from the original story.
Simply put, they were like advanced classes in a regular school.
Selections were based purely on talent and potential, regardless of grades.
I never imagined dead-last me would get nominated for one.
"Anyone want to turn it down?"
No one said a word.
Of course not. Who'd pass up elite students getting special lessons together? Plus, networking with top students would open doors for achievements and fame points.
"No objections, then? I'll nominate you all for the Special Talent Class."
"Yes."
Lee Hee-young smiled in satisfaction as we answered together.
Then she looked at me.
"Oh, right. And Sunwoo."
"Yes."
"There's a condition for you."
"A condition?"
"You're dead last in the school right now, Sunwoo. You can't join the special class like that. But you can prove your potential and talent to the school."
Prove my potential and talent?
"Get into the top 80 overall in next week's midterm exam. You can do it, right?"
The meeting with Lee Hee-young ended, and Yu Ara, Park In-hwan, and I were heading back to the classroom.
We walked down the hall in silence until Park In-hwan suddenly grumbled at me with a pissed-off look.
"What the hell are you?"
"Why?"
"Teacher Kim Yoon-jin last time, Teacher Lee Hee-young now—why's everyone so desperate to shove scholarships at you?"
"No idea. Why ask me?"
I gave a vague answer to Park In-hwan's baseless grilling.
"No, it's weird. You got some rich family? From some prestigious house? Or did you bribe them?"
"Nope."
"You're a real mystery. No mana, mana discharge on day one. What gives?"
"...Sigh. Think what you want."
[Character 'Park In-hwan' feels slight anger toward you.]
[Reward: Acquire 500 points.]
"What'd you say?"
Park In-hwan lowered his voice threateningly. But I wasn't the type to snap at cheap provocations like that. I just shook my head and ignored him.
This guy's something else. Can't even hold his temper—how's he gonna survive in society later?
Oh, right. He's destined to become a villain anyway, so whatever.
"You two are being loud. Cut it out."
Yu Ara whipped around and snapped at us.
Park In-hwan shut up for a second under her fierce glare, then opened his mouth again.
"You cool with this? Dead last getting special class recs?"
Yu Ara's eyes shifted to me at his words. Clear gaze. No clue what emotion was in it.
"I think he can handle it."
"See! Wait, huh? You think he can?"
"Yeah. I sit next to Kim Sunwoo in manifestation class, so I know. He's got talent. Just his mana amount sucks."
Park In-hwan looked baffled at Yu Ara's unexpected response.
"No way. Even so, dead last?"
"That's how I see it. Drop it."
Park In-hwan finally clammed up at her irritated tone.
After all classes and training, I got back to the dorm. It was already past 11 p.m.
Shower and change pushed it to 11:30.
Only then did it feel like my day was done, with just 30 minutes left till tomorrow.
"...Oh yeah. Assignment's due tomorrow."
The history report on the properties of classical magic theory was for tomorrow's lecture.
It was assigned a week ago, but I'd put it off with my busy schedule until only one day remained.
"Ugh, annoying."
Guess I couldn't crash early tonight.
Theory classes didn't weigh much in grades at the Wizard Academy. But with my built-up image and point grinding, I couldn't skip even one assignment.
Plus, nailing theory would help for top 80 overall next evaluation.
"Ugh."
Still, could I really hit top 80 next week's exam...?
If it was just hitting targets like the first day's public test, I'd be confident in top 10.
Whatever.
Training was intense today—I'm beat. Wanna blow off the report and sleep.
Good thing I have Outsider's perks.
If I buckle down, two or three hours should do. Just jot down the info in my head anyway.
"Alright, let's write."
Thanks to Outsider's perks, I finished the assignment in half the time I expected—an hour.
Scribbling in a trance, I ended up with over 40 pages.
Even I thought it'd overkill as I looked it over.
This was basically professor thesis level.
After a good night's sleep, I turned it in next day. The classical magic theory teacher looked stunned.
"Kim Sunwoo. You did all this alone?"
"Yes, all by myself."
"No way, how's it 40+ pages?"
Worried I'd padded it with fluff, the teacher started skimming.
She read fast, then went back to page one. This time slower, eyes serious on every word.
She stared at me in shock.
"Kim Sunwoo. You didn't copy this anywhere? ...Nah, quality like this, I'd have seen it. Not that."
"All me."
[Character 'Yang Hyun-sook' is impressed by your diligence.]
[Reward: Acquire 500 points.]
Yang Hyun-sook—that's the classical magic teacher's name.
"Impressive. Even skimming, the quality's top-notch."
"Thanks."
"Back to your seat for now."
I bowed and returned. Yoon Hayoung, in my second front-row seat, turned and thumbs-upped me.
"Everyone, see Kim Sunwoo's assignment? 42 pages! Amazing, right? Hope you all learn from his diligence."
[35 students envy you.]
[Reward: Acquire 500 points.]
"42 pages for real?"
"He submitted a thesis, not homework."
"Damn, impressive."
Oblivious to the jealous stares, the teacher beamed at the class.
"Now, give hardworking Kim Sunwoo a round of applause."
"Woo!"
Faint claps echoed in the room.
Barely audible.
Looking around, only Yoon Hayoung, Lee Seo-jun, Shin Young-jun, and Lee Hyun-joo were clapping.
Knew it'd be like this. Either everyone claps or no one.
Now I feel awkward.
The tepid response got an embarrassed chuckle from the teacher too.
[Wizard Academy Scholarship Foundation]
[5,000,000 won deposited.]
"Oh."
Scholarship finally hit.
Not a huge sum with my billions in pocket change, but free money's free money.
I already knew where it'd go.
[Purchase 12 shares of Hanseong Pharmaceuticals]
Straight to stocks.
Article hasn't dropped yet, but price jumped already. Only snagged 12 shares.
Still, it'll spike more tomorrow post-article. Gotta buy.
Cash sitting idle's useless anyway.
'...Maybe invest elsewhere too.'
Pondering other stocks on my smart student notepad, Yoon Hayoung called from the front.
"Sunwoo. What do you think?"
Tuesday afternoon sparring class.
She showed me the ice arrow hovering over her hand.
I muttered quietly as I eyed it.
"...Insane."
"Hm?"
"Super good? The manifestation detail's on point."
She'd nailed my homework of memorizing arrow structure—practice showed in her spell form.
Skill shot up massively in days.
Crazy talent. Not Yu Ara level, but Park In-hwan tier for sure.
Kids like her deserve the scholarship special class, not me.
"Manifestation's solid now. Basics too."
"Really? Let's do light combat spar then. Sparring's in next week's midterm too."
Right. Midterms included sparring.
Won't help me much practicing with her, but it'd mean a lot for Yoon Hayoung.
Her sparring exp was zilch outside our bet.
Little practice and she'd skyrocket.
"Sure, sparring it is. Build some real combat sense."
"Awesome. Okay. Rematch time. Heh heh."
"Detail improved, confidence up?"
"Honestly, feeling cocky now. Plus, I saw your style last time, so I know how to handle it."
Oh yeah? Bring it.
Pure taunt, but fired me up too.
'Wanna test gym training results anyway.'
I stepped back to proper distance.
"Don't think spar. Think real fight—come at me."
"Huh? For real? What if you get hurt?"
"I'm good. Won't."
"...That stings my pride a bit."
Her competitive fire lit—eyes changed.
I smirked, gathered mana in my body. Focused in legs like always.
Tension flickered in her eyes.
"Go!"
She manifested and fired dozens of ice arrows at the start signal.
Roof-scraping barrage.
Taking my advice, she went full throttle like it was life-or-death.
Her detail improved, but launch speed lagged. I dodged swiftly.
Recent strength training paid off—no pain or strain reinforcing body with mana.
Lighter steps than usual, I evaded while closing in step by step.
"Hya!"
She'd learned from last spar—manifested and shot optimally to block my approach.
Insane mana control. Blasting spells nonstop without faltering.
I'd have depleted after a few shots.
'But.'
Magic duels aren't just mana.
Experience and sense rule. Yoon Hayoung lacked it. Me? Five-plus years pro wizard career.
I manifested a magic orb in my hand.
Not mana-heavy, but enough.
Fired it at her legs.
-Whoooosh!
Bang!
As expected, she twisted away nimbly. But not a miss.
Goal was just to create an opening in her offense.
Dodging broke her cast rhythm.
That's what I targeted.
Max leg mana, I charged.
Close range, I shoved her down and manifested over her, aiming.
Short clash. Ended anticlimactically again.
"...Hoo."
"Ugh. Was so sure this time."