Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Midterm Results and Adaptation
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This would need some more thought.
My points weren't exactly overflowing yet, either.
That was when it happened.
[Some teachers from the Wizard Academy feel proud of you.]
[You have acquired 3,000 points as a reward.]
“......What?”
I found out why the teachers felt proud of me after morning assembly ended.
It was because the midterm exam results had come out.
“The test scores are out!”
“Really? Kinda scary to check.”
“Ugh, I'm nervous.”
The students checked their scores using the smart student handbooks in their hands. Some made sour faces, while others let out cheers of joy.
I checked my scores right away, too.
［2nd Year Midterm Evaluation Scores］
［Kim Sunwoo］［2nd Year Class A］
［Practical - 34th Place］
［Theory - 1st Place］
［Final Combined - 72nd Place］
34th in practical and 1st in theory.
Not a bad result.
The only regrettable part was that if it were a system like regular schools where rankings were set per semester's exam scores, I would've jumped straight into the top 20 overall. Unfortunately, the Wizard Academy used a comprehensive ranking system that tallied scores from every semester, so I couldn't crack the top ranks yet.
'Still, this is something.'
Midterms had a low weight in the overall scores, so they didn't impact the comprehensive rankings much anyway.
But I'd shot up from 150th to 72nd in one go.
Compared to the other students, it was an enormous score jump.
[You have achieved the 'Dramatic Score Improvement' accomplishment.]
[You have acquired 5,000 points as a reward.]
[You have achieved the 'Escaped the Bottom' accomplishment.]
[You have acquired 2,000 points as a reward.]
[You have achieved the 'Theory 1st Place' accomplishment.]
[You have acquired 10,000 points as a reward.]
And a massive point haul on top of that.
My total points had now risen to 63,500.
Combining yesterday and today, I'd earned nearly 50,000 points.
“Heh heh.”
As I was grinning to myself, a message alert rang from my smart student handbook.
[Student Kim Sunwoo, checked your scores?]
It was from Manifestation Department teacher Lee Hee-young. She seemed to contact me more often than my own homeroom teacher, Jang An-cheol.
[Yes, just checked.]
[Your rank jumped a ton—congrats. And you passed the special class for the talented that I mentioned last time. Most of the other teachers were in favor, too.]
“Oh...”
This opened up a natural way to insert myself into some of the original story's events.
Of course, with how twisted the plot was now, I wasn't sure how much it mattered, but hanging around key figures couldn't hurt.
[Glad to hear it. So when does the special class start?]
[Nothing's set in stone yet. Probably sometime this week.]
This week?
In the original, it was next week.
“......Hmm. Probably doesn't matter much?”
[The date announcement should go up tonight, so keep an eye out.]
[Got it.]
Monday's sparring class.
Yoo Ah-ra was sparring with her partner, Lee Seo-jun, in one of the individual training rooms.
Loud booms echoed as what looked like dangerous strikes flew between them.
Even though it was just student sparring, these two—called once-in-a-generation geniuses—were on another level entirely.
“Whew.”
After 15 minutes of sparring, a short break arrived. Yoo Ah-ra sat in a chair, wiping sweat from her forehead with a towel and drinking some water.
"You're extra fired up today."
Lee Seo-jun glanced at her and commented. She always trained with killer intent, but today was especially intense. Like she was running from something.
"I'm planning to work even harder from now on."
"You could afford to take it easy a bit."
"Take it easy?..."
Yoo Ah-ra set down her water and stood up again.
"Let's get right back to it."
Lee Seo-jun narrowed his eyes.
"Rest a little longer. It's not even been two minutes."
“......Fine, one more minute.”
"Five minutes."
Yoo Ah-ra let out a deep sigh at Lee Seo-jun's firm tone and sat back down.
Leaning against the wall, she gazed at Lee Seo-jun.
He was tending to his training sword at his waist.
She stared at him blankly, lost in thought.
“Lee Seo-jun.”
“Hm?”
“What percentage do you fight me at during sparring?”
Lee Seo-jun blinked at Yoo Ah-ra's out-of-nowhere question.
“Dunno. Like 30%? It's sparring, so I can't go all out.”
30%.
Yoo Ah-ra bit her lip at his words.
She'd just gone at nearly 70% herself. Yet Lee Seo-jun had matched her evenly with only 30%.
For the gap between 1st and 2nd place, it felt bigger than expected. She let out a deep sigh.
“Haa.”
Then, suddenly, Kim Sunwoo came to mind.
The skill she'd seen from him last time.
Kim Sunwoo had clearly surpassed her own abilities by a wide margin.
In terms of pure genius and talent, he absolutely wouldn't lose to Lee Seo-jun. She grew curious about Lee Seo-jun's take.
“What do you think of Kim Sunwoo?”
“Hm? Kim Sunwoo?”
Lee Seo-jun gave a puzzled look at the sudden mention.
“Guy's kinda weird. Dead last in the school, but good in classes, took down that green giant quick in the last midterm practical, and moved pretty well in magic defense too.”
“Ah.”
Lee Seo-jun nodded as if he got it.
“Yeah, he's unusual. Weirdly good combat sense, like he's hiding his true depth or something. That's the vibe.”
“Exactly.”
So it wasn't just her imagination. Lee Seo-jun thought the same. Just that brought Yoo Ah-ra a strange sense of relief.
“But why ask?”
“Just, his recent performances make him seem really skilled.”
“Kim Sunwoo has been standing out lately.”
Lee Seo-jun replied, thinking of his recent class and exam showings.
Yoo Ah-ra watched him, then asked what was on her mind.
“You just said he seems like he's hiding his depth. So, if he wasn't holding back, how high do you think he could rank?”
Lee Seo-jun crossed his arms, deep in thought at her question.
“Like 15th? He could hit that easy.”
“......What?”
Yoo Ah-ra was hugely disappointed by his answer.
Only 15th? Kim Sunwoo's skill was way beyond that.
At least 2nd. Maybe even 1st if he pushed it. Sure, ranking him above her stung her pride, but she knew she fell short compared to him.
She'd thought Lee Seo-jun would recognize his true value, but apparently not...
Meanwhile, Han Se-yeon had come to the vice president's office at Hanseong Group headquarters and sat there with anxious eyes.
Her throat felt parched for no reason, so she gulped down some tea. She still wasn't sure if this was the right move. She let out a breath and bowed her head.
Just then, the door to the vice president's office opened, and a man entered.
Han Se-yeon's brother, Hanseong Group vice president Han Se-jin.
"What's up? You asking to meet first for once."
Han Se-jin said with a gentle smile.
“Oppa.”
Han Se-yeon called to him. Han Se-jin tilted his head at his sister's haggard face.
“Something bad happen? You look rough.”
“Hm? No, just a bit of a cold.”
“Yeah? Then rest up.”
“No. Gotta work.”
“Don't push yourself. So, what brings you here?”
Han Se-jin exchanged formal pleasantries and sat across from her.
Han Se-yeon clamped her mouth shut. She had something to say, but it wouldn't come out.
Could she really trust that man? Wasn't she doing something foolish? Her mind raced with doubts.
“......I want to propose a deal.”
“A deal?”
“Dungeon business. Interested? I could hand it over.”
Han Se-jin's eyes flashed with interest for a moment.
“What? You're giving that up?”
“Not giving up. I'm just sick of it. Got interested in something else.”
“What business?”
Han Se-jin showed clear curiosity. What could she be so eager to pursue that she'd drop the dungeon business for it? But Han Se-yeon shook her head.
“Obviously can't tell you.”
“Aww, come on. Spill.”
“No way. Anyway, interested in the dungeon business? If not, I'll shop it elsewhere.”
She said that, but she had no real intention of selling to anyone else.
It was doomed to fail anyway.
If it tanked under her brother's watch, it'd help bolster her position within Hanseong Group.
Of course, if Kim Jinwoo's words turned out false, it'd boost Han Se-jin's standing instead. In short, this was a gamble.
She hated gambling, but this was the legendary gambler who'd never lost once speaking. Even she couldn't ignore that.
In the end, she decided to bet. To trust Kim Jinwoo.
Oblivious to her intentions, Han Se-jin grinned greedily.
“Huge interest. Hand it over to me. I'll take good care of you.”
“......Okay.”
The die had been cast.
What number would it land on? That would reveal itself soon enough.
And if... if Kim Jinwoo's words proved true.
She'd do whatever it took to pull him to her side to seize Hanseong Group.
After regular classes ended, I was back in the dorm checking the point shop.
“Tough choice.”
I had a whopping 63,500 points on hand now.
That was enough for a decent A-Rank trait.
Sure, saving up more for an S-Rank wasn't bad, but grabbing two A-Ranks to shore up my basics over one S-Rank appealed too.
Or buying multiple B-Ranks was an option.
What to pick? Something versatile with high growth potential...
Ah, got one. It was a trait that 1st year 2nd place Jeon Min-gi picks up later in the original.
[Searching for 'Evolution and Adaptation.']
[Secret Art of Evolution and Adaptation (A)]
Classification: Trait
Description: Achieve specific conditions to evolve and adapt.
［Continuous Effect］
►Evolution and Adaptation
Fulfill conditions to gain adaptive traits.
*Acquired adaptive traits can grow, but with reduced effects.
Price: 50,000
Secret Art of Evolution and Adaptation.
Exactly as named—a trait for gaining new ones through evolution or adaptation.
Not physical changes or anything; it was purely for acquiring adaptive traits.
Like building cold resistance after prolonged exposure to the cold, that sort of thing.
No immediate big gains, but each new trait came with stat boosts, so snagging this early could yield top efficiency.
And it'd definitely help in this week's dungeon exploration.
“50,000 points...”
Buying it would leave me with just 13,500.
Gotta save the rest for emergencies.
[You have purchased Secret Art of Evolution and Adaptation (A).]
[Evolution and Adaptation effect has activated.]
A pure white light bloomed before me and seeped into my body.
As always, no special sensation.
“Phew. Done.”
With the trait secured, time to test it out.
As I got ready to head out, a message arrived on my smart student handbook.
［Talent Special Class Group Notice］
[First gathering this Wednesday at 7 PM for brief intros and greetings. Please assemble at Main Building 5th Floor, Room 503.]
The Talent Special Class date was set.
Same as original: Wednesday at 7 PM.
All the key figures from every grade would gather in one place that day.
Including major protagonists like Lee Seo-jun and Yoo Ah-ra, but also potential villains like Park In-hwan and Jang Ye.
Plus a chance to connect with other figures I hadn't interacted with yet.
“Hmm...”
One worry: the butterfly effect from my participation in this meeting.
Hope nothing annoying crops up.
“Huff! ...Huff!”
Tuesday evening, physical training room.
For the past two days, I'd been grinding to unlock new traits from 'Secret Art of Evolution and Adaptation.'
Cranking up weights, burning stamina, pushing my body to the absolute limit over and over.
“......Whoa. Look at that grit. Guy's insane.”
“He was always like that, but lately it's next level?”
Whispers and stares came my way. Some lunatic trembling on exhausted limbs, still powering through workouts? Natural reaction.
But I ignored the looks and kept driving myself to the brink.
When my upper body gave out, I'd run on the treadmill. Once it recovered, hit the weights. Stamina back? Run again.
The fitness recovery from my Returner's Watch made this mad training possible, but my determination to squeeze every drop from those 50,000 points fueled me too.
After a long session, a message popped up.
[Your body has adapted to extreme conditions!]
[Adaptive trait, 'Extreme Endurance Spirit (D)' has been added.]
“Huuuuh...! Got it...”
Finally, I'd nabbed the trait I wanted.