Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Classroom Answers and the Endurance Run
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I raised my hand again. The teacher looked at me and smiled.
“Kim Sunwoo? I like that you're so proactive. Give us your answer.”
“The war began between the newly established Reinforcement wizards and the existing Manifestation wizards.”
Whispers spread among the surrounding students at my response.
“Hermione, huh.”
“Heh, she called him Hermione.”
“What's the point of paying attention in class? He's definitely coming in last.”
It must be the effect of yesterday's ranking evaluation test video spreading around.
Curses directed at me reached my ears.
Yeah, go ahead and talk all you want.
“Well answered, Kim Sunwoo. Looks like you study hard usually. I like that.”
Jealous glares stabbed at me amid the teacher's praise.
It wasn't even that hard a question.
If you're jealous, raise your own hand next time.
The class continued like that.
Afterward, I raised my hand six more times, making sure to leave a strong impression on the teacher.
“That's all for today's class. For our first lesson, Class 2-A has a really proactive atmosphere. It's great to see.”
Satisfaction filled the gaze of the teacher wrapping up the class.
She scanned the students slowly, then her eyes fixed on me.
“Especially Kim Sunwoo. I heard someone maliciously spread that video yesterday to humiliate you, but seeing you participate so actively without being discouraged is truly admirable. Don't let it get to you and keep coming to school.”
The teacher offered me warm words laced with comfort.
She had no idea that I was the one who spread the video.
A sudden curiosity arose.
What reaction would she have if she knew I was the one who spread it?
If you asked which was the strongest organization in the world, nine out of ten would say the World Wizards' Association's Anti-Terror Special Task Force.
The task force's main duties were subjugating demons appearing in the city and preventing terrorist attacks.
Unlike regular monsters, demons and terrorists possessed greater power. On top of that, they were superior in intelligence, making them trickier and more dangerous to deal with.
For that reason, every member of the task force was composed of top-tier wizards.
And Kim Deokhyeon was a veteran who had served there for 15 years.
Kim Deokhyeon returned to the Korean headquarters after finishing a week-long overseas assignment. Excited at the thought of seeing his colleagues after so long, he opened the door.
“Isn't this straight-up an admission scandal?”
“Yeah. Back when I was here, it wasn't this bad.”
“What? You went here too? What year?”
“Oh, I'm class of 2022.”
Even though he had returned, his colleagues were huddled together watching something, not even noticing him. What could they be watching to cluster like that?
Kim Deokhyeon quietly approached from behind to check.
‘A video?’
It was footage of a teenage student using magic. Gathering mana, then releasing it. But the mana discharge caused the magic orb to dissipate. To Kim Deokhyeon, it looked like nothing special, just a disappointing fail.
“What's this?”
“Argh! You scared me.”
Jeong Hyeon-su, who had been watching the video up front, flinched hard at Kim Deokhyeon's words.
“Oh, Senior Kim Deokhyeon. When did you get back?”
“Just now. But what's that?”
“Oh, it's yesterday's public test video from Korean Wizard High School. It leaked online.”
Kim Deokhyeon tilted his head at Jeong Hyeon-su's explanation.
“Not bad.”
“Huh?”
“I said not bad.”
“You didn't watch it properly, did you?”
“You watch it properly. That's a mana compression failure leading to discharge.”
Jeong Hyeon-su tilted his head at that.
You couldn't distinguish mana compression without feeling the mana up close in person.
But Kim Deokhyeon was certain from just the short video.
What was his basis?
“Huh? How could a student compress mana like that?”
“What's impossible about it? And look at the test target—it's not that big. Usually, you compress mana to hit just the head precisely for better scores.”
It wasn't wrong, but there were parts that were hard to accept as agreeing with Kim Deokhyeon.
“Even if it's mana compression like you say, how could someone who discharges at that level of compression use implementation techniques? And that student ranked 112th.”
“I don't know about 112th. But think the other way. If that's uncompressed mana, how does it cause a discharge with a magic orb that size?”
“......Huh? Now that you mention it.”
Kim Deokhyeon clicked his tongue.
“Instead of wasting time on that, watch Lee Seojun swing his sword. I saw him last time with the chairman—you're not as good.”
“Come on, I'm still way stronger. No matter how genius Lee Seojun is, he's still just a high schooler.”
“That's just talk. Give it a year or two—no, one year. He'll surpass you.”
There was a rebuttal, but knowing he couldn't win an argument with Kim Deokhyeon, he shut his mouth.
Then his gaze returned to the video.
“By the way, if that student really did mana compression, he's worth keeping an eye on, right?”
“Keeping an eye on what?”
“Well, duh. If he's got potential, we scout him right away.”
Kim Deokhyeon clicked his tongue at Jeong Hyeon-su's words.
“Potential my foot. Why do you always think so one-dimensionally?”
“Hey, why? You said he was pretty good earlier.”
“'Pretty good' means the 'implementation.' For someone that age to handle implementation that well usually means they haven't trained release and manipulation properly. Common sense—if he could handle compression implementation like that at his age and also excel at release and manipulation, would he be 112th?”
“Oh...... Senior, are you a genius?”
[A character you haven't met yet feels curiosity toward you.]
[You acquire 500 points as a reward.]
“Huff...... huff...... What the......”
Afternoon basic physical training.
Out on the field, running nonstop for over 30 minutes when suddenly a message popped up.
“Huff...... huff...... What is it......”
A character I haven't met? Who could that be?
With so many characters, nothing came to mind.
No, that's not the point right now.
“Huff...... I'm dying......”
Running all day without rest made my heart feel like it would burst.
The sensation in my legs had been gone for a while. I wanted to collapse right then.
“Man, he's holding out better than I thought.”
“Yeah. His stamina's decent at least.”
Already, 45 out of 50 students had given up running. Still going were me, Lee Seojun, Shin Youngjun, and some guy and girl I didn't know. Just five left.
The funny thing was, the other four besides me were all Reinforcement wizards.
“Wow, he's got stamina too and he's sticking with Reinforcement. Why switch to Manifestation?”
“Right?”
Then, the unknown male student running with me stopped.
“Huff...... huff...... I give up!”
“Park Yumin, 31 laps.”
The guy declared his surrender. Tough one. How does he run 31 laps?
If I didn't have the Regressor's Wristwatch's stamina recovery effect, I wouldn't have made 8 laps.
“Kim Sunwoo really trying to kill himself. When's he gonna stop?”
“He's not gonna die, is he?”
Now just one left.
If that one drops out, I'd be in the top 3.
So please, just give up already.
“Ugh.”
But against my will, my body hit its limit and stopped running.
“......Kim Sunwoo, you've got grit. 32 laps.”
My homeroom teacher, Jang An-cheol, said while looking at me.
Too out of breath to reply, I just collapsed to the ground.
[Character Jang An-cheol is impressed by your tenacity.]
[You acquire 500 points as a reward.]
“Huff...... huff......”
Soon after, the last girl in third place stopped.
Clearly, she gave up after seeing me quit. As long as you're in the top 3, you get A-Rank.
Smart choice since she couldn't beat those two anyway.
Now only Lee Seojun and Shin Youngjun remained.
But even after running all day, they showed no signs of fatigue.
I couldn't understand how without using special items like me.
‘......Monsters.’
“Ah.”
I sat at my desk in the classroom on shaking legs. My whole body ached from overdoing it. Then a commotion arose among the students.
“Hey! Test rankings are out!”
“Really? Gotta check right now.”
The ranking evaluation test results from yesterday must be out already.
I pulled out my student handbook to check my scores too. Then I clicked on the 'Comprehensive Information System' on the background screen.
［Comprehensive Information System］
With deft swipes, the scores appeared.
［Score Information］
［2 - Basic Evaluation Scores］
［Kim Sunwoo］［2-A］
［Overall 150th］
It was about what I expected, but seeing it hurt.
150th place.
With 150 students in the 2nd year, that meant dead last in the whole grade.
[You have achieved the 'Grade-Wide Last Place' accomplishment.]
[You acquire 1,000 points as a reward.]
“Phew.”
Embarrassing, but I raked in good points, so I'd take it.
And with more scores to improve, more accomplishments to achieve—comfort myself with that.
As I sighed, students' voices rang out again.
“5-Person Dungeon Exploration the day after tomorrow. How're we forming parties?”
“Scores are out, so time to start forming now.”
Oh, right. The 5-Person Dungeon Exploration the day after tomorrow......
5-Person Dungeon Exploration.
It referred to the class where five students team up to explore an artificial dungeon every Thursday.
It was a competitive exam where scores were awarded based on how quickly you cleared the dungeon.
Looking around, movements to form teams were already lively.
Guess I need to move fast too.
Obviously, good teammates help boost your scores. And once a team is set, it lasts until the end of the first semester, so choose carefully.
Teammates with real skill.
A few names came to mind first.
I slowly scanned the classroom.
It didn't take long to find the person I was looking for.
No one I'd chatted with even a bit had better skills than her.
I stood up and approached the girl studying alone at her desk.
“Yoo Ara.”
At my call, Yoo Ara sharply opened her eyes and looked up at me. Her expression didn't look welcoming.
“......I told you not to talk to me.”
“Day after tomorrow, team up with me for the dungeon exploration.”
“What? No.”
A flat refusal without a second's hesitation.
Made me feel awkward.
“There's a reason you should team up with me.”
Yoo Ara let out a hollow laugh at that.
“I know what you're gonna say. But I've already formed a team.”
“What?”
Didn't see that coming. With who?
She doesn't have friends.
“Who'd you team with? You don't have friends.”
“What did you say?”
[Character 'Yoo Ara' despises you.]
[You acquire 500 points as a reward.]
With about 5 minutes left in break time.
Lee Seojun was walking alone down the hallway.
“Dungeon exploration teammates, what to do.”
“Gotta decide soon.”
Somewhere, talk about the dungeon exploration the day after tomorrow drifted over.
Lee Seojun thought about it upon hearing.
‘Oh yeah, I need to form a team too.’
Of course, as the top student in school, plenty wanted to team with him. Enough to line up over 100 if he let them.
But it was a team that lasted the whole first semester.
Couldn't just pick randomly like a gacha.
‘More than skill, I want someone I can get along with without drama......
But teaming with really close ones like Shin Youngjun or Lee Hyunju would deduct points from pairing with top-rankers.
Meaning he needed to team with solid mid-tier students.
“Lee Seojun.”
Then a voice called him from behind. Turning, a male student was looking at him.
He seemed to have searched hard, slightly out of breath.
“Kim Sunwoo?”
Not someone who got much attention last year, but in the past couple days, he'd been emitting a weird presence in various ways.
Why was he talking to him?
“What's up?”
At Lee Seojun's question, Kim Sunwoo grinned.
“Came to suggest teaming up for dungeon exploration.”
“Hmm.”
Dungeon exploration.
Kim Sunwoo hadn't been in Lee Seojun's considerations for teammates.
About to refuse outright, he suddenly recalled yesterday's public test.
Compression implementation. Kim Sunwoo, who handled Reinforcement just last year, was using it.
Lee Seojun felt a spark of curiosity toward him.
“Sorry, but I haven't considered you for my team.”
“Lee Seojun. It'll be good for you to have me on your team.”
A firm tone like a threat.
It was closer to a demand than a suggestion. What gave him that confidence?
Lee Seojun smiled at Kim Sunwoo and said.