Misunderstandings and Suspicions
Three days later, on Monday. In a classroom on the first floor of the main academy building. I'd finished my morning training and arrived at the classroom door right on time, without being late. Before stepping inside, I glanced up at the nameplate, and a wave of fresh emotion hit me.
First Year – Chungui Class. This was the class that gathered the absolute elite from the six classes—the one packed with the protagonists of this world. From now on, I'd be spending my school life here. Worn-out academy clichés straight out of a broth that's been boiled until even the bones give nothing more: classes, school life, midterms, finals, more classes... And club activities were the bonus on top. In any academy story, clubs were the essential course for building relationships with the key characters.
Fuck, this sucks. For real.
I tamped down the gloom and pushed open the door. The moment I did, silence descended like a shroud, and the kids' eyes poured down on me. It felt like walking into the eye of a storm.
Fuck, stop staring already. What am I, some exotic animal?
……Thinking about it, more attention was better. Last night, just lying there, a ridiculous amount of points had suddenly rolled in. My overall evaluation ranking had shot from 280th to 120th, probably because someone was taking an interest in me. Thanks to that, I'd bought another Vitality Bracelet, making training even easier—a natural payoff.
...Thanks for the interest, you bastards.
Muttering to myself, I scanned for an empty seat. Since it was the first day, the early birds had filled most spots. The silver lining: the back row was mostly empty. I claimed the middle-back seat and sidelong-glanced at the kids, checking if my presence had thrown any variables into the mix.
Choi Ji-seong and Han Cheol-woo were properly seated. Yoo Seong-won, Ha Yeon-si, and their crew were there too. Woo Yu-na had tucked herself into a shadowy corner by the back door, avoiding eyes. Mo Ye-ji sat lost in thought at the far-back window seat.
“……”
That's when my eyes met Mo Ye-ji's. She widened hers at me, then frantically covered her face and whipped her head away. Blood trickled from between her fingers—she'd clearly used her ability in a rush.
...That was her reading my future, right? Her ragged breathing confirmed it. Come to think of it, maybe last night's points came from her paying me extra attention.
Not a bad feeling. Keep reading my future more. Read it all you want, you clairvoyant bitch.
Anyway, scanning the fifty-plus kids, something felt off. Like one was missing…
Creak.
The sliding classroom door opened, and the instructor stepped in. All eyes snapped to her.
“Good morning. Nice to see you all.”
A woman with a plain but smiling face stood at the podium's center, her grin bright and pretty.
“For the next year, I'll be your Chungui Class homeroom instructor, Eliza Air. Pleased to meet you.”
Right—Chungui's homeroom was a foreign female hero dispatched from America, Eliza Air.
“Let's see, is everyone here? Shall I call roll?”
Her Korean was flawless, good enough to pass for a native. Probably tied to this being a Korean novel. Not that I cared.
Creak.
Then the door slid open again, and a cadet stumbled in.
“Oh my.”
“Huff... huff... Aigo.”
I realized what the off vibe was.
“Ah!”
Spotting the instructor, Go Su-young jolted like a guilty criminal.
“S-sorry. I'm late...”
“It's fine.”
“Ah... ahh.”
“Looks like the excitement of the first day kept you up late.”
“Ahaha...”
Go Su-young shuffled over, wrinkly and sheepish, and plopped into the empty seat to my left—the only one left. Top-student class, alright. Back row always sold last.
“Alright, let's do roll call.”
Eliza finished calling names, looking pleased. She had a bit of a sycophantic streak toward Korea. Even after five years as an academy instructor, she still basked in the pride of raising the world's top heroes herself.
“First period: instructor intro and curriculum overview. I'll lead most basics, but specialists will handle theory, sparring practice, dungeon raids, and such...”
First day, so classes were light. I half-listened.
“Whew. That's the overview. One last thing.”
Eliza wrapped up.
“Some of you may have chosen the hero path out of grief over lost family. But heroes must be even more selfless. Let personal matters sway you, and you'll fall easy prey to demons' temptations. Train your mind as hard as your body.”
Grief over lost family... I eyed Mo Ye-ji sidelong while listening. Per canon, she'd awakened her precog on her 12th birthday when her little sister died. So... little sis instant-death in a car crash right in front of her, then self-blame awakening the power.
Hmm.
Still better than this orphan body. At least she had parents.
...Wait, no. Actually, not having strangers to call mom and dad might be a blessing. Hell if I knew if I was even an orphan for sure.
“...Ngh.”
Just then, Mo Ye-ji sidelong-glanced at me too. Our eyes met; she clamped her nose with tissue and jerked away.
No... what the hell keeps happening.
First day, so other instructors' theory classes were meh too. Afternoon was practice-heavy, so after lunch, we headed to the multipurpose training hall.
“Kekeke. Nice to see ya. I'm Park Dae-sik, sparring instructor from the class placement exam.”
Park Dae-sik skipped roll and swept his eyes over us, grinning satisfied.
“Uahaha. All the good ones in one spot—solid system. Not knocking other classes, but sifting diamonds from cubes is less valuable than picking the best diamonds from diamonds...”
He stood out from the others.
“First day, but sparring starts today. No complaints, right? If you got 'em, quit the academy now. Only the hardworking survive here. Half-assers who hate moving? Dead meat. Except demons...”
Park Dae-sik eyed me while talking. Tch, still suspects me as a demon. That look grated.
“Anyway, this ain't just my philosophy—it's for you. Hero work needs action. Hesitate, and bam—dead. Nitpick everything, and your lifespan shrinks. Heroes deal with shit that boils your blood. Ahem.”
Cadets chuckled softly at Park Dae-sik's words.
“Pair up with someone you like and hit the empty arenas.”
Cadets paired off and took arenas. I scoped around. Best opponents: protagonists. Quick scan: Choi Ji-seong with Han Cheol-woo, Yoo Seong-won with Pyo Hang-woo from his crew, Ha Yeon-si and Woo Yu-na with random girls. That left Mo Ye-ji and Go Su-young.
Then, like a breeze, Mo Ye-ji approached me.
“Hey.”
“Yeah?”
“You pair with me.”
“Sure.”
Perfect for me. Influencing mains meant more points. Rivalry maybe? I'd poked her nerves during placement. Her sidelong glances—extension of that?
“Hold up. You two, stop.”
Park Dae-sik headed my way. Instructor why?
“Imir. You spar with me.”
“……”
Mad dog Park Dae-sik really suspected me as a demon. Nose broken or what? Sure, someone in this class would turn demon eventually, but conditions unmet. Obviously not me.
“Ah, Ye-ji. Just us two left.”
“……”
“...Hehe. Let's do our best.”
Thanks to that, Mo Ye-ji and Go Su-young paired up—not bad. Mutual counters would boost their growth big time.
“Give it your all, Imir.”
“...Ha.”
On the arena, Park Dae-sik menaced me, thumping his massive fists.
Park Dae-sik gazed at Imir with pleased eyes.
Imir.
Most instructors pegged Choi Ji-seong and Han Cheol-woo as top gems, but not him.
Imir. You're the real deal.
I'll raise you myself.
Not homeroom, but he could teach sparring. Park Dae-sik vowed to pass every essence of his martial artist ways to this cadet.