Summer Comprehensive Training (1)
The selection process wasn't exactly clean, but I had to admit that Sana didn't lack potential as a leader.
"This is data from the past five years of summer comprehensive training. Of course, things won't play out exactly like this. But at least we can analyze what they're evaluating in the training."
She wasn't wearing her usual glasses just for show—Sana was a serious data enthusiast. In moments like this, she gave off less of an intellectual yakuza vibe and more like some suit from the finance world.
"And this is an analysis of recent gate outbreaks and the properties of fluid gates that were discovered but not cleared in time. The comprehensive training also serves to ingrain countermeasures for future gates into your body. The training tasks are probably related to this. Give it a quick read, at least."
"...Where the hell do you even get stuff like this?"
"This is basic."
Information flows to those with power. There are plenty of violent organizations in the world, but even an illegal one that reaches the top can't survive on brute force alone. In this era, only those who can judge the truth and value of information make it.
But it didn't end with just handing over this sweet intel and a strategy. Surprisingly, Sana also took clear care of Yujin and Yojepeu.
"Yojepeu, you're definitely a bow user, right? The type that prioritizes rapid fire over a wide area rather than a single powerful shot. So you'll stick strictly to supporting the two of us. Focus on long-range suppression."
"B-But... that way, I won't get evaluated well..."
"Don't underestimate the academy examiners. They know that flailing around just to stand out is a minus. Heroes aim for swift monster extermination and civilian rescue. They don't need supporters who prioritize stealing the spotlight. The examiners can evaluate even that level of humility."
"I-Is that so... O-Okay."
Yojepeu accepting Sana's words so readily was partly because she scared him. But her logic rang true, which undoubtedly played a big role too. If she'd just steamrolled him with force, he wouldn't have been convinced.
"And Yujin. Your weapon is the pile driver... the Cheon-gong base. To be blunt, it's not really a weapon. Functionally, it could work like a spear, but it'd be awkward."
"Yeah, pretty much."
"But it's not entirely meaningless. You can deliver a powerful single blow that a spear couldn't, right? Sure, it'd be one-use only... but if you use it right, it could impress the examiners."
If you use it right. That "right" part was always the hard one.
"It won't come up against mid- or small-sized monsters. But against a large one, it could matter. Just follow my signals and move as I say."
Even if she was providing care, Sana's approach was blatantly high-handed. Her strategies were built around herself at the center. Even if the examiners checked every subtle role that didn't stand out, everyone knew she'd be the most visible one.
Still, Yojepeu and Yujin seemed convinced by the formation.
Can't be helped if the strong one takes center stage.
They say every role in a squad is important. That might be true, but there's always someone at the core.
Think we can snag first grade?
Sana might pull it off, but unless the other squads bombed, first grade seemed a stretch. That realism bubbled up.
But just as the pessimism rose, Yujin's mind conjured his signature image to slice it away: Hyowon's soft, red lips.
Do your best and leave the rest to fate. All we can do is try everything. He just hoped a massive monster would show up to make his pile driver shine.
※ The summer comprehensive training is a chance to gauge how well the academy has trained future heroes over the semester. Even active heroes who rarely show up make an appearance. To them, first-years' training might seem like child's play, but it's a great opportunity to scout fresh talent. That's why more heroes come to watch the first-years' session than the second- and third-years' over the next couple days—especially with rumors of some serious gems in this batch.
"Watch me, Father! I'll claim the top score and remind the world once more that the Dorardo family is the greatest noble house!"
There were gutsy girls like that who saw it as a golden opportunity, but most felt the pressure. Future bosses and seniors watching your every move? How could you not tense up?
And on the side, one person was tense for an entirely different reason.
...Maybe, just maybe, even if we don't get first grade, they might give a kiss as a consolation prize for our effort? I wouldn't even need lips—cheek would do, like a nice mwah♡. Second grade maybe, but first is kinda luck-based. If I play up the "we tried so hard but it didn't work out~," her soft heart might melt. But... is a pity kiss even meaningful?
Other people's gazes. Future seniors' and superiors' expectations. Hero careers and futures. None of that mattered.
Only Hyowon's lips did.
Whichever way it went, we'd give it our all, no change there.
"We'll now deploy the simulated gate!"
With the announcement, a gate unfurled over the academy. Not a real one like the one near Ayumi's apartment, but similar. A simulated gate created by humans—like the one Media and Sonya had made before. But back then it was just two people; now, most of the instructors combined their power, making its scale incomparable. It enveloped the entire academy, and any destruction or shock inside wouldn't feedback to the real world—it stayed contained within the gate.
"The gate is deployed. First-year cadets scattered across the academy: exterminate the monsters emerging from the gate, rescue civilians, and locate and destroy the gate's core to dismantle it. Evaluations will focus on 'how tactically did the cadets' squads operate?' and 'did the cadets fulfill a hero's duties?' Begin the exam!"
The loudspeaker fell silent after signaling the start. The test began.
"Check the qi quality first."
At Sana's command, Yojepeu and Yujin complied immediately. Gates brimmed with qi compared to normal space, making manipulation far easier. But not all gates were uniform—each had slightly different properties. Some eased Sense Qi, others hindered it. Some aided Emit Qi, others resisted. Some gathered qi effortlessly, others not.
Beginners might not notice, but the skilled had to gauge the environment fast. If Sense Qi was hard, did that devalue it? No, the opposite. It handicapped both sides equally. Mastering it amid the difficulty granted info superiority, opening new tactics.
Thus, assessing the gate's qi quality was a leader's first duty.
"...Feels normal overall? No real boost or hindrance to Sense Qi, Emit Qi, or Gather Qi."
"Probably tuned neutral for fairness?"
"Maybe. Don't jump to conclusions. I'll take point. You two watch the flanks and follow. Standard formation we practiced. Got it?"
Sana wrapped her hands in knuckle dusters studded with studs—her weapon. In a battlefield with swords, spears, even guns flying, it seemed unreliable. But her eyes held no tremor. As if it was plenty for war.
Their start point: the AV room on the fourth floor of Building 2. Peering out windows showed no major changes. No large monsters yet, unfortunately.
"Let's go."
Sana led, opening the door to the hallway. And right then—
"Huh?"
Three cadets from the next classroom poked their heads out too.
"Thought we were the only ones starting here."
"Nah, that's what we were gonna say. You guys too?"
Unfamiliar faces. Not that she memorized everyone—whatever. Sana clenched her fist. What to do? They were rivals. Strike first and eliminate? Her yakuza instincts spun.
But she relaxed her hand. Logical, sure. But not heroic. Too early for ripened fruit, and aggressive exclusion would dock points. Better to play nice here.
As she fully released her fist—
A steel spike shot past her, impaling a cadet's torso.
"What?"
As it yanked free from his chest, what spilled wasn't blood... but fragmented qi.
Human Mimic Monster
※ "Oh, good. Right on canon."
With so many changes from the original, I worried this part might've diverged too. Glad it didn't.
The test's gimmick: human-mimicking monsters. They talk and act human, fight like humans. Keen Sense Qi reveals them, but slack off and you're fooled. In the original, tons of squads fell for it, got backstabbed, and early-eliminated.
From the broadcast footage, Yujin spotted it first. Gotta boost our score.
"Nice! Go get 'em! Rack up those points, you punk!"