Student Council President's Invitation
"Ha, I can feel the wall."
How long had we been running around under the guise of training? Pushing nearly an hour and a half, Yujin finally collapsed face-first onto the training hall floor, gasping those words like he couldn't even twitch a finger anymore.
The protagonist lacks grit, huh?
"Hey, what'd you do to hit a wall already? You can't tap out after just one day."
"The wall I'm talking about... is you."
Me?
"You've mastered the Three Core Laws perfectly after barely a few days at the Academy. Meanwhile, I'm struggling with even Sense Qi, looking like this. How could I not feel a wall?"
Well... fair enough.
I hadn't really thought about it, but filling the space with qi emitted from my body was straight-up Emit Qi, one of the Three Core Laws. Meaning, without any training, I could freely wield the basics of qi manipulation. From Yujin's perspective, who couldn't even handle Sense Qi properly, I must look like an insurmountable barrier.
"And your Unique Ability... what was it again? Rumors say Light and Darkness or something."
"Don't say it. It's embarrassing."
"Why? It's cool as hell."
Is it? This guy's got that middle-school edgelord vibe.
...Okay, honestly, it's a little cool. Not that I'd admit it.
"It looks insanely effective just from a glance, and here I am... Ha, talk about a joke."
"...Your Unique Ability has plenty of meaning too."
"Oh, yeah?"
He's not even listening.
Can't blame him. If a perfect-looking beauty like me said that, I'd just think it was lip service too.
Time to switch angles.
"Sure, your Unique Ability doesn't exactly scream spotlight. No matter how you slice it."
"......"
"But did you come all the way here chasing the spotlight?"
"What do you mean?"
"If you enrolled at the Academy to become a Hero Candidate, maybe even a full Hero, just to bask in people's praise, then quitting now wouldn't be the worst idea. Your Unique Ability makes it tough anyway. But if you're here purely to help people... then who cares about your Unique Ability?"
Of course, all else equal, a better Unique Ability gives you an edge. That's undeniable. But even with a crappy one, if you learn qi manipulation, you can fight. You can protect the innocent.
Isn't that why you joined the Academy?
"...Let's keep training."
Yujin pushed himself up from the floor, straightening his posture. No more words, but the spark in his eyes—brighter than before—told me my point had landed.
It worked? I half-expected him to call bullshit.
Guess it's less about the message and more about who's hearing it.
"Ha... Being pretty really is a privilege."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Even if it's nothing special, when a pretty girl says it, it just hits different."
......?
???
This guy, don't tell me...
"Hey, are you trying to flirt right now? Your sense is so off, you sound like some old bachelor uncle. Gross."
"W-what? Who said I was flirting? I was just teasing."
He's denying it, but those flushed cheeks and averted eyes scream panic. He's a mess.
It's so pathetic and ridiculous, I just...
"Pfft, you idiot."
I burst out laughing.
I know it's not cool to laugh, but how can I not? Lucky for him, it's me. My male sensibilities let it slide with a chuckle. If it were any other girl, the whole Academy would've been buzzing by tomorrow.
"Shut up! Anyway, next training starts now. You helping or not?"
"Ha, you call that asking for help? Fine, it's not like it's hard for me."
The training hall had no clock. We were too deep in it to check anyway—me mostly drilling him one-sidedly.
With power rivaling active Hero Candidates, the freshman facilities were too basic for my real training. Yujin started off sloppy, but as we went on, he showed real promise.
He was average-ish in the original story, but not talentless. His true gift hadn't awakened yet, though.
Lost in the grind, time slipping away unnoticed, a new voice cut in.
"This year's freshmen are really dedicated, huh? But it's past curfew now—time to head back."
The voice belonged to a woman with mysterious purple hair like a slice of the Milky Way. Her figure was killer, her gaze languid yet seductive. She exuded mature allure, worlds apart from us barely-legal freshmen still shedding our baby fat.
Joo Hyowon's looks were plenty adult, but this woman? Next level. She could pass for an instructor at a glance. But no—she was 23, in full bloom, and a cadet like us.
Sort of.
"Student Council President."
"Oh, you know me? Hehe, what an honor~"
She covered her mouth demurely with a soft laugh. Reminded me of Esmeralda from our class.
But Esmeralda felt like a knockoff; this was the real deal. Weird—Esmeralda's family was the noble one.
"You two are Hwa Yujin and Joo Hyowon, right? Freshly enrolled, yet sticking around the training hall this late. Commendable~ But the gates close soon—time to go."
"Eh? Already that late? Sorry."
"No need to apologize. Future heroes grinding like this is admirable in itself. Still... losing track of time, a boy and girl alone."
Her eyes curved slyly.
"Don't tell me you were deep into some boy-girl action?"
"No."
"Absolutely not."
We shot it down flat, but she kept that lecherous vibe.
"Oh my. No need to deny it so firmly. You're adults—what's the harm? ...Though time and place do call for some discretion. Especially for you, Yujin."
"...Why do I need extra discretion?"
One offhand remark poked his complex. Anyone not an idiot would catch the implication.
And she helpfully spelled it out.
"Your Unique Ability, obviously. It draws eyes, doesn't it? Even without bad intentions."
Ignoring his sour look, she pressed on.
"Special talents always attract scrutiny. People twist innocent actions into rumors and scandals. Best to watch yourself. A gentleman avoids risky spots. This is for your sake, Yujin. And the school's reputation."
"...If the school's rep matters that much, just fail me and be done."
"That'd tank the real reputation. Kicking out talent over hypotheticals? Unthinkable. Once you're in, we just need careful management."
No malice in her words. She means well for Yujin.
But those unnecessary jabs rubbed him wrong. It's all about the listener's mood, not the words.
No wonder he gets wrecked so bad in the original.
"...We'll head out."
Still polite, he bowed and left.
Hope he's not too hurt. Gotta check on him tomorrow.
Shrugging at his retreating back, she turned to me.
"Ah, right—it's been a while, Hyowon. Never thought we'd meet at the Academy. What changed?"
"...Have we met?"
Nothing in the original hinted at a connection.
"Slipped your mind? About a year ago, we crossed paths in a gate. Makes sense—I was a nobody from your view."
She gave a wry smile, reminiscing.
Hidden backstory, huh. Fits—original Hyowon crashed every gate like a maniac.
"Your performance then... dazzling. Methodically shredding monsters like a machine. ...Not an insult—pure functional beauty."
Her face evoked a pilgrim recalling a grand cathedral, lost in the memory.
Just don't confuse that image with the real me.
"Honestly, I was shocked you joined the Academy. As a freshman? Peak inefficiency for instant firepower like you."
"You're overestimating me."
"Overestimating? ...Hmm, were you always this humble? Anyway, Hyowon—what if you joined my squad?"
Ah, this event from the original. Meant for the protagonist—Yujin.
She's a senior, graduation class, with skills topping most Hero Candidates. Post-grad, her goal: teammates for gates.
She's probably scouting top 3rd-years and seniors now. One year left—urgency makes sense.
...Too bad her squad never shines.
Solid group, strong potential. But when the Eight Kings rampage, no room for them. Wrong era for mid-tiers. Tragic.
"If you join, I'll pitch grade-skipping to the chairman myself. You don't want freshman drudgery, right? Win-win."
True—for original Hyowon, no reason to refuse.
But me?
"Sorry, I've got other plans. Staying freshman for now."
"Aw, rejected. Bummer. I thought I had a shot."
No loss of composure, even shot down.
"Change your mind, come find me. We always want talent like yours. Now, head back too."
"...Have a good night."