Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: First Practical Training
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We gathered at the large sports field and followed Teacher Song Si-yeol to the academy's backyard.
In the backyard stood an iron structure that clashed with the academy building's architecture.
Teacher Song Si-yeol operated the control panel in front of the structure.
Soon, the iron structure spread wide open, like a crouching bird unfurling its wings.
"Th-this is…."
"I had no idea the academy had something like this!"
It was a gate emitting a sky-blue energy.
Teacher Song Si-yeol led the students inside.
"Come on, calm down. This gate is the entrance to a dungeon the academy uses as a training ground. You can enter freely from after school until 9 PM to train, so make good use of it."
The students lined up and stepped through the gate one by one.
Inside the gate stretched a vast ancient forest.
A field-type dungeon.
Most were so enormous that their boundaries were unknown, with even clear conditions unidentified.
-------------[Dungeon Entry]-------------
[You have entered the 'Gigantic Ancient Forest.']
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The academy had been using this dungeon as a practical training ground for ten years already.
Near the gate, the academy had set up a base camp.
It included essential facilities like restrooms and shelters, plus a barrier to protect the camp.
Teacher Song Si-yeol led the students to an open clearing.
Class A students were already there, listening to instructions.
"Alright. Around the edge of this clearing, you'll see various weapons laid out—swords, spears, bows, and more. From now on, each of you pick one you like. You can switch weapons for a while, so just go with your gut for now."
Sure enough, as he said, the clearing was surrounded by all sorts of weapons.
They showed signs of use—dull blades, worn grips—but plenty to choose from.
I picked a spear in decent condition.
A shortsword was most familiar, but showing my sword habits could spell trouble.
If it resembled the 'Dark Knight,' I'd get caught eventually.
Besides, the spear had the highest value.
Long reach was a huge advantage against people or monsters.
As I joined the line with my spear, my eyes met Park Ha-yeon's from Class A.
She startled and looked away.
'What was that?'
It felt like she'd been watching me since earlier.
Once all of Class B had gathered, Teacher Song Si-yeol sighed and spoke.
"For the next three days, you'll find a weapon that suits you. Grab your chosen weapon and hunt monsters in groups. That's it."
The students looked flustered.
Hunt monsters all of a sudden?
It was understandable.
One student raised a hand.
"Teacher, how are we supposed to catch monsters?"
Teacher Song Si-yeol let out a deep sigh before answering.
"Even monsters around here aren't dangerous. Probably just horned rabbits or slimes at most."
This time, Yang Min-seo raised her hand.
"Is there a gun?"
"I was wondering when that question would come. Ugh, what a hassle…."
Did he just say 'hassle'?
Is he really a teacher?
"The academy doesn't offer firearms in the curriculum. Too expensive. Well, with your family's wealth, you could afford to try one."
"I see."
Yang Min-seo hugged the bow she'd brought, clearly disappointed without a gun.
Guns—the pinnacle of human weaponry.
Unfortunately, in a world with status windows and monsters pouring from gates, they were inefficient.
Trash mobs could be handled with bullets, but orcs and up had mana barriers on their skin, making normal rounds useless.
Missiles costing billions per shot weren't cost-effective either, so awakeners became the norm.
Later, mana bullets infused with magic power were developed, but at around 500,000 won each, only the rich carried them.
The teacher spoke up as if he'd just remembered something.
"Oh, almost forgot. Group leaders, come get the navigators. You might get lost in the dense forest, so use them to find your way back to base camp."
Navigators.
Not GPS since it's a dungeon—they were artifact-based pathfinders.
They looked like smartphones.
'He nearly forgot something that important?'
The academy was a tough school.
Releasing kids into a massive ancient forest like this.
Quite a few went missing every year, from what I'd heard.
Considering Hero Academy evolved from Hunter Academy, it made some sense.
Students didn't complain about these dangerous drills because entering a dungeon was a huge privilege.
To raise their rank, awakeners needed dungeons most, but guilds and managements monopolized them.
With gates reappearing, things might change soon.
"Alright, head out. Hunt something and return by 12:30. If there's an emergency, hit the SOS button on the navigator. Teachers will come get you."
We geared up roughly and entered the ancient forest.
Trees towered to the sky.
They looked eerie at first glance.
Deep in the forest, sunlight barely filtered through the canopy, making it quite dark.
Even I, who knew it from games, felt a sudden chill of fear.
The isolation of being a stranger in a remote place utterly unlike Earth.
The terror that losing the navigator meant never returning.
I suddenly felt insignificant, goosebumps rising.
Ji So-yeon, gripping her dagger, spoke cautiously.
"Sh-shouldn't we not go too far in?"
Oh Ha-na sneered at her.
"Ha. We've barely walked 300 meters so far, even if we do well?"
That's when I sensed movement from the northwest bushes.
I signaled Yang Min-seo.
Her skill was perfect for spotting ambushes.
Even without clear sight, it would tag her vision: 'Bushes,' 'Bushes,' 'Horned Rabbit,' 'Bushes,' and so on.
"It's a horned rabbit. Can we take it?"
Horned rabbit.
An E-rank monster literally a rabbit with a horn.
When cornered, it charged with its horn, sometimes injuring people.
Yang Min-seo had a bow but seemed more a gun user, so I didn't expect much.
Ji So-yeon had a dagger, Oh Ha-na a shortsword.
Rabbits fled at the slightest noise, so these three probably couldn't catch it.
Guess it's on me.
"I'll throw the spear. Oh Ha-na, time a wind gust toward the horned rabbit."
"Who are you to order me around? A D-rank like you."
"Sigh."
I silently looked at Yang Min-seo, who gave Oh Ha-na a glance.
"Hmph. Just this once."
Oh Ha-na relented.
'She keeps trying to pick fights.'
It was getting annoying.
I'd never trained spear-throwing specifically, but with B-rank strength and agility, form wouldn't be an issue.
I felt confident.
My reflexes had sharpened with the stats.
I pulled my spear arm back, then hurled it full force toward the horned rabbit.
The spear sliced through the air.
"Squeak."
An animal's death cry echoed.
We rushed to the bushes.
The horned rabbit impaled on my spear.
Monsters were tough—it twitched its legs, still alive despite the wound.
A red gem floated up, but I ignored it.
Burning to blue-flame ashes was a 'Dark Knight' signature.
I couldn't link Shin Noda to the 'Dark Knight.'
"Impressive."
Yang Min-seo murmured in quiet admiration.
I brushed it off casually.
I'd soloed C-rank dungeons.
Bragging over a horned rabbit would be ridiculous.
Then screams rang out nearby.
"Kyaaack!"
"Uwaaack."
A guy's and a girl's voices.
Likely another group's students.
"What was that?"
I muttered and headed toward the sound.
Yang Min-seo chased after and stopped me.
"Wait. We don't know the danger! Alert the teacher first."
"Hit the SOS then. I'll go help."
"That's not what I meant!"
Ji So-yeon and Oh Ha-na joined in.
"Listen to Yang Min-seo. This is a dungeon. Don't rush in, D-rank."
"I-I think we shouldn't go… It might be dangerous…."
My stats made danger unlikely, but I couldn't say that.
Even without items, my strength and agility were B-rank.
Worst case, equip Dragon Flame Sword and pump to A-rank.
No choice—I feigned righteousness.
"I'm going anyway. Telekinesis might buy time for the injured classmates to escape. And aren't you here at the academy to become heroes? Backing off because it's dangerous?"
"……."
A brief silence.
Yang Min-seo shook her head, raising both hands in surrender.
"Sigh. Fine, let's check it out. But we pull back if it's risky."
"No, you don't need to risk it. Hit SOS and wait here—"
"We can't do that. We're a team."
Oh Ha-na grudgingly nodded along, while Ji So-yeon fidgeted in fear.
She whimpered worriedly.
"N-no, we really shouldn't…"