Knight on the D Line

The vice principal, whose head was half bald, asked me, "Leap and Appraisal have completely different attributes. It's an impossible combination. What the hell happened to you?"

How did it happen? He had to be curious. After all, these people had no idea that my second ability, Appraisal, wasn't something I had awakened myself but had been granted by Seo Gaeul. It really was an incredible power, wasn't it? I felt an overwhelming urge to sing her praises right then and there, but I remembered what she had said about keeping the fact that she could transfer her abilities to others a secret.

'There was a reason for that.'

In this world, there had been someone who betrayed humanity, and that bastard had left a massive scar across Seo Gaeul's stomach, nearly costing her life. If I told the truth, there was a chance I would end up being executed by that very traitor. So I decided to give a suitably vague answer for now.

"Looks like the bald vice principal knows one thing but not the other."

"B-bald? And what exactly don't I know?"

"Leap. Doesn't it feel like more than just jumping? Like it's about advancing to an entirely new level? Since I possess the Leap concept, it's entirely possible for me to reach heights no one has seen before."

There was a saying about the dragon gate. The story of a carp leaping over a treacherous waterfall to become a dragon and ascend to the heavens. In other words, the concept of Leap wasn't simply about jumping and hopping. It inherently carried the potential for a complete transformation.

"It makes sense when you think of it that way, right?"

"It's not completely illogical, but..."

Worry settled over the vice principal's face. The few remaining strands of hair on his head looked like they might fall out at any moment.

There was a small commotion, but the enrollment process ended without further incident.

"Where do I go now?"

"Classes A through C are regular academic courses. Students who have awakened concepts, like you, usually get placed in the special classes—D or F. In your case, I imagine you'll be in D. Third-year Class D."

At the words D Class, the people around us exchanged meaningful smiles.

# # #

The D Class I would be joining was a special class. Something like a gifted program or advanced track. In other words, a place only the chosen could enter.

"I'm not surprised at all."

After all, while my outer appearance was that of a high school senior, my mind belonged to a young man who had long passed twenty. It was only natural that I would be more outstanding than my peers.

It was 8:40 in the morning. I stepped into the D Class classroom before first period began at nine, and every eye in the room turned toward me. The gazes sliding over my uniform and face carried a noticeable sting.

"Who's that?"

"That uniform... I've seen it somewhere."

"Must be a transfer student for D Class."

Was it thanks to Appraisal? I could read clear interest and curiosity in their stares. At least it wasn't rejection or disgust. That was something.

Now, where was an empty seat? Could I just sit anywhere? While I was glancing around with that thought, my eyes met someone else's.

"Eek! You!"

A female student who looked utterly flustered. I was flustered too. It almost felt unfair.

"What the—it's Bread Butt. This is some terrible fate. Terrible fate! Are you following me? Are you a stalker?"

"Bread Butt? Stalker?"

"What's she talking about all of a sudden?"

The students began to murmur. Baek Yeoul's face had turned bright red, and she seemed completely at a loss.

"Bread bu..."

Just then I noticed the seat next to Baek Yeoul was empty, so I quickly sat down. The very back row. Lucky. I probably wouldn't get caught sleeping during class as easily back here.

The only disappointment was that Seo Gaeul was nowhere to be seen. I had assumed she would naturally be in this special class, but it seemed she was in F Class instead.

"Hey, I'm not Bread Butt! I'm Baek Yeoul!"

"Bae Gyeoul?"

"Not Gyeoul, it's Yeoul.... Anyway, Ha Namjin! How are you even here! This is the special class!"

Baek Yeoul demanded. A large band-aid was plastered across her forehead; it looked like she had taken a serious hit somewhere.

Before she could get any louder, I gave her a simple answer.

"Because I'm special, obviously. So of course I'd be in the special class, right?"

"......"

Baek Yeoul clamped her mouth shut like a mute who had eaten honey. My words contained such an obvious truth that she couldn't refute them.

What I was curious about, however, was why this Bread Butt was in the special class herself.

"Bread Butt, so you had a concept too."

"Of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠course I do!"

"Then what kind of ability user are you?"

"Me? I have, um..."

Baek Yeoul stuttered like a broken robot, clearly flustered. The way she kept twirling her short bob with her fingers made it obvious she had a nervous tic.

Concept holders were supposed to be incredibly special people, so what was there to be embarrassed about? Maybe she had a concept she couldn't tell anyone about?

"Why are you hesitating so much? Did you awaken something like 'Hairless' because you hated the thought of armpit hair growing after puberty?"

"...Th-that's not it!"

Swish—.

At that moment, someone walked up to me.

"The homeroom teacher mentioned a transfer student was coming. So it's you? I'm Jeong Uiseon, president of Class D. If there's anything you don't know, feel free to ask me anything."

He was tall, handsome, and had a bright, cheerful aura. Damn it, why did he have to be so good-looking?

He offered his hand, so I gripped it firmly in return.

"I'm Ha Namjin."

"One question. Isn't that uniform from Youngmoon High?"

"Oh, how could you tell?"

"As expected. If I hadn't come to this stage, I was planning to attend Youngmoon High myself. Both my mom and dad are alumni. You must ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠have been an incredible student, Namjin?"

"Hehehe, among middle school graduates, I'm definitely the smartest."

"Middle school graduate.... Aren't we all middle school graduates? All high school students started as middle school graduates, right?"

When the class president burst out laughing, the girls who had been watching us giggled along with him.

If I wanted to make a girl laugh, I usually had to pull every stupid trick in the book just to get a chuckle. The laughter of a handsome man truly was unfair.

Damn this dirty world. I wish it would just end already!

Fortunately, this world was scheduled to end in exactly one year.

This guy named Jeong Uiseon would ultimately be nothing more than an ordinary person in that ruined future. After all, I had never heard his name before. He probably never became a Supernova or a hero and simply fell by the wayside.

When I thought about it that way, he seemed a little pitiful.

"Anyway, if there's anything you don't know, feel free to ask me anytime."

He gave me a refreshing smile. Honestly, it was nice to look at. He seemed to have a good personality too. In many ways, he was similar to me. We could be considered the same type.

"You're the class president, right? Then let me ask you one thing. Is there a student named Seo Gaeul at this school? Doesn't seem like she's in our class."

"Seo Gaeul?"

The class president's brows furrowed slightly. It was such a tiny change that it would normally be hard to notice, but thanks to Appraisal I caught the subtle wrinkle.

Understanding what it meant was another story.

At that moment, the bell rang with a clear ding-dong-dang-dong—.

"Everyone quiet down. Let's get some fresh air in here too."

A man wearing an eyepatch over one eye entered the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠room and rapped sharply on the lectern. He looked to be in his late twenties to mid-thirties. The uniform he wore had three diamonds on it, exactly like a captain's insignia.

"We have a transfer student today, but it looks like you've already introduced yourselves, so I'll skip that part. You all know we have debate class this morning, right? Arrange the desks in a circle."

Debate class? Actually having to study at school felt incredibly annoying. What was I even doing here? I needed to meet Seo Gaeul as soon as possible.

As I was thinking that, someone poked my side. It was Baek Yeoul.

"Hey, you think you'll actually get to meet Seo Gaeul? Dream on!"

"Why wouldn't I be able to?"

"You really don't know anything, do you? Did you see ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the brooch on the class president's chest earlier? The one that looks like a chess knight. That's the Knight emblem."

Now that she mentioned it, there was indeed a golden brooch shaped like a knight's horse head pinned to the left side of his chest like a medal. I had wondered what the decoration was for, but it clearly carried meaning.

"It's an emblem that only concept holders with excellent grades and outstanding performance can earn. If we compare it to the Middle Ages, it's like being granted knighthood. You have to accumulate points to get it."

Aha. So the horse-head brooch was a rank insignia for outstanding students.

Suddenly curious, I glanced at Baek Yeoul's chest. Swish—.

Because it was a uniform, it wasn't immediately obvious, but her chest was surprisingly large. Her face was pretty too. Most male students would probably have their hearts racing with joy if a girl like her sat next to them.

If the light called 'Seo Gaeul' hadn't been blazing so brightly in my heart, I might have felt the same.

"Yeah, I'm a Pawn."

Swish—.

Baek Yeoul proudly thrust her chest forward.

Pawn. As in cell phone? Was she still milking that broken phone joke?

No, it wasn't that. The brooch on her chest resembled the Pawn piece from chess.

"Pawn is basically a 'jol' in Korean chess. Is that really something to brag about?"

"Hey, even getting a Pawn is hard, okay? Only special class students can have one!"

"Then I'm a Pawn too."

"Obviously. We're the same lowly grunts. Pawn, Knight, Queen. Just because they're on the same chessboard doesn't mean they're equal pieces. The difference between you and Seo Gaeul is huge. You mentioned points earlier, right?"

"The thing you need to buy the horse-head brooch?"

"Yes. Besides that, you can use points to get a special dormitory room, receive premium meals, or take exclusive lectures. Seo Gaeul only takes those special lectures."

"Hey! You two over there! Stop talking!"

Hup—.

When Baek Yeoul clamped her mouth shut and buried her face in her book, I finally understood why this school was called the Stage.

This place was exactly like a chessboard. It looked flat and equal on the surface, but clear ranks and statuses existed beneath it. A structure where those who accumulated the most points became the rulers. If you compared those points to money, status, and power, it really was a perfect microcosm of society.

"So what?"

"What do you mean, so what?"

"Hey, Bread Butt. You clearly don't know this yet. As long as you're on the same stage, even a pawn can take down the queen."

"No, the pawn is from Korean chess and the queen is from chess, so they can't capture each other...?"

"Hey! I said stop talking! Ha, these kids. Ha Namjin. You're really excited on your first day after transferring, aren't you? Get up here! One of the debate representatives is you! The topic is written on the board, so check it!"

"This is quite a serious and profound topic."

"You students are special. Before long, you will take on important roles as leaders across the country. That is precisely why experience discussing and debating complex, sensitive topics is essential. Now then, Ha Namjin. Choose your opponent for this debate yourself."

When I stepped up to the podium and looked out at the classroom, I saw only unfamiliar faces. Baek Yeoul met my eyes, let out a small "Hik—", and quickly hid her head. I thought about calling on her but decided against it. It would look like I was just bullying her one-sidedly.

"Since I just transferred, the only person I know is the class president."

"The class president?"

"With Uiseon?"

"He's debating against Uiseon?"

The classroom stirred. Had I picked someone I shouldn't have?

The one-eyed homeroom teacher let out a delighted "Paha—" laugh, as if he was genuinely pleased.

"Ha Namjin. If you manage to get votes during the final tally after debating the class president, I'll award you ten thousand points per vote. Just so you know, points come with various benefits. One point equals one won in cash value."

An opportunity to earn points had already arrived? And ten thousand won per vote? Wasn't this luck a little too good?

If I could accumulate points, it would be much easier to take the special lectures Seo Gaeul attended and create points of contact with her.

"Sure, why not. Let's do this."

After all, a debate at the high school level was still within the realm of middle school graduates. Meanwhile, I was an adult who had been through every hardship imaginable. Class president, I bear you no ill will, but I'll finish you off cleanly within five minutes.