Head Crusher (1)
Kim Joo-hyuk could basically tell people apart.
Not that he had some exceptional eye for reading others—it was just that, having rolled around at the bottom in his previous life for quite a while, he'd naturally picked up the skill.
At the very least, the world he'd lived in back then was one where not knowing how to spot people properly meant getting stabbed in the back as a matter of course.
Anyway, from that perspective, Kim Joo-hyuk could size up the guys blocking his path just by facing them.
These bastards had zero goodwill toward him—in fact, they'd come looking for a fight.
And Kim Joo-hyuk's attitude toward trash like that had always been the same, past life or now.
"What, some punks?"
"Not punks?"
Kim Joo-hyuk said that, then let out a low ah like something had just clicked.
"Yeah, you're right. Now that I look closer, not punks, huh?"
"...?"
"Not punks—you're Power Rangers. Red, Blue, Black, Yellow... no Pink?"
Kim Joo-hyuk wagged his fingers playfully, pointing out the hair colors of the punks blocking his way, then smirked.
"Ha, check this fucker out."
The ringleader blocking Kim Joo-hyuk's path—the firstborn of the Sunrise family, Reric—chuckled like he found it amusing.
"Where's all this confidence coming from? You think a senior's a pushover?"
Reric tried to heavy up the atmosphere.
Sure, in this situation, any normal student might feel a bit intimidated.
Suddenly blocked by a gang of obvious thugs surrounding one person, pressing in with menace.
But Kim Joo-hyuk didn't fall into the "normal student" category.
"What kinda stupid question is that?"
"What'd you say?"
"You scared of Power Rangers? Were you some villain they beat up back in the day or what? Why the fuck should I be scared? And besides—"
Snicker.
"No Pink means you're not even at full power. Hey, you've got two Yellows—wanna turn one into Pink?"
Kim Joo-hyuk sneered mockingly.
Reric laughed in disbelief.
"Wow, listen to this guy."
"What, blown away 'cause I clocked your identity right off the bat?"
"This motherfucker..."
Reric scowled viciously.
But Kim Joo-hyuk, looking bored now, hardened his expression and said,
"So, you done talking shit? Move aside already. Wasting time like this pisses me off. Unlike you losers, I've got shit to do."
"Ha... So top of the first-years at Valhalla means you see nothing in front of you, huh?"
"Jealous? If you're salty, you know what to do."
Watching Kim Joo-hyuk giggle with that same playful grin, Reric felt his hand twitch involuntarily—but he held back with superhuman restraint.
Too many eyes here.
Honestly, Reric was confident he could beat the crap out of Kim Joo-hyuk right then.
No matter how much of a first-year number one he was, that was still just first-year level.
Sure, it wasn't nothing—but to Reric, ranked 12th among second-years, it didn't look all that impressive.
The gap between first and second years was huge, after all. Third years, maybe not—but second versus first? Big difference.
Still, Reric held back.
He knew damn well punching him now wouldn't even break even.
So that's why that Ventrek bastard made such a tempting offer—this guy's a total psycho.
He recalled the request from Rockdil Ventrek, the exchange student who'd arrived a few days ago.
Teach a lesson to Kim Joo-hyuk, the first-year top dog—and in exchange, a sweet reward.
But breaking Valhalla's rules for some payout? Stupid as hell. He talked himself down.
Yeah, cool it for now. For now...
Plus, today he'd just come out to check the guy's face anyway.
With that thought, Reric forced a twisted smile at the still-smirking Kim Joo-hyuk.
"Let's see each other lots, yeah? Hey, let's go."
With that, the gang turned and bolted without hearing another word from Kim Joo-hyuk.
Kim Joo-hyuk smacked his lips, watching them go with lame glares till the end.
Wanna beat the shit outta them.
Honestly, midway through, he'd been tempted to smash Reric's skull a few times—but he'd held back.
Scared he'd lose?
Nah.
No matter how shitty his current body was, he could flatten punks like that easy.
If this weren't the Constellation Room, I'd crack their heads open.
The reason Kim Joo-hyuk held off on causing a scene?
The Constellation Room he was due to enter tomorrow.
I only joined Valhalla for that place. No point getting tangled up with trash and complicating shit.
So.
After I check out the Constellation Room, then we'll settle it.
Kim Joo-hyuk smacked his lips again, staring where Reric had vanished.
I'll smash every damn head.
The next morning at 6 a.m.
Kim Joo-hyuk entered the physical training hall lined with all sorts of equipment and spotted Choi Ah-rin standing in one quiet corner.
"You're here."
"Tell me now?"
Choi Ah-rin gripped what looked like a practice staff, her face full of anticipation.
But Kim Joo-hyuk shook his head.
"Nah."
"...Not telling me?"
Her voice dropped two tones from moments ago, and even without much talk, her wilted mood was obvious—but Kim Joo-hyuk didn't change expression.
"If you wanna learn from me, train your body first."
"Body training?"
She tilted her head, face saying Do I really need that?
Kim Joo-hyuk shrugged.
"Don't wanna? Fine by me."
"No, I'll do it."
Honestly, he didn't care if she bailed.
From his side, teaching her was just a whim anyway.
I gotta train stamina steadily from now on anyway, so keeping an eye on her ain't bad. Just basic training.
Taking a real disciple would be a hassle, but training together and tossing advice? Easy.
Plus, truth is, she's lacking for real staff work without it.
In this world, they seemed to prioritize mana training over physical—but Kim Joo-hyuk thought that was fucking stupid.
You needed a strong body to handle mana well, and to take in more mana too.
Obvious as hell, yet everyone here obsessed over mana like weirdos.
Minimal body training just to hold mana, then cram mana to the body's limit. Bizarre fixation.
Choi Ah-rin was the same.
She's got solid mana reserves.
Her body training was less than half what it should be relative to that mana, so Kim Joo-hyuk decided to fix that first.
Just that alone would boost her skills way beyond now.
And if she keeps up better than expected, no reason not to teach more... though who knows if I'll stick around that long.
With that, Kim Joo-hyuk smirked, and they started physical training together.
30 minutes later.
"Hah... hah..."
"Hm, now it feels like a real workout."
"Wha... hah... t... hah?"
"Why you sprawled out? Still got 20km full sprint left."
"......"
Choi Ah-rin's eyes trembled for the first time.
5 p.m., after all classes ended.
At the entrance to the Constellation Room at Valhalla's eastern edge.
"...Feels like this place has way more security than outside Valhalla."
Kim Joo-hyuk glanced around as Kim I-gun replied matter-of-factly.
"As you know, the Constellation Room is Valhalla's treasure—the thing that puts us in the world's top three academies. Weird if it didn't have this much guard."
As Kim Joo-hyuk's homeroom teacher said, the Constellation Room held insane value, enough to rank Valhalla top three worldwide.
But Kim Joo-hyuk wasn't talking about the guards nearby—it was the defenses on the building itself.
They slathered magic circles everywhere like wallpaper.
The building was plastered with so many magic arrays that even at a glance, it made him nauseous.
To the point where the entrance was the only real building visible through the arrays?
How long had Kim Joo-hyuk stood there blankly staring?
"Student Kim Joo-hyuk, cleared."
"Can go in now."
"Oh, cool."
"But as I said last time, you're only cleared for basement level 1. Go to level 2 and you risk expulsion from Valhalla, so watch it."
"Got it."
"And your time inside is 30 minutes."
"Know that too. Can I go now?"
At Kim Joo-hyuk's words, Kim I-gun eyed him with faint unease but nodded.
With that, Kim Joo-hyuk plunged straight toward the Constellation Room.
Watching him go, Kim I-gun looked anxious but shrugged it off.
No way he goes to level 2... right?
No matter his weird personality, Kim Joo-hyuk entered Valhalla first place—staying meant way more gains than expulsion.
Yeah, no way he'd kick away his own fortune.
Kim I-gun shook off the worry.
But.
Find the Divine Weapon and Memories
📍 Location: Valhalla Constellation Room Basement Level 3, Fifth Room on the Right
🎁 [■■■ ■■■■■ ■■■■■ ■■ ■]
📍 [■■■■■■ ■■■ ■■■■■ ■■ ■■■]
"Alright, time to snoop around."
Kim Joo-hyuk didn't give a shit about Valhalla expulsion one way or the other.
Sure, turning criminal would be more trouble than worth, so he'd avoid that—but getting kicked out after his goal? Whatever.
I only came to Valhalla for this anyway.
With that thought, he started down the seemingly endless stairs.
"Here?"
Soon enough, he reached the Constellation Room.
"...A prison?"
Honestly, to Kim Joo-hyuk, it looked kinda weird.
A straight corridor stretched ahead, with doors on both sides like prison cells or a cheap dorm.
And far off, stairs leading down.
No need to look around—he stopped sightseeing and started toward basement 2.
Conditions Met!
"?"
The alert popped up the moment he stepped forward, making Kim Joo-hyuk raise a brow.
Moving to Room.
Before he could say shit, his vision flickered.
And then.
Hey, long time no see, Kim Hyeon-oh.
"...Barche?"
Kim Joo-hyuk's vision cleared, revealing Barche, the Destruction King, right in front of him.
300 years since we last met... Not bad—
"You picked the wrong day, you fucker!"
Crack!
Without a second's hesitation, Kim Joo-hyuk charged and smashed Barche right in the skull.