005. What, did only I not know?
“As students of the Seoul Superhuman Ability Academy, as sword and shield protecting the world, as seekers pursuing the truths of all creation, we solemnly swear to stand at the forefront above all others and safeguard peace.”
The auditorium was vast enough to dwarf most school sports fields. On the stage rising prominently in that grand space, the female student representative for the new freshmen raised her right hand and read the declaration.
Even accounting for how mana development enhances appearance and physique, she was a stunning beauty with glossy black hair like ebony and porcelain skin that stood out. Her demeanor carried a relaxed poise unusual for a freshman, drawing everyone's eyes.
—And I sensed black magic from her.
This wasn't an illusion. I'd slain tens of thousands of demons and thoroughly butchered dozens more to prevent their resurrection. Excluding the demons and devils themselves, no one knew them better than I did.
If this were the Fantasy World, I'd have drawn my sword on the spot and started by lopping off a limb. But this was an unfamiliar world. There was too much I didn't know yet to judge rashly—I had to be cautious about jumping to decapitation.
“Ah, that's her...”
“No way, she's our year? Epic.”
And what had I just been doing? Thorough market research. More precisely, intel gathering. There was no way the kids I'd thoroughly scouted wouldn't know the top admittee.
I pieced together the surrounding chatterboxes' info. From their gossip, I got the gist.
Top student: Cheon Juyeon. Heir to the mysterious sect Jeil Yeongnak Church, famous for their previous leader blocking an S-rank dungeon break near their headquarters.
A veiled mystery sect—exact origins unknown—but undoubtedly top-tier among martial groups.
And now their heir had suddenly appeared on the auditorium stage.
I don't get it.
I stared at Cheon Juyeon descending the stage, feeling a bit grumpy. I wasn't denying her right to stand as rep just because she wielded black magic. Any urge to interrogate her had vanished too.
From the explanations, everyone else seemed to know she had black magic.
Goddess help us. A black mage.
The previous leader was rumored to be an estimated SS-rank black mage. This world blended scholarly magic circles with all sorts of superhuman abilities, apparently tolerant even of ominous black mana at first glance.
Hell, the current hunter trend? Necromancers syncing with summons to solo dungeons. Eating dungeons alone, they said.
No wonder that no-name skeleton flick was topping Netflix series charts. Yeah, I got it intellectually, but my heart rebelled.
After hacking black mages to death as a hero, it felt weirdly off-putting. No, honestly, even my head couldn't wrap around it. How do you trust skullhead freaks who start with human sacrifice when realms stall?
Skeleton trends...
I felt a twinge of betrayal watching a girl mutter, “I wanna be an SSS-rank necromancer making a trillion a year too.”
On paper, I'd graduated high school without issue, but I'd only attended up to first year.
Not that I'd ever go back.
Body age aside, my mental age was over thirty. No way was I sharing classrooms with hormone-fueled punks now.
So landing in this pseudo-university academy was actually welcome. The issue? First time in college, so I knew zilch about it.
Of course, this was a special institution from another world—bound to differ. I'd heard freshmen didn't even need to gather on orientation day.
Still, like a middle schooler stepping into the unknown of high school, I felt that subtle tension. A whole new universe beyond mandatory ed: college—academy life. Joining its ranks stirred fresh anticipation laced with nerves.
Goddess of Order beams with a pleased smile, saying she's looking forward to it too.
I unblocked her, and the goddess slipped back in like always. Half tense, half excited, I scanned the space around me.
Post-ceremony, freshmen split to separate rooms by department-major. Meaning: we'd be seeing these faces for years.
<Combat Department this way.>
As a hunter-training hub, Combat was the hottest major. Classes divided by ability type and level—I landed in Class 1.
Unlike high school, tiered seating felt novel, and top class boosted my mood.
Heard there're artifact crafting, hunter politics, alchemy, all sorts too.
No itch for those. Years grinding in that world taught me: stick to what you know. Sword's fed you decades? Don't pick up a hammer now.
If at all, as electives or clubs—not majors. Politics, alchemy same deal.
Anyway, with my future classmates gathered, I eyed them closely.
Mostly strangers, but as the academy's star department, it drew all the hyped prospects from earlier chatter.
The blue-haired woman with a frosty expression: magic tower genius. The one with a metal lump nearby: elite family scion.
Even rep Cheon Juyeon was in our Class 1 room, plus Japan's spirit master prodigy...
“...Hm?”
Our eyes met, and something felt off. I'd minimized my presence short of stealth, yet she stared right at me.
Maybe coincidence at first, but shifting seats, her gaze followed. No illusion.
What the.
For a split second, loner instincts flared—she's into me?—but dismissed. Too early for delusions, and she looked way younger. More like a kouhai or little sis than romcom heroine.
Ooh, squinting now.
Still, her cat-like pout was cutely feisty, so I watched a beat before looking away.
Drag—
“Everyone here? No runners or bathroom escapees?”
The professor arrived.
“Whoa, Shin Arin.”
“High-ranker.”
Chatterboxes here too. But with her right there, it was hushed whispers.
“Ahem, no calling prof by name to her face. I'm half-public figure, but from now on, your teacher.”
She caught every word—top global hunter elite.
S-rank Hunter, top 100 worldwide: Shin Arin. Lavender hair, black eyepatch over one eye. Playful tone, she eyed the name-caller.
“Don't get lax around powerhouses like me.”
“...Yes, we'll be careful.”
“Good, first day grace. Assume you know me, but here's the name anyway.”
She scribbled her name on the whiteboard, smiling warmly at the class.
Professor spotting talent already. Bad kids go juvie, bad collegiates go grad school—yeah.
“I'm strong. And you all have potential to match me. This academy specializes in nurturing talents like you; I took this post for that cause. I'll help you grow stronger than anyone.”
“Woo, prof's awesome!”
“Hahaha.”
Half celeb, it felt like a show more than lecture.
Anyway, after her ambitions, she covered newbie basics—campus facilities, course registration—in formal tones, then grinned, tapping her desk.
“Ahem, as students, using uni well and taking other classes matters, but...”
But.
That preface hung in the air, and I sensed mana precursors from floor, walls, ceiling.
“Combat Department's warriors slaying monsters—so I believe real fights, raw power matter most.”
Shin Arin winked, snapping her fingers.
Blue glow enveloped the room, spell omens manifesting. A few flinched, but no big reactions.
What, did only I not know?
Famous annual rite, apparently.
“So prove it.”
At her words, light exploded. I didn't resist—had to join from the start.
Spell complete: brief float, then grassland landing.
“Hm.”
Sudden shift. Teleport guzzles mana, unlikely. Demon battles honed my magic sense—I clocked it quick.
Illusion magic.
Temporary barrier granting near-real sensations. Fresh breeze, grass crunch underfoot—vivid.
Picnic vibes, till enemies spawned ahead.
-Kreek?
Twenty sword goblins. Hulking hobgoblin warrior bigger still. They giggled, blades out, closing in.
“Oho.”
Facing trash mobs again felt fresh.