009. Why Do These Guys Know Me?
Why do these guys know me? PowerHiderTrue. Not some total shut-in hiding his power... no, it's a nickname slapped on protagonists who deliberately hide their strength despite not being losers. It might sound derogatory at first glance, but for fans of munchkin or misunderstanding tags, it's actually a beloved trope. Spider-Man and Superman are prime examples of power-hider-true stories. Seeing them play the total nobody, then awaken and beat down everyone—it just puts me in a good mood.
'Not that I planned to become Superman or anything.'
As a male student, I was already standing out in this world. I had no intention of drawing even more attention. At best, I figured I'd play it moderate, build up gradually, foster that "hmm, that guy's pretty decent" impression, and aim for a smooth growth curve.
[Combat Department Class 1 Placement Exam]
[1. Shin Yuseong]
I never meant to flaunt it so blatantly like this. Honestly, it baffled me. Why was I already number one? Sure, I could pull it off later, but I hadn't even shown a fraction of my abilities yet. Why hand it to me? All I did was walk up to those goblins and slice them—slash, slash. I didn't even draw the flashy, gleaming Holy Sword. Just swung a sword around like any other swordsman.
Why give me first place?
'I even dragged it out, killing the goblins late on purpose... Doesn't time factor into the scoring?'
I thought this was a world that favored ability users like necromancers and highly valued magic. Was I wrong?
The Goddess congratulates the hero on being recognized, her face brimming with laughter.
Sure, getting first place felt great, but I was genuinely puzzled...
"Finally, the semester starts."
Students often misunderstand this, but teachers hate going back to school just as much. Students at least get to see friends, but for us, it's just work—commuting to the office. If not for the paycheck, we'd have told the semester to go to hell.
They preferred breaks over semesters, personal research over lectures.
"Hehehe."
But Professor Shin Arin of the Combat Department gazed at the campus teeming with students, a triumphant smile on her lips. She was so thrilled that her hands clapped on their own—clap—and her shoulders shook with excitement.
Students never listened, did whatever they wanted, so she'd given up on raising disciples. But now, a true talent had appeared. Not from some prestigious family, not handpicked and trained by anyone—just a top-grade prodigy!
Recalling the level test, Shin Arin shivered again. His genius swordsmanship, already fully ripened. His cool judgment, never letting his guard down even against goblins. An undeniable star quality as a hunter. And that perfect physique. Clap, clap, clap.
"Bravo."
The applause just burst out naturally. Shin Yuseong thought he'd played it low-key, but dragging it out let every professor see him—and to the crowd, it looked like the leisure of a true powerhouse.
As an active S-rank hunter, Shin Arin valued all those elements, and what she'd seen in the level test fit her perfectly. Self-taught? Even if he had some unknown mentor, that combat talent was genius-level. And now, she was the academy professor.
That's right—my turn now. Same family name, too. Practically family! She planned to pass down her swordsmanship and combat know-how to this once-in-a-lifetime disciple, setting him up for a life of luxury.
'Even without being a hunter, he's the type to thrive anyway.'
But the more the better—spreading the wealth would feel even greater. Checking her phone, Shin Arin grinned and donned her combat gear. Lecture time was approaching.
"Whoa, insane."
"A creature like that even exists?"
"That pretty boy taking first place? Has to be some shady rigging by the organizers..."
"Shady rigging? Watch your mouth. You might get dragged off by the professors without a trace."
"Huh, what?"
"You haven't heard? That number one is actually..."
Even minimizing my hearing range, the campus was packed, so every kind of whisper reached me. Was it because it was opening day? People everywhere I went.
I considered fully erasing my presence and slipping away, but a little evasion wouldn't end this uproar. Why did they all know me? Seriously, why?
Pondering that, I cautiously made my way to the lecture hall. At least no one asked for autographs. Their stares made it seem like they might, though.
The Goddess giggles mischievously, delighted at how popular the hero is.
Can't trust that damn goddess, so I had to navigate this chaos myself. Edging down the hallway, I reached a lecture room in the Combat Studies building. The site of S-rank hunter—high ranker—Shin Arin's specialized lecture.
Professors here were big shots in their fields, but a quick search showed she was genuinely popular and impressive. Until I found that "CrazyShinArin Mad Movie" video, I'd wondered about the caliber of top-tier experts in this world—exciting, but "my nose is my priority." Now, entering the room, I worried more about the students than the prof.
The hall wouldn't erupt like the corridors, right? Nah, no way. In fantasy terms, these were knight academy cadets—they wouldn't chatter like that in class. Or they'd all die trying.
'No more attention than this. Never.'
Even a basement-dwelling loner dreams of some popularity. Sure, the goodwill and interest were welcome, but I'd hit my limit. As an introvert—proudly so—24/7 spotlight wasn't feasible. Too much affection drowns even a starving plant.
'Please, let the classroom be friendly but not overly interested.' Oh, and bonus: a fateful love interest wouldn't hurt.
The Goddess scowls in displeasure.
She grumbles that you're asking for way too much.
Uuuuu.
I hadn't saved the world in a past life—just this one—and a bit of wishful thinking seemed fair. Ignoring the wretched goddess's complaints, I opened the lecture room door.
Creak—
The room was packed—everyone but me. And dead silent.
"......"
"......"
"......Hmm."
Whoa. Suffocating.
The elite always know each other. At least by name. Closer ones by face, and with overlapping families or groups, even more so. Of course, personal rivalries were separate from that.
"......"
"......"
Combat Department Class 1. Everyone here was elite, so they knew each other well. Except the special admits from the veiled mystery sect, Jeil Yeongnak Church—they'd crossed paths before. And that guy over there? Someone she'd heard she had to beat, a generational rival.
Dubbed the "Golden Generation," expectations ran high, bringing heavy pressure. The academy's unique structure, industry dynamics, competitive drive against peers—it turned classmates and future comrades into rivals. The tension stiffened the entire room.
Of course, exceptions existed.
'All this pointless posturing.'
The ivory-haired girl always lugging a massive metal lump. Sepine Alavad, summoner of the prestigious Alavad family, scanned her classmates with a bored expression, waiting for the professor.
She hated fuss, and school itself wasn't thrilling. 'Just wanna go home.'
Her pint-sized Japanese spirit medium friend seemed to agree, already face-planted on the desk, snoring away. Only those perky animal ears atop her head showed life.
'Heard some high-affinity spirit mediums fully assimilate.'
Real ears? Fake? Curious, but not enough to ask. She just glanced at the ears and waited for class.
Then—twitch—the snow-white ears perked up. The soft babyish breathing stopped.
Sensing something, the wolf-eared spirit medium lifted her head slightly, staring at the door. Sepine followed her gaze, wondering what it was.
Simple curiosity.
"Huh?"
And then—a shocking sight.
Mana aura settled evenly over his entire body, flawlessly stable. A physique without a single gap. And above all, a face like a perfect sculpture from the creator himself.
An utterly unreal man stood there in uniform, quietly regarding them.
"......Ah."
The space froze—for an entirely different reason.