The Elite University Class
EP 6: Retake Academy — Elite University Class
I slipped my hand into the valley of Lee Se-rin's chest and pulled out the academy card. It was warm from her body heat, slightly damp with sweat, and carried her distinct feminine scent. It felt like I'd been marked. I should wipe it off later.
After tucking the card into my wallet and standing up, Lee Se-rin positioned herself right in front of me, shifting her weight from foot to foot.
“Ji-tae-nim. I was… worried about you….”
“Ah. Right.”
“I… I…”
Lee Se-rin trailed off. She was clearly terrified I'd scold her for what she'd just done. If I left for the academy like this, her mental state would shatter completely.
Better give her some mental care before heading out.
I placed one hand on her head and used the other to gently pat her cheeks. I'd recently discovered that Lee Se-rin became genuinely happy when treated a little roughly, like someone petting a puppy with just the right amount of force.
Smiling, I pulled the corners of my mouth upward.
“I know. You were worried about me, weren't you? Se-rin is such a good and adorable girl.”
“J-Ji-tae-nim?!”
Color flooded Lee Se-rin's face.
“You're so pretty and kind. I can always rely on you. You're the only one for me, really. I like you so much, Se-rin.”
“Ah… That is… Yes…! Thank you!”
Lee Se-rin's eyes trembled violently.
“When I get back, we'll talk about this properly. Can you wait nicely? You'll be good, right? My pretty Se-rin.”
Even though she clearly wanted to cover her burning face, she couldn't because of me. Her entire face turned crimson.
“Yes, Ji-tae-nim.”
I continued praising her while stroking her hair. The tension in her body slowly melted away. Her eyes half-closed, her expression turning dreamy. I kneaded her cheeks with one hand while petting her head with the other.
“Our Se-rin listens well, doesn't she?”
“Yes. Se-rin listens well.”
“Good girl. My pretty Se-rin.”
“Yes… Pretty Se-rin….”
When I finally removed my hands, Lee Se-rin’s eyes slowly focused again. Embarrassed by how childishly she'd acted, she covered her face with both hands and looked at me with a slightly sulky expression.
“You're too much… Ji-tae-nim.”
“Sorry. It was a little fun.”
I waved at her and stepped out the door. Placing my foot on the railing of the Chirnix dormitory, I leaped straight toward the ground. Behind me, I heard Lee Se-rin’s soul leave her body.
EP 6: Retake Academy — Elite University Class
The distance from the ground to the dormitory corridor railing was about twelve meters. For an ordinary person, that height could be fatal, but for me now, it was nothing more than a hop.
The moment my feet hit the ground, I kicked off using the footwork of the Taeguk Four Divine Arts and accelerated forward. Ignoring the screams of women behind me, I ran. Fast. In an instant, I left the dormitory grounds and reached the road. I could feel the gazes of women along the roadside. My stomach churned and ringing filled my ears.
At that moment, the mental stabilization effect of the Taeguk Cheonji Simbeop activated. It was a strange sensation no matter how many times I felt it. It was like someone had sealed disgusting, rotting filth in a plastic bag and stuffed it into my mouth. Even if my reason screamed that it was repulsive, my mind simply didn't register the emotion.
Good. This should work.
Maintaining a speed of fifty kilometers per hour, I arrived at the academy in no time. The fact that I wasn't even slightly sweaty made me realize just how much stronger I'd become.
The moment I entered Hyeseong Academy, countless eyes turned toward me. Students and managers in the lobby reacted as they saw me. Some looked like they wanted to speak but hesitated. Others sent moist gazes my way, while a few tried to approach only to bow their heads after meeting my eyes.
One student slowly walked up to me. She wore leggings and a cropped athletic top.
“…Um, excuse me. Ji-tae oppa. I'm Yoo Eun-ha, fourth in the In-Seoul Class… Would you… like to study together…?”
Thud!
The card I'd placed in my bag shot out on its own and floated in midair. A faint light emanated from it.
This is Yoo Ji-tae, ranked 209th in the Elite University Class. Please show proper respect.
The floating text blocked the space between Yoo Eun-ha and me. Her mouth fell open.
“Ah….”
A sigh escaped her. Tears welled up in her moist eyes.
“…I-I'm sorry. Even though I'm just from the In-Seoul Class….”
…This academy really takes ranking seriously.
Still, being rude didn't suit my personality.
“That's a really pretty name. Eun-ha. I can't right now, but let's study together when I have time.”
“Huh?! R-Really?!”
Yoo Eun-ha smiled brightly through her tears. Thinking of it as collecting points, I accepted her phone number and saved it in my phone.
“I'll contact you later, Eun-ha.”
“…Yes, oppa.”
The moment Eun-ha finished speaking, light poured down from the lobby ceiling. A person descended from within the light. It was a flamboyant woman wearing winged robes. She slowly descended in front of me, floating more than ten centimeters above the ground without her feet ever touching it. It seemed she disliked even having her feet touch the floor.
I recognized her.
“Elite University Class head manager Ho-ran. I've come to escort Yoo Ji-tae-nim.”
Ho-ran was the manager from the Elite University Class who had overseen the duel with Baek Seol. She'd had her heart pierced by Marbas, but it seemed she'd received proper treatment and survived.
The new In-Seoul Class managers in the lobby dropped to their knees.
“““How dare I—!”””
As they tried to show respect, a new message appeared in the air.
From this moment, all In-Seoul Class managers present are prohibited from speaking.
Ho-ran glanced around with a cold expression before looking back at me and kneeling in place. Her body still didn't touch the ground, floating in midair.
“I've been wanting to continue apologizing for my previous rudeness, Yoo Ji-tae-nim. This time, I've come personally under the academy representative's orders.”
I wasn't the type with such high self-esteem that I'd say something like “Very well, I accept your apology.” Instead, a casual greeting slipped out.
“Thanks. Ah, is your heart okay from last time? It looked pretty bad.”
Ho-ran smiled contentedly.
“Since it was already damaged, I replaced it with a new one.”
Ho-ran unbuttoned the front of her clothing. A magical reactor hummed from her chest.
[Bagua Circulation Circuit (B)]
An artificial heart that rapidly circulates mana and blood through cycles. It shoots and circulates blood and mana throughout the body via the Bagua formation. Increases mana transmission speed within the body by 30%.
An internally implanted artifact. The first thing that came to mind was Baek Seol's Golden Cross Spike. Considering that my Sicheonhwandong also enhanced vision, internally implanted artifacts seemed focused on improving basic specs.
Light poured from the ceiling, and Ho-ran and I floated upward to the next floor. On the second floor, we arrived in the corridor under countless gazes. Ho-ran floated ahead while I followed behind.
At the end of the second-floor corridor stood an iron door. My academy card and Ho-ran's employee ID glowed. A voice emerged from the door.
—“Elite University Class head manager Ho-ran-nim, Elite University Class 209th place Yoo Ji-tae-nim. Welcome to the Elite University Class zone.”
The door opened with a creaking sound. Inside was the scene of a small city. Towering skyscrapers and countless people moving through the city filled the space.
Ho-ran bowed her head.
“The pinnacle of modern architecture created through spatial expansion formations and numerous space-time magics. Welcome. This is the third floor of Hyeseong Academy's Elite University Class.”
Honestly, I was so surprised I couldn't speak. I pointed at the people walking the streets.
“Are all those people managers or students too?”
“…No. Those people are workers on this floor. First, I should explain the policies of the Elite University Class. The Elite University Class respects individual freedom. We don't force students into rigid curriculum-based education. Students freely train in whichever training room they desire, freely choose instructors, and enhance their specs through artifact implantation. We hold morning assembly and take attendance in the classroom, but after that, everyone trains freely.”
After hearing that, I thought for a moment and realized something chilling.
“…There are no basic lectures? Don't tell me all lectures are paid?”
“Yes. That is correct.”
I'd been hoping to freely copy the magic the instructors used. Life didn't seem to work that easily.
“For reference, most residents on this floor are workers who assist with training. Since Yoo Ji-tae-nim holds absolute authority here, please report immediately if any of them act rudely. We will take instant expulsion measures.”
“…Huh? So they don't commute? They live and work here continuously…?”
Ho-ran chuckled.
“The Elite University Class does not tolerate such pre-modern evil practices.”
As we walked down the street, women pressed against windows to stare at me. They bowed their heads on their own, but it still made me uncomfortable.
Ho-ran asked me,
“Ah. Are you considering staying in the Elite University Class dormitory?”
“Dormitory?”
“Yes. Training efficiency is higher and mana density is greater, which helps with mental technique training. It's an option chosen by the majority of Elite University Class students. However, the monthly usage fee is around two billion won.”
…That's paid too?
“I'm fine.”
“Yes. Understood.”
Ho-ran smiled brightly.
We arrived at the Elite University Class classroom. Surprisingly, the classroom wasn't much different from the In-Seoul Class. Ho-ran opened the door, and I followed her inside.
There were about thirty female students in the class. On the surface, it looked no different from the In-Seoul Class. Ho-ran introduced me to the Elite University Class students.
“Starting today, Yoo Ji-tae-nim will be studying in this classroom and aiming for university alongside all of you. Please be careful not to commit any discourtesies. Now, Yoo Ji-tae-nim? If you have anything to say, please go ahead.”
I looked around at the female students from the front of the classroom. They were all beautiful, with attractive figures. Some, like Ho-ran, had undergone body modifications—women whose hair floated in place and swayed, or whose heads sparkled with light. However, unlike the In-Seoul Class, they didn't expose their bodies. Each wore fashion suited to their own physique. I was relieved there wouldn't be any face-flushing incidents.
I scratched my cheek.
“Well. I don't really know what to say first. Anyway, I'll be studying with you all from now on. Please take care of me, everyone.”
I spoke the words I'd prepared while forcing the kindest smile I could manage. The female students' reaction was quiet. They only stared at me blankly, offering no response.
Did I do something wrong?
“You're all so cute and pretty, it's kind of embarrassing.”
I mustered the courage to say something even I found embarrassing. But the reaction remained cold. A few students here and there covered their mouths and made strange sounds, but the majority simply repeated deep breaths while staring straight ahead. It was a somewhat chilling sight.
When I turned to look at Ho-ran, she spread her hands toward the students.
“Please choose your seat.”
I looked around the classroom. The Elite University Class female students were different from the women I knew. None of them rushed over or expressed their favor. They all maintained their composure.
If it's here, I might be able to live comfortably.
Of course, not everyone was uninterested in me. They did glance my way. It just meant they didn't engage in the excessive behavior of the women I knew.
There were sixty desks in total in this classroom, arranged in pairs. One seat in each pair was occupied by a woman, while the other remained empty. I was supposed to choose one of the thirty women.
I passed by the women with strange reactions and headed toward the window.
“…Why.”
“No….”
“Ah……”
“Ah…ah…..”
Strange sounds came from behind me as I passed, but I ignored them. I headed for the window because there were two women who looked the most comfortable in this class. One was looking out the window while the other stared at her desk.
“…Hmm.”
The woman staring at her desk let out a rough breath. I sat next to the woman looking out the window. She had red hair that floated gently, with starlight sparkling throughout. She wore a white long-sleeved blouse and jeans.
“Please take care of me.”
The woman looking out the window immediately pulled out her phone and started tapping rapidly. Text appeared in front of me.
Elite University Class 4th place, Han Ji-min, has transferred 500 million won to Yoo Ji-tae-nim.
What was this?
“…Han Ji-min?”
Han Ji-min fidgeted with her hands before slowly turning her head.
“Yeah. P-Please take care of me… Ji-tae-yaa….”
She turned her head and answered with a voice mixed with laughter. A moment later, sighs, despair, and screams of anguish echoed from various places in the classroom.