novelraw Chapter 138 : Top Student (1)
Chapter 138 : Top Student (1)
"This first semester was truly eventful."
Principal Min Jeong-gap said at the dinner gathering of the entire academy's Instructors.
"Above all, I want to commend the efforts of you Instructors. Without you, we would never have been able to conclude the semester in this way. I want to say that all of you who maintained your center even amid unforeseen crises are the most meritorious."
"You're too kind with your words!"
The Instructors replied in unison with voices full of pride.
"But we know well that gratitude without a token of sincerity is empty."
Principal Min Jeong-gap said.
"Therefore, this semester, I will provide additional incentives to all Instructors and Assistant Instructors."
"Wooooah!"
"We love you!"
"We respect you!"
Principal Min Jeong-gap showed a benevolent smile at the Instructors' passionate cheers.
"Then just for today, everyone should relax and enjoy themselves."
"Understood!"
The Instructors gathered in small groups to converse while enjoying a buffet of various foods and all kinds of alcohol including wine, beer, soju, and makgeolli.
"Oh, Cheol-han."
"Instructor Lee."
Instructor Lee Ho-seung approached Instructor Kim Cheol-han, who was tasting various types of sushi one by one.
"You worked hard this semester too."
"What hard work did I do? You worked the hardest, taking charge of Class 1."
At Instructor Lee Ho-seung's words, Instructor Kim Cheol-han bowed his head.
"For about a month or two, my hair was falling out in clumps."
"Oof, be careful. You might lose it all at this rate."
"It's fine. By the end of the semester, I actually reached enlightenment."
"Hmmmm."
As the topic immediately turned serious, Instructor Oh Chang-seong smoothly joined in.
"Instructor Kim, I heard baldness follows the maternal side of the family."
"It's fine. Fortunately, all my maternal uncles have abundant hair."
"Oh, is that so?"
"Hey, aren't you the one with the problem? Felines generally shed a lot."
"That's right. The cat my parents keep, every time you pet it, the amount of fur that flies off is, whew..."
At the words of Instructors Lee Ho-seung and Kang Jun-man, Oh Chang-seong seriously denied it.
"Oh come on, who says that? My hair roots are extremely strong."
"They don't seem that strong to me."
When Instructor Kim Cheol-han joined in, Oh Chang-seong felt wronged.
"Aish, I'm telling you they are! So what, do all Were-Bears love garlic too?"
"That guy in the Execution Force is crazy about garlic."
"That's because he's Korean!"
"Hmm. Let's say that's the case."
Instructor Oh Chang-seong grumbled and changed the subject.
"By the way, I never thought Min Hae-na would lose to Jeong Su-hyeon."
"That surprised me too."
Instructor Lee Ho-seung chuckled.
"That boy is really something."
"Honestly, just watching them fight, you can tell, right? Though Jeong Su-hyeon is an outstanding kid, Min Hae-na's weight class is still a level higher."
"And yet he managed to turn it around somehow."
Instructor Kang Jun-man said enviously.
"Instructor Kim, your incentive must be substantial this time? Your performance evaluation will be excellent, won't it?"
"Yes. No one can deny that Instructor Kim's contribution is significant."
"Not at all."
Instructor Kim Cheol-han was modest.
"It's the cadets who worked hard. Especially regarding Jeong Su-hyeon, I did nothing."
"Well, that kid is a bit peculiar."
"And strictly speaking, it was Min Hae-na's fight to win. She had several opportunities to end it after all."
"Hey now, I saw you jump to your feet in excitement while watching."
At Instructor Lee Ho-seung's words, he cleared his throat.
"Ahem."
"Besides, it's inevitable that Min Hae-na's skill level is higher, right? We all know how big a one-year difference is at this age."
"Yes."
Instructor Kim Cheol-han nodded.
"That's why Jeong Su-hyeon is remarkable. Until it became reality, no one considered that possibility highly likely."
The three smiled wryly as the conversation ultimately circled back to praise for Su-hyeon.
"We trust your judgment."
"Ahem."
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Although she ultimately lost to Su-hyeon.
Min Hae-na's skills displayed in her fight with him left quite an impression on the cadets.
'So that's the power of the second year's strongest, the current student council president.'
'Amazing. I thought Su-hyeon and Jun-seong were incredible, but as expected, someone who takes the top spot in their class doesn't feel like they're even human.'
'Ah, this damn academy. It's really brutal. I want to quit.'
'Should I just repeat a year? This class is too savage.'
Skills that made one feel distant just by watching.
Min Hae-na, the very person who possessed those skills yet lost to Su-hyeon, was alone on the clock tower, looking down at the academy's night.
"Hmm."
Min Hae-na, breaking a long silence, muttered.
"Right, this is how losing feels."
During her first year, when she exercised her right to challenge the second-year top student at that time, she fought hard but narrowly lost.
'It's been almost a year.'
In competitions within the same class, she had always been at least one step ahead.
Naturally, she had never felt threatened by rookies from the class below like Seo Jun-seong, Jeong Su-hyeon, Hwang Ji-su, or Lee Yu-jin.
'I thought true competition would come only after reaching adulthood.'
It was embarrassing to recall how she had scolded Yang Dongju for not properly assessing the other party's skills.
'Actually, my prediction was correct up to Jun-seong. The problem was that Su-hyeon was a child with a plus alpha that exceeded even my calculations.'
In retrospect.
Each of Su-hyeon's actions shown so far had been extraordinary.
'The ability to formulate an appropriate grand strategy against clearly stronger opponents and actually execute it. Not many people have such ability.'
That was on an entirely different dimension from simply having a powerful characteristic or high combat sense.
'Yes. This is interesting. I feel like I'm finally getting fired up.'
An unexpected defeat.
It remained to be seen what kind of butterfly effect Su-hyeon's actions would create.
'Hmm. An older woman-younger man combination. I've never considered a younger man before. Hmmmm.'
...Some concerns mixed in were of a slightly different nature.
"Alright, that's done."
Su-hyeon, who had suffered another injury, was healing his battered body in Song Yu-ha's [Healing Orb].
"My goodness, how impressive. With this extent, it wouldn't be strange to have permanent after-effects."
Song Yu-ha shook her head.
"Being top student is all well and good, but wouldn't it be better to take care of your body a bit more? Hmm?"
"How many people in this field work with their bodies intact? I should be grateful just to survive, and if the injuries can heal, I have nothing more to ask for."
"But it still hurts and is painful, right?"
"Pain that can be endured makes one stronger."
"Oh my. If you keep saying things like that, Yu-jin will worry."
"...?"
Su-hyeon tilted his head at the misplaced remark.
"But you really did something amazing. I'm honestly jealous."
Seo Jun-seong said.
"Hae-na-noona was my goal. She was one year older and always had the leadership to lead her peers. I've never envied anyone's characteristic, but hers was the only one I did envy."
Of course, that was when I was young, Seo Jun-seong said with a shrug.
"Anyway, now that it's come to this, the protagonist of this semester is undoubtedly you, regardless of what anyone says."
Hwang Ji-su said.
"But that only means you're the most shining person, not that I haven't gained a lot myself."
"That's true."
Su-hyeon chuckled.
"If I don't continue to improve as well, I'll have to give up my position to one of you next semester."
Those words were both praise for the friends gathered for him and self-discipline.
"You're really something else."
Kwon Seung-yeon grinned.
"Take it easy. You're already barely human."
"By the way, Su-hyeon, what are you going to do about your sword?"
Lee Yu-jin asked worriedly.
"If I talk to my grandfather, we could get a good sword."
"Thanks for the offer, but I'll decline."
Su-hyeon shook his head.
"I have something in mind."
"I see."
Lee Yu-jin didn't press further.
'If I ask Senior Eun-seo, I should be able to manage somehow.'
Su-hyeon thought.
He had been thinking it was about time to upgrade his sword anyway.
"Hey, by the way, the rewards for being top student are no joke, right?"
Nam Tae-hoon said.
"The final winner takes the most. That's reasonable."
Hong In-hyeon nodded.
"Even so, I'm envious that you get to receive a mandrake."
Mandrake.
A plant resembling a human form.
In Edge of Gate, it was a kind of elixir-like herb that could greatly increase mana quantity.
"A mandrake that rarely blooms in dungeons filled with high-density mana in the air and soil. I heard you can't buy it even with money."
At Kwon Seung-yeon's words, Hwang Ji-su nodded.
"To begin with, there are only a few roots produced each year. Getting one is like reaching for the stars."
"It's remarkable they give such things to cadets."
"Wasn't it said that an influential figure with a deep interest in nurturing future generations donates two roots every year?"
At Seo Jun-seong's words, Lee Yu-jin replied.
"That's right. The opportunity to consume it comes only twice—in the first and second semesters of the first year."
"But why give it only to first-years?"
Nam Tae-hoon asked.
"They earnestly insisted that it's the period when one can achieve the greatest growth."
Hwang Ji-su answered.
"Well, I guess it's the giver's prerogative."
'This is it.'
Su-hyeon thought.
The scholarship was good, and the internship opportunity was also valuable.
'I already secured tuition through Hwang Yong-jae's support and the business with Park Min-cheol long ago.'
If it were just for the internship opportunity, there would be no need to necessarily be first place.
But if there was the biggest reason why one had to be first, it was precisely the point of being able to consume the mandrake.
'Even with money and connections established with Old Man Jang, it's rarely possible to find such an item.'
Because there are many bigger hands in the world with more money and more built-up connections and credit.
"I'm really envious."
Nam Tae-hoon tapped Su-hyeon's shoulder.
"How much more of a monster are you planning to become?"
"Hmm. It's not that significant."
"Not significant, my foot. But what happens if you face Min Hae-na-sunbae again after eating that?"
"She'll prepare for the current tactics too, so it won't be easy."
"Really now."
At Su-hyeon's answer, Hwang Ji-su clicked her tongue.
"That level of modesty is just exaggeration."
"In technical terms, it's called sandbagging."
"That's right, that's right."
Everyone nodded at Nam Tae-hoon's words.
"Hmm."
'I've been found out.'
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One day later.
"Welcome."
Principal Min Jeong-gap greeted me as he personally opened the door.
"Hello, sir."
"Hmm. Few cadets visit the principal's office as frequently as you, Su-hyeon."
"There's Min Hae-na-sunbae, isn't there?"
"That child also knows to separate business and personal matters."
Min Jeong-gap's expression, which had been chuckling, suddenly turned cold.
"Of course, her statement to you was very, excessively personal."
"......"
Like Lee Yu-jin's grandfather, the Sword Master.
Having such an outstanding granddaughter, Principal Min Jeong-gap was also showing quite the doting grandfather side.
'Seo Dong-jin would also do anything for his son.'
If there was an exception, it would most typically be Hwang Ji-su and Hwang Yong-jae, the father-daughter pair.
'That family is just dysfunctional.'
After all, Hwang Ji-su's uncle is none other than Hwang Won-jae, the second-in-command of the 'Sword of Belphegor.'
"But you know, right? The fact that romance between cadets is, in principle, 'not encouraged.'"
"......"
It was just a euphemism.
It was nothing short of a threat that if I messed around, he'd break my shin into eight pieces.
"There will be no such thing, so you can rest assured."
"Hmm. Good."
At those words, Min Jeong-gap immediately regained his gentle smile.
"In any case, congratulations, Su-hyeon. You keep exceeding my expectations every time."
"Thank you."
"Well then, without further ado, let's begin."
Principal Min Jeong-gap opened an elegant wooden box and took out a well-dried mandrake root.
"As you may know, the mandrake is to be presented by the principal in the principal's office, and then consumed on the spot under observation. After all, poison and medicine are separated by a fine line."
"Yes, sir."
A being that contains high-density mana.
It was inherently a highly dangerous existence.
"No need to be too tense. It's just a matter of there being some risk."
"Yes."
Given that Principal Min Jeong-gap would personally assist with the absorption and ki management, safety could be considered guaranteed.
"It would be best to eat these freshly pulled, but if you pull them carelessly, the screams of the mandrake would rupture your eardrums and, in severe cases, lead to death, so it can't be helped."
"I've heard that."
"Hmm. Eating it steamed like this, like red ginseng, is also fine. By the way, after eating this, Su-hyeon's abilities will advance once more."
As he said.
The most regrettable aspect in the fight with Min Hae-na was the difference in mana quantity.
"If sufficient mana fuel is given to a body already honed beyond perfection, even I am curious about how strong Su-hyeon will become."
"I'm looking forward to it too."
"It will take a few more days to fully absorb it and accept it as your own mana."
"I understand."
By the time the medicinal effects of this mandrake fully dissolve into my body, I will gain strength that is at least one rank stronger.
"Then let's begin. Chew it thoroughly and swallow."
Crunch!
As soon as I took a bite, I forgot I was in front of the principal and wrinkled my face in disgust.
'This tastes terrible.'
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With the final exams over, there was only one major event left before the vacation.
"...Are these all the units that have marked Jeong Su-hyeon as their first priority?"
At Instructor Kim Cheol-han's question, the assistant bowed his head.
"Yes, that's correct."
"Hmm."
After stroking his chin and being lost in thought, Kim Cheol-han chuckled, saying there was nothing left to be surprised about.
"Assistant Kang."
"Yes, Instructor."
"Go and bring two bags of popcorn."
"...Should I bring cola too?"
"Good idea. Mix me a cup."