novelraw Chapter 36 : Weekend (1)
Chapter 36 : Weekend (1)
"So this is what the other teams were like."
After finishing classes and returning to the dormitory, Seo Jun-seong opened his laptop to watch videos of the public training exercise.
"Class 3 seems to need a lot more time, and there are some faces that stand out in Class 2."
After identifying the faces he needed to keep an eye on, he quickly moved on to Class 1.
'My fighting was still lacking.'
Despite receiving the highest scores from the instructors, he himself wasn't satisfied at all.
'If it had been a real battle, could I have drawn out even 70% of today's performance?'
Moreover, even watching the video again, didn't it look like they were floundering around before barely securing victory?
Nevertheless.
'What matters is that we won.'
Therefore, Jun-seong tried not to blame himself excessively nor be overly proud.
"Half a success."
In this phrase, what's important isn't "half" but rather "success," isn't it?
'A rough and crude victory is better than a beautiful and smooth process.'
He didn't take lightly the advice left by his father, Seo Dong-jin, who had gone through more real combat than anyone.
"Real combat never goes as planned. That's true."
Jun-seong continued watching videos of other teams, lost in thought.
'Hwang Ji-su's team seems to have relied too heavily on two people.'
The were-ape Kang Geon-woo, the top-tier tank Gwak Dong-ho with his Healing Factor, the ranged dealer Yoon Ga-ram whose sniping ability was unmatched among freshmen.
Despite the good abilities of these three people, they didn't show much substantial influence in the fight, which would be evaluated as a negative factor.
'But it's not necessary for everyone to demonstrate their capabilities to consider it a good fight.'
Jun-seong felt vigilant about Choi Min-a, who showed unexpected skills, and Hwang Ji-su, who demonstrated her well-deserved reputation.
'Indeed, I can't let my guard down here.'
Meanwhile, Lee Yu-jin's final improvisation was different from the Yu-jin he had known.
'Has there been some change in her mindset? What's clear is that she'll be more difficult to deal with.'
Despite it being only a week, the adaptation of cadets to the new environment of the academy was noticeable.
However.
'Jeong Su-hyeon seems to have something different about him.'
One of Jun-seong's most notable potential rivals lately was Su-hyeon.
'It's not just about utilizing teammates' abilities well. Rather, he used abilities that others hadn't paid attention to as hidden cards.'
All the profiles of his classmates were in Jun-seong's head.
But even he hadn't thought that Kim A-yun's lightning would show such power.
'Was he observing the cadets more closely than me? Or does he have sources of information I don't know about? Or else...'
There was no sign of joy over the successful exercise results on his contemplative face.
Inside a café with slow, languid background music.
Hwang Ji-su's expression wasn't particularly bright either as she sipped her favorite coffee and reviewed the match on her tablet.
'Tsk.'
The plan had gone slightly awry due to Choi Min-a's performance exceeding expectations.
'The roles of the other three were greatly reduced.'
Even the final blow was delivered through her coordination with Choi Min-a, accounting for over 80% of the effort.
'Unexpected. With that level of skill, her entrance exam rank was only 11th?'
She might be the type who's stronger in actual combat.
In any case, it led to an easier victory, so it should be considered a fortunate miscalculation.
'Since the other team members' contributions weren't prominent, the first place will probably go to Seo Jun-seong's team.'
Even while burning with intense competitive spirit, Hwang Ji-su's ability to view the situation as objectively as possible was one of her strengths.
'In terms of individual performance, I might have been better than Seo Jun-seong. But as a leader guiding the entire team, I was... lacking.'
She knew well that her own disposition was far from the type to encourage teammates and win their hearts to lead them.
But she couldn't help but feel frustrated when thinking that she couldn't do something Jun-seong could do well.
"Lee Yu-jin... tsk. She did better than I expected."
It was particularly surprising that when Park Chang-jun broke from control, instead of being dragged along, she turned his disposition around and used him as bait.
'It's different from the style I knew.'
Both Jun-seong and Ji-su were surprised to see Yu-jin shake off what they had considered her weaknesses—excessive adherence to principles and indecisiveness.
Her intuition somehow felt that it wasn't unrelated to Jeong Su-hyeon.
'So Jeong Su-hyeon won in the end too. Kim A-yun... that output ranks among the top even among the elemental types I've seen.'
Output was truly a realm of innate talent.
In the world of elemental awakened, with the same amount of mana, one person might release 10 units of flame while another releases 100.
In that respect, the attacking power demonstrated by Kim A-yun, who had been overlooked for being timid and indecisive, was surprising.
'Indeed. You only know competition when you actually experience it.'
Compared to before the entrance exam, when she thought she only needed to keep an eye on Jun-seong and Yu-jin, how things had changed.
'Jeong Su-hyeon, Choi Min-a, and Kim A-yun.'
Even cadets like Kang Geon-woo, Go Do-il, and even Oh Min-seon possessed considerable skills.
Nevertheless.
'I will be the final victor.'
Hwang Ji-su's lofty pride remained unchanged.
'By the way.'
Ji-su took a sip of coffee and pouted.
'That Seung-yeon now refuses to have dinner with me.'
She understood it was because of her diet and circumstances.
Hmm.
She didn't like that the alternative happened to be Jeong Su-hyeon.
'There's something about that guy. I just can't figure out what it is.'
She couldn't understand why Su-hyeon bothered her so much.
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"Ah, today was really tough. I almost got done in by that crazy Ma-in."
Kwon Seung-yeon rubbed her arms, saying it gave her the creeps even though it was just a simulation.
"More than anything, the idea of treating people like puppets makes me feel so disgusted."
Although in this simulation, the setting was that he manipulated battle puppets instead of people.
The history of the Mad Puppeteer was certainly disgusting in itself.
"But in the end, we won."
I said, chewing on chicory with its well-captured bitterness.
"Well, I was just carried by Jun-seong. I would have had it easy if I'd been on Ji-su's team too."
"Their characteristics shine especially in situations like this."
While my abilities are still limited in directly affecting the battlefield.
Jun-seong and Ji-su are awakened who can make an immediate and tremendous impact even at the current stage.
"But I was surprised by you and Yu-jin too. I thought you'd be at a disadvantage, but you proved everyone wrong by winning."
"We were lucky. If Kim A-yun hadn't been on our team, there would have been no way."
"Come on. Being lucky is me getting placed on Jun-seong's team."
Kwon Seung-yeon laughed heartily.
"And I think the instructor didn't randomly assign teams but considered the combinations."
That's true.
"It means you did really well with what you were given, Su-hyeon. Honestly, if I had been on that team, I don't think I could have done much."
"I'm focused on hand-to-hand combat after all," Seung-yeon said as she munched on her salad.
"Ah, it's delicious but... eating this on a Friday night is just too sad."
"You can cheat a little on the weekend."
"Sigh. Should I? Maybe I could tempt Ji-su?"
"Not a bad idea."
At that, Seung-yeon glanced at me and added unnecessarily.
"Or you could eat with me."
"Hmm."
That's not bad either, but unplanned calorie intake is...
"What? Why aren't you answering?"
"I answered in my head."
"What did you say?"
I quietly put down my lunchbox.
"Let's finish eating and work out."
"Hey! That's playing dirty!"
"The food we eat today makes who we are tomorrow."
"Oh, what are you saying!"
After finishing my workout with Seung-yeon.
I received an unexpected thank you from Yu-jin.
"Thank you, Su-hyeon."
"Me? What did I do?"
"Just... you've been a big reference in many ways. Without you, I would have just been flustered by Chang-jun's sudden actions and unable to improvise."
'Certainly.'
The original Yu-jin would not have taken bold actions like using Park Chang-jun as bait.
While that temperament was also Yu-jin's weakness, it was encouraging that she had become more flexible in her thinking.
'The sooner she sheds that shell, the stronger Yu-jin can become.'
"Grandfather was pleased when he heard about today too."
'I'm sure he was.'
That's just his style.
'He's restraining himself in front of his granddaughter, but once on the battlefield...'
He's now called the Sword God, but in his prime, his nickname was the Sword Demon.
Among gamers, he was even known as the "Sword Bastard."
"It's all thanks to you, Su-hyeon."
Yu-jin smiled.
"That's not true. It was your effort."
I shook my head and answered.
"But I'm glad it helped."
"Yeah. That's why I want to repay you somehow."
"Repay?"
"I've been grateful for so many things since the entrance exam."
"You don't need to feel so indebted."
"Don't worry about that."
Yu-jin nodded and glanced up at me.
"Instead, would you like to have a meal together tomorrow?"
"Hmm."
'That makes it two meal appointments already.'
It probably won't be just salad and chicken breast.
It seemed like I'd end up cheating on my diet over the weekend.
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"A-yun, you were really awesome today!"
"Th-thank you."
Receiving congratulations from her roommate with whom she rarely talked, Kim A-yun, still excited, exhaled deeply with a flushed face.
'It's the first time.'
This was the first time she had freely used her power by her own will.
Lightning was originally famous for being as difficult to control as it was destructive in power.
Moreover, because of her extremely high affinity for lightning, even emotions like sadness or anger could potentially cause great damage to her surroundings.
Therefore, since awakening her characteristic, she had always had to suppress her emotions and be cautious of those around her.
Without resorting to the clichéd example of a flea that hits its head on the ceiling when jumping and won't jump higher even after the ceiling is removed.
It wouldn't be difficult to infer that Kim A-yun, raised in such an environment, couldn't fully utilize her abilities.
To use an analogy, it was close to the pressure and fear felt by someone who has never practiced breakfalls suddenly having to throw themselves to the ground.
But today, Kim A-yun had for the first time broken free from the framework that confined her and used her power to the fullest.
'It was electrifying.'
The pleasure of drawing out all the power she had been busy suppressing and taking down a mighty enemy in one blow.
Perhaps this is the pleasure a gamer feels when turning the tables with an ultimate skill in a situation where their HP is almost depleted.
'It was thanks to him.'
Kim A-yun recalled Su-hyeon's face.
He protected her when she was nothing but a burden, led everyone to navigate the fight against the Ma-in.
And he encouraged and reassured her when she was pathetically hesitant, ultimately drawing out all her power.
'...I hope we can be on the same team next time too.'
She wanted to feel this way once more.
"You're having a meal with Su-hyeon?"
Song Yu-ha's eyes widened at Lee Yu-jin's words.
"Yeah. After sparring on Sunday."
"Ooooh? What's this, what's this~?"
Song Yu-ha's eyes curved mischievously.
"It's, it's just because I'm grateful to him."
Finding her embarrassed reaction cute, Song Yu-ha poked Yu-jin's side repeatedly.
"Hehe, actually, I wanted to see a movie too."
"...!"
Yu-jin blinked.
"But I don't have a Yu-jin to go with."
"Um... well..."
Yu-jin hesitated, stammering.
'She's conscious, so conscious.'
Song Yu-ha giggled, finding that appearance cute.
"W-want to come with us?"
"Is that really okay?"
"...Yeah."
Despite her words, Yu-jin's slightly downcast expression made Song Yu-ha back off, waving her hands.
"Ah, I'm just kidding, kidding."
"! Really?"
"Of course! It's an appointment you two made, it would be rude of me to suddenly join in."
Yu-jin sighed in relief at this completely sensible statement.
"Yeah. That's true."
"...Aren't you a bit too happy about that?"
Song Yu-ha felt a little hurt.