novelraw Chapter 80 : Midterm Exams (2)
Chapter 80 : Midterm Exams (2)
Preliminary scoring results.
Even the most precarious cases—Kwon Seung-yeon, Kang Geon-woo, and Song Yu-ha—all managed to cross the cutoff line.
"Yes!"
"Woohoo!"
Su-hyeon sighed watching Kwon Seung-yeon and Song Yu-ha jumping for joy.
'It's even hard to spoon-feed them.'
"Now that the written exams are over, everyone needs to prepare for the practical test."
Everyone's expression contorted at Su-hyeon's words.
"Ugh, we're going to get beaten badly."
"Isn't that too harsh for chicks like us?"
The content of the midterm practical exam was simple.
One-on-one combat with an instructor.
Of course, the condition was to land just one hit, but.
That wouldn't be easy at all.
"Does anyone ever pass that exam?"
"I heard it's an average of single digits each year."
Kwon Seung-yeon grimaced at Nam Tae-hoon's words.
"Then what happens to the rest?"
"I guess they do comprehensive grading based on performance."
"Ugh. Less than 10 percent average pass rate? That's brutal."
"Still better than the finals."
Su-hyeon said.
The final exam was a tournament between cadets.
In terms of stress, getting beaten by an instructor would be much better.
"Wonder who I'll face."
"I bet they'll pair us with instructors who have terrible compatibility with us."
Kwon Seung-yeon's prediction was extremely accurate.
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As many as 20 instructors gathered for the first-year midterm exams.
"As you know, what's important in this exam is how overwhelmingly and meticulously you subdue the cadets."
Instructor Kim Cheol-han, who was in charge of the overall proceedings and the homeroom teacher of Class 1, said.
"Of course, this batch of students experienced earlier than their seniors how frightening the professional world can be through the Ma-in attack incident. However, they haven't yet encountered an enemy who strategically attacks them through rigorous analysis and tactics. Moreover, if that opponent has abilities that are like natural predators to them, the difficulty would be indescribable."
The instructors nodded heavily.
"One can only apply to others what one has experienced firsthand."
Kim Cheol-han smiled slightly.
"Please don't hold back and do your best to crush the cadets."
"Hahaha!"
"I feel a bit sorry."
"The 20 instructors gathered here will each face an average of 5 cadets."
The instructors nodded confidently.
"That's the least we should do."
"Good."
Kim Cheol-han changed the screen.
"Let's start with Class 1 cadets."
A simple report was presented based on Seo Jun-seong's face, characteristics, and combat power data.
"The report compilation was a lot of work for the teaching assistants."
Kim Cheol-han briefly expressed his gratitude, but there was no one present to receive it.
The teaching assistants had collapsed after being finally released from their overwork.
"...Seo Jun-seong. A genius who ranked first among first-years and a psychokinetic who handles extraordinary telekinetic power. His output, control, user application, and judgment have already surpassed cadet level. His main attack patterns and defense patterns are..."
"Hmm."
The instructors fell into thought, considering how to counter Seo Jun-seong and their compatibility with him.
"Is there no one who wishes to volunteer?"
"I'd like to face him, but I think someone with better compatibility than me would be more suitable."
Instructor Seok Hong-jae, who was recognized as one of the top-tier ranged dealers, expressed his regret.
"It would be fun, but I want to face another kid. I shouldn't monopolize all the top-ranked students, right?"
Instructor Oh Chang-seong also licked his lips.
"Hmm. Then I would like to face him."
Kim Cheol-han's eyes deepened at the instructor who raised his hand.
'This man would make for quite an interesting match.'
"Do you have a strategy in mind?"
"Yes."
Instructor Gu Hyeong-min, who possessed the 'Light Bullet' characteristic that converted mana into light particles to shoot lasers.
Considering how he would counter Seo Jun-seong's telekinesis, quite an interesting pattern was anticipated.
"Good. I think this is an appropriate matchup, what do you think?"
"Hmm."
"If it's Instructor Gu..."
Since the other instructors didn't raise any objections, Kim Cheol-han quickly confirmed the match between the two.
"Moving on to the next."
The second to appear on the screen was Hong In-hyeon.
"Hong In-hyeon. He ranked 4th at the time of admission and currently has combat power easily within the top five. He freely manipulates wind and has deeply honed his boxing skills, showing excellence in both ranged and close combat. He has an innate sense for battle."
"I would like to take him on."
The volunteer was Seok Hong-jae, who had given up on facing Seo Jun-seong.
"Instructor Seok?"
The instructors stirred.
Seok Hong-jae.
He showcased magnificent, beautiful muscles as if physically arguing that "an archer is not an agility character but a strength character."
"He manipulates wind. Will that be alright?"
"For an archer, wind is always a constant that must be factored into calculations."
Seok Hong-jae smiled.
"If your arrow is affected by wind, you should consider whether your drawing power was weak."
While cadet Yoon Garam, another sniper and archer, might still lack output compared to his blessed characteristic of precision.
Seok Hong-jae was an archer who, based on his trajectory control characteristic and his own monstrous strength, shot powerful arrows reminiscent of a ballista.
'Arrows shot by Instructor Seok with full intent can break through even the sturdiest armor.'
Kim Cheol-han smiled, imagining how Hong In-hyeon, who easily twisted ranged dealers' attacks with wind, would be surprised.
"I have no objections."
"Neither do I."
"Me neither."
Thus, the matchup of Hong In-hyeon vs. Seok Hong-jae was easily confirmed.
"Next is Hwang Ji-su."
The instructors' eyes sparkled at the appearance of a heavyweight cadet.
"As you know, she has Hwang Yong-jae, the chairman of B&S Group, as her father, and possesses potential evaluated as the best among ice manipulation awakeners to emerge in the past decade. Currently, she displays skills so complete that it's hard to find almost any weaknesses."
Ice.
An elemental ability that might lack some attack power compared to lightning or fire, but could become infinitely powerful when wielded by a skilled user.
"I would like to take on Hwang Ji-su."
The instructors were intrigued by Kim Cheol-han's volunteering.
"You're stepping forward, Instructor Kim?"
"Yes. I have a strategy in mind, and above all, she's been showing signs of breaking through walls lately."
Kim Cheol-han said.
"If possible, I'd like to give her a push from behind."
"I thought you would want to face Jeong Su-hyeon?"
Kim Cheol-han laughed at Oh Chang-seong's playful question.
"While that kid is interesting too, it's not something to handle with personal bias."
"Well, with Instructor Kim, there are no complaints."
"Even if there were, we'd have to accept it."
"Hahaha!"
The matchup was smoothly decided.
Next up was Lee Yu-jin.
"Now for Lee Yu-jin. She ranked second at the time of admission and is evaluated as one of the most talented and skilled cadets along with Hwang Ji-su and Seo Jun-seong. Her swordsmanship, directly taught by the Sword God and Sword Warrior, has already surpassed professional level, she has manifested mature sword energy, and above all, she possesses the characteristic of mana penetration, making her an extremely tricky swordsman in close combat."
"Indeed. It's a game-changing ability that can overturn power differences."
"The most troublesome aspect is that it makes guards ineffective."
Several weapon-wielding instructors showed interest.
"I want to take on Lee Yu-jin."
Lee Ho-seung was the first to raise his hand.
Instructor Jang Han-su licked his lips.
"Ah, I wanted to face her too."
"Hmm. Instructor Jang?"
Jang Han-su.
An instructor with a loose impression who roughly carved a bamboo spear and created a solid aura spear—or spear energy—to beat everyone.
However, his weapon-handling skills were among the best even among the instructors.
'Refined mana and refined technique. In terms of completeness and power of simple spear energy alone, he might be superior to Instructor Lee Ho-seung.'
Of course, Lee Ho-seung didn't have a simple style of cutting everything with powerful sword energy.
That meant Jang Han-su's level was not to be taken lightly.
"I was curious whether her ability could penetrate my spear energy."
"I'm curious about that too."
Lee Ho-seung crossed his arms and pondered.
"Haven't you faced her several times, Instructor Lee?"
"I have."
"How was it?"
"It worked on me too."
"Wow."
The instructors marveled.
"This batch is really impressive."
"When they have good characteristics and excellent user skills."
"It seems like it would be interesting to face either of them."
"Then by vote..."
"No, no."
Instructor Lee Ho-seung waved his hand.
"Thinking about it, facing Instructor Jang might be more interesting than me. I forfeit."
"Oh, thank you!"
Instructor Jang Han-su chuckled.
"I'll buy you a coffee."
"Great, make it iced."
"Yes!"
The matchups continued to be decided quickly.
"Kang Geon-woo will be faced by Instructor Lim Yeong-jin."
Lim Yeong-jin.
A were-bear who trained in combat sambo.
"Sambo versus judo, were-ape versus were-bear. This is a fight I definitely want to see."
"Nam Tae-hoon will be matched with Instructor Kang Jun-man."
"Huh, that will be almost impossible to strategize against."
"But that kid is cunning, so I'm curious what tactics he'll come up with."
After Choi Mina, Oh Min-seon, Go Do-il, and Kim A-yun's names had passed.
Finally, Su-hyeon's face appeared on the screen.
"Jeong Su-hyeon. The absolute top dark horse among first-years who has risen..."
Before his words could finish.
No less than six instructors raised their hands.
"Huh."
Kim Cheol-han laughed.
"He's incredibly popular."
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"...That's all. Prepare your tactics as best you can for tomorrow's exam."
Class 1 cadets stirred as they listened to Kim Cheol-han's announcement.
"Your victory condition is to steal or knock off the instructor's marker. I wish you good luck."
'This much leeway is necessary, otherwise they wouldn't stand a chance.'
It was just a few months ago when Oh Chang-seong wore restraints and crushed numerous applicants during the entrance exam.
However.
'It's true that this condition gives room for a decisive move.'
I checked the name of the instructor I would be facing.
'Instructor Lim Jeong-tae.'
He was known as "18 Martial Arts," a martial arts enthusiast who had mastered all kinds of weapon techniques.
'From ranged to extreme close combat. He can utilize appropriate weapons at any distance.
Bow, throwing stars, and dagger throwing at range.
Three-section collapsible spear, sword, nunchaku, and even bare-handed combat.
Due to his mastery of various martial arts, I had met him as a guidance instructor across several playthroughs.
'I learned almost all my dagger throwing techniques from him.'
Although I haven't met him in this playthrough yet since he mainly teaches second-year classes.
Along with Oh Chang-seong, Kang Jun-man, Lee Ho-seung, and Jang Han-su, he was one of the top instructors in terms of 'martial arts skill.'
'They've given me quite a tricky opponent in terms of compatibility.'
Currently, my biggest weakness is that I lack ranged attack means.
Therefore, Instructor Lim Jeong-tae, who can launch powerful attacks from range, has good mobility for skillful range control, and can easily handle my surprise dashes.
Was an opponent who could easily come up with countermeasures and solutions no matter what I tried.
'This is getting interesting.'
The current me would need a lot of preparation to properly match him.
'With his personality, he'll likely try to show a variety of cards.'
Should I go along with his rhythm, or should I twist it?
It seemed like it would be quite an enjoyable challenge.
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Two days later.
The practical exam for first-year cadets was held in a massive circular arena that could accommodate tens of thousands of people.
[We will now begin the practical exam for the first group. Both sides, step forward.]
"Fighting!"
"You can do it!"
Twenty cadets entered the arena with trembling hearts, encouraged by their peers.
[3, 2, 1. Begin the match.]
However, it took less than a minute for the excited and tense atmosphere to suddenly freeze over.
Bang! Kwang!
"Ugh!"
"Ah!"
55 seconds after the match began.
In that time, all but three were instantly subdued by the instructors.
"Is this all? Pathetic."
"!?"
A Class 2 cadet who had been knocked to the ground, unable to do anything against Kim Cheol-han's lightning-fast attack, just blinked stupidly.
"...!"
"Jaejae!"
Shock erupted from the waiting line at the defeat of a cadet who was counted among the top fighters in Class 2.
"You all better do it properly."
Kim Cheol-han looked at the chilled cadets in the waiting line and said.
"That is, if you don't want to fail and pack your bags."