novelraw Chapter 92 : Class President's Duty (1)
Chapter 92 : Class President's Duty (1)
For awakened ones with exceptional skills, two choices are given.
Hunter, and Execution Force.
Besides the difference in whether the enemy they face is a demonic beast or Ma-in.
Being a hunter is a path where one can gain relatively more money and fame.
In contrast, the Execution Force is a path where one bears greater risks yet earns less money, and cannot enjoy the life of a celebrity.
'If I had to make a comparison, would it be like the difference between a freelance announcer and an officially hired announcer?'
Therefore, if thinking rationally, it would make sense that more talented individuals would flock to the hunter side.
But there are also many talented people in the world who volunteer for the Execution Force, pursuing intangible values like sense of duty, romanticism, or personal vengeance.
Moreover, since the Execution Force can only be joined through a very small number of training institutions, including EFAC.
In terms of individual caliber and quality, the Execution Force was generally regarded more highly.
'Quantity for hunters, individual quality for the Execution Force.'
Furthermore, the number of human weapons with celestial-level skills comparable to S-rank doesn't differ much between the Execution Force and the hunter industry, according to the setting.
Then if both sides were to clash, which side would have the advantage?
This topic was quite a heated debate among gamers before Edge of Gate became a ruined game.
And there were crazy gamers who deliberately twisted scenarios to induce civil war just to see the answer.
'They must have come from kkingshard forums.'
Thanks to the civil war created by schemes that rivaled those of Ma-in, people were able to obtain fairly definitive data.
'In a full-frontal battle, hunters win due to numbers. However, in tactical areas such as guerrilla warfare, blitzkrieg, and public opinion warfare, the Execution Force overwhelmingly dominates when matched in equal numbers.'
Naturally, in one-on-one, the Execution Force, trained in combat against people, was stronger.
Between the two, comparable to mercenaries versus soldiers, the difference in tactical understanding and training level was quite apparent.
However.
As the war prolonged and the hunter side developed tactical capabilities, they often could not overcome the difference in numbers.
'Considering the registered personnel, it's really the dignity of the Execution Force.'
Should it be called the difference between regular infantry and special forces?
Anyway, as these cases show, the Execution Force's concept is elite few.
And the cadets selected for the intern dispatch will actually join a unit of the Execution Force and engage in real combat.
'Originally, this is something done from the second year.'
Because it's such a dangerous task.
But what kind of place is EFAC?
It's proficient in devising various mechanisms to encourage unlimited competition.
Just as universities have early graduation systems for the most outstanding students.
Even among first-years, those who achieve exceptional grades can receive limited intern nominations starting from the second semester.
'It's truly a treasure trove of events.'
Not getting dispatched here?
Just quietly press the restart button.
'But now I no longer have the opportunity to start over.'
Therefore, this semester, I needed to rank first and be the first to choose "that unit."
"But there's something I don't understand."
Nam Tae-hoon grumbled.
"What is it?"
"They say each unit will designate cadets they want up to their 3rd choice, right?"
"That's right."
"But the final selection is made after the final exams anyway, right? Right now it's just like adding to a shopping cart."
"That's the idea."
"Why make it so complicated?"
"Well, the reason is obvious, isn't it?"
I said.
"They're just letting everyone know in advance to get stimulated. That way, everyone will compete fiercely to get into the internship."
"Whoa."
Nam Tae-hoon stuck out his tongue.
"They really squeeze you dry until you're twisted like a rag."
"You should try hard too. Whether you can do an internship in advance or not will make a huge difference."
"Hmm."
"You know Min Hae-na-sunbae, right?"
"Yeah, I know her. She's the top student in second year."
"What makes her famous isn't just because she's the principal's granddaughter and the top second-year student. She became renowned outside because of last year's intern dispatch."
"Ah, that, I've heard about it."
"You wouldn't have just heard about it."
Nam Tae-hoon cleared his throat at my meaningful words.
"Ahem. Anyway."
Min Hae-na.
The strongest in the second year, who's said to rival Seo Jun-seong.
During her intern practice, she once raided a Ma-in group operating as drug dealers in the underworld, but was isolated after falling into their ambush.
A truly desperate situation.
But Min Hae-na's performance began from there.
She succeeded in protecting injured seniors by moving them back, while standing at the front line herself and creating an escape route alone, safely returning all members.
Thanks to her performance, the Ma-in who had prepared for a perfect ambush and encirclement were instead counter-encircled and annihilated.
The performance of this promising newcomer who appeared like a comet was enough to make the media buzz for a while.
"I heard that Senior Min Hae-na not only made her name widely known through that experience but also elevated her skills to the next level. Besides that, after joining the Execution Force, she'll receive various benefits in terms of unit placement choices, promotion speed, and so on."
"Hmmmm."
Deep furrows formed between Nam Tae-hoon's brows.
'Well, saying all this, this guy probably doesn't plan to do an internship.'
Given his status, he wouldn't want to attract too much attention.
"But looking at this, doesn't our academy feel a bit like a specialized high school?"
As expected, he changed the subject.
"It does seem to have drawn a lot from that model."
Including the education method that emphasizes practicality from the first year.
"From the second year, all students do intern practice, and from the third year, they're practically in job preparation status, right?"
"That's right."
That's also why EFAC has an incomparable status compared to other academies.
'While others have to take entrance exams later to join, cadets here can make direct impressions on Execution Force officials and comrades.'
Thanks to this, many graduates end up joining the units where they interned after graduation.
"But with you and so many other strong people around..."
"Well, just try your best."
"I'll have to."
Nam Tae-hoon answered with a face lacking enthusiasm.
And two days later.
The Execution Force's nomination list, reflecting the midterm results and reassessed estimated ranks, arrived at the academy.
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"A document has arrived from headquarters."
During unit settlement time.
Team Leader Song Young-hwan placed a document on the table.
"Let's read it."
The members who quickly read the document nodded.
"This is about that, right?"
"Yes. We need to choose one cadet we want to bring to our unit."
The structure was that each unit would submit a list, which would be compiled, and the final decision would be made by the captain.
"And here are the profiles of key cadets. Brief, but it should help."
But.
"I think you all know who I'm going to nominate without me having to say it?"
"Yes, sir."
"We're definitely going with Su-hyeon."
"Of course!"
The members he led had all witnessed Su-hyeon's first fight.
"Didn't Su-hyeon face a Ma-in that had reached C-rank with just D-rank strength at that time, bare-handed?"
"And he even inflicted tremendous damage by taking out one of its eyes."
"Yes. Su-hyeon knew how to fight even back then."
Moreover.
"I was more impressed when the Ma-in attacked the academy. A cadet of just 17 years, warning alone about the danger of that attack?"
"And he saved numerous colleagues' lives single-handedly while performing brilliantly."
"Crusher was quite a strong combatant. Three Execution Force members fell to him. The fact that he momentarily pushed him back and caught him in collaboration with Lee Yu-jin is truly a remarkable achievement."
"He's a friend who could be a regular force even if brought in right now."
The members actively expressed their agreement with Team Leader Song Young-hwan's assessment.
"He's a coveted talent."
"Even if they offer Seo Jun-seong, we should take Jeong Su-hyeon."
"He already seems stronger than me."
"Hmm."
Song Young-hwan stroked his chin.
"Still, if it's Seo Jun-seong, I'd have to think about it."
"That's also true."
"Captain, here's the document compiling and organizing the applications from each team leader."
Captain Son Ji-gwang of the 2nd Unit nodded as he received the document submitted by his aide.
"Indeed, Seo Jun-seong is overwhelming."
"Yes, sir."
Below him, Hwang Ji-su and Lee Yu-jin received almost the same proportion of votes.
And slightly below them, at 4th and 5th place, were the names of Su-hyeon and Hong In-hyeon.
"These friends, still lacking in discernment."
Son Ji-gwang clicked his tongue.
"Why do you say so, sir?"
"Jeong Su-hyeon in 4th place? It means they all still haven't abandoned the outwardly visible criteria."
For him, who rated Su-hyeon and Seo Jun-seong the highest, it was an unsatisfactory result.
"...But I think similar results would have come from other units as well."
Son Ji-gwang crossed his arms at his aide's words.
"That's probably the case."
"What will you do, sir?"
"What do you mean, what will I do?"
Son Ji-gwang wasn't the type of commander who put his own arbitrary decisions first in such matters.
"It can't be helped. It's also important to reflect the opinions of junior commanders."
He wrote Seo Jun-seong for 1st place and Jeong Su-hyeon for 3rd place.
"Who should I put for 2nd place? No, you choose this one."
"......"
"I'll announce the results."
During assembly time, Kim Cheol-han, holding a sheet of paper, looked over the cadets.
"For reference, it's a bit different from the ranking at the time of the midterm exam."
"!"
"As you know, the measurement method gives 3 points for a 1st place vote, 2 points for a 2nd place vote, 1 point for a 3rd place vote, and decisions are made by summing the total scores."
'It's not like it's the Ballon d'Or or something.'
Su-hyeon thought.
"1st place is Seo Jun-seong."
The cadets nodded as if they had expected it.
"2nd place is..."
Most cadets directed their gaze toward Su-hyeon, but.
"Hwang Ji-su."
"!?"
They were surprised by the somewhat unexpected name.
"Following that, 3rd place is Lee Yu-jin, and 4th place is Jeong Su-hyeon."
"Jeong Su-hyeon is 4th?"
"This is unexpected. I thought he'd be at least in the top 3."
"Indeed."
The cadets murmured, but.
'Well, that's natural.'
Su-hyeon, who had already anticipated this, wasn't surprised or perplexed at all.
'From their perspective, they can't just look at the cadets' skills alone, but also the background behind them.'
The real deal would be after the final exams anyway.
If he showed definite results there, the current ranking would change once again.
Unlike Su-hyeon, who was calm with such thoughts.
'...This is unfair.'
Only one person, Lee Yu-jin, was pressing her lips together with a face full of dissatisfaction.
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[...So Su-hyeon ended up 4th.]
"Hoho, so our granddaughter has her horns up?"
The Sword God laughed heartily at his granddaughter's complaints.
"From their perspective, rather than choosing Su-hyeon who has no background, it's a much more rational choice to pick the three children who have almost identical skills but definite backgrounds."
[Still.]
"Hohoho. Our Yu-jin seems to have quite a lot of interest in that friend?"
[M-me? No way.]
"Tsk. Lying to your grandfather is no good."
He wasn't the Sword God who would forget the fact that 90% of the men she mentioned were Su-hyeon, and the remaining 10% was shared between Seo Jun-seong, Hong In-hyeon, Nam Tae-hoon, and others.
"Bring that Su-hyeon over sometime."
[...!]
Yu-jin was somehow embarrassed at those words.
[It's too early to introduce him to grandfather... Ah. It's nothing.]
"Hoho."
'Well now.'
That rascal, should I start by breaking one of his legs first?
The Sword God began to seriously contemplate.
At the same time.
Kwon Seung-yeon was talking with her younger sister on the balcony.
"Did you receive the money well?"
[Yes, unni.]
"Good, good, that's a relief."
[Are you okay, unni? What kind of part-time job are you doing to send this much?]
"Hmhm, there's this thing."
Thanks to Su-hyeon, she'd earned enough money to afford a bit of luxury herself.
"Buy something delicious tomorrow."
[How can I just eat? Let's eat together when you come.]
"I told you it's fine. I eat well here."
[Liar. You're sending more money. Is it really just a part-time job?]
Kwon Seung-yeon tried to answer brightly despite her sister's worry.
"Of course. It's like a work-study program."
She couldn't bring herself to say that she was currently one foot in a kind of secret trade with her classmates.
If she did, her sister would definitely throw a fit, crying about how her unni is doing such things because of them.
[Thank you and I'm sorry, unni.]
"Enough of that. Seung-ah, you're the one having a hard time, since I'm the only one who's moved out separately."
[What hardship could there be?]
Kwon Seung-ah.
A sister two years younger, who sometimes seemed more mature than her unni.
Whenever Kwon Seung-yeon thought of her, she always felt a ache in one corner of her heart.
[By the way, unni.]
Her playful voice broke those thoughts.
"Hmm? What?"
[Are there any good guys there?]
"Oh, what are you saying!"
[You know, like Seo Jun-seong? They say he's super handsome.]
"Hmhm. Well, he does have a sharp look about him."
[I guess you don't like him then.]
"Hey, what's there to like or not like?"
[Oh right. Unni, you like the gym-rat type, don't you?]
"Oh what are you saying? I don't!"
[You do.]
"I don't like guys who are too musclehead. Just the type with good definition and a good frame..."
Wait a minute.
This is totally describing him?
"Ahem!"
Kwon Seung-yeon, suddenly feeling embarrassed, cleared her throat and quickly wrapped up the call.
"Anyway, get some rest. I'm going in."
[Oh why! Where are you going!]
Click.
After hanging up, Kwon Seung-yeon needlessly fanned her face.
"It's hot. Is it because early summer is coming soon?"
The mountain night was still chilly.