novelraw Chapter 1 : Chapter 1
Chapter 1 : Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Swept Up
The RPG game [Heroes Zero].
The ambitious title from the ‘Military Soft’ game company, which combined superpower battles with adventure.
This game, which dealt with the struggles and growth of those who dreamed of becoming heroes, garnered explosive popularity immediately after its release.
And the character I chose in that game, ‘Ryu Jinwoo,’ was now ‘me.’
I started the game right after the news of a new character release, and then transmigrated into this character.
The first thing that greeted me when I became ‘Ryu Jinwoo’ was a brown book floating in the air and the system messages it conveyed.
“……I’m used to it now, but still.”
Ddiring-
As I stared at the book floating in mid-air, a translucent blue window slowly appeared.
[Player Info]
[Name: Ryu Jinwoo]
[Strength: 10, Stamina: 13, Agility: 11, Dexterity: 10, Willpower: 10, Endurance: 10, Magic Power: 0]
[Traits]
-Past Exam Analysis: Learns and reproduces the skills of other heroes.
-Evasion Instinct: Maximum evasion rate is activated only for attacks captured by the senses.
-Mimicry Instinct: Mimics inorganic matter.
I have traits, but I have not properly used them yet. Only Evasion Instinct was occasionally activated.
As such, the Tactical Manual served as the system window, if this were a game.
It was also the crazy bastard that put me through endless training loops in the form of a workbook or textbook, which I hated.
This thing has been the conduit for months of overwork and torture. It’s an absolute piece of trash.
Just as I was privately grumbling, the gratifying sentence in the system message caught my eye.
[Tactical Manual]
-Required Course: Admission to Zero Academy
[Learning Goal]
-Let’s pass the Zero Academy entrance exam and begin the regular hero education course.
-Goal Achievement Reward: 30,000SP, Tactical Manual Additional Update
\Upon passing the entrance exam, the ‘Physical Adaptation Training’ will be terminated.
The message conveyed by the Tactical Manual was simple. If I entered the Academy, I would be freed from the overworking known as ‘Physical Adaptation Training.’
And it was none other than the ‘Zero Academy.’
[Zero! Zero! Kkihihihi!]
Seeing the crazy Mimic bastard stretch its mouth wide and laugh almost made me feel a bit of hyeonta.
In any case, the Zero Academy was the main stage of the original game and the pride of the Republic of Korea in this world.
Whether it was to obtain a clue to return to my original world or to establish a foundation to survive in this one, I had to enter Zero no matter how I looked at it.
Most of all, if I missed this opportunity, that crazy book might put me through the 365-day training loop again. So, I absolutely had to pass this time.
Ddiring-!
Perhaps in response to my determination, a clear system alert sound echoed in my mind.
[‘Learning Support Item’ has been awarded as a Course Commencement Reward.]
[Learning Support Item: Discount Coupon (99%)]
‘But what is this used for?’
If it’s a discount, what is it discounting? I don’t quite get it.
In any case, if it’s a ‘discount,’ it probably won’t be bad. I decided to move on for now.
***
The doors of Zero Academy are open to everyone. Whether you are from a chaebol family, a commoner, or even an unknown orphan.
Literally, anyone with enough ability can enter.
Even for me, who had no connections whatsoever, my eligibility was not an issue.
[This station is Seohyeon. Seohyeon Station.]
The subway announcement echoed inside the train. A weary afternoon mood hung in the moderately crowded car.
A ‘Procedure for Gate Occurrence’ was posted on one side of the car wall, and the green light of the Gate Detector installed next to it signaled a peaceful daily life.
I took the subway to match the exam schedule. The room where I was originally, or what I should call my starting point, was on the outskirts of the city.
A considerable number of people streamed into the stopped subway car. And a white-haired old man in a white suit, leaning on a cane, was the last to board the car. The old man, who was looking around for a seat, met my gaze.
Soon, he walked toward me.
“That’s a splendid sword.”
“Oh, thank you.”
He spoke to me while looking at the sword in my arms. I didn’t have much to say about it.
Whether it was a splendid sword or a poor one, it was just an item that was given to me when I transmigrated.
The problem was that the old man settled in front of me without showing any signs of leaving. Holding the hand strap with one hand and leaning on his cane with the other.
‘This is a bit embarrassing.’
Since I had been sweating profusely from the training quest since the morning, I wanted to stay seated if possible, but at this point, sitting was a tribulation.
“Please have a seat.”
“Oh, dear, I didn’t mean to pressure you. Thank you.”
I yielded my seat to him. He sat down and gave a gentle smile. I felt like I had been tricked.
As I stood holding the hand strap, an advertisement for ‘Goblin Artifact’ Co. was rapidly scrolling on the panel above the subway door.
-Even if you only have the strength to hold a spoon, it’s enough! Our new artifact, Empower…….
Even in this world, everything was functioning perfectly fine. Just like the things in the world I originally came from.
The subway rattled and slid toward the next station.
On the in-car advertising panel, an ad for a ‘Sudden Gate Emergency Supply Set’ appeared, alternating with an ad for ‘Energy Drink Recommended by A-rank Hero Lee Haneul, a Graduate of Zero Academy.’
A moment of tranquility. It certainly must have been.
Biiiiii-!
Suddenly, an ominous siren began to sound from the alarm. The Gate Detectors on both sides of the car also changed from green to red, signaling danger.
“That hurts my ears. Ah, dang it!”
“What’s going on this morning, seriously.”
Everyone in the car covered their ears and groaned at the ear-splitting warning sound.
[Please remain calm and stay in your seats. The car protection barrier will be activated until the hero arrives.]
The electronic display inside the car turned red and began to show emergency response procedures.
[Emergency Disaster Alert]
[A Sudden Gate phenomenon has occurred at Imae Station, Exit 3. Citizens in the area are advised to evacuate to the nearest shelter immediately.]
What followed was a warning that monsters would pour out of the suddenly created Gate.
“Imae Station? That’s the next stop.”
“Then are we heading towards where the monsters are? Shouldn’t it stop?”
People instantly fell into a state of panic.
Nevertheless, the subway did not stop. It did not slow down even as it approached the station.
It seemed they planned to pass right through Imae Station.
It was definitely a sound plan. Until it went wrong.
Teo-eong-!
A violent noise erupted from the far front, and then a strong impact followed.
Kwang!
“Kyaak!”
“W-What was that!”
People inside the car were thrown up and slammed into the doors, ending up tangled with each other.
The subway stopped, and the interior was dark due to the power outage.
[Passengers, please remain in your seats and safely wait inside the car until the response team arrives.]
A recorded announcement echoed from the speakers.
“Surely it wouldn’t come this way…….”
“Right! We have a barrier, too.”
Wait, hold on. Didn’t someone just put up a flag?
My brow furrowed, and my head involuntarily turned in that direction.
Kung. Kung.
“Ha.”
A sigh escaped me naturally, and I ran my hand over my face once.
A thick sense of unease settled in the car. Everyone held their breath and strained their ears toward the outside.
Kung- Kung-.
Heavy footsteps and an ominous growling sound were heard.
The moment that put a period on the doubts of the people.
Kwang-!
The external shield of the subway, deployed for safety, was deeply dented and bent all the way to the passengers’ eyes.
“Kyaak!”
A passenger screamed. And as if that was the signal.
Kwang-! Kwang-! Kwang-!
The shields sequentially dented deeply like falling dominoes.
Amidst the screams erupting everywhere like a scene from a horror movie, a hole finally appeared in the thick iron wall.
And a gigantic eyeball revealed beyond it rolled around.
“Keureuk-.”
One-Eyed Orc. A monster three times the size of an average person, demonstrating immense brute strength to match its size.
Ujik-!
With the shrill screams of the female passengers, the iron wall was split wide open left and right, and the monster stepped inside.
Saliva drooled from its parted mouth, the smile of a predator that had found its prey.
In that scene of chaos.
‘What should I do.’
I was contemplating. This was my first real-life situation.
Moreover, it seemed there was no one else in the car capable of fighting besides me. Should I struggle against it myself?
“Kkeu-eung-.”
While I was agonizing, I heard a groan from somewhere.
It was the old man to whom I had yielded my seat. He stood in front of the One-Eyed Orc, leaning on his cane.
The Orc, with wide eyes, looked at the old man in front of it.
The contrast between the giant, young one-eyed monster and the small, old figure.
Everyone held their breath.
“Why are you grunting so much?”
“Keureuk!”
Following the old man’s calm words, the Orc let out a beastly cry and fully raised its club.
“N-No!”
“Keureu! Keu-aa-ah!”
Someone’s sorrowful cry was drowned out by the beast’s roar, and everyone in the car held their breath.
“…….”
But the expected moment did not come.
The Orc stood frozen as if time had stopped.
At its sight, the passengers who had imagined a terrible scene were puzzled.
A moment of silence flowed. As if everything had stopped.
The change occurred in a flash.
Seu-seu-seut-
Countless red lines were etched across the Orc’s entire body like a net.
Cracks slowly spread, intersecting the flesh, bones, and skin.
Jjeojeok—
At some point, a sound as if something was splitting echoed.
Jjijik- Jjijijijik-!
The Orc’s flesh and bones were separated like pieces of paper.
The strange thing was that not a single drop of blood flowed even as it was being sliced into pieces.
What happened? Everyone inside the car was bewildered by the incomprehensible sight.
The moment I was also frozen by the horror movie-like scene.
Chwa-ra-rak-!
A sound of pages rapidly turning was heard, and the Tactical Manual appeared. Stretching its mouth wide, revealing hideous teeth and a grotesque tongue.
[Ihihihi! It’s food, food!]
This crazy Mimic bastard.
Appearing suddenly and talking nonsense…….
In my bewilderment, the Tactical Manual opened its mouth wide and took a bite out of the air.
Kwajik-!
Then, a sound of something being munched on was heard.
[Kkeo-eo-eok-!]
The fellow let out a satisfying burp right after the sound of something being swallowed.
Its appearance was utterly bizarre.
‘What in the world is this…….’
In that moment of shock at the incomprehensible sight.
Teo-eop- Chwa-reureuk-!
Its ‘mouth’ closed, and immediately after, the book opened, and the pages began to turn rapidly.
Finally, the page stopped.
Inside, a series of snapshots was laid out.
‘That old man, isn’t it?’
The person in the photos was the old man who had sliced the One-Eyed Orc.
His movements were sequentially captured. Like example photos one would see in a textbook.
Strangely, a faint white shape was visible behind the old man in the photos.
Following that, a system message formed in my sight.
[Tactical Manual]
-You have learned the Swordsmanship ‘Hundred Night Yaksha.’
-Would you like to learn the corresponding skill? (Y / N)
[Required SP: 1,000,000 SP]
[Owned SP: 213,400 SP]
I had been using the SP obtained through training mainly for Rehabilitation Art or minor things.
But this was the first time I had learned a skill this way.
What is this? No way.
[Past Exam Analysis: Learns and reproduces the skills of other heroes.]
It was the moment the true value of the trait was revealed for the first time.
However.
‘1 million SP?’
Simultaneously, the insane price rushed in. 1 million SP was an amount that would take hundreds of days of training to acquire.
It was good to find out the nature of the ability, but how am I supposed to use it? Just as my sense of absurdity was about to leave home.
[Would you like to use Discount Coupon (99%)?]
[Required SP: 1,000,000SP -> 10,000SP]
A miracle happened.