novelraw Chapter 10 : Chapter 10
Chapter 10 : Chapter 10
Chapter 10: Special Training (1)
The bustling cafeteria of Zero.
There were two girls sitting at a spacious table.
Seol Hayun and her friend, Do Haru.
Seol Hayun, with her impressive silver-white hair that came down to her waist and eyes as red as embers, was sitting perfectly upright.
Do Haru, sitting across from her, had her smooth, neatly arranged brown bob held in place with a hairpin.
Resting her chin on both hands like a detective conducting an interrogation, she looked at Seol Hayun with a playful smile.
Her hazel eyes twinkled.
“Who are you looking at? That guy?”
Do Haru asked slyly, her voice full of the discovery of something fun.
To Seol Hayun, who had been staring at one place for a while.
“Yeah.”
Seol Hayun didn't bother to hide it.
She had been fixing her gaze on a boy sitting at a corner table.
A boy who was grimacing after drinking milk tea.
“Why are you staring so intently?”
Seol Hayun didn't bother to respond to Do Haru's sly question.
“Hmm-.”
Do Haru studied the boy who was the subject of Seol Hayun's gaze.
He was a boy with impressive, bright blue eyes.
His black hair was grown to brush against his forehead, and his moderate build with well-defined muscles was noticeable.
His calm posture exuded a somewhat nonchalant, model-like atmosphere.
“So Hayun finally has a guy she's interested in. I'm so proud. A young girl's heart is-.”
“Don't try to spin this into something strange.”
“Huh? Isn't continuously staring at a boy the very definition of creating a strange atmosphere?”
Do Haru said, smiling as if she had found the perfect thing to tease her about.
Nevertheless, Seol Hayun paid her no mind and observed the boy’s movements.
That boy's name is Ryu Jinwoo.
The boy who, without magic power, had managed to pass before she did.
He had left her with an unanswerable question on the day of the entrance exam.
Because he had, with a single sword, instantly shredded a powerful demonic beast while floating in mid-air.
He was a Non-Awakened, and that's why she was even more curious.
What kind of secret did he have?
“So what is it in the end? Why are you interested in him? Is there something other than romance?”
“I’m just interested in him as a person.”
“Hmm-, I see.”
Do Haru was confused by Seol Hayun's answer.
What? This isn't romance?
She stirred her milk tea with her straw and asked Seol Hayun suggestively.
“Anyway, you think about him often, want to get to know him more, and he appears in your dreams, right?”
“I think about him often. I want to know if he has some kind of secret. As for dreams…… I think he appeared. Once.”
“Oho-, so that's how it is.”
Do Haru casually played along and turned her gaze to her smartphone.
After a moment of silence, Do Haru spoke again.
“I guess there will be plenty of opportunities to get to know him from now on?”
At her words, Seol Hayun's eyes seemed to ask what she meant.
“That guy, he's in our class. Class 2.”
Do Haru answered with a mischievous smile, holding out her smartphone screen.
***
The morning of the first day of the semester had dawned.
From early in the morning, the campus was bustling with cadets greeting the new semester.
Tall glass buildings reflected the morning sunlight and sparkled, and electronic information displays installed here and there showed real-time academic information.
Even as security robots scanned cadet IDs and controlled access, the kids’ mouths never stopped.
“Wow, the central building is really tall. I heard the club headquarters are there too?”
“Did you hear who the instructor for Class 1 is?”
“I heard it's Kang Mooseong. He's supposed to be super tough.”
The cadets’ expressions were all bright. They must have been full of the joy of becoming official cadets of the Zero Academy they had dreamed of.
But my case was a little different. Because there was one thing on my mind.
[As part of the Cadet Enhancement Project,
A message that appeared when I was worried about how to continue my academy life.
However, since that message was delivered, nothing has happened yet.
‘The guy who used to just throw assignments at me is suddenly quiet. What the hell is he up to?’
The fact that the guy who used to just work me to the bone was staying quiet was actually more unsettling.
If he were a person, it would be like a crazy psychopath smiling at me from a distance.
‘There’s really not a single thing I like about it.’
If you’re going to do something, do it, and if not, don’t. Damn it.
Separate from my annoyance, the surroundings were filled with the energy of the new semester.
“Who do you think our instructor is? I heard it’s fine as long as it's not Kang Mooseong or Hojin. They say those two are no joke.”
“But why did they tell us to gather at the training ground? Don't we usually go to the classroom?”
“I heard the other classes are gathering in their classrooms? They said only Class 2 is doing this.”
Right now, the members of Class 2, including me, were gathered at the academy’s training ground.
And within it, a place called the ‘Free Sparring Arena.’
The structure is simple.
Inside a large structure, a 2-meter-high stone platform is set up in a wide, rectangular shape.
It was a platform with just a floor.
As I entered the assembly area, I saw familiar faces here and there.
Although not as much as Class 1, which was packed with many main characters, Class 2 also had quite a few characters with significant roles.
Just as I was looking around, the door of the training ground creaked open and a man entered.
And the moment I realized who that man was, I had a hunch.
‘I’m screwed.’
A clean suit style with pure white hair slicked back formally.
He looked as if he had appeared at a movie premiere, but what caught the eye more than anything was his eyes.
Pupils that were entirely jet black, with no whites.
In an instant, the voices of some cadets died down.
Some, as if startled, held their breath and instinctively averted their gaze.
Similarly, if I could avoid it, I wanted to get out of this place right now.
He walked quietly and stepped up onto the sparring platform.
Inside the training ground, where a small commotion still remained.
“Quiet.”
The moment he opened his mouth, a silence fell.
The kids felt a strange sensation.
A feeling as if an unknown force was pressing down on them.
“Let me introduce myself. I am Hojin. For the next year, I will be the instructor in charge of Class 2.”
After a simple self-introduction, he began to move his hands as if he didn't have a second to waste.
Disciplined movements with absolutely no unnecessary waste.
‘Of all people, I had to get Hojin?’
This is a curse.
Or is it someone’s instigation?
Where did it go wrong?
As all sorts of thoughts raced through my head, Hojin operated a device on the platform, and light began to emanate from the circular hologram projector placed next to him.
“We will now begin the orientation. First, I will briefly explain the academic schedule.”
The content was simple.
The direction of the classes and major academic schedules like midterms and finals.
But what was grating on my nerves was something else.
‘So that’s why they told us to gather at the training ground.’
A one-off event that only appears when Instructor Hojin is in charge.
When it was a game, I was just busy playing it happily.
But now that I’m the one involved, the anxiety makes me bite my nails automatically.
What bothered me most was the feeling that, perhaps it was just my imagination, but Hojin’s and my eyes seemed to meet frequently.
‘It must be my imagination. Right. It’s my imagination.’
Finally, after finishing his explanation about the academy's facilities, Hojin turned off the hologram and addressed everyone.
“That should be enough for the explanation. From now on, you are officially members of Zero.
You have taken the first step toward becoming heroes. Congratulations.”
At the simple praise, a moment of vitality returned to the faces of the kids who had been visibly tense.
At the same time, the crushing aura also disappeared.
“Phew- I can breathe again.”
“That’s an incredible aura. I couldn't even open my mouth.”
Murmurs of admiration mixed with complaints flowed from the surroundings.
Certainly, silencing a group of 40 people at once with just his aura is no simple feat.
‘As a hero, Hojin is at least A-rank.’
Simply put, the instructor in front of us, Hojin, is a top-tier hero class.
From the perspective of the new cadets, he is like a cliff of dizzying height.
“Um, Instructor? May I ask why we were gathered at the training ground? I heard the other classes gathered in their classrooms.”
Someone raised their hand and asked a question.
The moment Hojin raised an eyebrow, the cadet who had asked the question let out a ‘Hik-’ sound and shut his mouth.
“Well, that’s a good question. It could be confusing, so we should proceed quickly. The reason we’ve gathered here is to conduct a rather special activity.”
My eyes squeezed shut.
‘Here it comes.’
A rather special activity.
At Hojin’s words, the hall was filled with question marks.
What kind of special activity were they gathered for? Everyone waited for Hojin’s next words.
“From now on, as your instructor, I would like to take some time to get to know you all.”
Finally, a monotonous voice flowed from Hojin’s open mouth.
Taking ‘time to get to know you.’
‘Ha, it’s not like we’re on a date or something.’
In what way was he planning to get to know us?
That was probably the common question of everyone here except me.
And the question was soon resolved.
“Everyone here will have a spar with me, one by one. There are no exceptions.”
With the bombshell declaration that came from Hojin’s mouth.
***
After Hojin’s bombshell declaration was delivered, an assistant helping with the proceedings handed out training suits to everyone.
Soon, the cadets, having changed, lined up in front of the sparring arena.
The atmosphere in the hall was still dazed.
It was understandable, as they probably didn't expect to suddenly fight their instructor on the first day of school.
Of course, it wouldn't have changed anything even if they had known.
Just like me right now.
In the game, this event is just a tutorial where you get properly beaten once.
Because it's impossible to beat the instructor with initial stats.
‘The problem is that it’s not a gentlemanly spar where we bow to each other nicely and walk down unharmed after losing.’
It was as if I could see a vision of myself rolling around pathetically on that sparring platform.
A moment later, Hojin appeared again.
He was still in his suit.
“I imagine everyone is feeling bewildered. It’s only natural to be surprised to suddenly have a spar. But keep this in mind. Danger, by its nature, does not care for one’s circumstances.
Therefore, one must always be prepared. I would like you to think of this ‘test’ as part of that.”
He murmured as if giving a speech, looking around at the crowd.
“From now on, come up one by one. I will call out the order as we go. If you wish, you may challenge me first, regardless of the order I set.”
“I-instructor! You said it’s a spar, so what are the victory conditions? Do we have to defeat you?”
“Well, if it’s possible, you may. But that condition would be too harsh, I suppose.”
Hojin paused for a moment before speaking again.
“It ends with a ring out, or if you are incapacitated, or if you inflict even the slightest damage on me.”
Hojin raised his index finger.
“In other words, you just have to injure me in some way. If you injure me, the spar will end immediately, and……”
He paused for a moment before continuing.
“Along with points, I will write a letter of recommendation to ‘The Virtuous Saints’ for the dispatch missions that will come later.”
The words that came from his mouth suddenly caused a chemical reaction of tremendous force among the kids.
“The Virtuous Saints? Is that the guild I know? A letter of recommendation to the The Virtuous Saints guild?”
“It’s the number 1 guild! A senior I know said the competition is incredibly high because everyone tries to go there……”
The condition of ‘inflicting an injury’ and the reward of ‘The Virtuous Saints.’
A sense of vitality began to circulate among the kids who had been downcast until just a moment ago.
“An injury seems doable, doesn’t it?”
“He said he’ll give points too. This is a chance.”
The guys whispering in excited voices. Unfortunately, there's something they're overlooking.
‘As if that would work.’
Basically, instructors have a tough layer of magic power covering their entire skin.
To inflict an injury means to penetrate that protective barrier and deal damage.
Moreover, with Hojin, that’s not even the main issue.
Therefore, the condition and reward Hojin offered are merely an incentive to make the cadets do their best.
So that he can accurately grasp their capabilities.
‘There’s only about one person who has a chance.’
My gaze naturally turned to one side.
And there, a girl with long silver hair and a girl with a brown bob were talking.
“Hayun, did you hear? He said he’ll write a letter of recommendation, isn't that a huge bonus?”
“It probably means it's that difficult. The instructor is strong.”
“Hmm- but I feel like it could work out somehow if we try.”
“It won’t be easy. The only one who might have a chance is……”
Seol Hayun, who was trailing off her sentence, looked in my direction.
The brown-haired girl who was with Seol Hayun followed her gaze, and our eyes soon met.
“Oh? Isn't that him, that guy from before?”
Then, she smiled as if she had found something interesting.
And then she came toward me as if hopping.
“Hi! You're Ryu Jinwoo, right?”
“Yeah. I am.”
“I heard from Hayun. You two were in the same group for the entrance exam? I'm Do Haru. Hayun said you were amazing back then?”
As Do Haru began to chatter.
“Don't say unnecessary things.”
Seol Hayun, who had approached before I knew it, gave a low warning.
“I haven't said anything special yet?”
Do Haru grinned at Seol Hayun and continued.
“Anyway, it's nice to meet you. That's a really cool sword. Where did you buy it? I'm so jealous of people who can handle swords.”
As she naturally continued the conversation, she kept fidgeting.
It was as if her inability to stay still was on full display.
Even after that, Do Haru didn't rest for a moment and began to chatter, bringing up all sorts of conversation topics.
Is this what it feels like to hear dialogue that fills a text box in a game in person?
My ears felt overworked.
Looking to the side, Seol Hayun seemed to be moderately ignoring her, as if she was already used to it.
Just as I was getting tired of just giving short answers.
Ppeo-eok-!
A brutal sound erupted from somewhere.
The source of the sound was none other than the sparring arena.
Instructor Hojin’s ‘special test’ had begun before we knew it.
A challenger clutching his abdomen with a distorted expression, and Hojin looking down at such a challenger with a blank face.
Everyone’s gaze was fixed on the grim scene.
And they were gradually realizing.
That this was not just a game.
But was it just my imagination?
It felt like Hojin’s gaze had turned this way for a moment.
“Didn't it feel like he looked this way?”
Do Haru whispered quietly.
It seems I wasn't the only one who felt it.
With a somewhat chilling feeling, Hojin called the next person.
“Next. Kang Cheolhyeon, come up.”
A boy boasting a large, muscular build went up to the sparring arena with a confident expression.
And it took 30 seconds for him to be cleanly knocked out, drooling saliva from a fist embedded in his side.
Medical staff in white coats who appeared from somewhere carried him away on a stretcher and disappeared somewhere else again.
“Next.”
Hojin opened his mouth again with a monotonous voice.
That voice was like the solemn sentence of a judge.
The hall became quiet.
Gulp-.
The sound of someone swallowing was the only thing that clearly reached everyone’s ears.
There was one more thing that stood out.
‘I don't think it's my imagination. Why?’
Hojin was definitely looking at me.
‘……Wait a minute.’
And at that moment, an idea suddenly flashed through my mind.
I opened the Tactical Manual and checked my traits.
[Tactical Manual]
-Past Exam Analysis: Learns and reproduces the skills of other heroes.
An instructor is fundamentally a ‘hero.’
They just happen to be working at the academy, but they are heroes with a hero license.
Therefore, the skills Hojin uses also become ‘hero’s skills.’
Once my thoughts reached that point, the situation looked different.
From a disaster that had to be quickly gotten over with, to a key summary notebook from which I could secure Hojin's advanced skills.
My eyes met with Hojin's.
But instead of the chilling feeling I had before, a strange sense of anticipation filled its place.