novelraw Chapter 15 : Chapter 15
Chapter 15 : Chapter 15
Chapter 15: Rank Test
[Customized training has been completed.]
[Rewards will be distributed.]
[Strength +1, Stamina +1(2x), 5,000SP]
In the lively academy cafeteria in the morning, I checked the results of my early morning efforts.
The customized training was over sooner than I thought.
Thanks to it being set up to be high-intensity but finishable in a short amount of time.
‘Is it also providing a customized solution for the lack of time while living in the academy?’
In any case, the handsome reward of 5,000SP was obtained from it.
Unfortunately, the SP reward from this training was all spent on buying Fatigue Recovery Potions.
Because there was something I needed to check.
‘Hundred Night Yaksha once, Crimson Wolf three times.’
After finishing my training and drinking a Fatigue Recovery Potion, I began my experiment.
It was a simple experiment.
An experiment to see how many times I could use the newly acquired skill.
I used [Crimson Wolf: Blood Fang] a total of three times.
Three times until I fainted from the recoil.
Considering that I had just gone through intense training, I thought I could probably use it up to four times in full condition.
‘Even so, to think I would faint even after drinking a Fatigue Recovery Potion.’
When I woke up again, I was lying on a bench in the training ground.
Someone must have moved me after I collapsed.
When I woke up, the gazes of all the cadets who had come for morning training were focused on me.
It was a bit embarrassing.
As soon as I woke up, I ran out and ended up here, in the Zero Academy cafeteria.
I had just enrolled and had no friends.
So, of course, I ate alone.
I don’t particularly dislike eating alone.
Because I can eat peacefully and at ease.
[Kkihihihi! Kkihi?! Wriggling in my stomach! I liiiike it!]
If it weren’t for this crazy Mimic X.
Because of this bastard who has been talking like crazy for a while now, the only advantage of eating alone has disappeared.
‘Crazy basXard.’
It’s not like I can have a conversation if I confront the thing, and I’ll just become a crazy person muttering to myself in the air, so I endure it.
Even after that, I could still hear it saying something.
Ignore it. I’m ignoring it.
Just as I was closing my ears and continuing my meal.
Kkuuk-
Suddenly, someone’s finger pressed firmly on my forehead.
“Hey~ you’re just gonna ignore me when I’m talking to you?”
It was Do Haru.
“What, when did you get here?”
“I’ve been here for a while!”
Do Haru pouted her lips.
“Wow- so you didn’t hear a single word I said until now? How could you? You weren’t even wearing earphones. Is something bothering you?”
The answer to Do Haru’s question was right next to her face.
[Jiggling! Feels goooood!!]
If Do Haru saw that crazy Mimic flapping its cover and stretching its mouth wide next to her face, wouldn’t she be able to understand my feelings tenfold?
Anyway, since I couldn’t talk about the Tactical Manual, I just mumbled something.
“I was training pretty hard since dawn.”
“Ah, that’s right. I heard from Hayun. You trained a lot since dawn? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine enough. But what? From Seol Hayun?”
“Yeah, she said she put you on a bench when you were passed out. What kind of training do you do until you collapse?”
So it was Seol Hayun who moved me.
A new wave of embarrassment washed over me.
Did I smell of sweat because of all the sweat I had poured out like rain?
From now on, I should probably stop when I feel like I’m about to faint.
“By the way, it’s amazing that you’re fine. Weren’t you really hurt yesterday?”
Do Haru said, poking me here and there.
I was amazed myself.
Because the effect of the Fatigue Recovery Potion was better than I had imagined.
It would have been better if the source of the Fatigue Recovery Potion wasn’t the mouth of that flapping monster.
“But could you stop touching me.”
“Ah. Sorry. It was just so firm and amazing that I did it without realizing.”
As I said that while looking at the hand that had been poking me, Do Haru, as if suddenly coming to her senses, finally withdrew her hand.
“Ahem, right. Aren’t you nervous about the rank test today? I heard we have to catch a monster by ourselves.”
Do Haru quickly changed the subject.
The rank test.
The academy’s first practical training begins with the evaluation of the student’s grade.
For theory and written exams, everyone can take the same class.
However, classes that included actual combat strictly divided the cadets by their level.
Because it would be dangerous to face an enemy that is too strong, and it wouldn’t be training to face an enemy that is weaker than necessary.
Accordingly, Zero assigned grades from A to F and then conducted customized training with the cadets of each grade gathered together.
The future course and class content would be determined by the rank measurement this time.
“I’m nervous because a semester’s worth of classes and practical scores are on the line.”
“I see.”
“What’s with that tone, like it’s no big deal. You seem confident, huh?”
Rather than being confident, I wasn’t particularly concerned.
Because I wasn’t aiming for a particularly high rank.
There are advantages to becoming A rank, as you naturally form connections with the main characters, but in return, the training becomes intense.
Unspeakably so.
‘Too low a rank is also dangerous, and if I’m not careful, I might not be able to graduate due to being unqualified.’
So what I’m aiming for is B rank.
A rank where I can receive moderate training and still be treated as an excellent student to some extent.
With B rank, I would be able to enjoy the well-being life I had in mind.
***
“Alright, everyone quiet!”
The cadets stood in a line in the small auditorium on the east side of the campus.
“I’m Instructor Miyu, in charge of the rank measurement for classes 1 and 2. Then, let’s begin the measurement!”
Instructor Miyu, with her colorful hair of pink, yellow, and light green, said with a bright smile.
An auditorium reminiscent of a huge dome stadium.
And in front of us was a similarly round and large mechanical device.
“This machine summons monster replicas. Don’t let your guard down just because they’re made of magic power, okay? The summoned replicas have the same characteristics as real monsters.”
Instructor Miyu introduced the machine with a magician-like gesture, spreading one arm wide with a ‘tada-.’
“Then, let’s find out about the monsters you will be facing.”
As Instructor Miyu operated the console, a hologram flickered next to it and slowly formed the shape of a monster.
The forms of various monsters were realized in their actual size.
“From A-rank to F-rank. This is a list of the monsters you can face today. Don’t be too surprised. It doesn’t mean an actual A-rank monster, but a monster that corresponds to A-rank by freshman standards.”
Her explanation continued.
According to the explanation, one person enters the machine at a time.
The cadet can directly select and summon a monster.
The evaluation is made on various aspects such as the chosen difficulty and the response to the monster, and if it becomes dangerous, you can press the emergency escape button on the supplied smartwatch.
“It will be a chance to check your own level, right?”
Instructor Miyu added with a bright smile.
“It would be good to aim for a high rank and try fighting a strong monster. Ah, of course, you could get hurt, so be careful!”
She said it with a smile, but it was somehow creepy.
It was the complete opposite atmosphere of the serious Instructor Hojin.
“Then, let’s start the measurement now. Ms. Lily, please come out first. The other cadets, please wait in the designated viewing seats!”
Following Instructor Miyu’s guidance, the cadets moved to the viewing seats, while only one cadet stood in front of the machine.
Everyone’s gaze was gathered at the door.
Standing there was a little kid with yellow-blonde hair.
“Ms. Lily, please go inside and tell us the monster you want to summon.”
A doll-like girl with blonde hair and blue eyes stepped forward with her characteristic defiant gaze.
A small frame that would barely reach 150cm, and a tiny face.
Her distinct and balanced features made one look forward to a brilliant future.
Of course, right now she looked much younger than her peers.
“I will summon a Bulk Worm.”
She gestured with her hand, her voice tinged with annoyance.
What she had suggested was an A-rank monster, the Bulk Worm.
A-rank by freshman rank test standards.
It boasted considerable strength as a mid-tier entity, ranking as high as Grade 6 in the official demonic beast classification system.
She had casually called out an opponent that would be overwhelming for a freshman to face.
[Summoning Bulk Worm.]
The AI’s voice echoed softly.
At the same time, a fierce flash of light burst from the center of the monster summoning device.
A Bulk Worm, resembling a giant earthworm, revealed itself.
Its thick, grayish-brown outer skin was hard enough to repel any impact, and a sticky mucus flowed from each of its segments, which were covered in dense hair.
“Ugh. Uweck.”
I heard Do Haru’s retching sound from the side.
The liquid flowing as if to melt the floor of the device was an acidic secretion.
It was a medium-to-large monster with an adult body length of 7 meters, and one of the most powerful monsters that could be chosen in this measurement.
Its majestic, large body fully displayed its grandeur.
“As expected, she picks the strongest one.”
Do Haru whispered towards me.
Did they have a connection? I wondered, but then I remembered.
To be precise, Lily and Seol Hayun are rivals with a rather tenacious connection.
Do Haru, being Seol Hayun’s friend, also often clashed with Lily.
“You know Lily, right? She’s famous.”
“Roughly.”
“Her skills are the real deal. Though her personality is a bit annoying.”
I know. How many times have I played this game.
The monster slowly moved its body.
Kuung.
Just by slightly shifting its body, the ground tremor it created by pushing the floor echoed all the way to the audience seats.
The statement that it copies physical characteristics was true.
Because that monster actually weighs several hundred kilograms.
But I know what will happen after this.
Lily lightly raised her hand.
At that moment, the air shimmered as if vibrating.
As if an invisible hand had tightly gripped the center of the Bulk Worm’s torso, it began to cave in.
Kwa-jik-!
With the sound of a can being crushed, the Bulk Worm’s massive torso twisted like a pretzel from the middle.
Its body was crumpled and twisted like paper, and its hard outer skin was torn like a toothpaste tube, scattering green fluid in all directions.
That was the power Lily possessed.
‘Psychokinesis.’
And at a very powerful level at that.
[Monster hunt successful.]
A mission that ended anticlimactically quickly.
A silence fell in the hall.
Everyone’s gaze was fixed on Lily’s confident appearance.
After a brief moment.
‘Huh?’
Lily looked exactly in this direction.
With a slightly arrogant and thoroughly smug expression.
What? I thought.
Is her relationship with Do Haru that bad?
It probably isn't.
At that moment.
“Ah, Hayun is here?”
Do Haru said, looking to the side.
Seol Hayun was sitting in the seat next to Do Haru.
“No wonder Lily was looking this way.”
Do Haru spoke my thoughts for me.
I was also wondering why she was looking this way.
I looked back and forth between Seol Hayun and Lily.
A moderate sense of rivalry isn't bad.
Because it will become a driving force for growth needed to lead the story forward.
But I hope it doesn't go too far.
Especially for me.
Because along with Seol Hayun, Lily was also a so-called ‘time bomb’ with the risk of collapsing.
Of course, the reasons and triggers are different.
‘It seems like the things I need to worry about are increasing. No.’
I was about to complain, but I stopped my thought for a moment.
Because I was afraid that if I had a strange thought, the damn book might bring another strange [Customized Education].