novelraw Chapter 4 : Chapter 4
Chapter 4 : Chapter 4
Chapter 4: The Final Exam (1)
Following the proctor's instructions, I placed my hand on the magic power measurement sphere, and a number appeared before me.
[Ryu Jinwoo: 0]
That’s right. I have no magic power. It means I'm a Non-Awakened who cannot use magic or superpowers.
“Um, examinee 456?”
The proctor called me, hesitating.
A look of slight bewilderment.
“Your magic power isn’t being measured, are you perhaps a Non-Awakened?”
“Yes. I couldn't awaken.”
“Ah-.”
At my answer, the proctor let out a short sigh.
Having seen a blatant ‘0’ right before his eyes, it was understandable that he would be a bit flabbergasted.
Still, they wouldn't fail me just for being a Non-Awakened.
Because there were Non-Awakened among the active heroes.
“Ahem, we will not proceed with additional magic power tests. Please move to the physical fitness test area immediately.”
As if they had heard the proctor's instructions, those around me began to murmur quietly.
“Wow, he has no magic power? A Non-Awakened? Why did he come here.”
“They say there’s one every year. Kids who just take a shot in the dark.”
They were probably saying it thinking I wouldn't hear, but I heard them just fine.
But it couldn't be helped.
It was only natural that the perception of Non-Awakened was not good here.
Non-Awakened heroes were a very small minority, and even then, most of them remained in the lower ranks.
Moreover, ‘Zero’ was a world-renowned prestigious academy; a Non-Awakened was bound to be treated like an eccentric.
Following the proctor's guidance, I moved to where the examinees waiting for the physical fitness test were gathered in neat rows and columns.
There are a hell of a lot of people.
“Examinees, your attention, please! We will now begin the physical fitness test. This test will be conducted with magic power restraints. Please wear the bracelets we will now provide.”
With the test proctor's explanation, other assistants approached and began to put bracelets on the examinees.
A blue light shimmered from the heavy, steel-made bracelets.
A so-called Magic Power Restraint.
Simply put, it was a device that suppressed the emission of magic power.
I was no exception.
I had no magic power, but I had to wear the restraint anyway.
It was a measure for a purely physical ability test.
Does that mean that the Awakened and Non-Awakened would compete on a level playing field?
Of course not.
“Hey, you’re in luck, huh? You don't have any magic power to be suppressed in the first place, right? Isn't that a total cheat?”
A gray-haired giant swung his arm with the bracelet in the air and then approached me, tossing out the words.
With a subtle sneer on his face.
It seemed he found out I had no magic power during the previous magic power measurement.
This guy's expression succinctly summarized my position in this test.
He was being sarcastic about it being a cheat, but in truth, he knew it too.
That he wasn't at any particular disadvantage.
That's why he was grinning like that.
The reason was simple.
‘Awakened’ who possess magic power can train their bodies more effectively by utilizing that power.
Therefore, in general, the basic physical abilities of the Awakened far surpass those of the Non-Awakened.
There was no way they would be at a disadvantage compared to the Non-Awakened just because the use of magic power was restricted.
“Don’t overdo it. No matter how hard you try, what’s not meant to be, won't be. Go awaken first and then come back.”
The gray-haired giant was relentlessly taunting me.
Come to think of it, it was absurd.
According to his words, I was a being not even worth keeping in check, yet he was paying more attention to me than anyone else.
He was probably trying to use a sense of superiority to cover up the tension from the exam, or something like that.
However, I had no intention of playing along with his intentions.
“I thought Zero was the best hero academy, but this is unexpected.”
“Huh?”
“Rude heroes are out of style. Oh, does the pig concept still work?”
At my words, the gray-haired giant’s expression began to distort rapidly.
“Are you calling me a rude pig right now?”
“Why? If I say no, are you going to believe me?”
“This bastard…….”
The gray-haired giant momentarily extended his arm.
A hand movement clearly intended to grab my collar, it was fast for his size.
However, his intention was not realized. My upper body bent slightly, easily dodging his hand.
With his hand extended into the air, the giant gaped blankly.
“Hmm?”
Honestly, I was surprised myself for dodging it.
Because my body reacted on its own.
It wasn't that I had no idea what had just happened.
[Evasion Instinct: Maximum evasion rate is activated only for attacks captured by the senses.]
The culprit was probably this trait.
It was clearly affecting me at every moment.
Just now, when I was facing the One-Eyed Orc, I had also naturally dodged an attack.
“Hey! Examinees 456 and 417! Stop chatting and follow me!”
The proctor intervened with perfect timing.
The gray-haired giant turned his head and spoke as if tossing the words out.
“Don’t cry after I mop the floor with you. I’ll laugh my ass off.”
“Be careful not to choke while laughing. It’s dangerous if your airway gets blocked by your neck fat.”
“Agh, this bastard, really.”
His shoulders heaved and his fists clenched.
The gray-haired giant seemed to be barely suppressing his anger, looking back and forth between the proctor and me.
So what if you’re pissed off.
“We will now begin the physical ability test. The assessment will be conducted on various aspects such as stamina, endurance, strength, and agility, and the events are as follows. It will proceed without breaks, so please warm up sufficiently.”
As we reached the entrance of the physical test area, the proctor explained.
Words appeared on the information board placed next to him.
I couldn't help but be surprised at the sight.
- Squats
- Push-ups
- Burpees
- Running
……
Because the events that appeared on the information board and their contents were all exactly the same as the training I had been tediously repeating through the system.
***
Heok- Heok-
A ragged breath burst from the gray-haired giant's mouth.
He barely kept his closing eyes open and looked ahead.
Numerous tests followed, such as grip strength measurement, agility test, parallel bars, pull-ups, and push-ups.
His stamina was already at its limit due to the enormous weight and number of repetitions.
‘This is torture!’
He had underestimated it. He thought he would easily pass a basic test.
That was a delusion. They called it a physical ability test.
But the content of the exam was pushing the examinees to their absolute limits.
Even now, after running dozens of laps on the track, they were shouting that it wasn't enough.
The giant looked resentfully at the restraint on his wrist.
It would have been much better without this.
But at the same time, a doubt surged.
‘Would I have really done it without trouble if there was no magic power restraint?’
In all honesty, he couldn't even be sure of that.
Because this exam was that harsh of a process.
The giant’s gaze fell on the boy running on the track far away.
The fellow with a number 456 name tag and long black hair was easily overtaking the other gasping candidates with a calm expression.
‘What the hell is he?’
That guy is definitely a Non-Awakened. He has no magic power.
He had clearly seen the number 0 appear during the magic power test.
It was common sense that a Non-Awakened could not surpass an Awakened in basic physical ability.
That is, without the help of equipment or doping.
Could he have doped?
There was no point in suspecting.
Because Zero meticulously checks for doping and special equipment in advance.
But if he didn't dope, is that really possible?
The gray-haired giant, who had been lost in thought for a moment, suddenly realized that he had lost sight of the boy.
There was no need to bother figuring out where he was.
Because not long after, he felt a presence next to him.
“Don't. Damn it, please don't say it!”
“One lap.”
“Aargh!”
The giant let out a scream-like cry and sat down.
It was already the twentieth time.
He had heard that phrase, ‘one lap,’ twenty times.
What the words meant was simple.
It meant he was twenty laps behind.
The fellow who had uttered those words that turned one’s stomach inside out coolly ran past the giant.
‘Could it be that I messed with a madman?’
Looking at the boy running without any signs of fatigue, the giant shivered in goosebumps.
***
“There seem to be a lot of promising kids this year, huh?”
The proctor with the black horn-rimmed glasses muttered with a satisfied expression.
“Yes, there are quite a few. The instructors are also looking forward to it.”
To this, the short-haired female proctor next to him added, her eyes sparkling.
“Last year was a total wipeout except for the very top tier. But I heard there’s a Non-Awakened too.”
“That’s right. Number 456 is a Non-Awakened, and he’s a bit unusual.”
She said, holding out a chart.
Information about examinee number 456, Ryu Jinwoo, was listed.
The magic power and special ability sections were completely blank.
Meaning they didn't exist.
Nevertheless, there was an interesting point.
“……Top-tier in all categories?”
The horn-rimmed proctor's eyes widened.
It was an unbelievable score for a Non-Awakened.
“Look at this, too. This is the screen from the reflex ability test.”
The short-haired proctor pushed a tablet toward the horn-rimmed one.
On the screen, dozens of iron balls rained down relentlessly.
Accelerated by magic power, they shattered and embedded themselves in the wall as soon as they touched it.
And in the middle of it all, Ryu Jinwoo lightly dodged everything.
The iron balls brushed past him.
He was leisurely deflecting them by slightly turning his body and head.
It was like watching a beautiful piece of acrobatics.
“He has no magic power, but his physical abilities are insane! Senior, have you ever seen a case like this?”
The short-haired proctor asked, unable to hide her excitement.
“Never.”
The horn-rimmed proctor also replied, unable to hold back his admiration.
“What a shame.”
He muttered a moment later.
“Pardon?”
“No, think about it. If this kid had magic power. He could achieve a much higher level of performance.”
“Ah, that’s true.”
The two fell silent for a moment, quietly watching the screen.
Not long after, the short-haired proctor spoke again.
“Do you think this student can pass the final exam?”
At that question, the horn-rimmed proctor replayed Ryu Jinwoo’s test scene in his mind and fell into deep thought.
“Well? We’ll have to wait and see.”
***
[Examinee 456 Ryu Jinwoo, your eligibility to take the final exam has been confirmed. Please wait in waiting room 10.]
After passing the written and physical ability tests, the day of the final exam finally arrived.
Following the machine's guidance, I headed to waiting room 10.
If I just pass the final exam, I will become a cadet of Zero.
Then I’ll be liberated from the horribly repetitive training too.
‘I wish it would start already.’
Arriving at the waiting room and sitting down, I tapped my leg impatiently.
The reason was simple.
[Tactical Manual]
-Concept Completion: Let’s try basic training.
Poor Performance Penalty: Crushing Pain
Because the damn training quest had shown up without fail.
‘The physical ability test is over, so why isn’t it ending?’
Are they not going to let me go until I finally pass for good?
I was horrified when I woke up in the morning and saw the quest.
Because the basic training was assigned even on the very day of the final exam.
And I didn't complete the training today. Not a single one.
Because if I manage to secure a final pass within today, the assigned training might disappear.