Chapter 65 – PvP Class

As I arrived at the academy after being bid farewell by Zodiac, I could immediately feel the weight of everyone’s gaze upon me.

“Are you okay?”
“It must have been a big ordeal.”

I received attention from cadets I could have never imagined. Even foreign cadets who were not from the Korean branch occasionally approached me.

“Oh, Si-heon?”
“Hi, I read about you in the newspaper.”

Though it was an excessive amount of attention, it was somewhat understandable. The midterm exams hadn’t even ended yet since I entered the academy, but I had already been involved in three incidents, making me a natural target for the cadets’ curiosity. Of course, not all of this attention was positive. The achievements that I or others had accomplished were sometimes consumed as mere gossip.

“That guy is really something else.”
“Hey, no matter what, he’s the one who minimized the damage from the dungeon rampage, right?”
“Yup, ranked 152nd.”
“Well, why not try fighting and winning against him?”
“It’s possible if we fight during the tournament.”

Perhaps Siwoo and the other kids had gone through something similar. There was a time when I would get angry just by hearing curse words, but now I felt like if someone was going to swear, they could do as they pleased. After all, who in this world has never heard a curse word? There was no physical harm done, so I decided to let it slide.

Jealousy and envy mixed together, and I sat down at a spot that had been gathering dust for a long time. Gu-seul, seated next to me, chuckled softly.

“Si-woo, that was quite the ordeal.”

“Don’t even mention it. But you didn’t text me until the end?”

“Ugh… I was busy, sorry.”

Gu-seul brought her hands together as if praying and stuck out her tongue. She remained an enigmatic girl.

“But the rumors about you are pretty wild.”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t you hear it from the other kids?”

I had received messages from Sooyoung, Siwoo, Dalrae, and others. It was thanks to getting so many phone numbers at the last drinking party. I had postponed replying to all of them because I was tired, but it seemed new rumors had already begun to circulate.

“Check Everyday. There are so many stories about you.”
“Oh, really?”
“Take a look at this one. It’s a bit old though.”

Gu-seul tapped her smartphone and brought the screen in front of me.

– Author: Anonymous (Date of writing: 3/xx)

I got caught up in an incident last time. Is there anyone who helped me? They were wearing a mask and had a somewhat large build. Can I repay them with a meal?

[Comments (12)]
– Anonymous 1: Isn’t there only one person in our academy who wears a mask?
└ Author: Really? Who is it? I’m so grateful ㅠㅠ
– Anonymous 2: So, are you dating? So, are you dating? So, are you dating? So, are you dating?
– Anonymous 3: Why don’t I have someone like that?
– Anonymous 4: But they were ugly.
└ Anonymous 5: Why bring that up now? Don’t say that about a kind person.
– Malrangi Sansuyu: The person wearing the mask is my friend.
└ Author: Who is it?

└Anonymous 6: You didn’t use the anonymous feature. And don’t pretend to be Sansuyu, you might get caught.
└Malangi Sansuyu: What’s the anonymous feature?

Sansuyu, what is she doing over there?
Her fierce demeanor revealed between sentences is utterly amusing.

“Who is that?”
“I’m not sure.”

As I briefly pondered, I recalled a friend I made recently due to a certain incident.

“Is it Sooyoung?”
“Nope~ Actually, I don’t know either. There are just people like this, you know. Hehehe.”

Surprisingly, many people have benefited from me.
It struck me as amazing once more. When I think about it, even when I was working with Cheondo, I saw stories about me circulating on the internet.
Inquiries about ads using my rare human experiences and recognition came in occasionally.

As I laughed and accepted Gu-seul’s hearty chuckle, she suddenly saw another post and muttered in a bitter voice.

“But not everything said was positive.”

The screen presented once more was filled with slanderous and envious comments about me.
I don’t understand why someone with such a low rank is becoming popular. They’re clearly spending money on image-making, yet the fools who fall for it are beyond me.
Beneath those, a plethora of posts hid behind the veil of anonymity, harshly criticizing my appearance and abilities.
If anyone else were to see these, they would naturally exclaim how excessively cruel they were.

But to be honest, until not long ago, all of it was true.

“I don’t even know why I became famous.”
“Puhahahaha. Truly laughable.”

Gu-seul, who had burst into laughter, spoke with feigned seriousness.

“Hey, you still need to prove yourself, right?”
“I’m well aware.”

Such an opportunity would come soon enough.
This place, after all, was the Academy, where one’s skills alone could validate everything.

*Thud!*

The sound of a door opening came from the front.
Locking eyes with Se-Young, who was dressed in the instructor’s uniform, she flashed a sly, fox-like grin.

“Now, pay attention. Those who study, lift your heads. Your grades won’t improve anyway.”

Se-Young, who had become quite friendly with the students, began the announcement in a cheeky tone.

“First of all~ That recent commotion has been more or less resolved. I can’t share the details since it’s confidential, so just understand that much. And just in case, don’t pry too much into the matter with the person involved.”

She breezily touched upon the content that might be found in a manual and managed to draw the students’ attention in moderation. Occasionally, their gazes fell upon me, but I nonchalantly ignored them.

“That’s all I have to say for today, and oh, by the way, Arbor Day is coming soon. If you’re planning to do something odd, make sure to prepare properly and do it right.”
“Oh, what are you implying?”

Laughter erupted throughout the room. Perhaps the lighthearted atmosphere was due in large part to the overlap between high school and university. Se-Young wrapped up the announcement with a playful innuendo before dramatically storming out the door.

I really need to complete the quest soon, but I’m unsure if the blind date Se-Young arranged for me is still valid.

Caught in the middle of a kidnapping, should I inquire with a message?
As I entertained the thought and reached for my pocket, a timely vibration occurred.

-Savior: The blind date will proceed as planned. Purchase an outfit.

Perhaps there was no need after all. I couldn’t help but smile.
Se-Young was undoubtedly the savior in this situation.

* * * * *

“Today, our interpersonal combat class coincides with the Japanese students’ class, so we will join them for training.”

Instructor Man-Se-Jeok began explaining, positioning the sword sheath on my hand as if it were a baseball bat.
We each donned translation earpieces placed before us and set our weapons beside us.
The swords and staffs of each trainee lined up like a procession on the grass.

“As for weapons, you may use your own, provided they have undergone the full registration process, or you may use the practice items laid out before you. Of course, only registered weapons will be allowed.”

Weapons registration is a procedure designed to prevent weapons from possessing a certain level of lethality, regardless of the wielder’s skill. Questions arise regarding the material of the swords and whether the magical circles etched on the staffs pose any danger. Only through expert assessment can the registration process be acknowledged.

The instructor, surveying the weapons situated around the cadets, halted at my spot.

“Student Lee Si-heon, you don’t have a weapon prepared. Do you need to borrow one?”
“No, I’m fine.”

He tilted his head with a look of curiosity, examining my body as if gauging something, then smirked.

“You’ve improved quite a bit.”
“Yes…well.”

Upon closer inspection, this was the instructor I first encountered when I competed against Si-woo. A competent instructor who, upon realizing I had no magical ability, swiftly changed the rules of engagement. Indeed, compared to my former self, I’ve undergone a significant transformation, bordering on a complete metamorphosis.

As I declared my intention not to use a weapon, I could hear murmurs and whispers from various directions.

“I don’t think he’s using a weapon.”

“Who? Lee Si-heon? Oh, he switched it up a while ago. I saw him raiding a dungeon the other day, using his fists.”

“Really? Martial arts are pretty weak, though. Haha.”

Admittedly, I shared the same belief until I saw White Peach in action.

How could a fist possibly defeat a sword? At first, I mocked the idea, but it turned out to be true. The training under the guidance of Heaven and White Peach broadened my perspective significantly.

*Beep.*

[Lee Si-heon: Shin Hyun-seong]

As time passed, my opponent was assigned on the information board.

The person I was to face in the match was a Korean with a somewhat gentle expression. I thought we would be paired with Japanese students since it was a joint class, but it appeared we overlapped instead.

“Nice to meet you.”

The cadet bowed their head first. From a distance, I glanced in their direction.

As it was the first match, many other cadets’ attention was focused on me.

As if to gauge my skills for the first time.

Some rested their chins on their hands, while others gazed with eyes full of interest. One might mistake it for arrogance, but in truth, it wasn’t so. Among them were those with abilities on par with actual professionals.

Even though my reputation had dwindled recently, it couldn’t be denied that I was still a formidable opponent. The talents nurtured by El Academy were not to be underestimated.

“I look forward to our match.”

I too offered a bow to my fellow cadet, as a sign of respect.

In a sparring match between cadets, it’s customary not to exert full strength from the outset. This unspoken rule and etiquette dictate that it’s disrespectful to overwhelm one’s opponent with superior technique from the beginning of a practice bout. Instead, it’s permissible to lightly exchange blows while gauging each other’s skill, then gradually increase one’s effort.

Safety always comes first, and lately, the importance of safety has been increasingly emphasized.

[Beep!]

A single mechanical sound, signifying readiness.

The tip of the wooden sword, appearing more solid than before, was aimed at me. Judging by the slightly off-balance stance, it seemed to be an inexperienced or lesser form of swordsmanship.

I extended one fist and shifted the other toward my pelvis, carefully adjusting the center of gravity.

– Beep beep!

Two mechanical sounds welcomed the opponent.

– Clang!

The trainee gripped the sword tightly and charged, with magical energy encircling his legs. The initial attack was somewhat forceful. Regardless, the unwavering determination in wielding one’s own sword was not something an ordinary trainee could easily possess.

– Snap!

The opponent’s speed allowed ample room for reaction. I calmly assessed the situation and calculated the angle. As I shifted my gaze to the trainees, the screen of the raised cellphone camera caught my eye.

How should I counter this attack?

– Whoosh.

Naturally, as lightly as possible.

Flashiness is mere excess.

Ssssss.

With a thin layer of mana enveloping my body, I took a step back.

The speed at which I increased the distance wasn’t fast, so the gap closed in an instant. The tip of the approaching cadet’s sword nearly pierced my body.

Although not as adept as Si-woo or Su-yu, my movements were nimble and swift.

As the sword was about to stab my chest, I calmly stood my ground.

‘He’s really come a long way.’

The ability to overwhelm a single person with skill alone.

– Thud.

Amused by my own overconfidence, I advanced. Twisting my upper body to dodge the sword, I continued forward and tripped my opponent’s foot.

In that instant, the confident expression on the cadet’s face crumpled. Gently pushing on his back, I added force to his already off-balance center of gravity.

– Crash!

The falling cadet attempted to turn and stand up.

“Ugh.”

The cadet, seeing my foot extended just shy of crushing his collarbone, raised his hands in astonishment.

“Ha, I’ve learned a valuable lesson.”

The outcome was determined.

Events that unfolded in a mere few seconds. The astonished faces of several cadets flickered before my eyes.

“Thank you.”

The first practical lesson after the incident was, in some ways, both mundane and highly stimulating.