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Chapter 7: Dungeon Exploration (2)
Chapter 7: Dungeon Exploration (2)
Chapter 7: Dungeon Exploration (2)
TL/Editor: looloo
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The Korea Hero Academy is comparable to a university where students select their own majors.
Ordinarily, most individuals aren't aware of their strengths, but this is not the case at the Korea Hero Academy.
Even the ones who don't realize their strengths have the chance to sit the entrance exam due to sheer luck. However, most of them don't make it through the screening at the entrance exam, with a few odd exceptions.
"We will choose our majors before the first joint class," announced Seo Woojoo.
Choosing a major is straightforward.
Subjects include magic, alchemy, power awakening, swordsmanship, and others. Students just need to choose the one that suits their aptitude.
Upon hearing Seo Woojoo's words, the students rose from their chairs and began to form groups.
"Seoha, what's your choice?" asked one of the students.
"I think I'll opt for close combat," I replied.
"Close combat?" Kim Seohyun seemed puzzled.
"I want to build up some stamina," I explained.
"Oh, you're aiming to train because your physique is weak. It's a strategy to compensate for weaknesses with strengths, or to improve your weaknesses so they're no longer weaknesses," Kim Seohyun nodded in understanding, seemingly satisfied with my decision.
"So, you're opting for the understanding of close combat then?"
"Exactly," I confirmed, slightly nervous.
Kim Seohyun's eyes sparkled. The understanding of close combat course does have a theoretical aspect, but it is predominantly practical. He seemed quite eager to spar with me.
"So, is it just you and I in the understanding of close combat?" I asked.
"No, I'm joining as well," a voice interjected suddenly.
Turning around, I saw a man with a large build. His name was Park Woonhyuk, a handsome and masculine individual.
He was the warrior who passed the entrance exam alongside Hong Yuhwa. He was proficient in spear usage and, despite appearing elitist at first, he was quite personable once you got to know him. However, most people saw him as a staunch elitist.
Typically, he'd be the one claiming he'll take the top spot from Kim Seohyun. But him sticking around me suggested a sense of competition.
"No, that's not correct," Kim Seohyun contradicted, implying he would take the top spot, not me. He didn't say anything to me, probably because he believed I was better than him deep down.
I nodded and noted down a few more subjects: Theory of Magic Destruction, Basic Alchemy Knowledge, and Understanding of Ancient Languages.
The Theory of Magic Destruction would help me achieve practical scores with the Body Against Heaven physique.
There's no issue with Basic Alchemy Knowledge since it's about making potions, and I have all the formulas in my head.
Understanding of Ancient Languages would help me get closer to Kim Ara.
"Are you planning to take all those subjects?"
"Well, they're all easy."
None of the timings clashed, and the only subject as demanding as the 'joint classes' conducted in our class was the Understanding of Close Combat.
"I should also take the Theory of Magic Destruction then."
"I have no choice. If you guys are doing it, I'll join."
I got up and handed my paper to Seo Woojoo.
"Ah, Understanding of Close Combat?"
Seo Woojoo seemed surprised for a moment, but then nodded.
"Good choice. You're excellent in everything else, but you've been neglecting physical training. The intent to balance this out is commendable."
I wondered when he saw me, thinking I'm excellent in everything else.
I just nodded. Then I noticed Seo Gayeon approaching Seo Woojoo.
"Ah, Understanding of Close Combat and Basic Swordsmanship and Magic. Are you planning to specialize in swordsmanship?"
"Y-Yes. I feel like swordsmanship suits me."
"Is that so?"
I took a moment to reflect.
Seo Gayeon wanted to learn swordsmanship, but that seemed like surrendering halfway.
A restriction that felt more like a curse.
Seo Gayeon had received such a curse from a certain Mine. The Mines thought her abilities were too dangerous.
I took a moment to consider.
Seo Gayeon's abilities are remarkable. But because of the restriction, she struggles initially and only begins to shine in the middle stages.
"You seem more suited for magic than swordsmanship."
I stated, trying to seem casual about it.
"Wha, what? Me, ma, magic?"
"Yes, you seem like you'd be good at it."
At my words, the people around us looked at Seo Gayeon. She appeared nervous and lacked confidence.
The others wondered why I, Lee Seoha, would pay attention to her.
"If you don't want to, don't mind it."
I shrugged my shoulders and walked away, attempting to gently coax her.
Unlike weapon selection, one's major can be changed later, although the process can be quite troublesome.
As I walked away, Kim Seohyun and Park Woonhyuk followed.
"Let's start the first joint lesson then, dungeon exploration," announced Instructor Seo Woojoo.
At this, the students looked at him, anticipation etched on their faces.
"You all seem ready. It's natural to be excited," the Instructor grinned, though it was a stern smile.
"Of course, you may be thrilled to be at the Korea Hero Academy, the best academy in the world. However, the Korea Hero Academy only values students' abilities.
The school won't coddle students who lack ability."
Indeed.
The school assesses students based solely on their 'grades' and in a rather 'cold' manner.
Those who can't keep up are simply left behind. If they remain as underachievers, they're expelled. There's no reversing that decision.
"Korea Hero Academy stands at the frontline, battling monsters, killing the Mines, and apprehending villains. We have numerous enemies. A single error can cost you your life or, at best, result in lifelong injuries. It doesn't matter if it wasn't your fault."
The expressions of the students gradually turned to fear. They are still children, after all.
"I'll stop scaring you now. In our joint lesson, we will form temporary teams. These teams will be primarily based on the grades from the entrance exam. The highest-ranking students will serve as team leaders."
As Instructor Seo Woojoo stated this, he glanced at me.
As expected, the honor of being first went to the top student.
"The first group leader is Lee Seoha."
"Yes."
"The group members are as follows."
At Seo Woojoo's words, a hologram appeared in the air. It was a hologram created by combining science and magic - a magic-engineering hybrid.
[Lee Seoha(1)/Baek Seolgi(357), Kim Ara(457), Han Woosung(575), Seo Gayeon(999)]
"Wow."
I couldn't help but gasp. The composition of the group members was excellent, aside from a couple of time bombs.
"The next group leader is Kim Seohyun."
"Yes."
"The group members are."
Time passed, and a total of 20 groups were formed. Instructor Seo Woojoo then spoke up.
"With these groups, we will head towards the dungeon. Everyone, follow me."
We trailed behind Seo Woojoo as he moved.
Outside the school, several buses were waiting for us.
"We will take this bus."
We boarded the third-generation bus, and it soon set off.
After about 10 minutes of driving through the school grounds, we arrived at a foreboding-looking cave.
"Here is the artificial dungeon 'Nest.' You will frequent this location for practical training, so it's good to remember it."
The Nest.
It's a dungeon created by the Korea Hero Academy. This artificial dungeon propelled the Academy to its status as a world-class institution.
In the game, the path changes every time you enter. There are 15 types of internal dungeons.
Of course, I have all 15 types of dungeons memorized.
"The groups that are departing will start from the last group I called."
Our turn is last.
I gathered my group members.
"Shall we briefly introduce ourselves?"
Han Woosung, who had a melancholic look, suggested. An introduction. That's a terrifying thing to ask.
"Hello! My name is Baek Seolgi! My specialty is pathfinding and disarming traps!"
A girl with a cute appearance nodded and spoke.
"I'm Kim Ara. My specialty is the sword."
Kim Ara spoke, wielding the Giant's Sword in the void.
The blade alone was over 2 meters, and the handle over 70 centimeters. It wasn't a sword meant for people, but literally for a giant.
"......Isn't it heavy?"
"It's lighter than I thought. Plus, there's a hole in the sword, which makes it quite convenient."
Kim Ara responded to Han Woosung's question.
"I-I-I'm Seo Gayeon! My specialty is swords!"
Seo Gayeon stuttered her words.
"I'm Han Woosung. This is my specialty."
Han Woosung smirked and lifted his buckler.
"I'm Lee Seoha. Nice to meet you all."
Having finished the introductions, I sat down and pondered.
This seems alright.
Four warriors and one archer. The proportion of warriors is high, but that's unavoidable.
'I guess they probably arranged it this way because I'm a mage.'
"But, are you and Ga-yeon already acquainted, Seoha?"
"Huh? M-Me and Seoha?"
Seo Gayeon asked in surprise.
"I'm just asking because Lee Seoha recommended the magic class earlier. I thought maybe you two knew each other~."
Baek Seolgi extended her words.
Baek Seolgi, Baek Seolgi. Suddenly, I feel like eating Baek Seolgi.
"I just said it because she seemed talented in magic. It doesn't mean anything."
I concealed my true feelings. Seo Gayeon is a mage. An essential puzzle piece for seeing a happy ending in this world.
However, there's no need to explicitly say that. With low self-esteem and relying more on others than her own thoughts, Seo Gayeon would likely find such attention burdensome.
"The next team is Park Woonhyuk's team."
Time slowly passes by. They're adding new teams every five minutes, but there's not much to do.
"Yawn."
"......Are you yawning?"
Han Woosung said in a tone of disbelief as I casually yawned.
Well, it can't be helped.
While others were terrified at the sight of the cave, I knew all 15 dungeon layouts like the back of my hand. There's no way I could feel any tension.
"The next team is Lee Seoha's team."
"Then, let's go."
As Instructor Seo Woojoo called, I calmly stood up.
The closer we got to the cave entrance, the more eerie it felt. Someone swallowed their saliva nervously. As if they were scared.
Upon stepping into the cave, a fork in the road appeared.
'Oh, we're in luck.'
We'd ended up in a dungeon conducive to a so-called speed run.
"There's a fork. Which way should we go?"
"Hmm."
Instead of heading towards the fork, I went to the right wall. It should be somewhere around here.
I found a protruding rock. I lightly tapped it with my hand. Thump, thump. I could hear the peculiar sound of wind leaking.
The structure of this place was such that if you broke the wall, a path would appear. However, this wall was quite thick. Even if Kim Seohyun were to hit it with all his might, it wouldn't break.
I called Kim Ara over.
"Ara, come here for a moment."
"......Why?"
"Try breaking this wall."
"......You want me to break this?"
"Yes."
"I, I'm not that good at stuff like this."
Kim Ara said in a voice filled with awkwardness.
It wasn't that she wasn't good at this kind of thing, she was just uncomfortable with being singled out.
Well, it was understandable.
There were quite a few aggressive guys around here.
If the young, overconfident ones challenge Kim Ara and she happened to stand out, her school life would turn out quite differently from what she wished for.
I whispered quietly to Kim Ara.
-You could try to enjoy the peace you want, but do you think the Suzerain will let that happen?
At my words, Kim Ara's eyes trembled. Her violet eyes stared at me, filled with a mixture of emotions.
'How did he know I had something to do with the Suzerain? Was he guessing? No, that was unlikely. Then, he wouldn't specifically mention the Suzerain.'
She must have been thinking along those lines.
"If you break this, I'll tell you. How to escape from the Suzerain," I said with a slight smile.
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