episode_0007

“It seems like you have been handling the sword for a long time. Do you belong to a specific school?”

“Faction? There’s no such thing.”

It’s true that I’ve handled swords quite a bit during my life as a hunter.

Although I have learned a few things during that time, I don’t have any school of swordsmanship.

“So… you’re saying you taught yourself swordsmanship?”

“I received training on the basics and the phage method for about a month.”

Three weeks, to be exact. It was the time when I awakened my powers and became a member of the Hunter Association, and only received basic training on the Gate and handling weapons.

But it seems like it wasn’t a refreshing answer for Ichinose.

“A month is a short time to say you’ve learned the sword, especially if you’re just starting out.”

“Well, I think if you swing it around a lot, you’ll end up with a familiar posture.”

I can’t explain any further than this.

In the end, the teacher who taught me the most was practice.

“That’s not wrong, but···.”

Ichinose didn’t finish her words and just pursed her lips as if she was deep in thought.

Looking at the girl who is so serious about the sword, I suddenly remember.

‘Was my sword worth seeing?’

I feel like I’ve been complimented without any particular intentions.

I’m glad that my hard work as a hunter has been recognized.

‘Well, if I hadn’t been able to handle even one blade properly, I would have died in the first year.’

The ability I had as a hunter was to enhance my cutting power.

It was a simple power that made the swinging sword sharper.

It was a practical ability specialized for combat, but the only regret was that my aptitude for this ability was F, the lowest level.

The power called a superpower is different from something like mana in fantasy or internal energy in martial arts. Each individual has a set size of superpower from the beginning, and it is a fixed lump that does not change no matter how many methods are used.

Because of this, no matter how hard I trained, only my physical abilities became stronger.

Even that level did not go beyond the human frame, and the output of the ability was still poor.

As a result, an unfair situation arises where you cannot inflict damage on monsters above a certain level even if you move quickly and seize the opportunity.

Even as my career progressed, that point remained the same.

When facing high-level monsters, you have to use expensive consumables and live at a loss.

but!

I wonder if the awkward times I experienced as a hunter are over.

‘I guess I’ll feel less wronged now.’

Abyss City was different. The mere fact that I could increase my magical power reserves was a new world to me.

If you just decide the direction of your efforts well, the road will be wider than your previous life.

“Okay. I won’t ask any more questions.”

The girl nodded as she finished thinking and buttoned up her clothes warmly.

I just answered kindly.

“Unfortunately, I have nothing more to say.”

“Thank you. Sorry for taking your time.”

“It’s okay. I wasn’t busy.”

To Ichinose, I was just a person who felt nauseous after drinking cucumber milk.

“Then I’ll stop here···.”

“Ah, Ichinose!”

“Yes?”

I turned my head and stopped Ichinose Yui, who was about to turn around after bowing, with my voice.

Perhaps because it was seen as an opportunity to resolve one important question.

“It’s already weird to call and ask, but can I call you Ichinose?”

“Okay. Are we done with this?”

“No. Let me ask you something too.”

“Do you have any questions?”

Ichinose waited for me to speak, saying that since he had asked the question, it was only right to receive it.

“There’s a student you’re looking for at Orion Academy.”

“What does it mean to find a student? Does it mean the current location?”

“No. Just knowing that it exists is enough. I heard that you’re getting admitted this time, but I don’t know if you actually got admitted.”

“···?”

Perhaps sensing that the question was somewhat strange, the girl tilted her head slightly as if puzzled.

I added more commentary to that response.

“I was looking forward to it because I heard that your skills were good, but I don’t think I saw it during the test today.”

“Ah··· If you know the name, then there’s no reason you can’t answer.”

Ichinose seems to have accepted and understood this.

I continued the conversation immediately.

“There are two people looking for it.”

“Do you know the name? Or do you only know the appearance?”

“A male cadet named Lambert. He has brown hair and is handsome.”

Ichinose pursed her lips and became lost in thought.

A moment of silence.

Then Ichinose slightly shakes her head.

“I’ve never heard of it.”

“Then Cynthia. She’s a female cadet. She also has brown hair and is pretty.”

Both were the names of the main characters of Abyss City.

If they are male, their name starts with Lambert, and if they are female, their name starts with Cynthia. They both have brown hair and are referred to as handsome and beautiful by those around them.

“This is my first time hearing that name.”

The girl shakes her head, saying she has never heard of it.

I bit my lower lip, feeling strangely goosebumps at that answer.

‘It’s strange…?’

When you first meet Ichinose Yui in the game, the conversation begins with her saying that she has heard rumors about you.

This situation itself gives me the feeling that something is wrong.

“Do you know where these two people are from?”

“It must be the Sepia Archipelago.”

Academy City is a space operated by three powerful nations joining forces.

The Sanhwa Kingdom, where Ichinose Yui, who is in front of us, belongs, Tigrova, the home country of Noah Frozenheart, and the Sepia Archipelago, where the protagonist and several other major characters belong.

“If there’s a cadet from the Sepia Archipelago who’s skilled, there’s a slim chance that I don’t know about him.”

“Really? That’s right···.”

“There’s also the possibility that I simply don’t know, so it might be faster to look it up in the Orion Circle.”

“!”

The words Ichinose mentioned. My eyes widened.

Because I never imagined that app existed.

‘Orion Circle!’

One of the apps in Abyss City, a community used only by Orion Academy cadets.

In the game, the cadets’ concerns and rumors were posted as posts, and these were resolved through side quests.

I took out my smartphone from my pocket and immediately installed Orion Circle.

Maybe this too is a new path, like an achievement.

If you’re stuck at the Orion Academy student ID verification page, you can easily resolve this once you return to the dormitory.

“Thank you. I’ll look for it now.”

“Was this helpful?”

“Awesome.”

“Thank goodness.”

Ichinose said goodbye again, saying that it was time to go back.

I too came out of the dark alley to go back to the dormitory.

I quietly watched Ichinose Yui leave.

I looked in the direction she was heading and approached her with an urgent voice.

“···Wait a minute!”

“What’s going on?”

It may be my meddling, but when I remembered that Ichinose was a roadblock, I couldn’t just let her go in that direction.

“If you go there, you’ll go to the 10th area. Where are you going?”

“···.”

“Are you going to the dormitory?”

The girl hesitates, purses her lips, and nods slightly.

Do you think I overheard your conversation with Noah during the practical training? I didn’t ask any more questions and just took out my phone and opened the Academy guide.

‘The girls’ dorm was there?’

After looking at the map and being convinced, I took a half step forward.

“I’m not usually like this, but I haven’t had a snack yet···.”

“That could be it.”

I don’t know if there’s any correlation between snacks and taking the wrong road.

I stood by and agreed.

I guided Ichinose to the vicinity of the girls’ dormitory.

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From the very next day.

I started doing morning exercises because I didn’t like this weak body.

‘First, expand the vessel of the body.’

In Abyss City, the body is the foundation for magical power. As the body becomes stronger, it can hold more magical power.

The fact that in this world, innate talent plays a large part, but there are also parts that can be overcome through effort.

I think this is really good.

“Gasp! Huh! Huh! ”

First of all, I ran like crazy to build up my stamina.

I was angry at my weak physical strength, which was unimaginable during my days as a hunter.

He screamed that his lungs were dying, but the speed of his breathing did not slow down.

[ Runner’s High! Achievement achieved ]

[You will receive 5P as an achievement reward.]

Just before I gasped for breath and fell, the heaviness in my legs disappeared and a notification window appeared.

‘That’s right. There was something like this.’

An achievement in the game that is earned by continuing to dash when your stamina runs out.

I didn’t know it would be replaced like this.

‘More! More! More!’

When I return to the dorm, I do bodyweight exercises over and over again until I die.

“Eww──!!!”

When the semester starts, I plan to use the gym inside the academy, but it will be comfortable once I get used to the muscle pain and fatigue a little.

After I finish working out, I take a shower and lie down on the bed and take a short nap.

It was a perfect routine.

‘I’m so weak that I can’t seem to get over my fatigue.’

After two hours of deep sleep, I left the dormitory and set out to complete the achievements I remembered.

As we moved, it was a bonus to see the Orion Circle that Ichinose had told us about.

You can read the mood just by scrolling down with your finger and looking at the title.

‘It’s just a normal community.’

The Orion Circle, unlike the game, was full of really free content.

With that refreshing feeling, I stopped by a convenience store, bought the cheapest lottery ticket, and scratched it.

It was a dud, but it wasn’t a dud.

[Someday, I will earn unearned income…! I have achieved the achievement.]

[You will receive 5P as an achievement reward.]

‘I need to have some money too.’

Achievements like watching movies or cartoons or eating certain foods ultimately require money.

A day when you don’t go to the academy. It means that you need to have some capital to solve hunger without wasting points.

“Um···.”

I checked with the app on my smartphone and my card balance was 24 coins and 60 tokens.

If you roughly calculate it in Korean Won, it’s 246 thousand won.

It’s not like you’ll starve to death right away, but it’s a pretty hefty amount.

‘I need to find a part-time job as soon as school starts.’

It was the most certain answer, although it could not be implemented right away because a cadet’s part-time job required permission from the academy.

It’s also related to achievements, and since I’ve only lived as a hunter, I also want to try various things.

‘Let’s try anything to the death.’

I feel excited when I think about the future. How long has it been since I felt this way?

Maybe it’s the first time.

like that.

From the moment I set my goal, my daily life became simple.

I started exercising early in the morning and spent the rest of my time wandering around the academy city, focusing on building up my achievements.

[ You have achieved the Lost and Found achievement . ]

[ Achieved the Dog and Cat Photographer achievement. ]

[ Achieved the achievement of the shelf life of glutinous rice cakes. ]

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Time melts away, February ends and March begins.

The opening day of Orion Academy has arrived.