Episode 23: Chaotic New Student Entrance Ceremony [End]

 

[-Kwaaaaaaaah!!!!]

[“Ahhh! What’s this?! Why are monsters suddenly falling from the sky…th-that’s…a Gate?!”]

[As one student pointed upward, a massive Gate swirled ominously in the sky, emitting a sinister glow.]

[-Kirelerelele…rek!!]

[From the center of the spinning Gate, hordes of spear-wielding Lizardmen began pouring out, while screams of fleeing students and the sight of second-year student council members trying to restore order intersected.]

[-Chaeng!]

[“This is real! Everyone, maintain formation and prepare to fight the monsters! It’s a Gate Break!”]

[The urgent voice of a student wearing a student council armband. You turned your head to survey the situation around you.]

[Swords clashed as monsters were split in half. Though no blood spilled, the monsters’ corpses remained, confirming this was indeed a real battle.]

[-Crash!]

[“Kuuuugh…!!”]

[A student right next to you couldn’t withstand the shock and was slammed into a wall.]

[“Hahaha, this is it! It’s time for the tank to shine!”]

[Despite being smashed into the wall, the boy with a massive shield quickly pushed through the monsters and charged forward.]

(CLASS: Defender)

[“Haaaam… I’m so sleepy, but it’s too noisy. Everyone, please… shut up!”]

[-Zzzzzzzzzap!!]

[A girl sleeping on a carpet lazily waved her hand, and multicolored lightning reduced the horde of monsters to ashes.]

(CLASS: Magician [Attack])

[-Swiish!]

[“This way, it’s dangerous-fall back!”]

[A girl grabbed your hand and pushed you behind her before charging into the enemy ranks with a greatsword.]

(CLASS: Striker)

[-Twang!]

[“Everyone! Cover me!”]

[A girl with sky-blue hair, wearing a nametag that read “Hanae Sakura,” nocked an enormous bow and began firing powerful arrows into the sky.]

(CLASS: Ranger)

[“Everyone, gather here! Evacuate to one location!”]

(CLASS: Magician [Support])

[-Fwoosh!]

[A radiant light enveloped your body. Your condition instantly returned to peak performance, and you felt a surge of confidence as if you could do anything.]

[A blonde girl smiled brightly and swung her staff, granting the same effect to other students. Realizing she had buffed you, you looked around.]

[“Wh-what is this… I’m scared…!!”]

[“For now, if we stay together, we won’t get wiped out…”]

[“……………..”]

[Amidst terrified students, those calmly assessing the situation, and even some who had wet themselves and fainted, you had to make a choice.]

[1. Fight back]

[2. Assess the situation and search for the cause of this incident]

——————————————————–

‘That’s how it started, the entrance exam.’

The method to clear the “Entrance Ceremony Incident” episode, where players had to decide their role in the academy, was simple.

First, an unnamed male student with a shield would charge forward, while Seong Arin would unleash wide-area magic to sweep through the enemy ranks.

Then, Yu Eun-ha would appear to rescue the protagonist in danger, swinging her sword as she charged. Finally, Hanae Sakura would rain down arrows from the rear, clearing out the monsters.

And with Ecleria’s support magic, this was the short intro to the Entrance Ceremony Incident.

With all four roles showcased in that brief intro, players could choose their desired position.

‘Though Magician is split into two, they’re still classified as the same role, so it’s four, not five… They could’ve just named attack-focused Magicians as “Mages” and supports as “Healers” or something.’

Well, probably a limitation of the game company. If you chose the support role, you’d just be seen as a leech anyway.

Regardless, the protagonist would observe all four roles in the intro.

‘And then, they’d follow the steps to clear the Entrance Ceremony Incident.’

Choose [1. Fight back], and students would band together to defeat the monsters within the time limit.

Or choose [2. Assess the situation and search for the cause of this incident], and destroy the augmented reality monster generator solo to end the test immediately.

‘Most people went with the second method.’

The first option was easier but took a long time-about 4-8 minutes. The second option, if you knew the route, could be cleared in as little as 30 seconds.

There was even a shortcut straight to the generator from the start.

Come to think of it, what role did the protagonist choose…? Suddenly, I was curious.

Defender was a trash-tier role, and since many academy students already aimed for it, most players chose Striker or ranged roles.

Damage-focused Magicians or Rangers-those kinds of roles.

‘Ah, hardly anyone picked Support Magician.’

In the early to mid-game, if you picked the right party members and buffed them well, you could progress smoothly… but the real problem was the Yun Se-ah Battle, which even veterans struggled with.

Unless you equipped your entire party with mental attack immunity items or skills, you’d just get brainwashed and killed before you could do anything.

It really made Yun Se-ah’s reputation as the “Wall of Lamentation” feel well-deserved.

‘Striker is such a good role.’

Using speed to weave through enemies and cut them down-for Koreans addicted to mad montages, it was the perfect choice.

In Japan, where teamwork was emphasized, all roles were evenly distributed. American players, for some reason, poured insane amounts of money into making Thomas Andrea MK.2, so Defender was popular there.

Had they already decided on a role before coming here? Or could they change it here?

‘Well, whatever role the protagonist chose, it’s none of my business.’

The protagonist hadn’t even shown up at the entrance ceremony in the first place.

Maybe they were late, or something happened on the way… For now, as student council president-as Yun Se-ah-my priority was resolving this entrance ceremony incident without the protagonist.

‘Surprisingly, no one’s running away?’

Aside from a few who had gotten the wrong idea-shouting, “It’s all virtual reality! My dad told me these monsters aren’t real, so don’t worry and just defeat them for points!”-only to get smashed head-on by a Lizardman’s club and get embedded in a wall, most were fighting well.

In fact, seeing those who got knocked out might have made the others realize the situation and band together…

“Aaaaah!! I don’t wanna die here! No way!”

“……….Disqualified. You were in Class A during the preliminary test… But if you’re this cowardly… I’ll demote you to Class C. Come back when you’re ready to fight monsters.”

[After knocking out a troublemaker trying to flee, I stuffed them into a familiar black sack.]

“A-yul-yang, didn’t you say you could handle this alone?”

[“Tch, just catch them yourself! You think the student council president can just freeload like this…?!”]

“I’ve already caught about five, so I think I can take it easy now.”

[I swiftly moved next to Kang A-yul and set down five sacks. She looked at me, slightly surprised.]

“H-hiiik…!”

[Behind me, about 30 students were haphazardly tied up with rope.]

‘Thought there’d be fewer, but there are a lot.’

Half of the students admitted through special enrollment were among them… I expected it, but still.

“…Well, no one who survived A-yul-yang’s sword strike would dare run away… I’ll put these guys to sleep for now.”

-Tap!

[With a flick of my finger, the terrified students collapsed unconscious.]

“Hmm… I’ll write ‘Lacks the mindset of a hero, hereby demoted two ranks’ on a note…”

[I slipped handwritten notes into the pockets of each fallen student’s uniform.]

Those with potential would strive to climb back up after reading this. Those without would either adapt to their demoted class or just vent their frustration until they naturally fell behind. What a clean, corruption-free academy.

After demoting their expected class placements by two levels based on their uniform nametags, I leisurely turned my head. The sight of students struggling in battle came into view.

“Haaam, I’m sleepy. How much longer~?”

[Seong Arin, sleeping on her carpet while auto-casting magic from the air.]

[Hanae Sakura, now surrounded by a coalition of Defenders, ruthlessly raining arrows on the monsters.]

[Ecleria, buffing Sakura’s attack power.]

[And Yu Eun-ha and Ryu Sinwoo, cutting through monsters alone in enemy lines.]

“Don’t get too close.”

“Haha, I like you! Wanna join the Spiral Guild?!”

‘Ryu Sinwoo, I told him to just lure the students, so why is he helping them fight?’

If I sent a message now, Yu Eun-ha fighting right next to him would hear it.

‘Well, no one’s touched the augmented reality device yet, so I’ll just observe for now-‘

At that moment.

Something suddenly burst out from among the monsters.

“Haaaaaah-!”

‘…………..’

Dazzling golden eyes.

Short, wind-tossed white hair.

The one-handed sword in her hand shimmered with blinding magical energy.

“This ends now-!”

[As she swung her sword, an enormous blade of energy shot toward the Gate.]

-Kwaaaaaaah!!

[The energy blade split the Gate in half, cutting off the machine’s energy supply and halting monster summoning.]

-Fwoooosh…!

[The monsters, now without form, faded away as particles of light.]

[The students fighting quickly noticed the change.]

“…Huh? The monsters suddenly-?”

“This light… augmented reality combat device?”

“Alright! With this, the chairman’s surprise test before the entrance ceremony is over!”

[The students seemed to finally realize the truth of the entrance ceremony event. Just then, Eve appeared and instantly calmed the confused students.]

“President, it’s time to move… President?”

“Yun Se-ah, why are you zoning out again…?”

“………..No way. The protagonist was a girl?”

[Except for a few students.]