Ch.184Episode 37. Certification Exam (3)

“Starting today, third-year students will be going to the disaster training facility.”

The disaster training facility was a large-scale installation near the Association, which also served as the venue for practical exams.

Not just anyone could enter and train there; the qualification requirements stated that you had to be either a third-year Academy student or a graduate. Additionally, there were so many students applying for reservations that even after making one, you’d have to wait a long time. Of course, there were exceptions like me.

“I’ve also agreed to help with the students’ training there. Just so you know.”

It was the condition set by the Association President in exchange for letting me skip the reservation process. The condition was that I could use the facility without any restrictions on days when I helped with training.

“You, Instructor?”

“Yujin?”

“Ah, I’m not the only one going.”

I had invited a special guest yesterday evening.

The classroom door slid open, and a woman with medium-length hair entered. With her blue hair flowing behind her, it was none other than Ha Yuri.

“Hello, kids!”

Though she had eyes as cold as frost, her smiling expression gave off a somewhat warm impression.

“Hello, Instructor Yujin.”

“Hello. You’re here.”

I told her to meet at the training facility in the afternoon, but she came all the way to the Academy.

“I had nothing else to do. I was thinking maybe I should take on a disciple like you, Yujin. Can I have one?”

“That won’t work. These are all students I’ve carefully nurtured.”

“That’s too bad. Still, I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of heroes these kids will become.”

Ha Yuri strode up to the podium and stood beside me before speaking.

“Well, um… she’s going to play the role of a villain in your disaster training today.”

“Huh? Villain…?”

“Oh, and by the way, I’ll be a villain too today.”

I pointed at my face and smiled. Ha Yuri was also grinning.

“W-wait a minute…! You’re saying the two strongest people in South Korea are going to be villains?”

The entire special class stared at us with their mouths hanging open.

I had originally planned to invite Lee Bangsil as well, but she was facing a real disaster situation because actual villains were running amok, so she couldn’t come.

“We’re scheduled for 3 PM. Disaster training usually runs in six-hour intervals. Second-year students can participate too if they want. What do you think?”

“Of course I’m in! Gu Yeonhwa can’t miss out on a disaster!”

“Of course we should! I want to do disaster training with the seniors!”

“Great. Then pay attention to today’s lecture, and we’ll meet up in the afternoon.”

“Yes!!”

They all looked excited, but did these kids realize?

I was planning to make this as realistic as possible. I had no intention of going easy on them like during regular training. It would be tough—tougher than any training they’d done so far.

Not that I was planning to kill them, though.

* * *

Afternoon came.

We traveled to the disaster training facility on the Academy bus, along with other third-year students who had made reservations for today.

Looking at their faces on the bus, everyone seemed both nervous and excited.

It was natural to feel excited when getting to do practical exercises after studying only theory. But once they experienced the real field a few times, that excitement would turn into a heavy sense of responsibility, and they wouldn’t be able to smile anymore.

Better to laugh freely while they still could.

“Hey, isn’t this insane? The people playing villains today.”

“Yeah, the Ice Empress and the Thunder God are playing the villains. They’re the two strongest heroes in South Korea.”

“What are we going to do? I’m starting to get nervous.”

“This is crazy. We really lucked out with the timing of our application.”

When making demands of the Association President, I had no choice but to accept certain conditions. That’s just business.

Originally, I had planned to just observe and strategize about how to respond in the exam venue.

Still, playing the villain wasn’t a bad thing. The more experience I had, the more advice I could give.

“…It feels like I’ve become a celebrity.”

“You actually are a celebrity, Instructor.”

“Haha… That’s too much praise.”

The more popular you become, the harder it is to move around.

Just the reporters visiting the Academy to interview me numbered several people daily.

Even that was manageable only because the Academy restricted access; without those restrictions, I doubt normal daily life would have been possible.

Yuri had told me it would get better with time, but not knowing when that would be was frustrating.

“Though it’s not officially announced yet, if word gets out that you defeated me, your popularity will skyrocket.”

“…I was just lucky.”

“Lucky? Was there any luck involved in that fight? This isn’t humility; it’s deception. Maybe I should visit a newspaper office tomorrow.”

“I’ll buy you dinner after training.”

“Oh my. Is that how it sounded? Hehe.”

Ha Yuri covered her mouth and giggled.

“Well, since you’re offering to treat me, I’ll make sure to enjoy it thoroughly.”

I could only nod with a bitter smile.

As we continued chatting leisurely, the bus stopped in front of an enormous building. Each student who got off exclaimed in awe at the sight of the building.

“Look at how one building sticks out from another!”

The building alone was nearly half the size of the Academy, so everyone was impressed by its grandeur. Having such a facility in South Korea was truly something to be grateful for.

“Everyone, once you go in, change your clothes and do a thorough stretch. There are potions available, so you won’t get seriously injured, but your clothes will get torn and dirty.”

“Yes, Instructor!”

As I was giving the students a few precautions, heroes managing the building approached to guide us.

We followed their guidance inside. There were not only our students but also other students and heroes inside. That was to be expected.

Moreover, the spectator seats were almost completely filled with people. I could see industry figures, but also civilians who were interested in heroes.

“The spectator seats are almost full?”

The guide blinked at my words and then burst into laughter.

“Of course. The Thunder God and the Ice Empress are playing villains today.”

“What?”

“Since the news that you two would be playing villains, tickets have been sold out since yesterday.”

To that extent…?

“Does this happen even for training? I heard people usually come for the exams.”

“Even though it’s training, it’s conducted like the real thing. Of course, training tickets are quite cheap, only a few thousand won, because mistakes are forgiven. Still, many people come to see the heroes’ performances.”

Ah, now I somewhat understood why I was chosen as a practical exam supervisor. Was it a kind of event?

By the way, I thought it was quite clever that they charged admission fees even to watch training sessions. They really knew how to make money.

After that, I parted ways with the students and headed to the villain waiting room.

I received brief instructions from the recovery team managing the facility.

From the absolute rule that we must not kill our opponents, to the warning that excessive destruction could cause problems despite the recovery system in place.

“We’ll start at 3 PM, so please change your clothes and rest until then.”

The recovery team member left. I sat in a chair and waited quietly. I had no intention of changing clothes. I had plenty of suits anyway.

Ha Yuri also seemed to have no intention of changing, as she sat looking at her phone.

“Are you okay with your clothes getting dirty?”

“I’m not sure if those rookies can even dirty my clothes.”

“…You have a nasty personality.”

“I hear that often.”

I turned my gaze from Ha Yuri’s smirking face to the monitor showing the overview of the training ground. It seemed like it would be more fun than I expected.

* * *

“Then, heroes who will be playing the villain roles, we’re counting on you.”

“Yes!”

Of course, Yuri and I weren’t the only ones playing villains. Quite a few heroes had stepped up to assist. I made sure to shake hands with each one and express my gratitude.

They were all fairly powerful individuals in the hero industry. Every one of them was A-rank.

Most students wouldn’t stand a chance against them. I expected the heroes would completely dominate, except for the special class students.

“It seems we’re like the final bosses today, appearing later.”

“Well, since the training runs for six hours straight, if we appeared from the beginning, it would end too quickly.”

“Still, I want to mess with them a little.”

“Well… I suppose a little teasing wouldn’t hurt?”

As we were chatting casually, a voice came through our earpieces.

[Training will now commence. Villains, please enter.]

“It’s starting.”

“Indeed.”

I could see us entering on the monitor.

When I raised my hand slightly, cheers erupted. The reinforced glass installed for the spectators’ safety muffled the cheers somewhat.

“How should we rampage?”

“However we feel like it?”

Yuri, who already had experience with this, was leisurely stretching.

The moment she finished and stood up, the heroes playing villains began to rush out. They quickly hid throughout the city, and explosions started to occur inside. Buildings collapsed, screams echoed, and a tense situation began to unfold.

While watching the scene on the monitor, the hero side also seemed to be entering, as the commotion intensified.

“This is amazing. It feels like I’m really at a disaster site.”

“What are you saying? You’ve experienced real sites many times already. Hehe.”

Ha Yuri laughed and teased me, perhaps thinking I looked too provincial. Meanwhile, she gathered ice in her palm, creating massive ice spears.

“Well then, I’ll go have some fun!”

“Wait, this is training—”

Whoosh!

I could only smile wryly as I watched her throw the ice spears and surf away on ice as if she were riding a wave.

Now, what should I do…?