Ch.42Those Who Welcome, Those Who Don’t – 1

“Huff! Huff!”

Today, Hyunwoo Lee’s daily routine is no different from usual.

He wakes up early and runs at full speed without rest to improve his physical strength.

Next, he swings his sword to develop his basic skills as a Weaponry Class user.

After that, he heads to the classroom to attend lectures.

Boring, uninteresting, and uninspiring theoretical lectures.

But Hyunwoo keeps his eyes wide open and focuses on the lecture.

“Ignore theory and you’ll pay the price, student Hyunwoo.”

Once when chatting about various things, he had complained about theoretical lectures.

Seojin Baek shook her head and warned Hyunwoo.

“It might seem useless now, but you’ll need it all later.”

“How can you be so sure? That’s just how the world works. If you learn something, you’ll eventually need it. Conversely, if you skip something thinking it’s fine, that’s exactly what will come back to trouble you.”

This advice came from none other than Arbiter Seojin Baek.

There must be a reason. She clearly knows something.

So Hyunwoo nodded and showed enthusiasm even for theoretical lectures.

After those hellish lectures ends, it’s the time Hyunwoo looks forward to most.

The moment when he takes the Silver rank assessment with Arbiter Seojin Baek.

‘These days, this seems to be the most fun.’

Some might criticize him for finding enjoyment in failing promotions.

But Hyunwoo didn’t see it that way.

This wasn’t about winning or losing a match, nor was it a life-or-death battle.

He could test everything from his efforts to new strategies and tactics.

And his opponent, Seojin Baek, was someone who could adequately handle all of it.

The opportunity to give your all against someone of such skill was nearly impossible to come by.

‘Most skilled people have already moved on to higher places, making them hard to even meet.’

Perhaps that was exactly what Principal Hakjun Ma wanted.

Someone who could handle students going all out against them.

The academy professors were already at capacity with their teaching duties.

Jiyoon Han, though a professor, had to fulfill her role as the academy’s sword of protection.

In such a situation, Arbiter Seojin Baek was the perfect choice.

She wanted the role herself, and it was her job to begin with.

“Ugh!”

“Good effort, student Hyunwoo.”

“Haha… Thank you, Arbiter.”

Once again defeated by Seojin Baek, Bronze-ranked Hyunwoo got up with a smile.

He thought he did pretty well, but in the end, his limitations showed again.

It’s disappointing, but that’s it for today. But it’s okay. There’s always tomorrow.

Train again today, refine skills tomorrow, and challenge again—that’s all there is to it.

‘It means I lack effort. It’s because I haven’t trained enough!’

Next comes the time to repeat the morning routine.

Training, training, and more training. More than yesterday, more rigorously.

Sometimes it’s hard. Sometimes he wonders what he’s doing.

But all those thoughts disappear when he closes his eyes and thinks about his future self.

Doing that is enough to erase any worries.

Additionally, he’s no longer the only one living this way.

“Ha! Hyah!”

“Huff, huff!”

Since the special assessment began, more people have been visiting the training grounds.

Some are sweating hard to not miss this opportunity.

Others are doing the same to reclaim what’s theirs.

This is how it should be. Yes, this is what a real academy should look like.

Bronze rankers just aiming for Silver. Silver rankers settling for having reached their goal.

Until recently, that was the attitude of most students at the academy.

It’s said to be less common among Gold rank and above, the upper echelon.

But below that, students set their own limits and refused to progress further.

Hyunwoo simply couldn’t understand such students.

They could become much stronger. They could make that effort, and they had the time for it.

It’s not like there would be any problem if there weren’t enough Silver rankers.

Why did everyone act that way? What if something happened later that Silver rank couldn’t handle?

‘In that sense, the academy right now is how it should be!’

Everyone has their own reason, gritting their teeth and working hard.

Watching them, Hyunwoo also shouted “I won’t lose!” and threw himself into training.

It was a moment when a training fever swept through the previously quiet academy.

*

—!!

A sword charged with energy brushes past right in front of him.

It’s so fast that for a moment he almost stared at it blankly.

‘…What was that.’

Cold sweat runs down his spine.

What would have happened if his reaction had been just a little slower?

Just imagining it… ugh. It’s enough to give him goosebumps.

‘I guess I shouldn’t rely solely on the Gatekeeper trait and let my guard down.’

The trait isn’t invincible. It’s better to see it as something that increases possibilities.

Until now, I’ve been able to block attacks because the opponents were within my capacity.

What if the Elder appears again like last time? Gatekeeper or not, I’d be destroyed.

I survived then because Hakjun Ma protected me, but there might not be a second chance.

What happens then? The Gatekeeper gets pierced and I have a meeting with the Grim Reaper.

“Haa, haa…”

Soohyun Kim stands up staggering, breathing heavily.

Unlike before, she doesn’t approach apologetically, not knowing what to do.

Apparently, she has no idea what she just did.

“Judging by your inability to continue, I’m ending the assessment, student Soohyun Kim.”

“Th-thank you for your hard work…”

At my words, Soohyun Kim collapses into her seat.

Several times I forced her to continue the assessment even when she was staggering from exhaustion.

If she experiences her absolute limits, she’ll surely be able to go beyond them.

If anyone can do it, it’s Soohyun Kim.

‘Like just now. That was really dangerous.’

With her stamina completely depleted, she lost her balance while swinging her sword.

As I closed the distance to exploit that opening, Soohyun suddenly swung her sword.

She didn’t judge based on seeing my movement. I was outside her field of vision.

It was clear that her body had instinctively reacted in that moment.

She’s definitely different from other students at the core.

Though she hasn’t fully bloomed yet, her talent overflows.

The saying that blood will tell wasn’t for nothing.

Well, that’s why she has the genius trait.

Among all the students I’ve met, only Hyunwoo and Soohyun have the genius trait.

◎ Bittersweet Triumph

: Trait activated.

: Target – Soohyun Kim

: Stack 3

3 stacks. Not enough. Still a long way to go.

Hyunwoo is already approaching double digits. That’s natural since he’s been coming every day without rest.

In contrast, Soohyun couldn’t take the assessment daily due to her chronic stamina issues.

I’d like to push her more, but it’s still too early.

What Soohyun needs now isn’t pressure but confident encouragement.

“Soohyun.”

“Yes, Arbiter.”

“I’m not just saying this, but I think you’re really amazing.”

Ah, now that I’ve said it, it sounds a bit strange even to me.

It sounds like a meaningless compliment given out of courtesy.

Does Soohyun also think it’s an empty compliment?

She slowly shakes her head, muttering that it can’t be.

“No, Soohyun. I’m serious.”

“It’s okay, Arbiter. You don’t have to say such things… I’m really fine.”

No, I’m really serious. I feel wronged.

Looking at her, she still seems to lack confidence in herself.

From my perspective, she’s at a level where she could be plenty confident.

I don’t understand why she underestimates herself so much…

Ah. Come to think of it, her maternal family is Minseong Kang’s clan.

That explains it. I can’t help but nod in understanding.

It’s not just Minseong Kang who’s exceptional. His children are all skilled too.

Even his grandchildren have become outstanding superpower users, I hear.

I think I saw a news article about it recently.

But that’s only when comparing with them.

By the academy’s standards? She’d be criticized for even speaking.

It’s like someone with a 92 saying “I failed” in front of people who can’t even score 50.

“Of course, your stamina issue continues to hold you back. That’s something you absolutely need to fix. But as a Weaponry Class user, you’re so sharp it’s almost frightening. Just now, though you didn’t realize it, you instinctively swung your sword to counter when I approached.”

“I did?”

Yes, that’s what I’m saying. As I nod, Soohyun fidgets with her fingers, mumbling “oh.”

She seems a bit uncomfortable receiving praise for something she wasn’t even aware of.

“It’s not that you lack talent. It’s not that you’re worse than others. Everyone’s the same. The only difference is this: can you think, decide, and finally act with confidence in yourself?”

Why did Soohyun only become The Crimson Witch after being brainwashed?

Because that brainwashing removed the hesitation in her decisions and actions.

And all of that created a synergy effect, making her an extremely powerful villain.

Thanks to that, even Hyunwoo, one of those overpowered characters, had a really hard time.

“You’re already doing well enough, Soohyun.”

Her face reddens at just one compliment.

With that pure nature intact, she can fully bloom without any brainwashing.

If she becomes an ally, there are few superpower users more reliable.

‘Unlike Rina, that crazy woman who can’t be controlled.’

…To be honest, I’m not entirely without concerns.

Those red eyes she showed before, and the lost rationality.

Those aspects worry me, but I think they can be controlled.

“Oh.”

Speaking of the devil, here comes the former Gold who triggered all this.

“Student Yuhyun Jung! Aren’t you taking the assessment?”

I called out to provoke him, since he’s been so quiet lately.

With his supremacist personality, he definitely won’t stay silent.

But…

‘What’s with that guy.’

Why is he running away in panic after seeing me?