Chapter 9: Why on earth do they know me

Himsumjin.

It’s not a term for someone who’s hiding their power because they’re a loser… but rather, a term for a protagonist who isn’t a loser but still hides their strength.

It may sound like an insult, but for people who love “munchkin” and “misunderstanding” tropes, it’s actually a pretty exciting concept.

Spider-Man and Superman are classic examples of the “himsumjin” type.

There’s something satisfying about watching someone live like a loser and then suddenly awaken their powers and start beating everyone up.

It makes me feel good, too.

“Not that I was planning to become Superman, though.”

As a male student, he was already noticeable, and he wasn’t really aiming to stand out any further.

He just wanted to be seen as someone decent, gradually gaining recognition in a subtle, steady way.

Maybe something like that?

***

[Combat Class 1, Placement Test]

[1. Shin Yuseong]

It wasn’t that he planned to make it so obvious from the start.

Honestly, it was surprising.

“Why am I already in first place?”

Sure, he could end up at the top later, but he hadn’t even shown a fraction of what he could do, so why was he being awarded this already?

He just approached a goblin and cut it down with his sword.

He didn’t even pull out a flashy, glowing holy sword.

He was just a regular swordsman swinging a sword around.

Why was he getting first place?

“And I even delayed killing the goblin… wasn’t the time also supposed to be a factor in the scoring?”

He thought this world valued magic and even gave extra points to necromancers, but was that not the case?

[The Goddess smiles widely and congratulates the Hero for being recognized.]

He was happy to be in first place, but he was still genuinely confused…

***

“Is it finally the start of the semester?”

It’s a common misconception among students, but the truth is, teachers don’t want to go back to school either.

Sure, students are excited to see their friends, but for teachers, it’s just going to work.

If money wasn’t going into her account, Shin Arin wouldn’t care for the start of the semester.

Teachers like vacation more than lectures, and they prefer research time over teaching time.

“Fufu.”

However, Shin Arin, the professor of Combat Class, was smiling widely as she looked at the students filling the campus.

She was so excited that her hands involuntarily clapped together, and her shoulders began to shake with joy.

The students were always talking nonsense and doing whatever they wanted, so she wasn’t planning to mentor anyone, but a rare talent had appeared.

Not someone from a famous family or someone she’d picked up and taught, but a true gem of a student!

Recalling the memory of the level test, Shin Arin shivered with excitement.

The student had already displayed masterful swordsmanship and cool-headed judgment against the goblin without letting his guard down.

He had the undeniable star quality of a hunter.

He was perfect, even in his appearance.

Clap, clap, clap.

“Bravo.”

Shin Yuseong didn’t realize it, but by delaying things, he had allowed every professor to see him and had even come across as relaxed, like a true strongman.

As an active S-rank Hunter, Shin Arin valued all these qualities, and the Yuseong she saw during the level test had completely won her over.

Was it something that could have been achieved through self-study?

No, even if there had been a hidden mentor, his combat talent was undeniably genius. And now, she was the academy’s professor.

So yes, now it was her turn.

The same last name—this was practically family.

She planned to teach this unprecedented genius student everything about swordsmanship and battle experience and help him live a comfortable, successful life.

“Even if he doesn’t become a Hunter, he’s a talent who’ll live well regardless.”

The more, the better, right? A better life would just make her feel even better.

Checking her phone, Shin Arin smiled and got into her combat attire.

It was almost time for her lecture.

***

“Wow, unbelievable.”

“Is it possible for such a creature to exist?”

“Does the fact that he’s the number one make sense? This must be some kind of scheme by the organizers.”

“What scheme? Watch your mouth, or you’ll be dragged away by the professors before you even know it.”

“Huh, what?”

“You didn’t hear? That first place… he’s actually…”

Even if Shin Yuseong tried to minimize his hearing range, with so many people around, he could hear everything.

Was it because it was the first day of the semester? The halls were packed with people.

For a moment, he thought about avoiding them completely, but it seemed like it wouldn’t stop with just a quick escape.

Why did these people even know about me?

With those questions in mind, he carefully walked to the classroom.

Thankfully, no one asked for an autograph.

But still, the way they looked at him… it didn’t seem strange to be acting like this.

[The Goddess grins mischievously and laughs at how popular the Hero has become.]

For now, though, he couldn’t trust the Goddess and had to get through this chaos himself.

Walking down the hallway, he reached the classroom of the Combat Class.

The lecture by S-rank Hunter and high-ranker Shin Arin was about to begin.

Well, professors in that field were usually impressive people, but when he searched online, it seemed like Shin Arin was both famous and quite impressive.

When he found a video titled “Crazy Shin Arin: Mad Movie”, he wondered what the top-tier fighters in this world were really like. He had some expectations.

But, “My nose is already in enough trouble.”

As he approached the classroom, he was more worried about the students than the professor.

He hoped it wouldn’t be like when he walked through the halls, with everyone in chaos.

But he wasn’t sure.

Would students at a military academy really be that loud during class?

They’d all be doomed if they did.

“No more attention than this, never.”

Even a wallflower can dream of a future where they’re somewhat popular, right?

Yeah, he was happy for the attention and interest he was getting, but he had reached his limit.

If he were an extroverted person, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, but as a proud introvert, it was impossible to be like this 24/7.

If you give too much, even a hungry plant will choke and die.

“Please, I hope the people in the classroom are friendly to me, but don’t give me too much attention.”

Ah, and it would be great if there was a destined partner who could become his lover as a bonus.

[The Goddess scowls.]

[She expresses her dissatisfaction, sending him complaints.]

[Uuuuuu.]

It wasn’t like he saved the world in his previous life—he saved it in this one, so this level of self-serving greed should be acceptable, right?

He truly believed that, so he ignored the Goddess’s complaints and opened the classroom door.

Creak—

The classroom was packed, and it seemed like everyone had already arrived except for him.

“……Hmm.”

And it was ridiculously quiet.

Ah.

It was suffocating.

***

People who are successful tend to know each other.

At the very least, they know each other’s names.

If they’re close, they might even know each other’s faces and belong to the same family or group.

Of course, just because individuals are climbing to the top doesn’t mean they’re all close friends.

The students in Combat Class 1 were all talented, so they knew each other well.

The secretive, mysterious Magic Sect, Jeil Yeongnak Church.

Except for the special admission students, everyone had crossed paths a few times.

And there were some classmates who had told him that he must beat them—those same age-old rivals.

The “Golden Generation” was an era brimming with expectations, and the pressure was immense.

The unique school structure and the competitive nature of the industry.

The rivalry with peers.

Because of the perception that he had to crush his opponents to rise, he started seeing his classmates not as friends or future colleagues but as competitors.

That tension hung in the air, and the overall atmosphere in the classroom became rigid.

Of course, there were exceptions.

[Everyone’s being so petty.]

A girl with ivory-colored hair who always carried a huge chunk of metal around with her.

Sephine Alabard, the summoner from the prestigious Alabard family, glanced around the classroom with an indifferent expression, waiting for the professor to arrive.

Her personality didn’t tolerate petty rivalries like this, and she wasn’t particularly excited to be at school.

“I just want to go home.”

Her small friend sitting next to her?

The spirit user from Japan seemed to share similar feelings.

He was already buried in his desk, fast asleep.

Only his beastly, pointy ears above his head seemed alive and alert.

“I heard some high-potential spirit users even undergo a full transformation.”

Did that mean those were real ears?

Or fake ears?

He was a little curious, but he wasn’t close enough to ask, and he wasn’t the type to ask such questions out of pure curiosity.

He just glanced at his spirit user friend’s ears while waiting for the class to start.

Then, suddenly—

Perk-

The white hair-covered ears stood up straight.

The soft, baby-like breathing that had been heard just moments ago stopped.

It was as if she sensed something, as the wolf-eared spirit user slowly lifted her head and stared toward the door.

Sephine Alabard also turned her head to follow the movement, wondering what was approaching.

It was just simple curiosity.

“Eh?”

And then, the shocking scene unfolded.

It was like the mana prayers that had descended evenly and steadily over his entire body were perfectly intentional.

There wasn’t a single flaw in the balance of his body.

But what was most unbelievable was the impossibly perfect face, like it had been sculpted by the Creator.

An unreal, almost supernatural man stood there, looking at them while wearing a conqueror’s garb.

“……Ah.”

The space froze, but in a different way from before.