Episode 9. Practical Class (2)

Thursday morning, it’s practical training again today.

Among the various curricula, the class I’ll receive today is virtual monster training.

It’s training where you face monsters created with magic power, either one-on-one or in teams, and a sparring partner suitable for the student’s level is assigned.

“As you all probably know, I’ll explain it one last time.”

Professor Kim Jin-hyuk, the person in charge, gesturing with his pointer, began his explanation.

“First, get on the measurement magic circle over there and follow the guidance of the support assistant. Once the measurement is complete, enter the sparring arena suitable for your level. Those who pre-arranged teams should head to the left sparring arena, and those who want one-on-one should head to the right.”

It’s only been three days since the semester started, and I don’t know how they pre-arranged teams, but the sociable ones managed to form teams amongst themselves during that time.

Lumi, the only person I know somewhat, is teamed up with Lucy, and Kim Yeong-han said he had his original team, so I naturally headed towards the one-on-one sparring arena.

As I entered the sparring arena, a large measurement magic circle appeared before my eyes.

Following the instructions of the attendant, I stepped onto it.

“You’re student Lee Hoyeon from Class A, right? Place your hand on it.”

In the center of the magic circle was a sphere-shaped magical device emitting a blue light.

As I placed my hand on the sphere, accompanied by a ‘woong-‘ sound, mana swept over my body.

After a few sensations of being scanned up and down, the mana coalesced and returned to the device.

[Measuring combat power. Please wait a moment.]

And then the number 5 appeared above my head.

“… 5 points? You’re a Class A student, right?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Hmm, well. Just go over to that corner.”

The average score for the Class A first-years ahead of me was 7 points. The lowest score, excluding me, was 6 points, but I had set a new record for the lowest score. My pride is hurt.

Kuaaeeeek–!

Looking at the other sparring arenas, everyone was fighting bizarre-looking monsters.

“Dieeee!”

Koong-!

The imugi, which had been making tremendous noises, was sent flying by a single punch from a small girl and embedded in the wall – the sight was quite fascinating.

It reminded me once again that this place I’m in is like a game.

Among the Class A cadets, I was the only one in the difficulty 5 sparring arena.

Let’s think positively. How great is it that I don’t have to wait? Those guys in the level 7 arenas have queues of over 10 people.

As I stepped onto the arena floor, the combat power reading of 5 reappeared above my head.

“Difficulty 5? Isn’t that the lowest record ever for Class A?”

“Wow, I knew it from when you were messing around trying to switch to a mage.”

Students who finished their tests early gathered one by one, whispering.

The kids judging me from below are just extras, so I don’t care anyway. But no matter how I think about it, something is strange.

The original protagonist received a score of 5 immediately upon entering the academy. This score was solely based on his unique ability, [Combat Sense].

Yet, I, who received a bonus on top of Combat Sense, got a 5? It seems the bonus isn’t being recognized.

[A suitable opponent for difficulty 5 will be summoned. 3 C-class monsters, Ice Platters, will be summoned.]

Ice Platters. They are flat, plate-shaped monsters made of ice.

Their primary means of attack is an ice beam emitted from the crystal in the center of their bodies.

Fortunately, a monster with a favorable matchup appeared.

[The test begins.]

Bbiririring-!

As soon as the mana barrier separating the monsters and me disappeared, the Ice Platters, making cute noises, fired their ice beams.

However, I had already thought of a countermeasure.

The Ice Platters’ ice beams spread thinly and widely. Therefore, they are quite tricky opponents for close-combat ability users, but I was a mage.

I unleashed fire like thin waves. Fortunately, I had practiced this type of magic during the training center’s level test.

The waves of fire, expanding their area, swallowed the ice beams and reached the Ice Platters.

The panicked Ice Platters, overwhelmed by the intense heat, fled in all directions, firing ice beams haphazardly. If the three had concentrated their ice beams together, they might have overcome the heat, but expecting such intelligence from C-class monsters was foolish.

The stage was set, now I just had to act.

I picked off the Ice Platters, scattered and emitting ‘bbiririring-‘ sounds, one by one, burning them with fire and taking them down individually.

Knowing that the crystal firing the ice beams was their weak point, it was easy enough to just toss fire magic at the crystals.

Bbiriring-!

If this is level 5, I feel like I could handle something harder?

[Test concluded.]

“What? I won. Ah, the measurement must have been off.”

“Still, even for Class A, level 5 doesn’t make sense.”

The magical device measuring abilities isn’t foolproof. It’s a device that gauges general skills or traits, so it can’t account for other interfering factors or synergistic elements. As a result, your ability might seem lower than it is.

However, even with a significant discrepancy, it’s usually only about one level off.

“Honestly, isn’t level 6 embarrassing for a Class A student?”

“We’ll see when they actually fight.”

According to regulations, with the permission of the supervising professor, you can challenge a difficulty up to 2 levels higher.

“I’ll attempt level 6.”

“Cadet Lee Hoyeon attempting level 6. Approval granted.”

*

“Level 9 cleared. Good work.”

Hoooh.

As Alice tucked her collarbone-length blonde hair behind her shoulder, she let out a sigh of frustration.

9 points again. Ever since attending the ability user training institution before entering the academy, I’ve consistently practiced, but I haven’t been able to break the 9-point barrier.

In contrast, Nam Daeun was different.

“Did you hear about Nam Daeun? They say she cleared level 10 in 30 seconds and vanished?”

“Wow, even if she’s got a bad attitude, her skill is legendary.”

Grrr.

No matter how hard I tried, the gap between Nam Daeun and me couldn’t be closed. What’s even more irritating is that I’m the only one considering her a rival.

“It’s okay. I’ll do better next time.”

I can’t get bogged down by these emotions. She consoled herself and headed out of the sparring arena.

“Hey, that Lee Hoyeon guy is attempting level 7?”

“Who’s Lee Hoyeon?”

“Oh, him. The good-looking one who switched to being a mage.”

“Ah, him? But didn’t he get a 5? I heard he got a 5, and now he’s attempting level 7?”

The tests should be almost over, yet people were flocking to the level 7 testing area.

Normally, I would have just walked past without paying attention, but I was feeling down, and today, something caught my attention.

Pushing through the crowd and reaching the center, I saw a handsome male student standing in the arena.

‘Lee Hoyeon…?’

Honestly, I wasn’t particularly interested. They said he switched from being a swordsman to a mage right after entering the academy. After all, the cadets here are people who’ve strived for over 10 years just to get into this academy.

Yet, after getting into the academy through such efforts, switching specialties immediately upon entry – I just couldn’t comprehend what they were thinking.

‘Is he planning to somehow graduate as a mage and get a position in administration?’

Graduating from Victoria Academy as a mage usually allows one to move into administrative roles within guilds or associations.

Of course, if that’s the goal, preparing differently would be more efficient, but you never know what people are truly thinking.

“Cadet Lee Hoyeon attempting level 7. Approval granted.”

[Summoning a suitable opponent. An A-class monster, the Scrap Giant, appears!]

On the other side of the arena, magic power surged, and mechanical parts, appearing from nowhere, began to assemble.

“Ah, the Scrap Giant showed up. It’s over.”

“What terrible luck.”

Kkigigigik- Kkigigigikkik-

Combining with grinding gears and scrap metal, making chilling sounds, it formed the shape of a giant. Its massive body, over 3 meters tall, was rusted in places, and every movement produced an unpleasant ‘bgeok bgeok’ noise.

“It’s over.”

The Scrap Giant is considered the worst opponent among those appearing in level 7. It’s practically on par with level 8.

Coming here was just a waste of time. My time is worth so much more.

[The test begins.]

Kkigigigik-!

Thump! Thump!

As soon as the test started, the Scrap Giant began moving its massive body.

The Scrap Giant’s body is formed by clumps of scrap metal. The scrap metal itself is special. Even if you break it down again and again, it reforms due to some strange force.

Its weakness is to attack the giant’s joints to prevent its body from reforming.

However, its cohesion is so strong and sturdy that it absorbs almost all external impacts.

Ultimately, it requires exceptional mana control to inject mana into the gaps between the scrap metal pieces forming its body, which is not easy for cadets to achieve.

Because of this, many argued for the Scrap Giant to be upgraded from level 7 to level 8. However, due to its clear weakness, it remains at level 7.

Its weakness is exploiting the gaps between joints with properties like water or ice, which make it easier to target.

If Lee Hoyeon were a water or ice mage, the Scrap Giant might have been an easy opponent, but he was a fire mage.

Kkadeudeudeuk!

The Scrap Giant raised both hands high into the sky. This is its pattern for smashing the ground with both fists. Its large movements require quick evasion, but he cast a spell.

A faint, wave-like flame extended from his hand towards the giant.

‘It’s over.’

He must have intended to target the giant’s gaps with the thin flame, but while the idea was good, even if it managed to squeeze into the gaps, the output was insufficient.

It would have been better to take a gamble with a powerful, high-level magic spell, but that wasn’t the case.

Just as my interest in Lee Hoyeon completely waned, and I turned to walk away,

Koogung!

It was a sound completely different from what Lee Hoyeon would make if crushed into jerky by the Scrap Giant’s fist. A completely different sound struck her ears.

When she turned back, her eyes beheld a scene she could never have imagined.

The Scrap Giant had apparently fallen while bringing its fist down, lying face down in a comical pose, and its left leg was severed around the knee joint.

“What? What kind of magic was that to cut off a leg?”

“It doesn’t look cut, more like the knee joint just melted instantly… I don’t know what it was.”

‘What is this…’

Did that magic melt the Scrap Giant? Melting the Scrap Giant with fire requires at least 1000 degrees Celsius, but emitting mana so thinly like that could never produce such heat.

Kkikigigik-

The Scrap Giant, using its arms and remaining right leg, somehow managed to lift itself up.

It approached Lee Hoyeon with awkward movements, but its speed had significantly decreased.

Lee Hoyeon slowly retreated while casting magic again.

‘It’s the same pattern again.’

His magic slowly expanded its area, then suddenly began to converge into a single path.

“What is that?”

My surprised exclamation drew the attention of a few people, but Alice couldn’t spare a glance for them.

He had unleashed the flames thinly and widely. That was the design of the spell from the moment it was cast.

But this guy was ‘forcing’ that spell, twisting and condensing it.

The flames overlapped, again and again. Finally, a flame, thin as a thread but concentrated in power, was completed.

The thread of flame penetrated the gaps in the right leg of the giant, which was precariously balancing on its two arms and one leg.

Pukwakang!

As the right leg was also severed, its precarious balance collapsed, and dust billowed up.

Finally, the light in the giant’s eyes slowly faded.

[Test concluded.]

The result was different from what everyone expected.

The guy they dismissed as level 5, subduing the Scrap Giant with such magic? Faced with the unbelievable sight, everyone stared blankly at the arena, and the professors who witnessed the entire process were stunned.

‘Is that mana manipulation at a cadet’s level?’

‘That’s impossible…?’

The magic Lee Hoyeon used was originally designed to spread flames like waves. Naturally, each flame was small. Thus, he used them to penetrate the gaps, and compensated for the lack of power by gathering the flames.

The concept was brilliant, but his delicate mana control ability appeared almost divine to the professors.

Even Alice, who had cleared level 9, naturally noticed his mana control.

She could hear the surrounding chatter, but it didn’t register.

The idea of using tiny fire particles to attack the Scrap Giant wasn’t what mattered to her.

What mattered was his mana manipulation.

Drawing out the flames thin as thread and inserting them into the gaps – that mana manipulation was no longer that of a mere cadet.

No, Alice might be able to draw out flames like threads if she concentrated hard enough. But layering them like that was a completely different story.

Alice realized his talent was genuine, and Lee Hoyeon, without even realizing it, had caught her eye.

*

“It’s a shame the regulations only allow challenging up to 2 levels higher. I feel like you could have handled level 8 too.”

“Haha, not at all.”

After finishing the test, I stepped down from the arena.

I had no mana left in my body, so how could I possibly attempt level 8?

“Wow, that was tough. Seriously.”

Today’s virtual monster training was truly exhausting. I haven’t yet learned the advanced magic needed to target the gaps in the Scrap Giant’s body.

Since I didn’t know any suitable spells, I reused the magic I employed against the Ice Platters.

I forced the mana properties of the spell to change while fighting, which drained a lot of mana.

“If your brain isn’t sharp, your body suffers, huh? I went the hard way about it for nothing.”

I realized I need to significantly expand my repertoire of usable magic spells. Still, it’s fortunate the outcome was good. Hoo.

“Hey, what’s for lunch at the cafeteria today?”

“I think it was steak? Should we just eat out?”

“I heard a handmade burger joint opened near the main gate, wanna go?”

After morning classes ended, it was lunchtime.

I headed towards the student cafeteria.

Although many cadets opted to eat out, my income consists solely of my ‘dignity maintenance fee’, so I have to save money.

Fortunately, Victoria Academy operated the ‘student cafeteria’ for free as part of student welfare.

“One steak, please.”

After receiving my ordered lunch steak, as I was about to sit anywhere, Moon Surin caught my eye.

She was alone in a corner seat behind a pillar, cutting into her steak.

As I stared at her, almost hypnotized, she seemed to sense my gaze and looked up.

Our eyes met, her pupils dilated slightly, and she tapped the seat in front of her with her finger.

“Huh?”

Was she signaling me to come over?

I pointed to myself with my index finger, and Moon Surin nodded.

Nod nod.

Right. Eating with a beautiful woman is better than eating alone, and it probably helps the food go down better, right?

“Hoyeon? You came to the cafeteria too?”

Hearing a voice from the side, I turned my head and saw Kim Yeong-han waving at me.

“Oh? Yeah.”

“If you’re eating alone, let’s eat together. I came alone today too.”

“Sorry, but I actually have someone I’m eating with…”

As I declined and started heading towards the seat in front of Moon Surin, Moon Surin had already vanished.

“Where? There’s no one there.”

“… Let’s eat together over there, okay?”

She’s that popular student council president, so I guess I understand her position.

Resignedly, I sat down with Kim Yeong-han and took a bite of the steak, and was surprised by how delicious it was.

‘Why would anyone skip a student cafeteria like this to eat out?’

Then again, no matter how good the school food is, it’s hard to give up the unhealthy flavors of eating out.

“Aren’t you looking forward to the one-on-one sparring this afternoon? I spent all day yesterday at the training grounds because of it.”

“Hmm, I guess?”

The afternoon class is close-combat training.

It’s conducted in a safe sparring arena. I have been wanting to try close-combat, so I’m slightly looking forward to it.

Well, nothing major should happen, right?

“…”

“Hoyeon, what’s wrong?”

“No, I’m getting chills. Why all of a sudden?”

Goosebumps suddenly appeared on my arms. Was there something I missed…?

Hmm…. Nothing really bad will happen, right?