episode_0008

The main purpose of the welcoming party is ultimately to build connections.

In this industry, luck and skill are important, but the presence of connections is as important as those two.

There are many places where giants are active, but if we were to pick a representative one, it would be ‘Monster Subjugation.’

As risking life to fight monsters, the danger goes without saying.

Even though it may reduce profits to form a party and act on a small scale rather than acting individually, it is overwhelmingly safer. In fact, the profits might be better than individual activities.

However, there is a saying in the world.

“When five people gather, there is bound to be at least one piece of trash.”

How can you know that the person behind me with a personality like trash won’t put a knife in my back and kill me?

No matter how much the association establishes a credit system and checks personal information before forming a party, who knows where things will go.

“That’s why connections are important.”

The connections built over the four years until graduation are likely to shine when meeting again in the field.

It is more efficient and stable to work with those with whom you have built a long-term friendship rather than those you hastily met for the first time.

This is why building connections is encouraged in Siyolam. Moreover, if you are admitted to Siyolam, it is guaranteed that you have potential.

Originally, I should have gradually built relationships with my peers here.

Even if I had decided on soloing, I could have increased my favorability and received help without any loss.

“…I’m tired.”

In games, you only need to choose a few options, but now I have to walk around myself or talk face-to-face with those who come to talk to me in real-time.

Moreover, most of them come from good families, so their true intentions to gain information from conversations are even more annoying.

A special admission student badge. I had doubts, but thinking about the possibility of winning, I managed to send off those who came to make friends with me and ran to the bathroom.

“…Should I leave soon?”

Participation in the reception is mandatory, but there is no rule that you have to stay until the end. There will probably be some who just came to see the beginning and then left.

Spatial perception is in this shape and form, so not everyone could confirm it. However, gender and physique… above all, some could distinguish the nature of magic.

I was only staying to look around the place where most of the main characters gather, and there was no reason to stay any longer. To be precise, I wanted to go in because I was tired.

After checking if there was no one in the bathroom, I took off my gloves.

Carefully examining the faucet, I separated the hot water from the cold water, then washed my hands with warm water.

Since being scalded by the sunflower shower last time, I have been cautious when using the faucet.

-Tuk

While walking out of the bathroom.

Someone approached me and bumped into my shoulder. Fortunately, it didn’t hit me hard and stopped at a staggering line, but I almost rolled on the floor twice a day.

“Tsk.”

The person who bumped into me clicked their tongue without saying anything and disappeared into the opposite corridor without any apology.

Was it a mistake or intentional?

If it were the first time, I would think it was a mistake, but as this kind of thing repeated several times, the weight shifted towards malicious harassment.

“Ugh.”

Before I could say anything, they disappeared, leaving me alone. After a moment of absurdity, I sighed deeply and moved on.

“…Still, it’s fortunate that the intensity is low.”

In the morning, I almost rolled on the floor.

Comparing the two shoulder bumps, I realized how kind Hong Yeon-hwa’s response was.

One was a light shoulder bump, and the other was a full-body tackle toward Hong Yeon-hwa, but…

Considering that Hong Yeon-hwa herself has a fiery personality, her disposition leans towards the good side.

Thinking about it again, the person just now might not be that bad either.

They didn’t spit, throw punches, or kick. They didn’t grab my hair and swing me around.

Most importantly, they deliberately checked my internal magic level and didn’t tear my shoulders apart.

Compared to those brats from the past, this level seems rather kind.

– Aaaaah…!

– Hey hey, …it’s me!

– …can’t see…

“?”

A muffled sound came to my ears.

The direction is the center of the banquet hall. What happened? I hurried my steps toward where the banquet was in full swing.

– Kwang…!

“Kkeuk…!”

“Haha! Why? Your sword has slowed down!”

So, widening her spatial perception, you could see Hong Yeon-hwa fiercely swinging her sword on stage.

– Jjajajajak!

In the blink of an eye, the swords entangle and repeat the parry. Along with the clear shock sound that hits the ears, the male student who was competing with Hong Yeon-hwa steps back, furrowing his brow.

He responds as if he cannot lose. However, it’s futile; Hong Yeon-hwa’s sword moves first.

– Kkaang!

– Kkagagaggak…!

A splendid sword dance. Even below the stage, cheers and shouts are flowing.

“Oh, there was such an event.”

I could pull out a memory that had been locked in a corner of my mind while standing absentmindedly. I had been so preoccupied elsewhere that I had forgotten. It was around the time the freshman welcome party was about to start. Some leading actors were engaging in friendly matches for camaraderie.

Hong Yeon-hwa, who also had a combat-oriented nature, was almost certain to participate… and most of the time, her opponent was either Baek Ah-rin or Katsuki Yusei of the Samsaenggeom clan from Japan, a leading figure with unique abilities related to the sword.

“I was really surprised.”

I was startled by the sudden swordplay, but upon closer observation, the magic remained within the body without any outward release, and the weapon itself was a practice sword.

Above all, neither side was using their unique abilities at all.

I calmed my pounding heart and focused intently on the auditory material.

“…Wow, how are they moving like that?”

Unintentionally, I harbored a feeling of being impressed.

In the blink of an eye, the swords clashed and were retrieved several times. I couldn’t help but admire the natural transition to the next move in the swordsmanship.

No matter how skilled one may be, if they were to strike an ordinary person with such swordsmanship, something would surely burst somewhere.

“When did they become like this…”

What began as admiration turned into astonishment, and soon, I found myself involuntarily becoming bored at the thought of having to reach that level later on.

“…No, let’s not get bored. I can do it.”

I shook my head vigorously, holding onto the feeling of deflating spirits.

When I think about it, am I in a much better position than them? It’s a game, but I also have knowledge about the future, and I possess three unique abilities that others are born with.

On top of that, although I’m burdened with three curses, if I solve them, there will be no negative elements for me, or practically none.

“I can do it.”

I will succeed. I will definitely lift the curses and enjoy a happy, secluded life.

Making an oath, whose number I couldn’t even count, I observed the duel carefully.

The clash of swords resounded firmly, and at times, they collided repeatedly, emitting short and swift sounds.

Watching the duel change back and forth, I felt something strange.

An outsider who had nothing to do with the battle, I wondered what they might feel when they saw it, but as I focused on observing through spatial perception, I gained several things.

“What is this?”

An outsider who hadn’t experienced proper training. For the past few days, all I did was memorize basic texts, especially magical ones, so I knew even less about martial arts.

Using spatial perception, which can collect large amounts of space within the observed range, I dissected their every battle process.

Their momentum is discernible.

Parry technique. Why are they holding the sword like that? Why expose themselves to attack? Why not dive in there?

At first, I couldn’t find an answer. The pile of problems grew without even incorrect answers.

At some point,

I began to assign my own answers one by one.

To create an opening, they swing lightly. Light but not weak. Not just one strength, but multiple instances of weakness are inserted to count the numbers.

“Why is it discernible?”

I felt doubt about that.

Of course, I have the unique ability of being a jack-of-all-trades.

Not to the extreme in any one field, but an all-around ability that can reach above average in almost every aspect.

That all-around ability should include the “sword” as well. Since I have the aptitude for the sword, it’s not strange that I can discern and analyze it.

But it seems to be discernible too well.

Information perceived through spatial perception and visual information are different.

The speed that exceeds the eye’s accommodation cannot be recognized. Spatial perception is the same. However, the information perceived through spatial perception is deeply stored within me.

That’s how information accumulates. Reference materials gradually increase.

Not only that. The clear indigo and burning crimson mana emanating from their bodies. I can feel how mana forms a solid body within them.

Mana Affinity.

“Ah.”

It was only then that I realized.

These three abilities are organically connected.

Through spatial perception, in the process of perceiving the world, I delve even deeper with the correction of my surroundings.

In addition, due to mana affinity, I can sense the flow of mana in addition to the information originally limited to space.

Other aspects are similar. Abilities intertwine, creating a synergistic effect.

The correlation of these three abilities. That was an epiphany.

“Did I think wrong?”

Honestly, I thought that perhaps I hadn’t chosen Palbangmiin well. Even if it’s a versatile ability, isn’t it mediocre?

If a magpie follows a crane, its legs will be torn apart, and if you dig only one well, won’t it run dry? It was a thought of whether success would come by fluttering around in several places.

But looking at the current situation, maybe I was wrong.

“If I use this well…”

For a moment, a thrilling sensation surged as if my head were turning upside down.

At the same time, spatial perception began to flicker roughly, then blinked rapidly.

Information repeated closing and opening. As if turning off the light and the world disappeared and reappeared.

Something is changing in spatial perception.

Meanwhile, the friendly match was also heading towards the end.

Katsuki Yusei’s new move was thrown off by Hong Yeon-hwa’s blow, who smiled triumphantly throughout the match.

“Ugh…!”

An attack struck in the moment when he momentarily showed a defensive posture. Before being bounced out of the stage, he managed to touch the ground.

However, Hong Yeon-hwa did not miss that opportunity. Swiftly pushing the ground, she pulled both arms tightly holding the sword behind her.

A genuine strong strike. With a large movement, it would be difficult to dodge under normal circumstances, but for Katsuki Yusei, whose posture is currently crumbling, it is an impossible task.

A pulled back sword. It flies, drawing a large trajectory as if swinging a hammer.

“Last─!”

A resounding battle cry. Yoo Sei bared her teeth and extended the sword.

– Kwaah!

With a thunderous sound as if a shell was being driven in, Yoo Sei’s body, unable to fully withstand the impact, soared like a baseball.

‘Wow.’

How hard did she have to swing for a person to fly like that? Amidst the thrilling sensation, while gaping in admiration, Yoo Sei’s body shot out like a shell towards the wall… …

?

‘Huh.’

What is it? Yoo Sei’s new form flying towards the center of spatial perception made her mind stop.

“Kya! This… wha, what? Oh damn, wait…!”

Hong Yeonhwa’s startled shout. Noise coming from below the stage. That thing getting closer and closer to the center of spatial perception… me.

Ah, I see.

Is that thing flying straight at me?

Caught up in the thrill, she realized it too late.

She moved reflexively to avoid it. However, her frail body didn’t move as she had hoped.

Surprisingly, there was no one around me. In other words, there was no one to help.

‘Oh, darn it─’

Collision. Consciousness faded. It seemed like stars were twinkling ahead, unseen.

But strangely.

Beyond the fading consciousness, a vision of Hong Yeonhwa running with a groan was seen.

Accompanied by the sight of red hair fluttering as if truly on fire.