episode_0020

8 o’clock the next morning.

I was standing in front of the entrance to the Bukak Mountain hiking trail.

I put a lot of heavy luggage in my hiking bag.

Wearing a lot of thick long padding

I was just looking at the mountain covered in white snow.

‘Bukak Mountain… I really feel like I’m back in time.’

The first week after the entrance ceremony.

The academy conducts a [class placement test].

After randomly forming a group of 4 to 5 people,

The schedule is to gather in front of the Bukaksan Mountain hiking trail and set off together.

Near the entrance, several students were gathered together and chatting.

It is natural that they are well armed with weapons and armor.

Plus, you have to survive in the mountains for two days and one night.

The bag seemed to be packed with various essential necessities.

Tiring-!

[Student Seojin Han, please move to the starting location of the group according to the attached map.]

I looked at my watch and it was time to move.

I packed my bag and headed to the meeting place.

After walking for about 5 more minutes, I saw several familiar students from the academy.

I saw slightly different faces from the people who took the placement test that day.

At the same time, it was a group made up of students who were familiar faces.

Natsuki has short white hair and an eye patch.

The girl covered in scars that I saw at the entrance ceremony yesterday.

A woman named Oh Min-ah, who thanks to her noble position as a healer, abuses power and gives a lot of attention.

And lastly, the male student who followed the healer like a dog and played politics.

‘There is no such thing as a dream team made up of very poor people…’

I carefully looked at the girl who had many scars.

Obviously, that kid wasn’t on the same team before the regression.

It was strange, but it was my first time seeing that boy.

‘Well… it doesn’t really matter. I think I’ll give it a try.’

I thought the chairman would have deliberately placed another student who entered with equal opportunity considering my skills.

I stretched out vigorously and headed to their side.

When Natsuki discovered that I had arrived, she bowed her head and greeted me politely.

Other members who saw me also started talking to me.

“Are you here? Master.“

“Tsk, no need to be scared. Anyway, what I showed at the entrance ceremony was because I was lucky enough to catch a monster. To someone who is not even a healer.“

“Of course~ That’s right. How can someone who can’t even reach Minah’s toes…!“

“…Hello.”

‘It’s really a plague…’

I almost sighed from the beginning.

Still, I think my evaluation has improved compared to the day before I returned.

I greeted them with a happy expression.

“Hello, Natsuki, and… team members. Nice to meet you.“

“Hmph, don’t grab my ankles. If you’re a dealer, you have to do it well as a dealer. You know it well, right?“

She glared at me and did not accept my greeting.

Go in by controlling the momentum from the beginning.

Even though he showed off his flashy side at the entrance ceremony, his twisted, beggar personality didn’t change at all.

“Okay, okay, let’s do our best.“

I whispered so softly that only Natsuki could hear.

“Natsuki, for now, let’s keep the fact that we are teacher and student a secret in front of people. There’s nothing good about standing out for no reason.“

“Yes, I understand. Teacher… no, Han Seo-jin.“

“, don’t add any letters. Just call me by my name.“

“How dare I do that…!“

I smiled and tapped her on the shoulder,

I sat down on a nearby rock again, holding my heavy bag.

In the distance, I saw Lee Yu-ri and other familiar faces.

Whenever I made eye contact with them, I waved my hand and said hello.

“As expected… It hasn’t been long since you entered school, but you have a lot of friends… That red hair over there looks like Alice…“

“Well, it somehow happened like that. I think it would be good if everyone got along well.“

“Okay. I will keep this in mind.“

It was about time I sat with her for a while and watched the procession of students.

Oh Min-ah, who was looking at me with a disapproving expression, suddenly said to me.

“Remember it well. No matter how strong you are, it’s the difference between a healer and a dealer. In a situation where there are two equal opportunity students like you. If there’s anything I don’t like, I’ll move you to another group.“

“Of course~ Minah and I are one team, so the moment I leave, you will be in big trouble!“

‘Tsk… Whether it was then or now, it hasn’t changed whether you act like that…’

Just as in the original world, doctors and people in the legal profession were of high status.

It was the same in the world of this game.

Although everyone’s awakening skills were different,

In terms of probability, the dealing and tanking ratio is overwhelmingly high.

Even a simple [herbalist] awakened person’s status rises in an instant.

I also understood why that woman kept being mean to me.

A woman who was born with a ‘healer’ spoon in her mouth instead of a gold spoon.

‘But… now, you’re not the only healer in this party.’

With the corners of my mouth slightly raised, I thought of the white staff sleeping in the weapons locker in subspace.

Of course, there was also a purpose to heal colleagues in case of emergency,

In a world where healers are treated the best, just knowing how to use [healing] skills increases your status as a hunter.

‘Anyway… I don’t want to cause any trouble. There’s no need to show it.’

While looking at Natsuki and thinking about future plans,

The signal announcing entrance soon rang.

The students walked carefully toward the entrance,

There, the instructors had strict, solemn and serious expressions.

A huge scale was placed in front of me.

And one of the instructors took the microphone and spoke firmly.

“From now on, each group will throw away a total of 10kg of luggage and then take a placement test. I hope you think carefully about what to throw away and what to choose.“

At that moment, sighs and jeers erupted from the students.

“What…?! Nonsense…! No, how can you throw away so much and spend a day camping…!“

“Tsk… But you can somehow get water by melting the snow… Hey, if you have some bottled water, give it to me.“

“Ai… I can’t throw away my weapon… But I also need some armor… Sigh… He’s really vicious… “

So one by one, the students in the previous group

Put food, water, cooking utensils, and other items on the scale.

The instructors clearly hung the scales and then nodded.

“Good. I hope you don’t think of this placement test as just training. This is training so you can actually know how to respond in an emergency situation. Next!“

My teammates and I walked forward hurriedly.

Then, one by one, they opened the zippers of their bags and started putting down their luggage.

“Master, do you like chocolate pie?“

“Huh? Well, it’s not bad for emergency food.“

“Then, leave this behind… Ugh… I kept a bow this time, so at least a few daggers…“

Let Natsuki think about it and work hard to lighten the load.

The healer girl next to him was staring at me blankly.

“What are you doing? Can you please take my luggage away? Then what do you do if you start later than others?“

For a moment, I scratched my ears wondering if I had heard wrong.

I looked at her closely.

Minah Oh was just looking at me blankly, without even touching the bag.

“You… don’t let anything go?”

“Did you really think that I, the healer, would lighten the load? This is ridiculous. You have to crawl well on your own. I didn’t even know how to thank you for coming to the party.“

“Of course hehe…! Minah, I will… lighten my burden a little more…!“

The other boy standing next to him was watching.

I started putting the comic books and other useless things I had brought with me on the scale.

Was the bag of the girl covered in scars empty?

Things like a worn rag or an empty lunch box were placed there with a sad expression.

‘No, even if other kids are like that… what on earth are you…?’

I looked at the girl covered in scars with a pitiful expression.

As soon as our eyes met, she looked away and hurriedly searched her bag further.

I sighed and opened the zipper of my bag, feeling confused.

Inside was a 10kg barbell disc made entirely of iron.

Tong—!

A very dull and heavy sound echoed across the scale.

At that moment, all the instructors and students looked at me with puzzled expressions.

“Student, what on earth is this?“

I smiled slyly and answered the instructor.

“Ah, I was trying to warm up before fighting the monster. You can do a lot of things with just one disc. But~ it’s a pity… I have no choice but to throw it away…“

Then he spoke to the other team members.

“Well, first of all, I filled 10kg. Everyone, put your luggage back. You were lucky, everyone.“

“Master…!“

“Keuung…“

“Wow…!”

The healer girl looked at me with a very disapproving expression.

Ignoring her gaze, I lifted my bag again.

“Hmm… good. I passed because I filled 10kg according to the rules. Wait for the next group!“

I walked towards the entrance with Natsuki.

In the waiting area, let’s watch the next group place items on the scale.

One by one, discs popped out of the bags of Alice and other children who had sent messages in advance yesterday.

“Trainee… What on earth is this…?“

“Dod… Oh no, I was planning on training this body too! Ahaha…!“

“I would sleep poorly if it weren’t for a hard pillow… especially if it wasn’t for something like this disc…“

“Um… It’s for fixing the tent! I felt like I would fly away if the wind blew strong.”

So, one by one, the game of unloading friendship comes to an end.

One of the instructors started explaining with the beam projector turned on.

“From now on, the entire Bukaksan Mountain will be designated as a test area. Return time is until 12:00 a.m. the next day.“

Then, as I flipped through the slides, a photo appeared.

In the photo that appeared to be taken at the top of the mountain, several flags with the Academy emblem were planted.

Another photo showed monsters wandering through the forest.

“Scoring is conducted based on three criteria. First, the recovery of the flag planted near the summit. Second, killing the monsters released deep in the mountains, and finally…“

Click-!

Let’s move on to the last slide.

A beautiful golden trophy cup was depicted on the screen.

“Only one somewhere on this mountain. Hidden trophy hidden away. The group that discovers this item and submits it will be graded as the first place team, regardless of the scores of other groups.“

‘Okay… that’s the key…’

I looked at the trophy on the screen with a subtle smile.

——-

That day, Natsuki and I, after many twists and turns, discovered the cave where it was hidden.

But maybe the healer and her followers had planned to immerse me in advance.

While camping, we were ambushed by other groups and fell headlong into a cliff.

And in the midst of desperate danger, a healer and a boy appeared.

“Damn it… it’s a surprise attack…! Hurry up and upload it…! I think they were aiming for the trophy…!”

I barely managed to hang on to the edge of the cliff, barely holding my hand.

He was barely holding on, holding the golden trophy in his arms.

Oh Min-ah extended the staff to me and spoke coldly.

“I know. Now, let’s hand over the trophy.”

“What… what?!”

“Ah… you’re stupid as expected. “Did you really think that we would become the first-place team by getting along with scum like you and giving away the trophy?”

At that moment, other students appeared behind her.

The faces of those damn bitches who attacked Natsuki and me earlier.

They were looking down at me with equally disgusted expressions.

“You bastard… Was it a trap from the beginning…!!!”

「Haha… Everyone, can you see it? “It’s not for nothing that they say that even bugs squirm when you step on them.”

puck–! Puk puk puk—!

「Keuuu…!」

She did it once, and then again.

They mercilessly hit my head, which was hanging on the edge of a cliff, with a staff.

Every time she did that, her followers cheered and clapped.

“Now… But a promise is a promise. If you hand over the trophy right now, I will at least let Natsuki live. Oh, don’t worry. Since your death will be treated as an accident… the insurance money will go to your family.”

“Damn it… you damn bastards… we were the ones who found the trophy!!! “We can all come in first place, so why are we doing this shit!!!”

I yell and glare at her.

「Kaaak…tsk.」

After she spit in my face

He wiped his mouth with the handkerchief handed to him by his follower and smiled brightly.

“You’re an incompetent person who hasn’t even woken up, so taking classes in the same classroom as you is… so disgusting that I can’t stand it.”

Oh Min-ah turns her head and gestures toward her followers.

At the scene, a figure was seen dragging the unconscious Natsuki, holding her by the back.

“Well, I hope it doesn’t take up any more time. “If you fall like this for no reason, I’ll have to go down to the bottom of this mountain and search for your body, right?”

“Kihihi… Don’t worry, Min-ah… It will be quick if we come and search for you ourselves…!”

“Oh, and from now on, you two will be expelled from our group. So… even if Ms. Natsuki survives, she won’t be recorded as first place along with us.”

“Oh my… these bitches… they are all… nothing but bastards…”

Whoosh—!

I threw the trophy with all my might into her face.

Unfortunately, the subordinate next to her snatched the trophy first.

“Then, thank you for your hard work. Even if you manage to survive… you’ll run into me at school. “It would be better for you to drop out.”

puck…! Knock, knock, knock…!

They all beat my helpless head without mercy,

Finally, I was hit on the head with a baseball bat and fell headlong from a cliff, unconscious.

The last thing I saw was that damn bitch’s twisted smile.

From the beginning of my life at the academy, it was a sign that no one was on my side here.

I fell down like that from a cliff that was over 100 meters high.

It’s been about 12 hours since I passed out like that.

Thanks to the heavy snow the previous day, I was stuck with only broken arms and legs.

With the help of a search party dispatched by the school and police and Natsuki,

I barely managed to survive before I completely froze to death.

“The situation is unfortunate, but Han Seo-jin and Natsuki… have already been expelled due to the team leader’s choice. “Both of them are at their lowest point.”

A cold yet sharp answer.

Should I just be thankful for being alive?

Or was he afraid that this was an academy full of trash?

I prayed that I never wanted to experience something like this again.

After this, I saw Han Tae-woo cut off his finger and put it in a trash can.

In fact, I think the events of that day might have been a little more kind.

——–

“Master? Are you okay?“

She carefully came next to me and examined my complexion.

I gathered my dazed mind for a moment and nodded at her.

“It’s okay. Everything will be okay from now on. So don’t worry.“

“Uh… Yes, I understand.“

I smiled brightly as I corrected her crooked black eye patch.

“Okay then… all the people. From now on, we will be conducting a placement test. Ready… Let’s go!!!“

Beep—!!

With the sound of a cheerful whistle, the flag was raised.

At that moment, all the students started climbing the mountain at once.

Into the snow-covered mountains.

They hope there’s a trophy hidden somewhere.

So I was randomly running towards the mountains.

“Then… Shall we get started soon?“

I took out the katana from subspace and lit a bright fire.

Then the sword’s flame glowed softly and warmly.

At least I could feel the cold getting less.

“Anyway, we’re on the same boat from now on. Let’s do our best. Ms. Minah.“

I smiled at her while holding my sword.

“It’s you who has to do well, not me. So, keep your head straight. If you think it’s even the slightest bit useless… you can throw it away.“

“Yes, yes, you did it before, but can’t you do it again?“

“I…? What do you mean?“

I walked towards the mountain without even listening to her answer.

‘You’re probably going to hit me in the back again… This time, I’ll smash your head in person…’

He handed Natsuki a flame katana with a warm smile.

I drank the elixir from the thermos and began to leisurely climb the mountain.

The first task at the academy, which is teeming with all kinds of secret and betrayal.

It was the beginning of the placement test.