episode_0045

A vast space enveloped in darkness.

The only source of light in that place was the multitude of holograms floating in mid-air.

The holograms depicted crucial spaces within the Tower of Growth that the first-year students had entered.

“It’s already been a year. Time sure flies.”

Holograms radiating from the table, and individuals seated around it, their eyes fixed on the holograms in silence.

Echoing through the quiet space where everyone was focused on the hologram, Professor Lee Soo-yeon, in charge of the first-year honors class, spoke with a weary tone, running her fingers through the ends of her purple wavy hair.

“I distinctly remember it being the first tower climb for the first-years just a few days ago.”

“For all that talk, nothing seems to have changed.”

“Even for regular folks, a year doesn’t bring much change.”

With a sigh, Professor Lee Soo-yeon, still wearing a puzzled expression, shrugged her shoulders.

“Isn’t the difficulty slightly higher than last year?”

“It’s based on the average ability of the students. The average has increased significantly from last year, so we adjusted the difficulty.”

While not a rookie professor this year, Professor Albert, who took over as the class instructor for the first time, responded.

Listening to the conversation between Lee Soo-yeon and Albert, several other professors nodded inwardly.

In recent years, the students’ foundational skills had notably improved. This had been the trend for the past few years, and especially this year’s cohort was being hailed as a golden generation in the history of Sioram.

The first tower climb for the first-years always took place on the “1st floor” of the Tower of Growth. This tradition had remained unchanged.

The theme was survival, set in a vast forest teeming with monsters.

Surviving for five days armed with only one weapon in the monster-infested forest.

In previous dungeon simulations, some preparation was allowed. Students could bring survival gear, and items directly aiding in combat were also somewhat permissible.

The grading criteria for the dungeon simulation focused on teamwork during the conquest rather than individual prowess.

Since even the strongest individuals might face challenges they couldn’t overcome alone, this criterion was established.

However, this year’s survival challenge was different.

Armed with only one weapon and thrust into the forest, no other preparations were allowed. They had to survive for five days in this penniless state.

Amidst the competition with surrounding monsters and, more dangerously, fellow students.

It was evidently more challenging than the dungeon simulation and had increased in difficulty compared to the previous year.

But what Professor Lee Soo-yeon mentioned wasn’t about that aspect.

“Weren’t we dealing with a 6th-rank entity last year?”

“Yes, last year it was the 6th-rank alpha entity ‘Earthen Stone Tree (土石樹像).’”

Professor Johannes from the Clear Sky class confirmed after checking the data.

On the third day of the five-day survival period during the first tower climb on the 1st floor of the Tower of Growth, a special monster appeared at the center of the zone.

This monster awarded a significant amount of points and served as a single target for the students, encouraging cooperative efforts within the competitive environment.

The same scenario had unfolded the previous year.

The Earthen Stone Tree. A 6th-rank judgment monster. As its name suggested, it was a creature composed of earth, stone, wood, and the like.

“Last year… haha. Surprisingly, it was defeated by just one student.”

“Wasn’t it Yi Yoon from Mount Taesan? It was such a hot topic; I know about it too. I heard she smashed it head-on.”

“To think she shattered a golem known for its robust regeneration capabilities head-on, it was truly astonishing when I heard about it.”

6th-rank alpha.

Positioned below the 1st to 8th ranks in the monster classification system. While it may seem like a weaker monster at first glance, that is a grave misconception.

By the time creatures reach the 6th rank, they are equivalent to boss entities found in Grade 4 dungeons.

4th-grade dungeons are often scenes where low-level novices and soldiers are massacred by the appearance of boss monsters, more commonly than one might think.

6th tier. No matter how skilled a student was at the Jeamoo Academy, it was a daunting challenge to confront.

“Yes, last year I was in the 6th tier. But why this time?”

Isuyeon pointed to a section of the data.

[Monster Deployment: 5th tier Alpha ‘Parasitic Moth’]

“A 5th tier? And an Alpha at that?”

It’s a high difficulty level. The overall environment is similar. However, the tier of the boss monster being deployed is different.

“Last year, a 6th-tier student was defeated by a novice.”

“Does that mean there’s a need to increase the difficulty? Even though it was the successor of Taesan who single-handedly defeated it, no matter how high the average…”

“This year’s 1st-year has successors of Geophwa and Changhae, and if other students cooperate, it shouldn’t be too difficult. Moreover, hasn’t Hong Yeonhwa already single-handedly defeated a 5th-tier?”

That makes sense.

Isuyeon nodded, then suddenly changed the subject as if something had just occurred to her.

“But isn’t this too disadvantageous for Ha Yool?”

Ha Yool, the student mentioned, attracted the attention of the professors who had not been participating in the conversation.

The professor in charge of the Cheongmyeong class, Lianne, who had been participating in the discussion so far, asked, “Disadvantageous? No special restrictions have been imposed on him.”

“Besides that, what about the points, the score?”

Isuyeon tapped her finger. A hologram appeared in the air.

[Special Admission: 1,000 points]

“It’s too blatant. It’s like saying ‘just kill this target,’ isn’t it?”

“How can we understand the Chancellor’s intentions?”

Isuyeon frowned. The Chancellor’s intentions. She simply couldn’t understand the Chancellor’s intentions.

Special admission students. After confirmation, various rumors circulated, and based on the growth rate and evaluation during the competition and dungeon training, it was clearly judged that these students had ‘potential.’

While it’s understandable that they have potential, is there a reason for offering such a high score even before that potential is realized?

After a moment of contemplation, Isuyeon turned her gaze. She looked towards Lianne, the professor in charge of the Spring class to which Ha Yool belonged.

As the one teaching Ha Yool, Lianne must have some thoughts. Isuyeon wanted to ask her.

…

(Continues)

As days passed, a peculiarly rapid growth rate and a variety of talents unfolding in various fields.

Without a hint of scheming, always following diligently, an attitude that might have seemed strange to others, yet pure in its compliance.

And the dungeon room─

– Uwooh… Wae-e-eck!

A sight that evoked self-loathing upon seeing oneself.

A pointless memory. Atla bit his lip tightly. Organizing the swirling emotions, he carefully framed his thoughts into words.

“What…”

Comparing the recent performances of the students he had observed,

Judging Ha Yool from the perspective of what Atla had taught so far.

“He won’t just take it lying down.”

Ha Yool was not the underdog in this test.

He was already a superhuman who was blossoming sufficiently.

* * *

Nothing seems to go as planned these days.

It was the same in the previous world, and it’s been the same since coming here.

My life just followed a path of mediocre misfortune.

Not overwhelmingly tragic enough to despair, but a relentless kind that shattered any hope each time.

– Hooong

The wind brushed past me. It was a subtly chilly breeze.

I involuntarily shrank my body, seeking a slightly more secluded spot.

After suddenly turning blind, I managed to find the place by feeling the ground.

A relatively elevated area where rocks interlocked, providing a suitable hiding place.

I tucked myself inside and covered with a large branch I had prepared. With a few layers properly placed, it should provide basic concealment.

Add a bit of magic, and it would serve as a decent hideout.

‘……’

After calming my breath, I expanded my spatial perception.

…

I couldn’t unfold it. It felt like being pinned under a boulder, unable to spread out properly.

The spatial perception that served my eyes disappeared. Even the smartwatch that functioned as a verbal communicator vanished. All I had on my wrist now was a test watch for scoring purposes.

‘What should I do.’

It seems like a failure right from the start.

The first entrance exam, the first trial. Call it whatever you want.

This event is commonly known as a player humiliation event.

Allowing competition among students.

For those who usually look down on special admissions students, it’s a golden opportunity. And even for those not looking down, it’s an environment worth exploring out of curiosity.

There are practical benefits too.

1,000 points hanging around the neck of special admissions students.

The points obtained in the entrance exam not only count towards grades but can also be used as a form of currency.

By quietly accumulating these points, one can exchange them for items shown in the pamphlets provided by Siyolam later on.

One thing is certain, with 1,000 points from special admissions students, one can acquire quite a lot. Even if it’s not enough right now, there’s nothing wrong with having them.

Probably.

Right now, numerous students are probably searching for me with eager eyes.

‘Ah…’

I wiped my face and let out a sigh.

Feeling suffocated, I raised my head. Nothing was visible.

Sight was sealed off, rendering everything invisible. Even if I had spatial perception, the sky would remain out of sight due to its range limits.

Even with sight, the sky would be obscured by leaves.

Above was unseen.

In the darkness, my head instinctively bowed down.